Chapter 51: Leaving the North

 

Clunk.

 

Galenia opened the door and stepped into the study. She was the only person in this household who could enter Arandel’s office without knocking.

 

Arandel stood silently with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing out the window. What lay at the end of his line of sight were the street stalls set up by a procession from a nearby village.

 

Even though there had been two corpses here just moments ago, the servants must have worked hard to clear them away, for the interior now wafted with a thick scent of roses.

 

Galenia softly tread across the carpet and approached. Standing behind Arandel, she spoke with a quiet laugh.

 

“Rihanna has grown so much more than I expected.”

 

“…….”

 

He said nothing in return, but the greatsword resting on his desk—a weapon he had just used—was already an answer in itself.

 

Though her skills were still hardly comparable to Arandel’s, the fact that she had managed to put a scratch on his greatsword spoke volumes about how far she had come.

 

“I heard you’ve decided on Lohengrin as your successor. Do you still have no intention of changing your mind?”

 

“…….”

 

“I know why you chose Lohengrin as your heir. It’s because of the whole succession issue after Rihanna, right? But Rihanna has already broken off her marriage with Isaac.”

 

“…….”

 

“All you need to do now is find her a different match. Someone suitable for our family, so she can have the right child.”

 

Galenia’s voice grew hurried. The reason was her unease. Her eyes were filled with both fear and anxiety, and she desperately hoped Arandel would give her the answer she wanted.

 

“Make Rihanna the head of the family. And… and then…”

 

She cautiously reached for Arandel’s hand. The moment her fingers touched his thick hand, still clasped behind his back, her cheeks flushed red.

 

“Let’s leave.”

 

“…….”

 

“If Rihanna becomes head of the family, then you won’t have to worry about Helmut. After all, the commoner son-in-law—our biggest blemish—has already decided to leave.”

 

Now her voice was tinged with tears. Gripping his hand tightly, she pleaded urgently.

 

“Is it because of the Sword Festival? Rihanna is married, so she can’t participate. But what does it matter? The Sword Festival is just a celebration! And the announcement of the successor is entirely up to you anyway!”

 

She covered both of Arandel’s hands with hers. Her trembling hands conveyed both her desperation and warmth.

 

“If Lohengrin becomes head of the family, could you leave the mansion? You couldn’t, could you?! Because it wouldn’t be the ‘great Helmut’ you envisioned!”

 

So—

 

“Please, make Rihanna the head of the family.”

 

Leaning her forehead against his back, Galenia pleaded through tears.

 

“You have to stay alive, first and foremost.”

 

“…….”

 

“Let Rihanna take over, and come with me. There must be a way to save you. They say those people use mysterious powers and excel at medicine.”

 

Arandel took a short, measured breath. Finally, he turned to look down at his wife.

 

“Will you? Please? I’m begging you.”

 

His wife implored him, yet Arandel responded in his usual calm manner.

 

“Did you really think such people could save me?”

 

“They can! I saw it myself at Blackthorn! They’re… they’re something beyond human! They use rituals, not magic!”

 

“How do you know them?”

 

“You have nothing to worry about. I never told them about your condition. They don’t even know we need them.”

 

On the contrary, Galenia had orchestrated a situation in which the Transcendants found themselves wanting Arandel.

 

“Let’s go. Once the Sword Festival ends… let’s leave on the Helmut carriage. We’ll see flowers, the moon, take walks like we’re on a picnic… we can live like that—.”

 

Galenia smiled faintly, as if picturing that day.

 

“We can become Transcendants. Their rituals are different from magic, so I’m sure it can cure your illness.”

 

Although he had killed the two who came as envoys, it would only serve as a striking show of Arandel’s might. Realizing just how valuable he was, the Transcendants would all the more want to bring him into their fold.

 

Arandel listened and could guess everything Galenia had prepared in advance. He wondered how much she had been involved, or how many years she had spent putting this all together.

 

He felt momentarily distant from it all, but—

 

“I refuse.”

