Vanguard, Helvint.
Just this alone was enough to reassure and instill hope in so many, as the atmosphere of the conference room clearly demonstrated.
A heart-pounding situation indeed.
Arandel Helvint quietly nodded in response to the princess’s proposal.
“I accept.”
“Hmm.”
“Ah.”
“What? Lord Arandel is going to be the vanguard?”
Voices of astonishment erupted from various corners.
The nobles were gripped with deep interest and anticipation at the prospect of Helvint himself taking to the field in this battle.
Moreover, the sense of crisis towards Blackhand had decreased dramatically, a fact that went without saying.
The conference room had instantly become much lighter in mood because of this. Even Princess Clarice appeared somewhat perplexed by what she had just orchestrated.
“…I want in too.”
“Father?”
Opposite, Uldiran Caldias was smacking his lips, seemingly regretful that he couldn’t stand on the same battlefield as Arandel, as he needed to return to the North.
“Ahem, yes. At any rate, I leave it in your hands. Especially, I request Isaac’s cooperation as well. After all, he is the main character of this Sword Oath Festival, isn’t he?”
Crack!
“Part of the symbolism. There is sufficient value simply in the two of you going together.”
Next to him, a sound akin to teeth grinding was heard. Roengreen had felt humiliated by the princess’s words and had deeply bowed his head. His eyes brimmed with anger, but he could not find a way to argue back.
“Quiet down if you’ve lost.”
Rianne warned softly.
With Galenia gone, it seemed Rianne had clearly taken it upon herself to discipline her siblings.
“Hmph.”
But even Arandel remained silent this time, quietly observing Isaac and Rianne before speaking.
“The two are planning to divorce.”
Just like that, he dropped a bombshell.
“…”
“…”
Both Rianne and Isaac’s eyes widened instantly. Although discussions about the divorce had been temporarily set aside to deal with the aftermath of the Sword Oath Festival, neither had expected it to be announced like this, right here.
“Excuse me?”
Not just the other nobles, even Princess Clarice stared agape at Arandel, utterly astonished.
“Wa, wa, what did you say?”
While everyone was floundering in confusion…
Silbern, standing nearby, quietly grinned and gave Rianne a thumbs up without anyone noticing.
“…”
When Rianne saw this, she bit her lip, wanting to say something, but forced herself to swallow it and refocused on the conversation.
“The two plan to divorce shortly.”
Arandel reiterated coolly, and Clarice swayed, clutching her forehead as if on the verge of fainting. She was only able to stand again thanks to Heirad, the royal knight standing behind her.
Then…
“Are you uttering nonsense?!”
Clarice sharply criticized.
“Divorce?! A, ah! Divorce?! Do you actually think this is reasonable right now?!”
“It concerns Helvint.”
“Helvint is our kingdom’s very strength! Divorce at such a time?! Especially divorcing a son-in-law who thrashed Roengreen?! What the—!”
Clarice was about to utter a foul word but Arandel remained resolute.
“It is an already settled matter.”
“Do you know how others would perceive Helvint with this?! They’ll think Helvint is driving people away because they’ve won against their own people! Helvint’s honor will be tarnished! Helvint is no longer great. The next heir got defeated by a commoner! Such talk will surely arise!”
“…”
“Are you aware why no major talk was made even after Master Isaac won at the Sword Oath Festival? Because of Helvint! Even though he is a son-in-law, since his name carries Helvint’s lineage at the back! The sword of our kingdom shall be deemed fallen— Is that what you want to hear?!”
“Decided-! Ah, ah…!”
In the end, Clarice fainted like a young person would.
“I really dislike Helvint… I want to go home.”
With these final words, the meeting had come to a brief conclusion.
“Both of you, come here.”
As others started leaving the meeting hall,
Princess Clarice, who had been sitting there all along, motioned for both Rianne and Isaac to come over. Silbern tactfully took a position next to Isaac as she accompanied Uldiran.
Clarice spoke casually.
“Now, listen. Recently, a race called the Transcendental Tribe has appeared. They are openly recruiting among our nobility and attacked the celebrations, causing quite a commotion.”
“…”
“…”
“Answer.”
“Yes.”
