38 – 38. Those Who Move Forward, Those Who Stay Silent

What is an interrogation?

Isn’t it commonly ingrained in people’s minds that it involves investigation, pressure, and scrutiny in order to reveal the facts?

Silberna, too, came expecting that.

But instead, candles warmly lit the interior, a sturdy wooden table perfumed with the scent of a cool breeze.

And on top, a simple spread of snacks and bottles of alcohol.

The last of the cards lay scattered, spent and slumped.

“……”

Silberna watched, her lips pressed tight, at the interrogation scene that defied all her common sense. Uldiran, the ringleader of this whole affair, coughed once for no good reason, then excused himself from the table.

“Well, that’s enough games for now.”

The other two began to gather the cards, but Isaac’s touch was anything but ordinary. It was as if he were some professional gambler, the way he expertly collected them, shuffling them cleanly.

“Ah, just a habit.”

He grinned, a slippery sort of grin, and then handed the deck back to Uldiran. Back in his days as a boatman, card games had been a main source of Isaac’s income, a way to make some coin. He’d gather the local farmers, passing travelers, even other boatmen, and they’d play whenever the chance arose.

“Did you do what you had to?”

At her suspicious look, Uldiran cleared his throat and rose from his seat.

“If you must, read the report. It’s all been put together.”

The report Uldiran handed over was written in a very fluid script, neat and precise. The moment Silberna realized it was Isaac’s handwriting, she placed it down with an absurd look.

“Are there even reports written by the witnesses?”

“Ah, young lady.”

Anna, standing behind, quietly called out to Silberna. Even if she was his daughter, she was being far too harsh on the Margrave in front of outsiders.

“…….”

Silberna, mouth clamped shut, began reading the report again, while Uldiran got up and decided what to do with the two.

“Both of them are to be cleared of suspicion. However, within this great cluster, they will both be under your command, to serve the kingdom.”

“What? I understand Isaac, but even Rianna Helmund?”

“She seems to be a power it would be wasteful to ignore.”

“…….”

Silberna said nothing, and Uldiran walked straight out of the room. Seeing the report, it looked like he did what he had to before leaving.

“Isaac… the person who raised him as a child, they were a transcendent being?”

Silberna stared, eyes wide with shock.

“Yeah.”

“……”

Judging by the curt reply, he had no intention of saying more.

“So you know about the Transcendent Ones and sorcery?”

“That’s right.”

“……That’s a pretty pathetic excuse, wouldn’t you say?”

“But the Margrave accepted it.”

“Transcendent Ones are supposed to kill humans on sight.”

“He was a hybrid.”

Silberna’s face showed her difficulty in accepting it, but then, Isaac’s ally stepped forward.

“I’ve heard it for ages,”

Rianna raised her hand and added.

“Isaac was taught by a great master when he was young. That’s why he knows so many things.”

“……”

Silberna felt a prickle of unease as she looked at the couple, sitting and staring up at her.

“You said you learned to brew from him too, right?”

“Yeah, way back when I was very young.”

“Was it beer?”

“Wine.”

“Right, wine.”

They nodded, then turned back to Silberna.

‘Why does it feel like they’re both lying?’

It felt exactly like a lie.

But since they said it together, there wasn’t much she could say.

“It’s like watching a husband-and-wife scamming team,”

Anna’s words scratched the itch Silberna felt, but.

The Margrave had already given his judgement.

All she could do was abide by it.

* * *

Out of the interrogation room.

The castle hallway, sharp with cold.

Isaac walks, the path lit by sconces along the wall.

‘Surprised.’

Frankly, Isaac was bewildered.

‘Never imagined Rianna would play along like that.’

He’d been startled seeing her naturally embellish his lie, seamlessly adding flesh to its bones.

Rianna must surely harbor doubts about Isaac as well.

His demeanor, for instance.

His diverse knowledge of swords, among other things.

But she’d gone along with it all, allowing him to skate by.

“That was a lie just now, wasn’t it?”

Silberna’s voice sounded behind Isaac, who was walking with a clear destination in mind.

She’d been following him from the start, and somewhere along the way, Anna had vanished.

Isaac stopped abruptly and turned to face Silberna.

“Is this an interrogation room now?”

“Not interrogating. Nor am I questioning.”

“Then why ask?”

“You can be honest with me, can’t you?”

The words sounded like a plea, and Isaac’s expression hardened.

“Honest about what?”

“We’re comrades. Comrades who fight together, risking our lives.”

“Being comrades doesn’t mean sharing everything.”

Even husbands and wives keep things from each other.

Silberna’s lips pressed together at Isaac’s curt reply.

“The Margrave trusted me. You just need to do the same.”

“Because the Great Swarm is his priority right now. Even if there are inconsistencies in your story, he’ll treat you as a power, for now.”

“……”

Silberna, struck by the truth.

Isaac takes a breath, then rebuts.

“Anyway. You made the choice.”

“So that’s how it’s going to be?”

Silberna, taking a step closer, abrupt.

Silberna’s chest, jutting out unnervingly, almost touches Isaac’s own.

“Silberna, enough.”

“What?”

