Sigrid - 20

“That remains to be seen. But if you don’t work, the chances of becoming friends will approach zero. I’ll start by fixing the windows.”

Arkana said,

“I’ll go check the roof.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks.”

While Rudi fidgeted nervously, Sigrid and Arkana quickly got to work. Beramund seriously stared at the sofa before asking Rudi,

“Hey, can you show me how to remove this cover?”

“What? Oh, yes, yes—”

The three— no, four of them began working together on the household chores. At first, Rudi didn’t know what to do, but she soon opened up to Sigrid and Arkana’s down-to-earth demeanor.

Sigrid carefully removed all the nails from the window with broken hinges and set them aside. Not a single one could be lost. She gently hammered the bent nails straight again, and also straightened the warped hinges.

After fixing the wooden window so it could open and close, she opened it wide. Sigrid fixed everything from the rickety shelves to the tilted table. Meanwhile, Beramund, who nearly tore the bed sheets, was eventually chased outside and volunteered to play with the bored children.

While Arkana repaired the roof and tended to the clogged rain gutters, Sigrid and Rudi headed to the stream with a large washtub and laundry.

“I didn’t know Alkerto would tell his colleagues about us.”

Sigrid was puzzled by Rudi’s words.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because Alkerto is so proud.”

Rudi’s face turned red. Her eyes sparkled with pride.

“Alkerto is an imperial knight. I thought all knights lived in nice houses. But Alkerto sends most of his earnings to us. He’s never said it’s difficult, but I thought it must be.”

Sigrid pondered deeply.

‘Come to think of it…….’

She had thought of Alkerto as someone with an easy life. No one would have imagined his family was this poor.

Does Morris know? Sigrid couldn’t tell how much Morris knew. Alkerto also enjoyed having fun.

That’s how it seemed when she recalled her past memories.

Upon reaching the stream, they put the laundry in the washtub, added water, and mixed in soap. Then they started stomping on it. Sigrid asked about something she was curious about.

“I heard Alkerto has four younger siblings. Where’s the other one?”

“Ah— Sera is at school now.”

“School?”

“Yes, Alkerto said she needed to learn and sent her to school.”

“I see. What are the age differences?”

“I’m eighteen, Sera is sixteen, and the twins Jay and Jeje are ten. They’re the youngest.”

“Quite a big age gap.”

There’s almost an eight-year difference with Alkerto.

“Well—”

Rudi scratched her cheek and said softly,

“Alkerto is a child our father brought home. Father remarried my mother. That’s why his eye and hair color are completely different from ours. They say he takes after his birth mother.”

“Then what about your father?”

“He passed away seven years ago.”

“I see.”

So Alkerto was supporting his stepmother and four half-siblings with his salary.

“Is your mother in poor health?”

“After father passed away, her health deteriorated significantly. She takes medicine every day, but……”

“Why don’t you see a healer?”

“Healers are too expensive for us to even consider.”

Rudi shook her head. Then she continued,

“And she’s always been a weak person. She has a sickness of the heart too.”

Rudi said with an awkward smile. Sigrid nodded.

‘What if we took the mother to see a healer?’

She had enough savings for that.

“To be honest, I was prepared for Alkerto not returning home for a long time.”

At Rudi’s sudden words, Sigrid turned her head. She said with a smile,

“I thought we might be a burden to Alkerto as a knight. But I’m relieved that his colleague came to visit like this.”

Rudi was relieved they hadn’t been abandoned. She was happy to feel acknowledged as siblings rather than burdens. Just the fact that he had told his colleague about them made Rudi truly happy.

The last words came out with a trembling voice and tears, leaving Sigrid flustered.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, yes, I’m fine. I’m sorry.”

“It’s nothing.”

Wondering why she suddenly started crying, Sigrid awkwardly patted Rudi’s shoulder. After sniffling for a moment, Rudi raised her head with a red nose.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s nothing.”

“I’m showing such an unsightly side. I’m not usually like this, oh dear.”

