Episode 20. Ruined
Kassius had come to that conclusion.
Seeing Tesha's reaction, his thoughts became firmer.
Kassius knew full well how his massive frame would appear to the child.
Kassius pulled a chair from the kitchen and sat down, bringing him roughly eye level with the child.
"Tesha."
"...Sir Cassius."
Tesha pursed his lips, his face as if about to cry.
"If you have something to say to me, feel free to do so."
Tesha stepped back.
His small face, hidden by his large hat, was terrified.
Kassius guessed that Tesha's secret wasn't light.
"Slowly. Tesha, speak slowly. Did you send something to Empress Renisha?"
Kassius thought he had used the softest voice he could muster.
He certainly thought so.
Until Tesha suddenly burst into tears.
"Huh, huhh..."
Kassius stared bewildered at Tesha, who was crouching on the floor, tears streaming down her face.
Kassius kicked up from the chair he had been leisurely sitting on.
“Te, Tesha?”
Just as Kassius blurted out his words, the knights, feeling a pang of frustration, rushed into the kitchen.
They saw Kassius standing menacingly and Tesha crouching down, sobbing.
The knights who had been chatting idly quickly blocked Tesha’s path.
“Say it.”
“What great sin did this little thing commit... Why is he crying when he could just say it out loud?”
“You’re not going to hit him, are you?”
Kassius blinked blankly.
It was unfair, but he couldn’t say it.
“I-I’m sorry, Tesha.”
That was all he could say.
Turiel couldn’t wait for Kassius any longer and left.
The fact that Kassius had left so suddenly meant that he had some preconceived notion.
All she had to do was confirm that the gift Renisha had received had indeed been sent from Kassius's mansion.
Turiel left behind his newly tailored suit.
Kassius returned a long time after Turiel had left.
His face was worn out, as if he had been doing something.
"Sir, what happened?"
Terion asked worriedly.
"Whew. No, it's okay."
Kassius waved his hand.
Tesha was sweating profusely, trying to calm herself down.
The clueless knights kept pestering Kassius to apologize, and he had to repeat the apology until Tesha's tears stopped.
Tesha shook his head as if trying to say something, but the knights blocked him like a child's shield and remained motionless.
"I have nothing to say. It's all my fault."
"Of course! How dare you threaten him when we're so different in weight class? Sir Kassius is truly at fault."
Kassius stared blankly at the knights, their eyes widening, then, after confirming that Tesha had calmed down, returned to the reception room.
“...Madam Turiel?”
“She went back because she had an appointment.”
“Yes.”
Kassius nodded.
He thought he could finally catch his breath.
But then Terion threw a stone at Kassius, who was already tired.
“Sir, I have something to tell you,”
Terion said with a solemn expression.
Kassius turned his head to look at him.
Now that he thought about it, Terion had the same expression he had when he was about to go to war.
Especially when he had come to see Kassius with that expression the day before the final battle.
“What?”
“...The Emperor seems to be thinking terrible thoughts.”
“That bastard is terrible in and of himself, so I guess everything he thinks is terrible too.”
Kassius said sarcastically.
Every time he saw the Emperor’s attitude toward Renisha, he felt sick.
The very fact that he was sharing the same sky with such a person was unbelievable.
“He’s not at that level.”
“Speak.”
Kassius spoke irritably. The day had suddenly become tiring.
Finally, Terion spoke what he had wanted to say.
"...It seems the Emperor is planning to marry the Empress to the Lord."
Terion gasped and covered his mouth, as if he'd uttered something absolutely forbidden.
"What? What the hell is this?"
Kassius felt like he was going crazy.
“The Emperor and the Empress? You seem to have caught the madness. I think it would be best to get away from the empire as quickly as possible.”
Kassius spoke with a gnashing of teeth.
The Emperor’s influence seemed to have reached Terion.
He couldn’t have spoken like a rabid cow otherwise.
“...Really! Sir Kassius! When have I ever spoken nonsense?”
Kassius frowned at Terion’s earnest words.
“Tell me more.”
Terion began. To reveal everything: his conversation with Turiel, the Emperor’s pursuit of Cassius’s marriage, and all the other suspicious circumstances.
Renisha strolled through the garden with a light expression.
The gift Kassius had sent had pleased her.
Ever since she received Isabella’s letter, her heart had been fluttering, as if spring had come.
Isabella’s letter had not mentioned the Duke and Duchess.
Perhaps Kassius had found her while she was separated from them.
It didn't matter. Where did they find Aira?
It proved that Renisha's tenacious struggle against death had not been in vain.
Isabella's letter should have been burned immediately, but she still remembered its contents.
Lindy's heart warmed as she watched Renisha smile.
Renisha hadn't smiled comfortably since marrying Laxus.
Not long after their marriage, the Duke and Duchess of Lottera had been thrust into war, desperate to survive alongside the mad Emperor.
"You look happy."
"Really?"
Renisha rubbed her face.
She'd thought she wasn't showing it, but perhaps she wasn't.
