Episode 13. Canary's Provocation
Canary had been urging her maid since morning, her face flushed with excitement.
She chattered as if she were a songbird.
"The Empress must be absolutely devastated. Otherwise, she wouldn't invite me here."
"That's right, Lady Canary."
"She knows she's about to be kicked out, right?"
Canary's voice was a tone higher than usual.
Once the Empress was kicked out, Canary's title would be decided.
With all eyes watching, there was no way she could remain a mere government servant forever.
"Becoming Empress...!"
Canary pursed her lips.
Starting as a maid who cleaned the Empress's feet, she would rise to the highest position. She would be completely transformed from Renisha. Just as she had once longed for!
Canary hummed.
“Make me prettier. I might be wearing a dress with gold thread soon, too. Show it to Renisha. Whose place will it be now?”
“Yes, Lady Canary.”
The maid placed a jewel on Canary’s head.
Canary played with her hair.
The brown hair she had always thought was unattractive now looked beautiful.
Renisha had radiant platinum blonde hair. She had been dissatisfied with her brown hair in contrast...
‘I will become the most noble.’
Canary touched the shining green peridot in her hair with her fingertips.
Canary finished dressing up and stood up.
She followed Renisha with a dignified air, as if she were an Empress.
Canary knocked on Renisha’s greenhouse door.
Lindy made a dissatisfied face, but Renisha calmly ordered the greenhouse door to be opened.
The noble ladies gathered inside the greenhouse made dissatisfied expressions.
As always, Canary, who had come in with a light stride, dressed in extravagant attire, bowed slightly to Renisha.
“Your Majesty.”
Renisha nodded.
Renisha looked Canary down.
It was similar to Renisha’s outfit at the banquet last time.
Renisha smiled.
“Canary.”
It was clearly a mockery.
The ladies waved their fans. The excitement that had gathered seemed to dissipate for a moment.
Renisha stared at Canary with a crooked gaze.
“What is it?”
“I came to express my gratitude. I wanted to express my gratitude for inviting me to this tea party.”
While her words were polite, Canary’s tone and gaze were utterly rude.
It was as if she were looking down on Renisha.
The ladies frowned.
Hosting tea parties and inviting people were Renisha’s own decisions. Since she couldn’t know the inner workings of the palace, she might have felt pressure from the Emperor.
Whether Renisha's position was in jeopardy or not, the noble ladies considered Canary vulgar.
"Thank you."
Renisha snickered.
"So, are we done now?"
Canary gritted her teeth.
She'd thought Renisha had backed out, but now there was a faint contempt in her gaze, as if she were standing in a place she could never reach.
"...Do you know that?"
At the banquet, Kassius had clearly taken Renisha's side.
He had sharpened his gaze as if Renisha were some great figure to him.
In reality, Kassius had only said the right thing, but that didn't matter to Canary, who was in a state of discontent.
Right now, he wanted to contort Renisha's face, no matter what.
If only she could crush that calm expression!
“That knight, Sir Kassius. He agreed to be my partner this time. I thought he adored Your Majesty the Empress. But I guess not. He grabbed my outstretched hand.”
Canary smiled.
“Perhaps Sir Kassius had his tastes in me, not in the noble Your Majesty the Empress. Indeed, that’s true. Don’t men usually prefer gentle women like me to stiff ones? The Emperor is no exception.”
Renisha let out a sharp laugh.
Was she bragging?
What was surprising was how the Emperor and Canary were acting so assiduously at Renisha’s behest.
The Emperor had really brought Kassius to Canary to win him over.
Aside from that, Renisha’s mood was already at rock bottom.
There was no need for Canary to come all the way here and insult Renisha.
If she had, she wouldn't have cared if she was arrogant and proud.
Canary foolishly invited Renisha's wrath.
"Really?"
Renisha said softly.
"I didn't realize you had such charm."
"I have a word for Your Majesty. Don't act like a piece of wood. What if even Kassius runs away?"
He implied that Renisha would be sent to Kassius, while mockingly suggesting that Kassius would abandon her as well.
The ladies stared at Canary in awe.
It was so vulgar to openly insult the Empress.
"Canary! Enough! Have you forgotten where you are and who you are before?"
One of the ladies cried.
"Oh, it's an honor. You even talk to me."
She always avoided her as if she had seen something dirty.
Canary pursed her lips.
“I thought you couldn’t see me. You didn’t even know how to say hello.”
Canary shrugged.
“Canary. Don’t you regret that?”
Canary turned her head at Renisha’s heavy voice.
Renisha’s pink eyes were burning with fighting spirit.
“What do I have to regret?”
Canary tilted her head cutly.
“Canary seems to be right. Lord Kassius and His Majesty the Emperor. They like me more than Your Majesty the Empress. It's a proven fact, Your Majesty.”
Canary had been urging her maid since morning, her face flushed with excitement.
She chattered as if she were a songbird.
