What is an interrogation?
Isn’t it generally etched into people’s minds as an act of investigating, pressing, and probing to uncover the facts?
Silverna ca in expecting just that.
But instead, there was a candle warmly lighting the room, a sturdy wooden table carrying the scent of a cool breeze, so simple snacks and bottles of liquor piled on top—
And finally, a scattered ss of worn-out playing cards.
“…….”
“…….”
Confronted with an interrogation scene that went far beyond her ordinary sense of things, Silverna clamped her mouth shut and stared.
Uldiran, the main culprit behind this situation, cleared his throat for no apparent reason and called it a night.
“All right, I suppose that’s enough fun.”
The others also began tidying up the cards, but Isaac wasn’t your average card player.
He gathered the cards and perford an impressively neat shuffle, looking every bit like a professional gambler.
“Ah, force of habit.”
He brushed it off with a mischievous grin, calling it “just a habit,” then handed the deck back toUldiran.
During his days as a boatman, one of Isaac’s main sources of inco had been card gas.
Local farrs, passing travelers, other boatn—he’d gather them all together for quick card gas at the slightest opportunity.
“Are you done with what needed to be done?”
At that questioning look, Uldiran cleared his throat again and stood up.
“If you’re curious, read the investigation report. It’s all there.”
The investigation report he handed over was written in elegantly clear handwriting.
The mont Silverna recognized it as Isaac’s handwriting, she set the report down in disbelief.
“Is there really such a thing as having a witness write their own investigation report?”
“Ah, my lady.”
Anna, who was standing behind her, quietly called out to Silverna.
No matter how close she is to him, there’s a limit to how much you can pester a Margrave in front of outsiders.
“…….”
With Silverna clamping her mouth shut and reading the report again, Uldiran stood up and made his ruling regarding the two.
“Both of them are cleared of all charges. However, for this large-scale operation, keep them under your supervision so they can devote their service to the kingdom.”
“Huh? I get that with Isaac, but even Rihanna Helmut?”
“She seems too valuable a force to waste, no?”
“…….”
When Silverna couldn’t answer, Uldiran simply left.
From the looks of the report, it seed he’d already done what was necessary and was on his way.
“Isaac… The person who raised you when you were young was a Transcendent?”
Silverna looked at him with wide, surprised eyes.
“Yeah.”
“…….”
Judging by his short answer, he didn’t seem inclined to say more.
“So you know about the Transcendents and rituals?”
“Right.”
“…That explanation feels awfully insincere.”
“But the Margrave accepted it.”
“Isn’t it said that Transcendents kill humans without exception?”
“It was half-human.”
Silverna looked unconvinced, but Isaac did have soone backing him up.
“I’ve heard about it for a long ti too.”
Rihanna Helmut raised her hand and added,
“Isaac was taught by so remarkable master when he was young. That’s why he knows all sorts of things.”
“…….”
As the married couple sat there staring up at her, Silverna felt a lingering discomfort.
“You said you learned to drink from them too, right?”
“Yeah, when I was really little.”
“Was it beer?”
“Wine.”
“Right, wine.”
They nodded and then looked back at Silverna.
‘Why do I feel like these two are lying?’
It certainly felt like a lie.
But with both of them speaking in unison, she couldn’t quite call it out.
“This is like watching a married con artist duo.”
Anna’s words perfectly hit on what Silverna was itching to say.
But the Margrave had already handed down his verdict, and there was nothing she could do but abide by it.
****
Stepping out of the interrogation room.
A hallway in the castle brimming with a chill in the air.
Walking along the path lit by the lanterns on the wall was Isaac.
‘That surprised .’
Honestly, Isaac felt confused.
‘I never imagined she would go along with the lie so smoothly.’
He was startled at how naturally she chid in on his lie, even adding details of her own.
Surely, Rihanna must have so questions about Isaac.
For example, his deanor—
and his diverse knowledge about swords, among other things.
But because she didn’t let it bother her and played along, they managed to move on without issue.
“Earlier… that was a lie, wasn’t it?”
Behind Isaac—who was walking with a clear destination in mind—ca the voice of Silverna.
She had been following him for a while, and at so point, Anna had vanished.
Isaac abruptly halted and turned around to face Silverna.
“Is this the interrogation room now?”
“I’m not interrogating you. And I’m not picking a fight.”
“Then why are you asking?”
“You could at least tell the truth.”
It felt more like a plea, and it made Isaac’s expression stiffen.
“What do you want to be honest about?”
“We’re comrades, aren’t we? We fight together, risking our lives.”
“Just because we’re comrades doesn’t an we share everything.”
Even married couples keep secrets from each other sotis.
At Isaac’s cold reply, Silverna pressed her lips together.
“The Margrave trusts . You should do the sa.”
“That’s because the large-scale operation is urgent right now. Even if there’s sothing fishy in your story, he still wants you both as part of his forces.”
“…….”
Silverna had hit the nail on the head.
Isaac took a breath and countered.
“In any case, he made his choice.”
“So that’s how you want to play it?”
Silverna took a deliberate step closer, her prominently curved chest nearly brushing against Isaac’s.
