Episode 14. I Should've Been Playing Tough
Laxus was biding his time.
A banquet would soon be held to celebrate Laxus's ascension to the throne.
Lottera had crowned Laxus Emperor that day.
And Laxus would depose Renisha that very day.
To make it the ultimate insult to Renisha.
The aides glanced at Laxus, who had a sinister smile on his face.
"Why are you all like that?"
"Ah, Your Majesty."
The aides bowed their heads submissively.
They seemed careful not to offend the Emperor in the slightest.
"The envoys have brought gifts. They said they wanted to repay the favor Her Majesty the Empress showed them during their previous visit."
"The favor Her Majesty?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. A year ago, the youngest Princess and a delegation from the Kingdom of Shamdar visited."
"But?"
“Back then, the youngest Princess was suffering from a local disease and her life was in danger, but thanks to Her Majesty the Empress’s help, she recovered.”
Laxus pushed the flesh around his eyes with his finger.
Thanks to this, his gaze became sharper, and he glared at his aides.
“Is the Empress a god? Or does she have exceptional medical skills? How could that be attributed to the Empress? It must be the palace doctor who lives off the allowance I grant him in this palace!”
“Well... when the youngest Princess’s illness was critical and she was on the verge of death, Her Majesty the Empress bestowed upon her a precious medicine from Lottera.”
“Precious medicine?”
“Yes. It’s a medicine that can revive most people, as long as they’re not dead. Do you happen to know something called ‘Rosha’s Tears’?”
“Rosha’s Tears?”
“Yes. I don’t know what it’s made of, but it’s known as a miracle drug.”
Laxus rubbed his chin.
He seemed to have heard of it. No, he knew it for sure.
It must have been the day Laxus first visited the Lottera family.
At that moment, Laxus was dying.
Laxus gasped for breath and crossed the door.
A dying illegitimate Prince. The shame of an abandoned royal family.
No nobleman would open the door for him.
The door he knocked on, trying to avoid the assassins chasing him, finally opened.
“...Thank you.”
He couldn’t even tell which family it was.
What appeared before Laxus was a small girl, likely around his age.
Knights holding torches surrounded her.
She was a beautiful girl with radiant platinum hair that adorned the night and pink eyes. She possessed the power to instantly captivate anyone.
“...Who are you? Where am I?”
“I am Renisha of the Lottera family, Your Highness. This is the Lottera mansion.”
Renisha spoke in a voice as steady as flowing water.
“Lottera... Thank you. I will never forget this favor.”
Blood flowed ceaselessly from the deep sword wound.
Heat surged to his head. His heart pounded. His vision blurred, and all sounds faded.
Perhaps relieved, only then did the pain surge.
Laxus gritted his teeth, unable to stop his sanity from crumbling.
“Bring me Rosha’s tears.”
“But, Miss!”
“We must save his dying life.”
Those were the last words he heard in his hazy mind.
Laxus recalled memories from the past.
They were old memories, but they were also unforgettable.
That day, Laxus had survived thanks to Lottera’s help.
It was Renisha’s will that opened Lottera’s door.
It was Renisha who had saved Laxus, abandoned by the imperial family.
The Duke of Lottera, belatedly realizing the situation, was troubled.
If he made a mistake, he could be drawn into political strife.
He could even have to surrender Renisha.
Instead of making that choice, Duke Lottera resolved to make Laxus the Emperor.
"That's what happened."
Lexus licked his lips.
The favor he promised he wouldn't forget truly hadn't been forgotten, and it was still tormenting him to this day.
Laxus is the Emperor created by Lottera! The true Emperor is not Laxus, but Renisha!
Everyone was looking at Laxus with such eyes.
Laxus chuckled.
"The Empress always does things for me that she doesn't have to."
"Well... if the youngest Princess had died here, there would have been an international conflict with Shamdar, Your Majesty."
The aide practically banged his head on the desk and said.
In fact, Renisha had always saved the nation from crisis.
So, it had become a habit to run to Renisha when something went wrong.
Not long ago, when heavy rains caused a major bridge to collapse, the ministers had quietly packed their documents and gone to Renisha.
Then, they would report to the Emperor.
"I suppose so. In any case, isn't it a good thing? Accept the items sent from Shamdar."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"We'd better hand them all over to Canary. Isn't the Empress about to leave this place?"
The aides looked dismayed, but Laxus didn't change his mind.
They had no choice but to obey.
While Terion was holding his blue suit, wondering where and how to cut it to make a usable tie. Finding a seamstress wasn't difficult, but finding decent blue fabric was a struggle, so he was considering reassembling the suit he'd bought. Then, like a savior, Turiel arrived at the mansion.
"Madam Turiel!"
Terion greeted her more warmly than anyone else.
