The Prestigious Family's Son-in-Law Wants a Divorce Chapter 35

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Chapter 35: The Night of Memories

Like bringing down the final curtain on a stage.

As the sunset faded, night fell upon them like the darkness behind a drawn curtain.

The Malidan Barrier had been abuzz due to the sudden appearance of Rihanna Helmut, but—

Once the great den began its assault on the barricade, everyone seemed to forget it had ever happened.

“Today was really tough. Get some good rest.”

Excluding Jonathan, who remained bedridden in the infirmary, Reconnaissance Team 5 prepared to wrap up their day.

From the front barricade, the monstrous roars of beasts and the urgent shouts of soldiers could still be heard.

“...Shouldn’t we go help them?”

“Resting is helping them. If we’re tired, we can’t buy any rest time for those who are fighting now.”

“Ah.”

“If you look at the scale of the assault, it’s not all that large. They can handle it.”

Reassured by Sharen’s comment, Anna added more detail.

Finally, Silverna fixed her gaze on the red-haired woman standing next to Isaac.

“And Rihanna Helmut.”

“...”

“I appreciate the help, but starting tomorrow, you’ll be interrogated. Why you disguised yourself as a maid, why you were hiding until now—things like that.”

“Sure.”

Seeing how calmly she accepted it, Silverna scratched her head and added:

“On the other hand, it means you get to rest easy for today.”

It was a small gift to Rihanna from the Caldias Family.

“Make sure you prepare for that. That’s all.”

Just as Silverna turned to leave, she hesitated for a moment before speaking candidly.

“Really… thank you for today. Because of you, a lot of people were saved.”

It hurt her pride to admit it, but knowing the nearby residents were spared any harm—

To Silverna, that mattered most, so she expressed her genuine gratitude.

“Anna! Let’s go get a drink! I need at least one glass!”

“Huh?! Right now?”

Watching Silverna head toward the soldiers’ tavern inside the castle, Anna turned to Isaac before following.

“I’ll send over some bedding.”

“Bedding?”

Her comment seemed sudden, and Anna flashed a mischievous smile before whispering.

“She can’t stay in the maid’s quarters anymore, right? Giving a separate room to someone who might end up in a cell tomorrow after interrogation would look strange, so obviously you’ll have to share.”

“...Me?”

When Isaac asked blankly, Anna looked flustered and replied:

“Yes, you’re married, aren’t you?”

“Oh… right.”

“...”

As Isaac responded hesitantly, Rihanna puffed her cheeks for just a moment before her expression went back to normal.

It happened so fast that no one else even noticed.

“Just so you know, the soundproofing in there isn’t great.”

“...”

“Anna! Let’s go!”

“Coming!”

As the two left, Isaac and Rihanna said nothing.

****

Creak.

Thump.

The door closed.

Both of them entered the room.

The fatigue of the day pressed down heavily.

But instead of finding relief, the tension only grew.

“...”

They stood by the door, staring awkwardly at one another.

A strained silence filled the air.

They had once been close—no, the closest two people could be.

But at some point, being together had become this uncomfortable.

‘Maybe that’s what time does to you.’

The involuntary ways in which people change—perhaps that’s what they call the passage of time.

“This.”

Since Rihanna wasn’t one for words, Isaac spoke first, handing her a small note.

It was the note she’d asked Sharen to deliver that morning, containing Rihanna’s observations on Isaac’s swordsmanship.

“Ah.”

“Thanks.”

“You knew it was me?”

“Pretty much. The Sharen I know wouldn’t be able to analyze the structure of swordsmanship so thoroughly.”

Also, Sharen had done a terrible job of hiding it.

It was as if she hadn’t intended to conceal anything at all.

“Isaac—”

“I’m going to take a shower.”

“...”

Rihanna tried to call him, but Isaac cut her off, so she closed her mouth again.

He glanced at her briefly, but seeing her avert her gaze, he simply left the room.

Thirty minutes passed.

They took turns bathing.

While Rihanna was out washing up, Isaac continued writing about swords—

Detailing his impressions of Rihanna’s swordsmanship from earlier and how he might counter some of her moves.

“...Isaac.”

Her voice startled him, and he jumped up.

Somehow, she had returned already, wearing a clean, white negligee—likely her sleepwear.

“W-when did you come in?”

“Your surroundings disappear when you focus. That hasn’t changed.”

Did Rihanna just smile?

If she did, it passed so quickly that Isaac couldn’t be sure.

Clearing his throat at the awkwardness, Isaac closed his notebook and looked at her.

Rihanna also faced him, her cheeks slightly flushed.

“Sit down for a bit.”

When he gestured to the bed, Rihanna hesitantly perched on the edge.

Recalling how her face stiffened whenever she was nervous—he’d mentioned this before—she pressed her cheeks with her palms, trying to ease the tension.

“Can you tell me why you came here? I heard from others that the family head sent Sharen as well.”

It was time to get down to business.

In response to Isaac’s question, Rihanna lowered her hands from her cheeks, speaking cautiously.

“I thought you might be in danger.”

“Because this is the front line? That’s obvious.”

“That’s not the only reason—”

She tried to say something but stopped, or rather, she couldn’t bring herself to continue.

“...”

Silence descended on them once more.

It was a silence they’d grown accustomed to.

“So you came to protect me?”

“Yes.”

Having listened to the whole story,

Isaac nodded and replied.

“Honestly, I don’t find your reason all that convincing, Rihanna.”

“…….”

“I feel like we’ve come too far for me to be moved or thankful.”

