Chapter 51: Veramood Lunatil

“Morris, who is this beautiful lady?”

“Ah—”

Morris turned around. There stood a grinning man who was a little shorter than Morris.

“Sigrid, this is my older brother, Amist Deforest, and Brother, this is my colleague at Knight Order, Sir Sigrid Ankertna.” Morris looked at Sigrid and Amist alternately.

“Ah, Lady Ankertna.” 

Sigrid held out her hand to shake Amist’s hand, but he kissed the back of her hand instead. 

“Oops,” Sigrid raised her eyebrows, feeling awkward. Then she thought about her outfit and put up with it. 

“I didn’t know that such a beautiful lady is my younger brother’s colleague. Morris, I see now why you are still with the Knight Order.”

Morris smiled awkwardly hearing what Amist said.

“Sir Ankertna is the best swordman among us, Brother.”

“Oh, the beautiful roses have thorns, don’t they? I hope you could show me that thorn later, Lady Ankertna.”

“Brother.”

“Why?”

“Sir Ankertna is my colleague.”

Amist’s expression was hardened slightly hearing the stern tone at Morris’ words.

“You want to admonish me? Don’t worry, I have no intention of touching my little brother’s woman.”

“Brother.”

As the expression on Morris’s face got darker, Amist shook his hand and walked away.

“Sorry, my brother didn’t mean to insult you.” Morris turned to Sigrid in a hurry.

Sigrid tilted her head, “First of all, I’m not your woman.”

Morris bellowed deeply as his cheeks seemed to be burning. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“And is it okay?”

“What?”

“I mean, your brother, maybe I could challenge him—” 

Sigrid dragged on her words as she thought about Amist’s steps, height, body, and movement she saw earlier.

“I think he comprehended wrongly. Our power level is so different that rather than as if being pricked by thorns, he wouldn’t even have a chance to feel it.”

Morris burst out laughing seeing Sigrid talking seriously. 

“Morris?”

“No, that is…Ha, right, sure.”

Morris felt relieved by Sigrid words. He could never say that out loud. Only Sigrid could say that in this manner. 

Sigrid added earnestly, “Morris, you also have to work a little harder.”

Morris quickly stopped laughing, “Yeah, I should.”

Suddenly Sigrid recalled the memory of Morris leaving the capital as a wanderer. She quickly grabbed the hem of his clothes. 

“Sig?”

“I could help you with swordsmanship.” Sigrid looked at Morris’s friendly brown eyes.

“Huh?”

“I’ll overlook what just happened. So don’t go anywhere—”

Morris looked at Sigrid’s face which for some reason was full of desperation. The beautiful eyes like the setting sun looked at him seriously. From the first time he saw her, he admired her pretty eyes. 

After looking into those eyes for a while, Morris replied, “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Morris looked around as he noticed the tune of the music began to change. As the first dance song began, people began to draw circles.

“Should we dance?”

Morris reached out his hand. 

Sigrid put down the lemonade she was holding and when her hand almost touch Morris hand, she stopped abruptly.

“Sig?”

“That is—”

“I apologize, but her first dance is reserved by me.”

Veramood appeared suddenly and grabbed Sigrid’s hand who had stood in the mid-air. And before Sigrid and Morris could say anything, he pulled her into the dance floor. 

When the familiar three-beat song started, Marquis Alsekidna and her wife also came out from the circle of people and started dancing in the center of the dance floor. 

Veramood whispered, “Why is the first song always a waltz?”

“When did you come?”

“Just before.”

“I think it’s rude to interrupt my conversation with Morris like that.”

“I also think my partner is too close with another man.”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Sigrid’s eyes widened, and Veramood squinted slightly at her.

“Ah— Is he your friend?”

“Yes.”

“Ah…” Veramood chuckled, then smiled again, and his smile became deeper as he notice Morris’ gaze over Sigrid’s shoulder.

“The clothes fit you well. Did you cut your bangs too? Cute.” Veramood whispered in her ear.

“Thank you.”

“Do you like the dress?”

“Yes.”

“I’m glad.” Veramood grinned widely and put his hand on her waist. 

After the second phase of the dance, as if everyone had been waiting, they stepped onto the dance floor. 

“We shouldn’t have come in so quickly. We could dance to the next song, right?”

“The next song is Polka.”

“Yes.”

“That means we should change our partner.”

“I don’t know what that has to do with it.”

Sigrid tilted her head and stepped forward. 

Veramood was surprised by Sigrid’s unexpected move.

“Actually, I was prepared.”

“What?”

“Being the one with no feet left.”

Sigrid frowned slightly. “I’m not that bad. I have a bit of practice before because I just thought I might be participating in the grand ball held at the imperial court one day.”

“That is so you.” Veramood laughed. He then held her waist tightly. 

Sigrid thought they were a bit too close for dancing, but she overlooked it because she had never really danced before. After all, it turned out she never had a chance to attend an imperial ball in the past. 

“After the dance, shall we talk privately for a while?”

‘Ah, is it related to the crown prince?’

“All right.” 

Sigrid nodded her head. ‘Sharing a secret in a crowded place, like hiding a tree in the forest? I see, sure enough, a place like this would be better to share a secret. The courage to try this should be appreciated.’