25 – 25. Damned Helmont

“Lady, the scouting party has returned!”

“……!”

The moment she heard Kelsi, Sharen’s handmaiden, report, Rianna rushed over.

It was already late, growing dark.

The scouting party, who she’d heard were only going out to patrol the base briefly, were so late everyone had started to worry.

Especially since another scouting party, who had gone out before them, hadn’t returned either, the atmosphere had grown even more grave.

Seeing the scouting party entering within the walls, Rianna breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully.

Isaac looked unharmed.

Her younger sister, Sharen, though her expression wasn’t great, was smiling awkwardly so she must not be injured either.

“There’s one less of us than when we left.”

Kelsi’s words brought a nod from Rianna.

Their journey, started with six, would end with five.

If anyone heard what they’d been through today…

They’d have to be praised for even five returning alive, such was the ordeal.

And yet.

The bitterness was unavoidable-.

“Oh my?”

Kelsi’s exclamation pointed to Isaac’s hand.

Astonishingly, Sharen and Isaac were holding hands.

“Looks like the two of you have gotten closer.”

“Seems so.”

Rianna caught herself, a faint smile playing on her lips.

She wasn’t ignorant of how her younger sister mistreated Isaac, but she couldn’t interfere.

“Not everything has to be bad.”

Rianna nodded at Kelsi’s words.

If they’d grown fond of each other…

Rianna’s expression hardened.

‘What good does that do now, anyway.’

Already.

Isaac had decided to leave Helmundt, hadn’t he?

Rianna’s face quickly darkened. Still, if Sharen could become a good memory for Isaac, then…

That would be good, she thought, just as Sharen latched onto his arm, even linking arms.

‘……’

Rianna felt a strange, unsettling sensation.

* * *

“Isaac-nim! Are you alright? Where, where are you hurt? If you’re tired, I’ll give you a piggyback ride!”

“I’m fine. So please, stop.”

“If you need anything, you absolutely must call! Kheuheuk! I should have been there with you-!”

“You wouldn’t have been any help anyway. So just go.”

Isaac pushes Jonathan, who was trying to come fully into the room, out.

“I’m sorry, Sir Isaac! Rest well!”

With Jonathan gone, Isaac was finally alone in his room.

“Hoo.”

He collapses onto a chair with a long sigh. He hadn’t imagined, before leaving the room this morning, that the day would turn out so incredibly long.

‘I heard they even camp out sometimes.’

Sleeping outside on a day like this would be a real ordeal, he figured. Would he even wake up feeling refreshed?

‘Well, no use in whining about it.’

He was only making these sounds because, after all, he’d managed to survive.

He’d survived a battle where lives were on the line.

For the sake of those who died, he had to be grateful for surviving.

‘Maybe I should wash up a bit.’

Thanks to the fact that the noble quarters had private washing spaces, Isaac was able to clean himself up in relative comfort.

The water was warm, and the soap was high quality.

Uldiran had improved the soldiers’ treatment using his own money, arguing that they should be better treated since they were on the front lines.

It was worthy of the Caldius bloodline, having produced the spear that could be used by so many soldiers.

These small yet significant efforts were what held the Malidian rampart together.

And so.

When Isaac, having finished his shower, returned to his room, there was a somewhat unexpected guest.

“Silberna?”

Silberna was sitting in a chair, reading ‘Isaac’s Sword’. Even though she’d probably read it several times already, she was focused on every single line.

“Ah, you’re back.”

Silberna looked fresh and clean, like she’d already showered. She rose from her chair smiling.

Her thin clothes made her chest sway quite obviously, which Isaac was getting used to, just as he’d said he would.

“Um, and Anna?”

“Anna? She’s washing up. She’ll probably go to bed soon.”

“Right.”

Isaac nodded, feeling troubled. It certainly wasn’t ideal for a man and a woman to be alone together in light clothing at this late hour.

Both Anna and Uldiran had asked this of him.

He steps inside, the door left deliberately open, and asks,

“What’s got you?”

But seems like that wasn’t the vibe. Silvarna, clutching a textbook earnestly, says,

“I came to thank you. Today, if it weren’t for you, the entire scouting party might not be here.”

“……”

“No, it definitely would’ve been the case. If not for the knowledge and clear-headedness you possess.”

“You overrate me. It was you who took down the yeti.”

It’s the kind of comfort that doesn’t quite convince Silvarna; her expression stays shadowed.

The atmosphere slumps, and Silvarna, as if chased by something, shoves the textbook out, saying,

“So, Isaac. Not just as the leader of the scouts, but as the only daughter of Caldia, I want to thank you.”

“Thank me? How?”

“A sword. I want to have a sword made for you, one you desire.”

Isaac’s eyes go wide, startled.

It’s maybe the first time he’s shown such a blatant reaction, and Silvarna’s lips curve slightly, finding it endearing.

“You received the Pearl Line from my father, but you weren’t truly satisfied with it, were you? We don’t know when the grand horde’s offensive will end, but I’ll talk to the blacksmith so you can get it before then.”

“Really? You’ll really do that? It’s a weapon unknown to the kingdom, is that even possible?”

“Hmm? If I explain the form and structure well, wouldn’t they be able to make it?”

“I see. Ha, seems like I’m gonna be busy again.”

He says it, but Isaac’s thrilled, like a kid who just met Santa.

Silvarna smiles softly at the sight.

Even such a simple conversation feels so good.

Seeing him happy makes her own mood improve even more.

It’s the first time she’s ever felt such a strong urge to do something for someone else.

‘My lady, is it not?’

