Chapter 4: The Face to Hide

Outside the patriarch’s office, the two people wearing completely opposite expressions walked side by side.

While Isaac held a faint smile, Rihanna’s face was stiff and cold.

Isaac noticed this as well, but he saw no need to mention it.

‘I’m glad the conversation went well.’

The discussion with Arandel had been smooth.

On top of that, he had secured separate funds and provisions, enough so that he could depart as soon as tomorrow.

The amount was especially considerable—hush money, in a sense, for not disclosing the more detailed circumstances of the divorce to the outside world.

‘It’s silly, but it’s a bit exciting.’

Unlike his past life, when he would have run away terrified, this time Isaac was stepping forward confidently. The thought alone set his heart racing.

‘It was written that he likes people who are bold, even if they’re rude. Turns out it was true.’

Reading Arandel Helmut’s autobiography-cum-last-will in his previous life had been a great help during their standoff.

Since Arandel wasn’t the type to spout nonsense, Isaac had been right to trust every word of that autobiography.

‘Divorce is the best.’

A miracle of making one from two.

A symbol of newfound freedom.

And even a generous divorce settlement.

Someone once said that you only realize what’s precious after you lose it.

Now that he understood the value of bachelorhood only after becoming married, Isaac felt as though he’d made all the preparations for another return.

A return to being single.

“Isaac.”

Rihanna, who was descending the stairs quickly since he planned to leave tomorrow, called out to Isaac.

“Hmm?”

“Do you know what it means to go to the Malidan Barrier? That place is the very front line.”

“I know. It was initially thought to be just another beast den, but it turned out to be a ‘great den, right?”

A “beast den” was a place where magical beasts gathered. But a “great den” was a bit different.

When a den grows larger, and there’s a leader-type magical beast with intelligence guiding the colony, it’s called a ‘great den.’

“It’s not officially confirmed as a great den yet.”

‘Ah, right.’

So it’s still not confirmed at this point in time.

But Isaac already knew it was indeed a great den.

“And the problem isn’t the beasts. You know who guards the Malidan Barrier front line—the Caldias family.”

“Yeah, I know. And I know that the Helmut family is on very hostile terms with them too.”

They were like cats and dogs—Helmut and Caldias were known rivals.

Arandel’s greatest reason for not wanting to send his sons to the front line was precisely that. He’d be leaving a lone Helmut son stranded in a place dominated by their bitter enemy, the Caldias family.

“You can’t predict how they’ll treat you. Especially if you, Isaac, can’t even handle a sword properly—”

“Rihanna.”

A hollow laugh escaped his lips.

“Whatever Caldias does—”

A subtle contempt flashed in Isaac’s gaze as he looked through Rihanna.

“It’ll still be better than Helmut.”

Rihanna wanted to ask what he even knew about the Caldias family.

But she couldn’t speak. Isaac seemed as if he trusted Caldias more than Helmut.

Isaac started down the stairs again.

Hearing his footsteps fade, Rihanna mustered her courage once more.

“You’re leaving tomorrow, right?”

A sigh drifted in the air.

Rihanna’s heart sank at the sound, but Isaac stopped once more and answered.

“Yeah, I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“How about having dinner together tonight?”

“Dinner?”

“Yes, we were once… a married couple, after all.”

It was rare for Rihanna to initiate an invitation.

But—

“Sorry, I have plans for tonight.”

“It’s the last night.”

“Can’t be helped. I’ve already made prior arrangements.”

Isaac planned to eat the food prepared by the head chef and Milli tonight.

How awkward would it be if Rihanna were there?

“Then how about a drink?”

Today, Rihanna was unusually persistent.

A question posed at the cost of a bit of her pride.

“Haha, you know we can’t do that either.”

Isaac returned a gentle smile.

“…….”

“Let’s not make any mistakes, Rihanna. Save that champagne for your next husband.”

“Right now, you’re my husband.”

“I’m still your husband for ‘now’.”

“…….”

“Well then, if you’ll excuse me. I’m a bit busy.”

