What is an interrogation?
Isn’t it commonly imprinted in people’s minds as an act of investigation, pressure, and questioning to uncover the truth?
Silbern also came in expecting that.
But inside, there was a warmly lit candle, a sturdy wooden table emitting a cool breeze scent.
On top of it, simple snacks and bottles of alcohol.
And finally, a messily scattered deck of cards.
“……”
Silbern, faced with an interrogation scene that defied her common sense, tightly closed her mouth and stared.
Uldiran, the main culprit of this situation, coughed awkwardly and left the room.
“Well, that’s enough for the game.”
The other two also started to tidy up the cards, and Isaac’s skill was extraordinary.
He shuffled the cards so skillfully, as if he were a professional gambler.
“Ah, it’s a habit.”
With a sly smile, he handed the shuffled deck back to Uldiran.
During his time as a boatman, one of Isaac’s main sources of income was card games.
Gathering farmers, passing travelers, and other boatmen, they would often play cards.
“Did you do what you needed to do?”
When Silbern looked at him suspiciously, Uldiran cleared his throat and stood up.
“Here, read the investigation report. I’ve already organized everything.”
The investigation report handed by Uldiran was neatly written in a very elegant handwriting.
The moment Silbern realized it was Isaac’s handwriting, she put down the report with a dumbfounded expression.
“Is there such a thing as having a witness write the investigation report?”
“Ah, miss.”
Anna, who was behind her, quietly called Silbern.
Even if she’s his daughter, she shouldn’t pick on the border lord in front of outsiders.
“……”
As Silbern tightly closed her mouth and started reading the report again, Uldiran stood up and decided on their treatment.
“Both of you are cleared of suspicion. However, both of you will serve under her in the Great Settlement to dedicate yourselves to the kingdom.”
“Huh? Even Riana Helmunth, aside from Isaac?”
“She seems like a valuable asset, don’t you think?”
“……”
When Silbern couldn’t answer, Uldiran simply walked out.
Judging from the report, it seemed he had done what he needed to do.
“Isaac… was raised by someone from the Transcendental Tribe when he was young?”
Silbern looked at him with surprised eyes.
“Yeah.”
“……”
His short answer suggested he had no intention of saying more.
“So you know about the Transcendental Tribe and their magic?”
“Correct.”
“…That seems like a pretty insincere excuse, doesn’t it?”
“But the border lord accepted it.”
“They say the Transcendental Tribe kills humans without exception.”
“She was a half-blood.”
Silbern had a hard time accepting it, but since Isaac had a helper.
“I’ve heard about it since long ago.”
Riana raised her hand and added.
“Isaac was taught by a great master when he was young. That’s why he knows a lot.”
“……”
Sitting there, staring up at the couple, Silbern felt uneasy.
“He taught you how to drink too, right?”
“Yeah, when I was very young.”
“Beer?”
“Wine.”
“Right, wine.”
Nodding, they both looked at Silbern again.
‘Why does it feel like they’re lying?’
It definitely felt like a lie.
But since both of them were saying it, it was hard to call them out.
“It feels like I’m watching a couple of con artists.”
Anna’s words scratched Silbern’s itch, but the border lord had already made his decision.
All she could do was follow it.
Leaving the interrogation room.
The cold air filled the castle’s corridor.
Isaac walked along the path lit by the lanterns on the side.
‘I was surprised.’
Honestly, Isaac was bewildered.
‘I never imagined Riana would back up my story like that.’
He was startled to see her naturally adding flesh to his lie.
Riana must have had questions about Isaac too.
For example, Isaac’s attitude.
His knowledge of various swords.
But thanks to her backing him up, they managed to get through it.
“That was a lie earlier, right?”
Isaac, walking towards a clear destination, heard Silbern’s voice from behind.
She had been following him since earlier, and now Anna was gone too.
Isaac stopped abruptly and turned to face Silbern.
“Is this the interrogation room?”
“We’re not interrogating. I’m not accusing you either.”
“Then why are you asking?”
“You can be honest with me, can’t you?”
Her words felt like a plea, and Isaac’s expression hardened.
“What do you want me to be honest about?”
“We’re comrades. Comrades who fight together, risking our lives.”
“Comrades don’t share everything.”
Even between couples, there are things they hide from each other.
At Isaac’s cold response, Silbern tightly closed her mouth.
“The border lord trusts me. You should too.”
“It’s because the Great Settlement is important right now. Even if there are flaws in your story, he wants to use you as a force.”
“……”
Silbern hit the nail on the head.
Isaac took a deep breath and retorted.
“Regardless, it’s his choice.”
“So that’s how it’s going to be?”
Silbern took a big step forward.
Her noticeably protruding chest almost touched Isaac’s.
“Silbern, that’s enough.”
“What?”
Isaac finally couldn’t hold back and snapped.
