"Yes."
After Sigrid's response, Marie-Chez smiled and said, "Great." Then she added:
"In exchange, will you send your maids to
during the day?"
"Oh, right. Understood."
Sigrid nodded as she rembered.
"And can I take a look at your wardrobe and accessories?"
"Of course."
As Sigrid said, "I'll let them know about that too," Marie-Chez nodded with satisfaction.
Lowengrin smiled and bid her farewell.
"Then I'll see you in the evening."
"Yes, see you in the evening."
Sigrid nodded.
Returning to her room, Sigrid washed up, changed her clothes, and headed to her office.
"You're out already?"
Alex stood up from his seat and asked as he greeted her. Sigrid glanced out the window and replied.
"I'm quite late, aren't I?"
"I thought you'd rest until today since you had a party with your friends yesterday."
"Well, work needs to be done. It's not like the work will disappear if I take a day off."
"That's right, but why did you co out to work?"
Beramund, who had appeared behind her at so point, embraced her waist and kissed her ear.
"Good morning."
"Because the work won't go away, I have to do it."
"Because it won't go away, you can rest."
The couple laughed at their contradicting logic. Beramund let go of her and said:
"So our lady has co out to work with a hangover-ridden body."
"I'm not suffering from a hangover."
"Really? That's good then."
Beramund said with a grin, and Sigrid looked up at his face.
"Um, Ber, well—"
"What?"
Beramund tilted his head and asked. Sigrid hesitated and then shook her head.
"Never mind. Let's talk later."
"That kind of talk makes
even more anxious. Can't you tell
now?"
"Well, when we're alone..."
"Ah, if it's that kind of talk."
Beramund lightly kissed her cheek. Lilia sighed and said:
"I want to be in love too..."
Beramund laughed and said:
"I'll give you a long vacation this sumr. Go to the capital and bring back a handso man."
"I'll try."
Lilia said with a serious face and quickly lifted her file.
"Then before that, could you look at this first?"
"Ah, sure."
Sigrid nodded.
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Arkana looked up at the knock.
"Co in."
Karsus opened the door, entered, and closed it behind him. Arkana looked him up and down and said:
"Strange clothes."
"It's called a robe. Not often worn in the Empire, but common across the sea. It's the second-best outfit I have, after what I wore this morning."
At least he was trying to be polite for the eting.
"Your na is strange too. Anyway, are you going to keep standing there?"
Karsus sighed and strode over, plopping down in the chair opposite Arkana. Of course, before sitting, he flicked his long braided hair out of the way to avoid sitting on it.
"You're finally granting
an audience."
In response to Karsus's words, Arkana leaned back leisurely in his chair.
"It's Siri's request. So, what's your business?"
"The movent of magical beasts in the south is suspicious."
"And?"
His tone suggested it had nothing to do with him. But Karsus continued:
"Well, I have a hunch that sorcerers might be involved."
"Sorcerers, you say?"
Arkana adjusted his posture. Karsus's face turned serious.
"Yes. I'm not sure if they're similar to magicians, but southern sorcerers are objects of fear. Of course, everything living in that forest is feared by the people of the Empire."
"You an the Red Forest."
"That's right."
If the west bordered the Black Forest, ho to fierce barbarians and magical beasts, then at the edge of that Black Forest and the beginning of the south lay the Red Forest.
"So, I need a magician who can at least determine whether it's the work of sorcerers or not. It'll be dangerous, of course. But I feel like ignoring it now could lead to worse consequences later."
"I see."
Arkana fell into thought for a mont, then looked up and said:
"This seems like sothing I can't decide on my own."
"Do as you please. But I don't like wasting ti on old n's politics."
As Karsus raised both hands, Arkana grinned, showing his teeth.
"I don't like that either."
"I see."
Karsus nodded, thinking he liked practical people.
"Is that all you wanted to discuss?"
At Arkana's question, Karsus answered "Yes" and stood up. Arkana smiled faintly.
"I thought you might have more personal matters to discuss."
"Personal and self-serving? If it's that kind of thing, I'm already doing plenty without needing magical power. No need to borrow magical power for that."
"Indeed."
"Why? What?"
"Nothing. I just realized Beramund isn't keeping a fool in his circle of friends."
At those words, Karsus chuckled.
"If you've seen that guy up close and still make that judgnt, magicians must not be all that great."
"I have a naturally suspicious personality."
"Ah, that's fine then. Anyway, let
know when you have results."
"Will do."
Karsus waved his hand lightly, flashed a smile, and left the office. He glanced at the window. An endless expanse of snow-white fields stretched out before him.
It was freezing cold outside, but warm inside.
Warm, safe, and comfortable.
'How boring.'
Karsus took a deep breath. This wanderlust of his just wouldn't go away. Staying in one place felt like trying to trap the wind.
'But it can't be helped.'
For now, he needed a hand. And not just any hand, but the special hand of a magician.
With these thoughts, Karsus turned away from the window and started walking quickly.
Before sunset, Sigrid finished her work.
Or rather, it would be more accurate to say that Beramund dragged her out of the office because she couldn't concentrate well.
"What's got you in such a bad mood?"
Beramund asked after seating Sigrid on the plush sofa in his room. Sigrid fidgeted with her fingers.
