Chapter 26
Chapter 26
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Sharen's Confession
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Young Lady, the scouting party is back!"
"...!"
The moment she heard the report from Kelsi, Sharen Helmunt's maid, Rianna rushed over.
It was already growing dark—late in the evening.
The scouting party had said they'd only patrol the outpost briefly and return, but they'd been gone far too long, leaving everyone worried.
Especially since another group that had left before them still hadn't returned, the mood was growing increasingly grim.
As she watched the scouting party enter through the wall, Rianna let out a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness.
Isaac looked unharmed.
Her younger sister Sharen didn't look pleased either, but the awkward smile on her face suggested she wasn't injured.
"One less than when they left."
Rianna nodded at Kelsi's words.
Their journey, which had started with six, had ended with five.
If she heard what they'd been through today...
It had been such grueling ordeal that she ought to praise them for bringing back five survivors.
Even so...
The bitterness was unavoidable—
"Oh my?"
Kelsi let out an exclamation and pointed at Isaac's hand.
Surprisingly, Sharen and Isaac were holding hands.
"Looks like you two have grown close."
"Yeah."
Rianna found herself smiling softly without realizing it.
She knew her sister had treated Isaac poorly, but there was nothing she could do to intervene.
"It's not all bad, right?"
Rianna nodded at Kelsi's words.
If the two of them were getting along...
Rianna's expression hardened.
'What does it matter now?'
After all...
Isaac had already decided to leave the Helmunt family.
Rianna's face darkened sharply. Still, if Sharen could give him at least one good memory...
She thought that would be nice. But then...
She saw Sharen linking arms with him, leaning in close.
'...'
Rianna felt a strange sensation stirring within her.
"Isaac, sir! Are you alright? Anywhere hurt? If you're feeling weak, I can carry you on my back!"
"I'm fine. Just stop."
"Call me if you need anything! Ugh... I should've stuck with you somehow—!"
"You being there wouldn't have helped at all. Go away."
Isaac shoved Jonathan, who was trying to barge right into his room, and chased him off.
"Sorry, sir! Rest well!"
With Jonathan finally gone, Isaac could be alone in his room at last.
"Hoo."
He collapsed into a chair with a long exhale. He never could have imagined, when he left his room that morning, that the day would drag on this long.
'They said sometimes they camp overnight.'
Sleeping outside on a night like this would be rough. Would he even wake up refreshed?
'Not that complaining helps.'
Wasn't he only able to gripe like this because he'd survived?
He'd made it out of a life-or-death battle.
For the sake of those who hadn't, he should be grateful to be alive.
'Might as well wash up quick.'
The noble quarters had their own washing area, so Isaac was able to clean up quite comfortably.
The water was warm, and the soap high-quality.
It was Uldiran Caldias footing the bill to improve conditions for the soldiers, insisting they deserved better treatment on the front lines.
It was just like the bloodline that had forged spears for countless troops.
These small but vital efforts were what kept the Mallidan Wall standing.
And so...
When Isaac returned to his room after showering, he found an unexpected guest.
"Silberna?"
Silberna sat in a chair, reading Isaac's Sword. Even though she'd probably read it several times already, she was focused on every line.
"Oh, you're back."
She looked freshly washed and fluffy. Smiling, she rose from her seat.
Her thin clothes made her chest jiggle noticeably, but as Isaac had mentioned, he was getting used to it.
"Mm... where's Anna?"
"Anna? Washing up. She'll probably head to bed soon."
"Right."
Isaac nodded awkwardly. A man and woman alone together late at night in light attire wasn't exactly proper.
Anna and Uldiran had asked this of him too.
He'd left the door intentionally ajar as he entered.
"What brings you here?"
But the mood wasn't like that. Silberna held the manual seriously and spoke.
"I came to say thank you. If you hadn't been there today, the whole scouting party might not have made it back."
"..."
"No, they definitely wouldn't have. Not without your knowledge and cool head."
"You're overestimating me. You took down the yeti."
It didn't seem convincing to Silberna; a shadow crossed her face.
As the mood sank, she hurriedly offered the manual.
"That's why, Isaac. Not just as scouting leader, but as Caldias's only daughter, I want to thank you properly."
"Thanks? How?"
"A sword. I want to have the blacksmith make the sword you want."
Isaac's eyes widened in an instant.
It was the most blatant reaction he'd ever shown, and it looked so cute that the corner of Silberna's mouth twitched up.
"Father gave you Purlsen, but it's not fully to your liking, right? I don't know when the Great Horde's assault will end, but I'll talk to the blacksmith before then so you can take it with you."
"For real? You'll do that? It's a weapon not known in the kingdom—can they even make it?"
"Hm? If you explain the form and structure well, sure."
"I see. Haah, guess I'll be busy again."
For all his words, Isaac was buzzing like a kid who'd met Santa.
Silberna smiled softly at him.
Even this simple conversation felt wonderful.
Watching him happy lifted her spirits even more.
It was the first time she'd ever felt this urge to do something for someone.