Embarrassed, Rudi got out of the wooden tub and washed her face several times by the stream. Sigrid also got out of the tub and said,

“I think we’ve stomped enough, let’s rinse now.”

“Yes, since it’s heavy, let’s both—”

“……?”

When she turned around, Sigrid had already taken out the laundry and was holding it. The sheets were large and heavy. Even more so when soaked with water. But it wasn’t that heavy for Sigrid. She put the laundry in the water and started shaking it vigorously.

“My goodness……. You’re really strong.”

At Rudi’s dazed murmur, Sigrid proudly said,

“I train every day.”

Sigrid single-handedly accomplished a task that usually required two or three people clinging together to shake until clear water came out. Finally, after thoroughly rinsing the washtub as well, they put the sheets back in and carried it home.

As they neared the house, they heard small screams. It was the sound of boys screaming. Surprised, Sigrid and Rudi rushed to the yard, where Jay and Jeje came running out shouting, “Aaaah!”

“Woof woof! Grrr! I’m a mad dog!”

Beramund, who came chasing after them growling, stopped abruptly when he saw Sigrid and Rudi. Rudi bit her lip trying to hold back laughter, but Sigrid didn’t hold back and burst out laughing. Beramund turned his head, embarrassed. Jay and Jeje quickly ran back to Beramund and clung to him.

“It was really scary!”

“I got goosebumps!”

“I almost peed myself!”

“Do it again, please~”

“Well, I think that’s enough for now.”

Beramund ruffled the two children’s hair and gently pushed them away. Sigrid approached with a smile, removed a piece of straw stuck to Beramund’s hair, and asked,

“Playing mad dog?”

“Had to match the kids’ level.”

“Your imitation was quite impressive.”

“I’m good with my nephews and nieces.”

“I was too scared to come down from the roof.”

At Arkana’s sudden appearance and comment, Beramund’s cheeks turned red.

“You—?”

Didn’t you go to check the field?

“You seemed too engrossed in play to notice my return.”

Arkana said with a smirk. He turned to Sigrid and said,

“While I was at it, I cleaned the chimney too. Did you finish the laundry?”

“Oh? Yes, we just need to wring it out and hang it.”

“I’ll help.”

“Alright. Lord Lunatil, will you lend a hand too?”

“……Fine…….”

Gritting his teeth, Beramund glared at Arkana before replying curtly. The four of them grabbed the sheets at both ends, twisted them to wring them out, then shook them vigorously before hanging them side by side on the clothesline.

“Let’s have a snack.”

Sigrid said this and took out four large baskets from the carriage. Arkana and Beramund quickly went to help carry the baskets. Sigrid handed three baskets to Rudi and said,

“Please eat.”

“You didn’t have to… No, will the three of you be alright with just one? Let’s all eat together.”

“It’s fine. This basket is heavier.”

Rudi smiled at Sigrid’s words. By now, she had grown accustomed to Sigrid’s stiff way of speaking. Rudi insisted on giving up the dining table, so the three decided to eat in the kitchen while Rudi, Jay, and Jeje would eat together in their mother’s room.

As Sigrid was taking out the food on the table, cheers from the boys could be heard from the room. When Beramund raised an eyebrow and looked at Sigrid, she said,

“I filled it with snacks.”

“Ah.”

Sweets are precious.

Beramund nodded. As Sigrid had said, what was in this basket was more meal substitutes than snacks, making it heavy and substantial.

While eating a sandwich, Sigrid said,

“I had no idea Alkerto was living like this.”

Arkana asked curiously, “Really?” and Sigrid nodded.

“Why didn’t he say anything? If he had, I could have helped. Plus, with his mother being unwell— I could have paid for a healer instead.”

Beramund asked sharply,

“Wait, you didn’t tell this Alkerto person that you were coming to help?”

“No, I just thought I’d help secretly since we’re friends. It doesn’t matter, does it?”

Arkana also stiffened slightly.

“Uh— wait, Siri. So you came to help without Alkerto’s consent? And he never even asked for help.”

