“Your Majesty, my lady appears too overwhelmed to speak.”
“What? Is she that disappointed I didn’t catch a deer?”
With Brunhild still on his arm, he attempted to proceed farther into the forest, probably intending to hunt deer.
Richard advised against it. “Let’s leave it at that, Your Majesty. My lady is unable to stand.”
“To leave now would besmirch my honor…”
It seemed Sigurd meant to keep going until he killed a deer. But when he looked at Brunhild in his grasp, staring up at him like she was ready to cry, he trailed off. Then he clicked his tongue and said, “Let’s leave it at that, then.”
Everyone was surprised to hear that from Sigurd—Brunhild, Richard, and likely Sigurd himself.
After the hunt was over, Richard went to Brunhild’s quarters.
Inside, Brunhild was sitting on a chair. Richard asked if she was feeling all right, and she told him she’d recovered right away.
“Good grief, that gave me a fright,” said Richard with a sigh.
“Indeed. It’s fine since Sigurd is invincible, but we’re not.”
“I wish he would consider the safety of those accompanying him.”
“You’re quite right.”
“But…,” Brunhild said, “…it was exciting.”
Richard’s eyes widened.
“When we were attacked, I was so very frightened. But looking back on it, I realize my heart was racing… I don’t usually get to experience that feeling. Well, I’m sure I only feel that way because I didn’t get hurt, though.” With a smile, she continued, “This didn’t occur to me at the time, but I think my brother was waiting for me to praise him for felling the bear. It was rather childish of him, though unlike the brother I remember. Still, I found it somewhat charm—” She noticed the ice in Richard’s gaze. “What’s the matter?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Huh?”
“Sigurd killed your family. Why are you getting attached to him?”
Richard came right up to Brunhild and grabbed her by the shoulder, digging in his fingers.
“R-Richard…”
“Remember what he did to you. Remember the awful things that have happened to you.”
“It’s not as if I’ve forgotten.”
“But you have. Otherwise, you wouldn’t speak fondly of him… He killed that dragon. Aren’t you ashamed to have almost called him charming?” Richard’s voice grew louder.
“You must not forget your sorrow for the dragon.”
Brunhild raised her voice as well.
“What do you mean? I don’t understand. Why must I hear you remind me of my sorrow for the dragon? You have no right to speak on it. This is a family matter.”
“What…?” Richard’s grasp on Brunhild grew tighter. “I’m saying this for your sake…”
He was so angry that his face was turning white.
“That hurts. Let go.” Brunhild twisted around. She was too weak to shake Richard off, but he came to his senses once he saw her face scrunched up in pain.
“S-sorry. I didn’t mean to…” He hastily released her.
Brunhild lowered her eyes, refusing to look at him, and said, “Besides, didn’t you tell me before I should see him for who he is?”
“I never said anything like that.”
She looked at him fearfully. Richard realized he had inadvertently harshened his voice. He softened his tone, saying, “You don’t have to ingratiate yourself to Sigurd like that.”
“Ingratiate myself…?”
“I know better than anyone how you really feel,” Richard said to her encouragingly. “It’ll be all right. I will save you.”
Brunhild stared at him with confusion.
“What…are you to me?”
“I…”
I’m your brother. That’s why I care about you so much.
He would probably have felt better if he could have told her that. But he couldn’t do it. At least, not yet.
“I’m Richard. Just Richard.”
With that, he left her quarters.
After departing from Brunhild, Richard went straight to the king’s chambers.
He was going to attack him right now, one way or another. He already had the sword on his person, so he could be ready to take Sigurd’s life at any opportunity. If he didn’t kill the man as soon as possible, his sister would be cajoled away from what was really in her heart.
Richard opened the door to the king’s chamber, hitting it so hard that it made a loud bang. Inside, Sigurd was polishing his boar spear. Noticing his servant, he called out, “What is it, Richard?”
Richard ignored that remark, striding straight up to Sigurd. He thrust his hand under his robe and was about to pull out the sword…
…but stopped the moment he grabbed the hilt.
Brunhild’s face crossed his mind. If Richard lost control of his emotions and bungled the assassination, then his sister would have no hope of escaping this man.
He regained his composure right at the last moment.
“What’s the matter? You look pale. Are you feeling ill?” Sigurd gave Richard a puzzled look.
Richard said, “Your Majesty, let’s go out hunting.”
“Hunting? But we just went.”
“I visited my lady. She told me she wished she could have eaten a deer you hunted.”
“A deer I hunted?”
“Yes, she was looking very much forward to it.”
Sigurd looked surprised. “She said that…?” Gazing at the blade of his boar spear, he said, “Perhaps I’ll be a proper big brother for once.”
At that instant, Richard nearly drew his sword. He desperately restrained his urge to kill.
“Well then, let us go now—just the two of us.”
Richard and Sigurd left the castle on horseback.
They began hunting in the same stretch of forest where they’d encountered the bear, letting a hunting dog lead the way. Richard followed one step behind Sigurd, looking for his chance.
Sigurd said to Richard in an easygoing manner, “Now that I think of it, it’s been quite some time since the two of us went out alone together like this.”
His face was as innocent as a boy’s. Not even Brunhild got to see him relaxed like this; Sigurd reserved this expression solely for the man he thought of as his closest friend.