Or perhaps she hadn't fooled Lindy.
"I was skeptical. But Turiel assured me that Kassius had something. That makes my heart flutter."
Renisha smiled softly. It was the most delicate of smiles, hidden behind a tough exterior.
Lindy dabbed at her moist eyes.
“I’m glad you’re happy.”
Kassius had come to that conclusion.
Seeing Tesha's reaction, his thoughts became firmer.
Kassius knew full well how his massive frame would appear to the child.
Kassius pulled a chair from the kitchen and sat down, bringing him roughly eye level with the child.
"Tesha."
"...Sir Cassius."
Tesha pursed his lips, his face as if about to cry.
"If you have something to say to me, feel free to do so."
Tesha stepped back.
His small face, hidden by his large hat, was terrified.
Kassius guessed that Tesha's secret wasn't light.
"Slowly. Tesha, speak slowly. Did you send something to Empress Renisha?"
Kassius thought he had used the softest voice he could muster.
He certainly thought so.
Until Tesha suddenly burst into tears.
"Huh, huhh..."
Kassius stared bewildered at Tesha, who was crouching on the floor, tears streaming down her face.
Kassius kicked up from the chair he had been leisurely sitting on.
“Te, Tesha?”
Just as Kassius blurted out his words, the knights, feeling a pang of frustration, rushed into the kitchen.
They saw Kassius standing menacingly and Tesha crouching down, sobbing.
The knights who had been chatting idly quickly blocked Tesha’s path.
“Say it.”
“What great sin did this little thing commit... Why is he crying when he could just say it out loud?”
“You’re not going to hit him, are you?”
Kassius blinked blankly.
It was unfair, but he couldn’t say it.
“I-I’m sorry, Tesha.”
That was all he could say.
***
Turiel couldn’t wait for Kassius any longer and left.
The fact that Kassius had left so suddenly meant that he had some preconceived notion.
All she had to do was confirm that the gift Renisha had received had indeed been sent from Kassius's mansion.
Turiel left behind his newly tailored suit.
Kassius returned a long time after Turiel had left.
His face was worn out, as if he had been doing something.
"Sir, what happened?"
Terion asked worriedly.
"Whew. No, it's okay."
Kassius waved his hand.
Tesha was sweating profusely, trying to calm herself down.
The clueless knights kept pestering Kassius to apologize, and he had to repeat the apology until Tesha's tears stopped.
Tesha shook his head as if trying to say something, but the knights blocked him like a child's shield and remained motionless.
"I have nothing to say. It's all my fault."
"Of course! How dare you threaten him when we're so different in weight class? Sir Kassius is truly at fault."
Kassius stared blankly at the knights, their eyes widening, then, after confirming that Tesha had calmed down, returned to the reception room.
“...Madam Turiel?”
“She went back because she had an appointment.”
“Yes.”
Kassius nodded.
He thought he could finally catch his breath.
But then Terion threw a stone at Kassius, who was already tired.
“Sir, I have something to tell you,”
Terion said with a solemn expression.
Kassius turned his head to look at him.
Now that he thought about it, Terion had the same expression he had when he was about to go to war.
Especially when he had come to see Kassius with that expression the day before the final battle.
“What?”
“...The Emperor seems to be thinking terrible thoughts.”
“That bastard is terrible in and of himself, so I guess everything he thinks is terrible too.”
Kassius said sarcastically.
Every time he saw the Emperor’s attitude toward Renisha, he felt sick.
The very fact that he was sharing the same sky with such a person was unbelievable.
“He’s not at that level.”
“Speak.”
Kassius spoke irritably. The day had suddenly become tiring.
Finally, Terion spoke what he had wanted to say.
"...It seems the Emperor is planning to marry the Empress to the Lord."
Terion gasped and covered his mouth, as if he'd uttered something absolutely forbidden.
"What? What the hell is this?"
Kassius felt like he was going crazy.
“The Emperor and the Empress? You seem to have caught the madness. I think it would be best to get away from the empire as quickly as possible.”
Kassius spoke with a gnashing of teeth.
The Emperor’s influence seemed to have reached Terion.
He couldn’t have spoken like a rabid cow otherwise.
“...Really! Sir Kassius! When have I ever spoken nonsense?”
Kassius frowned at Terion’s earnest words.
“Tell me more.”
Terion began. To reveal everything: his conversation with Turiel, the Emperor’s pursuit of Cassius’s marriage, and all the other suspicious circumstances.
***
Renisha strolled through the garden with a light expression.
The gift Kassius had sent had pleased her.
Ever since she received Isabella’s letter, her heart had been fluttering, as if spring had come.
Isabella’s letter had not mentioned the Duke and Duchess.
Perhaps Kassius had found her while she was separated from them.
It didn't matter. Where did they find Aira?
It proved that Renisha's tenacious struggle against death had not been in vain.
Isabella's letter should have been burned immediately, but she still remembered its contents.
Lindy's heart warmed as she watched Renisha smile.
