LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 29 - Dinner
✦ Chapter 29 — Dinner ✦
「Translator – Creator」
᠃ ⚘᠂ ⚘ ⚘ ᠂ ⚘ ᠃
“Organize the areas where you feel I can improve and tell me tomorrow.”
As the sky dimmed into twilight, Shauren blinked bewilderedly at Isaac, who was adding his thoughts with a contemplative air.
“Me?”
“Yes, you did well earlier. What you said was quite helpful.”
“Oh, right… I did say that.”
Shauren’s response was hesitant, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. She felt uncomfortable since those words had actually come from Rianna, and now he was asking her to do it again.
“Do I really have to say it?”
“It would be nice if you could. Why? Does it seem difficult?”
“No, no! I can do it! Of course I can. I’ll break down everything about the sword you showed today, as thoroughly as picking apart fish bones!”
Isaac couldn’t help but smile at her gesture as she raised her clenched fists with childlike enthusiasm.
In truth, he wasn’t really expecting anything from Shauren herself. She was merely serving as a conduit to seek counsel from the woman beyond her.
‘It’s a bit awkward to face her directly, given the divorce.’
Even so, having Shauren act as a messenger was a convenient arrangement, and he intended to make use of it for as long as he could.
“By the way, Isaac, are you going to dinner? Want to go together?”
“I’ve been invited to dinner tonight. So I’m afraid I can’t join you.”
“Invited? Now? By whom?”
“The Margrave has summoned me.”
“Ulderan Caldias?! But why you?”
“I wonder too.”
Though his responses were casual, as if humoring a child, Isaac was quite puzzled himself. Usually, he would have thought nothing of it, but they were currently in the midst of war, with the grand demon beast nest advancing.
A dinner invitation at such a time — it couldn’t be a pleasant occasion.
“Hey, Isaac, do you… do you have any thoughts about remarrying?”
“…………..”
Shauren’s sudden question caught Isaac off guard, making him pause in silence. He felt a surge of caution, sensing that saying the wrong thing impulsively could lead to trouble.
After taking a breath, he replied with composure:
“I don’t.”
“Really?”
“No, I really don’t. But why are you asking? That doesn’t seem like something you need to worry about.”
“I-I just wanted to confirm! I was worried you might become Caldias’ son-in-law or something!”
“Shauren,” Isaac sighed, speaking firmly now. “Let me make one thing clear since you seem to misunderstand something.”
“Hm?”
He needed to explain to this tomboy, who knew nothing except wielding a sword, that things here were different from the manor.
“Don’t say such strange things outside. Rianna and I are still married.”
To drive the point home, Isaac raised his left hand, showing her the ring still firmly on his fourth finger.
“You see this, don’t you?? Talking about divorce or remarrying with Caldias – saying such things outside is extremely dangerous.”
“…………..”
“What if someone overhears? Do you even realize how many nobles from different families are gathered here?”
“I-I know.”
“How many, then?”
“…I don’t know.”
“Then you don’t really know, do you?”
Shauren, gazing blankly up at Isaac, found herself nodding without thinking.
“I… guess not.”
As she tilted her head, feeling somewhat cornered in the conversation, Isaac pressed on before she could collect her thoughts.
“That’s why you need to watch your words, whether you’re awake or asleep. I will be leaving Helmund in a month, but you? You’re staying here, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I am.”
Shauren nodded again, but then suddenly perked up, tilting her head to ask, “Wait, are you worried about me?”
“What kind of ridiculous—haah. Forget it. Think whatever you want.”
Conversations with young ones at this hour could veer in any direction. Isaac finally gave up trying to make sense of it and decided to head to his dinner engagement.
🎕
“…………….”
Having been invited to Caldias’ dinner once before, Isaac hadn’t thought much of it. After spending considerable time together, he’d assumed there was no need for formality or unease.
“Please, help yourself.”
