The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Household Wants A Divorce-Chapter 4: A Face That Should Be Hidden

The two people who came out of the family head’s office wore contrasting expressions.

While Isaac had a faint smile, Rianna’s face was completely stiff.

Isaac noticed this but he deliberately didn’t acknowledge it.

I’m glad the conversation went well.

His talk with Arandel had gone smoothly.

He was even arranged to receive separate financial and material support before he leaves tomorrow.

Seeing how substantial the amount was, he could consider it as hush money so that he wouldn’t blow the details of the divorce out of proportion.

My excitement makes me feel a little childish.

The fact that he was boldly stepping forward rather than fleeing in fear like in his previous life made Isaac’s heart flutter.

It was said that he liked bold people more, even if they were rude. That turned out to be true.

Him reading Arandel Helmont’s autobiography and will back in his previous life was of great help in today’s talk.

He could pat himself in the back for believing that autobiography. After all, that was where he got to know of Arandel’s character of not speaking nonsense.

Getting divorced feels good.

The miracle of separation.

A symbol of freedom.

It even came with a plentiful settlement.

Someone once said...

You’d only realize the value of something after you’ve lost it.

And indeed, he had only realized how precious bachelorhood was after getting married.

With that in mind, he was ready for another redo.

A redo to his bachelorhood, that was.

“Isaac.”

Rianna called out to Isaac, who was quickly descending the stairs, whose mind was occupied with the thoughts of him leaving this place tomorrow.

“Hm?”

“Do you know what it means to go to Malidean? That place is the frontline.”

“I know. That’s the place that they thought to be an ordinary Demonic Beast Colony, but it turned out to be a Great Colony, right?”

A Demonic Beast Colony was a place where Demonic Beasts gathered, but a Great Colony was different.

It was larger than a normal hive, and it housed Boss-Level Demonic Beasts with intelligence.

“That hasn’t been confirmed yet.”

Ah, that so?

I see, so they haven’t confirmed it at this point in time.

Well, it is actually a Great Colony, though.

“The problem here isn’t the Demonic Beasts. You know that the Cardias Family guards the Malidean Front, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. I also know that their relationship with Helmont is extremely hostile.”

Sworn enemies.

The eternal rivals, Helmont and Cardias.

That was the biggest reason why Arandel refused to send his sons to the Malidean Front.

Because it essentially meant that they would be throwing their sons into the den of snakes.

“You won’t know how they’ll treat you, Isaac. Especially considering you can’t even handle a sword—”

“Rianna.”

A bitter laugh escaped Isaac’s lips.

“Whatever the Cardias are going to do to me.”

A faint contempt in Isaac’s gaze pierced through Rianna.

“It’ll still be better than the treatment Helmont gave me.”

She wanted to ask him, ‘What do you know about Cardias?’.

But the words didn’t leave her mouth.

It was because of his attitude, which seemed to trust Cardias more than Helmont.

Isaac continued to go down the stairs.

Hearing the sound of his footsteps, Rianna gathered her courage once more.

“You’re leaving tomorrow, right?”

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A sigh entered her ears.

Her heart sank. Isaac stopped again before answering.

“Yes. I’ll be leaving tomorrow.”

“How about having dinner together?”

“Dinner?”

“Yes. After all, we...were...married, once...”

For her to initiate something for them to do together...

It was a rare occurrence.

But...

“Sorry, I already have plans for dinner.”

“Even though it’ll be the last time?”

“Can’t be helped. I already made plans.”

Isaac planned to eat food that the head chef and Milly had prepared.

If Rianna were to join, it wouldn’t be hard to predict how uncomfortable the whole experience would be.

“Then how about a drink?”

But, today’s Rianna was a bit more persistent than usual.

She even put aside some of her pride to ask that question.

“Hahaha, that’s even more out of the question.”

Isaac let out a gentle laugh as he retorted.

“...”

“Let’s not open the door to any mishaps now, Rianna. Save your champagne for your next husband.”

“You’re my husband now.”

“I am. For now.”

“...”

“Alright, I’ll be taking my leave. I’m a little busy right now.”