"Well..."
"Well—?"
Beramund knelt on one knee on the floor to et her eye level as he asked.
"Karsus..."
"What did that bastard say now?"
Beramund's voice instantly lowered. Sigrid shook her head.
"It's not that, Beramund gave up his title, so, so—"
"Karsus did?"
"No, Karsus just said Beramund gave sothing up, and I didn't know what it was, because I'm stupid— Lowi told
and that's how I found out."
Tears welled up in Sigrid's scarlet eyes.
"Siri."
Beramund laughed. He gently tilted her chin up with his large hand. Tears rolled down her cheeks. He lightly kissed those cheeks and said:
"Yes, I gave up my title. But so what?"
"But..."
"I've gained everything I wanted."
He kissed her lips.
"And I have everything I'll ever want."
Another kiss.
"I have my heaven and hell, what more do I need?"
Beramund smiled.
"Was that what made you so gloomy?"
He had no desire for titles anyway, and he hadn't helped Serios because he coveted such things. If anything, he felt relieved to be free of it all.
Sigrid nodded. As she looked at him, wondering if it was really okay, Beramund stood up and pressed her down onto the sofa. Sigrid obediently fell back. Beramund put one knee on the sofa and placed his hands on either side of her.
"Do I look unhappy?"
Sigrid shook her head.
"Then is Sigrid unhappy?"
"No!"
Sigrid shouted as if bursting out. Beramund nodded.
"I'm as happy as you are happy."
"I'm incredibly, incredibly happy."
"Yes, then I'm incredibly, incredibly happy too."
Beramund untied Sigrid's hair ribbon. Her silver hair flowed down to the floor beneath the sofa. He gently tugged her hair, tilting her head back, and kissed her.
A deep kiss, as if adding weight.
Beramund made a low, satisfied sound as he pushed his tongue in deeper. Sigrid gasped for breath and reached out to wrap her arms around his neck. Her fingers slipped into Beramund's hair. The pleasant sensation of his hair wrapping around her fingers.
As they continued to kiss, Sigrid felt sweetness filling her entire body. Beramund stopped kissing and pressed his forehead against hers.
Sigrid looked up at him with a flushed face. Her scarlet eyes sparkled, making Beramund chuckle softly.
"I was really disappointed yesterday."
"About what?"
"That dress, I wanted to take it off you myself. I wanted to undo your hair too."
As he gently bit her neck while saying this, Sigrid cried out, "Beramund!" Beramund's hand gently slipped under her shirt.
"It was such a rare dress—"
"If Beramund asks
to wear it, I'll wear it anyti."
Sigrid mumbled, making Beramund grin.
"Really? Then should I ask for various things?"
"Anything."
"I'll rember that."
Beramund emphasized, and Sigrid nodded. What's so difficult about wearing a dress? Beramund spoke cheerfully, saying, "I wonder what I should ask you to wear," as he straightened up. Then he held out his hand to help her up.
"Your hair has grown quite long."
He said, grasping Sigrid's hair. Sigrid glanced away slightly and said:
"Because Ber seems to prefer it long..."
"Yes, I do like it."
He replied without hesitation, kissing the ends of her hair. Whenever he kissed the ends of her hair like that, Sigrid felt as if nerves extended all the way there. Beramund chuckled and lightly braided her hair.
"Are you feeling better now?"
"Yes."
Sigrid nodded. Beramund finished braiding her hair roughly and frowned, saying:
"Hmm, I should ask soone to rebraid this."
"It seems fine to ?"
Sigrid said, holding up the braid Beramund had made, but Beramund shook his head, saying, "No."
"Ask a maid to redo it."
Sigrid nodded. Beramund helped Sigrid get up from the sofa and said:
"Well then, shall we go?"
As he said this, he lightly smacked her bottom, making Sigrid glare at him before leaving the room.
'Is my hair a ss?'
Since she couldn't see it herself, Sigrid carefully touched her hair. In truth, she didn't care how her hair looked.
Her mood had improved so quickly that Sigrid felt as if she was floating on air as she headed to her room. When she entered her room, what she saw was a complete ss.
Or rather, more than a ss...
"Oh? Siri, you're here?"
Marie-Chez smiled brightly when she saw Sigrid. Sigrid looked around the room. All of her clothes and accessories were strewn about everywhere. Her maids wore pale faces.
"What are you doing with everything pulled out like this?"
"We're matching clothes. You just make clothes you think you need without considering what goes well with your existing clothes, right? That's why even though you have quite a few clothes, you feel like you have nothing to wear. Basic items are essential, you know? We should design a few things and have the maids make them. And belts too. Now, what do you think would go well with that green dress?"
Sigrid flinched at Marie-Chez's question, then realized it wasn't directed at her and felt relieved. The maids glanced nervously at Marie-Chez before each giving their answer.
"A red silk ribbon, my lady."
"I think so too."
"I believe a silver jeweled belt would be best, my lady."
"Do you lack taste, or are you color blind?"
The maids flinched at Marie-Chez's words. As Sigrid was thinking she should quickly escape this place, hair or no hair, Marie-Chez said:
"Sigrid, sit down. What's wrong with your hair again? Jenny, fix her hair, will you?"
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