The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Household Wants A Divorce-Chapter 2: Empty Space at the Side

“What did you say?”

“I said, let’s get divorced.”

I answered Rianna as I put the ring that I took into my pocket.

Somehow, the wind felt cold in my skin.

That probably wasn’t just my imagination.

But I didn’t know why that happened, so I just brushed it off.

Meanwhile, Rianna’s contorted expression was dripping with bewilderment.

In contrast to her fiery hair and eyes, her face was icy and expressionless, but even that had finally cracked.

“You’re not even going to ask the cliché question of ‘Why?’.”

She held her breath, keeping her mouth shut.

Her eyes trembled slightly, as if I had hit the bullseye.

“Right now, we’re not living a life where anyone could think of us as a married couple.”

Separate rooms, barely any conversations, no understanding of each other.

“I believe our feelings have cooled enough to let each other go.”

Honestly, I was confused at first too.

I just couldn’t understand. Why was the deceased Rianna still wearing her wedding ring?

Could it be that she still had feelings for me?

Or did she only come to cherish me after we parted?

So many doubts, so many questions.

But, after everything that happened today, I realized that such things were meaningless.

Whether she has lingering feelings or not, it isn’t important.

What’s more important is...

That I no longer love her.

A refreshing smile spread across my face, as if a burden had been lifted.

The knot that had bound me since my previous life had finally been untangled.

Rianna’s feelings might have mattered, but my feelings were too.

After all, we were a married couple.

“Isaac...?”

Taking a step closer, I whispered softly in her ears.

“You’ve had a hard time, haven’t you? Living with such an incompetent husband like me.”

Hopefully, with that, she’d shake off any of her lingering attachments or resentments towards me.

That way, starting a new life wouldn’t be cumbersome, for both of us.

This should be enough, right?

I’ve belittled myself, admitted that I’m incompetent enough. It should be enough, right?

Rianna’s contorted expression gradually returned to its original state.

She let out a short sigh, “Haa,” and then spoke in an utterly businesslike manner.

“Father said it’s about time we have a child.”

“A child?”

Hearing this unexpected topic, a blank expression appeared on my face for a moment.

This was something I hadn’t heard of in my previous life.

Back then, I had lost one leg to the chandelier, and had to spend the rest of the day being treated by a doctor.

Well, it was irrelevant now. Rianna continued to speak.

“He doesn’t have any faith in the eldest son, Lohengrin, even until now. But, it seems like he’s planning to name him as the next heir in the upcoming Sword Dance Festival.”

The eldest son, Lohengrin.

A year older than Rianna—the eldest daughter—a man who often bullied me.

And also the reason why Rianna and I didn’t have a child, even after four years of marriage.

Because there was a possibility that she, the eldest daughter, might have to continue the family line in place of the unreliable eldest son.

The fact that they’re considering that even though they have him and the second son...

Clearly shows how competent Rianna is, and how incompetent the Helmont’s sons are.

“Are you saying that Father has finally made up his mind?”

“No matter how much he values skills over everything, Lohengrin is still a much better choice than me. If I become the family’s head, politically speaking, it would cement his incompetence.”

“So that’s why he wants you to have a child?”

“If I was named as the family head, being pregnant would prevent me from doing a lot of things. But now, he’s made up his mind about Lohengrin.”

“Ah.”

“So, we won’t need to use separate rooms anymore.”

Looking at her calmly explaining the situation, a doubt suddenly crossed my mind.

“Is this why you’ve been nervous all day?”

“I’m not.”

She stared at me. Her expressionless face was more stiff than usual.

“You are. Have I not told you before? Whenever you’re nervous, you look like you’re angry.”

“...”

At my words, Rianna poked her cheek with her finger.

Her tightly closed lips were like a silent affirmation that she, indeed, was nervous.

“In any case. That’s good news.”

“Good news?”

Rianna’s expressionless face wavered again at my words.

“The timing is perfect. You can meet a better man than me. Move on with your life.”

Thankfully she hadn’t gotten pregnant. Or else, it would be hard for us to divorce.

“A divorce would usually leave a stain on the wife’s reputation, but if the husband is the problem, it won’t be the case.”

“...”

“Kleptomania, abnormally bloodthirsty, deranged sexual preferences. Give any of such reasons, people will see you as a victim no matter what.”

“...”

“Besides, you’re the eldest daughter of Helmont. A small blemish won’t affect you at all.”

“Why?”

Rianna, who had been keeping her mouth shut until now, finally couldn’t hold back and spoke.

“What’s the reason? Why do you want a divorce so badly?”

“Because I refuse to stay in Helmont any longer.”

There was no hesitation in my answer.