I need to prepare for my departure.

Adding those words, Isaac went down to the first floor.

*   *   *Arandel Helmont, who remained in his office, closed his eyes for a moment, fell into thought.

The image of his son-in-law just now, as he boldly mentioned and negotiated divorce with him, left him impressed.

So there’s a side to him that I’m not aware of.

The Isaac he knew was an ordinary person.

A man with decent looks, and skillful with his words—that was how he managed to captivate his daughter in the first place.

However, he didn’t fit Helmont at all.

The first time they met, he flinched like a herbivore in front of him. Ever since then, he hadn’t taken even a single glance at him.

This is unexpected.

That was probably why he never knew the man had this side to him, even though they had been living in the same mansion for 4 years.

The Isaac that he knew wasn’t someone who’d speak so boldly in front of him.

Actually, for others to speak without feeling intimidated by him was an extremely rare case.

“If only my own children could show this much of a display...”

Arandel let out a faint sigh, uncharacteristic of him.

Indeed. If only his eldest son, Lohengrin, had shown this much backbone to him, he would have named him his successor long ago.

But all of his children, including the eldest, always lived under the pressure of his radiance, and he found it pathetic.

Because to him, being a Helmont meant being one that would overcome, overwhelm, and crush anyone.

Even if that person was their own father.

“He would make a good example for them.”

Arandel never expected to say such a thing about his son-in-law.

That’s how much Isaac’s evaluation had risen in Arandel’s mind. In fact, he found him being curious about the man.

“...”

Honestly, at first, he thought the divorce was part of Rianna’s scheme.

He had made up his mind to pass on the mantle of succession to his eldest son, Lohengrin, at the Sword Dance Festival—even though he found him to be lacking.

That was why he instructed Rianna to make children and focus on supporting the family instead.

He thought that the discussion of the divorce came out because she disliked that decision.

That she was looking for an opportunity to become the family head.

“But it wasn’t like that.”

The lingering attachment that was evident in Rianna’s eyes was pitifully obvious. As a father, it was a difficult sight to watch.

“Haa.”

Enough.

And that was it. He decided to stop caring about the two anymore.

In the end, he was only interested in the strong.

Isaac wasn’t even a swordsman, not worthy of his attention.

But...

He’s interesting.

Arandel was still deeply impressed by his boldness, despite all that.

*   *   *Dinner time.

“Did the meal suit your taste?”

The head chef approached with a gentle smile, filling Isaac’s cup with black tea.

Its clean taste nicely wrapped up today’s meal.

“Very. Thank you for making my last night at Helmont so wonderful. Everything’s so tasty that I almost didn’t want to leave.”

“Hahaha! We would be grateful if you were to stay, Sir Isaac!”

It wasn’t just flattery.

The head chef sincerely wished for Isaac to stay.

Because in this mansion, there was no one else who gave him such satisfaction in cooking.

He made him feel proud of his efforts, not just as a head chef, but as a cook; he didn’t hold back on his praises, showing him that his efforts weren’t in vain.

Compared to his masters who’d just eat without a word, only pointing out things to complain, not praise, dealing with their pickines for years...

Isaac, who honestly expressed his joy, was a breath of fresh air.

“I wish I had been expressing myself openly like this from the start.”

Likewise, Isaac also felt regretful.

That he could only say these words to them at the very end.

“Sir Isaac.”

“Milly!”

The cook with tanned skin, the young cook with the same age as him.

In her hands was a tightly wrapped lunchbox.

“I made a lunchbox with the sandwiches you like. The lunchbox has a warming spell on it, so you’ll be able to eat it even when you leave tomorrow.”

“Thank you very much, Milly.”

For Isaac, Milly was a benefactor from his previous life.

He wanted nothing more than to take her with him, but he knew that wasn’t realistic.

I’d miss her food.

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

And so, he decided to tell her some nonsense.

In his previous life, Milly’s eyes were filled only with pity and concern as she watched him leave..

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

“You can eat sandwiches while playing card games. That’s why I like them.”

“Pfft, that’s a silly reason.”

“...But a reasonable one.”

