Chapter 11 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Lilac Tears
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"Sister?"
Early in the morning.
Alois, the third son who had been training, spotted his sister kneeling alone in the garden.
How is she so beautiful?
Even from behind, she exuded elegance, and her red hair carried an air of nobility unlike theirs.
Alois truly loved his sister.
Just stepping toward her made his heart race with excitement.
It would've been even better if the roses were blooming.
Alois approached lightly on tiptoe, a sly grin on his face.
"Sister, slacking off this early in the morning?"
He whispered softly so no one else could hear their private moment.
But Rianna kept her head bowed without responding.
Hm?
In front of her bloomed a single lilac flower.
The moment he saw it, Alois frowned and let out a sigh.
"What the hell are the gardeners doing?"
He could guess why Rianna was here, and it irritated him.
"Sister, I'll tell the gardeners to manage it properly. No need to worry so muc—"
"Alois."
Alois instinctively took a step back.
The mysterious chill in her voice startled him for a moment.
"Y-Yes? Sister? What's wrong?"
"This flower is one I grew."
"...You grew it?"
"Yes. So don't touch it carelessly."
"Ah, got it."
Even as he answered, Alois tilted his head in confusion.
The Rianna he knew would never grow something like a lilac, let alone plant it in the family garden.
"Hoo."
Rianna slowly rose to her feet and turned around.
"I should go train."
As she passed by Alois, he caught sight of her reddened eyes.
It hit him like a lightning bolt to the crown of his head—his entire body felt electrified.
Sister... cried?
It was the first time he'd ever seen such a thing.
The shock was so great he wondered if it was really her.
"Heh."
Alois couldn't help but grin widely and hurriedly covered his mouth with his hand.
He was thrilled.
The tears from his sister, who was like an impregnable fortress that never crumbled.
Seeing her suffer, buried in sorrow.
It gave him a thrilling pleasure he'd never felt before.
Is it because of Isaac?
Alois quickly pieced together the situation.
That lilac was probably connected to Isaac too, wasn't it?
I can ask the gardener and find out easily.
But that wasn't important right now.
Pretending to be oblivious, Alois hurried after Rianna with quick steps.
"Sister, have you decided on your next marriage partner?"
Rianna stopped in her tracks.
Her cold gaze held a subtle mix of murderous intent and anger.
Just as I thought.
Alois forced down the bulge forming in his lower body and flashed a friendly smile.
"Staying divorced for too long isn't ideal. Of course, remarrying right away might not look great either—"
He kept prodding deliberately.
It was the first time his sister had shown such an emotional reaction.
Alois was curious what she would do next.
"But someone like you has no shortage of suitors. So just forget about Isaac."
There was no justification for her to get angry.
Would she be sad, then?
Or run away, saying she didn't want to hear it?
"He was unqualified from the start anyway. Wouldn't it be better for Isaac if you divorced him now?"
This was sincere.
If Isaac hadn't brought up divorce, he really would have met a terrible fate.
Because the family head had permitted Rianna's pregnancy.
Sister bearing that bastard's child—unthinkable.
He couldn't stand it, so Alois had planned to drop the chandelier on him.
It failed, but Isaac leaving on his own worked out better.
"Honestly, enduring in our family as a commoner must be tou—"
"Alois."
A flat, emotionless voice.
Rianna had returned to her usual expression.
Though disappointed inside, she made a calm proposal.
"Let's spar."
"...Pardon?"
"Morning training. Spar with me. Come to think of it, it's been a while since we last did."
"..."
"I'll check how much you've improved."
"W-Wait, Sister."
The flustered Alois called out to her.
Sparring now might lead to disaster.
He never imagined she'd vent her anger this way and tried to say something.
But Rianna had already drawn her red greatsword, Ragnavel, which she always kept ready.
"Follow me, Alois."
The red energy emanating from her entire body was the Helmunt family's signature sword aura, known as Red Aura.
Though called sword aura, the crimson power enveloped her like armor, protecting her as her long hair undulated like dancing waves.
"..."
Alois, who had crossed the line in his excitement, could only grimace as he grabbed his sword and headed to the training grounds.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ She's one crazy drinking buddy.
Clutching his throbbing head, Isaac stepped out onto the training field.
The cold northern morning air pierced his lungs, easing the aftereffects of last night's poisoned liquor somewhat.
"Sir Isaac, are you alright?"
Jonathan approached with a worried look.
He could tell from Isaac's expression that something was off.
"I'm fine. More importantly, Jonathan—how did I get back to my room last night?"
It wasn't a joke; he genuinely couldn't remember.
He recalled heated discussions about spear techniques with the Caldias father and daughter, the mood turning great.
But after keep drinking the liquor Anna poured, his memory cut off at some point.
"You really scared me yesterday. Lady Silberna had to support you to get back to the barracks. I waited because I was worried."
"...Really? Sorry about that."
He slapped his forehead with his palm and sighed.
