The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Household Wants A Divorce-Chapter 74: Farewell

Drip!

Drip!

Maybe because it was underground.

The sound of water droplets falling echoed throughout the space.

Splash.

Beneath it, the sound of hidden footsteps entered Alois’ ears. Now noticing that someone was approaching him stealthily, he slowly lifted his head.

After going off on Isaac, at one point, he seemed to have lost consciousness.

His body was limp, and he couldn’t muster any strength.

Not only that, his throat also ached, as if it had been torn from spewing all his resentment towards God and Isaac.

The one that came into his view was a woman.

With sunset-red hair, hard-looking scale-like skins and ears spread wide like wings.

Moreover, she also had a lizard’s tail.

Alois could immediately tell that she was part of the Transcendent Race who was causing havoc in the kingdom.

“Lord Alois of Helmont.”

Her sticky voice entered his ears.

As a Helmont, Alois could sense the danger she posed.

“...”

His eyes clouded as he clenched his mouth shut. Seeing this, the woman just continued, as if it didn’t matter if he wanted to respond to her or not.

“My name is Riezel. As you can see, I’m a Transcendent.”

She smiled, placing the tip of her lizard tail on her palm.

Though she had a unique appearance, such a thing didn’t matter to the current Alois.

“Are you aware that the Transcendents have a great interest in Helmont?”

“...Interest?”

“Because Helmonts are different from ordinary humans. I am of the opinion that they deserve treatment that befits that.”

Her words didn’t sound particularly strange.

After all, it was natural for Helmont to be treated well wherever they went.

“You got a long tongue, don’t you?”

But sadly, right now, Alois wasn’t a Helmont, but a mere criminal.

The fact that she had come to him meant she had an ulterior motive. Given his position, this was pretty much the equivalent of him listening to the whispers of the Devil.

Hence why, he waited with anticipation.

And knowing this...

Like a parent telling a child to wait and not eat the cake in front of them right away, Riezel let out a smile and whispered.

“You want revenge, don’t you?”

“...”

“Isaac. Coincidentally, we have the same goal.”

“The same goal?”

“That man had laid his hands on someone he shouldn’t have.”

The one she was talking about was none other than the Primordial.

Isaac had messed with the Sword Demon’s bloodline.

Obviously, this made the rest of the Sword Demon seething with anger. They made a vow to kill him and the Grandmaster no matter what.

“Well, you don’t need to know the details. I just want to give you an opportunity.”

“An opportunity to kill Isaac?”

The moment he saw Riezel’s slight nod.

Alois’ twisted the corners of his mouth into a wide grin.

“As long as I could kill that bastard, I’d even sell my body.”

Coincidentally, he had heard earlier that Rianna Helmont would be coming.

“I’ll chew him up, crush him, then I’ll take my sister for myself...!”

Thinking that his chance had finally come, Alois accepted Riezel’s offer with a bright smile.

Then, in an instant, shadows engulfed his body and dragged it into the darkness.

*   *   *“...”

A tombstone, not particularly ornate, but was decent enough to allow the deceased to close their eyes in peace.

[The days with your companionship were happy days, my friend.]

On it, Isaac’s handwriting was engraved.

Seeing how a proper tombstone for Milly was finally built, Isaac felt a lump in his throat.

“I don’t know if it’s appropriate to ask you this.”

He crouched in front of it.

As if facing Milly directly, he whispered his questions while holding back his sobs.

“Have you...found peace...? You told me you were tired of the fierce competition back in Helmont, didn’t you? I hope you can at least find a little peace here...”

He let out a bitter sigh.

Follow current novels on freewebnσvel.cѳm.

Though he knew there were people waiting for him, he took his time as he knelt down.

He placed his hand on the tombstone as if calling for Milly.

In the end, he couldn’t hold back his tears.

“Is the reason why I can’t stop my tears because I lost both my dream and a close friend at the same time?”

In the distant future...

If he succeeded in making a lot of money, he wanted to take Milly with him first and foremost. Of course, he wanted to make it so that she could bring her family with her too.

But, he didn’t know how to make money.