For a moment, she thought she heard Anna’s voice.

Silvarna had insisted it wasn’t romantic, but ironically, Anna’s words had caused her to think about it seriously.

“…Sorry.”

Watching him beam as he got ready to sketch, she couldn’t help but apologize.

“Hmm? What for?”

“Nothing, sleep well. I’ll talk to the blacksmith. He’s got quite the talent.”

“Not coming with?”

Isaac, knowing that Sylverna, usually, would insist on going along and fussing over everything, was confused.

“No, I’ll tell them separately.”

Sylverna offered a bitter smile and stepped out.

“Sleep well.”

*Thud.*

The door closed.

Isaac stared at the spot where Sylverna had been.

Then.

The door rattled open again, and this time, another woman entered.

“What? Why’s Sylverna back again? Isaac isn’t really setting up another home, is he?”

“…….”

Sharen Helmont, having re-tied her loose pigtails.

Cute pajamas and a blanket draped over her shoulders.

Her lodgings weren’t here, she must have been quite cold coming over.

“Why are you here.”

Isaac, having pushed aside the drawing he was working on, asked coldly, to which Sharen pouted and replied.

“Just… I wanted to say something to Isaac.”

“Something to say?”

“Yeah, well…”

She squirmed, embarrassed, her hands clasped together and tucked between her legs.

“Today, I was really thankful.”

Sharen being this honest about her feelings, and to Isaac of all people.

It signified not just her mental growth but a shift in the winds of change.

“Right.”

Isaac’s tone was still cold.

“You weren’t expecting me to give you some kind of nice reply, were you? Protecting you was only so I could survive.”

“……I know.”

Sharen’s head dipped.

“But, when I was in Isaac’s arms today, it was really warm. So that, it was too… thank you.”

“I had to, just to survive, you see?”

“I, I’ve never been held like that by anyone before. My other brothers and sisters were always so cold.”

“Haa, Sharen?”

Isaac scowls, roughly setting his pen down. Sharen, shoulders twitching, glances at Isaac.

“You know how I was treated in Hellmund. Do you expect me to, what, join you in badmouthing Hellmund? You’re from Hellmund, too?”

“I know……”

“At least you didn’t hit me like the other siblings under the guise of training. But you practically treated me like a slave, right?”

“Y, yeah.”

Sharen shrinks in on herself, head bowed. Tears well in her eyes.

“I know you’re only seventeen and still immature. But still… Even if you came here, saying thank you for saving me, saying you’ve changed. It’s, well, not easy to just accept it.”

“Sniff.”

Despite Sharen looking like she’s about to burst into tears, Isaac couldn’t bring himself to say anything more.

‘Was I too harsh?’

He wondered if he’d said too much to a kid only seventeen, but then, recalling the past, veins throbbed on his forehead.

Maybe that’s why.

He felt compelled to ask a more fundamental question.

“Hey, Sharen, why do you want to be forgiven? After all, I’ll be divorced from Rianna in a month, so we won’t see each other anymore.”

He knew she’d changed through this event, but he doubted Sharen’s true nature had completely disappeared.

She could just put on a thick skin and move on, no problem.

From the start, Isaac wasn’t even in a position to interrogate Sharen.

“……”

Sharen’s lips press tight.

Seeing that, Isaac notices something, eyes widening and mouth opening.

“Ah, no way? You know, right? I’m your brother-in-law! No way!”

“B, but not next month!”

“Hey! What nonsense are you spouting?! Just because I hugged you when you were cold?!”

“Buuut! It was so! So-o-o warm!”

“That’s obviously-!”

Isaac smacks his forehead, sighing.

Seventeen.

The age to be dreaming of love.

A hand held, a drink offered, a warm smile given.

The perfect age to mistake it for love.

“I’ll, I’ll make you happy! I’ll do it better than your sister!”

“You, with your baby fat, mocking an adult! Get out, now!”

“Huuuh!”

Isaac shoved a sniffling Sharen towards the door, out into the hallway.

Sharen was stupidly strong, so she dug her heels in to avoid being pushed out, like trying to move a boulder.

‘Ah, crap.’

Damn, Helmont.

Time to try something different.

“Sharen, you’re mistaken. You’re just confusing a little flutter for love.”

“…I don’t think so.”

“You are. It’s like that.”

“Is, is it?”

“Yes, it’s like that. Logically, to have feelings for your brother-in-law—.”

Ah.

Damn Helmont.

Come to think of it, Helmont did have that lunatic who was madly in love with his own sister.

Sharen blinked her large eyes up at him.

Looking down at her, Isaac sighed and declared,

“I just hate your Helmont.”

* * *

“Tch.”

Grumbling, Sharen returned to her quarters.

She had been turned away at the door, but it wasn’t a total loss.

‘He still listened to me though!’

To Sharen, that was a kind of hope.

A warmth she had never felt before.

And a sense of relief.

Sharen never thought she’d feel it toward Isaac, but still, Sharen decided to define the fluttering as love.

“Hehe.”

Feeling like the heroine from a romance novel, Sharen stepped into her room.

There, Kelsi stood, pale-faced.

“Oh? Kelsi, you’re still up?”

“Ah, Miss….”

Awkwardly, Kelsi’s gaze drifted towards the bed.

A woman sat perched on Sharen’s bed.

Legs crossed, chin propped up, staring at Sharen with a chilling gaze-.

“U-u-u-unnie?”

The moment she saw Rianna.

There was no time to wonder how she got here.

Sharen’s teeth began to chatter harder than when she was shivering from the cold.