Turiel spoke to Terion with a smile,
"You've welcomed me as if you've been waiting for me."
"It seems I've truly been waiting. Perhaps, perhaps, shamelessly, but truly perhaps..."
"Yes. The client sent me to assist Sir Kassius, who is unfamiliar with the affairs of the capital. I believe you're having a difficult time complying with the dress code this time."
Terion buried his face in his palms.
May Her Majesty Empress Renisha bless Hientri!
A cup of black tea, the color of poison, was placed before Turiel.
Today, Turiel drank it calmly.
"I-Is it drinkable?"
"Hmm. Just enough to moisten your throat. It's better than nothing."
Turiel smiled.
Renisha smiled, pretending to drink tea.
‘That’s right. I should have been a little more playful.’
Renisha could be lethal if necessary.
Laxus was biding his time.
A banquet would soon be held to celebrate Laxus's ascension to the throne.
Lottera had crowned Laxus Emperor that day.
And Laxus would depose Renisha that very day.
To make it the ultimate insult to Renisha.
The aides glanced at Laxus, who had a sinister smile on his face.
"Why are you all like that?"
"Ah, Your Majesty."
The aides bowed their heads submissively.
They seemed careful not to offend the Emperor in the slightest.
"The envoys have brought gifts. They said they wanted to repay the favor Her Majesty the Empress showed them during their previous visit."
"The favor Her Majesty?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. A year ago, the youngest Princess and a delegation from the Kingdom of Shamdar visited."
"But?"
“Back then, the youngest Princess was suffering from a local disease and her life was in danger, but thanks to Her Majesty the Empress’s help, she recovered.”
Laxus pushed the flesh around his eyes with his finger.
Thanks to this, his gaze became sharper, and he glared at his aides.
“Is the Empress a god? Or does she have exceptional medical skills? How could that be attributed to the Empress? It must be the palace doctor who lives off the allowance I grant him in this palace!”
“Well... when the youngest Princess’s illness was critical and she was on the verge of death, Her Majesty the Empress bestowed upon her a precious medicine from Lottera.”
“Precious medicine?”
“Yes. It’s a medicine that can revive most people, as long as they’re not dead. Do you happen to know something called ‘Rosha’s Tears’?”
“Rosha’s Tears?”
“Yes. I don’t know what it’s made of, but it’s known as a miracle drug.”
Laxus rubbed his chin.
He seemed to have heard of it. No, he knew it for sure.
It must have been the day Laxus first visited the Lottera family.
At that moment, Laxus was dying.
***
Laxus gasped for breath and crossed the door.
A dying illegitimate Prince. The shame of an abandoned royal family.
No nobleman would open the door for him.
The door he knocked on, trying to avoid the assassins chasing him, finally opened.
“...Thank you.”
He couldn’t even tell which family it was.
What appeared before Laxus was a small girl, likely around his age.
Knights holding torches surrounded her.
She was a beautiful girl with radiant platinum hair that adorned the night and pink eyes. She possessed the power to instantly captivate anyone.
“...Who are you? Where am I?”
“I am Renisha of the Lottera family, Your Highness. This is the Lottera mansion.”
Renisha spoke in a voice as steady as flowing water.
“Lottera... Thank you. I will never forget this favor.”
Blood flowed ceaselessly from the deep sword wound.
Heat surged to his head. His heart pounded. His vision blurred, and all sounds faded.
Perhaps relieved, only then did the pain surge.
Laxus gritted his teeth, unable to stop his sanity from crumbling.
“Bring me Rosha’s tears.”
“But, Miss!”
“We must save his dying life.”
Those were the last words he heard in his hazy mind.
***
Laxus recalled memories from the past.
They were old memories, but they were also unforgettable.
That day, Laxus had survived thanks to Lottera’s help.
It was Renisha’s will that opened Lottera’s door.
It was Renisha who had saved Laxus, abandoned by the imperial family.
The Duke of Lottera, belatedly realizing the situation, was troubled.
If he made a mistake, he could be drawn into political strife.
He could even have to surrender Renisha.
Instead of making that choice, Duke Lottera resolved to make Laxus the Emperor.
"That's what happened."
Lexus licked his lips.
The favor he promised he wouldn't forget truly hadn't been forgotten, and it was still tormenting him to this day.
Laxus is the Emperor created by Lottera! The true Emperor is not Laxus, but Renisha!
Everyone was looking at Laxus with such eyes.
Laxus chuckled.
"The Empress always does things for me that she doesn't have to."
"Well... if the youngest Princess had died here, there would have been an international conflict with Shamdar, Your Majesty."
The aide practically banged his head on the desk and said.
In fact, Renisha had always saved the nation from crisis.
So, it had become a habit to run to Renisha when something went wrong.
