The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Household Wants A Divorce-Chapter 9: Lilac

“Hmm.”

Inside the dispatched nobles’ lodgings.

Groans from the nobles echoed throughout the lodgings, fruit of the intense training session they just had. Among those noises, Isaac was busy selecting his clothes, all by himself.

What a shame.

Since he was invited to a dinner by the Cardias, he’d need to dress formally.

But among the clothes he had brought, none of them seemed to be appropriate for the occasion.

Maybe I should write a bit more while waiting.

His hands had been itching to pick up his pen, while his gaze kept on coming back into the manual that he carefully placed on the desk.

Knock knock knock!

“Sir Isaac, I’ve brought them.”

At that moment, Jonathan called out from outside.

As he let the knight in, his gaze naturally was drawn to the clothes draped over Jonathan’s arm.

“I’ve brought them as you asked, but are you sure it’s okay to use my clothes? My clothes are mostly just training clothes—though they are comfortable enough.”

“Yes, it’s okay. If anything, that’s exactly what I needed.”

“Really? Haha! I’m glad I could be of help!”

Jonathan beamed with a bright smile.

Seeing his expression that resembled an innocent child, Isaac found himself smiling without realizing it.

What an interesting fellow.

The man really was like an innocent child.

Completely didn’t match Helmont’s image at all.

“How’s your lodging? Have you made friends with the people there?”

Issac asked while rummaging through the clothes.

Jonathan answered eagerly, as if he had been waiting for that question.

“Everyone treats me well, maybe because I am a Helmont? They’re all kind, good people! Although some of them snore really loud at night.”

“Is that so? That sounds pretty annoying.”

“Not really! It’s still much more comfortable compared to when I was being trained by the seniors!”

“Right, I’m sure it is.”

Back then, he probably couldn’t even sleep properly—either getting beaten up or forced to stay awake.

“Haha, I’m glad I came on this dispatch. Honestly, I was a bit worried, but it’s great that you’re treating me so well, Sir Isaac.”

“I haven’t done anything for you, though.”

“You’ve done a lot for me, Sir! And I’m grateful for it! That’s why I kept my mouth shut even when the others were badmouthing the nobles they serve!”

“Is that so?”

This kid’s pretty loyal, I see.

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“As a knight of Helmont, training is important, but taking a short break like this is necessary too, right? I’m sure the seniors sent me here with that in mind.”

As Isaac listened to the story, his fondness for Jonathan grew.

‘...’

Suddenly, a strange question flashed through his mind.

Helmont’s knights.

Isaac disliked Helmont.

That was obvious enough, and didn’t warrant any special explanation.

But, when it came to Helmont’s knights, it was a little different.

They were dubbed as the best knights in the kingdom.

But, the problem here was that, being a knight wasn’t just about being skillful with the sword.

It also meant that one had to be ‘chivalrous’, following the moral standards that it set.

Helmont’s direct lines are no better than thugs, but...

Are the knights actually no different from them?

Even though they are directly managed by the family head?

“How about this outfit? I’ve only worn it a few times.”

“...”

No matter the reason, it’s obviously wrong for knights to bully or ostracize someone.

Especially since what Jonathan suffered through were so cruel that there were no plausible reasons that could excuse them.

But...

Nevertheless, Isaac couldn’t help but wonder.

If there’s an actual reason as to why they treated Jonathan so harshly like that...

What could it have been?

*   *   *Dinner time.

The surrounding candles gently illuminated the dining room, creating a warm atmosphere.

Due to the North’s climate, it was rare to see fermented, salted or dried foods.

Instead, greasy meat dishes and hot soups were plentiful—and those were what they were serving for dinner this time.

I wonder how Milly is doing.

Seeing all these foods, Isaac suddenly thought of Milly, the Helmont’s cook who was the same age as him.

“I was the one who invited you, yet I made you wait.”

At that moment, Family Head Uldiran and his only daughter Silverna entered.

Despite his massive build, his footsteps were as quiet as a gentle ripple.

“I’m Isaac Helmont. Thank you for inviting me to dinner tonight.”

Isaac greeted them politely, but Uldiran just casually patted his shoulder and moved on.

“Sure. Now, let’s eat. I’m hungry.”

“Oh, no need to stand on ceremony.”

Silverna advised with a grin.

Isaac knew.

They weren’t the type to stand on ceremony.

Nevertheless, maintaining the minimum level of formality was important for first impressions.

To show that he respected them.

“It’s not much, but please eat plenty.”

Uldiran, now seated at the head of the long dining table, urged Isaac to eat, not bothering with formalities.

He grabbed the meat bones with his bare hands and tore into them roughly, looking like a barbarian who didn’t care about etiquette at all.

Seeing that, Isaac started eating to match him.

He was in the Malidean Wall, so it was right to follow their customs.

Seeing this, Uldiran let out a satisfied smile.

“By the way, why are you wearing a gambeson? Is it some kind of protest for the rough day we gave you?”

A gambeson was a garment made of several layers of cloth that knights usually wear under their armor.

Its purpose was to prevent one’s skin from getting injured by the rough armor.

At Uldiran’s question, Silverna, who was also dining at the table, turned her gaze at Isaac.

Isaac wiped his mouth, then answered with a smile.

“This is the frontline, no?”

“Hm.”

“Ah.”

The moment they heard his answer, the corners of the father and daughter’s mouths twitched upwards.

Even though he was invited to a dinner by a margrave, he chose to wear a gambeson rather than formal attire—implying that he was ready to put on his armor at any time.

And that decision of his made an extremely good impression on the father-daughter pair.

I was right to borrow the clothes from Jonathan.

Having never worn armor, he naturally didn’t have a gambeson.

Thank you, Jonathan.

