The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Household Wants A Divorce-Prologue

On the rough stone path…

People dressed in black mourning clothes were walking, carrying a wooden coffin on their shoulders.

“They’re here.”

They were those who had survived the edge of the storm of war.

Their expressions haggard, the heavy wind was the only thing that pushed them to march forward.

Inside the coffin was a great swordswoman who stood against the invasion of the Demon Race.

Yet, despite this glorious return, no one but me came to greet them.

Normally, I, too, wouldn’t have done this, but…

This time, I couldn’t just do that.

After all, the woman inside that coffin was…

My own wife.

“…”

I silently greeted them.

Noticing me, they too, bowed their heads in greeting.

“We greet the Ink Sword.”

R𝑒ad lat𝒆st chapt𝒆rs at free𝑤ebnovel.com Only.

Ink Sword.

A nickname given to me. Its meaning was ‘the one who wielded a sword through writing’.

“We’ve learned a lot, thanks to you.”

“The books you wrote were of great help to the soldiers on the front lines.”

“Hearing those words from knights like you is embarrassing.”

A bitter smile crossed my face.

Unable to wield a sword myself, all I could do was devise theories and put them into writing.

“You can just set her down here.”

I gestured behind me.

Then, to those about to enter the small castle behind me, I continued with a bitter smile.

“There’s no one to welcome you, so even if you go inside, there isn’t anything pleasant to see.”

At my words, they all nodded, their expressions heavy as they carefully lowered the coffin.

“Where do you want to go next?”

“…”

They didn’t answer me.

But I didn’t find that strange.

“Indeed, no one among us has a destination in mind anymore, huh?”

“May you be safe.”

They bowed to me and left.

This probably would be our last meeting.

There was nothing I could do but to feel grateful for their final act of loyalty in bringing the coffin all the way here.

The place I had prepared in advance for the burial was a small clearing near the castle.

Though not far in distance, the time it took for me to reach it was long enough for the set sun to rise again.

“I’m sorry. As you know, I can’t use one of my legs anymore.”

Moving the coffin while leaning on a cane made my journey longer than expected.

I moved the coffin right next to the hole I had dug in advance.

Beads of sweat flowing down my cheeks, the sunshine made them shine like pearls.

They gathered at my jawline before falling onto the coffin. I let out a wry smile before brushing the coffin once.

“This is the most precious jewel I can give you.”

Creeaaak.

I slowly opened the coffin.

Its inside was decorated by artificially arranged roses.

Nestled among the flowers, a beautiful woman lies with her hands folded, eyes closed.

Rianna Helmont.

The eldest daughter of the great Helmont Family.

An excellent swordswoman who had slain numerous villains, and slaughtered the Transcendent Races.

My one and true love…

My beloved wife…

“It’s been 10 whole years…yet you’re still as beautiful as ever…”

A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

From what I heard, she had been on the battlefield for a long time, yet she looked as if she had just returned from a ball.

A strong scent of roses exuded from her body; probably due to the magic they cast to preserve her body.

“I had thought of many things to say at our reunion, but now that I see you, there’s barely anything that I can say.”

Her corpse was laid before me, I blankly looked up at the rising sun, an awkward feeling rose in my heart.

“Were you curious, of the reason why I ran away?”

Five years of marriage.

At the end of it, I chose to run away.

As for why, it was simple.

The Helmont Family members, the direct lines of the family, all oppressed me, a commoner by birth.

And Rianna, who chose to be a bystander, perhaps disappointed in me.

“I grew to resent you. A lot. But, did you resent me the same?”

Even after a whole decade has passed, we are reunited in this way…

“Or maybe, you laughed with relief instead?”

An awkward closure that could hardly be called a reunion.

“There’s nothing as meaningless as questions without answers, I suppose.”

Honestly, if anything…

If I had to ask her the one thing I was most curious about…

“Did you—“

To the very end of your life.

Swinging that great sword of yours.

Even until you breathed your last.

“Die as a great Helmont?”

You, the woman who lived solely for Helmont.

And also, the cruel woman who abandoned her husband.

“Ha…hahaha.”

A mocking laugh escaped my lips.

Our relationship had long ended.

And this felt like my way of finally closing a lid on it.

“You’d probably be laughing at this moment too, huh?”

I bid farewell to the woman whose smile was as beautiful as a rose.

Putting a closing remark on her, who had already shaken off all lingering attachments and moved on.

“Farewell.”

As I gently took her folded hands, something felt odd in my grip.

Between the calluses formed from years of sword wielding…

There was a humble ring…

Peacefully sitting on the ring finger of her left hand.

The only dowry that I, a commoner, could afford even after spending all I had. The same object that they had remarked as shabby.

Our wedding ring.

Seeing it still attached on Rianna’s left ring finger.

“…”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words. Doing nothing but blankly staring at it.

“You.”

I let out a bitter laugh, my voice tinged with lament.

“Even until the very end, you confuse me.”

* * *

“Hm?”

For some reason, my right leg, which used to ache every morning, felt fine.

I waved my hand around, yet the cane I used to keep by my bedside was nowhere to be found.

My body, which had started to creak as I reached my late 30s, now felt smooth as if oiled.

“This is…?”

It was my room.

More precisely, the room I used in Helmont 10 years ago.

Naturally, my wife and I had separate rooms. The one that I was using was a guest room.

At first, I felt a little disappointed by this. It felt like they were drawing a line, telling me that I wasn’t a part of their family.

I looked in the mirror placed in the room.

It reflected my—Isaac—face.

To be exact, myself from 10 years ago.

Smooth skin, neat black hair.

A face that was often showered by the word ‘handsome’.

And intact legs.

The disability that had persisted for 10 years was gone.

“Is this a dream?”

It felt literally like one, but…

Even more unbelievable than that was the fact that I had returned to Helmont in the past.

Click! Creak!

“Brother-in-law!?”

At that moment, the door to the room opened, and someone entered.

Red hair—Helmont’s trademark—and a face with sharp features.

Bearing an impressive height, he was the 3rd son of Helmont.

Alois Helmont.

“Alois?”

He was, as I remembered…

Almost the only man in Helmont who treated me kindly.

“What are you doing? My sister has been waiting!”

“Your sister, you mean Rianna?”

“What’s up with you today? Weren’t you the one who worked so hard preparing things with me for your wedding anniversary just the other day?”

Wedding anniversary?

I prepared things with Alois?

Those familiar words lined up, a sentence came to mind.

My 4th wedding anniversary?

A year before Isaac of the past would run away from Helmont.

“I was the one who helped you, so this time she’ll definitely love it! Not to mention that you also did your best, Brother-in-law!”

Ah, right…

Staring at Alois, I let out a hollow laugh.

My last effort to mend our broken marriage…

And also…

The trap that pushed me further into the abyss.

From today on, everyone in Helmont, including my wife, Rianna, stopped expecting anything from me.

Today’s the day my leg would be ruined in an accident.

The reason why I became unable to wield a sword, and received the title Ink Sword.

And…

The culprit who took my leg…

“Ah! Brother-in-law! C’mon, let’s go quickly! If we linger, my sister is going to get angry!”

Was the same guy who was urging me on.