9 – 9. Lilac

“Hmm.”

The dispatched nobles’ lodging.

Amidst the nobles’ groans, a cacophony born from the intense training, Isaac was alone, choosing his clothes.

‘A bit disappointing.’

As an invitee to Caldias’s dinner, it was necessary to dress appropriately.

However, among Isaac’s clothes, there was nothing that would be to their liking.

‘Might as well do some writing while I wait.’

My hand itches for a pen, my gaze keeps drifting to the meticulously placed textbook on my desk.

*Knock knock knock.*

“Isaac, sir, I’ve brought them.”

Jonathan’s voice from the other side of the door.

I let him in, my eyes drawn to the clothes draped over his arm.

“I brought them as you asked, but are you sure you want my clothes? Most of them are training wear, things for when I’m practicing,” he says.

“Yeah, that’s what I needed.”

“Oh, really? Haha! I’m glad I could help!”

Jonathan beams, his face lighting up with joy.

His pure, childlike demeanor makes me smile before I even realize it.

‘What an odd one.’

He’s as guileless as a child.

Isaac can’t help but think he’s entirely out of place in Helmont.

“How’s the barracks? Have you made friends with the others?” I ask, rifling through the clothes.

Jonathan answers right away, as though he’d been waiting for the question.

“They’re all very nice. Is it because of Helmont’s name? They’re so kind and good. Except one of them snores really loudly when he sleeps.”

“Oh? That must be rough.”

“But it’s alright. It’s much easier than training with my seniors!”

“Yeah, I imagine it is.”

Back then, he wouldn’t have slept properly, would have been beaten or forced awake.

“Haha, I’m glad I was dispatched here. I was a little worried, to be honest, but you’ve been so good to me, Isaac, sir.”

“What have I done?”

“It’s not true! I’m really thankful. That’s why when other people insult their lords, I keep my mouth shut!”

“Is that so?”

The kid’s got some loyalty, at least.

“Training as a knight of Helmont is important, but a little rest is also needed, right? The seniors must’ve sent me here with that in mind.”

As I listen to him, my fondness for Jonathan grows.

‘….’

A strange question flickers, a moment, in his mind.

‘The Knights of Helmont.’

Isaac, he dislikes Helmont, fundamentally.

Well, no need to explain, let’s move on.

But about Helmont’s knights, it’s a bit different.

They’re called the kingdom’s finest.

A knight isn’t just about swinging a sword, naturally.

They must fit the ‘way of the knight’ – ethics, moral code.

‘Though, Helmont’s direct line are basically thugs.’

Could even the knights be so rotten?

Especially those under the lord, Arundel?

“How does the outfit fit? I’ve barely worn it.”

“……”

Whatever the reason, a knight shouldn’t ostracize or torment.

Especially the things Jonathan suffered, they were terribly cruel, so no reason could justify them.

But.

Isaac, he suddenly wondered.

If there was a reason, a trigger, for how they treated Jonathan so harshly.

What could it have been?

* * *

Dinner time.

The surrounding candles glow softly, lighting the meal and creating a warm atmosphere.

Because it’s the North, you see things like fermented, cured, or dried foods often.

But also, there were greasy meats and hot soups, prepared in their own right.

‘Milly must be doing alright.’

Isaac felt a sudden yearning for Milly, the Helmont cook who was his age.

“You invited us then made us wait.”

Lord Uldrian, the head of the house, and his only daughter, Sylverna, came in then.

Though he was huge, his steps were so quiet, almost still.

“I am Isaac Helmont. Thank you for inviting me to dinner tonight.”

He offered a polite greeting, but Uldiran, instead, thumped his shoulder, moving past it.

“Right then, let’s eat. I’m starved.”

“Oh, don’t bother with formalities.”

Silberna, with a smirk, advised.

He knew it.

That they weren’t ones for ceremony.

Still, even the bare minimum was vital for first impressions.

He needed to show that he respected them.

“There’s not much, but dig in,”

Uldiran, seated at the head of the long table, urged Isaac, abandoning any pretense of decorum.

From the start, gnawing a bone with his bare hands, a savage who paid no mind to custom.

Isaac matched his pace and began to eat.

In Malidian’s bulwark, it was only right to follow their ways.

Seeing this, Uldiran smiled with satisfaction, then questioned Isaac,

“Why come wearing a gambeson? What, you staging a protest about how hard your day was?”

A gambeson was layered cloth worn under armor by knights.

Clothing to keep skin from getting hurt by hard armor.

At Uldiran’s question, Silberna, also eating at the table, turned to look at Isaac.

He wiped his mouth, then with a smile, replied.

“It’s the front lines, isn’t it.”

“Huh.”

“Oh.”

The corners of the father and daughter’s mouths twitched up at his words.

That he’d chosen a gambeson, ready to put on armor at a moment’s notice, over more formal attire, even when invited to dinner by a margrave.

It seemed to have greatly impressed the pair.

He’d done well to borrow Jonathan’s clothes.

He’d never worn armor, so of course he had no gambeson of his own.

‘Thanks, Jonathan.’

In his mind, Isaac thanked Jonathan, and continued his meal.

The conversation was mostly the father and daughter asking questions, which Isaac then answered.

“That pep talk today, it was right impressive. Felt like it was meant for us, not some fancy noble folk.”

