The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Family Wants A Divorce - Chapter 64



63. Recognition

The Vanguard, Helmun.

This alone was enough to reassure and inspire hope in so many, a fact made abundantly clear by the atmosphere of the conference room.

A truly heart-stirring moment.

Helmun’s Arundel silently nodded in response to the princess’s proposal.

“I accept.”

“Hoh.”

“Oh.”

“Ah, Duke Arundel is to lead the vanguard, you say.”

Gasps rippled through the room.

The nobles were now alight with intrigue and anticipation, the very thought of Helmuth himself taking to the field.

Needless to say, the sense of crisis regarding Blackthorn had diminished drastically.

The conference chamber transformed into a lighthearted space, almost instantly.

Even Klaris, who had orchestrated it all, seemed somewhat taken aback.

“……I wouldn’t mind joining in as well.”

“Father?”

Uldiran, seated opposite, clicked his tongue. He appeared to lament that his imminent return to the North would prevent him from fighting alongside Arundel.

“Ahem, yes. In any event, I implore you. Especially with Duke Isaac as well. He was, after all, a central figure in this Sword Tournament.”

*Crack!*

“It’s a matter of symbolism, of sorts. Simply being together will be worth quite a lot.”

From beside her came the sound of teeth grinding. Loengreen, humiliated by the Princess’s words, hung his head low.

His eyes were bloodshot with deep fury, but he was in no position to retort.

“If you lost, be quiet.”

Rianna warned him in a low voice.

With Galenia gone, Rianna was clearly taking charge of disciplining her brothers.

“Hmm.”

But for once, Arundel remained silent. He merely regarded Isaac and Rianna, before stating,

“Those two are scheduled for divorce.”

He dropped the bombshell.

“…….”

“…….”

Rianna and Isaac’s eyes widened simultaneously. The discussion of divorce had been postponed due to the aftermath of the Sword Tournament,

but to have it dropped like this, here and now, was unthinkable.

“Pardon?”

Not only the other nobles, but even Princess Klaris herself, dropped all pretense of composure and stared at Arundel with mouths agape.

“W-w-what did you just say?”

While everyone else floundered, unable to speak through their shock.

Silberna, alone, smirked unseen, giving Rianna a thumbs-up.

“……”

Rianna, seeing this, bit her lip, wanting to retort.

But she swallowed it back, focusing on the conversation.

“The two are scheduled to divorce soon.”

Arundel added matter-of-factly, and Clarisse swayed, clutching her forehead.

On the verge of fainting, she was steadied by her guard, Heirad, allowing her to stand again.

And then.

“Are you spouting nonsense?!”

From noble mtl dot com

Clarisse vehemently protested.

“Divorce?! No, wait! Divorce?! Do you even think that makes sense right now?!”

“It is a matter for Helmunth.”

“Helmunth *is*! The power of our kingdom! A divorce in this situation?! Even a divorce from the son-in-law who beat Loengreen to a pulp?! What the—!”

Clarisse nearly cursed. But Arundel remained steadfast.

“It is already decided.”

“Do you even know what others will think of Helmunth if you do this?! That they cast out someone who defeated their direct line! That the Helmunth name is dragged through the mud! That Helmunth is no longer great. That the next heir lost to a commoner! *That* is what you’ll hear!”

“……”

“Do you know why Isaac winning the Sword Imperium didn’t cause a bigger stir? Because it’s Helmunth! Because *he*, the son-in-law, still carries the Helmunth name! You want to hear that the kingdom’s sword has fallen?!”

“However, the decision stands.”

“Deci—! Ah, augh……!”

Eventually, Clarisse, young as she was, collapsed backwards as if in a faint.

“I really hate Helmunth…I want to go home.”

With her last words, the meeting came to an abrupt end.

* * *

“You two, come here.”

As everyone filed out of the conference room.

Clarisse, still sitting alone, beckoned Rianna and Isaac closer with a flick of her fingers.

Silberna, following Uldrian out, glanced around and stealthily moved to stand near Isaac.

Clarisse paid her no mind, and spoke.

“Now, listen. These Transcendent types have appeared. Boldly trying to co-opt our nobles, attacking the festival I was at, creating an utter mess, yes?”

“…”

“…”

“Answer.”