“I know the camaraderie in the north is special. But like I said earlier, we don’t share everything.”
“……”
“You have your secrets, and I have mine. Just believe that mine don’t harm anyone.”
After saying that, Isaac walked down the corridor again.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
Exactly on the third step.
“I-.”
Silbern’s voice pierced straight through Isaac’s back.
“I have feelings for you.”
“……”
Even though they were inside the castle, it felt like a strong wind was blowing.
Isaac’s steps…
Standing tall and frozen in place.
With a creak, I turned my head to see Silbern nodding with her arms crossed.
“Uh, how is it? No more secrets.”
Blushing, Silbern pointed her finger.
Looking at her, Isaac let out a hollow laugh.
It was a laugh born out of sheer disbelief.
Isaac returned to Silbern’s front.
Slowly reaching out, he fastened the undone buttons of her shirt.
“Wear your clothes properly. What kind of grown woman…”
“Now, tell me your secret. We should trade, right?”
The milk was already spilled.
Silbern pressed hard, but Isaac nonchalantly shook his head.
“That’s not a secret.”
“Huh?”
“I already knew.”
“Huh, huh…?”
This time, it was the opposite.
Silbern’s body stiffened, and her face gradually turned as red as a beet.
She flapped her arms like a fish, opening and closing her mouth.
“Ah, you knew? How? Since when?”
“For a while now.”
Anna, his aide, had also come to Isaac separately to ask him to keep his distance from Helmunth and Caldias.
“Ah, huh?! W-wait a minute!”
Flustered, Silbern turned her back.
Touching her cheeks with both hands, they felt so hot they could probably be used as a forge.
“But Silbern-.”
“Wait! D-don’t talk to me now!”
“……”
Isaac, who decided to wait a bit, stared at Silbern, who was crouching down.
Her shoulders shook, and she muttered something to herself, seemingly sorting out her feelings.
“Phew!”
She turned back to face Isaac.
“Ugh, geez.”
But as their eyes met, embarrassment surged again, and she covered her mouth with her hand, stepping back.
“Let me make it clear. I’m a married man.”
“Tch.”
“…Did you just laugh?”
“No, no. I didn’t laugh.”
What’s this?
Even though she covered her mouth, it seemed like she laughed a bit.
‘Could it be that married men are her type?’
Did she laugh because she actually liked it?
Anyway, Isaac continued.
“I’m a married man. So, there’s no need for an answer, right?”
“……”
Silbern, with her arms crossed, glared at Isaac. Her face was still bright red, but she seemed to have given up on hiding it.
“Why are you like this?”
“It’s a bit unfair. I was honest about my feelings.”
“I told you too. That I can’t accept them.”
“That’s just what you have to say from your position.”
Silbern is a born genius.
Teach her one thing, and she understands ten.
“From a married man’s perspective, of course, you can’t accept it. I’m not that desperate either.”
Anna’s advice about this being a heaven-sent opportunity sparked a brilliant idea in the genius.
“Put everything else aside and just tell me personally what you think.”
“Does that have any meaning?”
“Cut me some slack. It’s the first time my heart raced for a man. At least give me a good ending.”
“……”
The ending of a first love.
Knowing full well how important that is, Isaac hesitated for a moment before honestly confessing.
“Alright, you’re an attractive woman. I’m proud that you have feelings for me.”
“If you didn’t have Lianna.”
“……”
“Would you have chosen me then?”
With her hand on her chest, Silbern’s expression was filled with heavy sincerity.
Without realizing it, Isaac nodded.
“Y-yeah. I would have. But what does it matter? I’m already married.”
“Tch.”
Did she just laugh?
Isaac, flustered, was about to ask, but Silbern nodded her head and smiled brightly.
“Thank you, Isaac.”
“…Hey, Silbern.”
Feeling uneasy, Isaac cautiously asked.
“Do you know something?”
“Hmm?”
“No, it’s just… I feel like you’re hiding something.”
Treading carefully, Isaac asked, and Silbern answered with a playful smile.
“Even colleagues have secrets, Isaac.”
Silbern’s steps were light as she walked out.
Isaac stayed behind in the castle, saying he had places to be, but she wanted to quickly go to Anna and share the good news.
Then.
A red-haired woman standing idly at the entrance.
Her gaze fixed on Silbern.
‘They say Helmunth has sharp ears.’
Sharen’s words weren’t a lie.
The atmosphere already gave off the feeling that she knew everything.
Without stopping, Silbern passed by Lianna and declared.
“I won’t apologize, nor will I feel guilty.”
“……”
“You’re the one who missed out.”
Watching Silbern walk away, Lianna clenched her lips and said nothing.
No, she couldn’t.
What could she do now?
The responsibility of choice.
No matter the reason, she had remained silent in the mansion.
Then here too.
She would remain silent.
That’s what Isaac would want.
