Sigrid

Sigrid nodded. Alkerto glanced at her expression and said:

“But I didn’t want to spread this story around. About me struggling financially and all that.”

“I thought you didn’t care since I don’t care about such things. I’m sorry for overlooking that.”

Sigrid bowed her head.

“Yeah, but please don’t tell anyone else about this.”

She nodded solemnly at his words.

“Not even if my Aura Core is exposed.”

Alkerto muttered, “Wow, that’s a scary oath.” Once he had opened up to her, it became easier to continue talking.

Sigrid was someone who listened intently with her full attention and was ready to unconditionally support her friend Alkerto. So he kept talking:

“To be honest, sometimes my family feels like a burden. I think my life would be easier without them. They’re my father’s family anyway, and I barely know them, so why should I care? And then I feel like a bad person for thinking that.”

Alkerto let out a deep sigh.

“But when you said you helped my family, I got angry because it felt like you were pointing out that I was neglecting them.”

“I didn’t mean it that way at all.”

“I know. You’re straightforward, Sigrid.”

Alkerto said teasingly.

“Let me guess? You thought: My friend seems to be in trouble. I should help my friend. That’s all, right?”

Since it was true, Sigrid could only nod. She tried to explain:

“But you’d do the same for me, wouldn’t you?”

Sigrid looked at Alkerto with eyes full of 100% trust that he would surely come if she was in trouble. Alkerto smiled and said:

“Of course I would. Besides, you saved my life.”

Sigrid smiled brightly at those words. Alkerto felt envious of Sigrid.

As a commoner, he certainly had an inferiority complex. Every time he saw nobles like Morris or Marie-Chez—or other members—there was a definite accumulation of resentment. But Sigrid seemed upright and free from such feelings.

“I think Alkerto is amazing,” Sigrid said with a serious face.

“Really?”

“Yes, because I used to think you were just a completely lucky idler.”

“What?”

He nearly spat out his tea.

“As I said before, you have a good personality and get along well with everyone. You’re also good at reading people’s hearts. I can’t do that.”

Sigrid’s cheeks flushed. It was still a bit embarrassing to praise someone so directly. She also felt somewhat ashamed of explaining her previous twisted thoughts.

“Alkerto is kind and gentle, so you were the only one who always greeted me first. Without showing any difficulties. I think that’s truly amazing.”

“I’m not that kind…”

“No, you are. Compared to me, you’re kind and gentle.”

Even Sigrid herself thought that she had little to do with words like kindness or gentleness. Alkerto scratched his cheek in embarrassment. It was quite—no, extremely—awkward to hear:

“You’re kind and gentle.”

Alkerto cleared his throat and said:

“Next time, talk to me first before helping. So that’s settled.”

Alkerto looked at Sigrid seriously and said:

“About that concept of ‘friend.’ It might be good to talk to Marie-Chez and Lowengrin about it.”

Sigrid nodded, though confused.

Marie-Chez listened to Sigrid’s words and said incredulously:

“What are you talking about? I’m not going to die for you.”

Sigrid’s jaw dropped in shock at those words, while Lowengrin burst out laughing. Today was a tea time held in Marie-Chez’s garden.

“But we’re friends—”

“Do friends have to die for each other just because they’re friends?”

Marie-Chez frowned and shook her head.

“That’s coercion, coercion.”

“B-but…”

“Oh, and Sigrid, you don’t need to die for me either.”

Marie-Chez waved her hand dismissively. While Sigrid was still stunned, Lowengrin said with a smile:

“Siri, not all friends are the same.”

“Is… that so?”

“Just like not all knights are the same, right? It’s the same with friends.”

“Is… that how it is…?”

“Yes, we’re at friend level three, let’s say.”

Marie-Chez emphasized, holding up three fingers.

‘What does level three mean?’ Sigrid wondered.

Just then, a servant approached with quick steps.

“Miss Ankertna, you have a visitor.”

“A visitor?”

Marie-Chez turned to Sigrid in surprise, who shook her head with a bewildered expression. The servant smiled meaningfully and said:

“They’re carrying a gift sent by Lord Lunatil.”

“Oh my? Tell them to come in right away.”

Marie-Chez said, blinking her eyes. Soon, a well-dressed servant entered carrying a large box.

