The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Family Wants A Divorce - Chapter 63



62. After the Sword Emperor Festival

Three days had passed since the Sword Emperor Festival ended.

Strictly speaking, it couldn’t be said to have ended.

No matter how much Hellmund valued the Sword Emperor Festival, to see its end come to pass in this situation was absurd.

Right now, Arundel was in the midst of cleaning up the incidents related to the Sword Emperor Festival.

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Rihanna and Loengreen were also working in concert, handling various compensations and tasks.

And Isaac?

“……”

He stood before a small, nameless grave.

As the culprit of Galenia’s assassination, Millie’s grave could not be erected, of course.

So Isaac, in his own way, had built a tombstone to commemorate Millie.

Of course, with Galenia’s true identity revealed, the evaluation of Millie would also change.

Unfortunately, due to the chaotic situation, there was no time to correct something as insignificant as the death of a mere cook.

“……Ridiculous.”

He had already come here every day for three days, saying everything he wanted to say.

* * *

Did they see it?

The spectacle of everyone in Hellmunt staring at me with shocked eyes.

Did you watch from there, smiling?

The initial surge of emotion had now settled into a gentle calm, culminating only in a soft smile.

Even so, the reason I couldn’t leave this place, the reason I came back every day, was simple.

It put my heart at ease.

The time spent with Millie, a warmth amidst the cold Hellmunt.

Coming here brought back memories of those days, warming Isaac’s body like a comforting bonfire.

But one couldn’t stay here forever.

Footsteps sounded behind him.

Turning slowly, as if to greet a guest, he saw Princess Clarice and her guard, Heirat, standing there.

Heirat was a handsome blond, radiating a sense of having been raised with care, unlike Isaac.

Perhaps because he was the princess’s guard, whispers of a forbidden love between the two circulated secretly among the palace maids.

…They’d be in deep trouble if they were caught.

“If Isaac’s not around, just come here, she said. And it’s true.”

“Greetings, Lord Isaac.”

Unlike Clarice, who greeted him casually now, Heirat bowed to Isaac with great deference.

This was one of the noticeable changes since the Sword Feast.

Those who knew how to wield a sword, in particular, cast gazes of awe and respect upon Isaac.

“Isaac, let’s go back to the mansion. There’s a meeting about the Transcendants. We’re a little late.”

Without a word, Isaac followed her.

Walking alongside Heirat, Clarice deliberately slowed her pace, pushing Heirat further back to claim the spot next to Isaac.

“Isn’t it ridiculous? Even for Hellmunt, this is too much.”

“……”

She seemed to want to vent her frustrations about Hellmunt, but Isaac, rather than Heirat, seemed to be the more appropriate target.

Isaac kept his mouth shut and listened to the princess’s grumbling, even three days after she had arrived at the Hellmunt mansion.

“Galenia was in league with the Transcendants. Even I understand that much. But how can they back out so cleanly? They didn’t know? They killed Galenia themselves? They dealt with the Transcendants themselves? They put so much effort into preparing the Sword Feast, only to be victimized themselves?!”

‘…More piled up than I thought.’

Isaac looked at Clarice with an embarrassed expression.

Heirat turned his head away, looking awkward.

“Are you kidding me?! Seriously?! Is there anyone who *doesn’t* know that Galenia embraced death to protect her family?!”

“Most people besides the Princess are unaware.”

“What utter idiocy-!”

Claris’s words, while understandable.

It was natural that few would have realized Galenia’s true intentions. After all, discerning them required a rather intimate knowledge of the situation.

Love.

A tragedy compounded of madness, obsession, and affection, all stemming from that single emotion.

“Love, by its nature, is difficult to explain with logic or words.”

“Is that why you married Helmundt?”

“……”

“Ah, sorry. My mistake. Words just blurt out when I’m this angry.”

The fact that Isaac had no immediate denial was truly infuriating to him.

“Haa, so Galenia chose the best possible option in the worst of circumstances.”

“Indeed.”

It was undeniably a shame.

Having already been exposed as an informant to the Princess, dying there was the wisest choice to protect her beloved Arandel.

And at Arandel’s own hands, no less.

Thanks to her, Helmundt, who otherwise would have had to bow his head in shame, was actually beginning to speak his mind.

Furthermore, the surprise attack was so sudden that even the Transcendent Ones couldn’t react properly. Thus, the initial moment of intensity remained brief.

For Transcendent Ones who had infiltrated the humans, the casualties were remarkably low.

At the time, knights of Helmundt were strewn across the Sword Empire.

Galenia had essentially made the Transcendent Ones sacrifices to Arandel, companions for her journey to the grave.

How could a woman be so calculating? Isaac considered it something beyond simple madness.

“They’re compensating the other nobles generously, and even holding large-scale memorial services for the villagers… it’s all good. I understand it all, but…”

Helmundt’s response was appropriate, even exemplary.

They acknowledged their responsibilities while clearly distancing themselves from Galenia.

They spared no expense in compensating the victims.

They must have spent a considerable fortune on the Sword Empire, yet they never wavered in opening their storehouses.

The principle that anything but swords was acceptable was evident in even this aspect.

“You’re angry that they’re taking responsibility while clearly drawing a line with the crime, aren’t you? You just want to give Helmundt a smack on the head, right?”

