Sigrid

“What?”

“My guard duty is over now.”

“What?”

He turned to look at her in surprise. Sigrid glanced out the window and said:

“The sun is setting. It’s time for the shift change.”

Awen said nothing in response and returned to his room. Throughout the day, Sigrid had received disapproving looks from all the servants, maids, and attendants, silently asking ‘Why aren’t you stopping him?’ as she followed the troublemaking prince, but she didn’t bat an eye.

After greeting the tired-looking knight taking over for the next shift, Sigrid quietly left the room.

As she walked from the palace to the Imperial Guard quarters, she saw a dark shadow. Sigrid slightly shortened her stride to slow down.

The face that emerged into the light was unexpected.

“Morris?!”

“Hello.”

“What brings you here? Are you feeling better?”

Sigrid ran towards him with a bright smile. Morris nodded.

“Much better, thanks to you. But are you alright?”

“Huh?”

“I heard you’re guarding the Third Prince?”

He lowered his voice, furrowing his brow.

“How did you know?”

Sigrid asked in surprise, and Morris chuckled before replying:

“News about you travels fast. You’re the most successful person from the 2nd Knight Order. Rumors spread quickly.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and there’s Marie-Chez and Lowengrin too.”

“Ah, I see.”

Sigrid nodded in understanding. One shouldn’t underestimate the social network’s information channels. Sometimes rumors spread even faster among women than among noble men.

“How was it?”

Morris asked worriedly, and Sigrid smiled broadly.

“It was fine.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Sigrid nodded. She pointed ahead with her index finger and said:

“Can we talk while walking? I need to return to the Imperial Guard quarters first.”

“Oh, of course.”

Morris and Sigrid began walking side by side.

“I heard the prince is incredibly stubborn. They say there’s no bigger troublemaker.”

“Yes, he did cause a lot of trouble. Throwing stones into passing maids’ water buckets, spilling flour…”

“Really? What about you? Were you alright?”

“He attacked me at first, but later he started ignoring me.”

“Ignoring you?”

Morris asked, puzzled, and Sigrid briefly explained what she had done. Morris let out a sigh.

He knew he could never do such a thing.

He would try his best to catch the Third Prince running around causing trouble everywhere and make him follow the schedule. No, before that, he’d probably be apologizing left and right for the prince’s mischief.

“Sigrid, you’re amazing…”

To say she’d only guard and not lift a finger for anything else.

It was correct, but it seemed too cold-hearted.

‘But then again, it’s not exactly wrong either.’

“It’s not that amazing.”

Sigrid shrugged. Morris sighed and said:

“Still, I’m glad. I could never think of such an approach.”

“Is that so?”

Sigrid tilted her head and glanced at Morris. He looked much healthier than when she last saw him, and his condition seemed back to normal.

“How are you doing, Morris? Are you alright? With your brother…”

“Well… it’s so-so.”

Morris trailed off. As they approached the Imperial Guard building, a few people could be seen in the training grounds.

“Siri.”

Beramund, who had been leaning against the wall, straightened up and called out to her. His eyes briefly flicked to Morris standing beside her.

“Captain.”

Sigrid gave a light greeting. Beramund grinned and asked:

“How was it? Your first guard duty.”

“It was tolerable.”

“Was it?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s good—”

As Beramund drawled, looking pointedly at Morris, Sigrid said “Ah” and made introductions.

“This is my friend Morris Deforest from the 2nd Knight Order. Morris, this is my superior and friend, Beramund Lunatil.”

“I’ve heard of you, Lord Lunatil.”

“Likewise, Lord Deforest.”

The two exchanged greetings with smiling faces. However, neither let go of their guard against the other. As they finished shaking hands with cold smiles and eyes full of suspicion, Sigrid said:

“I don’t think there’s anything specific to report, so I’ll just check out and finish my shift.”

“Alright.”

Beramund nodded, and Sigrid turned to Morris.

“Wait a moment, I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

As Sigrid hurried into the Imperial Guard building, Beramund spoke:

“So you’re from the 2nd Knight Order.”

His tone was clearly condescending.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Morris smoothly deflected his sharp words with a gentle smile. Beramund closed his mouth.

A good person.

This type is troublesome. Beramund decided to stop picking a fight.

“I heard about your loss. My condolences.”

“No.”

Morris replied briefly in surprise, then shook his head.

“It’s alright. Thank you.”

Beramund closed his mouth and assumed a waiting posture. Morris hesitated for a moment before speaking:

“I heard you lost your father when you were young too, Lord Lunatil…”

“I did, but I had my older brother.”

“I’m a bit envious of that.”

Having a close relationship with siblings was something Morris envied. At those words, Beramund chuckled and said, looking at Morris:

“Having a talented older brother isn’t easy either, you know.”

“Ah…”

Morris trailed off. He smiled oddly and said:

“Family relationships aren’t easy, are they?”

“Perhaps it’s because they’re family that it’s harder.”

