As the two exited the family head's office, their expressions couldn't have been more different.
Isaac had a faint smile on his face,
while Rianna's expression was stiff and cold.
Isaac noticed this as well, but chose not to comment.
'It's a relief the conversation went smoothly.'
His discussion with Arandel had gone well.
He even secured additional financial and material support to leave as soon as tomorrow. The amount of money, in particular, was considerable—it was essentially hush money to ensure he didn't reveal the details of the divorce to outsiders.
'I can't help but feel a little excited.'
Unlike his past life, where he fled in fear, standing his ground now filled Isaac with anticipation.
'It was written that he likes people who are bold, even if they're rude. Turns out it was true.'
Reading Arandel Helmund's autobiography-cum-last-will in his previous life had been a great help during their confrontation.
Since Arandel wasn't the type to spout nonsense, Isaac had been right to trust every word of that autobiography.
'Divorce is the best.'
The miracle of turning one into two.
The symbol of freedom.
And even a hefty divorce settlement.
Someone once said that you only realize the value of something after you lose it.
Having only come to appreciate the value of his single life after marriage, Isaac was now ready for another return—this time, to bachelorhood.
"Isaac."
As he hurried down the stairs, planning to leave tomorrow, Rianna called out to him.
"Hmm?"
"Do you understand what it means to go to the frontline of Malidan? It's the front line, Isaac."
"I know. It was thought to be a mere beast nest, but turned out to be a massive one."
A beast lair is simply a gathering of demon beasts, but a "Great Nest" is different.
It refers to a larger and more organized nest, often led by an intelligent, leader-class beast.
"It hasn't been officially confirmed as a great nest yet."
'Oh, is that so?'
So it's not certain at this point in time.
But Isaac knew it would turn out to be one.
"And the problem isn't the beasts. You know this—Malidan's frontlines are guarded by the Caldias family."
"Yeah, I know. And I know that the Helmund family is on very hostile terms with them too."
Sworn enemies.
Rivals, as people called Helmund and Caldias.
This was the main reason Arandel didn't want to send any of his sons to the frontlines.
It would mean leaving a lone Helmund heir in the hands of their rivals, the Caldias family.
"You have no idea how they'll treat you. Especially someone like you who can't even properly wield a sword—"
"Rianna."
Isaac let out a hollow laugh.
"Whatever the Caldias family does—"
The faint scorn in Isaac's gaze pierced through Rianna.
"It'll still be better than Helmund."
Rianna wanted to ask what he even knew about the Caldias family.
But she couldn't speak.
Isaac seemed as if he trusted Caldias more than Helmund.
Isaac started down the stairs again.
Hearing his footsteps fade, Rianna mustered her courage once more.
"You're leaving tomorrow, aren't you?"
A sigh escaped him.
The sound made her heart sink, but Isaac stopped walking and answered.
"Yes, I'm leaving tomorrow."
"What about dinner? Would you have it with me?"
"Dinner?"
"Yes, we were once… a married couple, after all."
Rianna rarely initiated plans like this.
But—
"Sorry, I already have plans for dinner."
"It's the last night."
"It can't be helped. I made plans in advance."
Isaac planned to enjoy the food made by the chef and Millie tonight.
How uncomfortable would it be if Rianna were there?
"Then… drinks?"
Today, Rianna was unusually persistent.
Her question even seemed to drop her pride slightly.
"Haha, drinks are even more impossible."
Isaac responded with a soft laugh.
"...…"
"Let's not make any mistakes, Rianna. Save the champagne for your next husband."
"You're still my husband."
"I'm still your husband for 'now'."
"...…"
"Well then, if you'll excuse me. I'm a bit busy."
He had preparations to make.
With that, Isaac continued down to the first floor.
*
***
*
Arandel Helmund, who remained in his office, closed his eyes momentarily, lost in thought.
Just moments ago, his son-in-law, who had boldly mentioned divorce and proceeded to negotiate with him, left quite an impression.
"Is there a side of him I didn't know about?"
The Isaac he knew was an ordinary man.
Decent-looking, with enough charm to captivate his daughter—he'd thought of him as someone with a silver tongue, at most.
However, he was a man who didn't suit Helmund in the slightest. Moreover, his timid demeanor, like that of a herbivore afraid of him, had made Arandel indifferent toward him.
'How unexpected.'
Despite living under the same roof for four years, he never imagined Isaac had such a side.
Arandel had never seen someone speak to him so boldly and confidently.
Few people ever managed to face him without cowering.
"If my children had shown even half of what I saw today…"
Arandel let out a rare, faint sigh.
If his eldest son, Roengrin, had shown even that much spirit, he would have long since handed over the reins of succession. The image of his children, perpetually crushed under his overwhelming presence, always filled him with disappointment.
Helmund was a being who could defeat, overwhelm, and subdue anyone—even his own father, if necessary.
"I wish they would learn something from him."
He never thought he would utter such words about his son-in-law.
It was proof that Isaac's evaluation in Arandel's mind had risen considerably—and intrigued him even further.
"...…"
To be honest, he initially thought the divorce was part of Rianna's scheme.
Arandel had already decided to pass the succession to his eldest son, Roengrin, despite his inadequacies.
Thus, he had instructed his eldest daughter, Rianna, to focus on producing heirs and supporting the family from behind the scenes.
He thought she sought a divorce to avoid this responsibility and bide her time for an opportunity to seize power herself.
'But that wasn't it.'
Instead, the lingering regret in Rianna's eyes had been pitiful enough to pain him as a father.
"Sigh."
That was enough.
Arandel decided to no longer concern himself with Isaac and Rianna.
