Episode 18. Poison You Can't Swallow Even If You Know It
The anniversary of Laxus's ascension to the throne was fast approaching.
Only about a week left?
Renisha, counting the days, let out a laugh.
According to Henry, Renisha would be leaving on that day.
Laxus was preparing to evict Renisha on his own.
"Hmm."
Renisha, leaning back on the sofa and looking outside, collected her thoughts.
If Renisha were to leave anyway, everyone working in the Empress's Palace would be kicked out as well. She needed to consider their future.
And it seemed best to cash out most of her valuables.
What Hiloshine needed was money, not a noblewoman entwined in precious metal. She didn't need to see what would happen to Hiloshine if she were abandoned.
Renisha tapped her cheek.
And it would be best to liquidate everything Renisha personally owned.
'Still, it's best not to sell the southern lands.'
Most of Hiloshine's lands couldn't grow grain.
Hiloshine's lands produced something other than grain, something suited to the people living there.
So, to provide as much food as possible, the southern lands were left...
Furthermore, Renisha's southern Weylston territory had enjoyed a bumper crop over the past three years, so there was plenty of grain stored in the granary. She'd sold off the other lands and liquidated them over the past week.
Everything was being prepared step by step.
Renisha closed her eyes.
Since that tea party, the number of nobles sending her private, secret letters had increased.
It was only natural, since she'd seen and felt it firsthand.
In reality, Laxus was always a mess, so there was no need to show them.
But with Canary now... She must have thought a lot.
They would remain in the center, acting as Renisha's eyes and ears.
And whenever she needed it, they would lend a hand to Renisha.
They were the ones who had purchased the land Renisha had offered.
Renisha was slowly building a relationship with them.
'Turiel should stay here, too.'
There would be no room for a clothing store in Hiloshine.
Turiel's true value lay not in Hiloshine, but here, in the center.
It would be best to leave some of the cash with Turiel.
If she offered not only the precious metals but also the dresses she had worn...
'I see someone willing to try hard to buy them.'
Renisha smiled faintly.
Even Canary should know that there are things that just won't work no matter how hard she tries.
Renisha was lost in thought, enjoying her long-awaited leisure.
"Your Majesty."
"What is it?"
"Lord Kassius has sent a messenger."
"Lord Kassius?"
Renisha sat up.
Kassius had sent him. Renisha's eyes sparkled.
“Maybe they found my brother?”
That was the only way the seemingly tactless man could contact Renisha.
“Where is he?”
“He just asked me to deliver this and left.”
Renisha accepted what Lindy offered her with a puzzled look.
< ...Auntie. >
Renisha’s eyes widened.
There was only one person in the world who could call Renisha “auntie. ”
Renisha swallowed dryly.
“Isabella...!”
Renisha hastily unfolded the letter.
< Auntie, it’s Isabella.
How have you been? I’m worried because it seems like you’ve been suffering because of the Emperor.
I’m doing well. You don’t have to worry about me.
We’ll see you soon, Auntie.
I’m writing this urgently because I want to ease your worries.
There’s so much we can’t share in writing.
Auntie, I miss you.
Please take care until the day we meet again.
From Isabella. >
Isabella was still a thoughtful girl.
It felt like she had grasped a thread that had felt like an illusion.
Renisha's fingertips were flushed with excitement.
Her heart was pounding, sending blood throughout her body.
Renisha pursed her lips.
"Isabella said she's doing well."
Knowing Renisha was looking for her, she had contacted her.
"You said he was here as Kassius's errand boy, right?"
"Where did the messenger go? Who came?"
"Hmm. He was a tall, stooped man. He just asked me to deliver this."
This could be a sign. A sign that Kassius was searching for Isabella and protecting her.
It had been over a week since Kassius had seen her either.
It wouldn't be surprising if Kassius had found Isabella in the meantime.
Renisha placed a hand over her heart.
"...Yes."
"Congratulations, Your Majesty."
Welcome news had finally arrived in Renisha's palace, a place where nothing was happy.
Renisha smiled beautifully.
Lindy wiped away a tear that was falling for some reason.
She had a feeling everything would be fine.
***
"I think the Empress is preparing to leave."
Canary giggled, examining the items on the table.
"Of course! If His Majesty has made up his mind, how could even the Empress oppose? If she's told to leave, she must."
"So."