It even felt like I had been waiting for this moment.

“...”

“Rianna, to others, Helmont might be a name as beautiful as a rose. But for me, someone who’s holding that rose, I couldn’t feel anything but the thorns piercing my hand.”

That was all I needed to say.

I refused to stay here for any second longer, considering that perverted Alois was spying on us from below the balcony.

“The wine makes me lightheaded, so I’ll go to bed first. We’ll talk to Father-in-law later.”

I took a step inside.

A bitter smile appeared on my face as I stared at the messy banquet hall, the fruit of today’s events.

The servants will have a hard time cleaning all of this.

I’m sorry.

But don’t worry, this will be the last time.

“Wait.”

At that moment, Rianna suddenly grabbed my wrist.

I stopped and turned to look at her, asking.

“Hm? What is it?”

Our conversation had ended up rather refreshingly.

Trying to go for the best possible conclusion, I let out a gentle smile.

In contrast to my smile, Rianna showed a rare impatience.

“I’m sorry, but we can’t get divorced. Father won’t allow it.”

“He’s always been displeased with a commoner son-in-law who can’t even handle a sword properly. If anything, he’d be happy about it.”

“It’s too sudden. Besides, Father thinks we’re getting along well.”

“That can’t be. The family head has good intuition.”

“...The social world isn’t as simple as you think. Just because you get covered in filth doesn’t mean I’m clean.”

“Haaa.”

Seeing how she seemed ready to give excuses all day long, I let out a loud sigh. Her lips stopped.

“Rianna.”

I removed the smile from the corners of my eyes.

My gaze, now cold, pierced through this woman’s eyes.

“Your brothers called me a worm who can’t even handle a sword properly. I’m now used to them calling me for spars and beating me up.”

“...”

“To your younger sister, I’m a convenient servant. I’ve been taking care of all sorts of errands; big, small, and even secret ones.”

“...”

“Your father doesn’t care about any of that at all. He’s not even interested in me in the first place. In his eyes, a son-in-law who can’t wield a sword isn’t worthy of the name Helmont.”

“Isaac.”

“And finally, the wife whom I thought would stay by my side until the end...chose to be a bystander.”

“Isaac, that’s-“

A sneer formed at the corner of my mouth.

Followed by a bitter laugh, mixed with contempt.

“Trying to make excuses now? Now you’re going to tell me there’s a reason for all that? Haa, Rianna, do you know what you should’ve said instead?”

“...”

“An apology.”

Rianna tightly closed her mouth.

Apologizing now would be like stepping on your own foot to put out an urgent fire.

It meant it was already too late.

“You still don’t understand? Rianna, in this great Helmont...”

There’s no place for me.

I roughly shook off her arms.

“Also...”

Rubbing my wrist, a bitter smile formed on my lips.

The words that followed were clad in a tone so cold that it even surprised me.

“Couples shouldn’t hold hands like that, it’s gross.”

*   *   *Rianna spent a long time on the banquet hall’s balcony.

“Sister?”

At that moment, the voice of the third son, Alois, came from behind.

That made her try not to turn her head even more.

She didn’t know what kind of expression she was making right now.

But she didn’t want to show it to anyone.

“A-Ahaha... There were many incidents today. The chandelier suddenly falling earlier today was quite surprising.”

Ah, right....

The chandelier that fell near Isaac.

If he hadn’t skillfully avoided it, a big accident could have happened.

“Why don’t you go back now—”

“Alois.”

“Yes, Sister? Is there anything I can help you with?”

Alois had always been obedient to her.

But now, she found his behavior strange, and it made her uncomfortable.

“Leave me alone.”

“Sister? Did something happen with brother-in-law today—“

She didn’t answer.

Her silence served as a warning. He shouldn’t speak any further.

“I’ll go in first, sister.”

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With a polite greeting, Alois left.

Leaving Rianna to spend more time alone here.

Then...

When she calmed down a little, she returned to her room.

Her room was much neater than usual.

The single rose in her cherished flowerpot was one of the things she always took great care of, preventing it from wilting.

She threw the prepared candles and matches on the table into the trash can.

Then, she tore off the dress she had carefully put on for today.

A maid should have helped her, but it was already late. Besides, she sent everyone away long ago.

No. Rather, she had told the maids not to come near her room today from the beginning.

The full-length mirror placed beside her caught her eye.

Inside the half-torn off dress...

There was provocative black underwear that she normally wouldn’t even take a glance at.

“...”

Without a word, she went straight to the bed.

Where there were two pillows placed.

One for her to use.

And the other one...

Stayed coldly in its place, waiting for an owner who wouldn’t ever come.