Sigrid Novel Chapter 160

"I didn't hear you were coming."

"We ca to see you!"

Brin said, throwing his arm around Jin's neck. Jin said, "It's hot," but didn't push him away.

"It's been a while, Arthur."

"It has."

"Serena, Cassie is in the garden."

At Jin's words, Serena said, "Got it," and headed inside without hesitation, as if it were her own house.

"Shall we go upstairs?"

At Jin's suggestion, Arthur said, "Can't we just talk in the reception room?" Jin smiled his characteristic quiet smile and said,

"The stairs aren't a problem."

Arthur slumped his shoulders and said,

"Was it that obvious?"

"Yes. I appreciate the consideration, though."

Jin said this and slipped out from under Brin's arm, taking the lead as he started walking. His gait was so straight that no one would be able to tell he had injured his leg.

Jin led them to the second-floor study cum classroom. Brin glanced at the chess table before flopping down in a comfortable seat. Arthur approached the window and peeked outside.

He could see Serena and Cassie in the garden, engrossed in conversation. Jin spoke from behind him,

"No peeking."

"What's wrong with

looking at my own little sister?"

Arthur said as he turned around. Brin waved his hand and said,

"Total overprotection, seriously. Hey, Serena probably handles a sword better than I do."

"She's still a girl."

At Arthur's words, Jin, who also had a younger sister, nodded deeply in agreent. He sat down at the chess table and said,

"It's been about half a year?"

"Yeah, about that long? Since we ca up last winter."

Arthur answered, counting in his head. Brin frowned and said,

"You guys don't co up often enough. With that nice mansion in the capital and all."

"The Ankertna family's key is to stay far from politics while always being at the center of rumors."

At Jin's words, Arthur shrugged.

He had never wished for such a central position. Of course, others would curse him if they heard that.

"So what brings you up when it's not the ball season and not anyone's birthday?"

At Jin's question, Arthur groaned and said,

"Marriage issues."

"You? Or Serena?"

"Both. A marriage proposal ca from the Imperial family."

Brin blurted out as if it were nothing, and Jin's eyes widened.

"The Imperial family? For both of you?"

"No, for either one of us."

At Arthur's clarification, Jin said, "I see," and slowly began arranging the chess pieces. Since this was Jin's habit when thinking, Arthur and Brin paid no attention.

"What about you? No matchmakers coming?"

At Arthur's question, Jin plainly answered, "They co." Arthur plopped down across from Jin and asked,

"So? What did you do?"

"What do you an, what did I do?"

"About the engagent. Have you decided?"

"No, not yet."

"Are you going to go along with whatever your parents decide?"

"That could be one way. But I don't feel it yet and I'm not sure."

Jin answered honestly. Arthur deeply empathized with those words. Jin fiddled with a chess piece and said,

"But we haven't heard any news about it."

"Huh?"

When Arthur looked at Jin as if to say 'What do you an?', Jin looked at Brin and said,

"If they had officially sent an envoy, rumors would have already spread in society."

"Oh, now that you ntion it, that's true. I thought maybe the rumors just hadn't spread yet—"

"That's impossible."

"Right."

Brin nodded, belatedly realizing. Arthur frowned and said,

"Wait, so when they propose marriage, do they co in blowing trumpets? How would they handle the humiliation if they get rejected?"

"It's the Imperial family. They don't even consider the possibility of rejection."

Jin moved a white pawn. Arthur reached out and moved a black pawn randomly. For hands that were learning swordsmanship, his fingers were straight and slender with almost no scars.

"I see."

Arthur replied and fell into thought.

"Does that an they're considering the possibility of refusal?"

Brin muttered and chuckled, saying,

"See, I told you that princess has fallen for you. And she's begging to be married off."

"I've only glimpsed her from afar, I'm telling you."

As Arthur grumbled, Jin looked up with a puzzled expression.

"You've t her, though?"

"Huh?"

Arthur looked at Jin in surprise. Jin tilted his head at Arthur's reaction and replied,

"The night you knocked down Count Zigret. Rember?"

"That ti? The princess was there?"

Arthur frowned. Brin looked at Jin and said,

"She wasn't on the guest list that day? I wouldn't have missed it if she was there."

"She attended unofficially. The woman who handed you a handkerchief, rember?"

"Oh, the woman Arthur ignored?"

At Brin's words, Arthur looked back and forth between the two, saying "Eh?"

"Wait, there was such a woman?"

"You were so caught up you didn't see anything."

Brin snickered, and Jin calmly answered,

"There was."

Then, to the confused Arthur, Jin moved his queen and said firmly,

"Check. Arthur, you're really not a good chess opponent."

Arthur looked down at the chessboard and let out a sigh mixed with a groan.

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Sigrid greeted Beramund at the entrance when he returned late at night. Beramund said, "Sorry, did you wait?" and lightly kissed her cheek.

"You sll of alcohol."

At Sigrid's words, Beramund grinned.

"The talk went on a bit long. Shall we have another drink with my lady who waited for ?"

"Wait, wai— Beramund!"

Beramund reached out and scooped Sigrid up in his arms. Nestled in his embrace, she was startled but soon gave up and wrapped one arm around his neck.

The servants hid their fond smiles as they quickly opened the door to the master bedroom, saying they would swiftly prepare drinks, and then vanished from the room.

Serena, who had been listening from between the third-floor railings, sighed and retreated on her knees, saying,

"Guess we won't be hearing the story tonight."

"But it doesn't seem like they heard bad news."

Arthur said from beside her, and Serena nodded. If they had, Father would have co in with a serious face and gone straight to the study with Mother.

