Chapter 148: Side Effects

A pounding heart. The single sword strike of that day, a day of longing and yearning.

The moment the Crimson Lament was split by his own two hands, Isaac’s eyes shone.

The path was open.

Like Rianna on that day, who had parted the river and pointed beyond it.

What Isaac saw was Rianna, standing motionlessly between the sundered Crimson Lament.

“If there is a god—”

As if sensing her own end. Rianna slowly closed her eyes.

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

Through the opened path, Isaac moved forward without hesitation. The arms holding his two Tachi trembled.

Why were they trembling?

Was it because his muscles were twisting from the fatigue and shock accumulated from deflecting Rianna’s Crimson Lament?

Or was his heart shaking with the elation and thrill of finally felling the great mountain that was Helmont?

Or was it because of the complex, tangled emotions of having to cut down his former wife?

He did not know.

But

“My lilac.”

Rianna’s calm call. Responding to it, his steps toward her held no hesitation.

“May you just, bloom fully.”

At some point, the Ghostly Energy had calmed down. The anger and sorrow he had poured out during the fight had all been exhausted in the process of cutting through the Crimson Lament.

As he ran, Isaac finally realized what he had cut down.

It was the past. To sever the Crimson Lament that had marked their beginning was, in effect, to put an end to their past.

What remains here is—.

Having reached Rianna, Isaac’s Tachi swung.

“…”

The place she woke up to was a room filled with a cool air. In the gray room, where not even a single candle was permitted, Rianna slowly opened her eyes.

“This place is—.”

She was startled by the words that came out of her mouth. The moment she realized the Subjugation had not yet been lifted, she confirmed that she was not yet dead.

She had been defeated.

Though she had not swung her sword of her own will, the pride of Helmont had been clearly cut down by Isaac.

It was a sword she had to acknowledge. The man who had pushed her away and moved on had grown so much.

As Rianna got up from the bed, she slowly turned her head at the sound of iron coming from her wrists.

“Chains.”

Very thick ones, at that, were binding her hands. Looking closely, she saw that there were even shackles inside the chains.

Her body moved before her mind could.

Clang!

She put strength into her hands to break free, but they were pulled taut and showed no sign of coming loose. It was an excessive measure for an ordinary sinner, but it was just right for restraining a Helmont.

Creeak.

At that moment, the door opened and Isaac entered. He seemed a little surprised to see Rianna awake, then greeted her softly.

“Hello.”

“…Hello.”

Could there be a more awkward greeting in the world? Isaac hesitated for a moment, then began to explain.

“It’s been a day since you fainted. Considering you’re a Helmont, it’s a little later than expected.”

“I was pouring out Crimson Essence without rest. It seems the aftereffects were stronger than I thought.”

The Subjugation was still in effect. Rianna was momentarily flustered as her inner thoughts spilled out.

“Now that you’re awake, your punishment will be decided.”

“Not execution?”

“Everyone knows the situation you’re in. Of course, attacking the Royal Palace and attempting to assassinate Princess Adeline can’t be overlooked for any reason, but—.”

Nevertheless, Rianna was the Head of Helmont, and the special circumstances she was in needed to be carefully examined.

“Thanks to your sacrifice, Caldias was able to return. Taking that into account, you won’t be executed outright.”

“I see.”

Rianna nodded. Her body was still tense, ready to assassinate Princess Adeline, but she could not move because of the restraints.

“I’m taking you to the Magic Tower.”

Isaac continued to speak in a business-like manner, briefly explaining what would happen to Rianna.

“At the Magic Tower, they’re currently interpreting sorcery through Sir Nameless. You’ll be used as a specimen there… to help with the interpretation of the spell.”

“Interpretation of the spell…”

“Yes, interpretation of the spell. As far as I know, there’s no cure for Subjugation, but that’s just based on my knowledge. There might be other ways.”

In the first place, Isaac did not know much about sorcery. In fact, he had encountered it more in this life than in his past one.

“The mages will investigate whether it’s truly impossible to break. You’ll have to cooperate whether you want to or not.”

“Okay, I will.”

Of course, Rianna had no choice.

“Of course, this is just the scenario I’m hoping for. It could go in a different direction. Conservative nobles are shouting that you shouldn’t be left alone. That you should be executed for pointing your sword at the royal family.”

“I suppose so. For them, it would be an issue they could never overlook.”

“Right, so I’m telling you to be prepared.”

With that, Isaac slowly turned around. As he was about to leave, Rianna opened her mouth.

“Why?”

Was this because of the Subjugation? Or was it her own will?

She did not know, but it had stopped Isaac’s steps.

“Why did you keep me alive?”

Rianna was genuinely puzzled. She would have been fine dying like that. No, she had been hoping for it.

If she had died there like that, wouldn’t it have been a fitting end to her life?

Isaac slowly turned, sighed, and answered.

“It was a little.”

“…”

“Just a little.”

Yes, it was a truly trivial amount, but.

“The memories you gave me… were a little heavier than the wounds you inflicted.”

“…!”

“That’s all.”

With that, as Isaac was about to leave again.