He needed to finish packing for his departure.

With that, Isaac continued down to the first floor.

****

Left alone in the office, Arandel Helmut’s closed his eyes and fell into thought.

The image of his son-in-law who had just spoken so boldly of divorce and extended their discussion into negotiations left a strong impression.

‘Is there a side of him I don’t know?’

The Isaac he knew was an ordinary man.

Handsome enough, a decent talker who managed to seduce his daughter—that’s all he’d thought of him.

But Isaac didn’t fit in at Helmut at all.

He was like a herbivore, timid and fearful, so Arandel never bothered to interfere with him.

‘What a surprise.’

They’d lived under the same roof for four years, yet he never knew Isaac had such a side to him.

Arandel would never have imagined Isaac to be the kind of man who could speak so boldly right before him.

It was rare for anyone not to shrink under Arandel’s presence.

“If only my children showed even half of what I just saw…”

Arandel let out a slight sigh, something uncharacteristic of him.

If his eldest son, Lohengrin, had shown even that much backbone, Arandel would have handed over the succession ages ago.

Recalling how his children lived constantly under his overwhelming aura always brought a sense of disappointment as his first thought.

Helmut was about conquering all and crushing those who stood in the way.

Even if it was their own father.

“I wish they would learn something from this.”

Never did he think he would tell his children to learn by watching their brother-in-law.

That alone raised Arandel’s estimation of Isaac and made him all the more intriguing.

“…….”

To be honest, at first he had assumed their divorce was part of Rihanna’s scheme.

Arandel had already decided that, even if Lohengrin was lacking in swordsmanship, he would pass down the helm of the household to his eldest son, Lohengrin in Sword Festival.

Thus, he had instructed his eldest daughter, Rihanna Helmut, to freely have children and assist in supporting the family, fulfilling her role in the background.

He’d thought that she was attempting to divorce because she disliked this plan.

He suspected she was looking for a chance to become head of the family herself.

“But that wasn’t the case.”

Instead, the trace of lingering regret that glistened in Rihanna’s eyes had been pitiful enough to trouble him as a father.

“Huu.”

That settled it.

Arandel decided he would no longer concern himself with Isaac and Rihanna.

In the end, his true interest lay only in the strong.

And since Isaac was not yet even on the level of a proper swordsman, that was that.

But still—

‘Interesting.’

For some reason, the image of his son-in-law confidently speaking out, despite not being a swordsman, lingered vividly in Arandel’s mind.

****

It was the evening.

“Was the meal to your liking?”

The head chef approached with a gentle smile and refilled Isaac’s cup with black tea.

The clean, subtle flavor provided a perfect finish to the meal.

“It was wonderful. Thank you for making my last night in Helmut so enchanting. It was so delicious I almost changed my mind about leaving.”

“Haha! If Isaac-nim stayed, we would be the ones who’d be grateful!”

He wasn’t just saying that. The head chef genuinely wished Isaac would remain. After all, no one else in the mansion had ever made him feel that his efforts in cooking were truly appreciated.

Not only as a head chef, but as a cook, Isaac made him feel proud of his craft. Isaac never hid his appreciation, showing that the chef’s hard work didn’t go to waste.

After spending years feeding owners who ate silently, only grunted about improvements or picky eating habits, it was inevitable he’d compare them to Isaac who expressed his delight so openly.

“If only we had been honest with each other from the start.”

Isaac also regretted it a little.

Only at the very end could he say such words to them.

“Isaac-nim.”

“Milli!”

The dark-skinned, same-aged cook approached, holding a tightly wrapped lunch box.

“I made a lunchbox of your favorite sandwiches. I’ve placed a preservation spell on it, so you can enjoy it tomorrow on your journey.”

“Milli, thank you so much.”

For Isaac, Milli was a savior figure carried over even from his previous life.

He desperately wanted to take her with him, but that was realistically impossible.

He’d miss her cooking for a long time.

“Milli, do you know why I like sandwiches?”

So Isaac asked something frivolous, a meaningless question just for the sake of it.

