Morning at Helmut's estate begins early.
This is because everyone rises at dawn to exercise in the training grounds, the garden, or on walking trails.
After their morning exercises, they gather for a family meal. It is the only time of day when the entire family comes together.
The head of the family, Arandel Helmut, placed great importance on this time.
"..."
Today's breakfast was no different from usual.
Four sons and one daughter were seated at the table. However, a conspicuous empty seat caught everyone's attention.
The eldest daughter hadn't shown up.
"Where is Liana?"
When the eldest son, Lohengrin, asked, the others seized the opportunity to ridicule her.
"She skipped morning training too."
"Haha, has our big sister decided to skip meals now that she's busy with her duties as a wife?"
"Just how wild was her night with Isaac that she can't even come to breakfast?"
"Isaac, who seemed so feeble, must've shown some real stamina."
"..."
Everyone, except Alois, snickered and mocked both Liana and Isaac.
"The family head is arriving."
With that single announcement from the attendant, silence fell over the room.
A towering man entered the dining hall.
His sharp gaze, as if still on the battlefield, revealed his ever-present vigilance. His red, lion-like mane of hair and beard flowed as he strode with heavy steps toward the head seat. His name was Arandel Helmut.
He frowned at the empty seat of his eldest daughter.
"Where is Liana?"
"She hasn't come. She also skipped morning training." Lohengrin quickly answered.
Arandel's brow twitched. Missing something as simple as breakfast was, in his eyes, a matter of undermining the authority of the head of the family.
Creak.
Just then, the door opened, and Liana Helmut entered.
"My apologies for being late."
After bowing deeply, she took her seat.
The dishes were quickly served, but no one moved. All sat upright, their posture immaculate, waiting for Arandel to pick up his utensils first.
Arandel turned to his eldest daughter and asked:
"Why are you late?"
It wasn't a rebuke. He knew Liana too well; she wouldn't give him a reason to criticize her without cause. He asked because he believed there must be a valid explanation.
However, Liana, her eyes sunken from a sleepless night, hesitated to answer—something rare for her.
She knew that once she spoke, there would be no turning back. Yet, after spending the entire night agonizing over it, she still couldn't find a solution to this problem.
"Isaac…"
Closing her eyes tightly, she let out a bitter sigh.
"He wants a divorce."
***
"Hah? Look at this guy. He's really something, huh?"
At Helmut's estate, breakfast was underway.
Although Isaac carried the Helmut name, he was not allowed to sit at the table.
Arandel had deemed him unworthy of the privilege.
As a result, Isaac often ate his breakfast alone.
"Wow, this is just… Hah, it's laughable."
Cheeks puffed out, Isaac sat eating in front of the kitchen, stuffing a seasoned shrimp into his mouth with great enthusiasm.
"Haah, this is amazing."
The kitchen staff, who were taking a short break while their lord ate, watched him silently.
"You know." Isaac said, holding another shrimp waving it around.
"I didn't really miss anything in my life, but this—food—I missed this. No matter where I went, I could never find food on this level."
"You missed it? Didn't you eat here just yesterday?"
The one who spoke was Millie, a young woman with strikingly sun-kissed skin.
Despite being the youngest in the kitchen, her cooking skills were remarkably mature.
A woman who was the same age as Isaac and occasionally chatted with him.
"Oh, my mistake. I meant I will miss it."
Isaac casually brushed off his slip of the tongue and started eating other dishes. He thought having meat on the table for breakfast was luxurious, but as this was a knightly family, meat was an indispensable part of the meal.
"This is really delicious."
"I grilled it myself."
"As expected of Millie."
"Until yesterday, you ate quietly and left, but today you seem to be enjoying yourself. You feel like a completely different person."
"I've come to appreciate the value of a good meal. Sometimes you only realize how much you miss something after it's gone."
"But what did you mean by saying you'll miss it? Are you going somewhere? I heard some news from the Malidan Wall…"
"I'm getting divorced."
"What?!"
