"Dance."
"Ah. I see."
Alkerto quickly took Sigrid's hand.
"I think I'm the only one who hasn't danced yet."
"That's right."
Sigrid nodded with a smile. As the two headed to the dance floor, Beramund glanced at the group and said:
"Well then, I should be going. It was a pleasure eting you all."
"Next ti, send the flowers a bit earlier."
At Marie-Chez's words, Beramund grinned and retorted:
"If you dress Sigrid in sothing a bit more modest, I'll send you a bouquet just as quickly."
Marie-Chez raised an eyebrow at those words, then chuckled.
"I'll think about it."
"Shall we have a drink together soti?"
At Morris's question, Beramund looked at him for a mont, then nodded.
"I'll look forward to it. Well then."
Beramund bowed politely and left the hall. Watching his retreating figure, Marie-Chez smirked.
"He'll be pretty jealous if Sigrid's mansion is filled with flowers tomorrow."
"He already seed jealous."
At Lowengrin's words, Morris smiled bitterly and said:
"Anyone who isn't jealous in this situation would be a fool."
After finishing her dance with Alkerto, during which they discussed Awen, Sigrid carefully pretended to head towards the ladies' lounge and left the hall.
"Siri, over here."
At the soft voice, Sigrid turned her head. Beramund was standing among the dark gardens.
"Beramund?"
"Let's go back together."
"Is it okay to leave already?"
"There's no need to stay longer if you're not here. Did you bring a carriage?"
"No."
"Then I'll take you ho in mine."
"Okay."
Sigrid nodded and ca down the path. They walked through the dark garden. Along the way, Beramund cleared his throat several tis.
'Wasn't this supposed to be a romantic garden walk?'
The air was heated from alcohol and dancing, and the dark, secluded garden provided cover. Faint moans could be heard from various corners. Beramund grabbed Sigrid's wrist and quickened his pace. Sigrid followed with small steps.
"Beramund?"
"No, let's just get to a brighter area quickly."
"Ah—"
Sigrid tilted her head and said softly:
"Weren't we supposed to co to a dark place on purpose?"
At those words, Beramund's steps ca to an abrupt halt.
"Huh?"
As he answered in a choked voice, Sigrid said:
"To sneak out."
"Oh..."
Like the ebbing tide, the tension drained from him, replaced by sothing that might have been disappointnt. Sigrid gestured to him.
"Wait a mont?"
"Why?"
As Beramund lowered his head, Sigrid lifted herself on her tiptoes and kissed him.
"—?!"
Beramund's eyes widened in surprise. Sigrid giggled and said:
"I thought you were supposed to close your eyes when kissing?"
"You should."
Beramund grinned and pulled Sigrid in for a kiss. It tasted of sweet champagne. Parting their lips, Beramund whispered:
"Where did you learn that?"
"Learn what?"
"How to keep soone on their toes."
"Where would I learn that? I'm learning from you."
She poked Beramund playfully and started walking ahead briskly. Beramund chuckled, quickly caught up, and wrapped his arm around her waist.
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Arkana turned his head while pruning wilted roses. Beside him, Sigrid was also helping with garden maintenance, wearing work clothes.
Even Sigrid could distinguish between rose vines and weeds. Arkana lightly lifted a wilted rose and snipped it off, saying:
"Rivans? Of course I know. It was in the docunts, wasn't it? There was also sothing like an impeachnt letter attached. Didn't you see it?"
"Impeachnt letter?"
"Yes. To summarize the main points, it said that Rivans abused his power as steward to embezzle funds ant for the manor. The attached evidence was weak, so I didn't particularly ntion it to you. More importantly, you have interviews this afternoon. You're not planning to conduct them in that outfit, are you?"
"I'll change. But what about the evidence?"
"Yes. But when I cross-checked with the records Rivans has been keeping, he's been so ticulous in his docuntation that their claims don't seem very plausible."
Arkana then recited detailed ledger contents, and Sigrid was amazed.
"Did you morize all that?"
"Don't you usually morize things after seeing them once?"
"No, I can't."
When Sigrid replied with a serious face, Arkana chuckled.
"I do."
"I see. Magicians are incredible."
"Actually, most magicians can't do that either."
Arkana slyly changed his words, but Sigrid didn't comnt and just marveled:
"As expected, Arkana, you're amazing."
Sigrid kept nodding her head, making Arkana burst into laughter. Sigrid said while pulling weeds:
"I would have been in big trouble without you, Arkana."
"I would have been in big trouble without you too, Sigrid."
Arkana responded in kind. While neatly pruning wilted roses, he continued:
"But people don't slander others without reason. So I looked into the tax collector's side instead. It seems the tax collector might have been the one embezzling funds."
"Really?"
"It's a job that directly handles physical assets. Plus, there's no oversight."
His tone suggested it was a predictable occurrence. Sigrid groaned and said:
"I guess I really need to go and see for myself."
"After today's interviews."
"Right."
Sigrid stood up, dusting herself off.
