What he wanted.
Even bringing up the war with the Transcendents—what was it that Isaac truly wanted?
Clarice was half-expectant, half-worried.
'Isaac isn't the type to desire material wealth.'
Whatever it was he wanted, Clarice wished to grant it if she could. Though Isaac was already scheduled to be promoted to the rank of Count at the victory banquet a month from now—
That was a gift from Princess Adeline. She wanted to give him something of her own, separately.
"What is it? Please tell me."
Clarice smiled, urging him gently, and Isaac calmly replied.
"I want a fief."
"Oh…"
Clarice paused at his answer—not just because it was unexpected, but because it was something she thought Isaac would've turned down even if offered.
"That's so random and surprising. Since you're already set to be promoted, granting you a fief won't be difficult, but… is there a specific territory you have in mind?"
"Yes, I do."
"It's not Helmut or something, right? You're not planning to get revenge on the family that abandoned you?"
"..."
Isaac looked genuinely baffled at her absurd assumption.
Clarice also realized how ridiculous it sounded and awkwardly cleared her throat, regaining her composure.
"Alright then, go ahead."
"Volten."
"Ah, Volten… Wait, what?! Volten?!"
And what was Volten?
The city of the Volten Rebellion, a place known as a haven for addicts and criminals.
And—
It was also Millie's hometown.
"I want to do what I can. Even if it's just for self-satisfaction, I still want to do it."
"..."
After the Baron of Volten was killed by Isaac, the city had been more or less left abandoned.
At first, the royal palace had sent a noble to manage the area, but as the war with the Transcendents escalated, there was no longer the capacity to keep an eye on back-alley cities like Volten.
So it would be a good thing if Isaac took over, but—
"Isaac, you do know how Volten sees you, right?"
Though it had been necessary, Isaac had severed the root cause at its source. But to the people of the city, Isaac was close to a calamity, a walking terror.
He had quashed what was practically a full-blown riot all on his own, leaving a trail of blood in the process.
It was also the incident that first added a shade of infamy to Isaac's name.
"If you go, I'm sure you'll handle it well. Honestly, Volten was one of the problems we needed to address anyway. But—"
Glancing at Isaac, Clarice sighed.
"Are you sure you don't want a break? Let's take a walk around town? I even brought a disguise."
She pulled out a hat and scarf, using them to hide her face.
It seemed this outing had been her original reason for coming today.
"I'm sorry. I already toured the city with Silverna yesterday."
"..."
Clarice stiffened slightly at Isaac's humble rejection.
"Haah, thanks to being born a princess, most things have always gone my way…"
She awkwardly put the hat and scarf back, grumbling a bit.
"Maybe it's because you don't fall into my hands so easily… or maybe because you're not shaken even by my status as a princess—"
With a self-mocking smile, Clarice gently placed her hand on Isaac's chest.
"You really are tempting. I can see why my sister wants you."
"..."
Tap tap.
Her fingers lightly tapped against his chest as she nodded.
"Alright, new Baron of Volten. Though I suppose you'll become the Count of Volten in a month… Either way, granting you the fief won't be difficult. Everyone avoids that place anyway."
"Thank you."
"Well, maybe it's better this way. I always felt like if I let go of you for a moment, you'd just up and disappear to somewhere far away."
That might have been the case—before their conversation at Millie's grave.
But now, things were different.
There was no longer a reason to leave. He no longer had things he had to do, but instead, things he wanted to do.
"You don't have to worry."
"I see. It's a little disappointing that you won't be in Evergard, but… as long as I know where you are, I can always come visit."
With a slightly relieved expression, the princess nodded, deciding to be satisfied with this—for now.
***
From that day onward, Isaac still valued sword training, but more importantly, he focused on reading and seeking advice.
What he held wasn't a sword, but a map of Volten.
He visited many nobles to learn about estate management and small, practical tips.
Anyone around him could tell just how serious he was about reviving Volten.
However, there were those who felt anxious—namely, the women around him.
"..."
"..."
Seeing Isaac so absorbed in something was admirable.