 

In a single instant, his reply demolished all of Galenia’s carefully laid plans.

 

* * *

 

Thud, thud!

 

Thud, thud!

 

From the very sound of her footsteps, one could sense the unusual tension filling the mansion. Galenia had reddened eyes, but she paid it no mind.

 

The servants she passed immediately bowed their heads and watched her warily as soon as she walked by.

 

For the household staff, the fact that Galenia—who was normally gentle and kind—seemed agitated was akin to a state of emergency.

 

Those who crossed paths with Galenia quickly relayed the situation to the other servants, warning them to tread carefully.

 

Exiting the mansion, Galenia followed the smell of sweat drifting among the blooming roses. There she found Lohengrin, swinging his greatsword.

 

“Mother?”

 

Lohengrin set down his sword and wiped away his sweat. Watching Rihanna and Arandel had pushed him to train harder than usual.

 

“Is something wrong, Mother? Your eyes—”

 

“My son.”

 

Galenia fixed her gaze on Lohengrin, clenching her fists.

 

“You know I love you, right?”

 

“Mother?”

 

“No matter what, become the head of this family.”

 

Lohengrin unconsciously tensed at the intensity in her words—he had never heard her speak so firmly before.

 

“Become the family head. By any means necessary.”

 

“Mother, in truth—”

 

“I know what worries you. It’s Rihanna, isn’t it? You’re concerned about her real abilities.”

 

Lohengrin fell silent. Even before Rihanna left, he had suffered a crushing defeat. And after she returned, seeing her cross swords with Arandel only eroded his confidence further.

 

“It’s all right. You can do this. Use any means you must. You are the true heir. You must become the head of Helmut.”

 

“Mother…!”

 

Lohengrin looked at Galenia with an overwhelmed expression. Gripping his fists, he nodded.

 

“I will become the head of this family, no matter what it takes. I’ll make you proud, Mother.”

 

As he vowed to do anything to become the family head, a single face naturally rose in Lohengrin’s mind.

 

The man who could be called Rihanna’s weakness.

 

“My son…”

 

Galenia embraced Lohengrin tearfully. Even though he was drenched in sweat, she didn’t seem to care in the least.

 

“Oh, my son.”

 

She stroked his hair, her next words as pained as if she were slicing off her own arm.

 

“I really do love you.”

 

But if asked whom she loved more—

 

She would answer Arandel.

 

“Hold on to that desperation.”

 

So fight Rihanna with all your strength—

 

And be broken for good.

 

So thoroughly that you can never become the family head.

 

Ruin yourself, completely.

 

*****

 

Blub blurp blup blup-

 

In Helmut’s kitchen, Milli was tending a large pot, diligently boiling a stock. She stirred it with a wooden spatula.

 

But it was no ordinary stock. She had gathered only the most expensive and high-quality parts—oxtail, knee bones, rib bones—and added medicinal herbs wrapped in a mesh bag to brew them all together.

 

“Hehe.”

 

She was preparing the finest meal for him when he returned from the North. It must have been cold there, so Milli planned to welcome him with a warm stew, carefully concocted to offer the richest flavor.

 

She had already arranged for the best cuts of meat, planning to receive them fresh on the day she made the stew, ensuring only the freshest ingredients for his meal.

 

“Whew, you’re working hard. I’m heading out first.”

 

“Yes, Chef. You worked hard today.”

 

Late at night, everyone else left the kitchen, but Milli kept stirring the spatula. Worried even a single drop of her sweat might drip in, she wiped her forehead with a towel and stayed focused.

 

Creak.

 

The door opened quietly.

 

“Did you leave something be—”

 

Milli, thinking the head chef had returned, froze as she recognized who had come in.

 

“M-Milady Galenia.”

 

She hastily set down the spatula and bowed to greet her. Naturally, Milli had heard the rumors that Galenia was in a foul mood tonight.

 

Perhaps that was why—

 

Milli couldn’t even lift her head, anxiety knotting her stomach.

