The One Who Advances, The One Who Remains Silent
What is an interrogation? Isn't it an act of investigation to uncover the facts, one that universally evokes images of pressure and scrutiny in people's minds? Silberna had entered expecting exactly that.
Yet inside, warm candlelight illuminated the space, a sturdy wooden table carried the fresh scent of cool breeze. Simple snacks and bottles of liquor were piled atop it. And finally, cards scattered haphazardly across the surface.
"……."
Silberna clamped her mouth shut, staring at the scene that utterly defied her common sense of an interrogation. Uldiran, the culprit behind this absurdity, cleared his throat unnecessarily and rose from his seat.
"Well, that's enough play for now."
The other two began tidying the cards as well, but Isaac's hands moved with extraordinary skill. Like a professional gambler, he gathered them deftly and shuffled them with crisp precision.
"Ah, force of habit."
He grinned slyly, calling the shuffle a habit, then handed them back to Uldiran. Back in his ferryman days, card games had been one of Isaac's main sources of income. Farmers nearby, passing travelers, fellow ferrymen—they'd all gather at the drop of a hat to play.
"You've done what needed doing, right?"
Uldiran coughed awkwardly at her suspicious glare and stood.
"If you doubt it, read the report yourself. It's all wrapped up."
The investigation report Uldiran handed over was written in elegant, neat handwriting. The moment Silberna realized it was Isaac's script, she set it down with a look of utter disbelief.
"Do you make witnesses write their own reports?"
"Ah, miss."
Anna, standing behind her, called out softly. Even if she was his daughter, grilling the Margrave in front of outsiders was too much.
"……."
Silberna pressed her lips together and resumed reading the report. Uldiran stood and issued his judgment on the pair.
"Both cleared of suspicion. However, in this great battle ahead, place them under your command to serve the kingdom."
"Pardon? Isaac, fine—but Lianna Helmont too?"
"Seems like a force too valuable to waste on games."
"……."
Unable to retort, Silberna watched Uldiran stride out. The report showed he'd handled everything properly enough.
"Isaac... you were raised by a transcendent as a child?"
Silberna stared at him in shock.
"Yeah."
"……."
His curt reply suggested no further elaboration.
"So that's how you know about transcendents and shamanism?"
"Correct."
"……That excuse feels pretty half-hearted."
"But the Margrave accepted it."
"Transcendents kill humans on sight, don't they?"
"She was a half-blood."
Silberna's expression screamed skepticism, but with Isaac's ally chiming in—
"I've heard the stories too."
Lianna raised a hand to add,
"Isaac was taught by a great master when he was young. That's how he knows all sorts of things."
"……."
Silberna felt an itch of unease as the couple gazed up at her from their seats.
"He said he learned to drink from her too, right?"
"Yeah, when he was really little."
"Beer?"
"Wine."
"Right, wine."
They nodded and turned back to Silberna.
Why do they seem like they're lying?
It felt exactly like a lie. But with both swearing to it, what could she say?
"Feels like watching a husband-and-wife con artist duo."
Anna's words scratched exactly where it itched, but the Margrave had already ruled. All Silberna could do was obey.
Exiting the interrogation room, Isaac walked the castle corridor, chilled with cold air. Lanterns flickered along the path.
That surprised me.
Honestly, Isaac was flustered.
I never imagined Lianna would back up my lie so seamlessly.
She'd fleshed it out naturally, astonishing him. Surely Lianna had her own doubts about Isaac—his demeanor, his vast knowledge of swords, and more. Yet she'd matched his words without hesitation, letting them slip through.
"That was a straight-up lie back there, wasn't it?"
Silberna's voice came from behind as Isaac headed toward a clear destination. She'd been tailing him since earlier; Anna had vanished at some point.
Isaac halted abruptly and turned to face her.
"Is this the interrogation room?"
"Not interrogating. Not grilling you."
"Then why ask?"
"You can be honest with me."
Her words felt like a plea, hardening Isaac's expression.
"Honest about what?"
"We're comrades. We fight side by side, stakes on the line."
"Comrades don't share everything."
Not even husbands and wives hid nothing from each other.
Silberna pressed her lips at his cool response.
"The Margrave trusts you. Just do the same."
"Right now, the horde comes first. Even if your story's fishy, he wants you as assets."
