Chapter 26

“Sister?”

Sharen called out in a hushed voice, utterly bewildered by the scene unfolding before her eyes. It was so surreal that she couldn’t help but doubt its reality.

Logically, why would Riana be here?

“Sharen, you’re here.”

But the moment Riana uttered those words, Sharen’s body stiffened like a board. That was definitely Riana Helmunth. The unmistakable, overwhelming aura of malice that only her sister could exude filled the room.

‘Kelsey!’

Sharen shot a desperate glance at her maid, but Kelsey could do nothing but lower her head in silence.

“Uh, sis? How did you get here?”

“Is that important right now?”

“Of course it is! If Father finds out you’re here, he’ll be furious!”

“Yeah, I suppose.”

Riana nodded casually, her expression utterly indifferent. It was a stark contrast to how she usually acted around Arandel.

‘What’s going on?’

Sharen was even more confused now. Riana seemed to be deliberately provoking their father’s anger.

“Sharen.”

But whatever the case, Sharen could tell her sister was seriously upset.

‘Why should I be scared?!’

Sharen decided to act as she usually would, staring at Riana, who was oddly setting the mood.

“What’s going on, sis? If you came all the way here, there must be something important, right?!”

“Ah, miss.”

“Kelsey, stay quiet. I’m here representing Helmunth at the Malidan Wall. But you’re ignoring Father’s orders and doing this! I have the right to reprimand you—!”

“Did you enjoy your time with Isaac?”

“Uh, sis…”

Sharen immediately deflated, her shoulders slumping as she didn’t know what to do.

“You know, Sharen. Isaac is my husband.”

“……”

Sharen wanted to add “for now,” but Riana’s intimidating presence made her keep her mouth shut.

“To outsiders, it might just look like a close relationship between brother-in-law and sister-in-law.”

Riana slowly approached, her crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dark.

“But I know what feelings you’ve been harboring.”

“Uh, sis?”

Sharen looked up at Riana, her face half-crying.

“Don’t do this, Sharen.”

Riana gently brushed a strand of hair from Sharen’s cheek, her voice tinged with bitterness.

“I don’t want to see Isaac suffer because of Helmunth anymore.”

“Sis…”

Only when Riana got closer did Sharen finally realize the emotions her sister was holding.

“Let’s stop this—.”

Deep regret. Yet, the inability to fully let go.

“Let him go.”

Because she loved him that much.

“……Sis.”

By now, Sharen couldn’t help but feel bewildered. The part Kelsey had been curious about but couldn’t ask. The reason Riana was here, defying even Arandel Helmunth’s orders.

“Why did you come here?”

At that, Riana only gave a bitter smile, offering no other answer.

* * *

“I know.”

“Huh?”

“I know. I know too.”

“……What are you talking about?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing. Just treat me like a friend.”

“Are you talking to yourself?”

Anna was baffled as she watched Silbern muttering to herself.

‘Why is she acting like this?’

“I’m not myself. Yeah, let’s not make it awkward.”

It was puzzling why Silbern was acting so unlike herself, but the answer came quickly.

“Are you an idiot?! You call yourself a knight of Helmunth and can’t even handle a sword like that?!”

“S-sorry!”

“…….”

The next morning, at the training grounds. Sharen was berating Jonathan for his poor swordsmanship.

Meanwhile, Isaac was jotting down notes as he watched the two. By now, the sight of him holding a pen and scribbling in his notebook had become so familiar it was almost expected.

Perhaps he was researching something about Helmunth’s swords. He was diligently taking notes as Sharen lectured on swordsmanship.

“Ahem, Isaac?”

Silbern awkwardly approached.

“Ah, Silbern.”

Isaac greeted them briefly. Before Silbern could stammer out what she wanted to say, he spoke first.

“Do you happen to have a hair tie? My hair’s gotten longer than I thought.”

“Now that you mention it, it really has.”

Isaac’s hair reached his shoulders. Anna pulled out a hair tie she had tucked away.

“Do you know how to tie it?”

“Yeah, sort of.”

In his past life, he often holed up in a room writing books. Whenever his hair grew out, he’d tie it back like this.

As Isaac neatly tied his hair, Silbern stared at him, looking somewhat aggrieved.

“You, you, you wanna die?!”

“……Why?”

“Miss?”

“If you tie your hair like that—.”

Silbern’s face turned red as she seemed to want to say something, but she covered her mouth and swallowed her words.

“Go to the blacksmith! I told him you’d come, so he’s waiting for you.”

“Ah! That thing from yesterday!”

Isaac jumped up and hurried off toward the blacksmith’s forge, oblivious to the stares of Silbern and Anna fixed on his back.

The Malidan forge was tucked away in the farthest corner of the wall. The noise and the pungent smell made it an unpopular spot, but it was one of the most crucial facilities on the front lines.

If you asked anyone in the north where the warmest place was, they’d all point to the forge.

“You’ve got the face to make girls cry, huh?”

“Huh?”

As soon as Isaac stepped inside, the blacksmith’s snide remark left him baffled.