But the unexpected presence of a certain lady at the table left Isaac somewhat disconcerted.
Her name was Selene Caldias.
Ulderan’s wife and Silverna’s mother.
With her flowing white hair, beauty unbowed by middle age, and generous figure — it was clear where Silverna had inherited much of her appearance from.
“Thank you for having me,” Isaac said courteously.
The meal itself was modestly arranged. For an invitation, it was rather simple – not much different from what was served in the soldiers’ mess hall.
“Disappointed there’s no grand feast?” Ulderan asked with a mischievous grin, holding his fork casually.
“I would have been disappointed if it had been a feast.”
Isaac replied with a gentle smile, and Ulderan nodded with a knowing grin. Even as Margrave, indulging in luxurious meals alone during wartime would have been unlike the Caldias he knew.
“……………….”
“My, Silverna. Aren’t you focusing too much on your food when we have a guest?”
Silverna, who had been shoveling food into her mouth while staring down at her plate, flinched at her mother’s words.
After hastily washing down her mouthful with water, she responded:
“I-I was just hungry.”
“Still, he’s one of your unit members.”
“……………”
Avoiding Isaac’s gaze, Silverna hesitated for a moment before stealing a shy glance in his direction. Her cheeks flushed a deep red as she finally spoke, her voice awkward and tentative.
“You. I told you to cut your hair, didn’t I?”
“Were you serious?”
“O-Of course I was.”
“I’ll cut it later. The northern barbers all seem intent on turning me into some kind of barbarian warrior.”
“That’s because you look so delicate.”
Surprisingly, the conversation between the two flowed smoothly, even to Silverna’s own amazement. She had kept her distance, knowing her own heart and the need to abandon her growing affection – now it seemed perhaps she had been overly dramatic about it all.
“Should I cut it for you?”
“Do you even know how to cut hair?”
“How hard could it be? I’ve taken off plenty of monster heads.”
“…………….”
“Would it be alright if I used a spear instead of scissors?”
Into their playful exchange, Ulderan interjected.
“Isaac Helmund, Antonio suddenly came to see me today.”
“…Antonio, m’lord.”
It perfectly matched what he had suspected was the most likely reason for this dinner invitation.
“He said he wanted to forge a sword from Frostsilver. And not just for anyone—specifically for you.”
While inwardly cursing Antonio’s tactlessness, Isaac decided it was perhaps fortunate that he had broached this sensitive topic. After all, Isaac’s position made it uncomfortable for him to even mention Frostsilver.
“It seems I’ve ignited his craftsman’s spirit. If he said anything discourteous to you, Margrave, I offer my apologies in his stead.”
“Offended? Oh, he definitely caused a scene. The man barged into my office and demanded it outright, shouting like a madman.”
“Oh my, really?”
This crazy blacksmith.
Isaac felt a cold sweat trickling down his back. Yet, the Caldias family didn’t seem particularly upset about the incident.
“It wouldn’t be the first time.”
According to Silverna, this had apparently happened several times before.
Ulddran merely gulped down his beer and nodded with a hearty laugh.
“But this time was different. Usually, he demands it for his own work, but this time he wanted it to make a sword for you… Isaac.”
“………..”
“What did he say again? Ah yes, the greatest blade ever forged by the hands of gods was Helmund. But this time, he wants to surpass even that—he wants to prove himself.”
Beneath the table, Isaac’s hand clenched into a fist.
“He seems to believe that the slender blade he’ll craft for you could surpass Helmund itself.”
Isaac didn’t respond, neither denying nor affirming. He simply bore the weight of the expectations piling upon him.
“Isaac Helmund.”
Ulderan slowly released his grip on his beer mug.
His expression shifted, the hints of intoxication vanishing from his eyes.
“Naturally, I cannot give you the Frostsilver.”
“………….”
“This isn’t because you’re a Helmund. I want there to be no misunderstanding about that.”
“Yes, I understand. I apologize for causing unnecessary concern.”
