Only then did Beramund turn to look at Morris. Morris pointed to his sleeve and the hem of his cloak in turn.
"So it is."
Beramund chuckled. Morris looked at Sigrid, then back at Beramund. Soon his face turned pale.
"You didn't..."
At his strained voice, Beramund asked "What?" and Morris stared at him for a mont before turning away.
"No. It's better not to know."
At those words, Beramund grinned.
"That's what I said, isn't it?"
Morris looked taken aback by Beramund's words.
'One step.'
Co to think of it, he was always one step short. Whether it was the first step or the last, either way.
Ti to muster courage, ti to compose oneself.
Yes, maybe that ti was necessary. Or maybe that ti was just ti that made him late, made him miss the mont. Or perhaps it was just ti that flowed by, ultimately making him one step late.
How much ti had he let slip away between thought and decision? And why was he always one step short, or too many, between decision and action?
And the result of that was clear.
—Morris thinks too much. But hesitation is unnecessary in an attack. That's more likely to get you killed.
Recalling Sigrid's clear advice, a laugh escaped him.
He was pathetic. And he was sick of thinking himself pathetic.
"Why isn't she waking up?"
Beramund muttered in an anxious voice. The room was so quiet that his voice was clearly audible. Arkana said in a low voice.
"It will take so ti for the dicine to take effect."
"I see."
Beramund slumped into the chair. Then he carefully took Sigrid's hand. It was the sa posture as an hour ago, before he left.
Morris stepped back and sat on the sofa. Arkana sat beside him. They could feel the sun setting beyond the curtains.
Beramund stared at Sigrid as if he had forgotten to blink. When night fell and Arkana and Morris urged him to have dinner, Beramund refused. Arkana said to Morris.
"Let's step out for a mont. I'll ask my sister to make sothing easy to eat."
Morris nodded. He saw him moving with crutches, but Arkana had no intention of healing him.
The fewer people who knew about this kind of magic, the better.
After the two left, Beramund let out a low sigh. He whispered softly.
"Siri. Sigrid Ankertna, wake up."
By now, Sigrid's fever had gone down, and the hand he held was no longer hot. He was glad to think the dicine was working. But why wouldn't she open her eyes?
Pushing away the doctor's words about the many complications high fever could cause, Beramund called her na again and buried his face in the back of her hand.
"Are you... sleeping...?"
Beramund jerked his head up at the faint voice. Sigrid, her crimson eyes half-open, spoke as if drunk with sleep, her face dazed.
"Aren't you... sleeping...?"
"I'm not."
He answered unconsciously and smiled. As he smiled, he kissed her palm again. Tears flowed.
"Welco back. My heaven."
Beramund whispered. Sigrid's eyes widened in surprise.
"Beramund...? Are you... crying...?"
"You're not supposed to ask about that."
He playfully, lightly bit her finger. Suddenly, it felt as if his forr cheerfulness was coming back to life inside him.
"You hellish lady."
"Didn't you just say heaven...?"
"Yes. You're my heaven and my hell."
What's that supposed to an...?
Sigrid sighed at his incomprehensible words, her face still dazed. Her whole body felt heavy. She felt muscle aches all over, as if she had done intense exercise. Every joint ached.
She didn't want to move a single finger due to fatigue.
"I'm sleepy... Tired..."
She whined.
"Rest a bit more."
Beramund whispered gently.
Thump thump.
Sigrid patted the space beside her. It was a lighter patting than before, with less strength. Beramund didn't hesitate to take the spot beside her. Sigrid had to expend an enormous amount of energy to lift her arm and embrace him.
She buried her face in his chest and mumbled.
"Good night..."
"See you tomorrow."
At Beramund's words, Sigrid smiled broadly.
"See you tomorrow."
And she closed her eyes.
A mont later, when Morris and Arkana entered, what they saw was a couple sleeping in an embrace on the bed. Arkana said with relief.
"It seems Siri has woken up."
Even Morris, who had been watching, could understand how that conclusion was reached in this situation. Morris smiled bitterly and said.
"Then I'll be going now."
Just knowing that she had woken up was enough. He was glad Sigrid had survived, but seeing the two of them together was painful.
"Have a safe trip."
Arkana said briskly, not trying to stop him. Morris found that rather comfortable and limped out of the mansion. As soon as he got into the carriage, he leaned his head against the window and fell asleep.
It was the first ti in three days he could sleep with peace of mind.
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
"Sigrid!"
Awen threw himself into her arms as if he was about to jump onto the bed.
"Have you been well?"
"Yes, yes."
Awen nodded with a tear-choked voice.
"I, I thought you were going to die too, Sigrid, ugh, sob—"
The boy in mourning clothes tried to hold back his tears as he hugged her. Sigrid stroked his head and said.
"I'm fine. I'm healthy."
"Yes, y-yes—"
Awen, who had been speaking, finally burst into tears. A mont later, he raised his head and wiped his tears with the backs of both hands.
"How are you feeling?"
At Sigrid's question, Awen said quietly, "I'm fine." In truth, he had nightmares every night. But he didn't want to worry Sigrid, who had just recovered.
"I'm with Alkerto. I'm fine."
As he spoke again with emphasis, Sigrid nodded and said, "Is that so?" Awen glanced at Beramund standing beside them and said.
"Well, I'll be going now."
"Yes, I'll co see you when I return to duty. It won't be long."
"Okay."
Awen nodded. He scampered to Alkerto, who was waiting at the door. Alkerto took the prince's hand, waved to Sigrid, and left the room.
As the door closed, Sigrid said.
"Beramund."
"Hm? What is it? Are you not feeling well?"
"No, that's not it. Why don't you go ho now?"
It was a clear dismissal.
"What?"
As Beramund frowned, Sigrid said with an "Umm."
