The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Household Wants A Divorce-Chapter 62: After the Sword Dance Festival

Three days had passed since the Sword Dance Festival ended.

Although, strictly speaking, it hadn’t exactly ended yet.

No matter how much Helmont valued the Sword Dance Festival, it just wasn’t plausible to see it through the end in this situation.

Arandel was currently busy dealing with the aftermath of the Sword Dance Festival-related incidents.

Even Rianna and Lohengrin were busy handling various tasks accordingly.

As for Isaac...

“...”

Currently, he was standing before a small, nameless grave.

As she was the culprit in the Galenia assassination attempt, they couldn’t build a proper grave for Milly.

So Isaac had set up a tombstone for her on his own.

Of course, with Galenia’s true identity revealed, people’s views on her were bound to change, but...

Unfortunately, the situation was so chaotic that no one had enough leeway to care about the circumstances behind the death of a mere cook.

“...How ironic.”

For the past three days, he had visited her and said everything that he wanted to say to her.

Did you watch me?

When everyone in Helmont was looking at me with surprised eyes...

Did you watch me from where you are at right now?

At this point, the initial surge of emotion he had was already settled into a gentle smile.

Yet he still came here anyway, for a simple reason.

Because his heart felt at ease here.

The time he spent with Milly was the only time he could feel warmth in this cold Helmont.

Coming here brought back his memories of those times, warming his body like a bonfire.

But he knew he couldn’t stay here forever.

Footsteps echoed from behind.

He slowly turned his head to greet his visitors; Princess Clarisse and her guard, Heyrad.

Heyrad was a handsome blonde man who, unlike Isaac, gave off the impression of having been born into a gentle environment.

Perhaps because he was the princess’ guard, there were rumors among the court maids about a forbidden love between the two.

...The sorts of rumors that if proven true, would become a huge problem in the future.

“They said if I can’t find you in your room, you’d be here. So it’s true, huh?”

“Greetings, Sir Isaac.”

Unlike Clarisse, who greeted him casually, Heyrad bowed his head politely to Isaac.

This was one of the noticeable changes after the Sword Dance Festival.

Those who knew how to use a sword would show their respects and throw him looks of awe.

“Come with me to the mansion. They’re holding a meeting about the Transcendent Race, and we’re already a little late.”

Isaac followed her without a word.

As he walked alongside Heyrad, Clarisse deliberately slowed her pace to push him back and take the spot next to Isaac.

“Don’t you think this is all ridiculous? Yes, sure, they’re Helmont, but this is still too much!”

“...”

It was clear that she wanted to vent about Helmont, and Isaac was a more appropriate person to vent to compared to Heyrad.

Isaac just kept his mouth shut and listened to the princess’ complaints. By the way, she had been staying in Helmont all this time, even though three days had passed since the incident.

“Galenia was the only one who colluded with the Transcendent Race, I understand that much, sure, but how can they just wash their hands off just like that? They didn’t know? They killed Galenia themselves? They dealt with the Transcendent Race on their own? They suffered damage despite preparing the Sword Dance Festival so meticulously? Did they think I’d put up with such—!”

...She has more pent-up thoughts than I thought.

Isaac stared at Clarisse with an awkward expression.

Feeling the same way, Heyrad just averted his gaze awkwardly.

“Seriously! Is there anyone who doesn’t know that Galenia died alone to protect her family?!”

“Most people don’t. Unfortunately, you’re an exception, Princess.”

“What kind of half-witted—?!”

Isaac completely understood Clarisse’s perspective, but...

There really weren’t many who had noticed Galenia’s true intentions. Besides, only those who had access to the detailed information would have noticed such a thing.

Love.

Madness, obsession, and affection that was contained in that one emotion was the very thing that caused that whole catastrophe.

“Love isn’t something that could just be explained with logic or words.”

“Is that why you married into Helmont?”

“...”

“Ah, I’m sorry. That was my mistake. I failed to prevent my thoughts from leaking out. Sorry.”

The fact that he couldn’t refute her words was the one thing that bothered Isaac instead of her words themselves.

“Haa, anyway, Galenia made the best choice in the worst situation, didn’t she?”

“Yes, she did.”

For Galenia, there was no turning back anymore at that point.

In a situation where the princess had already discovered that she had betrayed the kingdom, throwing her life away to protect Arandel, the person that she loved, was the wisest choice that she could take.

With the way she set it up, for her to die in Arandel’s hand...

Made it so that Helmont wouldn’t need to bow its head unconditionally, and gave them the right to say something on the matter.

Moreover, due to the attack being so sudden, the Transcendent Race failed to react properly, so things had only been dangerous at the start.

Considering how many Transcendents hid themselves among the audience back then, there weren’t as many victims as there could have been.

Since it was in the middle of the Sword Dance Festival, Helmont’s knights were everywhere too.

Galenia had turned even the Transcendent Race into sacrificial lambs for Arandel’s sake.

Even Isaac thought that her dedication to Arandel was beyond madness, and wondered how such a calculating woman could exist.

“They’re compensating other nobles well, and even holding a large-scale memorial service for the villagers... Everything ended well. I understand it all, but...!”

If anything, Helmont made an appropriate response.

They took responsibility properly, clearly drawing a line between themselves and Galenia.

Also, they spared no expense in compensating the victims.

Even though they had spent considerable funds on the Sword Dance Festival itself, they still showed no hesitation in opening their storehouses.

