Chapter 50: Empathy
“Because you must become the family head.”
At her mother’s words, Rianna finally couldn’t hold back and opened her eyes.
She clenched her fists tightly.
As Galenia took a step back, giving her space, Rianna sat up and glared at her while sighing.
“Enough, Mother.”
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.
“What do you mean?”
“Stop instigating me and Lohengrin.”
“...”
To that, Galenia’s expression changed.
Her gentle smile turned subtle and stiff; it looked threatening if anything.
“That’s my role, Dear.”
“Mother.”
“To keep Helmont as Helmont should be is my role. How can you try to stop me from doing what I must do as the lady of the house?”
“...”
Rianna had known for a long time that words wouldn’t get through her.
But, the situation had changed now.
“You’ve heard that Isaac is leaving, haven’t you?”
“...”
“You can’t manipulate me by using him anymore.”
Her heart felt like it was being torn apart.
Having to say such things with her own mouth made her feel nauseous, but...
She had to make that clear, no matter what.
“So please, stop now.”
“It’s a fortunate thing. A talentless commoner should never dare to think of becoming the family head’s son-in-law in the first place.”
“Mother!”
Rianna shouted, but Galenia kept on continuing her speech with a bright smile.
“What you showed today was extremely impressive. As expected, you’re more suited to be the family head than Lohengrin—!”
“Mother—!”
“Get your head straight, Rianna!”
Galenia placed both hands on Rianna’s shoulders and shook her roughly.
Rianna, looking smaller than usual, was shaken more easily than expected.
“You are a Helmont, not just anyone else, but the eldest daughter of Helmont! With such a great and glorious position, you have to bear the responsibility—!”
“What part of it is so great anyway?”
Slap!
A hand flew across Rianna’s cheek.
It was an unconscious reaction, as if declaring that there were things that even a daughter of Helmont couldn’t say.
“You’re the eldest daughter of Helmont. Maintain your dignity. Stop thinking strange thoughts.”
“...”
Galenia then slowly approached her before embracing her, but she didn’t even react to her mother’s touch.
“Rianna, you take after me.”
Galenia’s voice as she whispered in her ear, sounded affectionate.
“The way you cling to your love, knowing it’ll lead you to ruin, yet you still unable to let go.”
“...”
“Do you think anything will change even if you were to divorce that vulgar commoner? Do you think your weakness will just disappear?”
“I—“
“Rianna.”
Her body trembled.
The tension that had stiffened her body began to relax.
“Your eyes are still dripping with love. Nothing has changed at all.”
“...!”
“Become the family head. That’s the only way you can protect him.”
Galenia gently kissed her daughter’s cheek. Despite her words, what emanated from her voice and expression was.
Affection.
And parental love.
That was why.
After Galenia left, Rianna covered her face with both hands, letting out a bitter sigh.
She hoped...
That her mother had a different intention.
And her action had been filled with malice.
Because if so, she might have found the courage to resist her.
She remembered the time when she was young.
Back when she didn’t need to care about family matters.
When she was still strolling around, growing up without a care in the world.
[My~ Our Rianna is so pretty~]
Beautiful memories.
[Hm? You brought this for mommy? Oh, how sweet.]
Warm recollections.
[This vase is pretty, don’t you think? I bought it because it reminded me of you.]
Affectionate embraces.
“Why...!”
It was the same way as back then.
Her headstrokes, her gentle hugs, her warm kisses.
All her actions exuded the same warmth as back during her innocent childhood days.
Her mother hadn’t changed at all.
Knowing that, there was no way she could just resist her even if she wanted to.
“Hic.”
The vase she had received as a gift from her mother was still in the room.
Perhaps because no one had properly taken care of it while she was away...
The single rose in that vase was slowly withering.
* * *“Cookies~ Cookies~”
Sharen swung her legs back and forth as she sat in the chair.
Tapping the table with both hands, she hummed cheerfully with a bright expression.
“Here it is.”
As Milly, one of the Helmont’s cooks, placed the freshly baked, still warm star cookies on the table, Sharen’s smile grew even brighter.
“Ahh! This is it! To think I searched so hard for something that was so close by!”
With Kelsey’s special whiskey (orange juice) beside her, she was fully prepared.
This was her way of patting herself in the back for her job well done back at the Malidean Wall.
“I didn’t know you liked my cookies so much, my lady.”
“Of course! I actually searched everywhere for these because I didn’t know where Isaac got them from!”
Crunch, crunch.
Sharen beamed with her cheeks full of cookies.
Seeing this, both the cook and the maid smiled simultaneously.
Not long ago, there was a commotion so great that no one would’ve been surprised if the mansion ended up collapsing, so they were all feeling tense, but...
Seeing the girl’s bright smile just relieved their hearts.
While Sharen ate the cookies, Kelsey, her personal maid, had a brief conversation with Milly.
“It’s fortunate that despite the commotion, the interior of the mansion is intact.”
“I suppose it’s in consideration of the Sword Dance Festival? Guests will be coming to the mansion after all.”
As Kelsey had stated, despite the previous commotion, the interior of the mansion was relatively unscathed.
At that moment, Milly, gripping her tray tightly, carefully asked Kelsey.