"The Empress must be absolutely devastated. Otherwise, she wouldn't invite me here."
"That's right, Lady Canary."
"She knows she's about to be kicked out, right?"
Canary's voice was a tone higher than usual.
Once the Empress was kicked out, Canary's title would be decided.
With all eyes watching, there was no way she could remain a mere government servant forever.
"Becoming Empress...!"
Canary pursed her lips.
Starting as a maid who cleaned the Empress's feet, she would rise to the highest position. She would be completely transformed from Renisha. Just as she had once longed for!
Canary hummed.
“Make me prettier. I might be wearing a dress with gold thread soon, too. Show it to Renisha. Whose place will it be now?”
“Yes, Lady Canary.”
The maid placed a jewel on Canary’s head.
Canary played with her hair.
The brown hair she had always thought was unattractive now looked beautiful.
Renisha had radiant platinum blonde hair. She had been dissatisfied with her brown hair in contrast...
‘I will become the most noble.’
Canary touched the shining green peridot in her hair with her fingertips.
Canary finished dressing up and stood up.
She followed Renisha with a dignified air, as if she were an Empress.
***
Canary knocked on Renisha’s greenhouse door.
Lindy made a dissatisfied face, but Renisha calmly ordered the greenhouse door to be opened.
The noble ladies gathered inside the greenhouse made dissatisfied expressions.
As always, Canary, who had come in with a light stride, dressed in extravagant attire, bowed slightly to Renisha.
“Your Majesty.”
Renisha nodded.
Renisha looked Canary down.
It was similar to Renisha’s outfit at the banquet last time.
Renisha smiled.
“Canary.”
It was clearly a mockery.
The ladies waved their fans. The excitement that had gathered seemed to dissipate for a moment.
Renisha stared at Canary with a crooked gaze.
“What is it?”
“I came to express my gratitude. I wanted to express my gratitude for inviting me to this tea party.”
While her words were polite, Canary’s tone and gaze were utterly rude.
It was as if she were looking down on Renisha.
The ladies frowned.
Hosting tea parties and inviting people were Renisha’s own decisions. Since she couldn’t know the inner workings of the palace, she might have felt pressure from the Emperor.
Whether Renisha's position was in jeopardy or not, the noble ladies considered Canary vulgar.
"Thank you."
Renisha snickered.
"So, are we done now?"
Canary gritted her teeth.
She'd thought Renisha had backed out, but now there was a faint contempt in her gaze, as if she were standing in a place she could never reach.
"...Do you know that?"
At the banquet, Kassius had clearly taken Renisha's side.
He had sharpened his gaze as if Renisha were some great figure to him.
In reality, Kassius had only said the right thing, but that didn't matter to Canary, who was in a state of discontent.
Right now, he wanted to contort Renisha's face, no matter what.
If only she could crush that calm expression!
“That knight, Sir Kassius. He agreed to be my partner this time. I thought he adored Your Majesty the Empress. But I guess not. He grabbed my outstretched hand.”
Canary smiled.
“Perhaps Sir Kassius had his tastes in me, not in the noble Your Majesty the Empress. Indeed, that’s true. Don’t men usually prefer gentle women like me to stiff ones? The Emperor is no exception.”
Renisha let out a sharp laugh.
Was she bragging?
What was surprising was how the Emperor and Canary were acting so assiduously at Renisha’s behest.
The Emperor had really brought Kassius to Canary to win him over.
Aside from that, Renisha’s mood was already at rock bottom.
There was no need for Canary to come all the way here and insult Renisha.
If she had, she wouldn't have cared if she was arrogant and proud.
Canary foolishly invited Renisha's wrath.
"Really?"
Renisha said softly.
"I didn't realize you had such charm."
"I have a word for Your Majesty. Don't act like a piece of wood. What if even Kassius runs away?"
He implied that Renisha would be sent to Kassius, while mockingly suggesting that Kassius would abandon her as well.
The ladies stared at Canary in awe.
It was so vulgar to openly insult the Empress.
"Canary! Enough! Have you forgotten where you are and who you are before?"
One of the ladies cried.
"Oh, it's an honor. You even talk to me."
She always avoided her as if she had seen something dirty.
Canary pursed her lips.
“I thought you couldn’t see me. You didn’t even know how to say hello.”
Canary shrugged.
“Canary. Don’t you regret that?”
Canary turned her head at Renisha’s heavy voice.
Renisha’s pink eyes were burning with fighting spirit.
“What do I have to regret?”
Canary tilted her head cutly.
“Canary seems to be right. Lord Kassius and His Majesty the Emperor. They like me more than Your Majesty the Empress. It's a proven fact, Your Majesty.”
Renisha pursed her lips.
“I see. Well understood, Canary.”
“I’ll be going now, Your Majesty. And those of you who are blind.”
Canary abruptly turned around in annoyance.
In the end, she didn’t see Renisha’s face contort.
