Like the curtain falling at the end of a stage performance.
The sunset faded, and night arrived, cloaked in darkness like a shroud.
The commotion surrounding the appearance of a woman named Liana Helmut at the Malidan Wall had been in full swing.
However, when the massive horde began its assault on the wall, the incident was quickly set aside, as if it had never happened.
"Good work today. Get some rest."
Except for Jonathan, who lay in the infirmary, the 5th reconnaissance team prepared to wrap up their day.
From the front wall, the monstrous cries of beasts and the frantic shouts of soldiers could still be heard.
"…Shouldn't we go and help them?"
"Resting is helping. If we rest, we can ensure those fighting now get their chance to rest later."
"Oh."
Sharen seemed to understand, and Anna chimed in to reinforce the point.
Finally, Silverna's gaze turned toward the red-haired woman standing beside Isaac.
"And Liana Helmut."
"…"
"Thanks for your help, but starting tomorrow, you'll be interrogated. Why did you disguise yourself as a maid? Why were you in hiding until now? Those kinds of questions."
"Alright."
Her composed acceptance made Silverna scratch her head as she added,
"On the flip side, that means you can rest easy for today."
A small gift from the Caldias family to Liana.
"Keep that in mind and prepare yourself. That's all."
Turning to leave, Silverna hesitated briefly before speaking her honest thoughts.
"Thank you for today. You saved a lot of lives."
Though it hurt her pride to admit, what mattered more was that the nearby residents were spared from harm.
That was more important to Silverna than her own ego, so she expressed her gratitude sincerely.
"Anna! Let's go get a drink! I need at least one!"
"W-What? Now?"
Watching Silverna head toward the soldiers' tavern inside the fortress, Anna called out to Isaac before following her.
"I'll send over bedding for you."
"Bedding?"
Isaac blinked in confusion at the sudden remark, but Anna smirked and whispered,
"You can't stay in the maids' quarters anymore. It'd be odd to give someone who might be interrogated in a cell tomorrow their own room. Naturally, you'll have to stay together."
"With me?"
When Isaac asked back with a dazed expression, Anna, looking slightly flustered, replied,
"Yes, you're married, after all."
"Oh, right."
"…"
At Isaac's hesitant response, Liana's cheeks puffed up slightly before quickly returning to normal.
It happened so fast that no one noticed.
"Just so you know, the walls there aren't very soundproof."
"…"
"…"
"Anna! Hurry up!"
"Yes! Coming!"
As the two walked off, Isaac and Liana were left standing in silence.
***
Creak.
Thud.
The door closed.
The two entered the room.
The exhaustion of the day weighed heavily on their bodies, sinking in like a damp fog.
Yet instead of alleviating their fatigue, the tension only grew.
"…"
"…"
They stood awkwardly by the door, staring blankly at each other.
An uncomfortable silence filled the space.
Once, they could have been called the closest of companions.
At some point, though, being together had become this uncomfortable.
'That's just what time does, I suppose.'
Isn't the slow change that creeps up on you what we call the passage of time?
"This."
Isaac spoke first, as Liana was not one for words. He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket—a note Liana had passed along earlier that morning through Sharen. It contained Liana's thoughts on Isaac's swordsmanship.
"Ah."
"Thanks."
"You knew?"
"More or less? Sharen isn't exactly the type to analyze sword techniques in such detail."
Not to mention, Sharen was terrible at acting. It was as if she wasn't even trying to keep it a secret.
"Isaac—."
"I'm going to take a bath."
"..."
Liana, who was about to call out to him, fell silent as Isaac cut her off. He glanced at her briefly, but she avoided his gaze and gestured for him to go ahead. Isaac stepped out of the room.
Thirty minutes later.
After taking turns bathing, the two returned to the room.
While Liana was bathing, Isaac continued writing notes about the swordsmanship he had observed earlier. He detailed his impressions of Liana's techniques and areas he could adopt or improve.
"…Isaac."
Her voice startled him, and he stood up abruptly. Before he realized it, Liana had returned, dressed in a simple white negligee typically used as sleepwear.
"Oh, when did you get back?"
"You still lose track of your surroundings when you're focused, don't you?"
Did she smile? It was so fleeting that Isaac wasn't sure.
Closing his notebook, Isaac awkwardly cleared his throat and turned to face Liana. She, too, met his gaze with a faintly flushed face.
"Come here and sit."
Pointing to the bed, Isaac motioned for her to sit. Liana hesitated but eventually perched on the edge of the bed. As if recalling his earlier comment about her stiff expressions when nervous, she deliberately pressed her cheeks with her palms.
"Can I ask why you came here? I heard the family sent Sharen to assist."
It was time to get to the point. Isaac's question prompted Liana to lower her hands and cautiously speak.
"I thought you might be in danger."
"Because it's the frontlines? That's to be expected."
"Not just that—."
She seemed about to say something more but clammed up again. Or perhaps she couldn't find the words.
"..."
"..."
Silence once again settled between them. It was a familiar atmosphere.
"So, you came to protect me?"
"Yes."
Hearing her reply, Isaac nodded slightly and responded.
"Honestly, I don't find that very convincing, Liana."
"..."
"It doesn't feel like a reason that would move me or make me feel grateful."
"I suppose not."
"I know what kind of person you are, so I understand that you're not asking for anything in return."
"..."
