Clang!
“Pwahaha!”
It was the time when Isaac and Riana were taking turns showering.
Meanwhile, Silbern was drinking beer at the tavern set up for the soldiers in the castle.
“What’s this? Why does it taste so good today?”
“Milady, you said you were tired.”
Anna, who was keeping her company, sighed but ordered another beer. Knowing Silbern’s feelings, she didn’t outright ban her from drinking, even though she was worried.
“Tavern keeper, did you put honey in this today?”
“How could I put something so expensive in beer, milady?”
“What? Why does it taste so good?”
‘She’s already a bit drunk.’
Silbern, leaning lazily against the table, let out a long sigh. She decided to listen to all the complaints pouring out of her flushed cheeks today.
‘Well, it’s for the best.’
She knew she hadn’t completely let go. If it were that easy, she wouldn’t have struggled so much in the first place.
But since Riana Helmunth had come, this might be a good opportunity to finally cut off her feelings.
“Father used to say, ‘If life is bitter, alcohol tastes sweet.’ Maybe that’s why?”
“You’ve been muttering that on purpose, haven’t you?”
“……”
Silbern silently lifted her beer mug again. But since it was already empty, she put it down with a disappointed look, just savoring the taste. Just then, the beer Anna ordered arrived, and Silbern started drinking it like water.
“It’s okay, milady.”
Anna patted her back to comfort her.
“After all, it was someone you couldn’t have. It’s better to be clear about it than to suffer unnecessarily.”
“You make it sound so easy?!”
‘She’s drunk.’
Normally, Silbern would have stubbornly agreed, but now…
“Anna, have you ever felt like this?! Have you?!”
“Why are you taking it out on me?! And by the way, I’m a love expert!”
Silbern’s mouth dropped open in shock at the response.
“What?! You’ve been in love? No, you’ve been busy complaining about cleaning up after me, and you’ve been living your life behind my back?!”
“Even so, I have my own private life. You told me to keep it that way, didn’t you?”
“I told you to keep your private life, not to secretly suck and nibble behind my back!”
Thud!
Silbern slammed her beer mug on the table. The tavern keeper’s expression stiffened, but he chose to ignore it, not wanting to get involved.
“Suck and nibble? What kind of crude expression is that…?”
“The crude one is you, Anna!”
This is insane.
If it weren’t for the fact that she’s the lady, Anna would have smacked her on the back of the head.
“Well, I haven’t actually been in love.”
“…Huh?”
“You know, those romance novels? The merchants from the capital are friendly with me, so they bring me some. I’ve read a lot of those.”
Anna scratched her cheek, embarrassed by her own words, and Silbern let out a snort.
“What’s this about being an expert? You’re just like me.”
“Well, at least I don’t admire married men.”
“……”
Silbern clenched her lips. Seeing her slightly sulky expression, Anna quickly patted her shoulder.
“Oops! I’m sorry! That was a bit harsh, wasn’t it? Don’t be hurt! I just got carried away.”
“No…”
As Anna apologized for her sharp words, Silbern shook her head and put on a determined expression.
“Say more.”
“Huh?”
“I need to fully realize what I did wrong. Say more.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Yeah, I’m serious.”
Even though she was tipsy, the sincerity in Silbern’s voice made Anna hesitate for a moment before speaking.
“Honestly.”
Gulp.
“You two looked really good together.”
“Ugh!”
Silbern clutched her chest. It hurts more when someone points out something you already secretly agreed with.
“You looked like a perfect couple. Like the gods had perfectly matched you.”
Grit.
“No wonder your names were buzzing in social circles for a while. A love that transcended status. And since it was between Helmunth and a commoner, it stood out even more. Plus, both of you are so good-looking…”
Anna glanced at Silbern.
“It’s not something you should interfere with, right?”
A sigh escaped through clenched teeth. Silbern drank her beer as if trying to shove her words back down her throat.
Seeing it like this, she realized she was truly crazy.
And there’s one thing that’s worrying her.
“Hey, Anna.”
“Should I stop?”
“More importantly…”
Silbern gestured for Anna to lean in. When Anna tilted her head, Silbern whispered in a small voice.
“…Are you crazy?”
Anna stared at Silbern in shock after hearing what she said.
“The spear? You were going to melt it and give it as a gift?”
Silbern’s spear, made of Frost Silver.
A weapon forged from a mineral that could be considered a symbol of Caldias.
And she was melting it to make a weapon as a gift for Helmunth’s son-in-law?
“Ah, no… I just thought I should help Isaac since he’s working so hard.”
Silbern fidgeted with her fingers and muttered timidly. Anna slapped her own forehead and let out a despairing sigh.
“You’ve already started the process, haven’t you?”
“Ah, probably.”
“Even if you go and ask for it back now, they won’t give it to you, will they?”
