A few days had passed since Karen's wedding.
Although he had requested a meeting with Princess Adeline on the day of the wedding, all he was told was that it would take some time. In the end, they never met.
"…Things aren't looking good right now."
Likewise, Princess Clarice, whom he hadn't seen in a while, suddenly came to visit—and what she said was quite shocking.
"Not looking good?"
"Yes, not good at all. Especially since my sister has been moving around quite busily."
"What's the issue? Aren't we handling the external threats just fine?"
Even in the face of the invasion by the beings known as the Transcendents, the knights of the outer regions had banded together to block them.
From Isaac's standpoint, someone who could be called a central figure, it was frustrating that they couldn't strengthen their internal foundation.
"Sigh… Exactly."
Clarice sighed in self-blame, clearly aware of this already.
She looked as though she couldn't believe this mess was happening even with her sister around.
"That's why I'm saying this isn't a normal situation. Someone is clearly stirring things up behind the scenes."
"Stirring things up?"
"You know about my sister's banquets, right? She invites capable and loyal nobles she's carefully selected. Nobles always want to be invited at least once."
"Yes, I'm aware."
Though he hadn't told Clarice, Isaac himself had been invited a few times.
"But at the banquet yesterday, half of the invited nobles didn't show up."
"…!"
"They all gave different reasons and excuses, of course. But you get it, right? It's obvious something's wrong."
"I see."
"I did think it was odd that this banquet came so soon after the last one… I think my sister must've sensed something was off too. She's got a great instinct for these things."
At the very least, Isaac understood now that Princess Adeline was extremely busy.
As he thought that, he looked at Karen, who had prepared the tea.
She had just returned from her honeymoon and was back from her break. It must have been quite hurtful that her wedding speech had been politicized.
"Um, Princess, about what I asked last time—"
"Oh! Right! That's right!"
Clarice said as she looked toward Karen.
"I did ask about the wedding speech. Here."
She pulled out a scroll from inside her cloak.
It was a beautifully written speech, with the royal seal stamped at the bottom.
"This was the original speech. Which means my sister's speech was changed. We're currently investigating that too."
Isaac took the scroll and checked the contents before handing it to Karen.
"The wound may not disappear, but I hope it brings you some comfort."
"…Thank you, Princess. And thank you, Baron."
Karen bowed deeply as she accepted the speech. Though the contents were touching, the fact that the wedding had been ruined remained unchanged.
"Still, knowing it wasn't Princess Adeline's intention helps put my mind at ease a little."
What's done is done.
Karen said that it was the most meaningful comfort she could receive, but her expression was still somber.
Clarice looked at Karen with guilt. She thought that continuing the conversation would only bring Karen more pain, so she naturally shifted the topic.
"The real reason I came is that I need to ask Isaac for a favor."
"Seems like the only reason you ever come here is to ask for favors."
"Well, if I came to ask you on a date, you wouldn't meet me anyway."
"..."
"Do you have a death wish? Last time I asked you to hang out, why didn't you reply?"
"..."
"Huh? I'm getting pissed off."
Clarice clenched her tiny fists and growled playfully.
Isaac averted his gaze and gave an awkward cough.
"Ahem, so what is it that you need from me?"
"Make sure to behave properly next time. Ignoring a letter from a princess?! I could charge you with treason and turn you into my 'Na-jak-jak'!"
"…What is 'Na-jak-jak'?"
"My own little Isaac."
A brief silence.
The momentary pause felt both like a joke and somehow sincere, leaving Isaac bewildered.
"Ahem, one of the people who didn't attend the banquet yesterday was Captain Veros of the Royal Guard."
"…The Captain of the Guard?"
"Yes. And isn't it true that you're currently instructing the Guard?"
"I'm actually supposed to meet them today."
"Perfect timing. Try to feel him out, will you? He told my sister it was just because he wasn't feeling well, but come on, who would believe that?"
"Understood."
***
Knight Academy Training Grounds.
Beyond the assembling Royal Guard, preparing for their upcoming training—
From one corner of the field, the clash of two greatswords echoed loudly.
Clang! Clang!
With the weighty but crisp sound only large swords could make, the two figures locked in combat drew everyone's attention—fitting for warriors from the Helmut name.
"Crimson Flame Wave!"
Seeing the concentrated red force on Sharen's greatsword, Jonathan quickly plunged his own sword into the ground, using it like a shield in preparation to defend.
In an instant, Sharen lunged forward with a rush of crimson light.
"Damn—!"
It was a fake-out.
He only realized it when Sharen was already right in front of him.
