Chapter 55: The Sword Festival (2)

The next morning.

Isaac was absentmindedly eating his meal in the servants' dining hall.

Since the Sword Festival would begin in the evening, he needed to have a hearty meal.

However, with his somewhat dispirited expression as he slowly chewed his bread, he looked defeated.

"You look exhausted."

Millie, a fellow commoner and cook of the mansion, cautiously approached him.

She, too, seemed unwell, likely due to the busy preparations for the Sword Festival.

"Ah… well, yeah."

Isaac could only sigh.

Hadn't he prepared thoroughly for the Sword Festival?

Determined to break through Helmut's swordsmanship, he had tirelessly sparred with Jonathan, Sharen, and even Liana.

Yet in the end, the one chosen was Silverna.

For a moment, he wondered if the selection had been rigged, but that wasn't the case.

After all, Arandel Helmut wasn't the type to manipulate such things.

'Well, I just have to do my best to win.'

But Silverna still hadn't arrived.

Would he even make it in time today?

'This Sword Festival is turning out to be way too complicated.'

He still had to track down the Helmut traitor colluding with the Transcendent race.

And he also wanted to test himself in the festival.

"Hey, Millie, did anything strange happen while I was gone?"

"Huh?"

Millie looked startled.

Seeing her more surprised than expected, Isaac felt taken aback instead.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, right, something strange did happen."

Millie slyly moved the food on the table closer to Isaac.

"You not eating properly, that's what's strange. Stop being picky and eat up. You need your strength for today."

"..."

"Does it taste bad?"

"No, it's delicious. It's the best."

A warm meal.

Although he couldn't sit among the honored guests and instead had to eat at the simple table for the mansion's cooks,

This moment was when Isaac felt the most at ease in Helmut's estate.

"Millie, make sure to watch the Sword Festival today."

"Huh?"

"I'll show you how much I've changed."

Perhaps because of that warmth, Isaac, for once, spoke childishly, as if boasting to Millie.

But Millie only gave him a wry smile as she poured water into his cup.

"Just don't push yourself too hard. You know staying safe is the most important thing, right?"

"I'm not the same Isaac you remember. I'll show you how much I've grown in the North."

So that she wouldn't have to worry about him anymore.

So that when she thought of him, it wouldn't be with a shadow of concern,

But with a warm, sunny smile.

Isaac wanted to prove himself.

'I'm sorry, Silverna.'

There's no way I can lose today.

***

[Advancement by default: Isaac Helmut]

"..."

By evening, as the sun set, Isaac blinked in disbelief at the match results displayed before him.

"That idiot…."

Isaac clenched his fist tightly.

Due to Silverna's unexpected delay, Isaac advanced by default without even drawing his sword.

As a result, chaos erupted among the spectators, with many accusing Caldias of disrespecting Helmut.

Even Arandel Helmut himself seemed displeased—there was no need to say more.

After all, tarnishing the Sword Festival, an event hosted by Helmut, was practically an insult.

"Congratulations on your free win!"

Sharen bounced excitedly beside him, offering her congratulations.

Without hesitation, Isaac reached over and tugged her cheek.

"Ow! What's wrong? It's a good thing, isn't it?"

"Haa… Yeah. It's great."

He had spoken so confidently to Millie earlier.

But now, having advanced by default, what could he even say?

Honestly, it was a little embarrassing.

"Well, looks like you're going to lose tomorrow anyway."

Sharen pointed at the tournament bracket with a disappointed look.

Isaac shrugged and let out a dry laugh.

He hadn't expected to face this opponent so soon.

[Isaac Helmut vs. Lohengrin Helmut]

"Isaac, just remember one thing: don't mess around and get beaten up!"

"Why do you always mess around and end up getting beaten?"

Isaac immediately grabbed Sharen's head and playfully shook it, causing her to scream.

But from the excited tone of her voice, it seemed she was actually enjoying it.

When he finally let go, Sharen, now dizzy, gave him a serious look of concern.

"You already know this, Isaac. Lohengrin never holds back. The knight he fought earlier left the arena covered in blood."

"Especially you, Isaac. You've been beaten up by him so many times already—he won't feel even a shred of guilt."

"You remember, right? That time he lost to Liana, he got so mad at you. He beat you up like crazy."

Listening to her, Isaac suddenly had a thought.

"Wait, why do you call Liana 'big sis' but refer to Lohengrin as just 'that guy'?"

"Huh? What, you want me to call him 'big brother'? I don't acknowledge them as my brothers."

"..."

That was just how Sharen was.

"Anyway, I just hope you don't get hurt! Especially by those idiots!"

"Hah."

The Helmut estate.

It felt like he now had at least one more place, aside from Millie's company, where he could relax a little.

Maybe that's why…

"Let's go, Sharen. Millie said she'd prepare something special for dinner since I'll be having a tough day today."

There was another banquet tonight.

Since Millie had promised to set aside some food just for him, it was best to head there early.

This moment was precious.

And right now, it felt okay to share it with Sharen.

"Ooh!"

Sharen followed with a bright smile before suddenly asking,

"But what did you even struggle with today?"

"..."

***

Liana stared at the flowers in the vase.

A single rose looked as if it would wilt at any moment, yet she showed no intention of replacing it.

Even during the Sword Festival, she remained absent from public events.

Normally, it wouldn't be appropriate for the eldest daughter to avoid such a significant occasion.

But the fact that Arandel wasn't allowing her to appear in public meant that he was still furious with her.

Bang!

The door suddenly burst open.

Liana's gaze slowly turned toward the entrance.

Standing there, glaring at her with heavy breaths, was Lohengrin.

"I won't waste words." he said.

"I will be the next family head, Liana."

Was something going on?

