The atmosphere flared up unintentionally.
It took a moment for the heated air to settle and cool down.
Shortly after, Liana returned with Silverna.
"Sorry. But I meant it."
She apologized, but—
I couldn't tell if it was truly an apology, or just the prelude to another storm.
Sharen, who had been blankly watching her sister, finally swallowed the snack in her mouth and asked:
"So, what's foreplay?"
"..."
"..."
For a moment, both Isaac and Silverna kept their mouths tightly shut. But among them, one person had no choice but to answer when asked.
"Foreplay is when a man and a woman go into a bedroom and—"
Liana turned pale and looked at Isaac with pleading eyes, silently begging him to shut her up.
Isaac quickly covered her mouth with his hand, but the words still slipped out between her lips, forcing him to stick his fingers in to completely stop her.
"S-sexua-mmff!"
Liana's mouth was sealed.
Sharen blinked in confusion at the sudden scene, tilting her head.
"What the heck? Why won't anyone tell me?!"
"Ahem, Sharen? That's something you learn when you're older. For now, start with kissing."
Trying to play it off, Silverna patted her head—only for Sharen to swat her hand away.
"I do know what a kiss is, okay?! Look! Ebebebep!"
She stuck her tongue out and moved it side to side.
"I learned that you're supposed to do this when kissing!"
Isaac let out a long sigh.
It must've been from the time they left the North for the Mage Tower—when Silverna kissed him, and the Grandmaster brought it up later. Sharen had remembered all of it.
"Ebebebebep!"
Sharen even closed her eyes and kept wiggling her tongue earnestly. The three of them were left speechless.
***
"That's a good point."
After finishing lunch, Isaac, Liana, and Silverna sat around the table, deep in conversation.
The topic? Roselixer.
Liana looked at the bottle placed plainly in the center of the table and nodded honestly.
"If you take it recklessly, it could actually be harmful to Isaac. There's no such thing as a medicine that works universally for everyone."
What helps one person could harm another—and vice versa.
Since Roselixer had only ever been consumed by direct descendants of Helmut, it wasn't unreasonable to fear it might cause adverse effects in Isaac's ordinary body.
Especially now, with so much at stake.
"But I still want to drink it."
In the end, Isaac's opinion was what mattered most.
With the final battle against the Transcendents right at their doorstep, he was determined to take any step that might even slightly increase their chances of victory.
"…Then how about starting with a small amount and monitoring how your body reacts? Or mixing it with water or other medicine to take it slowly."
Taking it slowly was a tough ask for Isaac, considering how little time they had left.
"I agree too. Medicine shouldn't just be taken carelessly. Timing and circumstance have to be right for it to truly be helpful."
Since Silverna also supported Liana's suggestion, Isaac had no choice but to relent and nod.
With that, their discussion on the Roselixer wrapped up, and naturally shifted to the topic of the 'Subjugation Spell.
"Can't you just pass it over to her?"
Silverna asked if it wouldn't be easier to just transfer the binding rights to Liana.
"It's not as simple as it sounds."
Isaac let out a sigh.
"To put it simply, the Subjugation spell is like wearing a leash. Even if you hold the leash yourself, it doesn't mean it's no longer around your neck."
"Ah…"
Silverna, who didn't know much about sorcery, nodded in understanding after hearing his explanation.
"Even if you hand over the leash, the fact that it's still around your neck doesn't change. I even tested it just now."
He had tried using his Authority to suppress Liana's words earlier, but it had no effect.
That's because the leash itself—the foundation of the subjugation sorcery—was still in place. She couldn't act in a way that violated the fundamental terms of the spell.
"So even if I transfer ownership, the current condition remains unchanged. At least now, she's no longer trying to assassinate Princess Adeline."
When they were in the Mage Tower, the command to kill Adeline had still lingered. If the leash had been released back then, Liana would've immediately gone after the princess.
But now, with Isaac holding ownership, the cuffs had been loosened, allowing her to act freely.
"Of course, that's not the only reason."
He let out a short sigh.
It wasn't that he didn't want to give Liana the authority because it meant nothing—
"I just don't know how to give it."
He understood that he held the authority, but had no idea how to pass it on.