"Still, is there another reason?"
Liana wasn't here to ask him to cancel their divorce or beg him to love her again.
"I just…"
After a brief pause, Liana fidgeted with her clasped hands and confessed.
"I didn't want you to leave while injured."
"..."
"I wanted to make sure you'd be able to live well, even after leaving the family."
Like the time when he had rowed the boat alone.
Isaac stared at Liana, who averted her gaze and began explaining hastily.
"I'm also investigating the incident from our wedding anniversary. It's been hard to make progress because of the Sword Festival, but I'm doing my best—."
"It's Alois."
"..."
At Isaac's words, Liana froze mid-sentence.
Slowly lifting her head, she looked at Isaac and asked again.
"What?"
"Helmut's third son, Alois, is the culprit."
Standing still like a painting with perfect posture, Liana carefully asked.
"Why would Alois target you?"
"Go and ask him yourself."
"…Alright."
Exhaling calmly, Liana's expression conveyed a kind of resolution. It seemed she intended to confront Alois directly when she returned to the family.
"..."
"..."
The silence returned once again. Isaac asked cautiously, testing the waters.
"You believe me?"
"What?"
"No, I mean, he's your younger brother. And I'm… just the husband who's about to leave."
At Isaac's question—implying there was no reason for her to trust someone who would soon be gone—Liana responded with a look of incomprehension.
"Why would you lie about something like this?"
Her reply was so matter-of-fact that Isaac hesitated briefly but quickly suppressed his emotions.
"Hah."
After a long sigh, Liana clenched her fists tightly as if steeling her resolve.
"Isaac, since we're on the topic of family, there's something I want to say."
"You're planning to apologize?"
"..."
Isaac's remark struck right at the heart of the matter, leaving Liana speechless. Isaac smiled softly and shook his head.
"Don't."
"Don't?"
"Yeah, you don't need to."
To this world, it may have been only about a month ago.
'But to me, it's something that happened ten years ago.'
In his heart, it was already a distant past—either forgotten, overcome, or buried deep. He felt no need for an apology.
"I wouldn't accept it even if you did."
"..."
"There was a time when I wondered why you abandoned me."
But not anymore.
"I don't even want to know about Helmut's family affairs now."
"..."
"Was there a reason you had to neglect me?"
Slowly, Isaac rose from his seat and approached Liana. Squatting down in front of her as she sat on the bed, he met her gaze.
"Maybe there was. Considering you've come all the way to the frontlines for me like this, there must have been countless misunderstandings tangled between us."
Carefully, he wiped the tears pooling in her eyes with his hand. Liana gently closed her eyes, feeling the touch of his hand.
"But Liana."
Regrettably—
"I don't even want to hear it."
"..."
"I might understand. I might even feel like forgiving you. But if that happens, I'll find myself returning to Helmut."
No matter what—
"I don't want that."
However—
If there was one small relief to be found—
"I've thought about it countless times."
Why had Liana, even after ten years, continued to wear the ring until the moment of her death?
The answer was simple, yet accepting it had been difficult.
"Our…"
But now, seeing Liana like this, he couldn't deny it any longer.
"You never regretted loving me, did you?"
With a gentle smile, he took her hand. Liana's eyes wavered with emotion. More tears streamed down her cheeks as she opened her dry lips to speak.
"That you loved me…"
A trembling voice.
"Do you not regret it?"
Liana, asking pitifully, was met with Isaac's calm response.
"There were times I hated you, and countless times I resented you—"
So many times, too many to count.
"But I've never regretted the days I loved you."
Because—
The memories of those days were dazzling.
Even in the suffocating darkness of Helmut's mansion, they were bright enough to light my way.
"Sniff… I, I also…"
Crying her heart out, Liana nodded.
"I felt the same, Isaac."
There wasn't much time left until the Sword Festival.
While it might be slightly delayed because of the Grand Colony, Isaac remembered the Sword Festival proceeding without any hitches.
Back then, he didn't attend the festival and had stayed locked in his room.
But when the time came, everything would be settled.
"Haah."
Swallowing her tears, Liana steadied her breathing with effort. Isaac, seeing this, tried to pull his hand away, but her hand followed his, holding tightly.
"..."
"Ah, Isaac."
Her face flushed—whether from crying or embarrassment, it was unclear.
As he looked down at her, Liana hesitated before whispering.
"H-Hold me."
"Liana?"
It was such an unexpected request.
But surprisingly, Liana was serious.
"Please, just for a day. I'm not asking you to take responsibility. Treat me like the women in the pleasure quarters if you want—use me and throw me away. Just one more time…"
Back then.
Like our first night together.
Hold me.
***
Sharen's Room
Sharen, who had overexerted herself using Red Descent today, should have long been asleep.
"W-What do I do!"
Kicking her blanket off in a panic while lying on the bed, Sharen wailed.
"My sis' going to kill me!"
Knock, knock.
The sound of knocking reached her ears as she flailed.
"Wh-Who is it?"
No one should be visiting her at this hour, so Sharen got up, flustered, and cautiously opened the door.
"S-Sis?"
It was Liana standing there.
"Why, why are you here?! Weren't you with Isaac?"
Seeing Liana at the door made Sharen stammer even more.
But Liana, seemingly unaware of even such simple things, sniffled and answered.
"I-…"
"I-?"
"I got kicked out."
"..."