Sigrid
Chapter 2

Morris nodded and said, “My home isn’t too far. You can sleep there tonight.”

He wanted to keep her nearby for the night, unable to set his mind at ease. However, Sigrid shook her head.

“No. I would rather go home. I find that more convenient.”

“But you’ll be doubling the work for the guards,” Morris said, seeking to justify his suggestion.

Eventually, Sigrid nodded—she didn’t want to inconvenience the guards more than she already had.

“All right, then.”

Accompanied by a guard, the two headed to Morris’ place. Morris was the second son of a viscount, and he’d found himself a private home in the capital after he was knighted. Even if it was just a house, it was far better than Sigrid’s lodgings—he had four servants working for him, and the building was a stand-alone, proper house. When they headed inside, a cozy living room came into view. It was not as expensive as houses in District 1, which was where the imperial palace was located. Still, it was a fine house in District 2.

“Come in,” Morris said.

“Thank you.”

Sigrid apologized when Morris yawned heavily once they were inside.

“I’m sorry to wake you over nothing. You have another day of work tomorrow, so you should get some sleep.”

“It’s nothing,” Morris said, shrugging.

Sigrid cautiously pressed down on the plush carpet. The fireside had been decorated ornately, and the candleholders on the walls were simple but proper, and made of beaten brass.

“I bought those with my own hard-earned money.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You’re always complaining about luxuries and whatnot, saying they’re not proper for a knight,” Morris pointed out.

Sigrid frowned, trying to protest, but she stopped herself. Her beliefs had gotten her killed, and she didn’t feel like defending them. Morris was surprised, having expected her to come back at him with a rejoinder. Their relationship was close enough to have squabbles like that.

“Sigrid?”

“Maybe you’re right.”

“Sid?!” Morris exclaimed, even more confused.

She heaved a sigh.

“Don’t call me— Actually, you can call me that if you want.”

Morris had believed in her innocence until the end and had even tried to get her out of prison. He had the right to call her that if he wished.

“Are you really Sigrid?”

She looked at him strangely.

“Do I seem like someone else?”

“Yes,” he said frankly.

She grinned at him. Rubbing her forehead slowly, she said, “I’m feeling a little muddled. Would you mind if I slept, Sir Morris?”

“Oh, yes. Of course.”

Morris showed her to a guest room on the second floor, and Sigrid thanked him.

“Don’t mention it.”

With another shrug, Morris closed the door. Exhaling softly, Sigrid began to undo her hair. Her abundant hair, which people liked to compare to pure silver, flowed down her back. She smoothed the tangles with her fingers and stood for a while. She knew her head had been cut off. So how was this possible? And why had she been transported back in time five years? Could this be a dream? Maybe the sort of dream that one experienced after death?

Perhaps I should go see a mage.

There were plenty of counterfeits who liked to claim they were mages, but real mages and witches were few and far between. Sigrid slowly combed through her memories.

Arcana.

She soon remembered the name. The mage would only come to fame three years from now, but he was no doubt a mage even now. Sigrid began to remove her boots, deciding to go and see him later.

I don’t feel sleepy.

She sat on the edge of the bed, slowly running her hands over the sheets. Her calloused hands, rough from wielding a sword, tugged against the smooth fabric.

I always envied Morris.

She hadn’t chosen to think of it that way. Rather, she had held him in contempt as the second son of a noble family. Even so, Sigrid had been envious of his social status.

I envied the nobility.

She had wanted to be counted among them—Sigrid had worked desperately to win acknowledgment as a knight and to be recognized by her liege. Her every belief and habit had been molded to fit the requirements of knighthood. She had protected herself by mocking anything that didn’t fit that mold.

What a fool I was.

Now that she had died once, her past behavior felt like complete foolishness. Despite pouring every effort into her goals, it had been that very effort that had killed her. Sigrid sighed at length once more, then lay back on the bed.

Come to think of it, I left the house without my sword. I guess I was distracted.

She felt her waist where the sword should have been and stared at the ceiling.

I wasn’t an aura user at this point, was I?

An extreme level of mastery over the sword allowed a person to utilize aura. Three years from now, she would become an aura user, and be selected to be part of the Imperial Guard. Sigrid raised her hand. No aura core had formed there yet, but she knew how it would form. She swung the edge of her hand like a blade, and a faint light gathered around her hand. But with there being no aura core, the light couldn’t stick, fading after the gesture.

“It still works…”

Sigrid balled her fist. This was proof she was not in a dream. She probably wouldn’t be able to do things stemming from muscle memory or real-world experience if she was in a dream. In other words, she had been transported back in time with only her memories intact.

“My god.”

She placed her fist on her forehead and closed her eyes.

First, I’ll find a mage… But what will I do then? Am I allowed to change my future?

She opened her eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling.

“To change my life…”

Changing how my life unfolds. Is that allowed?

At the same time, she wondered, Why not? She didn’t want to end up on the scaffold again, end up the subject of criticism, and have people throw stones at her in the street.

My aura core was destroyed. I was whipped. Then they took a brand and—

Sigrid placed her hands over her face and breathed hard. She never wanted to feel that sense of betrayal ever again. People she had considered to be on her side, people who had been kind, had coldly turned their backs on her. His Majesty had abandoned her.

I swore loyalty to you. I did everything you asked. And you condemned me and sentenced me to death.

It had actually been the friends who had originally abandoned and disdained her who ended up trying to help her.

Changing my own life… But how? How can such a thing be done?