Their stance of not caring about anything except the sword was evident even in this aspect.

“It’s infuriating that they clearly draw a line between responsibility and guilt! Ugh! I just want to give them a knock on the head.”

You’ll only bruise your own hand if you were to do that, though.

“The worst thing about this is that no one can say anything about this! Because they’re Helmont! Their damned sword, their damned name made everyone back down!”

In fact, it would be more correct to see this as a scenario that Galenia had set up by sacrificing her life, rather than something Helmont intentionally did.

But, if that was the case, there would be no point of talking about this, as she was already dead.

Isaac and Heyrad could only silently listen to Princess Clarisse’s grumbling.

Before long, they arrived at Helmont Mansion.

When they entered the reception room, Arandel, Rianna, and Lohengrin were already waiting.

Not only them, nobles who had participated in this Sword Dance Festival, including Uldiran and Silverna were also there.

Isaac naturally tried to sit in the noble section.

Feeling the gazes around him, he awkwardly cleared his throat and sat next to Rianna.

“...Am I late?”

“No, you’re right on time.”

Isaac nodded at Rianna’s answer and looked around. Regardless of his actual status, he was still officially Helmont’s son-in-law, so he had to sit on Helmont’s side.

Hiss! Hiss!

He could hear Lohengrin’s angry breathing from the side. With bloodshot eyes, he was glaring at Isaac like a leashed dog.

Damn Helmont.

Helmont had fast natural healing abilities.

But, seeing how Lohengrin’s wounds were completely healed, it was clear that they had also used magic to patch him up.

“Look away.”

Rianna, sitting between them, openly warned Lohengrin.

Though her voice was low, it was clear that he could hear her, but he ignored her words and kept on glaring at Isaac.

“I said, look away.”

At Rianna’s near-threatening warning, Lohengrin finally bit his lip and turned his gaze aside.

“...I didn’t know you could talk like that.”

“I have to know the language of a dog to speak with a dog.”

It was the first time Isaac had ever heard Rianna speak so strongly. Lohengrin flinched again at her words, but he didn’t say anything back.

Lohengrin’s attitude, Sharen locking herself in her room, Rianna’s determination...

Galenia’s death was bringing about internal changes in Helmont in many ways.

“Well then, let’s begin.”

Clarisse, standing at the center, opened her mouth. Though she might be the youngest, she was still a princess, so the meeting was naturally led by her.

“Soon, the royal family’s plan to raid Blackthorn, who’s in cahoot with the Transcendent Race will commence.”

This operation had been planned even before the Sword Dance Festival even began.

It was delayed a little due to the incident in between, but Clarisse saw it as an opportunity.

“According to the information I received, Blackthorn’s betrayal to the kingdom is all but certain.”

Apparently, only the cawing of crows could be heard in the Blackthorn’s territory.

Not only that, their sky was also constantly covered with dark clouds.

According to Clarisse’s informant, it was as if the land had died.

“The reason I’m announcing it here is, of course, because I have no intention of letting Helmont off the hook so easily for this incident.”

Her purple eyes flashed.

“So, as part of their atonement and to prove that they aren’t traitors to the kingdom—“

It was as if the princess was asking Helmont.

Didn’t you claim to be good at fighting? Then...

“Helmont will take the lead on the operation.”

Come with me. To Blackthorn.

*   *   *On a misty rocky mountain.

A woman lived there, though not an immortal of legend, she lived her life like one.

“Yawn.”

She grabbed the large bowl-like wine cup near her.

With her hair spread out on the wooden bench, she gulped down the wine inside the cup in her hand.

Beside her was a sword; abnormally long, curved like the moon.

An odachi.

“What a boring, mundane world...”

The wolf ears protruding from her black hair twitched as she muttered with indifference.

At that moment, a faceless man appeared before her.

He brought no smell nor presence with him, but the woman just slowly got up and grinned at him.

“How many times do I have to tell you that I won’t eat you? Seriously, the way you’re trembling in my presence while willingly coming here is more curious than cute at this point.”

The woman’s fangs flashed.

“I wonder what kind of expression you’d show me if I were to actually lay my hands on you now?”

The woman growled, licking her lips as if wanting to fight the man right away.

But he just did what he had to do; delivering his message without making any fuss.

-Have you heard about the recent Sword Dance Festival?

“Hmm? Sword Dance Festival? Helmont? Is it already time?”

The woman took another sip of wine as she tilted her head, wondering why the name Helmont was suddenly mentioned.

-There are rumors that Helmont’s sword has been broken.

“Only fools who know nothing would say that. As long as Arandel is still alive, Helmont’s sword remains unbroken.”

-That’s what the rumors say, and Helmont isn’t denying it.

“...”

-This matter could prove beneficial for us. Would you look into it?

“Hmm.”

Perhaps it was because she was in a good mood, tipsy from the alcohol...

Or because she was just bored of sitting still.

Whichever it was...

“Send a carriage.”

Upon hearing the woman’s agreement, the man disappeared without a trace or warning, just like how he suddenly appeared.

“Damian! A carriage will be coming! Make the preparations!”

“Yes, Master!”

The man called Damian, who had been waiting with his hands behind his back at a distance, immediately went down the rocky mountain.

“Hmph.”

The woman, getting up from the bench and slinging the odachi over her shoulder, snorted as she recalled the recent conversation.

“Someone broke Helmont, huh?”

Whoever it was...

They managed to stir the woman’s interest, something that hadn’t happened in a long while.

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