“This is a gift for Lady Sigrid Ankertna.”

Lord Lunatil? For me?

Puzzled, Sigrid accepted the box. Marie-Chez asked in an excited voice:

“What’s this? Siri, what’s going on? When did you two get so close?”

“No, we’re not that close…”

Lowengrin frowned and asked:

“Come to think of it, didn’t you say you were sexually harassed by Lord Lunatil before? Is this okay?”

“Well, when he tried again, I told him it wasn’t okay, and he just laughed.”

Marie-Chez’s eyes narrowed instantly at those words.

“He laughed?”

“Yes.”

Sigrid nodded and opened the box. Her lips parted slightly. Inside was a beautiful light coral-colored dress. Sigrid picked up the letter while looking at the dress that appeared expensive at a glance, shimmering as if her gaze might slip off it.

[I hope you like it. It would be an honor if you’d dance the first dance with me at the ball.]

Marie-Chez stared intently at the dress, while Lowengrin rolled her eyes as she took a sip of tea.

‘An expensive gift deliberately sent to where she’s gathered with her female friends.’

“Try it on,” Marie-Chez said.

When Sigrid looked up in surprise, Marie-Chez gazed at the dress with a peculiar expression and stood up.

“Let’s try it on quickly.”

“Huh? But—”

“No buts, just try it on first.”

Lowengrin also became curious. Half-pushed by Marie-Chez, Sigrid put on the dress with the help of the maids.

The dress fit Sigrid perfectly.

“It’s a perfect fit?”

Marie-Chez asked, and Sigrid nodded. Lowengrin marveled:

“It suits you well! It makes your eye color stand out more. And it makes you look slimmer. And—”

It was undoubtedly an expensive dress. The small jewels embedded at the bottom sparkled like a lake reflecting the sunset. But Marie-Chez crossed her arms and said in an annoyed tone:

“Isn’t he a pervert?”

“Huh?”

Lowengrin turned to Marie-Chez in surprise. She had thought Marie would be the one squealing with delight here…

“A man who knows a woman’s exact size—”

Marie-Chez spat out. At those words, Lowengrin went “Ah” in understanding. Whether he estimated by eye or by touch, it was clear that this was no ordinary person.

‘Marie-Chez preferred diligent men, didn’t she?’

Marie-Chez said to Sigrid:

“Next time he sexually harasses you, comp— no. Just slap him once. Then tell him that this isn’t okay.”

“Okay.”

Sigrid nodded obediently, and Lowengrin felt sorry for Lord Lunatil for a very brief moment.

Seria woke up earlier than anyone else.

Although she was called a maid, Seria knew her position was ambiguous. She was the lowest-ranking maid doing the most menial tasks. Seria didn’t know how to polish fine tableware or how to properly scrub and maintain wooden stairs. Moreover, her brother Arkana was Sigrid’s friend.

For these reasons, Seria was the outsider among the maids.

So she had no choice but to take on the most menial tasks on her own. It was Seria’s job to get up at the crack of dawn, light the fire in the kitchen, prepare meals for the maids, and boil water.

‘But the mistress wakes up too early.’

Seria glanced out the small kitchen window.

In most mansions, the first to wake up would be menial maids like Seria, but in this house, the first to rise was the owner, Sigrid.

She would practice with her sword until she was dripping with sweat, then end with a long meditation. Only after Sigrid came in to wash up would the maids begin preparing breakfast.

While most nobles had a light breakfast, Sigrid’s appetite was voracious after her morning practice. The cook in charge would put in extra effort to prepare a breakfast that was more like lunch.

Arkana ate a light breakfast of tea and toast, so he would sit at the same table and marvel as Sigrid devoured omelets, bacon, sausages, and enormous amounts of butter and cream.

“Isn’t today the day of the ball?”

Sigrid nodded in response. Arkana chuckled and wiped Sigrid’s mouth with a napkin, saying:

“And you’re eating like this?”

“It’s good to have a hearty breakfast. Besides, the ball is in the evening, isn’t it?”

Sigrid tilted her head, wondering, ‘What does breakfast have to do with it?’ Arkana shook his head.

“Never mind, forget I said anything.”