“That’s understandable.”

“I know exactly what kind of woman you are, so I realize you’re not doing this because you expect something in return.”

“…….”

“So, there’s nothing else behind this?”

Likewise, Rihanna wasn’t here to shamelessly ask him to revoke the divorce or love her again.

“It’s just…”

After pausing for a moment, Rihanna fidgeted with her folded hands and confessed:

“I just didn’t want you to leave here hurt.”

“…….”

“So that even after you leave our family, you can go on living well.”

Like the time he rowed across the water by himself, long ago.

When Isaac stared intently at Rihanna, she dropped her gaze as if embarrassed and hurriedly continued:

“I’m also investigating the circumstances of the accident that happened on our wedding anniversary. We’ve been busy with the Sword Festival, but still, I’m trying my best—”

“It was Alois.”

“…….”

At those words, Rihanna stiffened. Slowly lifting her head, she looked at Isaac and asked:

“What did you say?”

“It was Alois, the third son of House Helmut—he’s the culprit.”

Rihanna, who looked like a figure in a painting, asked quietly:

“Why would Alois do that to you?”

“Go ask him yourself.”

“…All right.”

A calm exhale escaped Rihanna, her expression resolute. It seemed she intended to confront Alois as soon as she returned home.

“…….”

Silence descended between them once again.

Isaac spoke, trying to gauge her reaction:

“You believe me?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, he’s your younger brother. I’m… just a husband who’s about to leave. Why trust me?”

At Isaac’s question, wondering why she’d believe a man who wouldn’t be around much longer, Rihanna merely looked puzzled.

“Why would you lie about that?”

Her response was so matter-of-fact that Isaac stammered for a moment but then forced down his emotions.

“Hoo.”

Drawing a long breath, Rihanna tightened her fists as if making up her mind.

“Isaac, since we’re already talking about family, there’s something I want to say.”

“You’re going to apologize?”

“…….”

Her hesitation was clear, and Isaac gave a gentle smile and shook his head.

“Don’t.”

“Don’t… apologize?”

“Yeah, it’s not necessary.”

Even though only about a month has passed in this world—

“It feels like the time to accept an apology has already passed.”

For him, it was something that had happened ten years ago—

He had neither the desire to dredge it up nor to accept an apology for it.

“I’m not inclined to accept it, either.”

“…….”

“There was a time when I wondered why you left me alone. I was curious about that.”

But not anymore.

“I don’t even want to know about House Helmut’s family issues anymore.”

“…….”

“Whether you had a reason for ignoring me—”

Slowly,

Isaac rose from his seat and stepped toward Rihanna. He crouched in front of her, meeting her eyes on the same level.

“I’m sure you did. I mean, you came all the way to the front lines for me, so obviously a bunch of misunderstandings got tangled up between us.”

Seeing the tears welling up in her eyes, he gently wiped them away with his hand.

Rihanna closed her eyes, letting herself feel his touch.

“But, Rihanna…”

“I’m sorry, but…”

Isaac’s voice was firm.

“I don’t even want to hear that much.”

“…….”

“You might justify yourself, and maybe I’d feel like forgiving you. And if that happened, I’d end up going back to House Helmut.”

No matter what—

“I don’t want that.”

However, there was at least one small bit of solace.

“What I’m grateful for—”

He’d thought about it many times.

Why, even after ten years, did Rihanna keep wearing that ring until the moment she died?

The answer was simple, but accepting it was hard.

“That… we—”

But seeing Rihanna before him now, Isaac didn’t want to deny at least this:

“That you never once regretted the fact that we loved each other.”

He offered a gentle smile and took her hand.

In Rihanna’s eyes, emotion swirled. Tears pooled again and trickled down her cheeks as she parted her dry lips.

“You… you don’t regret… loving me?”

Her voice trembled painfully.

In response to Rihanna’s desolate question, Isaac quietly replied,

“I’ve hated you before, I’ve resented you many times—”

So many times he’d lost count.

“But I’ve never regretted the days when I loved you.”

Because—

Those memories were brilliant.

Even in the pitch-black halls of House Helmut, they were bright enough to light the way for him.

“Ugh… I… too…”

Tears spilling down her face, Rihanna nodded.

“I felt the same, Isaac.”

There wasn’t much time left until the Sword Festival.

It could be delayed a bit because of the great den, but in Isaac’s memory, the festival proceeded without a hitch.

Back then, he hadn’t attended and just stayed in his room, but anyway—when the time came, everything would be settled.

“Hoo…”

Rihanna swallowed back her tears, trying to steady her breathing. Seeing that, Isaac began to pull his hand away, only for her to grab it tight as if refusing to let go.

“…….”

“Ah, Isaac.”

Her face was red—whether from crying or embarrassment, he wasn’t sure.

As he looked down at her, Rihanna hesitated, then spoke in a whisper.

“Hold me.”

“Rihanna?”

It was an abrupt request, but her tone was unexpectedly serious.

“Please. Even if it’s just for one night, that’s fine. I’m not expecting you to take responsibility. You can treat me like someone you use and throw away in a pleasure quarter—just this once, one more time…”

Back then—

Like on our wedding night—

Hold me, just like that…

****

In her room, Sharen ought to be fast asleep after using up her powers today.

Yet, she tossed and turned, unable to drift off.

“Oh, what do I do?!”

Kicking her blanket off, heaving sighs, Sharen was on the verge of tears.

“Unni is going to kill meee!”

Knock, knock.

Mid-squirm, she heard knocking at her door.

“W-who is it?”