"……."
Silberna struck true. Isaac steadied his breath and countered.
"Either way. It's his call."
"Playing it like that?"
Silberna stepped closer. Her prominent chest nearly brushed his.
"Silberna, enough."
"What?"
Unable to hold back, Isaac warned her.
"I know Northern camaraderie runs deep. But as I said, we don't share everything."
"……."
"You have secrets. I have mine. Just trust they harm no one."
With that, Isaac resumed walking the corridor. One step. Two. Three.
Exactly at the third—
"I—"
Silberna's voice pierced straight to his back.
"—have feelings for you."
"……."
Inside the castle, yet it felt like a fierce wind howled. Isaac's steps froze. He turned creakily; Silberna stood arms crossed, nodding firmly.
"W-What do you think? No secrets now."
Face flushed, she pointed at him. Isaac let out a hollow chuckle at the absurdity.
He stepped back to her, reached out slowly, and buttoned her loose shirt.
"Dress properly. What kind of grown woman...?"
"Now spill your secret. Fair trade?"
Water under the bridge. Silberna pushed hard, but Isaac shook his head casually.
"That wasn't a secret."
"Huh?"
"I knew."
"Wh-What...?"
Now roles reversed. Silberna stiffened, her face turning beet red. She flapped her arms like a flounder, mouth agape.
"Y-You knew? How? When?!"
"For a while."
Even her aide Anna had pulled him aside to ask for distance—Helmont and Kaldias, after all.
"Ah, w-wait?!"
Silberna turned tail in panic. Touching her cheeks, they burned hot enough for a forge.
"But Silberna—"
"Wait! D-don't talk to me right now!"
"……."
Isaac waited, staring at her huddled form. Shoulders shaking, muttering to herself, she sorted her feelings.
"Hoo!"
She spun back to face him.
"Ugh, damn."
Meeting his eyes reignited the embarrassment; she covered her mouth and backed away.
"Let me be clear. I'm a married man."
"Heh."
"……Did you just laugh?"
"No, no. Didn't laugh."
What was that? Hand over mouth or not, it sounded like a snicker.
No way she has a thing for married men.
Laughed like she was pleased? Anyway, Isaac pressed on.
"Married man. No need for a response, right?"
"……."
Silberna glared, arms crossed. Face still crimson, but she'd given up hiding it.
"What's with you."
"Feels unfair. I bared my heart."
"I said mine too. Can't accept."
"That's just your position talking."
Silberna was a natural genius—one lesson, ten insights.
"From a married man's view, of course you can't. I'm not that stubborn."
Anna's "heaven-sent chance" advice had sparked genius in her.
"Set everything aside. Just tell me personally—how do you see me?"
"Does it matter?"
"Show some consideration? First time my heart raced for a guy. Give it a nice ending."
"……."
Isaac knew the weight of a first love's closure all too well. He hesitated, then confessed.
"Fine. You're an attractive woman. Proud you'd feel that way about me."
"If Lianna weren't in the picture."
"……."
"Would you choose me?"
Her hand on heart, eyes heavy with sincerity. Isaac nodded unwittingly.
"Y-Yeah. I would. But what does it mean? I'm married anyway."
"Heh."
Laughed again? Isaac faltered, but Silberna nodded vigorously, beaming.
"Thanks, Isaac."
"……Hey, Silberna."
Unease rising, he asked cautiously.
"You know something?"
"Hm?"
"Just... feels like you're hiding stuff."
Prodding like testing a rickety bridge, Isaac got a playful grin in return.
"Even comrades have secrets, Isaac."
Silberna's steps were light as she exited. Isaac had business elsewhere in the castle, but she hurried to share the rare good news with Anna.
Then—
At the entrance stood a red-haired woman, frozen. Her gaze fixed on Silberna.
Helmonts have sharp ears, huh.
Sharen hadn't lied. The atmosphere screamed she knew everything.
Silberna didn't stop, brushing past Lianna with a declaration.
"No apologies. No guilt."
"……."
"You let him slip away."
Watching Silberna leave, Lianna pressed her lips shut. Silent.
No, she couldn't speak.
What could she do now? Responsibility for her choices. No matter the reasons, she'd stayed silent in the mansion.
So here too—
She remained silent. Because that's what Isaac wanted.