“What about you, Arkana? What are you going to do today?”

“The same as always.”

“Magic research?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not going to the Ice Tower anymore?”

At Sigrid’s question, Arkana frowned slightly as he thought of the Ice Tower.

The Ice Tower—

Though its name might make one think it’s located somewhere in the north, it actually exists in the south. A mirage in the middle of the desert, the base of magicians.

[If you find a giant tower made of transparent and beautiful ice in the middle of the Desert of Death, you’ve arrived at the Magician’s Tower.]

So goes the bard’s song, but in reality, there were few magicians, and those who had seen the Ice Tower could be counted on one hand.

Most magicians spend their entire lives researching magic in the Ice Tower. Very few venture outside. They believed that ‘Magicians should not exert their power on the outside world, and a great magician is one who surrenders to the flow of the world.’

Nevertheless, the royal families of various countries knew of the Ice Tower’s existence and maintained exchanges with it. They strived to prevent this unknown, powerful force from falling into any one side’s hands.

Using this as leverage to extract research funds from various countries was the mark of an excellent Grand Sage—as the tower master was called.

“I’ll have to go after the final test is over.”

“Ah, the one where you don’t use magic?”

“Yes.”

Living like an ordinary person.

“What will you do after that?”

At Sigrid’s question, Arkana stared at her for a moment before saying:

“Well, what should I do?”

“Since magicians are rare, everyone will want to be introduced to you.”

“If you introduce me, I might consider it.”

At those words, Sigrid thought for a moment before shaking her head.

“No, I don’t know any important people to introduce you to.”

“Then forget it.”

Arkana said that and sipped his light tea. Sigrid muttered quietly, “Forget it?” and then shook her head. It wasn’t her place to press the issue anyway, since there were still five months left.

After finishing breakfast, Sigrid stood up.

“Then I’ll be going out and coming back.”

“More sword practice?”

Sigrid nodded at Arkana’s question. She had been going out regularly at lunchtime to practice swordsmanship at the hunting ground where the Crown Prince had been attacked before. She actually felt that her Aura responded better when she meditated in the forest.

‘And they might be monitoring me for a while.’

It would be good to clearly show that she was practicing there consistently.

Sigrid felt her back straighten involuntarily as she thought about meeting the Crown Prince.

The Imperial Palace.

And if it’s the 1st District…

Maybe.

‘I might meet His Majesty.’

The thought made her dizzy. If they met, what should she say? No, there probably wouldn’t be any need to say anything.

‘Would he have been sad?’

Would he have regretted, even once, what he had done to her? Would he have been sad? Would he have thought it was a shame? Or would he have thought it was for the best? Would he have felt relieved? Would he have not cared at all? Not even a little? Not even a little?

Sigrid closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again.

The garden had changed surprisingly. Sigrid almost thought Arkana had cast a spell on it.

Arkana would smile as he tended to the climbing roses, saying it would look even better when summer was in full swing.

After staring blankly at the garden, Sigrid headed to the stable.

‘There’s no use worrying about it.’

Because she couldn’t know.

Because it was already over.

Sigrid put the saddle on Echo, fastened the girth, put on the bridle, and led him out before mounting.

For reasons she couldn’t explain, she felt like riding fast today, so she urged Echo on at a quick pace.

After finishing her lunchtime practice, Sigrid stopped by the knight order to check if there was anything special going on, then returned home.

Marie-Chez was scheduled to pick her up by carriage in time for the evening, so she needed to prepare in advance. Here too, Seria didn’t have much to do.

It was because she had never attended to a noble lady before. After twisting up her hair, tightening the corset, and getting dressed, Sigrid just lightly applied some lip color.

“I’m heading out.”

Sigrid said goodbye and climbed into the carriage emblazoned with the count’s crest. Inside sat Marie-Chez, dressed so beautifully it was dazzling.

“Marie-Chez, you look really pretty today.”

Sigrid murmured absent-mindedly. She looked like she had put in ten times more effort than usual. Marie-Chez looked Sigrid up and down and said:

“I knew this would happen.”

“Huh?”

“Just wearing the dress by itself. And just putting your hair up!”

“Isn’t this good enough?”

“Yes, it’s fine. Just fine. You look exactly like a poor young lady.”