Sigrid answered honestly. Beramund tilted his head and said, "I see."
"Then let's date temporarily."
"What?"
"You said you're not sure, right?"
"Yes—"
"You don't dislike , do you?"
"Well..."
He's her best friend. Of course she likes him that much.
Moreover—
She still vividly rembered those arms that had embraced her. Unconsciously, she let out a trembling breath.
"So let's try dating. For three months."
"For three months... you say?"
"Yes. If after three months you still feel it's not right, then there's nothing we can do."
"Three months—"
"We're dating."
"That—"
"We're dating."
"I—"
"We're dating."
"...Alright."
Finally, Sigrid nodded. Beramund bead at her words.
'Ah.'
Sigrid blinked and unknowingly reached out to touch his face. Beramund said "Huh?" then smiled, catching her wrist and nuzzling her hand against his left cheek like a cat, saying:
"You can touch
as much as you like."
Sigrid chuckled at his action.
Her fingers lightly traced his left eye, and Beramund closed his eyes as if ticklish.
"Don't get hurt."
"Okay, I'll try."
Beramund said as he stood up.
"If I stay any longer, my self-control might snap. Co on, let's get up, miss."
Sigrid took his offered hand and stood up.
'Dating.'
Sigrid mulled over the word in her mind. She glanced at Beramund.
Does that an we're lovers?
Lovers.
'What do lovers do anyway?'
Unable to figure it out, Sigrid tilted her head. With her hand still firmly held, Sigrid watched Beramund fiddle with her hand and asked:
"Beramund."
"Yes?"
His voice was so full of happiness that Sigrid montarily held her breath.
"What is it?"
He raised his head to look at her.
'Wow.'
His expression was, how should she put it...
Like when Marie-Chez saw Lowengrin's tiara... No, like he was looking at the center of the world?
Sigrid regretted thinking there wouldn't be much difference between friends and lovers. She stamred:
"What, what do lovers do?"
"Well, there's a lot they do, but for now, the goal for these three months is—!"
'The goal?'
As she tilted her head, Beramund kissed the back of her hand and said:
"Fall in love with ."
"—!"
"I'll try my best, so fall in love with . Miss Sigrid."
At his words, spoken with a gentle smile, Sigrid felt like imdiately pulling her hand away. Why did it feel like her heart was stuck in her throat?
It felt difficult to breathe.
"I-I'll try my best."
That was all the answer she could manage. As Sigrid barely uttered those words, Beramund laughed and released her hand.
"Thank you for trying."
He lightly kissed her cheek.
"Let's go."
He held out his hand, and Sigrid hesitated before carefully taking it. Beramund waited patiently without rushing her, then grasped her hand tightly.
"Siri."
"Yes—"
As they walked out of the greenhouse, Beramund said in a low voice:
"Be careful of His Majesty the Emperor."
At those words, she straightened her back.
"Yes."
"He's a frightening person. I don't want to lose you over sothing like this."
"I understand. But I want to do my best too. I don't want to let that happen again."
"Mmm~ That's why I couldn't actively dissuade you, but if it seems dangerous, withdraw imdiately. Got it?"
"Yes."
After answering, Sigrid tugged lightly at their joined hands. As Beramund turned to her, Sigrid said:
"Beramund, you too, if it seems dangerous, withdraw imdiately. You absolutely must not do what you did before. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand."
Beramund nodded. Unsatisfied with his halfhearted response, Sigrid glared at him.
"Beramund."
"Yes?"
"Promise ."
Beramund looked at Sigrid, slightly surprised, then nodded deeply.
"Alright, I promise."
"Good."
Only then did Sigrid nod in satisfaction.
'Ah, I want to hug her. I want to kiss her, hold her tight. But I can't. Hold back. Hold back.'
Beramund muttered words like 'patience, self-control' in his mind as he stepped out of the greenhouse. Despite the glass doors, a cool breeze blew as they exited. It was cold, but not biting. Sigrid narrowed her eyes against the wind and said:
"It's definitely spring though. The wind isn't that cold."
"You're right."
Beramund nodded. Sigrid looked around and asked:
"His Highness and Arkana..."
"They probably took the carriage and left because it's cold."
"What?"
"Leaving us to walk."