 

Thud.

 

A small, purple pouch dropped onto the kitchen floor.

 

Small enough to be held in one hand.

 

Milli’s eyes flew open, and she hastily looked up. She knew exactly what this was.

 

“……!”

 

“If I give you the signal, put this into Isaac’s food,” said Galenia.

 

“My lady, that’s—!”

 

“You must do it. It’s the only way to control Rihanna.”

 

“But—”

 

“You talk too much.”

 

Galenia silenced her with a vicious glare that brimmed with murderous intent.

 

“If you get kicked out of here, who’s going to take care of your family?”

 

“……!”

 

Milli’s entire body trembled. Fear and dread loomed over her as she swallowed hard. Her family’s faces flickered through her mind.

 

“It’ll be fine. You have nothing to worry about.”

 

Having already seized Milli’s heart, Galenia offered her a snake-like smile of reassurance.

 

“You’ve done it once before, haven’t you?”

 

Thud, thud.

 

Thud, thud

 

Galenia walked off, her footsteps echoing in the corridor.

 

Left alone, Milli squeezed her eyes shut.

 

She could still hear the screams from four years ago ringing painfully in her ears.

 

[−!Isaac! Isaac-!]

 

She never imagined that a woman could shed so many tears. In those eyes—red as blood—ruby-like drops fell relentlessly. The sound of her voice, tearing at her throat, was a desperate plea for him to regain consciousness.

 

[Save him! Why! Why on earth are you doing this!]

 

She must have repeated those words countless times. And each time, the doctors and mages offered the same reply:

 

[ W-we’re not certain. If you look at the symptoms alone, they hardly differ from a cold, but something is… strange. ]

 

[ Magic isn’t working either. In truth, magic is best for external injuries— ]

 

[Isaac-!]

 

Those anguished screams. That desperate cry, shredding her throat.

 

And then—

 

Milli herself had made it happen.

 

****

 

“Achoo!”

 

“What’s that, a cold?”

 

Isaac sniffled and shook his head.

 

“No, I don’t think so. My nose just suddenly felt itchy.”

 

“Take care of yourself. We’re leaving soon, and if you go there sniffling, people in the North will think everyone down here always has a cold.”

 

Silverna’s remark drew a smirk from Isaac.

 

A cold, huh?

 

‘Come to think of it, I was constantly being told to be careful.’

 

[Be careful not to catch a cold!]

 

[Be careful?]

 

[N-no! I mean—take care of yourself!]

 

Even through Sharen, Rihanna had sent him warm tea and towels, telling him to guard against the cold.

 

[Don’t catch a cold, Isaac.]

 

Before he left for the North, Rihanna had reminded him one last time to watch out for colds.

 

‘If after all that I still come down with a cold, I really won’t have an excuse.’

 

He rubbed his hands together and eyed the carriage—the same one they’d arrived in—where Jonathan was busy loading up baggage.

 

“No need for a long, dramatic farewell, right?” he said to Silverna, who was standing beside him. She responded by giving him a hearty slap on the back and a nod.

 

“Sure, I’ll join you soon enough anyway.”

 

They’d be meeting again at the Sword Festival, so there was no point in a lengthy send-off.

 

“Isaac, we’re ready to leave!” came the call.

 

“All right, let’s go.”

 

As Isaac took a step toward the carriage, a round of cheers erupted behind him.

 

“You’ve worked hard, Isaac-nim!”

 

“We’ll never forget that day!”

 

“Come visit us anytime, Isaac-nim! You’re always welcome here!”

 

“Next time you come, I’ll show you some spear work that’ll blow your mind!”

 

It was a rousing send-off from the soldiers of Malidan. Off to the side, Seleny pinched Uldiran’s side, as he gave Isaac a tense look that seemed to say, “Hurry up and go already.”

 

And at the very front—

 

“Take care, Isaac!”

 

Silverna, smiling brightly, waved her hand.

 

Receiving their lively send-off, Isaac set off once again for Helmut.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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