Empty Seat Beside Me
"What?"
"Let's get divorced."
I answered Lianna as she pocketed the ring she'd taken back and asked again. The blowing wind felt unusually colder. It probably wasn't just my imagination. Unable to offer a proper explanation, I brushed it off as such.
Lianna's distorted expression dripped with bewilderment. Despite her flame-like red hair and eyes, her icy, emotionless facade had finally cracked.
"You're not going to ask the clichéd 'why,' are you?"
Lianna held her breath and clamped her mouth shut. Her eyes twitched slightly—she'd been hit right on the mark.
"We're not living a married life that anyone could call a real marriage."
We slept in separate rooms, our conversations had dwindled, and there was no consideration between us.
"I think our feelings have cooled enough that we can let each other go."
To be honest, I was confused at first too. It didn't make sense that the dead Lianna from my previous life was still wearing her wedding ring. Did she still harbor feelings for me? Or had she only come to cherish it after we parted? Doubts swirled in my mind.
But after spending just this one day, I realized none of that mattered.
Whether Lianna still had lingering attachments or not—that wasn't important at all.
What truly mattered was—
I no longer love you.
A refreshingly cool smile spread across my face. The knot that had bound me since my previous life was finally untied. It wasn't just about Lianna's heart. Mine mattered too. Because we were husband and wife.
"Isaac…?"
She took a step closer and whispered softly.
"You've had a hard time living with such a worthless husband all this while."
I hoped she'd shake off any regrets or resentments and move on. That way, starting her new life wouldn't be burdened.
This should be enough, right?
By calling myself a worthless husband, I'd humbled myself plenty.
Lianna's twisted expression gradually returned to normal. She let out a short sigh—"Hoo"—then spoke in her usual businesslike tone.
"Father has started urging us to have a child soon."
"A child?"
The abrupt topic left me momentarily stunned. I hadn't heard this in my previous life. Back then, I would've lost a leg to the chandelier by now and been laid up at the physician's.
Whatever the case, Lianna continued.
"He never trusted our eldest son, Roengreen, but it seems he's decided to name him the next heir at this Sword Festival."
Roengreen Helmont, the eldest son. A man a year older than his elder sister Lianna, who tormented me often. He was also the reason we had no children after four years of marriage.
Because there was a chance the capable eldest daughter might have to inherit the family instead of her unreliable older brother.
The very fact that he'd even consider passing it to his daughter over his second son…
It spoke to Lianna's competence and the Helmont men's incompetence.
"So Father has finally made up his mind?"
"Even someone who values skill above all would find Roengreen far preferable to me. If I became family head, it'd politically cement his incompetence."
"So now we're supposed to have a child?"
"If he chose me as heir but I got pregnant, there'd be all sorts of restrictions. But it seems he's firmly decided on Roengreen now."
"Ah."
"So we no longer need to sleep in separate rooms."
Watching Lianna lay it out so matter-of-factly, a sudden doubt crossed my mind.
"Were you tense all evening just to bring this up?"
"I wasn't tense."
Her face grew even more impassive as she stared at me.
"No way you weren't. Didn't I tell you before? When you're tense, you look angry."
"……."
At my words, Lianna poked her cheek with a finger. Her pursed lips affirmed her tension in silence.
"I see. Good for you."
"Good?"
Her emotionless mask wavered again at my response.
"The timing's perfect. Find yourself some other upstanding man. Live happily—that's it."
If she got pregnant, divorce wouldn't be so straightforward.
"Divorce usually stains the wife's reputation. But if the husband was the problem, it's not quite the same."
"……."
"Say he has a gambling addiction, likes blood, or has bizarre sexual tastes. Throw out any excuse, and those around us will see you as the victim."
"……."
"Plus, you're the eldest daughter of the Helmonts. A minor blemish won't matter."
"Why?"
Lianna, who had kept her mouth shut until now, finally couldn't hold back.
"Why go to such lengths for a divorce? What's the reason?"
"I don't want to stay with the Helmonts anymore."