“You’re cool.”

“…?”

Isaac’s footsteps stopped dead.

What did I just hear?

Doubting his own ears, he glanced back to see Rianna, her face beet red—.

“I love you.”

“…”

“Ah, no! I’m not saying this because I want to!”

At her urgent cry, Isaac nodded.

“Yes, I know. It’s because of the Subjugation. I understand.”

“The way you understand is so cool, too.”

“…”

Sniffle.

Tears welled up in Rianna’s eyes, which were now red with embarrassment, and she said.

“J-just kill me. Please.”

The court’s meeting hall was filled with a cold tension. Princess Adeline sat in the central chair, and on either side of her, nobles stood in a line with solemn expressions. Princess Adeline was acting as regent in place of the ailing king. A little closer to the nobles, Clarisse stood to Adeline’s right.

And in the center of the room, there was Rianna Helmont, her hands and feet bound by thick chains, and her mouth sealed with a muzzle so she could not speak.

“The Head of Helmont, Rianna Helmont.”

At Princess Adeline’s calm voice, the assembly quietly shifted their gazes. Rianna, whose wrists and ankles were bound by shackles and who could not speak because of the tightly fastened muzzle, raised her head.

“Your Highness! Her crime is clear!”

One of the nobles stepped forward, agitated.

“What mercy can we possibly bestow upon one who has wielded a sword against the royal blood? Execution is fitting!”

As if on cue, other nobles shouted in agreement.

“That’s right, Your Highness. To protect the dignity and honor of the royal family, an example must be made!”

“While Arandel Helmont was alive, Helmont wielded excessive power. However, this incident is clearly Helmont’s fault!”

Voices erupted from all over. But Princess Adeline silently listened to everyone.

A short while later, when the nobles had gradually quieted down, she opened her mouth with a short sigh.

“The Head of Helmont is not a simple criminal. She was under the spell of Subjugation, a sorcery of the Transcendents.”

“But Your Highness! What does that matter? Does being subjugated absolve her of her crime?”

“That’s right! The crime on her hands is not the kind that can be washed away!”

The voices poured out again as if on cue. It was a clear indication of how much of a thorn in the side the nobles considered Helmont.

They did not cooperate, nor did they assist. They were just uncompromising monsters of the sword who raised their blades for the royal family.

The nobles were now trying to use this opportunity to reduce Helmont’s influence even a little.

“I have no intention of pardoning her crime. But as the royal family, there are things that must be done. That is, to uncover the truth and prevent the same thing from happening again.”

A silence fell over the hall. The princess’s voice was filled with dignity and determination.

“Rianna Helmont will not be executed. Instead, she will be sent to the Magic Tower to become a key to researching and deciphering the sorcery. Helmont will atone for its sins in this way.”

Princess Adeline was more resolute than expected. The nobles found it difficult to argue when the person whose life had been directly threatened spoke so firmly.

“This decision will not be changed. The dignity of the royal family lies not in seeing blood, but in exercising wisdom for a better future. If her existence can make the kingdom safer, then that is in the interest of the royal family.”

The assembly could no longer speak. They were solemnized by Princess Adeline’s decision. Amidst the low-hanging silence, one of the nobles raised his hand hesitantly.

“B-but, Your Highness. No matter how much of a sinner she is, I believe that muzzling her is an excessive measure.”

“That’s right. In the first place, she has not been able to say a single word in this place. If Your Highness has truly decided so, we wish to hear her confirm it with her own mouth.”

“I have heard that those under Subjugation cannot speak lies. It may be meaningless, but we wish to receive a vow in the sinner’s own voice.”

Especially since she was the Head of Helmont. To go so far as to muzzle a noble was an excessive measure.

Adeline glanced at Isaac, and Isaac, who was standing right next to Rianna, hesitantly reached out his hand.

The moment he unfastened her muzzle.

“Isaac smells good.”

“…?!”

Click.

Isaac hastily refastened the muzzle. The nobles around him doubted their ears, while those who had not heard the voice tilted their heads and ordered him to hurry up and take it off.

Sweat beaded on his hands from the tension. Rianna’s eyes trembled, and fear welled up in them.

“Hurry up and take it off, what are you doing!”

“Baron Logan! Don’t dawdle!”

Pushed by the sharp urging of the nobles, Isaac whispered very softly to Rianna.

“Please, don’t think about me. Just think about how you’re on the kingdom’s side. Got it? You can do it, right?”

You know how it is, right? When you tell someone not to think about something, they think about it even more.

Like how if you tell someone not to think about a dog, a dog naturally comes to mind.

The moment he told her not to think about Isaac, it was already over.

Click.

The moment the muzzle was unfastened again.

“Isaac is cool.”

Rianna’s mouth, of its own accord, was already pouring out her inner thoughts about Isaac.

“I love you, Isaac.”

“Isaac smells so good.”

“Pregan—”

Click.

Isaac hastily refastened the muzzle. Unable to bring himself to turn around, he stared blankly at Rianna.

Rianna, her eyes filled with tears, pleaded with him.

Just kill me, Isaac.