Canary rummaged through the precious metals in the box.
She had bought what Renisha had offered.
"It's nothing special!"
"I think what you have is better and more beautiful."
“That's right. You were so arrogant. How could you buy anything good when His Majesty the Emperor didn't give you anything? Besides, you sent me the silk that was sent to the Empress.”
She planned to wear the precious silk from Shamdir to the coronation anniversary.
The thought of wearing it and teasing Renisha that day made her mouth water.
Lately, Canary had only one worry:
"I'm not pregnant."
She'd been checking regularly before her period, but she hadn't heard good news this time either.
Anxiety was lingering.
To capture Laxus's heart and ascend to the throne, she needed a child. She'd been putting in a lot of effort lately to conceive at the right time.
Not only had she been grooming Canary, she'd been spending the night with Laxus often.
But the baby wasn't conceived.
"What if I can't have a baby?"
Renisha's words lingered like a thorn in her mind.
"What if there's something wrong with Laxus, as the rumors say?"
Canary bit her lip.
No matter how much she pressed the doctor, she couldn't hear anything about the Emperor's condition.
When Canary asked about the possibility of Laxus's condition, he simply shook his head.
The doctor only said one thing to Canary, who was anxious.
"If you wish with all your heart, the baby will come."
Even if it was a slim chance, wasn't there still a chance of conceiving?
The problem lay in the word "slim."
How long could Canary wait? What if another woman took the Empress's place while Canary was procrastinating and unable to conceive?
All the tireless effort she had put into ousting Renisha would be in vain.
She exposed Renisha's weakness to the Emperor, fanning his inferiority complex.
And hadn't she done everything in her power, fearing the Emperor might enter Renisha's bedroom? She'd collapsed, tried to seduce him, even resorted to menial tasks, and achieved this, but she couldn't let it be taken away.
Canary opened her lips.
"Hey, Barbara."
"Yes, Canary. "
Canary swallowed.
"I need a child. You know that, Barbara, right?"
"Of course."
Barbara nodded vigorously.
Canary's glory was Barbara's glory.
Barbara didn't possess the impressive looks or singing ability of Canary. No matter what, the Emperor would never look at her.
So there was only one way for Barbara to enjoy glory: for Canary to rise.
Barbara was staking her life on elevating Canary.
"I must... create that child."
"Yes?"
Barbara's face was shocked.
A child wasn't something you could just wish for.
And now Canary was determined to create it.
Canary's face was already occupied with thought.
In fact, she had been thinking about the child ever since she became aware of it. The thought of Canary, now serving the Emperor, embracing another man like she used to was indeed unsettling.
Still, there was nothing she could do.
“...We don’t have much time, Barbara. In a week, the Empress will leave the palace. After that, it won’t be long before we find someone to fill her position. It will take a month or two at most. But I’m starting my period now.”
Barbara’s face hardened coldly. She understood what she meant.
Barbara’s glory could slip away.
Barbara’s dream was to become the head maid of the palace.
Starting out as a maid and becoming a head maid was the ultimate luxury Barbara could enjoy.
Originally, only nobles could hold the position.
Becoming a head maid meant becoming a noble.
There had been several who had started as maids and risen to the position.
For that to happen, Canary must become the Empress.
Barbara leaned down toward Canary.
“Just tell me, Lady Canary.”
Canary whispered, her face on the verge of tears.
“I need someone with a similar appearance to His Majesty.”
“Silver hair and purple eyes...”
The Emperor's purple eyes were a product of the blood flowing exclusively through the imperial family.
However, it was impossible to involve someone of great power and status in such a matter.
It wasn't like there was no way.
"That would be difficult. So, find someone with silver hair and green eyes."
Canary tapped her own eye.
If the child were born with green eyes, this wouldn't be discovered.
They could simply claim that the eye color resembled Canary's.
Canary thought of Laxus.
This would be beneficial to Laxus as well. Having a child would strengthen the foundation of Laxus.
This child would benefit both Laxus and Canary.
"Ah!"
Barbara exclaimed, understanding Canary's intention.
"We must do this secretly and without being caught. You understand, right?"
"Yes, Canary."
Barbara and Canary nodded with determined expressions.
If discovered, it could cost them their lives.
However, wasting time like this without accomplishing anything was not something Canary wanted.
Canary decided to gamble her life.
A child.
If only she could have that child.
