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Chapter 44: Veramood Lunatil
Sigird and Ludy ran quickly to the backyard.
“AAHHHH!!” Jay and Jeje shouted while running away.
“Woof! Woof! Rrrrr! I’m crazy dog!” Veramood was growling and chasing behind the twins. He stopped when he saw Sigrid and Ludy.
Ludy bit her lip to hold back her laughter, but Sigrid didn’t and she burst into laughter.
Veramood turned his head awkwardly.
Jay and Jeje quickly went back to Veramood and cling to him.
“It was really scary!”
“It was creepy!”
“I almost peed!”
“Do it again, again~!”
“Well, I must stop now.” Veramood messed up the hairs of the twins, then pushed them away lightly.
Sigrid approached him with a smile, then took off the straw on Veramood’s head. “Is it a crazy dog game?”
“I have to match the level with the kids.”
“Your mimicry is amazing.”
“I often take care of my nephews (or nieces. This word is gender neutral).”
“It was scary that I was even afraid to come down from the roof.”
“You—?” Veramood’s cheeks blushed to hear what Arcana said. Didn’t that guy go to see the farm?
“It seemed that you were so absorbed in the game that you didn’t even notice I was back.” Arcana smiled. He then looked back at Sigrid, “I also cleaned the chimney after the farm was done. Have you done the laundry?”
“Huh? Oh, yes, we just need to weave them and hang them.”
“I’ll help you.”
“Okay. Will you also help, Sir Lunatil?”
“Sure.” Veramood glared at Arcana, grinding his teeth.
The four grabbed the bedsheets at both ends, twisted and squeezed them, then shook them vigorously, and hung them side by side on the clothesline.
“Let’s have snacks.” Sigrid then pulled out four large baskets from the carriage. Quickly Arcana and Veramood went and helped her bring the basket.
“Please eat this.” Sigrid handed Ludy three baskets.
“This
 if we have three, then you three would have only one? No, let’s eat together.”
“That’s all right. This basket is heavier.”
Ludy laughed hearing Sigrid’s words. She slowly adapted to Sigrid’s rigid tone. She took the baskets to her mother’s room, giving up the table in the kitchen for those three. She ate the snacks with Jay, Jeje, and her mother.
Sigrid took the food out of the table as the cheers from boys were heard from the room.
“It’s full of sweets,” Sigrid said as she saw Veramood raise his eyebrows while looking at her.
“Ah.”
Sweet things were precious.
Veramood nodded.
The basket in Sigrid’s hand was not filled with snacks, but with a meal replacement. That was why Sigrid said it was heavier. The foods had a lot of volume, thus it was heavy.
“I had no idea Alkerto has been living like this.” Sigrid talked while eating her sandwich.
“You had?” Arcana was puzzled.
Sigrid nodded, “Why didn’t he tell me though? I would have helped him. His jidang is also not feeling well—I could help him pay the healer.”
Veramood sharply asked, “Wait, you didn’t tell Alkerto that you’re going to help his family?”
“Yes. I just thought it was unnecessary to tell him as we’re friends. He doesn’t need to know what I did.”
Arcana was also slightly stiff. “Uh- wait, Siri. So you’re saying you’re here to help without Alkerto’s consent? And he also never asked for help?”
Sigrid nodded her head puzzled.
Veramood asked as if conforming. “Did he ever reveal that he is having a hard time?”
“No, he didn’t. Ludy said it’s because he has strong self-esteem.”
Arcana and Veramood quickly closed their mouth.
Sigrid frowned slightly feeling the change in the atmosphere.
“Why?”
“You’re in trouble,” Veramood muttered with a little groan.
Arcana shook his head, “It’s very likely that he doesn’t want anyone now. If no one knew.
”
“What’s wrong with it?”
Arcana groaned, “Siri, that Alkerto has a lot of pride. He is really proud person. He doesn’t want to be seen to have difficulties.”
“But he told me, that he has siblings.”
“Yes, right. But he didn’t tell you he was this poor—or even ask you to help him, right? What he said to you is like, ‘i have family members’ or ‘i’m the head of my family’. It’s a usual thing what friends say to each other. But
”
“I didn’t do anything bad—”
“Yes, I know. You didn’t do anything bad. Not really.”
Veramood swept his hair while sighing, “But there are some people who won’t take any help as their principle.”
“I don’t know what are you talking about—”
“Well, what if, mm, I help Sigrid—”
“I refuse.” Sigrid refused Veramood’s words in a single blow.
Veramood was silent for a moment before speaking. “It’s just an example—wait, you hate it that much?”
“If I were to get help from you, I don’t know where or how you ask to pay back.”
“I’m not the person who is so inconsiderate.”
“You mean, it should be the one who is in debt to have words?”
“That’s
” Veramood sighed, then tried to say something more. “There are times when I just act out of kindness without asking for payment.”
Arcana shook his head, “I don’t know who that Alkerto is, but I think he wouldn’t like it if he kno this.”
“Why?”
“Because of his pride.”
“Isn’t having friends boosting pride?”
“But that is—” Arcana was about to say something more, but then he bit his lips and smiled, “Forget it, I think it would be better off just telling him directly.”
“Directly?”
“Yeah, talk to him. If you fight, you can fight. Friends often fight.”
‘Fight
’ Sigrid murmured a little, then nodded her head calmly.
Veramood grumbled quietly, “what an unfair differential treatment.”
After snack time, the three—including Ludy—began to move. They came to work anyway, so it would be better to finish it.