Second Dispatch: Daughters to the Wall
In Arandel's view, two daughters came into focus. The eldest, Lianna, and the second, Sharen. He had somewhat anticipated Lianna volunteering for the Mallidan Wall. She was still worried about her husband, Isaac, after all. But Sharen's intentions were harder to read.
Hoo.
Arandel knew well that he wasn't a particularly good father. Grasping his daughters' intentions was especially challenging for him, more so than with his sons. And Sharen Helmont, that tomboyish little girl, made it even harder to judge.
"Sharen, why are you volunteering?"
In moments like this, a direct approach was best. As Arandel questioned her, all eyes turned to Sharen. They, too, were curious why she had suddenly volunteered for the Mallidan Wall.
"Father."
Sharen placed a hand over her chest and stepped forward. Young as she was, she was still a Helmont—old enough to know proper etiquette.
"I am going because I judge it to be my duty."
"State your reason."
Don't add unnecessary words. Arandel warned her curtly, chin resting on his hand, and the leisure faded from Sharen's lips.
"S-sorry. I got ahead of myself."
Her eyes trembled faintly. Tense as a bowstring, Sharen explained in a hurried, clipped manner.
"The Sword Eclipse is approaching. My brothers can't go, of course, and Sister Lianna must hold her position. But the youngest, Edel, can't go either. So, even if I'm lacking, I believe it's right for me—the one who can wield a Helmont sword—to go."
"Hm."
The moment Arandel heard it, he knew Sharen was lying. For a self-centered tomboy like her to invoke the greater good as her excuse? There was clearly another motive. But...
No reason to refuse.
Arandel judged that sending Sharen was the ideal scenario. She wasn't crucial for the Sword Eclipse, yet she filled the manpower gap perfectly. Plus, a battlefield might finally knock some maturity into the immature girl.
"It's a great swarm. Don't get complacent. Show those gathered there the greatness of Helmont."
At his approval, Sharen beamed and bowed her head.
"I'll show the world what a Helmont sword truly is."
For a fleeting moment, Arandel's face paled to gray, but no one noticed.
"Father! Let me—!"
Lianna stepped forward to volunteer herself, but Arandel, irked by Sharen's words, frowned and waved her off.
"Out."
"......"
That was it. No one present dared defy the family head, Arandel. Everyone left, and he remained alone in his study, finishing his work. Even then, Sharen's declaration swirled in his mind.
[I'll show the world what a Helmont sword truly is.]
The Helmont sword.
Hoo.
Arandel sighed, his wrinkles deepening. His voice carried a bitter lament.
"Just who among you is wielding the Helmont sword, anyway?"
His pained murmur dissolved like gray tobacco smoke.
Lianna's steps were hurried. She rushed toward Sharen, intending to beg her to tell Father she couldn't go to the wall. But then—
"Lianna!"
A irritated shout echoed from behind as she walked the second-floor corridor. The eldest son, Roengreen, strode up and yelled at her.
"You put her up to it, didn't you? You told Sharen to go!"
"......What are you talking about?"
A year older or not, Lianna had long abandoned any respect for Roengreen.
"Why else would Sharen volunteer for the Mallidan Wall? You were supposed to go!"
"......"
"You bitch. That hungry for the family head's seat? So reluctant to hand it to your brother?"
Hoo. Don't say useless things. I've told you countless times—I'm not interested.
Lianna tried to brush past, ignoring him, but he grabbed her shoulder.
Thwack!
Her hand swiftly slapped his away. The murderous aura—touch me and die—made Roengreen flinch momentarily. But he soon flared up again.
"How did you sway Father?! He even let the Roslick incident slide!"
Haa.
Roslick. Helmont's secret elixir that boosted physical abilities. Right after Isaac left, one stockpile reserved for direct kin went missing. Roengreen had accused Lianna of stealing it for Isaac, but Arandel had dismissed it without reaction or punishment.
"Father knew it was your pathetic scheming."
He's not the kind of head to play with such childish tricks.
"Perfect timing, Roengreen. Let me be clear: don't do anything stupid. Father already sees you as heir—don't waste effort exposing your own incompetence."
Her emotionless words stabbed deep, twisting Roengreen's face into a scowl.
"So that's it—you're trying to steal the seat from me? Ha! Foolish! Lianna, mark my words: you have zero chance of becoming head."
"No, ha......"
How do I deal with this blockhead? A sigh escaped as even her familial affection frayed.
"Mother returns for the Sword Eclipse. She'll back me for sure."
"......"