Not only Millie but also the chefs, who had been watching Isaac eat with gusto, were shocked.
"I said I'm getting divorced. Millie, you know how I've been treated here."
"Well…"
"Not even being allowed to join breakfast—that's a clear sign I'm not acknowledged as part of this family."
No one could argue against him.
In truth, Isaac had been treated worse than the servants, despite the pretense of being family.
"Because we're family."
For the past four years, those words had been a noose tightening around Isaac's neck, and everyone here had witnessed it.
"Ahem."
A man with a stout figure wiped his hands with a towel and approached Isaac.
It was the head chef. His thick hands were clasped politely together.
"Is there anything specific you'd like for dinner tonight?"
"Chef, are you trying to comfort me?"
"Ahem."
The inarticulate chef averted his gaze.
"I never knew this side of you. As for dinner… I'd like to eat as much meat as I can. It'll be hard to get something like this after I leave."
"I will prepare it to the best of my ability, Sir Isaac Helmut."
"I was planning to leave as soon as possible, but I guess I'll stay for dinner."
Isaac stood up and extended his hand for a polite handshake.
"The meals I've had here… I'll never forget them, no matter how many years pass."
He wasn't exaggerating.
"This is the only reason I would ever miss Helmut."
And that was the truth.
Perhaps moved by his words, the head chef and the other cooks struggled to hold back their emotions.
"It has been… a true honor to serve you."
As they shook hands, the cooks erupted in a flurry of encouragement and support.
"Your complexion looks great!"
"We never realized you thought so highly of our cooking!"
"Congratulations on becoming single again!"
"You're handsome; you'll find another woman in no time!"
"Haha, you people…"
Isaac rubbed his nose, feeling oddly touched.
In his previous life, he hadn't even had proper conversations with these people, aside from Millie. He had been too focused on escaping to pay attention to the chefs, but now their support warmed his heart.
Clunk!
The door swung open, and just as the heartfelt moment was peaking, Liana stepped into the room.
The moment the chefs saw her, their cheerful expressions immediately vanished, as if someone had doused them with cold water.
Amid the suddenly chilly atmosphere, Liana approached Isaac.
"Father is calling you."
"Oh? That was quick."
Despite delivering the message, Liana remained standing there.
It felt like a thorn was lodged in everyone's throats, making it hard to breathe. The silence became a source of unbearable pressure.
"We're going together, right? It's not just me he called for, is it?"
"Yes, I'm coming too."
"Let's go quickly. The lord must be waiting."
"You were eating. Finish your meal, I'll wait."
Liana, waiting for Isaac to finish his meal?
In the past, such a thing would have been unthinkable, but the surrounding people had no time to be shocked.
"..."
Because Liana had crossed her arms and was now glaring at the cooks.
'She heard it.'
'She definitely heard everything.'
'Ah, I shouldn't have run my mouth.'
'Mother, I'm sorry. This is the end for me.'
'What exactly did I say earlier?'
A whirlwind of regrets and fears swirled through the cooks' minds. The renowned sharp senses of the Helmut family must have picked up everything they had said outside.
"..."
There was no other reason for Liana to glare at them so menacingly.
"I'm already full."
But the tension didn't last long. Isaac stood up, leaving his food unfinished.
"...Alright."
Liana looked displeased but still followed Isaac out of the room.
Before the door fully closed, Isaac turned back and gave the cooks a reassuring thumbs-up, silently telling them not to worry.
Thunk.
The door closed.
The head chef clenched his fist as he looked at Isaac's plate, where he had left some food as if to show consideration for them.
"We're preparing an extravagant dinner tonight!"
"Yes, sir!"
As the cooks bustled about, Millie, who was the same age as Isaac, stared at the door he had exited with a look of concern.
***
The family head's office.
Located on the top floor of the Helmut estate, this room was filled with books yet smelled more strongly of iron than paper.
Sitting behind a massive wooden desk, one befitting his large stature, was Arandel, the head of the family. His eyes bore into Isaac.
To Isaac, his father-in-law, seated at that grand desk, always looked like someone who did not belong there.