The sigh still carried the lingering smell of alcohol, making him grimace.
Reminded me of drinking bouts with my grandmaster, so I overdid it without realizing.
But Isaac had been genuinely excited too.
Uldiran Caldias was a hero he'd never met in his previous life.
The great general who held out for a month against the Transcendent Race invasion without kingdom support.
Drinking with him had hyped Isaac up more than expected.
"Guess I owe Silberna an apology too."
He planned to ask if he'd said anything stupid last night.
"Um, Sir Isaac."
"Hm?"
"I know this might be overstepping..."
Jonathan fidgeted, glancing around nervously.
He clasped his hands politely and bowed his head as he advised.
"You're still Lady Rianna's husband, aren't you? So, uh, minimizing contact with other women would be... for the best."
"...You're right."
"I'm sorry! I spoke out of turn—truly sorry!"
Isaac grabbed Jonathan's shoulders to stop him from kowtowing.
"No, you said the right thing."
"Th-Thank you!"
Though divorce was in the works, it hadn't happened yet.
And only direct Helmunt family members and the chefs knew, so it was sensible advice.
He bittersweetly stroked the ring on his left ring finger with his thumb, deliberately changing the subject.
"Are you joining our training too, Jonathan? I heard escort knights like you get thrown straight into duty."
Unlike dispatched nobles needing basic checks due to the influx of promising youths,
their aides were all top talents assigned directly to wall duty.
"No, sir. I'm on afternoon shift, so I came to assist you. And to do some personal training."
Diligent and honest.
Isaac patted his shoulder at his country-boy bright smile, encouraging him.
"Why the hell should I?!"
A furious shout echoed from the training field.
The group of nobles gathered for morning training.
One stepped forward, yelling at the instructor officer.
"Are you insulting House Drakemoor? You think knowing basic spearwork makes you something?!"
"That's not it."
Drakemoor?
A famous swordsmanship family, like the Helmunt.
Though far below in prestige, not to be dismissed lightly.
"We're not dispatching you nobles just for wall duty. Escorting outside, reconnaissance, aiding nearby villages—our roles are varied."
Even rookies were nobles.
The instructor stayed calm despite the near-insubordination.
"So what? What are you saying? Who said we won't do it? That we refuse?"
"..."
"Treating us like idiots with this basic training pisses me off. I held back yesterday, but... more of this crap today?"
Subtle agreement rippled among the dispatched nobles.
"You couldn't clear the monster horde properly, that's why we're here. Tormenting us newcomers over your incompetence? Can't even solve the horde?!"
The atmosphere grew hostile.
Even nobles had crossed a line here.
But the other nobles backed the Drakemoor fool, so no one moved rashly.
A misstep could alienate all the influential nobles.
"Ha!"
A short-haired woman snorted, snatched her spear, and strode into the field.
Silberna Caldias.
She stood before the Drakemoor noble with a fierce, competitive smile.
"Your name?"
"Meladic Drakemoor."
Meladic subtly placed his hand on his sword hilt.
Silberna's lip twitched at the sight.
"You catch on quick? Draw your sword. I'll check if you have what it takes to survive wall duty."
This was the northern way.
The commotion had foreshadowed this outcome from the start.
All eyes focused on the two.
"Jonathan, watch Silberna's spearwork closely. It'll help a lot."
"I use a greatsword, though?"
"Don't be dumb—watch carefully."
"Yes, sir!"
Jonathan saluted, eyes wide as he observed the spar.
Feels nostalgic.
Isaac crossed his arms with a faint smile.
In his previous life, he'd first met Silberna years later.
After the Transcendent Race breached the Mallidan Wall, she'd survived alone through sacrifices,
abandoned her name, living as Caldias when his grandmaster brought her.
Shocked me big time.
Seeing her spearwork first felt like entering a new world.
He'd trailed her with his cane for a while, peppering her with questions.
"I didn't praise it as great spearwork for nothing."
"Indeed!"
Adding that for Jonathan, Isaac smiled, looking forward to the show after so long.
The spar began.
Meladic lasted only five exchanges before falling on his butt and dropping his sword.
Cheers erupted from the soldiers around.
"As expected of the lady! You're the best!"
"Incredible! Perfect spearwork!"
"Great Caldias!"
The dispatched nobles' morale plummeted instantly, glaring resentfully at Meladic.
Jonathan raved too.
"Am-Awesome! That's Caldias spearwork!"
As Jonathan cheered excitedly,
Isaac gaped in denial.
"No..."
"Pardon?"
"No, that's not it..."
"Wh-What do you mean?"
To the confused Jonathan, Isaac unusually flustered and spat out the truth.
"No! That's not it! That was just... total garbage just now?!"
What the hell had he just witnessed?
That?
Real Silberna spearwork?
His bewildered outburst rang out loudly.
And.
"What?"
Unfortunately,
the sharp northern wind carried his voice straight to Silberna's ears.
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