Her greatsword, imbued with crimson energy, flared like fire as it struck—and Jonathan was sent rolling back in defeat.
"Hmph! Idiot! Just because I yell out a skill name doesn't mean I'm actually going to use it!"
"Ughhh…"
"Get up! I'm still mad you ditched us to go see Sister Bell!"
"I-I said I was sorry!"
Jonathan awkwardly got up.
He could accept being scolded or even losing a match—but being outplayed psychologically by Sharen stung his pride the most.
Since that day, Jonathan had been staying at Sister Bell's house.
He wanted to protect her, just in case the Blood Demon ever tried to hurt her.
"Um, Lady Sharen?"
"What?! Want me to go easy on you now?"
Though Sharen was full of confidence after showing off her power at the Helmut mansion, Jonathan changed the subject.
"Well… if you had to choose between a savior and your family… what would you do?"
"Do you have a death wish? Why would you ask me such a hard question?"
"S-sorry…"
She didn't even pretend to think about it—she shut the question down immediately.
'Haah, what should I do…'
He knew.
In his head, he knew he had to tell Isaac about the Blood Demon.
'…What should I even call her?'
[Big Sister.]
But the reason he kept hesitating—
[Call me Big Sister.]
—was because he suddenly had something he never thought he'd have: family.
He used to say he didn't need it, but now that he had someone by his side, he realized—
That all of it was just jealousy.
He had pretended he didn't need it because he was ashamed of being envious.
He knew he absolutely had to tell Isaac—but Isaac only gave protection to half-bloods.
A Transcendent, especially a 'primordial' one, would never be tolerated.
Isaac dying to the Blood Demon—
The Blood Demon dying to Isaac—
Jonathan didn't want to see either outcome.
"…But you know,"
As he spaced out, staring up at the ceiling, Sharen mumbled softly.
"Whatever it is… don't waver."
"Huh?"
"I just think… when you're hesitating, you're really just postponing the decision."
"Postponing…?"
"If you wait too long… you end up losing everything."
"..."
"That's what my sister said."
Jonathan slowly opened his eyes.
It wasn't like Sharen had some profound revelation when she said that.
She had just seen something happen—and simply voiced what she understood from it.
"…I see."
At her words, Jonathan nodded slowly, as if something had clicked within him.
Who was he, really?
As Sister Bell had once said:
[That child wanted to acknowledge his own instincts—and overcome them.]
The overwhelming swordplay of Arandel Helmut that he had once witnessed—
From the moment he saw that, Jonathan had only one path.
To become a knight of Helmut.
***
"Why did you do it?"
After finishing the Royal Guard's training session, Isaac called Captain Veros over.
In a quiet corner of the training ground, both of them wore grim expressions.
Veros responded with a prepared answer, as though he'd been expecting the question.
"I told you already. I wasn't feeling well. That's why I didn't attend."
"…You must have heard as well—'half' of them didn't attend."
Veros's expression darkened.
He had declined the banquet due to the Blood Demon's request, but he hadn't expected so many others to be absent too.
He understood now that he had inadvertently tightened the noose around the princess's neck.
But the fleeting image of his daughter—her faint smile—hardened his resolve.
The faint hope of a full recovery, something he once believed impossible.
Having already crossed the river, there was no turning back now.
"I say this just in case… you haven't forgotten what happened to the former Patrons, have you?"
"..."
"Her Highness built her reputation by exposing those who colluded with Transcendents. If it turns out that you—"
"What are you saying?!"
Veros's voice rang out across the training ground, trembling with emotion.
"If—!"
Which is why Isaac pressed on.
"If you really did conspire with them, this isn't just simple betrayal. It could jeopardize the princess's entire standing."
He was the closest aide to Princess Adeline. His betrayal would spark doubt about her judgment.
"Even the provincial nobles have recently started rebelling against her—"
"That's enough! Stop right there!"
Veros turned his back, unable to bear hearing more.
He had thought it was just a small favor.
He had believed it would not hurt the princess.
But now, after following the Blood Demon's requests, he realized he had already crossed the point of no return.
As Veros left the training ground, his eyes drifted toward Jonathan in the distance.
'Should I warn him to keep his mouth shut?'
Jonathan, too, had been swayed by the Blood Demon.
Should he issue a warning?
But Veros did not.
Maybe it was an act of trust—or a sliver of hope that someone would stop him before he lost control completely.
"..."
Watching Veros's back as he walked away, Isaac felt a deep unease in his heart.
"U-Um, Sir Isaac… I mean, Baron Logan!"
Jonathan approached cautiously, fidgeting nervously before taking a deep breath and speaking.
"I have something to tell you."