Even if he could, he didn’t know when that goal could be accomplished.

Hell, he didn’t even know where they would stay.

Yes, it was just a pipe dream, bordering delusion even.

And yet, the sense of loss weighing on him was indescribable.

“I’ll return this to you. It’s my gift for you, after all...”

Isaac placed the last portrait of Milly he had drawn in front of the tombstone.

He wiped his tears and slowly stood up.

“I’ll come again, friend.”

With that, he turned his back.

Silverna and Rianna, who was waiting for him a distance away, obviously didn’t have bright expressions on their faces.

Both of them offered handkerchiefs to him at the same time, but he refused with a gesture and tried to act as if nothing was wrong.

“Let’s go.”

After this, another farewell was waiting for Isaac.

*   *   *They walked towards a church.

A shabby and humble small church.

But, it was because of this that the place was suitable for conducting the divorce procedure that couldn’t be openly revealed to others.

A nun came out to greet the three people who had arrived.

The faint wrinkles on her face revealed that she was of an old age, but the smile on her lips and bright atmosphere made her look younger.

“I’ll stay here.”

Aware of her status as an ‘outsider’, Silverna decided to wait outside the church.

So, they left her behind, walking through the church’s yard. Then, the nun suddenly asked the remaining pair a question.

“May I ask something? There’s a knight in Helmont called Jonathan...”

Though Isaac was slightly taken aback by the mention of that unexpected name, he had enough composure to reply.

“Are you perhaps the nun who raised Jonathan?”

“Yes, yes I am! Did Jonathan talk about me? Is he doing well? He was such a unique child—”

Isaac remembered Jonathan telling him that he used to stay at a church.

But, this church wasn’t the same one as the one he mentioned, which meant, the nun moved here.

“He’s doing well. As a knight of Helmont, he fully carried out his duties. He even made a significant contribution during the Great Colony’s subjugation.”

“Is that so? What a relief. Thank you very much.”

Seeing the nun smiling in joy, a similar smile appeared on Isaac’s lips.

Jonathan used to be bullied in Helmont.

But thanks to Sharen severely scolding the knights back in the North and his achievements in hunting Brikala, that was no longer the case.

Although, he was still having difficulties suppressing his Transcendent’s instincts.

Creak.

They then entered the church.

Inside, a bishop and the princess—who had come early—were waiting for them.

Isaac glanced at Rianna.

He couldn’t feel any emotion from her expressionless face as she followed behind him.

They walked on until they arrived in front of the altar, facing the bishop. The bishop then cleared his throat and began politely.

“Marriage is a sacred and beautiful vow bestowed by God.”

“...”

“...”

“You two have judged that you can no longer continue this marital relationship. Thus, we have gathered here to beseech God.”

The candles flickered.

In the silence, only the bishop’s voice echoed.

“Remember, you who have chosen to part ways. From now on, you must live humbly, seeking for God’s guidance. After today’s ceremony ends, you must live purely in your respective lives, praying for God’s mercy.”

As Isaac listened to the bishop’s words.

Various memories flashed through his mind.

[I want to cross the river.]

An abrupt first greeting.

[You must be the one.]

A somewhat expected enticement.

[Let’s get married.]

An equally abrupt proposal.

[I want you.]

The sight of the parting river that changed his life forever.

[Ria, in flower language, purple lilac means first love.]

A single flower representing his feelings.

The fact that even after all these good memories, they reached this point in their lives...

A bitter, painful feeling rose in his heart.

“Isaac Helmont. Do you acknowledge that you must now put down the vow you made before God, and go your separate ways?”

At the bishop’s question, Isaac felt something catch in his throat for a moment.

Regardless, he had vowed to live this life differently.

He had made that resolution, and because his feelings for Rianna were no longer the same as before.

“Yes, I do.”

Isaac declared, his voice shook a little.

“Rianna Helmont. Do you acknowledge that you must now put down the vow you made before God, and go your separate ways?”

“...”

Silence enveloped the place.

But it didn’t last long.

“Yes.”

Calmly, just like usual...

“I do.”

Rianna declared matter-of-factly.

