A Marital Quarrel
“……”
“……”
The two red-haired women lay side by side on the bed. Even as sisters, they had never shared a bed like this before, leaving only awkwardness hanging in the air. The closest they'd come was when Sharen had been unilaterally pummeled into collapse during a sparring match, lying there between them.
“……”
Gulp.
Sharen was especially tense, all because of her blunder with Silberna at the tavern.
What do I do? Sis doesn't seem to know.
Should she confess now and beg forgiveness? Was that the right move?
But if she hits me here, I might really die without a trace! There's no one else in the room. No one to stop Lianna.
Maybe it was better to spill it tomorrow in front of others? As she fretted like a beast lurked beside her—
“Can't sleep?”
Lianna asked softly, eyes still closed.
“Uh, y-yeah.”
“If it's uncomfortable, go sleep somewhere else.”
“N-no! It's not that!”
Sharen grabbed Lianna, who was starting to sit up. If she chased her sister away now, tomorrow would be unbearable.
“I don't mind sleeping with you, Sis! It's just... my head's full of random thoughts!”
“……”
Lianna lay back down slowly. Then, with an awkward cough, she asked,
“Thoughts about what?”
“Huh? Well, um—”
Sharen hemmed and hawed, stealing a glance at Lianna before probing gently.
“Doesn't it seem like Silberna likes Isaac?”
“……”
“I-I mean, it could happen, right?!”
Flustered, Sharen blurted out anything.
At her words, Lianna stared blankly at the ceiling. Her blinking eyes gave no hint of her thoughts.
Then, very curtly.
“Definitely.”
Sharen's eyes widened.
“For real? You're that sure?”
“Yes.”
Because Lianna had heard it herself, disguised as a maid.
I... th-think I like him.
Silberna's soft whisper to Anna, hiding her embarrassment. Lianna had many thoughts after that, but her conclusion was one.
“But it's not my place to interfere.”
Sadness tinged Lianna's voice, making Sharen turn to look at her sister without thinking. It was the first time she'd seen such raw emotion, leaving her flustered.
“Sis?”
“I'm divorced.”
“Not yet, you're still his wife.”
“Not yet.”
“You never know! Isaac might change his mind and decide to stay.”
Sharen felt strange comforting her sister like this. Still, she wanted to keep going.
“No, Isaac's already made up his mind.”
“Sis?”
Sharen grabbed Lianna's hand at the choked voice.
“He didn't even want an apology.”
Sharen shared the guilt. She'd treated Isaac like a servant in the past too.
“Sis.”
And she knew Lianna had stood by.
“But why'd you let your brothers bully him?”
As Sharen asked curiously, Lianna exhaled sharply.
“Does the reason matter now?”
Lianna closed her eyes tightly.
“I made my choice, and it was wrong.”
“So... you're letting him go now?”
“Yes. So you stop saying weird things like you have feelings for Isaac.”
It's rude to him, Lianna added.
Sharen nodded faintly, then murmured slyly,
“Since you're letting go, I'll confess something in good conscience too.”
“……”
“I kinda told Silberna. About you and Isaac divorcing.”
“……”
“But since you're letting go, it's no big— Aaaah! It hurts! Stoooop! Let goooo!”
Sharen couldn't match her grip strength.
“Liar!”
The next day, Isaac and Lianna were summoned separately to Lord Border for questioning.
“……”
“……”
The room they entered felt more like a dining spot than an interrogation chamber. Though cramped, warm lanterns lit it softly, and simple snacks like sandwiches and jerky sat on the table. Even a bottle of liquor was there—hardly an interrogation vibe.
The two sat side by side. Yesterday's events made the air subtly awkward.
With Lord Border taking forever, Isaac cleared his throat and asked Lianna,
“Last night... did you sleep okay?”
“Yes, I slept in Sharen's room.”
Her blank reply felt normal, easing Isaac a bit.
Good.
Isaac had worried about sending her away after her bold advance. He felt sorry for embarrassing her, but he had no choice.
If they'd stayed together—
“Ahem, good to hear.”
“And you, Isaac? Sleep well?”
“Yeah, crashed right away. Exhausted.”
“Good.”