Ulderan said no more, simply taking another sip of his beer and wetting his lips in silence.
“Why does Isaac, a Helmund, have to surpass Helmund?”
It was Selene who naturally cut into the conversation, her question breaking the odd tension in the air at just the right moment.
“Well, it’s a sort of personal resolution,” Isaac answered with an awkward smile, trying to gloss over the matter. He couldn’t openly discuss the divorce, but before he could smoothly change the subject, Ulderan cut in.
“It’s because of the Sword Festival.”
“The Sword Festival?”
Both mother and daughter turned their attention to him, curious. Ulderan’s lips curled into a subtle smile as he began explaining, like a man recounting an old tale.
“It’s a Helmund event that occurs every four years. They invite nobles from across the kingdom, and the direct Helmund line members engage in combat.”
Ulderan’s smile turned crafty.
“Outside nobles can participate too, but most don’t bother. They’d just end up crushed by the Helmunds anyway.”
“What about you?”
“Me?”
Ulderan showed an embarrassed smile.
“I participated once, about twenty years ago. Lost to Arandel. It was a close one.”
“Then Isaac-“
Silverna’s gaze fell upon Isaac.
“Though I’m just a son-in-law by marriage, I’m still the husband. So I’ll be participating instead of Rianna, the actual family member.”
At Isaac’s sheepish response, Silverna’s eyes widened.
“So that’s why you’ve been sparring with Shauren so much lately?”
“You could say that.”
In truth, it wasn’t just about the Sword Festival. The festival was merely a stepping stone. Isaac wanted to become a swordmaster, and opportunities to spar with Helmunds were rare, so he was simply making the most of it. Especially since after the divorce in a month, sparring would become nothing more than a distant dream.
‘I’m just squeezing out whatever I can get now.’
He was relieved they had interpreted it favorably, but then-
“How romantic,” Selene said with a gentle smile.
“Pardon?”
His startled response burst out involuntarily, but Selene seemed to take it as an attempt to hide his embarrassment.
“You’re participating in her place, so you must be working hard not to bring shame to your wife’s name, right?”
‘Not really.’
His lips curved into an awkward smile as he forced out the painful words.
“Y-yes, that’s right.”
“Ah, how lovely. I wish my husband had such romance in him. A man shouldn’t just be dependable, you know? There needs to be some romance.”
“Ahem!”
Ulderan cleared his throat loudly, the awkwardness thick in the air. “Maybe I’ll go get some fresh air,” he muttered before quickly excusing himself, effectively fleeing the scene.
With him gone, the atmosphere seemed to lighten, and Selene adjusted her posture, her eyes sparkling with renewed interest.
“Isaac, if you don’t mind, could you share some romantic stories about you and your wife? Everyone here is just so… rigid.”
“Mother?!”
“Ha, haha…”
Though Silverna tried to intervene, Selene silenced her with a gentle tilt of her chin.
“You need to hear these things too. You’re too much like your father, showing no interest in such matters.”
Silverna, unable to stop her mother’s unabashed chatter, buried her face in her hands, her head hung low in defeat.
“What was your first meeting like?”
“Our first meeting…”
Perhaps swept away by the moment’s momentum, Isaac found himself murmuring.
Four years of marriage.
Wed after a year of knowing each other, making it five years by count.
But if he included his past life…
Though it spanned roughly fifteen years…
“On a day when warm sunlight-“
Remarkably.
“Had painted the river golden.”
The memory of that day remained crystalline.
“Beautiful yet thorned – how fitting was the name ‘Rose’ for her.”
Before his eyes now,
The image of Rianna from their first meeting bloomed fresh in his mind.
[I want to cross the river.]
There hadn’t even been a greeting. Her tone had been blunt, almost lifeless.
‘One silver coin will do.’
[I don’t have any now.]
‘That’s unfortunate. I need silver to row the oars.’
[…I’ll pay you later.]