He’d only end up bruising his own hands doing that.

“Do you know why no one dares to say anything? It’s because of Heilmant! That blasted greatsword! That blasted war deterrent!”

Though, truth be told, it was more Galenia laying the groundwork at the cost of her own life than Heilmant’s actual intention.

What good would come of discussing the dead any further?

Isaac and Heirard simply listened silently to Princess Claris’s grumbling.

The Heilmant manor, finally reached.

Stepping into the drawing room, they found Arundel, Rianna, and Loengreen already there.

Not only them, but also nobles who had participated in this Sword Emperor Ceremony, including Uldiran of Kaldius and Silverna.

Isaac instinctively moved to sit with the noble faction.

Sensing the puzzled gazes around him, he cleared his throat awkwardly and sat beside Rianna.

“…Am I late?”

“No, you’re right on time.”

Isaac nodded at Rianna’s reply, looking around. He was still technically a son-in-law-to-be, so he was seated with the Heilmant side.

*Sniff! Sniff!*

The sound of air being forcefully expelled from nostrils was audibly distinct. Loengreen, bloodshot eyes blazing, glared at Isaac like a dog on a leash.

‘Damn Heilmant.’

Heilmants also healed quickly.

He must’ve used magic, but in any case, all of Loengreen’s wounds had already healed.

“Look away.”

Rianna, seated between them, warned Loengreen bluntly.

Her quiet voice must have been audible to Loengreen, yet he continued to glare.

“Eyes. Down.”

At Rianna’s near-threatening command, Loengreen finally bit down hard on his lip and averted his gaze.

“…I didn’t know you could talk like that?”

“You have to use the language a dog understands when talking to a dog.”

Isaac hadn’t expected Rianna to speak so forcefully. At her response, Loengreen flinched again, but didn’t say anything.

Loengreen’s attitude, Sharen locked in his room, Rianna’s resolve, and more.

Galenia’s death was, in many ways, causing internal shifts within Heilmant.

“Alright, let’s begin.”

Claris, standing at the center, began to speak. Although she was arguably the youngest, she naturally presided over the meeting as a princess.

“Presently, the Royal Court plans to descend upon Blackthorn’s lands for their collusion with the Transcendents.”

An operation foreseen even before the Sword Emperor’s time.

Delayed somewhat by unforeseen incident, but Klaris saw in it an opportunity, rather.

“According to my information, Blackthorn has already betrayed the kingdom, irrevocably.”

In their domain, there was no sound save the croaking of ravens.

An endless pall of dark clouds hung in the heavens.

Klaris’s informant went so far as to say the land itself was dying.

“The reason for this public announcement, of course. Is that I do not intend to release Hellmunt from culpability in this matter so readily.”

Violet eyes flashed.

“Therefore, as both an act of atonement and proof you are no traitors–”

The Princess posed her query as if addressing Hellmunt directly.

Are you truly so adept at battle?

“Hellmunt shall lead the vanguard, personally.”

Come along to Blackthorn.

* * *

A mist-shrouded place among the craggy mountains.

Not an immortal, yet a woman living a life akin to one dwelled here.

“Haaah.”

A sake cup large as a bowl.

The woman drained it, gulps echoing, her hair spread across the wooden platform like spilled ink.

Leaned beside her, the sword was strangely long, curved like the moon.

A ōdachi, it was called.

“How tiresome is this worldly existence.”

Muttered listlessly, atop the woman’s black hair, a pair of wolf ears twitched.

At that moment, a faceless man appeared before her.

Without scent or presence, yet the woman rose slowly, grinning at the man.

“How many times must I say I won’t devour you? To see you tremble in your incorporeal state makes me more curious than amused now.”

The woman’s canines gleamed.

“I wonder, what expression would you wear, standing face-to-face with me.”

Licking her lips, she growled as if itching for a fight.

But the man, silent as stone, merely delivers his message.

– Have you heard of the latest news from the Sword Emperor?

“Hm? The Sword Emperor…Helmun? Already that time of year, is it?”

The woman takes another sip of her liquor, tilting her head. Why mention Helmun so abruptly, she wonders.

– Rumors speak of Helmun’s sword being broken.

“The ramblings of fools, no doubt. So long as Arundel lives, Helmun’s sword is far from broken.”

– However, the rumors persist. And Helmun does not deny them.

“……”

– This could be of aid to us. Will you investigate?

“Hmph.”

Perhaps it was the pleasant haze of the drink that made her feel so agreeable.

Or perhaps she was simply bored, idly waiting for something to happen.

Whatever the reason, it mattered little.

“Send a carriage.”

Upon hearing the woman’s acceptance, the man vanished as soundlessly and abruptly as he’d appeared.

“Damaen! A carriage is coming. Prepare yourself!”

“Yes! Master!”

The man called Damaen, who had been patiently waiting at a distance with his hands clasped behind his back, immediately descended towards the base of the rocky mountain.

“Heh.”

Rising from the platform, the woman slings a greatsword over her shoulder, recalling the conversation from moments ago with a snort.

“Broken Helmun, you say?”

Whoever could have accomplished such a feat…

For the first time in ages, a profound curiosity stirred within the woman.