'Young Lady, no, right?'
For a moment, she thought she heard Anna's voice.
She'd insisted it wasn't romantic feelings, but Anna's words had made her seriously consider it instead.
"...Sorry."
Seeing him beam innocently as he started sketching designs, an apology slipped out.
"Hm? For what?"
"Nothing. Good night. I'll talk to the blacksmith. He's pretty skilled."
"Not coming with?"
Isaac was puzzled, knowing her usual personality would have her tagging along to make sure everything was perfect.
"Yeah, I'll handle it."
Silberna gave a wry smile and headed out.
"Good night."
Thud.
The door closed.
Isaac stared blankly at the spot where she'd been.
Then...
The door rattled open again, and another woman stepped in.
"What? Why'd Silberna come back? Isaac, you're really not setting up a separate house, are you?"
"..."
Sharen Helmunt, her messy pigtails neatly retied.
Cute pajamas and a blanket over her shoulders.
Her room wasn't here, so the walk must have been chilly.
"Why are you here."
Isaac set aside his sketches and asked coldly. Sharen pouted.
"Just... had something I wanted to say to you."
"Something to say?"
"Yeah, so..."
Blushing, she fidgeted, clasping her hands between her legs.
"Today... thank you so much."
The fact that Sharen was expressing her feelings so honestly—to Isaac, no less—
signaled a change blowing through alongside her mental growth.
"Yeah."
Isaac's voice remained icy.
"You're not expecting some sweet response, are you? I protected you to save my own skin."
"...I know."
Sharen's head drooped.
"B-but when you held me today... it was so warm. I just... I'm so grateful for that."
"I did it to survive."
"I-I've never been held like that by anyone. Not my brothers or sisters—they're always so cold."
"Sigh, Sharen?"
Isaac frowned and slammed down his pen. Sharen flinched, glancing at him nervously.
"You know how I was treated in Helmunt. What, you want me to trash them with you? You're a Helmunt too."
"I know..."
"You didn't beat me like the others under the guise of sparring, at least. But you treated me like half a slave, didn't you?"
"Y-yes."
Sharen shrank, head bowed, tears welling in her eyes.
"You're only seventeen and immature—I get that. But even so... coming here after I saved you, saying thanks like you've changed? It's not that easy to accept."
"Sniff."
Even seeing Sharen on the verge of tears, Isaac couldn't muster more words.
'Was I too harsh?'
He wondered if he'd been too hard on a mere seventeen-year-old.
But recalling the past made veins bulge on his forehead.
Maybe that's why.
He wanted to ask something more fundamental.
"Hey, Sharen. Why do you want forgiveness? After I divorce Rianna next month, we won't see each other again."
He acknowledged her change from this incident, but her core nature wouldn't vanish.
She could just brazen it out—no issue.
He wasn't even in a position to confront her.
"..."
Sharen clamped her mouth shut.
The moment Isaac saw it, realization dawned, and his eyes widened as his jaw dropped.
"N-no way? You know I'm your brother-in-law! No!"
"N-next month you won't be!"
"Hey! What kind of childish nonsense is this?! Just because I hugged you to keep warm?"
"It's not! It was so warm! So—so warm!"
"Of course it—!"
Isaac smacked his forehead and sighed.
Seventeen years old.
The age to romanticize love.
Hand-holding, sharing a drink, a warm smile—
Perfect for mistaking it for love.
"I-I'll make you happy! Better than Sis!"
"You little brat who's barely got blood in your head, teasing an adult! Out!"
"Waaah!"
Isaac pushed the sobbing Sharen toward the door.
She was strong, resisting like a rock to stay inside.
'Damn it.'
Damnable Helmunt.
He decided to try a different tack.
"Sharen, you're mistaken. It's just a momentary flutter you're confusing for love."
"...Doesn't feel like it."
"It is. Trust me."
"Is it...?"
"Yes. Logically, having those feelings for your brother-in-law—"
Ah.
Damnable Helmunt.
Come to think of it, didn't Helmunt have that lunatic who obsessively loved his sister?
Sharen blinked her big eyes up at him.
Looking down at her, Isaac sighed and declared:
"I just hate your Helmunt family."
"Tch."
Sharen trudged back to her quarters, grumbling.
She'd been kicked out unceremoniously, but it wasn't a total loss.
'He at least listened!'
That gave Sharen a glimmer of hope.
The warmth she'd felt for the first time in her life.
And the sense of relief.
She never imagined it'd come from Isaac, but Sharen had decided that this pounding in her chest was love.
"Hee hee."
Feeling like the heroine from a romance novel, Sharen entered her room.
Kelsi stood there, pale as a ghost.
"Huh? Kelsi, still up?"
"Y-Young Lady..."
Kelsi awkwardly glanced toward the bed.
A woman perched on Sharen's bed.
Legs crossed, chin propped, staring coldly at Sharen—
"S-S-S-Sis?"
The moment she saw Rianna...
She had no time to wonder how she'd gotten there.
Sharen's teeth began chattering harder than they had in the freezing cold.