"You must become the family head, after all."
At her mother's words, Liana could no longer hold back and finally opened her eyes.
Her clenched fist tightened.
As Galenia took a step back to give her space, Liana sat up in bed and let out a sigh, glaring at her in frustration.
"Please stop, Mother."
"What do you mean?"
"Stop pushing me and Lohengrin together."
"..."
Galenia's expression shifted dramatically.
Galenia's expression changed abruptly. The faint smile on her stiff lips was strangely threatening.
"That is my role."
"Mother."
"I must make Helmut what it is meant to be. As the matriarch, I am simply doing my duty—do you intend to stand in my way?"
"..."
Liana had long known that reasoning with her was futile.
But now, her circumstances had changed.
"You've heard that Isaac is leaving, haven't you?"
"..."
"You can no longer use him to control me."
It felt as if her chest was being torn apart.
The very act of saying those words made her stomach churn, as if she might throw up.
And yet, Liana knew she had to make herself clear.
"Stop it. Now."
"How fortunate. A talentless commoner as the consort of the family head—what an absurd notion."
"Mother!"
Liana shouted, but Galenia only smiled brightly and continued.
"The way you carried yourself today was quite impressive. As expected, you are far more suited to be the family head than Lohengrin—"
"Mother, please!"
"Get a hold of yourself, Liana!"
Galenia gripped Liana's shoulders with both hands and shook her roughly.
Galenia placed both hands on Liana's shoulders and shook her roughly. Liana, who seemed smaller than usual, was easily swayed by her.
"You are a Helmut. The eldest daughter of this house! Those who stand in glorious and powerful positions must bear the responsibilities that come with them!"
"This mansion… What part of it is glorious?"
Slap!
Liana's head snapped to the side.
Liana's cheek turned red. Galenia's obsessive reaction, as if there were words even a daughter shouldn't say.
"As the eldest daughter of the Helmut family, maintain your dignity. Don't entertain foolish thoughts."
"..."
Slowly, Galenia approached and gently embraced Liana.
She didn't even react to her mother's touch.
"Liana, you are just like me."
Galenia's voice whispered softly in her ear, full of affection.
"You cling to love. Even though you know it will lead to your ruin, you still can't let it go."
"..."
"Do you think divorcing that lowly commoner will change anything? Do you think that will erase your weakness?"
"I—"
"Liana."
Her body trembled.
The tension in her rigid frame began to melt away.
"You still have those eyes… eyes brimming with love.
Tell me, what has really changed?"
"...!"
"Become the head of the family. That is the only way you can protect him."
Galenia gently kissed her daughter's cheek. Despite the weight of her words, her voice and expression conveyed something else.
Affection.
A parent's love.
That was why—
After Galenia left the room, Liana clutched her face with both hands, letting out a pained breath.
If only—
If only there had been another motive.
If only it had been an act filled with malice.
If so, she might have found the courage to push back.
Back when she was a child,
When she didn't care about the family.
When she simply grew up, carefree—
[Oh my, our Liana. You're so beautiful.]
A cherished memory.
[Hmm? Did you bring this for me? Oh, you're so sweet.]
A warm recollection.
[Isn't this vase pretty? It reminded me of you, so I bought it.]
A love-filled embrace.
"Why…!"
Was it truly the same as before?
The way her mother stroked her hair, held her softly, and kissed her cheek—
Everything that had just happened felt exactly like the warmth she had known in her innocent childhood.
Her mother had not changed in the slightest.
And because she knew that, Liana couldn't let go of anything.
"Ugh…"
In the room, a vase her mother had given her as a gift still sat in its place.
Had it been left unattended while she was away?
The single rose inside was slowly wilting.
***
"Cookie, cookie."
Sitting in a chair, Sharen swung her legs back and forth freely.
She hummed as she tapped the table with both hands, looking utterly delighted.
"Here you go."
The chef, Millie, placed a tray of freshly baked star cookies on the table.
"Ah! This is it! I went through so much trouble searching for these, and they were right here all along!"
With Kelsey's special orange whiskey (juice) by her side, she was fully prepared to enjoy herself.
She was rewarding herself for all the effort she had put in at the Malidan Wall.
"I didn't know you liked my cookies so much, my lady."
"I looked everywhere for these! I didn't even know where Isaac bought them from."
Crunch, crunch.
With her cheeks stuffed full of cookies, Sharen beamed with joy.
Seeing her like that, the cook and the maid both smiled in unison.
Moments ago, the Helmut estate had been thrown into an uproar so intense it wouldn't have been surprising if the entire mansion had collapsed.
Yet, seeing the girl's bright, carefree smile eased the tension in the air.
While Sharen ate, her personal maid, Kelsey, struck up a conversation with Millie.
"At least the mansion is intact despite all that commotion."
"I suppose they were mindful of the Sword Festival? Since there will be guests visiting."