Not long ago, when heavy rains caused a major bridge to collapse, the ministers had quietly packed their documents and gone to Renisha.
Then, they would report to the Emperor.
"I suppose so. In any case, isn't it a good thing? Accept the items sent from Shamdar."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"We'd better hand them all over to Canary. Isn't the Empress about to leave this place?"
The aides looked dismayed, but Laxus didn't change his mind.
They had no choice but to obey.
***
While Terion was holding his blue suit, wondering where and how to cut it to make a usable tie. Finding a seamstress wasn't difficult, but finding decent blue fabric was a struggle, so he was considering reassembling the suit he'd bought. Then, like a savior, Turiel arrived at the mansion.
"Madam Turiel!"
Terion greeted her more warmly than anyone else.
Turiel spoke to Terion with a smile,
"You've welcomed me as if you've been waiting for me."
"It seems I've truly been waiting. Perhaps, perhaps, shamelessly, but truly perhaps..."
"Yes. The client sent me to assist Sir Kassius, who is unfamiliar with the affairs of the capital. I believe you're having a difficult time complying with the dress code this time."
Terion buried his face in his palms.
May Her Majesty Empress Renisha bless Hientri!
A cup of black tea, the color of poison, was placed before Turiel.
Today, Turiel drank it calmly.
"I-Is it drinkable?"
"Hmm. Just enough to moisten your throat. It's better than nothing."
Turiel smiled.
"Better than nothing," that was indeed fortunate.
Turiel placed what she had brought on the table.
It was a velvet-wrapped box.
Just looking at it, it radiated luxury.
Terion carefully opened the box.
“This is...!”
“Sir Kassius can take care of this. This is a tie, a handkerchief to put in his pocket, and these are gloves.”
Terion stared blankly at the items inside.
“Something seems amiss, Madame Turiel.”
“There’s nothing wrong at all. It’s exactly as the client requested.”
“...Is that so?”
Terion nodded and took in the box.
Then that was it. Aren’t these items sent by none other than Renisha?
“And she also asked me to deliver the letter inside to Sir Kassius.”
Terion looked at the small envelope and nodded.
The items were passed on to Kassius through Terion’s hands.
Kassius opened the letter before anyone else.
Renisha had boldly, fearlessly stamped her palm on Kassius’s chest.
Kassius had lost sleep because of it.
Renisha was married. Moreover, she held the title of Empress.
Of course, he knew that Renisha was being rude and insulting.
"That son of a bitch."
Even if he threw him into a dragon's jaws, he wouldn't come to his senses.
But, aside from that...
What on earth was Renisha's intention in doing such a thing to Kassius, and such a thing?
A gift from a stranger?
Let's consider it a favor as the Empress's first act.
Perhaps she was interested, since she was cherished by the Duke of Lottera. Kassius could have shrugged his shoulders at that.
Anyway. But a second gift?
Kassius scanned the letter.
"I expect to see you again, Sir Kassius."
A beautiful sight. Kassius dropped the letter he was holding.
He swallowed dryly.
The atmosphere of that day seemed to come alive again.
Even the way her hands gently stroked Kassius's tie. The way she tucked it tightly...
Slender fingers played close, tracing Kassius's skin.
Renisha's scent penetrated his lungs.
Kassius's eyes trembled.
"Damn it. What do you mean, pretty?"
Turiel placed what she had brought on the table.
It was a velvet-wrapped box.
Just looking at it, it radiated luxury.
Terion carefully opened the box.
“This is...!”
“Sir Kassius can take care of this. This is a tie, a handkerchief to put in his pocket, and these are gloves.”
Terion stared blankly at the items inside.
“Something seems amiss, Madame Turiel.”
“There’s nothing wrong at all. It’s exactly as the client requested.”
“...Is that so?”
Terion nodded and took in the box.
Then that was it. Aren’t these items sent by none other than Renisha?
“And she also asked me to deliver the letter inside to Sir Kassius.”
Terion looked at the small envelope and nodded.
The items were passed on to Kassius through Terion’s hands.
Kassius opened the letter before anyone else.
Renisha had boldly, fearlessly stamped her palm on Kassius’s chest.
Kassius had lost sleep because of it.
Renisha was married. Moreover, she held the title of Empress.
Of course, he knew that Renisha was being rude and insulting.
"That son of a bitch."
Even if he threw him into a dragon's jaws, he wouldn't come to his senses.
But, aside from that...
What on earth was Renisha's intention in doing such a thing to Kassius, and such a thing?
A gift from a stranger?
Let's consider it a favor as the Empress's first act.
Perhaps she was interested, since she was cherished by the Duke of Lottera. Kassius could have shrugged his shoulders at that.
Anyway. But a second gift?
Kassius scanned the letter.
"I expect to see you again, Sir Kassius."