"I see."
"They didn't leave, you know?"
"Huh?"
Turning around, they saw Serios grumbling as he stood in a corner with Arkana. Beramund asked in surprise:
"Why didn't you wait in the carriage?"
"Duke Fienscha and Duke Lunatil took it and left."
"What—"
Beramund's mouth fell open slightly before he burst into laughter. Serios grumbled:
"It's not funny. Did those two not have the sense to realize we didn't bring even one attendant? How are we supposed to get back if they just leave in the carriage? And they call themselves dukes."
"I-I'll go call for a carriage right away."
As Sigrid spoke in a fluster, Serios shook his head.
"No, let's part ways here, Lady Ankertna. It wouldn't be good for our eting to beco known."
"I see."
Beramund said:
"Then I can't leave Serios with Sigrid, since she's joining the Acht. Alright, I'll take care of Serios. And Sigrid, you go back with Arkana. It's fine to return to the original mansion."
"Understood."
"And Master Arkana, let's talk in the evening."
At Beramund's words, Arkana gave a slight nod. Beramund reluctantly let go of Sigrid's hand and said:
"Well then, go on in."
"Yes."
Nodding, Sigrid gestured to Arkana. As he watched her leave with the magician, Serios said:
"Are you okay with this?"
"With what?"
"Wait, why do you look like that?"
"Like what?"
"You— what did you do in there?"
"What do you an, what did I do?"
"No, wait, don't tell . I'm not in a good state as it is, I don't want to hear about your love life. No, but for that kind of thing, Lady Ankertna seed fine?"
At those words, Beramund blurted out:
"We're dating, you know?"
"Huh?"
"Dating. Siri and ."
"You made your move already?"
"It's not like that!"
Beramund said with a deep frown, making Serios pause.
"You, you're quite serious."
"One hundred percent."
Beramund replied, pulling up his hood and starting to walk. Serios said:
"You don't need to escort . I don't want to reveal that you were at the palace."
"I can't let you wander around here without guards."
"'Here?' What do you think my ho is?"
"A den of vipers."
At Beramund's answer, Serios chuckled and turned his head.
"Maybe so."
They crossed the quiet garden in silence. Serios spoke softly:
"Beramund."
"Yeah."
"Do you think Rudinal really wanted to kill ?"
"He definitely wanted to kill , but as for you, well..."
"Could he have made a mistake, or been threatened? Rudinal is still young..."
"We don't call people over twenty children."
"Is that so? But to , he's always been like a child—"
Serios rubbed his forehead with one hand and smiled.
"He was my responsibility. Mother entrusted Rudinal to . She probably didn't trust —"
He laughed briefly.
"I thought I had done my best, but what could have gone wrong?"
"The human heart is unpredictable."
"True. But even so... I don't know. How did it co to this? What did I do wrong?"
"Serios."
"Was I a terrible brother? I thought I had been both a brother and a father to him, was I an incompetent guardian? Just like my father— was that all I learned and copied? Or am I a useless second son not even worth killing—"
"Serios!"
Beramund called his na and grabbed his arm. Serios stared blankly at Beramund and exhaled softly.
"I'm sorry."
"You should go to Erial, not the main palace."
"Erial is in her last month of pregnancy. I don't want to burden her."
"I know. But Erial would understand too."
Serios smiled faintly at those words.
"Yes, she would understand."
"So go see her."
Serios took a deep breath.
"Alright."
Beramund escorted Serios to where the guards could be seen. While Serios called for a guard, Beramund quickly walked away and left the palace.
Serios followed Beramund's advice.
"Oh? Serios."
Erial put down her knitting and opened her arms. Serios embraced her, lightly kissing her forehead, and said:
"What are you doing? Knitting?"
"I'm bored."
Erial chuckled and reached out to cup Serios's cheeks. Serios closed his eyes, holding her hands.
"Seri?"
"Mm—"
"What's wrong?"
"Family issues?"
"Oh, dear."
Serios chuckled at Erial's tone. He reached out to caress her belly and said:
"I wonder when our baby will co out? I'm curious whether it's a girl or a boy."
"Well, either way, they'll be beautiful."
Erial said firmly, then added:
"Because their mother is beautiful, of course."
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