The blacksmith clicked his tongue, swinging his hammer.

“Making a sword for a guy like you. Miss Silbern is really something.”

“I’m here as a guest, so show some manners.”

“Blacksmith—”

“Blacksmiths are people who bang hammers with stubbornness and obstinacy. Shouldn’t I have the right to choose who wields the weapons I make?”

“You don’t seem to care about money, huh?”

“That’s why I often get scolded by my wife.”

The blacksmith bursts into hearty laughter.

Even in the north, wearing just a sleeveless shirt, the burns and knife scars on his arms are quite vivid.

“Anyway, since Silbern said so, I believe you’ll make my sword for me.”

“Tsk, of course.”

A sly smile forms on his lips.

Usually, craftsmen like this have terrible personalities, but their skills are undeniable.

They have an artistic temperament, treating weapons as their own creations.

So, no matter who the opponent is, they show off their best skills when making them.

Being a blacksmith from Caldias, his skills are naturally top-notch.

Originally stationed at the front lines, he probably never had a day off from hammering.

The apprentices behind him also exude the aura of masters.

“I’ve brought a separate blueprint.”

As he pulls out the blueprint, the blacksmith snatches it and snorts.

“Ha! What a mess! Making a sword from an amateur’s blueprint—!”

His free-spirited tongue suddenly stops.

Seeing his apprentices, who were hammering away, look at him in confusion, it seems this reaction is a first.

After staring for a while, the blacksmith slowly raises his head and looks at Isaac.

His eyes now carry a heavy seriousness.

“…Did you come up with this?”

“Strictly speaking, it’s not my idea. I received various advice.”

A sword is indispensable for a swordsman.

Wielding a good sword is also one of a swordsman’s qualities.

In his past life, Isaac didn’t just study swordsmanship.

No, studying swordsmanship naturally leads to proficiency in weapons like swords.

In his past life, he often sought teachings and advice from numerous blacksmiths about swords.

“It’s an unusual sword.”

“Strictly speaking, it’s a weapon called a ‘blade.'”

“A blade? Hmm, interesting. It’s similar to your Falchion but different.”

Isaac smiles wryly.

Because this weapon was used by the Transcendental Tribe.

“It doesn’t seem suitable for close combat, does it? It might be light, but a sword this thin can’t compete in strength.”

“That’s why I’m using this.”

He confesses his honest feelings.

It was an acknowledgment of his own limitations.

“It looks like it’ll break soon if you swing it.”

“Then wouldn’t that be the blacksmith’s fault?”

“Hmph.”

“That’s why I thought of entrusting it to the best blacksmith. If you’re not confident, I’ll leave.”

“Such a childish provocation.”

The blacksmith smirks and clenches his fist.

“And I’m quite childish.”

Having lived as a blacksmith for many years without fearing challenges, he could stand where he is now.

“Wait a bit. There might be a few trial and errors needed.”

“Alright.”

There’s still some time before the Great Gathering ends.

Isaac plans to cooperate as much as possible so he can make the sword for him by then.

As he looks at the blueprint and is about to return to the forge, he suddenly stops and asks one last question.

“But… I heard it’s Helmunth?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Would Helmunth allow not using a greatsword?”

At his question, Isaac chuckles.

“Isn’t the purpose of a sword to cut?”

“Hmm?”

“The moment I hold a greatsword, it’s not a sword to me, just a lump of weight.”

“……”

“I need a sword.”

At Isaac’s firm declaration, the blacksmith looks at him for a moment, then slowly approaches and offers a handshake.

“I’m Antonio. The one who will give you a real sword. You should at least know my name.”

“I’m Isaac.”

* * *

The training ground after Isaac left.

“Hey, you idiot! Can’t you even do this?! This is basic!”

“Sorry, sorry!”

Amid Jonathan’s tearful voice under Sharen’s strict guidance, Anna quietly asks.

“Miss, what’s wrong?”

“Anna.”

She fidgets with her mouth and then spills out like a complaint.

“You were right.”

“Miss?”

“I… I think I like him.”

“……!”

Anna’s eyes widen, and she quickly scans the surroundings.

Sharen and Jonathan are too focused on each other to notice.

The only visible person is a maid with a masked face.

But from that distance, there’s no way they could hear their voices, so it should be fine.

“Miss, you must never tell anyone about these feelings. Understand?”

“I know… That’s why I only told you.”

“Sigh, alright. He’s already a married man. And from Helmunth. Love is noble, but some people have ruined their lives because of it, you know?”

“Yeah.”

Silbern slumps down.

Anna hugs her tightly and pats her back.

“Sigh, our miss. What are we going to do?”

“Anna… Am I weird?”

“No, miss. How can you control who you fall in love with? It’s just, just—.”

Anna hesitates for a moment, then sniffles and answers.

“It’s just a little, just a little too late.”

It feels like a heavy stone has settled in her chest.

It’s a good thing I can rest today.

Let’s take the day to calmly sort out my feelings.

‘Sigh, the heavens are indifferent.’

The first snow falling on the young lady’s heart.

Of all things, it had to be sleet.