And if, without any problems, that child could become the Emperor.
She could even become the Emperor's biological mother!
Canary's heart swelled.
To become someone more noble than anyone else.
That was the sweet poison.
The thought of wearing it and teasing Renisha that day made her mouth water.
Lately, Canary had only one worry:
"I'm not pregnant."
She'd been checking regularly before her period, but she hadn't heard good news this time either.
Anxiety was lingering.
To capture Laxus's heart and ascend to the throne, she needed a child. She'd been putting in a lot of effort lately to conceive at the right time.
Not only had she been grooming Canary, she'd been spending the night with Laxus often.
But the baby wasn't conceived.
"What if I can't have a baby?"
Renisha's words lingered like a thorn in her mind.
"What if there's something wrong with Laxus, as the rumors say?"
Canary bit her lip.
No matter how much she pressed the doctor, she couldn't hear anything about the Emperor's condition.
When Canary asked about the possibility of Laxus's condition, he simply shook his head.
The doctor only said one thing to Canary, who was anxious.
"If you wish with all your heart, the baby will come."
Even if it was a slim chance, wasn't there still a chance of conceiving?
The problem lay in the word "slim."
How long could Canary wait? What if another woman took the Empress's place while Canary was procrastinating and unable to conceive?
All the tireless effort she had put into ousting Renisha would be in vain.
She exposed Renisha's weakness to the Emperor, fanning his inferiority complex.
And hadn't she done everything in her power, fearing the Emperor might enter Renisha's bedroom? She'd collapsed, tried to seduce him, even resorted to menial tasks, and achieved this, but she couldn't let it be taken away.
Canary opened her lips.
"Hey, Barbara."
"Yes, Canary. "
Canary swallowed.
"I need a child. You know that, Barbara, right?"
"Of course."
Barbara nodded vigorously.
Canary's glory was Barbara's glory.
Barbara didn't possess the impressive looks or singing ability of Canary. No matter what, the Emperor would never look at her.
So there was only one way for Barbara to enjoy glory: for Canary to rise.
Barbara was staking her life on elevating Canary.
"I must... create that child."
"Yes?"
Barbara's face was shocked.
A child wasn't something you could just wish for.
And now Canary was determined to create it.
Canary's face was already occupied with thought.
In fact, she had been thinking about the child ever since she became aware of it. The thought of Canary, now serving the Emperor, embracing another man like she used to was indeed unsettling.
Still, there was nothing she could do.
“...We don’t have much time, Barbara. In a week, the Empress will leave the palace. After that, it won’t be long before we find someone to fill her position. It will take a month or two at most. But I’m starting my period now.”
Barbara’s face hardened coldly. She understood what she meant.
Barbara’s glory could slip away.
Barbara’s dream was to become the head maid of the palace.
Starting out as a maid and becoming a head maid was the ultimate luxury Barbara could enjoy.
Originally, only nobles could hold the position.
Becoming a head maid meant becoming a noble.
There had been several who had started as maids and risen to the position.
For that to happen, Canary must become the Empress.
Barbara leaned down toward Canary.
“Just tell me, Lady Canary.”
Canary whispered, her face on the verge of tears.
“I need someone with a similar appearance to His Majesty.”
“Silver hair and purple eyes...”
The Emperor's purple eyes were a product of the blood flowing exclusively through the imperial family.
However, it was impossible to involve someone of great power and status in such a matter.
It wasn't like there was no way.
"That would be difficult. So, find someone with silver hair and green eyes."
Canary tapped her own eye.
If the child were born with green eyes, this wouldn't be discovered.
They could simply claim that the eye color resembled Canary's.
Canary thought of Laxus.
This would be beneficial to Laxus as well. Having a child would strengthen the foundation of Laxus.
This child would benefit both Laxus and Canary.
"Ah!"
Barbara exclaimed, understanding Canary's intention.
"We must do this secretly and without being caught. You understand, right?"
"Yes, Canary."
Barbara and Canary nodded with determined expressions.
If discovered, it could cost them their lives.
However, wasting time like this without accomplishing anything was not something Canary wanted.
Canary decided to gamble her life.
A child.
If only she could have that child.
And if, without any problems, that child could become the Emperor.
She could even become the Emperor's biological mother!
Canary's heart swelled.
To become someone more noble than anyone else.
That was the sweet poison.
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