Isaac, unable to hold back any longer, throws out a warning.

“I know the camaraderie of the North is special. But like I said before, you don’t share *everything*.”

“……”

“Just as you have secrets, so do I. Just trust that it’s not something that’ll harm anyone.”

After saying that, Isaac resumes walking down the corridor.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

Exactly, at the third step.

“I-.”

From behind Isaac, Silberna’s voice struck like a straight arrow.

“I hold you in my heart.”

“……”

Though inside the castle, it was an eerie sensation like a fierce wind had suddenly risen.

Isaac’s steps halted, frozen in place.

Turning his head with a creak, he saw Silberna with her arms crossed, nodding.

“How, how is it? Now, no more secrets.”

Silberna, her face flushed red, pointing a finger.

Seeing her, Isaac let out a hollow laugh.

A laugh born of disbelief.

Turning back to face Silberna, Isaac slowly reached out and began to button up her loose shirt.

“Dress properly, will you. You’re a grown woman, acting like….”

“Now tell me your secret. We’re supposed to trade, right?”

The water’s spilled, already.

Silberna came on strong, but Isaac just shook his head, easy.

“It’s not a secret.”

“Huh?”

“I knew.”

“Uh, uh…?”

This time, the opposite.

Silberna’s body stiffened, then her face went red, like a radish, burning up.

She gaped like a fish, mouth opening and closing, flailing her arms.

“You, you knew? How? Uh, since when?”

“Been a while.”

His adjutant Anna had come to Isaac herself, asking him to keep some distance.

From Helmuth and Caldias, you see.

“Ah, uh?! Wait, hold on?!”

Silberna, flustered, turned her back.

She touched her cheeks with both hands, feeling the burn, like they could fuel a forge.

“But Silberna–”

“Wait! D-don’t talk to me right now!”

“……”

Isaac, deciding to wait a moment, just stared at Silberna, who was huddled up.

Her shoulders went up and down, and she muttered to herself, seemingly pulling her thoughts together.

“Haa!”

Silberna turned back, facing Isaac.

“Ugh, shit.”

But meeting his eyes made her blush all over again, and she covered her mouth with her hand, stumbling back.

“Let me just be clear. I’m a married man.”

“Heh.”

“……Did you just laugh?”

“No, no. Didn’t laugh.”

What was that?

Even with her hand covering her mouth, I think she might have smiled a little.

‘Surely, she doesn’t have a thing for married men, does she?’

Or was that a smile of, like, ‘even better’?

Anyway, Isaac keeps talking.

“Because I’m married. You don’t have to answer, right?”

“……”

Sylverna, arms crossed, glares at Isaac. Her face is still bright red, but she’s given up on hiding it now, it seems.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s a little unfair. I spoke honestly about my feelings.”

“I told you too. That I can’t reciprocate.”

“That’s just what you have to say given your position.”

Sylverna is a born genius.

You teach her one thing, she understands ten.

“From the perspective of a married man, you naturally couldn’t accept it. I’m not that stubborn either.”

Anna’s advice – that it was a god-given opportunity – sparked a brilliant idea in the genius.

“Put everything else aside, and just tell me how you personally feel.”

“Does that even matter?”

“Can’t you just humor me? It’s the first time a man has made my heart flutter. At least end things on a good note.”

“……”

The end of a first love.

Isaac, knowing deep in his bones how important that is, hesitates for a moment, then spills the truth.

“Fine, you’re an attractive woman. It makes me proud that you hold me in your heart, even like that.”

“If Rianna wasn’t there for you.”

“……”

“Then you would’ve chosen me?”

The heavy sincerity in Sylverna’s expression, as she asks with a hand on her heart.

Without even realizing, Isaac leans forward and nods.

“Y, yeah. I probably would have. But what does it matter, I’m married anyway.”

“Heh.”

Did she just laugh just now?

Isaac, flustered, tried to ask, but Silverna just nodded her head decisively, a bright smile blooming.

“Thanks, Isaac.”

“…Uh, Silverna.”

A prickle of unease made Isaac ask carefully.

“Do you… know something?”

“Hmm?”

“No, it’s just… it feels like you’re hiding something.”

As cautious as walking on stepping stones, Isaac asked, but Silverna just laughed playfully and answered,

“Even among comrades, secrets exist, Isaac.”

* * *

Silverna’s steps were light as she walked outside.

Isaac had said he had other places to go and remained in the castle, but she wanted to hurry and tell Anna the good news of the day.

Then.

A woman with red hair stood stock-still at the entrance.

Her gaze fixed on Silverna.

‘Hellmunt has sharp ears, it seems.’

Sharen’s words weren’t a lie, it seemed.

The very air around her reeked of knowing everything.

Without pausing, Silverna walked past Rianna and declared,

“I won’t apologize, nor feel any guilt.”

“……”

“You’re the one who lost.”

Watching Silverna exit, Rianna pressed her lips shut, saying nothing.

No, she *couldn’t* say anything.

What could she even do now?

The weight of her choices.

Whatever the reason, she’d remained silent in the mansion.

So, here too.

She would remain silent.

Because that’s what Isaac would want.