“Yes.”

“That’s right.”

Clarisse nodded, continuing, “Blackthorn’s betrayal could fester into distrust towards the entire kingdom. A failure of governance, you see. At times like these, powerful nobles must stand firm, a solid core.”

And yet.

Noble among nobles.

The kingdom’s last bastion, a deterrent to war itself.

“That Helmundt falters at such a time… it’s not something to simply dismiss as a lovers’ spat.”

“…”

“…”

“Why must the kingdom resolve internal strife when it should be fighting the enemy? You must consider the name, Helmundt.”

Isaac knew.

That’s why he’d deliberately held his tongue these past three days.

But if one were to ask him if he *wanted* to remain in Helmundt…

Not at all.

‘I want to leave this instant.’

But the problem was the Transcendents.

Unlike his previous life, the Transcendents had revealed themselves to Isaac in the North, far too early.

Thus, Helmundt’s divorce would inevitably carry a greater weight than he anticipated.

To prevent humanity’s destruction at the hands of the Transcendents, as in his previous life, swift suppression was essential.

The situation itself was vastly improved compared to his past experience.

To expose and begin exterminating the Transcendents before they even launched their offensive.

But conversely, with things twisted and tangled, Isaac’s divorce carried a larger geopolitical impact than he had anticipated.

“Now, you two, face each other.”

“…”

“…”

“Quickly, now.”

The princess’s tantrum earned Isaac and Rianna a furtive glance at one another.

The moment a faint blush bloomed on Rianna’s cheeks, Sylverna, standing behind them, contorted her face.

“Hold hands.”

“Princess…”

“Ah, quickly!”

The Clarisse he knew wouldn’t act so rashly.

It seemed these past few days in Hellmund had pushed her stress to the limit.

Isaac and Rianna gingerly took each other’s hand.

The divorce rings on their left ring fingers pressed against each other’s skin.

“Apologize to each other.”

“…Sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry. Truly.”

Rianna offered an apology along with a faint smile. Anyone could hear the sincerity within.

“That’s right, a lovers’ quarrel is like cutting water with a knife. Though perhaps in Hellmund, one *can* cut water, no?”

“…They do cut the river.”

Isaac added, and Rianna lowered her head, seemingly embarrassed.

Clarisse, annoyed at his unnecessary comment, jerked her chin.

“Kiss.”

“Princess.”

“Quickly. Kiss. Am I a princess? Shall I issue a royal decree?”

Isaac wanted to know what kind of dog-forsaken situation this was, and moved to release his hand, but Rianna’s grip was surprisingly strong.

“…”

He glanced sideways at Rianna, and, flushed with embarrassment.

Weren’t her lips slightly pursed forward?

“Hey.”

“Ah, no. It’s a royal decree.”

Rianna answered, flustered.

“It’s, it’s been so long too…”

She whispered softly, but unfortunately, it didn’t lead to a kiss.

Because Sylverna’s hand had intervened between the two of them.

“Hold on a tick! I have a solution!”

Silberna declared, glaring straight at Rianna.

“Isaac can get divorced! We, Caldians, will take him!”

“…….”

“…….”

Hand on her chest, Silberna, brimming with excitement, shouted, spraying spittle.

“Even if Hellmund crumbles, conversely, Caldia will stand tall! The Malridian Wall, guarding the North, will support the kingdom in place of Hellmund-!”

“…….”

Claris stared at Silberna, her mouth agape in a bewildered expression.

Then, suddenly, she looked around as if searching for something, fumbling with her hands.

Perhaps she couldn’t find what she was looking for.

She simply took off her shoe and gripped it in her hand.

“You, it’s you!”

She yelled, throwing it at Isaac.

“You’re the problem! It’s youuu! How far are you going to go, you married man-!”

* * *

The three of them emerged into the garden.

They felt a bit dazed, as if caught in a brief whirlwind.

Amidst this commotion, still in the rose-fragrant garden, Silberna spoke first.

“Holding hands and making them kiss during a divorce is a bit much, no?”

Rianna flinched beside her.

“Right? Isaac?”

“…Well, you’re right. But I understand the princess’s position too-.”

“What?”

Isaac sighed at Silberna’s gangster-like glare.

At this point, Isaac couldn’t help but notice.