“That’s correct.”
Clarice nodded while continuing her explanation.
“The betrayal of Blackhand could lead to distrust towards our kingdom, which might be considered as failure in administration. In moments like these, influential noble families must stand firmly to uphold stability.”
However.
Among the nobles.
The last line of defense for the kingdom and its deterrent against war.
“At a time like this, it is inappropriate for Helvint to be faltering. This is something that can’t just pass as a mere relationship issue.”
“…”
“…”
“Why must we deal with internal matters during such a crucial time when conflict with the enemy looms? Think about Helvint’s name.”
Isaac understood.
That’s why, for the past three days, he had refrained from speaking on the matter deliberately.
However, if asked whether he wanted to remain with Helvint,
Not at all.
‘I want to leave immediately.’
Nevertheless, the problem is the Transcendental Tribe.
In this life, unlike the previous one, they had already been discovered in the north when Isaac was exposed far too early.
Thus, the impact of Helvint’s impending divorce could be more significant than expected.
To prevent humanity from being wiped out by the Transcendental Tribe, as it happened in the previous life, a swift suppression was critical.
Compared to the last lifetime, this situation could be seen as very favorable.
Identifying and eliminating the Transcendentals before they launch their offensive.
However, conversely, the complications meant that Isaac’s divorce would likely have a more significant impact on the current state of affairs than anticipated.
“Now, both of you look at each other.”
“…”
“…”
“Hurry up.”
Irritated, the princess’s demand caused Isaac and Rianne to hesitantly face each other.
The moment a light blush rose to Rianne’s face, Silbern’s expression behind her contorted in jealousy.
“Hold hands.”
“Princess…?”
“A, quickly!”
The Clarice she knew wouldn’t have acted so rashly. She must have reached her stress limit during the time spent in Helvint.
Isaac and Rianne tentatively held hands, their wedding rings on the ring fingers of their left hands touching each other.
“Apologize to each other.”
“…Sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry. Truly.”
A faint smile accompanied by genuine remorse which anyone could tell just by listening.
“Indeed, marital spats are like cutting water with a sword, are they not? Though could there be water that Helvint itself can cut?”
“…Rivers can be cut.”
Isaac’s remark made Rianne shyly lower her head as Clarice, in an attempt to prevent unnecessary chatter, scolded and pointed her chin.
“Kiss now.”
“Princess.”
“Quickly. Kiss. I’m the princess, right? Shall I issue a royal decree?”
Thinking this was some sort of absurd situation, Isaac started to release Rianne’s hand, but surprisingly, her grip was strong.
“…”
When he glanced at her, his wife’s embarrassed, but determined face greeted him.
Her lips were slightly extended forward.
“Hey.”
“A, ah. It’s the royal decree, isn’t it.”
Answering shyly, Rianne continued,
“H, has it been such a long time…”
Her whisper, unfortunately, did not lead to a kiss.
Because Silbern’s hand had somehow intervened between them.
“Enough! I have a solution!”
Silbern declared, glaring immediately at Rianne.
“It’s fine if Isaac divorces! We, the Caldias family, will take him in!”
“…”
“…”
She passionately declared, hand on her chest, saliva flying mid-sentence.
“Even if Helvint falls, conversely, Caldias will rise! The Malidan Wall guarding the North will replace Helvint and support the kingdom—!”
“…”
Clarice stared, wide-mouthed and dumbfounded, at Silbern.
Suddenly realizing something was missing, she fumbled around until she seemed to give up on finding whatever she was looking for. She ended up grabbing one of her shoes and threw it.
“You! You—!”
She yelled at Isaac.
“It’s you! Aren’t you already married?! And where on earth did you—!”
The three stepped out into the garden, a bit bewildered by what had just transpired.
Amid such chaos, still the garden exuded a lush aroma of roses. Silbern was the first to speak.
“Isn’t it a bit too much to hold hands and make kisses while discussing a divorce?”
Rianne shivered next to her.
“Right? Isaac?”
“…, well, it’s true. Still, the princess’s intentions were—.”
“Right?”
With menacing eyes, Silbern stared at Isaac, who sighed in defeat. By this point, Isaac had no choice but to notice.
