Chapter 25

“Miss, the scouting team has returned!”

“……!”

Upon hearing the report from Kelsey, Sharen’s maid, Lianna hurriedly rushed over.

It was already late into the night.

The scouting team, which was supposed to return after a brief patrol of the base, was so late that everyone was worried.

Especially since another scouting team that had left earlier had also not returned, the atmosphere was growing increasingly tense.

Seeing the scouting team enter the wall, Lianna let out a sigh of relief.

Thankfully.

Isaac seemed unharmed.

Sharen, his younger sister, also didn’t look great, but seeing her awkwardly smiling, it seemed she wasn’t injured either.

“There’s one less person than when they left.”

At Kelsey’s words, Lianna nodded.

Their journey, which began with six, ended with five.

If they were to hear the story of what they went through today.

It was such a grueling time that they should be praised for even five of them returning alive.

But still.

The bitterness was unavoidable-.

“Huh?”

Kelsey exclaimed, pointing at Isaac’s hand.

Surprisingly, Sharen and Isaac were holding hands.

“It seems the two of them have grown closer.”

“Indeed.”

Lianna couldn’t help but smile softly.

She knew her younger sister had been cold toward Isaac, but she couldn’t intervene.

“Not everything is bad.”

At Kelsey’s words, Lianna nodded.

If the two of them had grown closer…….

Lianna’s expression hardened.

‘What’s the point of that now?’

After all.

Hadn’t Isaac already decided to leave Helmunth?

Lianna’s expression darkened rapidly. Still, if Sharen could leave Isaac with one good memory.

She hoped that would be the case.

But then.

Seeing Sharen leaning on him, even linking arms.

‘…….’

Lianna felt a strange emotion.

* * *

“Sir Isaac! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? If you’re tired, I can carry you!”

“I’m fine. Stop it.”

“If you need anything, please call me! Ugh! I should’ve gone with you-!”

“Even if you were there, you wouldn’t have been any help. Just go.”

Isaac pushed Jonathan away as he tried to enter the room.

“Sorry, Sir Isaac! Please rest well!”

As Jonathan left, Isaac was finally alone in his room.

“Phew.”

He plopped down on a chair with a long sigh. He hadn’t imagined this morning that the day would turn out to be so long.

‘I heard they sometimes stay out overnight.’

He thought it would be tough to sleep outside on a day like this. Would the fatigue even go away after sleeping?

‘Well, complaining won’t help.’

After all, he was only able to complain because he had survived.

He had survived a life-or-death battle.

He should be grateful for surviving, especially when thinking of those who didn’t.

‘Maybe I’ll wash up quickly.’

Thanks to the noble quarters having a separate bathing area, Isaac was able to wash up comfortably.

The water was warm, and the soap was high-quality.

Uldiran had used his own funds to improve the soldiers’ conditions, arguing that those on the front lines deserved better treatment.

It was a testament to Caldias’ bloodline, which had produced countless soldiers.

These seemingly small but significant efforts were what protected the Malidan Wall.

And so.

After finishing his shower, Isaac returned to his room, only to find an unexpected guest.

“Silverna?”

Silverna was sitting in a chair, reading ‘Isaac’s Sword.’ Even though she must have read it several times, she was focused on every word.

“Ah, you’re back.”

Silverna, who looked fresh and clean, stood up with a smile.

Her thin clothing made her chest’s movement quite visible, but Isaac was getting used to it, as he had said.

“Um, where’s Anna?”

“Anna? She’s washing up. She’ll probably go to bed soon.”

“Right.”

Isaac nodded, feeling awkward. It wasn’t exactly a good situation for a man and woman to be together so late at night, dressed so lightly.

Anna and Uldiran had even asked him to be careful.

He deliberately left the door open as he entered and asked.

“What brings you here?”

But the atmosphere didn’t seem to be heading in that direction. Silverna, holding the textbook seriously, spoke.

“I came to thank you. If it weren’t for you today, the entire scouting team might not have returned.”

“…….”

“No, it’s true. Without your knowledge and calmness, it would’ve been different.”

“You’re overestimating me. You’re the one who took down the Yeti.”

Isaac’s attempt to comfort her didn’t seem convincing, as her expression darkened.

As the mood soured, Silverna, as if feeling pressured, held out the textbook and spoke.

“That’s why, Isaac. Not just as the leader of the scouting team, but as the only daughter of Caldias, I want to express my gratitude to you.”

“Gratitude? How?”

“A sword. I want to make the sword you desire.”

Isaac’s eyes widened in surprise.

It was the first time he had shown such an overt reaction, and Silverna found it cute, as the corner of her mouth lifted slightly.

“I received a pearl line from my father, but it’s not exactly what I wanted, right? I don’t know when the Great Horde’s offensive will end, but I’ll talk to the blacksmith so you can have it before then.”

“Really? You’d do that for me? It’s a weapon unknown to the kingdom, is it possible?”

“Hmm? If you describe its form and structure well, shouldn’t it be possible?”

“I see. Ha, I’m going to be busy again.”

Despite his words, Isaac was as excited as a child meeting Santa.

Silverna smiled softly as she watched him.

Even this simple conversation made her feel incredibly happy.

Seeing him happy made her feel even better.

It was the first time she had felt such a strong desire to do something for someone else.

‘Miss, no way?’

For a moment, she thought she heard Anna’s voice.