Lianna echoed him. Her emotionless gaze fixed on the door, urging someone to arrive.
Still waiting, she sighed faintly, glancing sideways at Isaac.
“If you need help, say so.”
“Help?”
“Aura. I can teach you here.”
“……”
Aura? Don't joke. At the pinnacle, you don't need that stuff.
Recalling his Great Master's words, Isaac replied,
“Teach me.”
If she were here, she'd pout and say, Let her teach you then. But she wasn't.
Learn when you can.
“……Alright.”
Lianna's eyes widened slightly at his quick agreement. She fought a twitch at her lips as the door finally opened, revealing Uldiran Kaldias.
“Took a bit. Beasts swarming near the wall.”
He sat, popping jerky into his mouth. Chewing, he eyed them curiously.
“Stiffer than expected. I paired you for some tender time.”
“……”
“……”
“Too much meddling? Or nervous?”
He sipped liquor, chuckling.
“No need to tense up. Just answer, no punishment. Though Helmont might see it differently.”
Grabbing more jerky, he pointed it at Lianna before eating.
“I accepted it as 'Lianna,' but Arandel won't like Helmont kneeling to Kaldias.”
“Yes, I know.”
“……Kneeling?”
Isaac stared at Lianna in shock. She deliberately looked away.
“She knelt? Lianna?”
“Didn't hear? Quite the plea. Learned some romance.”
Uldiran laughed heartily. Isaac gaped at Lianna.
“You're kidding? What if the family head finds out? He's already mad you snuck here.”
“I know.”
“Knowing that, why... Ugh, fine.”
Isaac propped his chin, grumbling. Lianna's eyes flickered; she added curtly,
“It was to save you.”
“Lord Border would've come anyway.”
“That weakens the front wall defense. He can't leave lightly.”
“Then look after yourself too. What now back at Helmont?”
“I'll handle it.”
“Sure, the family head will welcome you with open arms.”
“I was saving you.”
“Still, keep it reasonable. Don't you get how big this is?”
“I saved you anyway. Good enough? Damage could've been worse. You can't even handle aura yet.”
“Talking like that?”
“Who's picking a fight first?”
“I'm worried about you. You'd love seeing Helmont kneel, huh?”
“I knelt out of worry for you.”
“Could've worried sooner.”
Their parallel bickering continued. Uldiran watched blankly, nodding.
They worry like this?
Underneath, both cared for the other.
Helmonts are odd.
Seeming to catch up, Uldiran munched jerky and waited.
Finishing her shift, Silberna slunk into Mallidan Castle. The questioning dragged, so she came to check.
Why did I blab about their divorce? I told her to be careful, and now they seem foolish! Annoying!
Sharen's words from yesterday floated in her mind, distracting her at work. Sharen's listless state today confirmed it wasn't drunken nonsense.
Divorcing?
Then.
If true... maybe for me too—
“Miss?”
“Eek?!”
Lost in fantasy, Silberna startled and stumbled back.
Anna stood in the hall, arms crossed, eyeing her.
“Where to?”
“Uh, just—”
Embarrassed, Silberna faltered. Anna asked bluntly,
“To see Sir Isaac?”
“Y-yeah.”
“They're in the middle of questioning.”
“Still, he's my teammate. Just checking.”
Her voice shrank. Anna strode up, sighing, and reached out.
“Loosen a couple buttons.”
“Huh?”
Anna undid two shirt buttons. Hand on Silberna's shoulder, she declared,
“If you're doing it, do it right. Steal him properly.”
“Anna?”
“Miss, opportunities like this don't come often. The man you like is married, but about to divorce by chance? It's a gift from the gods.”
“Anna?!”
“Go! Lianna Helmont's pretty, but you hold your own.”
“R-really?”
“That'd melt most men. Especially Helmont types—their weakness.”
Anna nodded at her chest. Silberna scratched her cheek bashfully but, pushed by Anna, entered the guest room used for questioning.
“Step back once.”
“No.”
The interrogation room she'd expected fierce was anything but. Three played cards at the table.
“You let it slide before.”
Lianna puffed her cheeks; Isaac clicked his tongue.
“I was single then.”
“……”
“Deflate your cheeks.”