The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Household Wants A Divorce-Chapter 26: Sleet

“Sister?”

Sharen called out in a terrified voice.

She was so bewildered that she doubted whether the scene unfolding before her eyes was real.

Logically, speaking...

Why would Rianna be here?

“You’re back, Sharen.”

But the moment that one sentence echoed in her ears, Sharen’s body stiffened.

This was unmistakably the real Rianna Helmont.

The unique, extraordinary killing intent that she exuded proved it even more.

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Kelsey!

Sharen tried to signal Kelsey for help with her eyes, but the maid couldn’t do anything except lower her head.

“S-Sister? How did you come here?”

“Is that important?”

“It is! Father will be extremely angry if he knows you’re here!”

“He would.”

Rianna nodded.

“But I don’t care.”

Her expression was that of genuine indifference.

It was completely different from her usual behavior where she’d always be mindful of Arandel’s mood.

What’s going on?!

And that left Sharen confused.

Especially because it felt like she was intentionally trying to incur the family head’s wrath.

“Sharen.”

But that wasn’t important.

Her sister was clearly angry, and she had to deal with it for now.

Wait, why should I be scared of her?!

Ignoring Rianna’s somewhat strange atmosphere, Sharen decided to treat her as usual.

“You must’ve a reason as to why you came all the way here, no? Tell me what it is, Sister!”

“Y-Young lady...”

“Be quiet, Kelsey. I’m here, at the Malidean Wall, to represent our Helmont Family. But, Sister, you’re here, ignoring even the family head’s orders! I have every right to question—!”

“Did you enjoy your time with Isaac?”

“S-Sister...?”

Immediately, Sharen lowered her tail.

Her shoulders slumped, and she didn’t know what to do.

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

“...”

Sharen wanted to chide in ‘only for now’, but Rianna’s aura was so ominous that she was forced to keep her mouth shut.

“From the outside, one could see it as a pair of sibling-in-laws getting along well.”

Rianna approached her slowly.

Her red eyes held a subtle glow in the darkness.

“But I know what kind of feelings you’ve developed.”

“Uh, Sister?”

Looking up at Rianna, Sharen was now half in tears.

“Don’t, Sharen.”

Rianna spoke in a bitter tone as she removed a strand of hair stuck to her cheek.

“I don’t want to see Isaac suffering because of Helmont anymore.”

“Sis...ter?”

Only after their faces were so close did Sharen finally realize what emotions were contained in her sister’s eyes.

“Stop it.”

Deep regret.

And another feeling that she was still unable to completely let go.

“Just, let him go.”

Love.

“...Sister.”

Still, that didn’t explain anything, Sharen was still confused.

And so, she asked the question that Kelsey wished to ask her but couldn’t.

The reason she was here, disobeying even the orders of the Family Head, Arandel Helmont.

“Why did you come here?”

At those words, Rianna only gave a bitter smile refusing to say anything else.

*   *   *“I know.”

“Sorry?”

“I said I know. I know!”

“...What are you talking about?”

“It’s nothing. It’s not a big deal. Just treat him like a friend.”

“Are you talking to yourself?”

Watching Silverna muttering to herself beside her left Anna perplexed.

Why is she acting like this?

“This isn’t like me. Yeah, let’s not make things unnecessarily awkward between us...”

Just as Anna was wondering why Silverna was acting so unlike herself...

That question was quickly answered.

“Are you an idiot?! How could you call yourself a Helmont’s knight when you can’t handle Crimson Essence any better than that?”

“I-I’m sorry!”

“...”

The next morning, at the training ground.

Sharen was berating Jonathan, calling his Crimson Essence pathetic.

Nearby, Isaac was taking notes, watching the two of them.

By now, the sight of him holding a pen and writing something in a book had become so familiar it would be strange to see him not doing that instead.

Is he researching something about Helmont’s sword?

As Sharen gave a lecture about Crimson Essence, he diligently took notes.

“Ahem, Isaac?”

At that moment, Silverna awkwardly approached.

“Ah, hello, Silverna.”

Isaac greeted her and Anna briefly. Before Silverna, who was hesitating to say something, could open her mouth he already spoke first.

“Do you have a hair tie? My hair has grown longer than I expected.”

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

Isaac’s hair almost touched his shoulders.

Anna held out a hair tie she had prepared separately.

“Do you know how to tie it?”

“Ah, somewhat.”

In his previous life, he often holed up in a room writing books.

Whenever his hair grew too long, just like now, he’d tie it back in a ponytail like this.

As Isaac neatly arranged his hair, Silverna, who had been staring down at him, shouted as if she was wronged.

“Y-Y-You want to die?!”

“...What?”

“My lady?”

“I-If you tie your hair l-like that-“

Silverna seemed to have something to say, but she just covered her flustered face with her hands and swallowed her words.

“Go to the blacksmith! I talked to him already! He should be waiting for you!”

“Ah! Right, that!”

Isaac stood up quickly and headed towards the blacksmith’s workshop.

He left cheerfully, not realizing Silverna and Anna’s gazes that were fixed on his back.

The Malidean blacksmith’s workshop was located in the furthest corner inside the wall.

They had to place it all the way there because of various things, such as the noise, and more importantly, the extremely foul smells.

However, it was still one of the most important facilities at the frontline.

Also, if one were to ask where the warmest place of the North was, everyone would point to this place.