There was no hesitation in my answer. If anything, it felt like I'd been waiting for this.
"……."
"Lianna. To outsiders, the Helmont name is like a beautiful rose. But to me, holding it, it's nothing but thorns piercing my hand."
I'd said my piece. Down below the balcony, the sex-crazed Alois was spying on us furtively, and I wanted no more of it.
"I had some wine today and I'm feeling tired. I'll head in and rest. We'll tell Father-in-law separately."
I stepped inside. Surveying the messy banquet hall prepared for tonight's event, I gave a wry smile.
The servants will have a tough time cleaning up.
Sorry about that. But this was the last time.
"Wait."
Lianna suddenly grabbed my wrist. I stopped and glanced back at her.
"Yeah? What is it?"
The conversation had ended on a relieving note. For a smooth close, I offered a gentle smile.
In stark contrast to my smile, a rare anxiety flickered across Lianna's face.
"Sorry, but divorce is off the table. Father won't allow it."
"He's never been fond of his commoner son-in-law who can't even wield a sword properly. He'd probably be thrilled."
"It's too sudden. He thinks we're getting along fine."
"No way. The family head has eyes too."
"……Social circles aren't as simple as you think. Me cleaning up a bit of filth doesn't make you spotless."
"Hoo."
She seemed ready to list reasons all day, so I sighed, and her lips finally stilled.
"Lianna."
I dropped the smile from my eyes. My suddenly icy gaze pierced the woman before me.
"Your brothers call me a worm who can't handle a sword. Getting dragged into spars and beaten is routine now."
"……."
"To your little sister, I'm just a convenient servant. I've handled all her big and small errands, even the secretive ones."
"……."
"Father-in-law doesn't care about any of it. He has no interest in me to begin with. A son-in-law who can't swing a sword doesn't count as Helmont."
"Isaac."
"And finally, the wife I thought would always be on my side… chose to stand by and watch."
"Isaac, that's—."
A sneer curled my lips. My hollow laugh carried contempt.
"Making excuses? There were reasons? Lianna, do you know what you should have said here at the very least?"
"……."
"An apology."
Lianna clamped her mouth shut. An apology now would just be self-serving damage control, like shooting herself in the foot. It was too late.
"Still don't get it? In this great Helmont house—"
There was no place for me.
I roughly shook off her arm.
"And."
Rubbing my wrist, I flashed a bitter smile. The words that followed carried a chill that surprised even me.
"Husbands and wives don't grab hands like that. It's creepy."
Lianna lingered on the banquet hall balcony for a long while.
"Sister?"
Her third brother Alois's voice came from behind.
Lianna deliberately avoided turning around. She didn't want to show her face to anyone right now, whatever expression it held.
"Ha, haha. What a day full of incidents. Especially that chandelier dropping out of nowhere—that was startling."
He was right. The chandelier that had nearly crushed Isaac. If he hadn't dodged nimbly, it could've been disastrous.
"Are you heading back now—."
"Alois."
"Yes, Sister? Need any help?"
Alois had always been obedient to her. But strangely, it made Lianna uncomfortable.
"Leave me alone."
"Sister? Did something happen with Brother-in-law today—."
Lianna didn't answer. Her silence warned him not to press further.
"I'll head inside first, Sister."
With a polite bow, Alois departed.
Lianna stood there alone for a time. Only when she'd somewhat calmed did she return to her room.
The room was much tidier than usual. One of the roses in her cherished flowerpot was something she tended meticulously to keep from wilting.
She tossed the prepared scented candle and matches from the table into the trash.
She shed the dress she'd carefully donned for tonight. Normally, her maid would help, but it was late, and she'd sent them all away long ago. In fact, she'd ordered no one near her room today.
Her full-length mirror caught her eye. Beneath the half-torn dress lurked provocative black lingerie she never paid attention to otherwise.
"……."
Without a word, Lianna headed straight to bed. Two pillows lay there.
One was hers.
The other remained forlornly in place, waiting for an owner who would never come.