Sigrid Novel Chapter 99

"My visits have beco less frequent."

"......."

Sigrid remained silent, unsure of what to say.

The Empress chuckled softly.

"I have a mind full of rebukes for you."

Sigrid carefully chose her words, searching for an excuse. But before she could speak, the Empress continued.

"Do you like Awen?"

"Yes."

The answer ca without hesitation.

"Can you protect him from anyone?"

Sigrid knew that 'from anyone' was the crux of this question. She bowed her head deeply and answered firmly once more.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I know many who speak sweet words, and I don't trust such people....... But after observing you for a while, you seem trustworthy."

"I'm honored."

"Raise your head."

Sigrid slowly lifted her gaze. The Empress pushed back the veil covering her face. Sigrid bit her lip to keep from gasping.

The Empress's eyes were bruised a deep blue. Seeing Sigrid's shocked expression, the Empress laughed again.

"This is why I can't engage in social activities. And why I can't et Awen often."

Only then did Sigrid realize that when the Empress said she was 'sick' and refused to et Awen, she truly was 'sick'.

"Who on earth—"

Sigrid caught herself mid-sentence and fell silent.

Who could possibly strike the Empress's face?

There was only one person.

His Majesty the Emperor.

Shock passed over Sigrid's face, replaced by rising anger. Sigrid herself was used to being hit. But that was natural. She was a knight, after all. Getting cut and cutting others was part of the job. But the Empress— ordinary won were completely different. They were beings to be protected. Whenever she saw the slender waists of won in dresses, barely a handful, she would marvel. The very idea of hitting such a fragile person was incomprehensible to Sigrid.

Seeing Sigrid's expression, the Empress laughed again. As she replaced her veil, she spoke.

"I too once had dreams."

The position of the Imperial Consort.

Of course, her partner was a man older than her own father, but still, as a young girl, she had been excited. Surrounded by the excited chatter of her maids, she had dread as she prepared for her wedding.

The imperial capital she arrived at was splendid, and the wedding was held in a cathedral so enormous it made her feel small. But dreams were just dreams.

"But to His Majesty, won were....... Well. Nothing more or less than objects to satisfy his desires. I thought things might change when I had a child. He already had a grown son, but he didn't seem particularly fond of him."

Sigrid listened silently to the story.

"After giving birth to Awen, I realized belatedly. That sons were nothing more than potential rivals for his power. To protect my son, I followed my own set of rules, and it seed to work quite well. Until you appeared, that is."

"I apologize."

"No, if you can give him the affection he can't receive from his mother, I should be grateful. But I don't think I can use this thod anymore."

The Empress lifted her veil slightly, looking directly at Sigrid as she asked.

"Does the Crown Prince guarantee Awen's life?"

Sigrid hesitated before answering.

"I cannot give a definite answer on that point, but even if he doesn't, I will guarantee it myself."

At those words, the Empress let out a low laugh that sounded like a sigh.

"Well, to think I must rely on such a flimsy promise. But I have no other choice."

Sigrid tilted her head at the muttered words.

"Your Majesty?"

"n tend to beco unexpectedly talkative in front of won they consider completely under their control, their possessions."

The Empress smiled wryly.

"They don't seem to realize that even possessions have personalities and thoughts of their own."

It was a smile with an edge. Sigrid felt she could see a decade's worth of anger lurking beneath the Empress's smile.

"I'd like to share an interesting story I've heard recently with you as well."

"I'm listening."

As Sigrid replied, the Empress crossed her legs, adjusting her veil as she spoke.

"It's a story about foolish magicians. Do you enjoy stories related to magic?"

"I do enjoy listening to them."

"Then this is perfect."

Her voice dripped with sweetness.

"It's related to him."

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Arkana was uncomfortable with Bibi sitting so close, but he didn't show it. As he continued drawing the design, he suddenly asked.

"But with this thod, wouldn't it require an enormous amount of magical power to move the magic circle? Do you all have high circles?"

Bibi giggled and whispered.

"We don't need circles."

Though her laughter and words dampened his mood, he managed a slight smile.

"How do you plan to do it, then?"

In truth, he already knew. But this was sothing that needed confirmation. Bibi whispered in his ear.

"Sword Jewel."

It was another term for Aura Core. Arkana frowned and asked.

"Where do you get those?"

"That's none of your business."

Adolf, who had entered unnoticed, said as he removed his hood. Bibi jumped up from her seat and exclaid.

"How can you say that? We should tell Arkana too!"

"Bibi."

Adolf's eyes narrowed in a show of anger, but his lips remained gentle. It was clear after just a few observations that he cared for her. Early thirties? Or late twenties? Either way, Adolf was young.

His slate blue hair was neatly tied back in a single ponytail. Judging by appearance alone, he seed more like a scholar than a leader. But it was clear that he was the leader of this group of dropouts—or pioneers, as they called themselves.

"His Majesty will procure them for us."

Adolf answered as if it were no big deal. Bibi grinned at his words. It was a cruel smile, yet incredibly alluring. She clung to Adolf's arm and said.

"Then when can we get them? I want to start as soon as possible~"

"Just be patient a little longer."

Adolf soothed her, patting her head. Arkana turned his eyes back to the magic circle design. It was nearing completion.

'I knew they were going to use Aura Cores, but.......'

He began to worry about Sigrid. He knew there were several masters in the Imperial Guard, including her. What if they were summoned sowhere on the Emperor's orders and ambushed?

'Or poison......?'

As he calculated the possibilities, Adolf sighed and approached the desk, looking at the design as he spoke.

"The Sword Jewel has to be extracted while the person is alive, so that's a bit tricky."

"While alive?"

"Yes, if they die, it just scatters."

Adolf waved his hand as if chasing away smoke.