"Then I'll go wash up and change. You should get ready too, Arkana."
" too?"
"Aren't you my chief magician?"
Though there's no need to hire more magicians, really.
"If that's what you want."
Arkana nodded. Sigrid said as she took off her gloves:
"I'll go in first then?"
"Alright."
At Arkana's reply, Sigrid walked in with a light, almost skipping gait. Seria asked, "Would you like so iced tea?" and Sigrid nodded.
Seria quickly returned with a sweet and sour tea filled with ice—made by Arkana. Sigrid drained the glass in one go, said "Thanks," and went into the bathroom.
She washed, dried her hair, dressed simply, and braided her hair.
When she ca downstairs, Arkana was already neatly dressed. With his magician's cloak on, he looked every bit the distinguished magician.
"Arkana, your clothes look great."
"I've been officially appointed, after all."
At those words, Sigrid's eyes widened, and she exclaid:
"Really?! Why didn't you say anything?!"
"There was nothing to say. It's the cloak I received from the Ice Tower."
"That's wonderful. You're amazing, Arkana."
Sigrid grabbed Arkana's hands and shook them up and down vigorously. Though the gesture was aningless, it conveyed her joy sufficiently. Arkana chuckled and said:
"Now I'm officially your magician."
"With or without the cloak, you're my magician, Arkana."
"I know."
Arkana nodded. Then he said:
"It's not good for you to greet guests here, so go up to the second floor. When the interviewee arrives, I'll show them to the reception room and then co to get you."
"Alright."
Sigrid obediently went up to the second floor.
Alone, she sat in a chair, rested her elbows on the desk, and fell into thought. It wasn't about the estate or choosing vassals, but a different matter.
That thing Marie-Chez had said earlier.
—It's not like you're going to marry Beramund anyway, right?
Of course, until recently, she had no intention of marrying.
She had no thoughts of having children, for one thing.
But now she had an estate and had established sothing of a family line. Yet to not pass this on to anyone...
'Should I adopt an heir?'
Well, let's say that's taken care of.
Then what about Beramund marrying soone else?
That was an entirely different issue. Sigrid tried to imagine Beramund marrying another woman. Just thinking about the two of them standing side by side in the temple made her mood plumt.
'I don't like it.'
She thought, and then thought again.
'I don't like it.'
She truly, purely 'didn't like it.'
But it's not as if she could stay with Beramund forever, could she?
Not if they weren't going to get married.
Sigrid made an "Ugh" sound and rubbed her forehead. Noticing her bangs tickling her, she realized it was about ti to trim them again.
'And that ans I need to style my hair too.'
She'd need to apply plenty of oil.
Marie-Chez seed to use a mixture of oils to maintain her shiny hair. She had gifted so to Sigrid, who treasured it. Perfud oil was an extrely expensive item.
'Should I discuss this with the two of them?'
Though the conversation would be quite predictable.
Marriage, of all things.
It's not sothing she could decide on her own, is it? Moreover, if she asked herself if she really wanted to get married, she couldn't be certain.
'Marrying Beramund.'
The image of standing side by side in the temple.
The vivid imagination surprised her, and Sigrid shook her head vigorously.
"No, no, this isn't right, Sigrid Ankertna."
With all the estate issues to deal with, there's no ti for such worries, right?
Yet why did it keep popping up in her mind incessantly?
As Sigrid was groaning, there was a light knock on the door.
"Siri? The interviewee is here."
"Ah, okay!"
Sigrid jumped to her feet. Right, the important issue is the one right in front of you, isn't it? She opened the door.
Arkana guided her downstairs.
When they reached the reception room on the first floor, a man much younger than expected was standing there.
"Greetings, Countess. My na is Alex."
The man bowed deeply.
With no surna, he was clearly of common birth.
'A commoner recomnded by the imperial family?'
Though she found it curious, Sigrid offered him a seat.
"Please, sit down."
Alex sat, and Sigrid followed suit on the sofa.
"Would you like sothing to drink?"
"Anything is fine."
Sigrid rang a bell to order two glasses of iced tea from Seria. She hoped her own nervousness as the interviewer wasn't showing.
When Seria returned with the tea, she took a sip to moisten her dry lips.
"I've reviewed your docunts. You seem quite talented. Is there any particular reason you want to co to my estate?"
"Because Countess Ankertna is of common birth."
"Hmm?"
"I thought you wouldn't discriminate against ."
"I see."
Alex was a straightforward speaker, which Sigrid found comfortable. But she now knew well that speaking so bluntly among nobles wasn't advisable.
Once the conversation started flowing, the interview proceeded smoothly. Arkana threw in a few supplentary questions from the side, which helped Sigrid organize her thoughts each ti.
As the brief interview ended, Sigrid stood up and extended her hand.
"Thank you for coming."
"Not at all."
Alex shook her hand in return and left.
Arkana asked:
"What do you think?"
"He seems smarter than
when it cos to estate matters."
"Do you like him?"
"Yes. I like that he doesn't beat around the bush."
"I thought you might."
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