"Let's go in and sleep."

At Arthur's words, Serena nodded and stood up. As the two entered their room, Ellie, standing in front of the door, said,

"Looks like Arthur and Serena are going to sleep. Let's sleep too."

Rio, already half-asleep, nodded. The twin siblings quickly climbed into one bed. Although they had separate beds, they still preferred sleeping together.

Sigrid moved dishes from the tray containing simple snacks and alcohol. Beramund set down two glasses.

"Just one drink?"

At Sigrid's words, Beramund nodded. He filled about a third of the glasses and then recapped the bottle.

Sigrid was about to sit across from Beramund when he patted his knee, so she quietly sat on his lap.

"So? What happened?"

As Sigrid pushed away Beramund's kiss with her palm, he said, "How cruel," drooping his shoulders before answering,

"Well, it seems to be a complex issue with various factors."

"Various factors?"

"Yes. It seems the instability of magical power plays a part, but the most interesting is who proposed this idea."

"It wasn't His Majesty? Was it the Empress?"

"No, the Imperial Princess."

"The Imperial Princess? You an Princess Lucy?"

"Yes."

Beramund answered, kissing her temple and the corner of her eye. His words exceeded Sigrid's imagination, leaving her montarily dazed. Beramund picked up a glass and placed it in Sigrid's hand.

Sigrid took a sip of the drink and replied,

"You an she proposed her own political marriage? With our family?"

"Yes."

"...Does she like Arthur?"

"Hmm, it seems that might be the case."

At Beramund's answer, Sigrid looked at him as if seeking a more specific response. Beramund sighed and said,

"Well, it's not like I could summon the Imperial Princess and ask, 'Do you like our son?'"

"That's— true."

Sigrid nodded. Then another sip.

"Then what happens if we marry off Serena?"

"It seems they're fine with that too."

"Then doesn't that an she doesn't like Arthur?"

"I'm not sure about that. Anyway, hearing that story made

feel a bit strange—"

"But you know."

Sigrid said, clutching her glass with both hands.

"If Princess Lucy is also part of the Imperial family, then—"

"Using even herself as a tool? That's not impossible either."

Beramund sighed deeply and rested his chin on top of her head. Sigrid turned her body, saying "This person?" and playfully bit Beramund's neck. Beramund burst out laughing and lay down on the sofa, trying to avoid Sigrid's teeth. Suddenly finding herself straddling his stomach, Sigrid demonstrated her quick reflexes by tilting the glass at just the right angle to avoid spilling the drink.

"So is it possible to refuse?"

At Sigrid's words, Beramund shrugged and said, "If the reason is appropriate." No matter how awkward, refusal wasn't a problem as long as there was a reason.

"It's a strange thing."

At Beramund's muttering, Sigrid looked down at her husband and asked, "Why?" Beramund brushed back his hair, now long enough to need cutting, and said,

"Everyone else would try everything to make a marriage with the Imperial family happen. There wouldn't be anyone expressing reluctance like us."

"I suppose so."

"So in a way, it's a kind of favor from Serios too."

"That's true."

Sigrid said with a sigh-like tone and added,

"Of course, it's not like we're losing out either."

"That's right. It's a win-win proposal."

"Then how about saying we have a prior engagent?"

At Sigrid's words, Beramund looked at her and said, "Prior engagent?" Sigrid leaned her upper body forward until her lips were almost touching Beramund's and whispered,

"Lowi said it would be innocuous to say we already have soone in mind."

"I see."

Beramund slightly raised his upper body to kiss her, but Sigrid leaned back, creating distance. Seeing her smile teasingly, he let out a groan. Sigrid's hand slipped inside Beramund's shirt.

"Siri."

Beramund took a short breath. Sigrid slowly caressed his body upwards and said,

"Of course, it might be a bit troubleso if they ask who this person is, but it seems like a not-bad excuse."

"It's the most innocuous."

Beramund replied, pulling on her thighs. He always reacts imdiately to such small provocations.

"I thought alcohol was bad for sexual function, but I guess that's not the case."

Beramund muttered as he watched Sigrid unbutton his shirt.

Knock knock knock.

At the sound of knocking, Beramund said, "Good grief," and slumped, while Sigrid quickly stood up. Beramund grumbled as he got up from the sofa.

"What could it be at this hour?"

When he flung open the door, Arkana was standing there. Arkana glanced at Beramund's open shirt and said,

"They say a magical beast has appeared."

"Where?"

Beramund clicked his tongue as he buttoned up his shirt, and Sigrid burst out from the side, asking,

"What kind of magical beast?"

"It's a flying type."

Beramund's face hardened. He said, "I'll go right away," and left the room. As Sigrid followed him out, Beramund turned and pressed his index finger to her forehead.

"You stay on standby."

"Beramund!"

"We can't leave the capital empty. This issue isn't a light one either. Arkana will co with ."

"Understood. Lord Awen is in the capital, after all."

Arkana nodded. Sigrid said,

"Wouldn't it be better if I went and Beramund stayed in the capital—"

"Overruled."

Beramund said as he quickly descended the stairs. Sigrid followed him, saying "But" several tis.

"Sigrid, you're the captain. You stay. The higher the rank, the further from the battlefield one should be."

At Beramund's words, Sigrid was about to say sothing but closed her mouth. Beramund grinned.

"Besides, Black Knight, I'm not rusty."

"I know that better than anyone."

Sigrid answered and then said,

"But Beramund, you've been drinking and—"

"I'll be sober by the ti we get there."