Life was a combination of habits, thoughts, and methods—it was not something one could alter overnight. Sigrid spent the night without sleeping and got out of bed as soon as the sun rose. She meticulously made the bed, put on her boots, arranged her hair in a single braid, and walked out of the room.

Is Morris still sleeping?

She decided it would be rude to leave without telling him, so she stood in the living room, wondering what to do. A maid walked in for her morning duties, only to be shocked to see her standing there.

“My goodness!”

“Oh, sorry. Did I scare you? I was invited here last night as a guest,” Sigrid said politely, and the maid seemed relieved. It helped greatly that she was a knight with a familiar face. “I’ll be on my way. Please tell Morris I left early.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Sigrid opened her lips to correct the maid. It was “Dame Sigrid,” not “my lady,” but she stopped herself.

My life needs to be different.

Repressing her slight displeasure, Sigrid nodded. As soon as she was out the door, she saw that the road was covered with a morning fog that had not yet dissipated. Curfew had been lifted, and noise gradually filled the streets. Sigrid left District 2 and walked to the outskirts of District 3, which was where her home was located.

By then, the noises of the city were at full volume. Bread sellers were going around shouting and hawking their wares. She saw people buying bread for breakfast, girls selling flowers, and women selling cookies. Sigrid was about to buy a piping hot loaf of bread when she realized that she didn’t have a single coin on her person. So she headed home instead.

Going into her room, she changed out of her wrinkled clothes and into her uniform. She put on her cloak and sword, and she took up her identification and a bit of coin before heading to the headquarters of her knight order. The morning assembly hadn’t begun yet, and the building was mostly deserted.

The order’s building was located inside the imperial palace, which, just like the capital, was divided into three areas. The Third Area was accessible even to commoners, but the Second Area was usually off-limits to anyone without a noble title. The First Area was only for those with the emperor’s permission. The order’s headquarters were located in the Second Area. Sigrid knocked, and Lebelle, Captain of the Second Order, looked up.

He glanced at the time and said, “Come in.”

Lebelle wondered who could have come so early, but he understood when he saw who it was. It was Sigrid Ancertna. Except that she could be a little too stiff, she was the perfect knight. He already knew she was always the first person to show up at the building every single morning.

What kind of knight does that?

“Good morning. Why are you here so early?”

“I want to ask for a leave of absence.”

Lebelle thought he had misheard for a moment.

“A leave of absence?”

“Yes. The longest one I’m allowed to take. I think I have quite a few holidays piled up…”

“Yes, I suppose. So you want time off?”

“Yes,” Sigrid said firmly.

Lebelle stared blankly at her, then nodded.

“All right. How long?”

“As long as is allowed,” she replied.

Lebelle looked her up and down.

“Are you ill? Is this a family matter?”

“No. I just need some time alone to think. Is that a problem?”

“Huh? No. Of course not. Well, in that case…” Lebelle rubbed his chin. Sigrid had never asked for leave, even as a squire. He was trying to remember the procedure required to offer a long paid leave. “How about forty-five days of paid leave?”

“Thank you.”

“Inform me in advance if you need an extension, by letter or by any other means.”

“Yes. Thank you, Captain. If you’ll excuse me.”

Sigrid bowed and left his office.

Forty-five days. I wonder if that will be enough?

She had no idea, as she didn’t exactly have experience in such a situation. If necessary, she would extend her leave. Having made her decision, Sigrid sat down on a long bench near the training yard. Closing her eyes and quieting her breathing, she slowly sensed the aura that glittered around her. She imagined it being absorbed by the pores all over her body, but her thoughts were soon interrupted by footsteps. Her eyes flew open.

“Alcerto.”

Her voice was quiet, but he’d heard her and turned his head. He immediately smiled.

“First to arrive, as usual, Sigrid.”

She bit her trembling lip and shot to her feet. She crossed the training yard in no time at all, stopping in front of him and staring at his face. His blue-green eyes soon grew puzzled.

“Sigrid? What’s the matter?”

“Alcerto,” she said, finding herself holding his sleeve like a child.

His eyes narrowed.

“Sid? What is it?”

You’re alive.

Her stomach lurched.

So this is how it feels to be reunited with a dead colleague.

“It’s nothing,” she said, letting go with a smile.

Alcerto wasn’t about to gloss over such behavior.

“This isn’t ‘nothing.’ What’s going on?”

“I’m taking a break.”

“What!”

Not even Alcerto could hide his shock.

A break? Sigrid Ancertna is going on leave?

“Are you ill? What’s the matter?”

“I just need some time to collect my thoughts, is all.”

“But you—”

“Alcerto.”

“Yes?” he said, almost as if to say he was ready to do anything she asked.

Sigrid took a deep breath.

“I’m proud of you.”

This seemed to completely flummox the man.

What did she just say to me? Uh… Sigrid?

She burst into laughter when she saw the look on his face. This only caused him to panic.

Who even is this? What’s going on here?

“I was jealous of you, since you seemed to be more successful than me, even though we are both commoners. I’m sure you already knew that, but still.”

Sigrid’s face burned as she admitted the truth. Alcerto, with his curly golden hair and blue-green eyes, was very popular. He seemed to get along with just about everyone, including her. She’d resented him for it, in addition to being jealous. Sigrid wanted to walk away as soon as she could—it wasn’t easy, exposing her sense of inferiority—but she didn’t want to have any regrets in this life. This was her second chance, after all.

I can’t ruin this one too! That is an idea I can’t stand.

“It’s just because I’m narrow-minded,” she said.