It wasn't magic—it was sorcery, and he was still quite ignorant in that area.
"Ahh… right. You only got it because you killed that Blood Demon."
Silverna nodded in agreement.
"I like being Isaac's property."
"..."
"..."
A sudden, out-of-nowhere confession.
Because they understood Liana's condition, both Isaac and Silverna tried to brush it off casually.
"Wow."
But in the end, Silverna couldn't hold back a stunned reaction.
"…Things like that are better left unheard."
"Right, just pretend you didn't hear it. You being so considerate, Isaac—so cool."
"You want me to pretend I didn't hear that?"
Silverna gave a baffled expression.
And seeing Liana slightly leaning toward Isaac, she had a reasonable suspicion.
"Wait… did your subjugation spell actually break? Are you just using this as a chance to say whatever you want?"
"Whatever I want?"
Sigh.
Isaac let out a deep sigh.
Like how the brain focuses only on flowers the moment someone says "don't think about flowers"—
As soon as she heard "whatever you want," Liana's mind poured out all she'd been holding back.
"I don't get why Silverna's still in this house. Shouldn't you be going back to the North already?"
"Hey! I'm useful around here, okay? During the Blood Demon incident, Isaac came all the way out to greet me because he needed my help!"
"I can handle everything now. So why don't you just leave? And quit shaking your boobs. It's seriously annoying."
"T-They're not shaking! They're moving on their own!"
"Wanna fight?"
Choosing to ignore them, Isaac stood up and walked outside.
Liana kept blurting out whatever came to mind, and Silverna, the iron lady of the North, stood her ground.
Isaac didn't know who would win, but he was sure of one thing—whoever did, it was going to be a messy outcome.
***
"Yay! Isaac, look! Auntie Bella said I was cute and gave me another muffin!"
Right after lunch, Sharen had gone to Bella's Bakery with allowance money Liana gave her, and now she'd returned.
"Are you training again?! Eat this after! I'll save it for you!"
She said that every time, but never actually saved any.
A little later—
Sharen, who had gone inside, came rushing back out waving her arms dramatically.
"Isaac! Sis and Silverna are having a huge fight in the kitchen!"
"..."
"You think they're gonna start swinging swords and spears next?"
"Sigh. They're not children. It won't go that far."
After all, these two held significant status within the kingdom.
Known as the "Golden Generation," they were destined to lead the nation's military in the future. They wouldn't draw weapons over something petty.
"But why are they suddenly fighting?"
"…I'm not really sure."
"Come on, you totally know."
Why is she so perceptive at times like this?
Isaac let out an awkward cough and answered,
"Sometimes men have to pretend not to know, Sharen."
"That just makes you sound super shady, you know?"
"…When is Grandmaster arriving?"
Isaac quickly changed the subject.
Though unintentional, it turned out to be a perfectly timed shift.
"Oh? Did you miss me that much that you're looking for me?"
Striding in from the garden entrance came the Grandmaster, a wide smile on her face and her massive blade resting on her shoulder.
"Grandmaster?!"
"She's here!"
Isaac and Sharen rushed over, greeted cheerfully by the master who even wagged her "tail" like she was in a good mood.
"With such a warm welcome, it makes all the trouble of preparing your gifts worthwhile."
"Gifts, Grandmaster?"
"Hooray! Presents! Grandmaster, you're the best!"
"…There's nothing for you, Sharen."
"CRIMSON FLAAAMEEEEEEEE WAVE!"
Suddenly, Sharen's "Crimson Flame Wave" shot out—not at the Grandmaster, but straight at Isaac.
Whoosh!
Isaac instantly drew his sword and slashed through the flame, giving her a baffled look.
"Why me?!"
"Because if I take you down, the gift is mine!"
"..."
That was some seriously Helmut-style logic.
Just then, behind the Grandmaster, her disciple Damien appeared carrying a large bundle, and Sharen looked ready to charge again.
Clunk!
The mansion doors opened.
Out stepped the two women.
Compared to what was about to unfold, Isaac and Sharen's scuffle felt like child's play—the air grew chillingly tense.
Each woman stood at opposite ends of the garden.
Then they took up their greatsword and spear, and glared at each other.
"Ah, seriously."
Isaac could only let out a weary sigh.