“Silverna, knock it off.”
“What?”
Finally, Isaac lost patience and issued a sharp warning.
“I know you northerners have a special bond. But like I said, we don’t share everything with each other.”
“…….”
“You have secrets, and so do I. I just need you to trust that mine won’t hurt anyone.”
With that, Isaac turned and continued down the corridor.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
Right on the third step—
“I—”
Silverna’s voice cut through the silence, aid straight at his back.
“I have feelings for you.”
“…….”
It was definitely inside the castle, yet Isaac felt as if a harsh wind were suddenly blowing.
His feet froze in place.
He slowly turned his head, and there was Silverna, arms folded, nodding at him.
“So… how about that? No more secrets now.”
Silverna pointed at him with her cheeks burning red, and Isaac let out a hollow laugh—amusent born of sheer disbelief.
Isaac stepped back over to Silverna and reached out, slowly fastening the open button of her shirt.
“Try dressing more appropriately. You’re a grown woman, you know…”
“Now tell your secret. We should exchange, right?”
The water was already spilled. Silverna pressed on boldly, but Isaac just shook his head casually.
“That’s not really a secret.”
“Huh?”
“I already knew.”
“Wha—what…?”
This ti, the tables were turned.
Silverna stiffened, and her face gradually turned red as a beet.
She opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water, flailing her arms.
“Y-you knew? How? Since when?”
“It’s been a while.”
Even Anna, the aide, had co to Isaac asking him to keep so distance,
since it involved Helmut and Caldias.
“Ah, wha—?! H-hold on!”
Silverna, flustered, turned her back.
Her cheeks felt so hot that she might as well have used them for a blacksmith’s forge.
“But Silverna—”
“Wait! D-don’t talk to right now!”
“…….”
Isaac decided to wait a mont, watching Silverna crouch and mutter to herself, shoulders twitching as she tried to collect her thoughts.
“Hah!”
Silverna turned back to face Isaac.
“Oh, jeez.”
Yet the mont their eyes t, her embarrassnt surged once more. She covered her mouth and staggered back.
“First of all, let’s be clear: I’m a married man.”
“Haha.”
“…Did you just laugh?”
“No, nope. Wasn’t laughing.”
What’s up with that?
She was covering her mouth, but she sure seed like she was laughing a bit.
‘ No way she has a thing for married n… right?’
‘ Did she actually like hearing that?’
In any case, Isaac continued.
“I’m married. So I don’t really owe you an answer, do I?”
“…….”
Silverna folded her arms and glared at Isaac. Her face was still bright red, but she seed to have given up trying to hide it.
“What’s with that look?”
“This is kind of unfair. I was honest about my feelings.”
“And I was honest, too. I can’t accept them.”
“Sure, that’s what you have to say from your standpoint.”
Silverna was a natural genius: teach her one thing, she’d figure out ten more.
“Of course a married man can’t accept. I’m not so bullheaded as to force it.”
Anna’s advice—that this was a heaven-sent opportunity—sparked a flash of insight in that brilliant mind of hers.
“Put everything else aside for a second and just tell personally how you feel.”
“Does that matter?”
“Show a little sympathy, will you? It’s the first ti a guy has ever made my heart race. At least give a decent sense of closure.”
“…….”
Isaac, who knew all too well the significance of a first love’s closure, hesitated before speaking the truth.
“Fine. You’re a very attractive woman. It’s flattering you’d even consider .”
“If Rihanna weren’t in the picture…”
“…….”
“Would you have chosen instead?”
The seriousness on Silverna’s face as she placed a hand over her heart was so earnest that Isaac found himself nodding without aning to.
“Y-yeah. Probably. But what does that matter now? I’m married.”
“Hehe.”
‘ Was that a laugh again just now?’
Isaac was about to ask, bewildered, but Silverna simply nodded emphatically and bead.
“Thanks, Isaac.”
“...Hey, Silverna.”
Feeling a sudden wave of anxiety, Isaac asked carefully,
“Is there sothing you know?”
“Huh?”
“I an… I get the feeling you’re hiding sothing.”
Like crossing a precarious bridge, Isaac proceeded cautiously, and Silverna answered with a playful grin,
“Even comrades keep secrets from each other, Isaac.”
*****
Silverna stepped outside, her strides visibly lighter.
Isaac remained in the castle for so errand, but Silverna was eager to see Anna and share the day’s good news.
Then—
A red-haired woman stood idly at the entrance.
Her gaze was fixed on Silverna.
‘So the Helmut line really does have sharp ears…’
Sharen hadn’t been lying, it seed.
Just from her aura alone, you could tell she already knew everything.
Without slowing her pace, Silverna strode right past Rihanna, making a bold declaration.
“I won’t apologize or feel guilty about it.”
“…….”
“You’re the one who missed your chance.”
Watching Silverna leave, Rihanna stayed silent, her lips pressed tight.
No—she couldn’t speak.
What could she possibly do at this point?
The responsibility for her choices.
Regardless of the reasons, she had kept silent at the estate.
And so here too—
She could only remain silent.
Because that was surely what Isaac wanted.
– – – The End of The Chapter – – –
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