Liana and Silverna both found his image—locked away in his private office, pouring over maps—very charming.
"…Isn't he ignoring us a bit too much?"
Liana cautiously muttered, and Silverna, beside her, nodded emphatically in agreement.
"You're right. It's just like Isaac to go and restore Volten like that, but still, he should spare a thought for the people next to him too."
The two women grumbled.
But even so, there was one reason they couldn't bring themselves to say anything.
The two women had fallen for Isaac because of the very qualities he was showing now.
And because he was returning so fully to the Isaac they had once loved, they couldn't outright reject it either.
'Only one week left until the victory celebration.'
Silverna, in particular, felt anxious.
Once the celebration ended, she was expected to return to the North.
'…What should I do?'
Of course, Liana wasn't exactly relaxed either.
As the head of House Helmut, even though she had temporarily handed over leadership to the youngest, Edel, she couldn't stay away forever.
"Isaac's being kind of cruel, don't you think?"
Eventually, the two women's grumbling at the dining table had become a sort of routine.
"…I don't think I'm in a position to complain."
Liana's expression darkened at Silverna's grumbling, but Silverna didn't stop.
"Sigh… But still, it would be nice if he considered the feelings of the women who care for him."
"We can't marry him."
"That's—"
Silverna trailed off awkwardly.
At that moment, Princess Clarice entered the room.
As time passed, she too had become a regular attendee of this little gathering.
"Already talking without me? I brought some snacks today. Let's eat before Sharen finishes them all."
With the princess joining, the conversation only grew more animated.
"Honestly, why should women like us be swayed by one man? I'm a princess, you know."
"They say the one who falls in love first loses."
Even Silverna's grumbling didn't get a denial from Clarice.
Had they been commoners, they might've openly dated and even married Isaac.
But one was the only daughter of the North.
Another, the head of a prestigious noble house.
And the third, a princess of a Kingdom.
These were women burdened with far too much responsibility to pursue a relationship based purely on personal desire.
"Sigh… Still, isn't it a bit much for him to act so indifferent?"
"Anna said she read in a novel that once a man catches the fish, he stops feeding it."
"No."
Liana shook her head at Clarice and Silverna's remarks.
Quite firmly, too.
"Isaac actually treats you better once you're his."
"I've experienced it."
The hint of pride in those last words subtly stung the other two.
But at the same time, it sparked a tinge of curiosity.
"What was it like, dating him?"
"Yeah, now I want to know."
"…Isaac used to love just disappearing somewhere on a whim. He'd suddenly sail downriver, stop at a village nearby…"
Liana's lips curled into a soft smile, as if recalling those memories.
Unlike the logical and methodical Isaac of today, he had once lived more like a carefree wanderer, chasing romantic notions.
"So I'd often be pulled along by him to some random place. Of course, because of who I was, I couldn't stay long—we always returned the same day… But I still really enjoyed it."
"..."
"..."
They all knew they couldn't expect the old Isaac back.
Still, part of them wished for just a little glimpse of the man he once was.
A soft silence settled.
"Wahaha! Look, look! I made wings with the Flame String! Butterfly Sharen!"
From outside, Sharen's cheerful voice rang out.
"Oooh… can you fly?"
And then came the drunken, slurred speech of the Grandmaster.
"I can't fly… but I can jump really high! Helmut's jump power is top-tier!"
"Ohhh, would you show me?"
"Wraaahhh!"
Boom!
"…She put a hole in the floor."
"Helmut isn't top-tier at landing…"
"If Isaac finds out, we're in trouble."
"W-What do we do, Grandmaster?! Help me!"
"…snore…"
"Don't pretend to be asleep!"
The peaceful banter drifting in from outside made the three women feel strangely warm inside.
In retrospect, they realized something.
Though their conversation had felt serious, in the grand scheme of things, it was more like affectionate grumbling.
This too was part of their daily life now—and a time they had fought to protect.
Click.
The kitchen door opened, and the man they had just been talking about walked in.
And then, Isaac spoke.
"I'll be heading out for a few days. Anyone want to come with me?"