"That's why they're rare and difficult to obtain."

"So, we extend the Emperor's life, and what do we get in return?"

At Arkana's words, Adolf looked at him for a mont, then pulled out a piece of oilpaper from the desk drawer. There was another magic circle drawn on it. Adolf overlaid it on top of the design on the desk. Arkana stared at the overlapping magic circles, then looked up at him with a start.

Adolf smiled elegantly.

"The Emperor's throne."

"And? What do you plan to do with that?"

"What do you an, what? It's the Imperial throne. We'll hold all the wealth and power in our hands. What will we do with it? Isn't it obvious? We'll establish a Magic Empire."

"I see."

What a fanciful notion.

Arkana smiled faintly.

This person, and that woman, probably never experienced things like having their parents hunted down and killed. They likely never had to dig up tree roots because they were starving, or worry about their little sister growing up.

The sa goes for revenge.

Abstract revenge against an abstract target.

Empty words about establishing empires and such.

To be honest, he wanted to snap at them, "Why don't you go out and et so real people, have so proper conversations?"

"Then we won't have to hide anymore. The mages of the Magic Tower will soon realize too. That we were right."

"We'll punish them for treating us like dropouts, but since they're mages too, we should show so leniency."

Bibi and Adolf spoke in turns.

"That sounds good."

Arkana nodded. The idea of mage supremacy was laughable. Adolf asked.

"Did you leave that noble's house?"

"Yes."

"That's good~ Now I can rest easy."

Bibi clapped her hands, nodding.

"I didn't like you owing that woman anything."

Her voice was as cold as ice.

"Did you say she was a master? I wonder what color her jewel is. I'm curious."

She mumbled, pressing her red lips together. Bibi stood on her tiptoes and whispered in Adolf's ear.

"Make sure to include that bitch too."

"I'll try, but no promises."

Adolf glanced at Arkana.

"Wasn't she your benefactor?"

Arkana shrugged, and Adolf chuckled before saying.

"Well, she's going to die anyway."

Arkana felt his fingertips twitch. But the two didn't seem to notice.

Was this a test? Or did they just blurt it out?

'Are they stupid or smart?'

Arkana decided to be brazen. He smiled and said.

"Why? Do you have plans to exterminate all Aura users?"

"That's part of the plan, yes. If there are people who can oppose mages, it would be them."

As Adolf spoke, Bibi muttered.

"It's unfair."

"What?"

Arkana turned his gaze to her. Bibi bit her bright red nails.

"It's unfair, so unfair. They're no different from mages, but they act all high and mighty, receiving praise. It's unfair, it's unfair. It makes

sick."

Adolf patted her head again, saying, "There, there." Bibi sighed at his touch. Adolf folded the oilpaper again and put it back in the desk.

"That's the plan, so I ask for your cooperation."

"When have I ever not cooperated?"

"That's true, but still."

Adolf flashed a aningful smile before leaving. Bibi saw him off to the door like a puppy, then returned to her seat.

Arkana asked.

"How long have you known each other?"

"Hm?"

"You and Adolf."

"Ah— About five years?"

"Five years?"

It was longer than he expected, yet also shorter. Arkana continued.

"How did you et?"

"What, are you jealous?"

Bibi whispered, sitting close. Arkana raised the corners of his mouth and whispered back.

"Maybe?"

"Oh, co on—"

Bibi giggled and then said.

"You see, I'm an orphan."

At those words, Arkana rested his chin on the desk. This was another unexpected fact. He had thought she hadn't experienced any hardships.

"When I was about five, I entered the Magic Tower. I've been there ever since. I'm smart and clever, so magic was easy for , and everyone adored ."

'So she really didn't have a hard ti.'

"But you know? To receive a formal mage appointnt, you have to spend a year under seal. I was only thirteen at the ti. Impressive, right?"

Bibi smiled proudly, then twisted her face.

"But nobody could understand a word I said. They were all idiots who couldn't comprehend what I was saying. And they were spending so much ti and effort on things that could be done in an instant with magic. It was pathetic to watch."

"I see."

He could understand how shocking it must have been for soone who had grown up learning only magical theory among older mages, suddenly thrown into reality.

"And they treated

like I was useless."

Her pink eyes glimred with a faint madness.

"Can you believe it? I'm a mage. But when I said I was a mage, they just laughed. And then they'd tell heroic tales about Aura-using knights. It was utterly pathetic."

Bibi habitually caressed the tattoo on her face.

"I just wanted to show them how great I was. I only ant to scare them a little, but they ended up dying."

"......."

Bibi chuckled.

"And while I didn't know what to do, Adolf appeared. We t like it was destiny. He told

it was okay to kill one or two humans. Compared to us who wield the power of magic, they're so insignificant...... pitiful."

She lowered her eyes and smiled with a mix of sympathy, then looked up again with a bright smile.

"That's why I'm glad to have t you too, Arkana. You even endured the sealing period. You're the first mage I've t who breaks the old mold by not receiving a mage appointnt."

Arkana looked at her smiling face and thought.

'Naive.'

It could be called a fool's self-justification.

He could understand well enough how she ca to follow Adolf so devotedly. A child shocked by murder, blindly following the person who told her it wasn't her fault, that it was unavoidable. Because she didn't want to believe she had done wrong.

'But if it were Siri.'

Well, what would a thirteen-year-old Sigrid have done?

First of all, she wouldn't have used magic in the first place. If she had accidentally killed soone, she would have gone to face punishnt.

At that thought, Arkana smirked, and Bibi pouted at his smile.

"You think I'm joking? But I'm serious."

"I know. But I'm curious about sothing. Your magic is sealed, right? How did you unseal it?"

The reason he couldn't use magic was also because it had been sealed. Bibi said, "Ah."

"I was never sealed."