“You have the face of someone who’ll make many women cry.”

“Pardon?”

As soon as Isaac entered, the blacksmith threw a complaint right onto his face, leaving him bewildered.

The blacksmith clicked his tongue while swinging his hammer.

“To think I have to make a sword for such a gentleman. Silverna is really too much.”

“I came here as a customer, so please show some manners.”

“Blacksmiths are people who hammer with obstinacy and stubbornness. It’s just right that I should be able to choose who’s going to wield the weapon I make.”

“So you don’t care about money?”

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

The blacksmith laughed heartily.

Despite being in the North, he only wore a sleeveless shirt. His forearms were clearly marked with burn scars and knife cuts.

“Anyway, Silverna told you to make my sword. I don’t think you have any choice here.”

“Tch, it is so, huh?”

A smile spread across his lips.

These craftsmen usually had terrible personalities, but their skills were definitely top-notch.

They had an artistic temperament and considered weapons as their own works.

So they’d show off their best efforts no matter who the customer was, as if to show off their works.

As a blacksmith belonging to Cardias, his skills were naturally guaranteed.

Being at the frontline, he must have been hammering without a day’s rest.

Even the apprentices behind him all exuded the air of masters.

“I’ve drawn a separate blueprint.”

The blacksmith snatched the blueprint as soon as Isaac took it out and snorted.

“Hmph! This is absurd! For me to make a sword based on an amateur’s blueprint—!”

At that moment, his free-spirited tongue stopped.

With the way his apprentices stared at him with curious looks, this must’ve been the first time he had ever reacted like this.

After staring at the blueprint for a while, the blacksmith slowly raised his head to look at Isaac.

His eyes now held a heavy seriousness.

“...Did you come up with this yourself?”

“Strictly speaking, no. I received various advice to come up with this.”

A sword was what made a man a swordsman.

A good sword would also contribute to one’s quality as a swordsman.

In his previous life, Isaac hadn’t just studied swordsmanship.

As one studied swordsmanship, one’d naturally become proficient about the sword.

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

“It’s an unusual sword.”

“It’s called a ‘dao1‘.”

“Dao? Hmm, interesting. It’s similar to the falchion you have, but also different.”

Isaac let out a bitter smile.

Because this weapon was something that was used by the Transcendent Race.

“It doesn’t seem possible to block with it. This thing seems light, but with how thin the blade is, you won’t be able to compete in strength.”

“I’m using this because I lack strength.”

Isaaac confessed.

Admitting his own limits.

“It looks like it might break soon as you swing it.”

“That just means the blacksmith did a bad job.”

“Hmph.”

“Anyway, that’s why I was thinking of entrusting its creation to the best blacksmith. But, if you aren’t confident, I’ll leave.”

“Hmph. Only a child would fall for that provocation.”

The blacksmith grinned, clenching his fist.

“Sadly, I’m quite a childish person myself.”

The reason why he could be here was because he had been living as a blacksmith for many years and never refused a good challenge.

“It’ll take a while. I’ll need a few trials and errors.”

“Alright.”

There was still some time left before the Great Colony’s problem would be solved.

In the meantime, Isaac was planning to cooperate as much as possible with the blacksmith so that his sword would be finished before that.

As the blacksmith was about to return to the forge while looking at the blueprint, he stopped in his tracks and asked a final question.

“But... aren’t you from Helmont?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I thought Helmont prohibited their members from using anything other than a greatsword?”

Isaac chuckled at his question.

“The purpose of a sword is to cut, isn’t it?”

“Hmm?”

“For me, a greatsword is not a sword, but a lump of burden.”

“...”

“What I need is a sword.”

At Isaac’s resolute declaration, the blacksmith looked at him for a moment, then slowly approached and offered a handshake.

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

“Isaac.”

*   *   *At the training ground after Isaac left.

“Hey, you idiot! You can’t even do this?! This is just the basics!!!”

“I-I’m sorryyy!”

Covered by Jonathan’s tearful voice as he received Sharen’s strict guidance, Anna asked.

“My lady, what’s wrong?”

“Anna...”

She mumbled, moving her mouth slightly. Then, words poured out as if complaining.

“You were right.”

“My lady?”

“I... I think I l-like him.”

“...!”

Anna’s eyes turned wide, and she immediately looked around.

Sharen and Jonathan were too focused on themselves to pay attention.

The other person nearby was a maid wearing a mask, but...

Anna judged that the maid wouldn’t hear their voices from that distance.

“My lady, you absolutely must not tell anyone about these feelings. You know that, right?”

“I know... That’s why I only told you.”

“Haa, alright. Look, he’s a married man. Moreover, he is from Helmont. Love might be pure in nature, but you know there are people who have ruined their positions because of it, right?”

“Yes.”

Silverna’s shoulders slumped.

Anna hugged her tightly and patted her back.

“Haa... What should we do with you, our dear lady...?”

“Anna... Am I...weird?”

“No, my lady. Love isn’t something you’re supposed to suppress, it’s just...”

Anna pondered for a moment before continuing with a sniffle.

“You were...a little bit too late.”

It felt like a heavy stone had settled in her chest.

Fortunately, today was a rest day.

So, she could calmly sort out her feelings.

Haaa, even the heavens are indifferent to her plight.

The first snow that fell on my lady’s heart.

Was a sleet, out of all things.

1. Chinese sword, not the murim's dao.