Ultimately, what mattered to him was strength.
And Isaac had yet to reach the ranks of a true swordsman.
However…
'Interesting.'
The boldness his son-in-law displayed, even without being a swordsman, remained vividly etched in Arandel's mind.
*
***
*
That evening—
"Did the meal suit your tastes?"
The head chef approached with a gentle smile, pouring tea into Isaac's cup.
The clean taste of the tea perfectly concluded the meal.
"Absolutely. Thank you for making my last night at Helmund so delightful. The food was so delicious, I almost didn't want to leave."
"Haha! If Sir Isaac were to stay, we would only be grateful!"
The words weren't mere flattery.
The head chef genuinely wished for Isaac to stay.
He was the only one who brought such joy to cooking in this mansion.
Isaac's genuine appreciation made the chef feel proud, not just as a servant but as a true cook.
After years of preparing meals for stoic, picky eaters who only offered complaints or indifference, Isaac's heartfelt reactions felt refreshing.
"If only I'd been more open from the beginning."
Isaac also felt regret.
It was only now, on his final night, that he could express his gratitude to them.
"Master Isaac."
"Millie!"
A tanned, similarly-aged cook approached, holding a tightly wrapped lunchbox.
"I made sandwiches for you, Master Isaac. I used preservation magic on the container, so it'll stay fresh even during tomorrow's journey."
"Millie, thank you so much."
To Isaac, Millie was a benefactor from his previous life.
He wished he could take her with him, but realistically, it was impossible.
Her cooking would undoubtedly be missed for a long time.
"Millie, do you know why I love sandwiches?"
So Isaac decided to make a playful comment.
In his previous life, the sorrow and concern in Millie's eyes as she saw him off had lingered with him.
"Why, master? Is there a special reason?"
"You can eat sandwiches while playing card games. That's why I like them."
"Pfft, that's such a silly reason."
"…It's nice."
Right now, Millie was smiling as she bid him farewell.
Isaac found that comforting.
He was glad that he wasn't a source of worry for her anymore.
That made him truly happy.
"So, if I make a lot of money from card games, Millie, promise me you'll become my personal chef."
"Huh?"
"My tongue's already been captured by the food you make. I'll come back for you someday."
Isaac grinned playfully,
and Millie responded with a bright smile.
"My salary is pretty expensive, you know? I'm not here at Helmund for no reason."
"Since we're acquaintances, you could give me a discount, couldn't you?"
"Nope."
It was a lighthearted conversation.
Isaac pulled a drawing he'd made out of his bag.
"Here, Millie. It's a gift for all the delicious food you've made and for listening to me."
"You… drew me? This is amazing!"
"Wow! I didn't know you had such talent!"
Isaac had drawn a portrait of Millie.
Both Millie and the head chef marveled at his skill in surprise.
'Back in the day, I couldn't even draw something like this.'
In his past life, Isaac was known as "The Silent Sword" a man who authored numerous manuals. Many of those manuals required illustrations to explain concepts that words couldn't, and that's how he had developed a knack for drawing.
Thanks to a natural knack for it, he quickly became skilled.
After exchanging the portrait and the packed lunch, Isaac smiled softly at the weight of the lunchbox in his hands.
"Thank you, Millie."
"Thank you so much! Please, be happy, Master Isaac."
"I will. But let's stop this here. The head chef looks like he doesn't know what to do with himself."
The head chef, caught between them, scratched the back of his head with a puzzled expression.
"It felt like I was watching a secret rendezvous."
It was a reckless comment, but since no one else was around, it didn't matter much.
"...…"
That is until Rianna appeared behind the head chef.
Clad in pajamas, she held a bottle of wine in her hand.
"Head chef."
"L-Lady Rianna?!"
Startled, the head chef immediately turned and bowed deeply upon seeing her.
"Ah, my apologies! Lady Rianna! I spoke out of turn—caught up in the moment—!"
"Enough."
Her expression made it clear she had no interest in listening to his excuses.
She glanced briefly at Millie and gave a cold command.
"Take everyone and leave."
"Y-Yes, m'lady!"
The head chef and the other cooks who had prepared dinner hurriedly offered polite nods and quickly left.
The head chef, who had been about to prepare some wine, smacked his lips in disappointment as he walked away.
Thud—
Rianna sat down next to Isaac, placing the wine bottle on the table.
Her face was flushed red from drinking—clearly, she'd had several glasses already. It had been so long since Isaac had seen her drunk that he couldn't even remember the last time.
"How much have you had to drink?"
He scolded her, reaching to take the bottle away, but her strength was formidable, and it didn't budge.
"I never wanted to show you my drunken self."
"...…"
She looked at him, as if waiting for him to ask, "Why?"
But Isaac wasn't curious at all and refrained from asking.
"How did we end up like this?"
"You said you didn't want to show me this side of yourself. Stick to that."
"Isaac."
"Stop it, Rianna."
A long sigh escaped his lips.
"It's already over. Don't act like you're still holding on."
There was no point in such behavior.
He wasn't going to halt his departure, not would it instill any guilt.
Their relationship had already broken down in many ways.
"Don't make excuses; just stay as you are. The Rianna Helmund I remember was a woman who didn't regret her actions."
"...…"
"A woman I didn't like."
Still…
"At least let me remember you as a woman with your own convictions."
"...…"
Rianna placed the wine bottle down and leaned forward, propping her chin on her hand as she covered her eyes with the other.
After a brief pause, she finally spoke.
"Isaac."
In a voice that suppressed as much emotion as possible, she said:
"Take care."
And with that, she said her farewell.