Sigrid

The west would also be aware of this fact, so the possibility of them joining hands with him would increase even more. The problem lies with the other nobles, not the west.

The very notion of creating a personal guard reeked of purges, causing Serios to curl his lip. He hoped the situation wouldn’t become that serious. But what could he do if the other party desired it?

‘I can only pray it doesn’t come to the worst.’

While praying so, Serios also considered what to do if the worst-case scenario did occur.

Seeing Serios lost in thought, Beramund sat down. He asked:

“What about the Prince?”

“Rudinal should be on his way from the east to the north now? He said he’d be passing through Lava territory recently.”

“I’m worried…”

Serios nodded at Beramund’s muttered words.

“I can’t fathom Father’s intention in sending young Rudinal on an inspection tour, especially in winter.”

Though he said he couldn’t understand, his smile was chilling.

Rudinal had smiled and said he would hear good things while touring the territories, but he was only twenty. Winter travel is harsh and carries a high risk of death. Serios wanted to assign a master as an escort, but Father would never allow it.

“Let’s hope he completes his task safely. There’s nothing I can do for that kid right now.”

‘I must do my best in what I can do,’ Serios thought, lightly rubbing his forehead.

“How’s Erial?”

At Beramund’s question, a smile flitted across Serios’s lips.

“It’s not long now. She’s so uncomfortable.”

“I can imagine.”

“I just hope she delivers the child safely.”

Worry filled his face. He knew well how dangerous childbirth could be.

“She’ll be fine. Erial is quite robust, after all.”

Beramund grinned as he joked, then added:

“And the best doctors are attending to her, so it’ll be alright.”

“Yeah.”

Serios nodded. He fervently hoped so too.

“Oh right, since you’re here, why don’t you go see her? She seemed restless from not being able to go out at all lately.”

“Should I?”

“Yeah, I’ve been so busy lately… And now with this new development…”

Seeing his cousin-in-law trail off, Beramund willingly agreed to visit his cousin.

‘He’s asking me to be a stress relief target, I suppose.’

Perhaps it was a vassal’s duty to indulge a little.

As soon as Beramund left Serios’s room, he went straight to see Erial.

Erial’s room was much warmer than other places. A mountain of firewood blazed in the fireplace. A small brazier was placed at her feet as well. Dressed in comfortable clothes and sitting there, Erial greeted Beramund informally.

“Oh? What brings you here?”

As she spoke in a tone that could be either sarcastic or welcoming, Beramund replied politely:

“Why, of course, I came to see my dear cousin.”

At those words, Erial chuckled and put down the flower stem she was holding. Beramund looked at it curiously and asked:

“Flower arranging in this season?”

“No, they’re paper flowers.”

Erial picked up a flower from the table and handed it to Beramund. Taking it, Beramund marveled:

“This is amazing! It looks so real. What kind of flower is it?”

“I just made it up. I thought we might save some money if we didn’t have to use greenhouse-grown fresh flowers for tea parties in winter.”

“So it’s a nameless flower. Doesn’t it sound a bit shabby to talk about saving money?”

As Beramund grinned and spoke, Erial chuckled and said:

“Then let’s say we’re restraining from extravagance.”

“That sounds better.”

Beramund replied and flopped down on the sofa. He said:

“Brother came.”

“Oh? Ravis?”

“Yeah, he came without saying a word.”

Erial laughed lightly at the grumbling Beramund. Her dark brown hair shimmered like an aged rowan tree, and her eyes were deep and warm like sunlit wood.

It was thanks to Erial that Serios, who had been emotionally unstable, became stable. Beramund usually treated her as his tomboy cousin, but sometimes he would clearly feel, ‘Ah, she’s older than me.’

Like now.

“I’m glad you’re getting along well with Ravis.”

“There’s nothing not to get along with.”

Beramund said and grinned, and Erial smiled back.

“You have a tendency to throw yourself away too much.”

At Erial’s words, Beramund rolled his eyes.

“I think I’m quite the self-preserving type, actually.”

“That type doesn’t volunteer to go down to the west alone. Take better care of yourself.”

“I am.”