“That’s my personal take on it. If it was rude, I apologize, but I hoped the other nobles felt the same.”

“Different from Helmunt, ain’t he? Got that raw edge, must be a bit jarring.”

“It’s easier, truthfully. Being around them, all that etiquette, felt stifling.”

“How’d you meet Rianna, then?”

“She was a ferry woman. Got to talking while crossing the river, and well, next thing you know, we were hitched.”

The meal went on, conversation flowing deeper.

“So, you seemed to know a fair bit about Caldias’ spear techniques.”

Uldiran, mouth itching to ask, looked at Isaac.

Isaac took a sip of the harsh liquor Anna poured him, then nodded.

“I’ve got a keen interest in many martial arts. Especially Caldias’ spear play, it’s always struck me – reading about it, or watching people use it – as something remarkable.”

He gathered a breath, then continued.

“Those trained in Caldias’ spear had a consistently high ‘minimum’, all of them. You could expect a level of skill, at least that, from every single one.”

“Hah! Indeed, our spear skills are not to be trifled with.”

“Got an eye for it, you do.”

Seeing the father and daughter smile with pride, Isaac inwardly grimaced.

*‘Indeed, the Caldias spear is magnificent.’*

That was undeniable fact.

*‘But you need to evolve.’*

The spear technique of Caldias, making common men great.

But.

They cannot stagnate here.

Not if they wish to escape the deaths planned for them in the future.

*‘I will help you.’*

I will surely make your spear technique several times greater than it is now.

Different from the ordinary.

Born into a powerful position, they should be even greater.

Like.

Helmunt.

* * *

The sky cracked open with the dawn.

Of late, Rianna was dragging through her days, a sluggish thing.

A face gaunt and worn, hair dull and lifeless.

Hellmunt, usually untouched by minor ailments, even her servants fretted, wondering if she was unwell.

Rianna, on the surface, looked far from right.

Still, she ventured outside the manor for her personal training.

“Hoo-up! Hoo-up!”

“Haa-yup!”

A few of her brothers were already deep in their drills, but strangely, Rianna had no desire to grip her sword.

*This is a first.*

Listlessness.

It felt like the perfect word to describe her state just now.

Perhaps that was why.

Rianna, instead of the training yard, made her way to the garden.

As she walked through the rose beds, the blooms still yet to unfurl.

“Ah.”

A single sprig of purple lilac caught her eye.

The sight of it conjured a memory in Rianna’s mind, thick with the scent of lilac.

It was shortly after the wedding, not long ago.

[Lia, come look.]

An empty garden.

He’d playfully beckoned her, finger to his lips, telling her to be quiet.

[Look at this, isn’t it lovely?]

Isaac, grinning as he pointed to the lilac.

Rianna, on the other hand, furrowed her brow.

*What are the gardeners even doing.*

Rianna, displeased that a flower other than roses had made its way into the flowerbed, was about to call for a gardener, but then.

[I planted it. I may have asked the gardener to turn a blind eye.]

*…You planted this?*

Rianna scowls, eyes narrowed at Isaac, “What in the world are you doing?”

Isaac, looking at her, replies with a sly grin.

[Lia, it’s me.]

‘You?’

[Lilacs bloom faster than Helmunt’s roses, and they’ll wither by the time the roses come to life.]

‘…’

[The world calls me a spineless wretch, marrying into a noble house. Saying I’m trying to get a leg up in life, riding on Helmunt’s back.]

Rianna knew this too.

Some praised it as a romantic marriage, but of course, there were many who didn’t.

[But Lia.]

With a soft smile, Isaac takes Rianna’s hand.

Their hands touch, wedding rings brushing.

[Helmunt means nothing to me. I married you, Lia, only you.]

[I’ll be by your side even if Helmunt disappears. Like this lilac, blooming alone, even before the roses.]

Rianna slowly turns her head.

The lilac reflected in her eyes now felt precious.

‘…’

Back then, she didn’t know what to say, so she remained silent.

Then Isaac whispered, laughing softly.

[There’s another secret about lilacs. Curious?]

‘…Curious.’

Isaac gestures playfully with a smile.

Rianna glances around to see if anyone is nearby, then leans her ear towards him.

Isaac whispered secretively, as if they were in a clandestine meeting.

[The meaning of purple lilacs is… first love.]

‘…’

[Huh? Lia, are you embarrassed? Are you holding it back right now?]

Isaac, with his bright teasing smile, comes to mind.

Yearning, she reaches out without thinking.

Isaac’s image vanishes.

A single lilac, abandoned, tickled at the tips of Rianna’s fingers.

“Ah.”

Then.

In that word.

In that smile.

Truth be told, my heart was pounding too hard to speak.

Your consideration, sensing my heart, gently embracing me, was sweeter than any flower’s fragrance.

Held in your arms, the small smile I secretly wore made me a girl again.

That embrace, making me want to abandon everything, now feels so utterly—

“Ah, Izak.”

I miss you.

My legs give way, and I sink to my knees.

I tried, truly tried, to hold it in.

But soon, tears spill from my red eyes, blurring my vision.

No matter how much I cry.

He’s already gone.

Only the single, abandoned lilac remains.

Telling me that time wasn’t just a fleeting dream.