Sigrid nodded, puzzled. Beramund asked as if to confirm,

“Has that person ever once shown any sign of difficulty?”

“No, never. Rudi said it’s because he’s very proud.”

Both Arkana and Beramund closed their mouths. In that atmosphere, Sigrid frowned slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

“You’re in big trouble.”

Beramund muttered with a groan. Arkana shook his head.

“No, if we can keep them quiet, it should be fine. If he doesn’t find out……”

“Why are you acting like this?”

Sigrid pressed Arkana. Arkana grunted and said,

“Siri, that Alkerto person is probably really proud. He probably doesn’t want anyone to know he’s struggling.”

“But he told me about his siblings.”

“Well, yes. But he never mentioned being this poor— or asked for help, right? Just saying you have family is something you can tell friends. Even saying ‘I’m the head of the household’ is okay between friends. But……”

“I didn’t do anything wrong—”

“Yes, I know. You didn’t do anything wrong. But.”

Beramund sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

“But there are people who can’t accept it properly.”

“I don’t understand what you mean, but—”

“If, for example, I were to help Sigrid—”

“I refuse.”

Sigrid cut off Beramund’s words with a sharp rejection. Beramund was silent for a moment before speaking.

“No, I’m just giving an example— Wait, do you dislike it that much?”

“If I receive help from you, I don’t know where or how you’ll demand it back.”

“I’m not always that calculating.”

“Says the person who always mentions owing debts?”

“That’s—”

Beramund was about to say something more but sighed and said,

“I do sometimes act out of goodwill without expecting anything in return.”

Arkana shook his head and said,

“Well, I don’t know what kind of person this Alkerto is, but from what I’ve heard, I don’t think he would have been pleased.”

“Why?”

“Because of his pride.”

“Aren’t friends supposed to be beyond pride?”

“That’s true, but—”

Arkana was about to say something more but smiled and closed his mouth.

“No, I think it’s better if you talk to him directly.”

“Directly?”

“Yes, have a conversation with him. You might fight, but friends sometimes fight too.”

Sigrid mumbled ‘Fight…….’ softly before nodding obediently. Beramund grumbled that the treatment between him and that guy was too different, it wasn’t fair.

After finishing their snack time, the three— including Rudi, the four of them started moving. They thought it would be better to finish what they had started since they had come to work anyway.

By the time the three were ready to leave, the old farmhouse was sparkling to the point of being unrecognizable. The group boarded the carriage, seeing off Rudi and the children.

Because it was an open carriage, the conversation between Arkana sitting in the driver’s seat and Sigrid and Beramund sitting in the passenger seats was free. Beramund, tired from playing with the children, opened his mouth,

“Come to think of it.”

“Aren’t you in the same knight order as the eldest daughter of Viscount Alsekidna?”

“Yes, Lowengrin is my friend.”

“Then were you invited to the Viscount’s ball too?”

“Yes.”

“Are you going?”

“Well—”

Sigrid frowned, crossing her arms. Beramund said “Ah” and asked,

“Are you the type who dislikes things like balls?”

Come to think of it, he didn’t remember ever seeing her at a ball before. Such silver hair would be unforgettable once seen.

“I used to be, but not anymore. It’s not that, but Marie-Chez told me to get a new dress made. However, my expenses have been increasing lately……”

Hearing this, Beramund casually asked,

“Speaking of which, I heard you recently bought a house.”

“Yes.”

“Where did you suddenly get the money?”

“It wasn’t sudden, I saved diligently.”

“Enough to buy a house in the 2nd District?”

“No, there was a murder case there, so the house price was cheap.”

“Still, it seems like it wouldn’t be enough? Unless you saved your entire salary……”

“That’s exactly what I did.”

“Huh?”

Sigrid looked straight at Beramund and said,

“Since my time as a squire, I’ve been saving about ninety-five percent of my salary continuously.”

“Wait, you’ve been living on five percent of your salary until now? No, that’s impossible, isn’t it?”