After Beramund’s reply, she said, “That’s good then,” and continued:

“So what did you talk about with Serios?”

“Huh?”

Caught off guard, Beramund unconsciously asked back. Erial narrowed her eyes and asked:

“You wouldn’t have come for no reason. Didn’t you come while meeting Serios? The fact that Serios told you to come see me means— It means Serios will be late tonight too… What news was there?”

Beramund sighed and spilled the story without holding back. Erial is Serios’s closest political partner. After hearing his words, she lightly tapped her lips, then smiled and said:

“Call Lady Sigrid Ankertna.”

⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱

Erial’s very deep, high-quality cognac-like eyes sparkled. Erial, sprawled in a comfortable chair due to her advanced pregnancy, sat across from Sigrid, who was sitting with perfect posture.

Sigrid was in a state of confusion, having suddenly been summoned by the Crown Princess.

“Don’t be so stiff.”

Though Erial spoke in a light tone, Sigrid couldn’t assume a more relaxed posture than this.

“I’m already comfortable.”

“Is that so? How’s the armor I gave you as a gift?”

At those words, Sigrid hurriedly bowed her head and said:

“I use it regularly. Thank you for the gift that’s beyond my station.”

“No, I didn’t ask to be thanked.”

Erial waved her hand lightly with a smile. Sigrid felt nervous every time she moved. How could a person’s belly protrude that much?

It wasn’t her first time seeing a pregnant person, but it was the first time seeing one up close. Moreover, Erial was small and slender, making her belly look even larger. Erial stroked her belly habitually as she spoke:

“I heard you’ve been assigned to guard the Third Prince.”

“Yes, His Majesty graciously gave me the task himself.”

“Then you’ll meet the Empress too.”

Sigrid only then realized with an “Ah.” Come to think of it, she had never seen the Empress. Despite being by the Emperor’s side for so long, she had never seen the Empress.

At balls, she was always on guard duty and couldn’t enter the interior, and there was no reason for the Empress to be present when the Emperor summoned her separately to assign tasks.

“Her Majesty is the same age as His Highness.”

At Erial’s words, Sigrid snapped out of her thoughts and looked at her. Erial recalled the day she first saw the Empress.

What would it be like for a girl her age to come to marry a man old enough to be her father in a foreign country? It’s something any noble woman might experience, but it certainly wouldn’t be pleasant.

Since Erial and Serios were the same age, Serios had gained a stepmother who was the same age as him. Shortly after the Emperor remarried, Erial and Serios also held their wedding. And that strange feeling when greeting the Empress—a girl the same age—

And what must the Empress have thought?

“She must have had a hard time coming from so far away.”

“I’m sure she did.”

“They say the Third Prince is a scoundrel and Her Majesty has given up on him, but I think I understand why she’s like that. I didn’t before, but now that I’ve become a mother, I understand. Mothers’ thoughts are often similar.”

Erial smiled, and Sigrid looked puzzled.

“Lady Ankertna, I hold you in high regard.”

“I am honored.”

“I’m even envious of you freely displaying your talents.”

“That’s…”

Sigrid muttered involuntarily, as if to refute. She wasn’t someone the Crown Princess should envy. Erial smiled again at her reaction.

“No, please become an idol for all tomboys.”

At those words, Sigrid made a face that said she didn’t know how to respond, and Erial laughed out loud and said:

“I once wanted to become a knight too. I used to swing a sword quite well when I was young.”

“Did you?”

Surprised, Sigrid asked back, and Erial nodded.

“I even beat up Beramund and Serios once.”

While hitting the Crown Prince was an incredibly presumptuous act, the idea of thoroughly beating Beramund was enviable.

“That’s… amazing.”

“Well, I’m sure they both went easy on me since they couldn’t hit me back.”

The smile on Erial’s face was so elegant that she didn’t look at all like someone who had beaten up two men. Erial continued in a cheerful voice:

“Anyway, I think it’s a good thing that you’ve been assigned to guard the Third Prince. Lady Ankertna— no, Sigrid.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Sigrid, you are strong. But the women in the palace learn to survive not by physical strength, but by other methods.”