Thanking Jonathan inwardly, Isaac continued with the meal.

Their conversation mostly consisted of the father-daughter pair asking him questions, while him just answering them.

“Today’s rally speech was impressive. Although, it felt more like you were encouraging us rather than the other nobles.”

“I was just saying what I had in mind. Please forgive me if it was rude, but I really hoped that the other nobles would share my sentiment.”

“This place is quite different from Helmont, isn’t it? Some places are rough, and some you might find bewildering.”

“If anything, those only make this place more comfortable. Back in Helmont, I had to adhere to all sorts of etiquette and customs, it was a little suffocating.”

“How did you meet Rianna?”

“I was a ferryman. We talked about various things while I carried her across the river, and before we knew it, we got married.”

The meal continued and their conversation deepened.

“You seem to know a lot about Cardias spearmanship.”

Uldiran looked at Isaac, asking the question that he had been clearly itching to ask.

After taking a sip of the strong alcohol Anna had poured into his glass, Isaac nodded.

“I have a wide interest in various martial arts. Especially Cardias’ spearmanship. I was always amazed every time I saw books about it, or people actually using it.”

After catching his breath, he continued.

“People who learned Cardias’ spearmanship all had a high ‘minimum standard’. They’re all people who, even at a glance, are above average when it comes to strength.”

“Hahaha! That’s right. Our spearmanship is not ordinary spearmanship!”

“You have a good eye.”

Seeing the father-daughter pair smiled with satisfaction, Isaac let out a bitter laugh inwardly.

Indeed, Cardias’ spearmanship is amazing.

That’s an undeniable fact, but...

It needs to change.

Cardias’ spearmanship was a spearmanship that could make ordinary people great.

But...

They shouldn’t be content with just that.

If they wanted to avoid certain death in the future, they’d need to change.

I will help you.

I will definitely make your spearmanship several times greater than it is now.

You are different from ordinary people.

Because you are born in a great position.

You must strive to be even greater.

Even greater...

Than Helmont.

*   *   *Around dawn.

These days, Rianna had been spending her days somewhat sluggishly.

Her appearance haggard, her hair dry and lifeless.

Although Helmonts were not prone to minor illnesses, she looked so unwell to the point that the maids were worried that she was actually sick.

Nevertheless, she still stepped out of the mansion to train.

“Huff! Huff!”

“Haaaa!”

Some of her siblings were already deeply engrossed in their training, but strangely, Rianna didn’t feel like holding a sword today.

This is a first.

Lethargy.

She thought that word perfectly described her current state.

Perhaps that was also why.

She deliberately moved away from the training ground, to the garden.

As she walked through the rose garden that had not yet bloomed.

“Ah.”

A single purple lilac caught her eye.

The moment she saw it, memories that were as fragrant as the lilac flooded her mind.

It was a memory not long after her wedding ceremonies ended.

[Ria, come here and take a look.]

In that garden, devoid of people other than them.

He called out to her playfully, putting a finger to his lips to signal a ‘Shh’.

[Look at this. Don’t you think it’s beautiful?]

*He—*Isaac—smiled, pointing at the lilac.

In contrast, Rianna frowned.

‘What are the gardeners doing?’

Displeased to see a flower other than roses in the flowerbed, Rianna was about to call for a gardener immediately.

[Ah, no need, I planted it. I asked the gardener to let it slide.]

‘...You...planted this?’

Rianna stared at him, frowning, as if asking him, ‘What’s the point of this?’.

Looking at her, Isaac let out a sly smile.

[This lilac is like me, Ria.]

‘You?’

[Lilacs bloom faster than Helmont’s roses, and by the time the roses bloom, they’ll already start to wither away.]

‘...’

[Everyone calls me a shameless guy who got lucky to be married into a prestigious family. They said I’m just trying to ride on Helmont’s back to make my life better.]

Rianna knew this.

While some people praised their marriage as romantic, many did not.

[But Ria.]

With a gentle smile, Isaac took Rianna’s hand.

As their hands touched, their wedding rings brushed against each other.

[Helmont means nothing to me. You are the one I married. Only you mattered, Ria.]

[Even if Helmont disappears, I will stay by your side. Like this lilac that blooms all alone, even though the roses haven’t.]

Rianna turned her head slowly.

The lilac that was once an eyesore suddenly felt like it was a precious thing.

‘...’

She didn’t know how to respond to his words back then, so she remained silent.

Then, a smile bloomed on Isaac’s face as he whispered softly.

[There’s one other secret about lilacs. Do you want to know?]

‘...I do.’

Isaac gestured for her to come closer with a smile.

Rianna checked if anyone was around, then slightly leaned her ear towards him.

Then, he whispered to her ears, as if telling her a deep secret.

[In the flower language, purple lilac means first love.]

‘...’

[Huh~? Are you embarrassed, Ria? You don’t need to hold back your smile~]

That image of Isaac, teasing her with a bright smile came to mind.

Unconsciously, she reached out her hand, longing for him.

But, his figure disappeared.

Leaving a single lilac behind, that tickled the tips of her fingers.

“Ah.”

At that time.

At those words.

At that smile.

My heart was pounding so much that I couldn’t say anything.

Your consideration, the gentle embrace that you gave me after you noticed my feelings, sweeter than any flowers’ fragrance.

I still remember the small smile I secretly made in your arms—making me giddy just like a young girl.

And I... Still remember your embrace that made me want to give up everything—

“Ah, Isaac.”

I miss you.

Her legs gave out and she fell to her knees.

She tried to hold it in, but...

Before she knew it, tears poured from her red eyes, blurring her vision.

But, no matter how much she cried.

He had already left.

Leaving only a single lilac behind.

As a reminder that they once had something, and that time wasn’t just a dream.

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