‘What guarantee do I have? Will you offer collateral?’
[All I have is my sword.]
‘That looks rather heavy, though.’
[………….]
Her expression remained flat as she stared at him, unflinching. Perhaps it was that unwavering gaze that made him want to tease her just a bit.
‘How about a smile? I’ll count that as collateral.’
That day, Isaac had been feeling particularly good—he’d won quite a bit at cards earlier. So much so that he was willing to accept something as ridiculous as a smile as payment.
[Are you joking?]
‘If you’d rather not, I suppose I’ll just go take a nap.’
[…Wait.]
Letting out a resigned sigh, the rose-like woman awkwardly raised the corners of her lips, but —
‘Is that what you call a smile?’
[If this isn’t enough, then I don’t know what else to offer.]
‘Ah, then perhaps you could make me smile instead?’
Back then, her naiveté had piqued his interest; though in truth, she could have simply drawn her greatsword and held it to his neck.
[Once upon a time-]
She’d wracked her brain, cobbling together a tale.
‘That was terribly boring.’
It truly was dreadful.
Enough to make the atmosphere turn awkward.
[……..]
Rianna pressed her lips tightly together, biting them in frustration. Her pale cheeks turned crimson—whether from the sun or sheer humiliation, he couldn’t tell.
But there was something irresistibly charming about the sight.
‘Hahah!’
And before he knew it, he had lost their bet.
[You just laughed.]
‘Ah, so I did.’
Even in that moment of defeat, it hadn’t bothered him. He rowed the boat across the river anyway.
As they drifted along in the small boat, her hand propped up her chin as she let the river breeze caress her face. Her once-tense expression had softened into something almost serene.
Surely, that’s what he had thought back then.
He simply wanted to make her smile.
“Looking back now, I think I fell for her from that very first meeting.”
A smile unconsciously formed on Isaac’s lips as he awkwardly concluded his tale.
“Well, whatever it is now-“
Back then, surely.
He must have been in love.
🎕
After Isaac’s departure.
Selene came to Silverna’s room.
“Mother?”
As Silverna prepared for bed, a complex mix of emotions lingered on her face.
Tonight, Isaac’s story had made her heart flutter more than expected.
Yet it had also pierced her heart deeper than she could have imagined.
“I heard you’ve fallen into a love that shouldn’t be.”
“Anna told you, didn’t she?”
“I tried to help you come to your senses… but it seems I’ve unintentionally wounded you deeply instead.”
A comforting smile graced Selene’s lips.
Silverna’s eyes widened, but she gently shook her head.
“No, I think I can come to terms with it now.”
“It was a much more passionate story than I’d anticipated. It surprised me… but I couldn’t help feeling a bit envious, too.”
Selene murmured about romance.
Silverna shared the same thought.
She had wondered how someone could marry a woman like Rianna.
But after hearing Isaac’s story, their marriage seemed almost inevitable.
Selene moved closer, wrapping Silverna in a tender embrace.
“Silverna, everyone experiences the pain of love. This experience will surely lead you to a better love.”
“Mother…”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, I should be the one apologizing.”
She held her daughter even tighter as she confessed to loving a man who could never be hers.
“Silverna.”
“It’s okay. I’ve learned from this. The next time I meet someone who feels like destiny, I won’t let the chance slip away. This time… I was simply too late.”
Selene smiled softly at her daughter’s words.
She, too, had been like that once—unyielding and bold in her pursuit of Ulderan Caldias. She had thrown caution to the wind, determined to capture his heart.
“Yes, you’re my daughter. I know you’ll do wonderfully.”
She continued to hold Silverna, offering her comfort and strength.
Her daughter truly was strong, she thought to herself.
And yet, a fleeting thought crossed her mind.
‘………….’
[Well.]
Isaac’s final words.
[Whatever it is now.]
Nagged strangely at Selene’s mind.
END of CHAPTER
☩
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