Sigrid - Chapter 52
Chapter 52: Veramood Lunatil
When the waltz was over, the second song, polka, began soon after. While people lined up, Veramood and Sigrid slipped out of the hall.
“This way.”
As soon as Sigrid was on the edge of the garden outside the terrace, the cold night air brushed her cheek. It was summer, but the air outside was better than in the hall.
Sigrid took a breath. “Sir Lunatil.”
“Hm?”
“It’s too close.”
“It’s okay, no one is watching.”
“It’s not that….”
Sigrid looked at Lunatil, who stood so close to her that his chest touched her. His hands wrapped around her waist like when they danced the waltz.
“I’m glad the clothes fit perfectly. It seems my sense are not dead.”
“It fits surprisingly well.”
“I thought about it while choosing, but I couldn’t help but to find no dress as beautiful as your smooth silk skin.”
Sigrid clenched her fist as his fand crept up on her back. Thinking about their closer gap, she released her balled-up fist. Instead, she pulled her lower body back slightly.
At that moment, when Veramood looked down in wonder and made a gap between them, Sigrid’s round knee hit his stomach.
“Fuck!”
Veramood gasped for a moment. It was an unexpected blow.
“Ah-”
Sigrid lowered her leg and shook her head. Because of the dress, the proper blow did not come out.
Veramood clutched his stomach.
“Please, don’t do this,” Sigrid spoke in a calm tone.
“?!”
Veramood’s unique eyes glazed at Sigrid.
“You’re the one who kicks me!”
“You touched me first Sir Lunatil.”
Veramood let out a groan. It was really hurt. It was obviously bruised. There must be a big, round bruised on his lower stomach by tomorrow.
“If you don’t like it, you could say no before using violence.”
“I’ve told you before, but you just laughed.”
“Oh, really.”
The pain and discomfort of being kicked, and the combination of various things made him annoyed, and he glared at Sigrid for a while, then he let go of her shoulder.
“Sorry if I offended you.”
Sigrid shook her head in surprise hearing the unexpected apology. “No, I wasn’t particularly really offended.”
“Okay?”
“Yes, but I don’t like being touched like that without permission.”
“Then can I touch you if I ask permission?”
“You can.”
“Then can I touch you?”
“It’s not possible.”
Sigrid firmly refused. Then she took a deep breath.
“So, what is it that you want to talk about in a secret, Sir Lunatil?”
“I was just about to tell you, and I got kicked.”
“…?”
Veramood sighed and rubbed his forehead after seeing Sigrid’s puzzled face.
“No, I was joking.”
Sigrid blankly looked at Veramood’s face for a second, “Ah!” and realized something. She had seen this situation in a romance novel loaned to her by Rowen Green.
“You’ve invited me to engage in a clandestine meeting in the garden. I thought you wanted to talk about His Highness The Crown Prince. I’m sorry. I kicked you for misunderstanding. Though, if I had known that this secretive meeting was about other thing, I wouldn’t have come along. Still, I’m so sorry.”
“Even if you apologize for that… that was really half a joke.”
Veramood shook his head while laughing.
“No, I was going to talk about that too. You could visit the imperial palace tomorrow morning. I’ll meet you at the west gate around 11 o’clock.”
“Yes.”
“By the way, Sigrid.”
“Yes?”
“Are you willing to try to do something secretive and wild?”
“No.”
“Really? Is it because it’s me? What about with Morris guy?”
“I don’t intent to do that with anyone.”
Sigrid frowned for a moment and sighed deeply.
“Sir Lunatil.”
“Hm?”
“As you can see, I’m not that funny. I can’t even understand jokes properly. I also just found out a while ago that you belong to the ducal family. And here I am a commoner and not a very talkative one. And in our meetings, only recently we started talking besides greetings,”
Sigrid took a deep breath once more and looked at Veramood. He was too looking at her with a serious face.
“So I think it’s a mistake to say you want to be friends with me.”
Sigrid was well aware that her social skills, her way of speaking, were somehow distorted. Right now the only thing she could do is being sincere.
“I want you.” Veramood said in a low voice.
Sigrid’s eyes widened.
Veramood grinned. “The position in the 1st squad of Knight Order is not something that can be given back so easily, Sir. Ankertna. It’s not right to use only the rights you get and give up the duties.”
“That….”
“So strictly speaking, you’re still mine, don’t you agree?”
“That’s not true.”
Sigrid was lost in thought. She couldn’t always ask others to decide for her. Ultimately, she had to make a decision.
“Sir Lunatil.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s be a friend.”
“Oh?” Veramood blinked.
Sigrid said nervously, “I-I don’t understand why you want to be friends with someone like me. Still, I am happy that someone wants to be my friend and accept me just the way I am. Even if someone was like you, I was still happy. Since Marisuez said that a friend has many level, well, why don’t we start with the first one?”
“Okay, then, let’s start being a friend.” Veramood grinned widely.
Sigrid nodded. But one thing puzzled her.
‘The beginning is friend, what’s on top of that….’
‘Best friend?!’
Sigrid gasped in surprise.
‘He’s my best friend later on… what a grand dream. I should learn from him.’
Sigrid smiled, thinking of herself as the best friend of Marisuez, Rowen green, Moriss, Alkerto, and Arcana. She was happy enough that her heart ache.
“Goodbye, then.”
Sigrid grabbed the hem of her dress and bowed gracefully. Then she turned around and went inside without looking back.
Veramood slowly folded his hand, which had stretched out in the air, then sighed.
‘Ah, it really hurts.’
He rubbed his belly before going inside after a while. Just by glancing at the floor, Veramood could spot Sigrid dancing the quadrille.
‘Who is this new guy again?’
Unlike the black hair earlier, the new one is a blonde-haired man.