"But you've been staying at the mansion all this ti. You should go back to your ho too, Beramund. I'm all better now."
"You want to chase
away?"
"That's not it, but you don't need to put so much pressure on my guests every ti they co."
"As if any of your guests are affected by my pressure."
"Beramund!"
Sigrid called his na reproachfully. She liked being with Beramund, but being this close was uncomfortable.
How should she put it?
Should she say it's embarrassing to show too much of her unprepared self?
"And it's not good for rumors if you keep staying at our house."
Sigrid added firmly. Beramund felt wronged.
I've seen you on the brink of death, I'm still anxious, and now you're going to kick
out?
"I agree with that."
Marie-Chez said as she entered, opening the door. Sigrid's face brightened.
"Marie!"
"Hello, Siri. You look really good today."
"Yes, I'm completely fine now. Strong as a horse."
At Sigrid's words, Marie-Chez frowned and said, "Not a horse, a lady." Sigrid ekly replied, "Yes."
Marie-Chez put her hands on her hips and looked at Beramund. Beramund smiled at her.
"Hello, Lady Inglet."
"We saw each other yesterday, so greetings seem unnecessary, Lord Lunatil. And for Sigrid's honor, I think you should pack your bags and leave today. Even if you are lovers."
'Lovers.'
At those words, Sigrid bowed her head deeply. She still wasn't used to it. Beramund said discontentedly.
"But Siri has only been recovering for a week."
"Yes, but there's nothing you can do by her side now, is there? Besides, the social world's eyes are now on Siri. In this situation, this state of affairs is not welco."
Marie-Chez said sharply.
"You're failing to maintain proper distance, Lord Lunatil."
At those words, Beramund swallowed a groan.
Setting aside his personal concerns, it certainly wasn't right to stay by Sigrid's side any longer. And as Marie-Chez said, the social world's eyes were on Sigrid.
"...I understand."
Finally, Beramund raised the white flag. Marie-Chez nodded as if it were only natural, saying "Good." Sigrid too inwardly sighed with relief.
Just then, Seria burst in, opening the door hastily and saying.
"S-Sister!"
"Seria? What's wrong?"
Sigrid asked in surprise, and Seria quickly answered.
"His Highness the Regent Crown Prince has arrived!"
"What?"
"Now, downstairs—"
"I ca up myself."
Serios said from behind Seria. Seria quickly stepped back and bowed. Marie-Chez curtsied, holding her skirt with both hands, and Beramund gave a light bow and asked.
"What brings you here?"
"Beramund, would you mind showing so manners in front of others?"
"What brings you here, Your Highness?"
"I ca to visit the sick. I've been too busy to co until now. I apologize, Lady Ankertna. Or should I say Countess Ankertna now?"
Sigrid, who was about to get up from the bed, was stunned by those words.
"Pardon?"
"No, stay lying down. I didn't co to make a patient get up. But haven't you told her yet?"
Serios asked, looking at Beramund. Beramund sighed and said.
"I was going to tell her when she fully recovered."
"I am fully recovered."
Sigrid insisted as she got up from the bed and knelt on one knee.
"I am honored by Your Highness's presence."
"No, I said that's fine. Get up. I'm glad to hear you've recovered."
Sigrid's complexion was surprisingly normal. It was hard to believe she had been dying just a week ago.
The court physicians marveled at her physical strength. Sigrid too was starting to feel restless from being confined to bed. Whenever she tried to get out of bed, Beramund would glare at her, so she had no choice but to stay in bed, but there was a limit to that.
Serios beckoned to the attendant waiting at the door entrance. The attendant was holding a small box. It was an elegant box made of ivory.
"Accept this."
The attendant handed the box to Sigrid, and she received it respectfully with both hands. When she opened the box, there was a seal ring inside.
"I bestow upon you Conwills. It's quite a fine county."
Sigrid's eyes widened at Serios's words, spoken with a grin.
"Your Highness—"
"Don't think of refusing."
Serios cut her off.
"We should have held the investiture ceremony earlier, but you were very ill. So we're holding this simplified version."
Sigrid was dazed.
A countess?
It was a title she had never imagined. And Conwills, no less. It wasn't so remote mountain fief. Of course, it couldn't compare to the central or eastern territories, but it was a decent fief located in the northeast.
"You are a Master. And you risked your life for , and no one can deny that you made the greatest contribution in this matter."
Serios continued. Since Sigrid was a Master, she would have been given at least a viscounty even if it was a titleless one. Masters were valuable resources, so they were given good treatnt to prevent their loss.
On top of that, there was no doubt that she had rendered great service while working as a double agent. Moreover, she had nearly lost her life due to the poison and had also contributed to opening the gate.
For Sigrid, a woman and a commoner, the title of countess seed grand, but Serios wanted to give an even greater reward deliberately.
I am this generous to my supporters.
He wanted to advertise that, and Sigrid was the perfect billboard.
A young and beautiful female Master. And now with the title of countess.
Moreover, it was certain that Sigrid would not betray the imperial family or himself. And additionally—
"I'd like to appoint you as the guardian of the Third Prince."
At those words, Sigrid lifted her gaze from the seal to look at Serios. Serios shrugged and said.
"We can't leave Awen as he is. And probably no one will approach Awen. Unless they're trying to use him. So I'd like to ask you."
"As you wish."
Sigrid bowed her head and answered, and Serios smiled with relief. It felt like a great burden had been lifted.
"I'm glad to see you looking healthy. I don't want to take up too much ti, so I'll be going now. I'll see you at the palace."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Sigrid bowed respectfully, and Serios said "Ah, right" as he unfastened the sword at his waist.
"This is the sword I took back then. I suppose I can give it to you now."
Sigrid's eyes widened.
'Berada steel!'
Reviews
All reviews (0)