“You knew about my divorce, didn’t you?”
“…”
With everything suddenly making sense regarding Silbern’s past behaviors in the Malidan Wall. Although Isaac had justified their over-the-top displays of affection as merely friendly, considering his marital status, she had used him as a mere distraction.
“Who told you?”
“Sharon.”
Silbern’s answer confirmed Isaac’s suspicion, yet his concern for Sharon, who remained locked up in her room, only became more pronounced.
‘Guess I should go talk to her.’
Regardless of how bad Galenia might have been, ultimately Sharon had lost her mother to her father. The psychological impact on such a young girl must have been severe.
“Is Sharon still in her room?”
“Yeah, she’s with Edel right now.”
The youngest of the Helvints, Edel Hellmunth, who was only fifteen, had his hands full trying to deal with such a heavy reality.
At the moment Isaac turned to immediately visit them, an overwhelming presence emerged from the mansion.
Arandel Helvint and Uldiran Caldias.
Two completely contrasting figures.
The daughters on either side of them seemed to mirror their fathers’ aura eerily well.
“…”
Arandel stepped forward, and Uldiran, who seemed to have been nudged aside, grumbled in frustration.
Arandel had not found the time during the past three days to have a conversation with Isaac due to handling the aftermath of the Sword Oath Festival, but now that things had settled down somewhat.
Arandel extended an offer to Isaac.
“The Blackhand raid. Come with me.”
“…I’m no longer a part of Helvint.”
“Urgh!”
Though it was unclear why Uldiran was in anguish, still,
Isaac calmly replied, and yet Arandel’s expression remained unchanged.
“This isn’t a proposal for Helvint’s sake.”
“…”
“To the swordsman in you, my interest has piqued.”
Instantaneously,
All present, save for Isaac, widened their eyes in astonishment.
For Arandel to express interest in someone who wasn’t of the Helvint name amounted to a significant event indeed.
This could also be interpreted as a change in Arandel’s perspective, following his decision to sever ties with his estranged wife.
“…Surely, you must know that it’s not just Helvint that’s faltering.”
Arandel did not object to Isaac’s divorce. On the contrary, he responded boldly.
“Through this Blackhand expedition, the world will see that Helvint’s stability isn’t shaken by merely your two’s relationship.”
In other words,
An overwhelming display of force.
Arandel would flaunt it to assert Helvint’s continued strength without worry.
The disgruntled Uldiran crossed his arms.
“It’s not just because Helvint seems untrustworthy. You understand the significance Isaac carries right now, don’t you.”
The presumptive first heir of Helvint.
He who defeated Roengreen.
Not only that, Isaac had reached a level where he could dismantle Helvint’s swordsmanship.
“Right now, while you’re around, it may seem possible, but once the head of the household is determined after postponing the Sword Oath Festival, the Helvint name won’t remain the same as it is now.”
Perhaps due to a competitive streak, Uldiran voiced his concerns while Arandel, instead, gazed intently at Isaac and answered.
“Is the one bearing the kingdom merely Helvint?”
No one can deny that Helvint shoulders the greatest burden of the realm.
Especially its representation by Arandel remains unchanged.
“If I were to leave. Surely, someone else will step into that role.”
It doesn’t necessarily have to be one person.
Nor does it necessarily have to be Helvint.
This implication was directed at Isaac.
“Haha! My friend! While you’re still in your prime, what are you talking about!”
Sensing a peculiar ominousness from Arandel’s words, Uldiran laughed and slapped him on the shoulder, a gesture that, had it come from anyone else, would have surely caused the loss of a limb. Yet, perhaps because he was someone Arandel approved of, the latter said nothing.
“I too intended to participate in the Blackhand expedition.”
Whatever the case,
Priority was to resolve the matter of the Transcendentals.
Isaac had planned to go to Blackhand regardless of his marital status, but,
“You won’t need to draw your sword.”
Arandel negated his offer with a shake of his head.
“Observe, learn, and prove yourself.”
“…”
“Whether your sword can overshadow the name Helvint.”
The final statement was akin to a growling warning.
Yet his high-pitched voice and the grin on his lips suggested excitement rather than menace.