“Then, we will proceed with the Severance Ring. Both of you, please face each other.”

The Severance Ring.

In short, it was the act of exchanging wedding rings that couples had shared as a promise.

A vow signifying that they had completely parted ways.

The two slowly faced each other.

First, Isaac carefully extended his hand, and Rianna placed her left hand on top of it.

On top of the rough, shabby, and worn-out ring.

“...”

Isaac carefully removed it from his hand.

Then, it was Rianna’s turn.

She extended her hand.

Isaac gently placed her palm on top of it.

Then, slowly and carefully, Rianna removed the ring.

The ring didn’t come off as easily as expected, but eventually, she managed to take it off her finger.

“Witnesses! Clarisse Evangel Regardia and Helia Bell will testify to today’s divorce!”

The bishop raised both his hands, blessing the pair while shouting.

“Now! I declare in the name and power of God! You two are no longer husband and wife! Your union has been dissolved starting today!”

His empty left hand felt unusually light yet also heavy.

The pocket containing Rianna’s ring had a stinging sensation.

As he slowly raised his head, which he had lowered without realizing, Rianna clenched her fists tightly.

“I-Isaac—“

Though she wanted to hold it in somehow.

In the end...

“I-I’m sorry.”

She apologized, her tears flowing.

“I-I’m really sorry.”

“Rianna...”

“Hic! T-That I...c-couldn’t do more for you—“

Her tears didn’t stop.

“T-That things ended up like this—”

Before he realized it...

Isaac...

Had already embraced her.

Rianna buried herself in his embrace, bursting into tears.

“Hic! I-Isaac, I-I’m sorry. I-I couldn’t take better care of you! I-I...couldn’t do anything for you—! I-I’m so sorry!”

Feeling as if his chest was being crushed, Isaac finally closed his eyes tightly.

He just couldn’t bear himself to look at her now.

“P-Please...! B-Be happy... Y-You have to...”

“I will, Rianna.”

“I-Isaac, y-you... T-The fact that you were my husband...r-really...really...”

Amidst her hot breaths, mixing with tears.

She uttered her confession.

“M-Made me happy.”

*   *   *Creak! Creak!

The sunset was about to fall, sneaking it.

Isaac was about to finish his work, rowing his last passenger.

Said passenger was staring blankly at the river with her red eyes.

[Hey, Isaac.]

‘How many times do I have to tell you not to call me when I’m rowing? I can’t concentrate.’

Rianna just ignored his complaint and continued.

[If you get married later, how are you gonna live?]

‘...?!’

Almost dropping his oar in surprise, Isaac asked back with wide eyes.

‘A-Are you trying to propose to me right now?!’

At those words, Rianna waved her hands in panic.

[N-No! I was just curious. You see, I’ve received several marriage proposals recently.]

Marriage proposals.

For some reason, Isaac felt a strange jealousy, but he pretended not to care and resumed rowing.

‘Well, I’ll just live normally. How else am I gonna live?’

[Normally...?]

‘Living quietly with my partner together. Having children together, raising them together. Though we might get into a quarrel sometimes, but in the end, we’ll talk it out and resolve it.’

[...]

As if she was a child listening to a fairy tale.

Rianna listened intently to Isaac’s story with round eyes.

‘Then, when our child grows up, and gets beaten by some other kid, we’ll go together and beat them back. When they grow older again, and say that they don’t want to sleep with their mom and dad anymore, we’ll make a separate room for them.’

[...]

‘Something like that, I guess.’

Isaac shrugged.

At those words, Rianna calmly replied.

[True. I doubt that only good things will happen.]

For once, the noble young lady spoke the truth.

At that, Isaac smiled and rowed vigorously.

‘Well, that might be true, but...’

[...But?]

‘Since we’d be living with someone that we love, we’ll still be able to smile at the end of the day.’

[...]

Hearing those words, Rianna didn’t say anything more.

She just folded her hands and closed her eyes tightly.

As if she was dreaming. Maybe, she was actually imagining such days.

Then.

With a soft voice...

[Ah.]

She whispered with a smile.

[So that’s what happiness looks like.]