“Probably not.”
“Of course not. You’re the type to storm into the Margrave’s place and cause a scene. They wouldn’t return it.”
“What should I do? Can I just give it naturally? It won’t look weird, right?”
“Who wouldn’t find it weird? Caldias gifting a sword made of Frost Silver to Helmunth.”
“……”
“……”
“Even with my wife right beside me! Ah! This is a declaration of war!”
Silbern Caldias covers her face with both hands.
“I’m an idiot.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Anna…”
“Being an idiot isn’t enough. You need to do more than that.”
“…”
Unable to hold back, Anna suddenly stands up and starts slapping Silbern’s back.
“No matter how thoughtless you are, how could you do that?! And then you talk about pure love! Thinking about how you said you’d shake off your lingering feelings just makes me even angrier!”
“Ah! Ah! Anna! I’m a noble!”
“Cut it out! Just cut it out! Ugh, I should just quit and stop worrying about you!”
After a while, Anna plops back down into her seat and nods as if she’s made up her mind.
“There’s only one way now.”
“What is it?”
“You have to use that.”
“…”
“That’s the only way. Take this chance to try something other than a spear.”
Silbern sighs, thinking it’s nonsense. Anna wasn’t serious either, so she was about to let it go.
“But…”
Suddenly, she remembers what Northemus said earlier today.
“After seeing Isaac’s sword, the Transcendental Tribe said it was their swordsmanship, right?”
“…Yeah.”
“I’ve never seen a sword like that before. It seems like they know a lot about the Transcendental Tribe.”
“Even their magic?”
“Exactly.”
“So starting tomorrow, I’ll be investigating with Lianna. Father said so.”
Of course, he said “investigate,” but…
Both of them will probably answer without hiding anything.
Since most things here are left to Uldiran’s discretion, it shouldn’t get too serious.
Then.
Clang!
The door opens, and in comes a girl with twin tails.
“Boss! Make me something strong!”
“Miss…”
Sharen Helmunth and her maid Kelsey enter, completely out of place.
Since only Silbern and Anna were in the tavern, they naturally stood out.
“Huh?”
So, Sharen naturally moves to their table and joins them.
“You said you were going out for a drink, and you’re actually drinking?”
Silbern forces a smile as Sharen casually sits down.
At first, they were at odds, but after fighting side by side on the battlefield, they’ve become comrades.
“Do you drink too?”
Silbern asks, thinking Sharen looks like someone who prefers sweets, but Sharen shrugs and replies.
“I’m a drinker!”
Then, after exchanging a few words with the boss, she starts making her own drink.
“Kelsey is especially good at making drinks. It goes really well with snacks.”
“Oh.”
Silbern was about to ask for a glass, but Kelsey already brings one over.
A deep red, different from beer.
Sharen takes a sip and smiles.
“Mmm! Delicious! Maybe it’s because I’m tired today? I think I’ll get drunk fast!”
“…Let me have just a sip.”
“No way.”
Sharen pouts but still offers the glass.
Silbern takes a small sip.
‘…This is orange juice?’
She glances at Kelsey, who’s standing behind Sharen, and Kelsey puts a finger to her lips, smiling softly.
Orange juice and cookies.
It’s a good combination.
There’s a slight tang, but it doesn’t seem like alcohol.
“Good, right? Kelsey makes it using concentrated orange juice, like wine!”
“Yeah, it’s good.”
Silbern quietly hands the glass back.
Feeling like she’s regaining her senses, she sighs and asks.
“Why are you here?”
“Because I’m stressed! It’s so annoying that everyone thinks I’m an idiot!”
Sharen’s voice rises as she sips her juice.
She seems to think she’s actually getting drunk.
“What’s bothering you?”
Though an unexpected guest, it wasn’t bad.
It naturally shifted the conversation away from Silbern’s unrequited love.
“Isaac and my sister keep saying the same thing over and over! They think I’m an idiot!”
“Huh?”
“Why do I have to keep telling everyone they’re getting a divorce? I keep warning them, but they just look like fools! It’s so annoying!”
“Ah, Miss!?”
Kelsey, standing behind Sharen, quickly interjects.
Even Kelsey didn’t know about the divorce, but it was clear to anyone that Sharen had just said something she shouldn’t have.
“Huh? What’s-”
Sharen, who was taking a sip, freezes.
Her red eyes dart around, checking the reactions of the two in front of her.
Both of them are staring at her with their mouths open.
Clang!
“I’m drunk! I’m drunk! I’ll go now! See you tomorrow?!”
Sharen hurriedly gets up and rushes out.
“What do I do? My sister’s going to kill me! What do I do, Kelsey?! Help meee!”
Only Sharen’s worried voice echoes as she runs away.
The table where the two remain is left in silence for a while.