Despite the chaos, the interior of the estate remained mostly untouched.
Gripping the tray tightly, Millie hesitantly asked Kelsey,
"You were at the Malidan Wall, weren't you?"
"Yes, it was unbelievably cold there."
"…And Sir Isaac? How was he?"
Millie's voice was quiet but carried a certain weight.
Kelsey didn't find it strange, though.
Since Millie often baked cookies for him, she was likely one of the few servants close to Isaac.
"He was injured and went through a lot, but he's safe now."
"He got hurt?"
"He was on the front lines. He's delayed because he's receiving treatment from a mage, but there's no need to worry."
"Haa…"
Only then did Millie let out a sigh of relief.
The faint smile on her lips carried the unmistakable emotion of reassurance.
"I should prepare something nutritious for him when he returns."
"The food in the North is quite limited. I'm sure he'll appreciate it."
The North had a rather monotonous menu.
Millie began pondering what meals she could make for Isaac when he returned to Helmut.
Before he left, he had mentioned that he would miss the food here.
"Kelsey! Come try these! They're really good!"
Sharen's cheerful call made Kelsey smile as she approached.
In the past, sharing sweets like this would have been unthinkable.
"You'll understand why I went looking everywhere for these."
'The young lady has changed so much.'
Though there were hardships and dangerous moments, it was clear that the experience in the north had been good for Sharen.
Clatter!
"Sharennnn!"
A man burst in, shattering the peaceful atmosphere.
It was Alois, whose leg had been crushed by Liana's Ragnavel, striding into the kitchen.
"Umph?! Mmmphbbph?!"
"What are you even saying?! Swallow first before you speak!"
Gulp.
"What? You can already walk?!"
Sharen, who had just swallowed the star-shaped cookie in his mouth, asked in surprise. His reaction only further irritated Alois.
"Stop talking nonsense and answer my question."
"…What's with that tone?"
"Shut up and just listen!"
It was obvious at a glance—Alois was not in his right mind. A mixture of madness and obsession swirled in his crimson eyes. His disheveled hair and the drool trickling from his mouth made it clear that something was seriously wrong.
On top of that, the faint scent of antiseptic lingering on him suggested that he had come straight from receiving medical treatment.
"What… did my sister hear at the Malidan Wall?"
"Huh?"
"What did she hear?! Damn it! Does she know I tried to cripple that lowborn commoner bastard?!"
"A commoner? Isaac?"
Sharen blinked in confusion.
A memory surfaced—something about a chandelier falling on a wedding anniversary.
Not only that, but the cake had been laced with a drug that caused severe stomach pain.
Not to mention the cake that had been laced with a stomachache-inducing drug. She remembered because she had tried to eat the leftovers and got scolded by Kelsey.
"Isaac? That bastard couldn't have known. But seeing how my sister swung her sword without even hearing my explanation, she must be certain! Why?! Whyyyy—! Who told her?! What did they say?!"
Alois shouted, his voice raw with emotion. His heart pounded so fast it felt like it might explode.
He was desperate.
If Liana truly believed he had tried to harm Isaac, there was no telling what would happen next.
But that wasn't what mattered to Alois.
He didn't care if he lost a leg.
He didn't care if he lost an arm.
Being hated by Liana—that was what tore his heart apart.
"Uh…"
Sharen took another bite of his cookie, looking dumbfounded.
Sensing the seriousness of the situation, she continued to ponder.
"Hmm."
Crunch, Crunch.
"So…"
Crunch.
"Wow, this is really delicious."
"You damn brat! Are you mocking your older brother?! You little bitch, you've forgotten your place—!"
"Crimson Flame Burst!"
AA burst of red energy shot from Sharen's palm, pushing Alois back. Since it wasn't a sword, it didn't have the power to harm anyone, merely pushing him away.
Normally, Alois would have easily blocked or withstood such an attack.
But Sharen had grown stronger in the north.
And more importantly, Alois was still injured.
"Gah!"
Alois was pushed back, his back hitting the kitchen door. Even as his rage boiled over, threatening to overwhelm his reason, Sharen's clear voice rang out.
"Helmut doesn't listen to the pleas of the weak!"
With a star cookie in her mouth, Sharen flexed her cute muscles.
"You're injured, yet you dare act up?! Challenge me again after you've healed, you brat!"
Sharen stuffed the rest of the cookie into her mouth and left the kitchen with Kelsey.
"Millie, that was delicious! I'll be back for more!"
"Ah, y-yes… My lady."
"You little brat—!"
Alois tried to jump up and chase after her, but his leg gave out, and he collapsed back onto the floor.
"Damn it! Damn it all!"
He pounded his fist against the ground in frustration.
He punched the floor in frustration. Though he had received treatment from a mage, it hadn't been long, and he couldn't stand properly yet.
If.
If Isaac had been there to see this—
He would have laughed.
He would have sneered.
[I know that feeling all too well.]