Or even crawling at her feet.
“Are you acting so arrogantly in front of ladies! Even though you sent me an invitation! You're trying to acknowledge me?"
Canary asked, her voice trailing off.
Renisha stared silently at her back for a moment.
"Your Majesty, why are you holding back?"
"Did it seem to you that I was holding back?"
Renisha slowly turned around.
She looked like a beast, waiting for its moment, its breath held, its anger lingering.
"No. I'm not holding back."
Renisha unfurled her fan.
Each and every gesture had the power to captivate.
The ladies' eyes were drawn to Renisha.
"I'm waiting. Canary will naturally learn her place. Is there any need to play along to that beat?"
She was the very image of an elegant Empress.
Renisha was smiling, but the ladies could only swallow, gripped by tension.
That afternoon, Renisha gave Lindy an order.
***
A blue suit.
Terion searched the streets for a blue suit that wasn't even sold often at the cheapest clothing store.
Terion paced anxiously in front of the bedroom.
The knights who had witnessed Terion enter with a blindingly bright blue suit in his arms were waiting for Kassius with expectant faces.
Tesha, sandwiched between them, looked slightly uncomfortable.
“What’s wrong, Tesha?”
“...Do you really think that suit is right?”
“Right? Tesha, you think so too?”
The knights chuckled.
“Nobles’ tastes are truly unpredictable.”
Tesha sighed deeply amidst the giggling knights.
The bedroom door opened amidst the gazes of many.
“Ha.”
A sigh escaped through the silence. Kassius, emerging from the door, hesitated like a newlywed.
“It’s small.”
“It’s so blue.”
“It looks like it’s going to burst.”
“Pfft, hoot, hoot!”
Comments poured out from all sides.
And the ending was the same: everyone turned their faces and burst into laughter. They hadn’t custom-made it; they’d bought it cheaply, pre-made. It also contained a determination to never look back on this suit again. Kassius, staggering out, fiddled with his shirt, which looked like it was about to burst. It looked as if the buttons would pop off at any moment. With his hands on his hips, Kassius asked irritably,
And the ending was the same: everyone turned their faces and burst into laughter. They hadn’t custom-made it; they’d bought it cheaply, pre-made. It also contained a determination to never look back on this suit again. Kassius, staggering out, fiddled with his shirt, which looked like it was about to burst. It looked as if the buttons would pop off at any moment. With his hands on his hips, Kassius asked irritably,
"Do I really have to go to this dinner?"
“Keep in mind that the official document hasn’t been issued yet.”
Terion said solemnly, barely holding back a laugh.
The Emperor was holding back on issuing the document, seemingly intending to manipulate Kassius with it.
“There must be some hidden agenda."
“Keep in mind that the official document hasn’t been issued yet.”
Terion said solemnly, barely holding back a laugh.
The Emperor was holding back on issuing the document, seemingly intending to manipulate Kassius with it.
“There must be some hidden agenda."
"Are you suggesting we let them control it?"
“We’ll have to keep it that way for a while.”
“You want me to go to the palace like this clown?”
“I think I can make everyone in attendance laugh.”
Kassius’s eyes widened sharply at Terion’s words. He was about to rip off his jacket and throw it on the floor, watching the knights giggle.
Tesha cautiously raised his hand.
“Um... I think I can handle this.”
The little boy’s voice echoed through the hallway.
“How?”
The color combination was a mess to begin with. That red hair and blue suit.
But how was he going to resolve this situation?
Tesha cleared her throat. Everyone was looking at Tesha, feeling burdened.
“I-I don’t think you really have to wear a blue suit. I’ve seen it in gossip and such, but maybe just carrying a blue accessory would be enough...”
Tesha mumbled.
The knights, who had only ever been on the battlefield and far removed from social gatherings, applauded.
Kassius picked up the blue suit he was about to throw away.
The bright blue suit was so shiny it hurt his eyes.
“You have a suit you received as a gift before, don’t you? You can make a tie and wear it. If you give money to a woman nearby, she’ll make you a usable tie.”
“That sounds better.”
Kassius entered the bedroom as if he was about to take off his pants.
His pants were so tight that they felt like they were going to burst open at his thighs.
The knights giggled again at his shambling back.
Tesha sighed, having been stopped from entering the palace in such an embarrassing state.
“But Tesha, when have you ever seen anything like that?”
The knights tore off Tesha’s hat and tousled his hair.
Tesha laughed awkwardly.
“Well, well. I have nothing to do here...”
The knights laughed heartily, without a trace of suspicion.
“This guy! He saved our Lord Kassius because he has such a keen eye!”
“Aren’t the knights just so clueless?”
Tesha muttered.
The knights burst into laughter and gently patted Tesha’s chestnut-shaped head.
Terion tilted his head and watched.
“You’ve encountered gossip or something like that? Since coming to the island?”
Terion snickered.
“As expected of a child.”
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