Chapter 147: A Lovers’ Quarrel (2)

If you were to ask how they arrived with such perfect timing.

The only answer would be that it was incredibly simple and easy.

After all, the Transcendents’ fundamental strategy was to unsettle their opponents. They enjoyed throwing the battlefield into chaos by assassinating high-ranking officials or engaging in guerrilla warfare.

The reason for this was that they were, in the end, fewer in number than humans.

Especially in a situation like this, where their various ploys had failed. Isaac believed that the Transcendents would focus even more on this kind of tactic.

In his past life, the assassination of Princess Adeline had been a fatal blow. He was certain that this time, too, they would attempt to assassinate her, timing it with when all eyes were on the North.

Isaac had made that judgment and cooperated with the Magic Tower to come here.

Normally, the Magic Tower would have listened to Isaac’s story with a degree of skepticism. Mages had a tendency to ignore anyone who wasn’t a fellow mage. But upon learning of his special circumstances, the Magic Tower Master had no choice but to show his full trust and support.

And that was precisely why Isaac was able to arrive here on time.

The Tachi in both his hands were drawn.

Isaac’s unique Iai, called Hovering Wings. Amidst the flapping of a bird’s wings, Isaac asked.

“Why did you abandon me like that?”

“…!”

CLAAAANG!

A shock deeper than the ringing of the clashing swords struck Rianna’s heart. The deep, cold question began to dredge up her fundamental guilt.

A slight hesitation was mixed into the fiercely swung greatsword. Answering itself felt like putting a knife in her mouth and cutting her tongue, but the curse of Subjugation did not allow Rianna to remain silent.

“The one who abandoned…”

CLANG!

Another long ring. It was difficult to counter the power of the greatsword.

But Isaac did not want to back down. To keep this conversation from ending, he gritted his teeth and gripped his sword so tightly it felt like it would break.

“You abandoned me.”

“…!”

“For the past four years, you abandoned me, I was left behind, and in the end, I broke.”

The tip of his sword grew harder, a mixture of anger and sadness.

“You were the one who broke me the most.”

He had never spoken so bluntly, not in his past life or this one. They had always been reserved, polite, and believed that was a consideration for the other.

But, it was not.

Some days. There was a need to cast all that aside.

“That’s, right…”

Rianna’s expression darkened rapidly. The Subjugation, after all, made her continuously spew out the words that came to her mind.

Even if the flow of conversation seemed to not quite make sense, it was precisely because of that that it had meaning.

“I was the one who abandoned you—.”

“Why did you do it!”

For a moment, Rianna’s greatsword was pushed back slightly by Isaac’s.

Isaac’s face was contorted with anger, but in fact.

—Kkeuheuuuuk!

—Euheuk! Kkeuheup!

What his Demonic Energy poured out were sobs and tears. It cried out with a fierce momentum that did not yield as it clashed with Rianna’s Crimson Essence.

As if representing his heart.

“Because my mother was trying to kill you…! If I was close to you, Lohengrin would try to break you even more—!”

Kwaang!

Isaac was pushed back slightly. Looking at him, Rianna shed tears.

“Because you were so precious to me—!”

It was something she should not have said. Something she thought she should never say.

But the cruel tongue betrays its owner’s heart and does not rest.

“You were my weakness!”

“In their eyes, you would have been so easy to break.”

“So you couldn’t be seen as someone precious to me. It had to look like I regretted our childish marriage. Only then—!”

Thump!

A deep, heavy step.

“You wouldn’t get hurt anymore!”

This time, it was Rianna who leaped forward and swung her sword at Isaac. The Crimson Essence soared and flew at him like a wildfire spreading on the wind.

The moment Isaac’s Tachi moved up and down like a windmill, the condensed Demonic Energy reversed the flow of the Crimson Essence.

It was the same reversal of Crimson Essence that Isaac had shown in his duel with Lohengrin at the Sword Dance Festival.

“Rianna, you were the one who hurt me the most.”

“…!”

“The very fact that you—! Grew distant from me. That alone was enough to make all other pain disappear—!”

I have to avoid a head-on fight. He knew, but Isaac did not avoid it.