A beautiful sight. Kassius dropped the letter he was holding.
He swallowed dryly.
The atmosphere of that day seemed to come alive again.
Even the way her hands gently stroked Kassius's tie. The way she tucked it tightly...
Slender fingers played close, tracing Kassius's skin.
Renisha's scent penetrated his lungs.
Kassius's eyes trembled.
"Damn it. What do you mean, pretty?"
Kassius spat out harshly.
The hand rubbing his flushed face was also rough.
Kassius lingered in the same spot and looked at the contents of the box.
Kassius let out a long sigh.
Even from afar, Renisha was shaking him.
Kassius still hadn't found an answer to give her.
Kassius ran a hand through his hair.
The fact that he hadn't found the Duke and Duchess kept bothering him.
Still, he felt like he could find the child if he traced their whereabouts.
There were traces of their movements, after all.
However, there was no sign of the Duke and Duchess leaving the mansion.
'Could it be that they met with trouble at the mansion...?'
A foreboding arose, suggesting that they might no longer be of this world, simply because they were disguised and the Emperor's knights couldn't find them.
Kassius clicked his tongue.
"That can't be. The Emperor wouldn't be lax. The same goes for Empress Renisha."
Kassius was currently concentrating on chasing Isabella.
If only he could find the child first.
Kassius let out another long breath, filled with regret.
Kassius appeared just in time.
“Why did you come now, Sir Kassius?”
Canary snapped sharply and held out her hand.
Kassius blankly stared at her hand.
“I need an escort!”
“Ah.”
Kassius frowned.
He didn’t understand why it had to be this loud, clueless woman.
Not only did she lust after married men, but she also didn’t talk well to people who didn’t even know history.
...No.
The truth was, he was displeased that this woman was one of the people who had been causing Renisha trouble.
Kassius clicked his tongue and placed Canary’s hand on his forearm.
They entered the greenhouse last.
It was where the tea party was being held today.
Renisha had been here with the ladies earlier to prepare for the tea party.
Everyone’s eyes were drawn to the last ones to appear.
Those who had been watching Canary and Kassius carefully burst into laughter.
“Pfft.”
Especially those who had seen Canary in the greenhouse that day.
“Do you really think—Sir Kassius is really into Canary?”
The hand rubbing his flushed face was also rough.
Kassius lingered in the same spot and looked at the contents of the box.
Kassius let out a long sigh.
Even from afar, Renisha was shaking him.
Kassius still hadn't found an answer to give her.
Kassius ran a hand through his hair.
The fact that he hadn't found the Duke and Duchess kept bothering him.
Still, he felt like he could find the child if he traced their whereabouts.
There were traces of their movements, after all.
However, there was no sign of the Duke and Duchess leaving the mansion.
'Could it be that they met with trouble at the mansion...?'
A foreboding arose, suggesting that they might no longer be of this world, simply because they were disguised and the Emperor's knights couldn't find them.
Kassius clicked his tongue.
"That can't be. The Emperor wouldn't be lax. The same goes for Empress Renisha."
Kassius was currently concentrating on chasing Isabella.
If only he could find the child first.
Kassius let out another long breath, filled with regret.
***
Kassius appeared just in time.
“Why did you come now, Sir Kassius?”
Canary snapped sharply and held out her hand.
Kassius blankly stared at her hand.
“I need an escort!”
“Ah.”
Kassius frowned.
He didn’t understand why it had to be this loud, clueless woman.
Not only did she lust after married men, but she also didn’t talk well to people who didn’t even know history.
...No.
The truth was, he was displeased that this woman was one of the people who had been causing Renisha trouble.
Kassius clicked his tongue and placed Canary’s hand on his forearm.
They entered the greenhouse last.
It was where the tea party was being held today.
Renisha had been here with the ladies earlier to prepare for the tea party.
Everyone’s eyes were drawn to the last ones to appear.
Those who had been watching Canary and Kassius carefully burst into laughter.
“Pfft.”
Especially those who had seen Canary in the greenhouse that day.
“Do you really think—Sir Kassius is really into Canary?”
A noblewoman quipped.
Canary turned to look at Kassius.
‘What the hell!’
Kassius was wearing a red tie, a red handkerchief, and gloves with red trim.
Canary’s face paled. It was obvious to anyone that he was head over heels in love with the Empress! After all, he had gone out of his way to wear the same colors as her.
Canary turned to look at Kassius.
‘What the hell!’
Kassius was wearing a red tie, a red handkerchief, and gloves with red trim.
Canary’s face paled. It was obvious to anyone that he was head over heels in love with the Empress! After all, he had gone out of his way to wear the same colors as her.
Renisha smiled, pretending to drink tea.
‘That’s right. I should have been a little more playful.’
Renisha could be lethal if necessary.
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