But, the current Milly was smiling, though they were talking about parting.

Isaac preferred this.

Because this meant he wouldn’t leave her to worry about him.

And that was enough to bring him joy. Incredibly so.

“Anyway, if I make a lot of money playing card games, would you like to be my personal chef, Milly?”

“What?”

“My tongue is already a prisoner of your cooking. I have no choice. I’ll have to come back for you later.”

Isaac let out a playful smile.

Seeing this, Milly replied with a bright smile.

“My salary is quite expensive, you know? There’s a reason why I’m working here, in Helmont!”

“Are we not acquaintances? Can’t you give me a discount?”

“No~”

It was a pleasant conversation.

At that moment, Isaac took out a drawing he had painted from the bag he brought with him.

“Right, here’s for you, Milly. A gift for making me good food and listening to my story all this time.”

“This is...? You painted me?! Wow, that looks amazing!”

“I never knew you’re so skilled!”

It was a drawing of Milly, painted by Isaac himself.

Milly expressed her surprise, while the head chef praised Isaac’s skills sincerely.

Originally, at this point in time, I couldn’t paint like this.

He earned the name Ink Sword in his previous life for compiling numerous manuals, and also for his skills in drawing.

While writing manuals, there were parts that couldn’t be explained by words alone, so he started drawing.

That was when he found out about his talent in that area. His skills improved quickly.

The two exchanged the drawing and the lunchbox.

Feeling the weight of Milly’s lunchbox, Isaac let out a gentle smile.

“Thank you, Milly.”

“Likewise, thank you very much. Please, find yourself a newfound happiness, Sir Isaac.”

“Yes, but let’s stop this now. The head chef is feeling awkward looking at us.”

As he had stated, the head chef scratched the back of his head with a bewildered expression.

“I thought I was witnessing a secret rendezvous here...”

It was a dangerous thing to say, but since they were the only ones there, he thought that it didn’t matter.

“...”

Little did he know that Rianna Helmont was standing behind him.

Holding a bottle of wine, draped in her pajamas.

“Head Chef.”

“L-Lady Rianna?!”

Startled, the head chef turned his massive body around. The moment he saw Rianna, he got down to prostrate himself.

“L-Lady Rianna! T-This fool spoke out of turn! I-It was a moment of folly—!”

“Enough.”

Her expression suggested that she didn’t want to hear his excuses.

She glanced at Milly, her order fell in monotone.

“Take everyone out.”

“Ah, yes, understood!”

The head chef and the cooks who prepared the dinner left, glancing sideways as they bowed.

Isaac noticed that the head chef was preparing alcohol to mark the end of the dinner, but that wasn’t an option anymore. Thinking it was a shame, he licked his lips.

Thud!

Rianna sat down next to him, placing the wine bottle on the table.

Having drunk plenty, her face was flushed red.

He had to dig deep to remember the last time she became drunk like this.

“How many glasses have you had?”

Isaac tried to take the bottle away while scolding her, but Rianna’s grip was too strong, it didn’t budge at all.

“I didn’t want to show you my drunk appearance.”

“...”

She stared at him, as if waiting for him to ask, ‘Why?’.

But Isaac didn’t care. So he just clenched his mouth shut.

“Just...how did we end up like this...?”

“Didn’t you say you don’t want to show me your drunk appearance? Keep your words.”

“Isaac.”

“Stop it, Rianna.”

A long sigh escaped his lips.

“It’s already over between us. Stop acting as if you have lingering attachments towards me.”

Because it was a meaningless act.

It would never stop him from leaving, nor would it engrave a guilty conscience in his heart.

Their relationship had already broken to pieces, unable to be salvaged again.

“Don’t make excuses and stay as you are. The Rianna Helmont I remember is a woman who won’t regret her actions.”

“...”

“A woman I despised.”

However...

“At the very least, make me remember you as a woman who stays true to her words.”

“...”

Rianna put down the wine bottle, covered her eyes with her hand, resting her chin as if collapsing.

After a brief pause.

“Isaac.”

In a low voice, trying to suppress her emotions as much as possible.

“Take care.”

She said her goodbye.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rianna