The Demonic Energy, imbued with Crimson Essence, clashed with Rianna. Isaac’s body was momentarily pushed back, but he managed to hold on by quickly bracing himself with his feet.

“That’s what hurt me the most.”

Close proximity. A sorrowful whisper.

Rianna’s emotions surged at the low voice amidst the wailing of the Demonic Energy.

“I’m sorry.”

Tears flowed down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Isaac.”

“Why didn’t you stay with me?”

“I’m sorry.”

“All I needed was you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“That mansion, you were the only place I belonged—.”

“I’m truly, sorry.”

The trembling in her voice reached the tip of her sword.

“I was foolish.”

“…”

“I thought I couldn’t protect you forever. I thought I had my limits.”

Harming or killing Isaac was too simple. As a human, Rianna also needed sleep, so they could just aim for that time and kill him. It would be enough to just put poison in his food or on his utensils during a meal.

“The more I held you in my arms, the more fiercely they would try to take you from me. I thought you wouldn’t be able to withstand the tug-of-war between us.”

“If I had died in your arms—.”

It would have been less painful than now.

At Isaac’s words, Rianna’s face paled in fear. As if reflecting her heart, she quickly swung her sword to put distance between them.

“Please, don’t say such things.”

“…”

“I wanted you to live.”

“Even that was an imposition on me.”

Deep shock, hurt, and self-blame crushed Rianna Helmont’s shoulders.

“So, it was…”

“Yes, it was.”

He knew it would hurt. But it had to be said. At this moment, he had to pour out his emotions without hiding them.

Amidst her flowing tears, Rianna murmured as if in confession.

“At that time, I couldn’t choose anyone.”

“…”

“Between my family and you. I knew I had to cut one of them… but I couldn’t do it.”

Yes, that was how it was then. But now, she knew.

“I had to choose.”

Rianna’s Crimson Essence began to waver. It was as chaotic and emotional as the tears she shed.

“Between you and my family. I struggled and struggled, but in the end, I couldn’t reach a conclusion.”

Rianna now knew. Love, though it holds beauty, can sometimes become a shackle.

“Yes, that’s right. It was my fault for not choosing.”

What she chewed on was regret and blame. Self-reproach for her own powerlessness. Bitterness for her foolish past.

“I should have done one of the two. Abandon my family, or let you go.”

A smile mixed with complexity and bitterness formed. Rianna’s greatsword slowly rose high into the sky. The Crimson Essence emanating from the greatsword in both her hands showed an unusual momentum.

A life full of regrets.

In life, no one is without mistakes. But the responsibility for them must also be borne by oneself.

“Where did it all go wrong?”

Her red hair whipped around violently with her tears.

“The gentle words of my mother I heard as a child, the stiff but always-together family meals, the father I admired.”

Those things she had not thought precious had gathered together and were now holding Rianna’s ankles.

“If even one of them had been missing—.”

Amidst the swirling Crimson Essence, Rianna began to prepare to accept the coming end with regret and resignation.

“Could I have left the mansion with you?”

Regret piled on top of regret. The result of judgment and choice came like fate.

He was approaching.

The greatsword, imbued with heavy Crimson Essence, struck down.

Crimson Lament. The end of the sword, showcased in memory of that sorrowful day.

The full force of Rianna Helmont, which had parted the river to reach him.

“Even though everything is steeped in regret.”

Amidst the sorrow and regret. If there was one thing she could not let go of.

“The day I met you—.”

She could not possibly dismiss it as a mistake. She did not want to regret it.

Even if she were to die like this.

At some point. Isaac’s Demonic Energy fell silent. As if it had shed all its tears, as if it had nothing more to spew out.

It silently frosted over Isaac’s blade, holding a cold and sharp edge.

The Crimson Essence was cut as if it were silk. The Crimson Lament that had parted the river that day was now, in turn, parted, opening a path.

“If there is a god—.”

Rianna, her eyes gently closed, murmured softly.

“I thank you for making me pay for my sins.”

The man she loved most was coming to kill her. The cruelest end was prepared for her, and for that, she was only grateful.

At some point, the tears dried, and the rose withered.

“My lilac.”

May you just, bloom fully.

In your past, where you overcame everything and moved forward. If I am to be judged as a foolish woman for a short while.

If you would just, remember me that way.

It was enough.