“You knew I was getting divorced.”

“…….”

Only now did the puzzle pieces of Silberna’s actions at the Malridian Wall fall into place for Isaac.

There had been somewhat excessive displays of affection and skinship for friends, but she’d used him as a breakwater, saying it was okay because he was married.

“Someone told you?”

“Sh…Sharen did.”

Silberna’s reply, it was as he suspected.

Isaac worried for Sharen, still holed up in her room.

*I need to go talk to her.*

No matter how wicked Galenia had been, the truth was Sharen’s father had killed her mother.

There was no way she hadn’t been traumatized at her young age.

“Is Sharen still in her room?”

“Yes, she’s with Edel right now.”

Helmunt’s youngest, Edel Helmunt, even younger than Sharen.

This harsh reality was almost too much for the now fifteen-year-old boy to bear.

Just as Isaac turned to leave and go to them immediately, an overwhelming presence emerged from the mansion.

Arundel Helmunt and Uldiran Kaldias.

Two men of complete contrast.

It struck him, the atmosphere was strikingly similar to their daughters flanking their sides.

“…”

Arundel stood before the three of them. Uldiran, abruptly displaced, wore an expression of annoyance.

For three days, Arundel had found no time to speak with Isaac.

A testament to how preoccupied he was with managing the fallout from the Sword Emperor’s incident, and now that things had settled to some degree.

Arundel put forth his proposal to Isaac.

“The Blackthorn subjugation. Join me.”

“…I am no longer a Helmunt.”

“Ghk!”

Why Uldiran seemed to be in anguish, he couldn’t say, but regardless.

Isaac answered plainly, yet Arundel spoke without a change in expression.

“I’m not proposing this because you are a Helmunt.”

“…”

“It’s because I have become intrigued by you, the swordsman.”

For a moment.

Everyone present, save for Isaac, widened their eyes in astonishment.

That Arundel, not Helmunt, took an interest was already something that could be called a grand event.

Moreover, this could be seen as a change that had come over Arundel, the man who had cleaved his wife in two.

“…I trust you are well aware that it’s not just Helmunt that is wavering.”

He doesn’t refuse the divorce.

To Isaac’s words, Arundel retorted, quite spiritedly.

“At this Blackthorn, the world will know that Helmunt will not be shaken by the likes of your relationship.”

Precisely that.

Overwhelming force.

The meaning was that they would flaunt it to show Helmunt’s strength, so not to worry.

Uldiran, standing beside him, frowned and crossed his arms.

“It’s not just because I mistrust Helmunt. You know very well what Isaac signifies now.”

The undisputed first successor of Helmunt.

He brought down Loengrin.

Not only that, but he even reached the point of deciphering Helmunt’s swordsmanship.

It’s only been three days, but word of mouth is already spreading and spreading even now.

“For now, it’s possible because you’re there. But the moment the head of the family, postponed by the Sword Calamity, is decided, Helmunt’s name will not be the same as it is now.”

Was it because they had some sort of rivalry? Uldiran of Caldius spoke with concern.

Rather, Arundel gazed intently at Isaac and replied.

“Is Helmunt the only one bearing the weight of the kingdom?”

No one could deny that Helmunt bore the greatest burden.

Especially that it signified Arundel, remained unchanged.

“If I were to leave. Someone would take that place.”

It doesn’t necessarily have to be one person.

Moreover, it doesn’t necessarily have to be Helmunt.

A gaze imbued with such meaning pierced into Isaac.

“Haha! My friend! What are you saying when you’re still so full of vigor!”

Sensing a strange unease in Arundel’s words, Uldiran laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

If anyone else had done that, their wrist would have been severed instantly, but because Uldiran was someone he acknowledged?

Arundel didn’t say anything.

“I was also intending to participate in Blackthorn.”

Whatever it may be.

First, dealing with the Transcendent is the priority.

Isaac, regardless of divorce, planned to go to Blackthorn, so he spoke thus.

“Your sword will not be drawn.”

Arendal shook his head in reply.

“Observe, learn, prove it.”

“……”

“Whether your blade is worthy enough to crush the name Hellmunt.”

The last was a growl, close to a warning.

But the heightened voice and the smile playing on his lips seemed closer to excitement.