"It's been a while, father-in-law."
Though they lived in the same residence, it had indeed been a long time since Arandel had looked directly at him.
"So, you wish for a divorce."
Skipping any formalities, Arandel got straight to the point.
Isaac nodded slightly.
"Yes, that is correct."
"I will not permit it."
As expected.
"I believe you misunderstand, father-in-law."
Placing a hand on his chest, Isaac smiled softly, as if to correct the misunderstanding.
"I'm not asking for your permission."
But contrary to his polite tone, the words that came out of his mouth were sharp enough to irritate Arandel.
"I'm simply informing you of my decision. Given the current state of our relationship, I believe it's best for us to find new partners, which would be beneficial for both parties."
"..."
"Fortunately, we married young, so even if we divorce now, we are not too late to remarry."
"..."
"I understand that my lowly background as a commoner was a discomfort to you from the start. You were not wrong. I will leave to find my rightful place."
Isaac didn't care about lowering himself. All that mattered was leaving this place.
Arandel's gaze shifted to Liana, silently asking for her opinion. Liana responded in a soft voice.
"I will follow Isaac's decision."
"Hmm."
A short sigh escaped Arandel. His gaze toward his daughter was filled with a mix of emotions.
Now, there was no reason to refuse.
At least, that's what Isaac thought.
"I will not permit it."
Arandel's answer remained firm.
"And the reason is the Sword Festival."
The Sword festival was a traditional Helmut festival and grand event. Not only local villagers but also friendly nobles, and even royalty, attended.
"This year's festival is particularly special because it will include the announcement of Helmut's heir. Many will come to evaluate the future of Helmut."
Naturally, they wouldn't just come to celebrate; many would assess the next successor's abilities and potential.
By publicly revealing their heir at such an event, Helmut would be declaring its confidence to the world.
"If you divorce now, all anyone will talk about during the festival will be Liana's divorce."
It meant they would become a source of ridicule.
'Hmm, that's not a problem at all.'
Isaac didn't see it as a major issue.
After all, it wasn't him they'd be ridiculing.
"So, you're saying it's possible after the Sword Festival?"
"Yes, after that. If your intentions remain the same as they are now, you may do as you please."
While he received confirmation for the divorce, Isaac was disappointed. He wanted to leave the estate as soon as possible—ideally, tomorrow.
"I'm sorry, but I want the divorce immediately. So, let me propose an alternative."
"A negotiation with me?"
Negotiations require parties of equal standing.
The question implied as much, but Isaac merely smiled.
"I've heard that due to the recent surge of beast attacks, Malidan Wall has requested reinforcements from the kingdom's prominent nobles."
"…"
"Isaac?"
Arandel leaned forward on his armrest, his gaze intrigued.
Behind him, Liana called out in disbelief.
However, Isaac ignored her and made his proposal.
"I will go. As someone who bears the Helmut name, my participation would signify that Helmut has sufficiently contributed."
In truth, Isaac was nothing more than a mediocre swordsman who could barely wield a blade.
But the simple fact that someone bearing the Helmut name was going would fulfill the obligation to the reinforcement request.
"Your direct descendants need to remain here to prepare for the Sword Festival, don't they?"
The Sword Festival was an event where numerous distinguished guests would gather.
The Helmut children bore the responsibility of showcasing their overwhelming martial prowess at the festival.
"If I go to Malidan Wall, I'll be drenched in magical beasts' blood on the front lines instead of preparing for the festival. I'll take on that task in your place."
He wasn't asking for something grand.
He simply wanted to leave this house.
But he didn't want to wait until after the Sword Festival.
So, he offered to go to the troublesome frontlines before the festival in exchange.
"Heh."
A smile crept onto Isaac's lips.
The sly expression showed he already knew what Arandel's response would be.
'So, he has this side to him as well.'
Arandel inwardly acknowledged that his son-in-law was a far more resolute man than he had thought.
"Very well."
Arandel nodded, granting Isaac permission to leave Helmut.