Silverna had always denied having any romantic feelings, but Anna’s words had made her seriously consider it.

“……Sorry.”

Seeing him happily sketching the design, she couldn’t help but apologize.

“Huh? For what?”

“Nothing, sleep well. I’ll talk to the blacksmith. He’s quite skilled.”

“Aren’t you coming with me?”

If it were Silverna’s usual personality, she would’ve insisted on going together to take care of everything.

It was Isaac, so it was strange, but…

“Yeah, I’ll tell you separately.”

Silbern smiled bitterly and walked out.

“Good night.”

Thud.

The door closed.

Isaac stared blankly at the spot where Silbern had left.

Then.

The door creaked open again, and this time, a different woman entered.

“What? Did Silbern come back again? Isaac, are you really not starting another life?”

“……”

Sharen Helmunth, who had neatly tied her twin tails again.

Cute pajamas and a shawl draped over her shoulders.

She must have been quite cold coming here since her lodging wasn’t here.

“Why did you come?”

As Isaac asked coldly, putting aside the blueprint he was working on, Sharen pouted her lips and answered.

“Just… I wanted to tell you something.”

“Something you wanted to say?”

“Yeah, so…”

Embarrassed, she twisted her body, clasped her hands, and tucked them between her legs.

“Today, I was really grateful.”

The fact that Sharen was being this honest about her feelings, and to Isaac at that.

It meant that a wind of change was blowing along with her mental growth.

“Yeah.”

Isaac’s voice was still cold.

“You didn’t expect me to give you some nice answer, did you? I only protected you to survive.”

“…I know.”

Sharen’s head lowered.

“But, when I was in your arms today, it was really warm. So, I was just… really grateful.”

“I did it because I had to survive.”

“I… I’ve never been held like that before. My other brothers and sisters are always cold.”

“Ha, Sharen?”

Isaac frowned and roughly put down his pen. Sharen flinched and glanced at Isaac’s expression.

“You know how I was treated at Helmunth. Do you want me to badmouth Helmunth with you? You’re a Helmunth too, aren’t you?”

“I know…”

“You at least didn’t hit me like the others under the guise of training. But you still treated me like a half-slave, right?”

“Y-yeah.”

Sharen’s head lowered as if she was shrinking. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“You’re only seventeen, and I know you’re immature. But even so… just because I saved you, you come here thanking me and saying you’ve changed. It’s not easy to accept.”

“Sniff.”

Even as Sharen looked like she was about to cry, Isaac found it hard to say more.

‘Was I too harsh?’

He wondered if he had been too hard on a seventeen-year-old.

But when he thought about the past, his veins popped on his forehead.

So, perhaps.

He wanted to ask a more fundamental question.

“Hey Sharen, why do you want forgiveness? I’m divorcing Lianna in a month, and we won’t see each other after that.”

Even if she’s changed because of this incident, Sharen’s true nature hasn’t completely disappeared.

If she just brushed it off with a poker face, there wouldn’t be any problem.

It’s not like Isaac is in a position to confront Sharen anyway.

“……”

Sharen tightly closed her mouth.

The moment he saw that, Isaac’s eyes widened, and he opened his mouth.

“Oh, no way? You know, right? I’m your brother-in-law! No way!”

“B-but next month, you won’t be!”

“Hey! What are you saying, you brat?! Just because I hugged you when you were cold, you’re acting like this?!”

“It was really! Really! Warm!”

“That’s obvious-!”

Isaac sighed, hitting his forehead.

Seventeen.

The age to fantasize about love.

Holding hands, handing over a drink, smiling warmly.

The perfect age to mistake it for love.

“I-I’ll make you happy! I’ll do better than my sister!”

“Where does this brat get off teasing an adult?! Get out now!”

“Waaah!”

Isaac pushed the sniffling Sharen out the door.

Sharen, being strong, resisted being pushed out, making it seem like she was a boulder.

‘Ah, damn.’

Damn Helmunth.

He decided to try a different approach.

“Sharen, you’re mistaken. You’re just mistaking a momentary flutter for love.”

“…I don’t think so.”

“Yes, you are. That’s what it is.”

“R-really?”

“Yeah, that’s it. It’s common sense not to feel that way toward your brother-in-law-.”

Ah.

Damn Helmunth.

Come to think of it, Helmunth has that crazy guy who’s obsessively in love with his sister.

Sharen blinked her big eyes, looking up at him.

Looking down at her, Isaac sighed and declared.

“I just hate your Helmunth.”

* * *

“Tch.”

Grumbling, Sharen returned to her lodging.

She had no choice but to leave after being turned away, but it wasn’t a complete loss.

‘At least he listened to me!’

That was some hope for Sharen.

The warmth she felt for the first time in her life.

And the relief.

She never expected to feel this way toward Isaac, but Sharen decided to define her fluttering heart as love.

“Hehe.”

Feeling like the female protagonist in a romance novel, Sharen entered her room.

And there stood Kelsey, pale-faced.

“Huh? Kelsey, you’re still awake?”

“Ah, Miss…”

Kelsey awkwardly glanced toward the bed.

A woman sitting on Sharen’s bed.

Crossing her legs, resting her chin, and staring coldly at Sharen-.

“Uh, uh, uh, sister?”

The moment she saw Lianna.

Sharen didn’t even have time to wonder how she got here.

Her teeth chattered more violently than when she was cold.