As he answered, Sigrid came running out. Beramund quickly put on a smile as if nothing had happened and said:

“Imperial Guards aren’t allowed to run~”

“I wasn’t running. I was speed walking.”

Sigrid retorted, not backing down.

“Then I’ll be taking my leave for today.”

As she bowed politely, Beramund lightly waved his hand in dismissal. Sigrid cast a regretful glance towards the training grounds once before saying to Morris:

“Let’s go.”

“Is it okay to just leave?”

Morris whispered softly as they walked.

“My shift is over.”

Sigrid answered lightly, and Morris glanced back at Beramund before asking as they walked:

“Is Lord Lunatil alright?”

“Hm?”

“He doesn’t ask for anything unreasonable because you’re friends, does he?”

“Not at all.”

“I see.”

While Morris felt relieved, he also felt somewhat uneasy.

“How’s the Imperial Guard?”

“Ah— The atmosphere is good. Since there are aura users, they definitely don’t hold back during sparring…”

Sigrid grinned as she spoke.

“But I still win.”

Of course, her opponents were also improving their skills, becoming aware of the weaknesses Sigrid focused on exploiting, making it increasingly difficult to use those tactics. On the flip side, there were times when they would catch her off guard, which Sigrid liked as it helped improve her own skills.

Morris responded with “Is that so?” and then said:

“I’m planning to take the test for the 1st Knight Order.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Someone of your caliber should make it.”

Sigrid lightly patted his back in encouragement. Morris laughed softly and said:

“Hearing you say that makes me feel like I really can do it.”

“I’m telling you, you can.”

Sigrid assured him. Morris nodded. He glanced at Sigrid and said:

“About that time…”

“Yes?”

“…I don’t think I properly thanked you last time. I only showed you my worst side.”

Sigrid tilted her head in confusion and asked:

“Your worst side?”

“Well, um, like hugging you when I was dirty and unwashed.”

As he spoke, Morris felt the tips of his ears burning. In contrast to Morris, Sigrid nodded with an “Ah—” and said casually:

“It’s fine. Did you come just because of that?”

“Not just that, as I said earlier, I came because I heard you were working with the Third Prince. Fortunately, you seem to be doing well.”

“There wasn’t anything particularly bad about it.”

Looking at Sigrid speaking so calmly, Morris smiled again. He reached out and took Sigrid’s hand.

He felt the hard gauntlet first, but even so, he could tell her fingers were nimble.

“…?”

Sigrid neither pulled her hand away nor questioned it. She simply returned a puzzled smile and held his hand in return. Morris said:

“Let me treat you to dinner. You’ve worked hard today.”

“I didn’t work that hard, but I won’t refuse.”

Sigrid answered cheerfully.

“Great, I’ll take you somewhere delicious.”

Sigrid smiled at Morris’s promise.

From afar, the two looked like a close pair. Nas whispered discreetly to Beramund as he watched them walking away, disappearing like the setting sun:

“Aren’t you going to lose out if you just stand by?”

“I won’t lose.”

Beramund replied curtly. Nas, with his unchanging expression and eyes that seemed to be smiling, looked at Beramund and said:

“Those who say such things often end up losing.”

“No, it’s not like that. She can’t read nuances.”

Beramund made a statement that could be considered either an insult or something else entirely, and Nas raised his eyebrows before nodding. Even as his adjutant, he could understand that much.

“So you’re saying it has to be a direct confession?”

“That’s right.”

“He might do that, you know.”

“No, he won’t.”

“Why not?”

“He’s from the 2nd Knight Order. Men are sensitive, aren’t they? They live and die by their pride?”

“It sounds foolish, but it’s not entirely wrong.”

Nas nodded and said:

“Then shall we have a go?”

“At what?”

Nas tapped his sword, and Beramund responded with an “Ah.”

“I might not be able to control myself right now.”

“That’s why I’m suggesting it.”

“Alright. Eol, you’re an excellent subordinate.”

“It’s better than having the other subordinates unable to come to work tomorrow.”

“It’s not that bad…”

Muttering, Beramund whistled to draw attention and made a light gesture with his fingers to signal everyone to leave. He took a deep breath to calm himself.

Nas’s specialty was swift swordsmanship, using a flexible blade for unpredictable attacks. Rushing in excitedly would only result in getting hurt. Beramund grinned.

‘Attacking excitedly will only result in getting hurt, huh.’

Seeing that smile, Nas muttered as he drew his sword:

“Please don’t break any bones.”

Hearing that mutter, Beramund said:

“I can’t give my excellent adjutant a vacation.”

“Hearing that makes me think getting scratched up enough for a month off might not be so bad.”

Beramund merely laughed at Nas’s words.

The sparring match ended with Nas’s defeat, but there were no injuries, and Nas felt a bit disappointed.

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

Alkerto echoed Morris’s words with a “Huh?”

“The Imperial Knight?”