“You’ve been to the Malidean Wall, right?”
“Yes, it was really cold there.”
“...How was Sir Isaac?”
Though Milly tried to ask casually, her voice was unexpectedly strained.
But Kelsey didn’t find it odd.
After all, this girl had been separately baking cookies for Isaac. It wasn’t hard to think that she was one of the few servants who was close to him.
“He went through a lot, and even got injured a few times, but he’s okay now.”
“He got injured?”
“It was the frontlines, after all. He isn’t here yet because he was still receiving treatment from a mage. No need to worry.”
“Ah.”
Hearing that, Milly finally let out a sigh of relief.
Her relief was clearly expressed in her faint smile.
“When he returns, I’ll prepare some food that’s good for his health.”
“The North doesn’t have variety when it comes to food, so he’ll probably like that.”
In the North, the food selection was always the same.
Milly began to ponder what food to prepare for Isaac when he returned to Helmont.
She wanted to feed him good food that he could only get at Helmont until he left after his divorce.
After all, he did say that he’d miss Helmont’s food before he left for the North.
“Kelsey! Kelsey! Come and try this! It’s really delicious!”
At Sharen’s call, Kelsey came over with a smile.
In the past, her young lady wouldn’t have even imagined sharing her snacks with others.
“Now you’ll understand why I searched everywhere for these!”
The young lady has changed a lot.
She had gone through a lot, and there were certainly moments when it got really dangerous, but...
It was clear that her experience in the North had been good nourishment for her.
Clang!
“Sharen!”
But, at that moment, a man entered, breaking the peaceful atmosphere they had.
Alois, whose legs had been shattered by Rianna’s Ragnavel, strode into the kitchen.
“Mmph!? Mmmphmmph?!”
“What are you saying?! Swallow first and then speak!”
Gulp.
“What? You can walk already?!”
Sharen asked in surprise after swallowing the star cookie in her mouth.
Her reaction only seemed to irritate Alois even more.
“Stop spouting nonsense and answer my question.”
“...What’s wrong with you?”
“Shut up and listen to me!”
It was clear that Alois wasn’t in his right mind. Madness and obsession swirled in his red eyes.
His disheveled hair and the drool flowing from his mouth indicated that something was seriously wrong.
Moreover, judging by the smell of disinfectant coming from his body, he seemed to have rushed here right after receiving treatment.
“Sister...! What exactly did she hear at the Malidean Wall?!”
“Huh?”
“What did she hear?! Damn it! How did she know that I was trying to cripple that commoner bastard?!”
“Commoner? Isaac?”
At the mention of Isaac, Sharen’s expression turned blank.
She suddenly remembered hearing about a chandelier falling on his and her sister’s wedding anniversary.
Moreover, she also remembered that the cake back then was filled with medicine that caused stomachache.
She knew that because she had tried to eat it, thinking that it was just a harmless cake, and got scolded by Kelsey.
“Was it Isaac? No, that bastard couldn’t have known. But, seeing how Sister swung her sword without even listening to my excuses, she must’ve been certain that I did it!! Just why?! Whyy?! Who was it?!?! What did they say?!?!?”
Alois shouted violently with bloodshot eyes.
His heart was beating so fast that it felt like it might burst.
That was how anxious he was.
The moment it became certain to Rianna that he had tried to harm Isaac, he didn’t know what would happen.
But that wasn’t what was important to Alois.
He didn’t care if his legs became crippled or if he lost his arms for good.
Being hated by Rianna...
For Alois, that was something so painful it felt like his heart was being torn apart.
“Uh...”
Meanwhile, Sharen just took another bite of her cookie with a dazed expression.
Seeing his appearance, she seemed to realize how serious the situation was and continued to ponder.
“Hmm.”
Crunch, crunch.
“So...”
Crunch, crunch.
“These cookies are really tasty!”
“You little bitch! Are you making fun of your brother?! You haven’t seen me in a while, and you already forgot your place—!”
“Inferno Surge!”
Crimson Essence burst from Sharen’s palm, pushing Alois back.
Since it didn’t come from her sword, it was pretty much harmless; it just had enough power to push him away.
Normally, this was something that Alois could’ve easily blocked or withstood.
But, Sharen’s experience in the North had left her with tremendous growth.
Moreover, Alois’ legs were currently injured.
“Kugh!”
So, his back hit the kitchen door as he fell and slid back.
Even as rage threatened to numb his reason, Sharen’s clear voice rang out distinctly.
“Helmont doesn’t listen to the pleas of the weak!”
She showed her cute biceps, all while gripping a star cookie with her lips.
“How dare you act up with those injured legs! Challenge me after you’re fully healed, you weakling!”
She then stuffed the rest of the star cookie into her mouth and left the kitchen with Kelsey.
“Milly, thanks for the food! I’ll ask for more next time.”
“Ah, yes... My lady.”
“You immature little brat—!”
Alois tried to get up and follow her. However, his legs suddenly gave out, and he collapsed again.
“Damn it! This damn—!”
He pounded the floor with his fist, venting his frustration.
Although he had received treatment from the mage, it hadn’t been long since then. He still couldn’t stand properly yet.
If...
Isaac had been here.
He would have laughed and sneered at him.
[Serves you right.]