In his past life, when he left, all he saw in Milli’s eyes were pity and worry.

“Huh? Is there a particular reason you like them?”

“Because you can eat sandwiches while playing card games. That’s why I like ’em.”

“Pfft, what a silly reason.”

“……I like it.”

In this life, Milli was smiling as she said goodbye.

Isaac loved that.

He was glad he was no longer a source of worry for her.

That made him happier than anything.

“So when I make a lot of money playing card games, Milli, will you become my personal chef?”

“Huh?”

“My tongue is already a prisoner of your cooking. So I’ll come pick you up one day.”

Isaac grinned teasingly.

Milli responded with a bright smile.

“My salary is quite expensive, you know? I’m not staying in Helmut for nothing.”

“Come on, couldn’t you cut a friend a deal?”

“Nope.”

The conversation was easy and comfortable.

Isaac pulled out a drawing from his bag.

“Here, Milli. This is a gift for all the delicious food you’ve made for me and for listening to my stories.”

“You drew me? That’s amazing!”

“Wow, I never knew you had such talent!” said the head chef, also marveling at Isaac’s skill.

Originally, Isaac hadn’t possessed such skill at this point in his past life.

But back then, nicknamed “the Silent Sword” for the countless manuals he authored, he’d learned to draw because sometimes words weren’t enough to explain certain techniques.

Thanks to some natural talent, he quickly improved at illustration as well.

They exchanged the drawing and the lunchbox.

Feeling the comforting weight of Milli’s lunchbox, Isaac smiled softly.

“Thank you, Milli.”

“Thank you so much. Please be happy, Isaac-nim.”

“Sure, but let’s cut this out now. The head chef looks like he doesn’t know what to do with himself.”

The head chef, caught between them, scratched the back of his head with a flustered expression.

“I felt like I was witnessing some secret rendezvous.”

It was a dangerous remark, but since it was only the three of them, it didn’t matter.

“…….”

But suddenly, behind the head chef stood Rihanna Helmut.

Dressed in pajamas, she held a bottle of wine in her hand.

“Head Chef.”

“Ri-Rihanna-nim?!”

Startled, the head chef whirled around and upon seeing Rihanna, immediately prostrated himself.

“A-agh, Rihanna-nim! I spoke foolishly! I got carried away—!”

“Enough.”

She looked as though even hearing excuses annoyed her.

Glancing briefly at Milli, Rihanna spoke in a flat tone.

“Take everyone with you and leave.”

“Y-yes, understood!”

The head chef and the other cooks who had prepared the meal took their cue, nodding apologetically as they left.

The head chef had probably planned to prepare some liquor to finish off the evening, but now he only smacked his lips regretfully.

Thud.

Rihanna sat down beside Isaac and placed the wine bottle on the table.

Her cheeks were flushed, suggesting she’d already had a few drinks.

Isaac couldn’t recall the last time he saw her drunk—it must have been a distant memory.

“How many glasses did you have?”

He tried to take the bottle away, scolding her, but Rihanna, strong as she was, didn’t budge.

“I never wanted to show myself drunk in front of you.”

“…….”

Her gaze seemed to say, ‘Ask me why.’

But Isaac had no curiosity, so he did not ask.

“How did we end up like this?”

“You said you didn’t want to show me your drunken side. Then keep that resolve.”

“Isaac.”

“Enough, Rihanna.”

He let out a long sigh.

“It’s already over. Don’t do anything that looks like regret.”

Such actions were meaningless.

They wouldn’t stop him from walking out, nor would they instill any guilt.

Their relationship was already broken in so many ways.

“Don’t make excuses and just stay as you are. The Rihanna Helmut I remember is a woman who never regrets her actions.”

“…….”

“She was a woman I disliked.”

But still—

“At least she had her own convictions. I’d like to remember you that way.”

“…….”

Rihanna set down the bottle, slumped forward, resting her chin on her hand, and covered her eyes with the other.

After a pause—

“Isaac.”

In a low voice, doing her best to control her emotions, she said:

“Take care.”

It was her farewell.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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