Erial’s voice grew lower and sweeter.

“Don’t forget that Her Majesty the Empress is also at the pinnacle of the inner court, a strong person.”

“I understand.”

“Good, Sigrid. Now, may I ask you a personal question?”

“What? Yes, of course.”

So everything up to now wasn’t personal talk? Sigrid pondered all the conversations they had in her mind.

“What do you think of Beramund?”

“Pardon?”

“Beramund Lunatil, I mean.”

Called by his full name, Sigrid thought for a moment before saying:

“I think he’s a good person.”

“In what way?”

‘That he decisively called His Majesty trash.’

Thinking about it made her want to laugh again, so Sigrid bit her lip to suppress it. After clearing her throat a few times and barely redirecting her thoughts, Sigrid answered:

“I think he’s surprisingly diligent.”

Observing him closely, it was clear that he hadn’t attained the position of Captain of the 1st Imperial Guard solely based on family and bloodline. While seeming laid-back, he grasps the overall situation. That ‘laid-back’ yet ‘capable’ aspect seems to provoke others’ displeasure.

If one hadn’t seen him work up close, they might think he was just a playboy.

Sigrid furrowed her brow and said:

“Umm— Of course, he seems to enjoy entertainment and play, and he pushes most of his work onto the vice-captain, and rather than working steadily, he tends to procrastinate and then deal with everything at once—”

“But?”

Sigrid chuckled and said:

“His skills are undeniable.”

“I see, so that’s your evaluation—”

“Ah!” Sigrid raised her hand and said:

“I… I had no intention of speaking ill of him at all.”

“I know. Hmm— Do you think you can trust him with your back?”

At Erial’s question, Sigrid smiled deeply.

“Of course.”

“I see.”

Erial nodded. She stretched her legs in the opposite direction and said:

“Then I have a personal favor to ask of you.”

“Yes, please command me.”

“Take care of Beramund.”

“By ‘take care,’ you mean…?”

“Beramund sometimes recklessly throws himself away. I’m a bit worried about that.”

He volunteers for dangerous missions with a casual smile.

Of course, Erial was well aware of Beramund’s abilities, but worry was a separate issue. She knew Serios trusted Beramund and assigned him roles, but Beramund would surely accept tasks beyond his strength with a joke and a smile.

“I understand.”

Sigrid bowed her head at Erial’s words.

After all, it’s a subordinate’s duty to support their captain.

At Sigrid’s words, Erial smiled gently and rang a bell to call a maid, whispering something to her. Shortly after, the maid returned with a black box.

“This is my gift to you. I think it will suit you well.”

When the maid opened the box, inside was an ornate red coral hairpin. It was clearly no ordinary item at a glance.

“This is…”

“It doesn’t suit my hair anyway. I think it will look better with your silver hair.”

“I am honored.”

“Please accept it without burden.”

After hesitating, Sigrid bowed her head and accepted the gift. According to Marie-Chez, one shouldn’t refuse gifts from high-ranking individuals unless absolutely necessary.

“I accept with gratitude.”

“I’m the one who’s grateful.”

Erial replied softly and sank into the sofa. It was clearly a gesture ordering dismissal, so Sigrid said, “Then I’ll take my leave,” and Erial waved her hand to dismiss her.

Carrying the box out, Sigrid let out a small sigh.

‘I accepted it, but will I ever have a chance to use it?’

Thinking this, she returned to the mansion.

Seria, who had grown much closer to Sigrid, was waiting for her.

“You’re back?”

“Yes, were you waiting?”

“Not at all.”

Sigrid handed the box she was holding to Seria. She opened it curiously and her eyes widened.

“What is this? Wow, it’s really pretty. What kind of jewel is it?”

“It’s coral, it comes from the sea.”

“A jewel from the sea… How can it be such a beautiful red? Did you buy it?”

“I received it.”

“Oh my? From a man?”

“No, from Her Highness.”

At those words, Seria swallowed hard and quickly closed the box. She knew Sigrid was impressive, but her heart raced whenever such an unimaginable person’s name came out of her mouth.

“Then it must be incredibly precious.”