"And once I crush your pathetic sword in front of everyone at the Eclipse, it's over. You know our sparring record, right?"
A smirk curled on Roengreen's lips. 37 matches, 31 wins, 6 losses. He dominated Lianna utterly. Few spars for kin, thanks to her avoidance.
"In the end, my strength will prove it. But if you pull some backroom bullshit—!"
"Fine."
Lianna's impassive eyes widened slightly.
"You're right."
"......What?"
Realization dawned; her lips quirked up.
And then.
"No Isaac means no need to hold back."
"What?"
"To the sparring grounds, Roengreen."
A sword-dark aura of Red Aura poured from Lianna's body. The brilliant, flaring crimson made Roengreen falter.
"Know your place."
She passed him, heading to the grounds.
"Guh, h-hek?!"
Roengreen couldn't even scream properly. He rolled pathetically backward, tangled in his cloak, vision obscured. His greatsword was lost, his Red Aura shattered effortlessly. At least the vast family estate's unused underground sparring hall meant no witnesses to his humiliation.
"Roengreen."
A cold voice. Her tone implied victory was inevitable, filling him with shame. Yet in that spar, he hadn't swung once before being crushed.
"If I wanted the head's seat, I'd have taken it by force."
"......!"
"So stop provoking me."
Lianna turned to leave. Roengreen scrambled up, bellowing.
"All this time! You've been mocking me with hidden power?!"
Hoo.
She paused but didn't turn, whispering softly.
"It was for Isaac."
"......What?"
"Enough. I don't want to talk more."
Behind her retreating back, Roengreen's enraged screams continued.
"I'm the eldest son! I'll—I’ll become head!"
"I didn't know, but you think Father doesn't?! He knows your strength!"
"Even so, he'll choose me! I'll succeed him and make Helmont greater!"
Lianna clicked her tongue at his shouts.
Father knows everything, obviously.
Arandel wasn't foolish enough to miss the skill gap between them. However.
It doesn't matter.
To Arandel, the difference between Roengreen and Lianna was negligible. He hesitated to choose the foolhardy one.
Is there even anyone whose swordsmanship could earn Father's approval?
Emerging aboveground, Lianna passed the first-floor hall, heading for Sharen again. Then...
"......"
A woman in cook's whites, her brown skin flushed from bustling about, caught her eye.
Milli, right?
She'd seen her chatting amiably with Isaac often. Same age, and rumor had it Isaac gifted her something last.
Spotting Lianna, the busy Milli bowed hastily.
"Miss, good day."
"......"
Lianna acknowledged the greeting blankly, staring down at her before tossing out a line.
"You got a gift from Isaac."
"......Pardon?"
Caught off-guard by the suddenness, Milli looked up, then answered promptly.
"Yes! That's right. Sir Isaac drew my portrait."
"Can I see it?"
"Pardon? Oh, of course."
Milli led Lianna to the servants' quarters outside the mansion. In her room, Lianna glanced around. Commoner-born. Same age. Bright personality.
Like Isaac.
The opposite of herself. Was this his type?
As she pondered alone, Milli brought the painting.
"Here it is. I never knew Sir Isaac had such talent in art too. So versatile."
Milli praised him honestly. She knew of the divorce, but didn't want to badmouth him.
"Ah......"
The portrait was impressive. Isaac's work capturing Milli—Lianna had no idea he had this talent.
"He never..."
Drew me once.
She swallowed the words, turning abruptly to leave.
"Thanks for showing me."
Without waiting for a reply, she stepped out, her steps heavier, drained.
The next morning.
"Pack plenty of sweets. Can't have you running out on the way."
Carriages lined up at Helmont mansion for the Mallidan Wall departure. Sharen Helmont poked her head out the most luxurious one, barking orders.
Unlike Isaac with just Jonathan, Helmont knights joined this time to bolster forces against the swarm.
Haa, all this fuss over Isaac.
Her words said one thing, but Sharen's eyes sparkled like a child's on adventure. Anyone could see she treated war like play.
Oh, Miss...
Her maid Kelsie fretted endlessly. What if she got badly hurt acting like that? And if only other siblings came along—especially Lianna—it'd ease her worries. Kelsie grumbled inwardly while packing the luggage cart, sealing Sharen's snacks carefully.
In the dim cart interior, amid crates, something bulky protruded under white cloth.
What's this?
She managed all the luggage herself, so curiosity made her lift the cloth. What emerged was...
"L-Lady Lianna?!"
Lianna Helmont, crouched and blushing with embarrassment, pleaded.
"P-pretend you didn't see."