Lohengrin looked like he was burning with anger, as if something had enraged him.

"...."

Liana didn't bother to speak. She had already resolved to become the head of the family, but there was no need to tell Lohengrin that. However, she wasn't in a situation where she could remain silent.

"Tomorrow, I will be fighting that bastard Isaac."

"...!"

Liana's eyes trembled for a brief moment. Lohengrin didn't miss the reaction, his lips curling into a smirk as he spoke again.

"No matter what you say, I plan to cripple him."

"Lohengrin!"

Liana finally stood up. A faint surge of red energy wriggled at her feet, as if it were about to rise.

But Lohengrin didn't back down in the slightest.

"Tomorrow is just a warning, Liana. If Father names you as the next head of the family—"

Lohengrin gritted his teeth, stepping forward aggressively as he growled at her.

"Then tomorrow will only be the beginning. I wonder if, as head of the family, you'll be able to keep that man by your side for the rest of your life."

With that, Lohengrin shoved Liana aside and stormed out.

As he left, two voices echoed in Liana's mind, overlapping with one another.

[Become the head of the family, Liana.]

[That is the only way you can save Isaac.]

Her mother had spoken those words with a gentle smile.

[The moment you become the head of the family…]

[You should know that your husband will no longer be of this world.]

Lohengrin had bared his teeth and warned her outright.

Both sides wanted different things, yet they used the same leverage.

For Liana, it felt like a blade was being driven into her throat.

But now was the time to stand firm.

'Alright.'

Liana made up her mind.

Tonight—

She would kill Lohengrin.

Knock, knock, knock.

She hadn't responded, yet someone knocked before casually pushing the door open.

At this point, she wondered if this could even be considered house arrest anymore.

But the woman who entered carried enough influence that such rules could be ignored.

"Hmm, hello?"

The woman greeted her with a bright smile, waving lightly.

Liana hurriedly fell to one knee.

"Princess Clarice."

"I heard you were under house arrest, but you don't look so great."

With a sly smile, Clarice gently placed a hand on Liana's shoulder.

"Shall we have a little chat?"

***

'Where did the princess go?'

At the evening banquet, Isaac scanned the hall for Princess Clarice, but she was nowhere to be seen.

She had been talking about investigating the traitor again today—had she found something?

"Wow, Isaac, there's really no one around you."

Sharen, now dressed in an elegant gown, circled around Isaac while murmuring to herself.

The other participants of the Sword Festival were all surrounded by noble crowds, engaging in conversation.

Yet Isaac, the only one who had advanced by default, received no such attention.

After all, he was just a commoner-born son-in-law.

If Liana were here, things might have looked a little different.

"Sir Isaac."

At that moment, Millie approached cautiously.

Her chef's uniform was much cleaner than usual, a sign of how much effort she had put into this meal.

"This way."

"Ah, okay."

Thanks to her, Isaac was able to quietly savor the stew that Millie had specially prepared.

"I want some too."

Sharen followed behind them.

Millie's expression darkened for a moment, but she didn't say anything.

A separate table was set.

The stew placed on the tablecloth might have looked humble to others, but a satisfied smile spread across Isaac's face.

As he sat down, a rich aroma wafted up.

The food was just to Isaac's taste.

He preferred simple dishes that commoners usually enjoyed but with high-quality ingredients added.

Especially when the stew had plenty of meat—nothing could be better.

"This is it? You called this luxurious?"

"I'm sorry, my lady."

"Huh? No, it's not like I need an apology. If anything, isn't it just that Isaac has cheap taste?!"

"No, I really am sorry."

Millie apologized so excessively that Sharen, who had been pouting, now looked a little awkward.

But once she tasted the stew, her opinion would surely change.

"The consistency is perfect. Lots of meat, too. Millie, you really know my taste in food."

Isaac smiled as he complimented her. Millie simply lowered her head and placed more dishes on the table.

They looked modest, but each one was delicately prepared—clearly made with Isaac in mind.

Seeing them, Isaac started to feel a little guilty.

"I haven't really done anything to deserve this today."

"It's to give you strength for tomorrow."

Millie smiled faintly.

"Ha, Millie. Are you sure you don't want to be my personal chef? I'll figure out a way to pay you."

In response to Isaac's suggestion, Millie only smiled in the same quiet way as before.

Just as he was about to take his first bite—

"Sir Isaac."

"Hm?"

"You've changed a lot. Even sitting here with Lady Sharen like this."

Isaac glanced at Sharen.

She was too focused on devouring her stew to notice their conversation.

"Well, yeah. I really have changed. And I especially wanted you to see that."

Tomorrow's duel against Lohengrin.

Isaac wanted Millie to come and watch.

"If I can, I definitely will."

"…Millie, is something wrong?"

Isaac set his spoon down and asked in a calm voice.

Something about her felt off, and a strange sense of unease crept over him.

"Please eat quickly. The stew is getting cold."

"...."

Slowly, Isaac lifted his spoon.

The warmth of the stew touched his tongue and slid down his throat.

"Wow—"

Sincerely, Isaac was amazed.

He hadn't expected it to taste this good.

"Millie, this is really—!"

But he couldn't finish his sentence.

Because at that very moment, Millie collapsed right in front of him.

"…Millie?"

For a moment, Isaac couldn't process what was happening.

Then he saw blood spilling from Millie's lips.

His mind blanked out, and a sharp headache stabbed through his skull.

"Millie!"

He hurriedly rose to catch her.

"Kghh—!"

A scream rang out from another direction.

Startled by Millie's collapse, Sharen had jumped to her feet, but now she was running in the opposite direction.

"Mom!"

Galenia Helmut.

She had been in the middle of her meal when she suddenly clutched her throat with both hands.

Her bloodshot eyes were filled with agony.