Renisha hadn't smiled comfortably since marrying Laxus.
Not long after their marriage, the Duke and Duchess of Lottera had been thrust into war, desperate to survive alongside the mad Emperor.
"You look happy."
"Really?"
Renisha rubbed her face.
She'd thought she wasn't showing it, but perhaps she wasn't.
Or perhaps she hadn't fooled Lindy.
"I was skeptical. But Turiel assured me that Kassius had something. That makes my heart flutter."
Renisha smiled softly. It was the most delicate of smiles, hidden behind a tough exterior.
Lindy dabbed at her moist eyes.
“I’m glad you’re happy.”
“Everything will be sorted out soon. Once we get to Hiloshine, I’ll be able to look after the child myself, away from the Emperor’s gaze. I can’t even sleep when I think about that day.”
Renisha said softly.
“It will definitely happen, Your Majesty.”
“I believe so, too.”
Renisha and Lindy smiled at each other.
That peace seemed likely to last for quite some time.
If Kassius hadn’t come.
Renisha’s garden erupted in commotion at the sudden intruder.
Renisha nodded to Lindy, who looked troubled.
“Your Majesty.”
That day was the first time she’d seen Kassius in such a way.
Renisha realized that the memory of that day was quite vivid.
I'd thought I'd forgotten everything, just taken the Duke's words to heart, but the moment I saw Cassius, my hot breath and tears came flooding back.
And the clumsy hand that had silently rested on her head.
"Sir Kassius. What's wrong?"
Renisha's smile held a clear benevolence.
She seemed much more at ease since that day. Kassius held his breath.
Renisha's bright smile stopped him.
It was the first time he'd seen her smile so sincerely.
It was as if everything that had been weighing her down had been shed.
There was also a bright side to her, like a country bumpkin.
Her slanted pink eyes resembled fluttering flower petals.
Her platinum hair flowed freely, as if only the prettiest strands of spring sunlight had been woven together and hung down.
It smelled of wild roses.
"Sir?"
Renisha called out repeatedly to Kassius, who stood there blankly.
"Sir Kassius."
Renisha grabbed Kassius's wrist.
It felt the same as the one she'd held that day.
It was firm, strong enough to protect her.
Renisha touched Kassius's wrist again.
It was a simple act, without any intention.
"...Your wrist is hard."
What?
Kassius, who had been blankly staring, jumped back in surprise.
Hard? The sudden words confused him.
Moreover, the skin where Renisha's fingertips had touched was burning hot.
Renisha, who had rested her head on his, who had pressed her hand against his chest.
Renisha, who seemed to dominate him.
Renisha, who had drawn close to Kassius as if she were a moon fairy, flashed through his mind in random thoughts.
What if Kassius had been leaning against a bed, not a wall?
A harsh imagination followed.
Such thoughts consumed Kassius in mere seconds.
Moreover, the same thought kept swirling around in his head.
'...It seems the Emperor is trying to marry the Empress to the Lord!'
Renisha said softly.
“It will definitely happen, Your Majesty.”
“I believe so, too.”
Renisha and Lindy smiled at each other.
That peace seemed likely to last for quite some time.
If Kassius hadn’t come.
Renisha’s garden erupted in commotion at the sudden intruder.
Renisha nodded to Lindy, who looked troubled.
“Your Majesty.”
That day was the first time she’d seen Kassius in such a way.
Renisha realized that the memory of that day was quite vivid.
I'd thought I'd forgotten everything, just taken the Duke's words to heart, but the moment I saw Cassius, my hot breath and tears came flooding back.
And the clumsy hand that had silently rested on her head.
"Sir Kassius. What's wrong?"
Renisha's smile held a clear benevolence.
She seemed much more at ease since that day. Kassius held his breath.
Renisha's bright smile stopped him.
It was the first time he'd seen her smile so sincerely.
It was as if everything that had been weighing her down had been shed.
There was also a bright side to her, like a country bumpkin.
Her slanted pink eyes resembled fluttering flower petals.
Her platinum hair flowed freely, as if only the prettiest strands of spring sunlight had been woven together and hung down.
It smelled of wild roses.
"Sir?"
Renisha called out repeatedly to Kassius, who stood there blankly.
"Sir Kassius."
Renisha grabbed Kassius's wrist.
It felt the same as the one she'd held that day.
It was firm, strong enough to protect her.
Renisha touched Kassius's wrist again.
It was a simple act, without any intention.
"...Your wrist is hard."
What?
Kassius, who had been blankly staring, jumped back in surprise.
Hard? The sudden words confused him.
Moreover, the skin where Renisha's fingertips had touched was burning hot.
Renisha, who had rested her head on his, who had pressed her hand against his chest.
Renisha, who seemed to dominate him.
Renisha, who had drawn close to Kassius as if she were a moon fairy, flashed through his mind in random thoughts.
What if Kassius had been leaning against a bed, not a wall?
A harsh imagination followed.
Such thoughts consumed Kassius in mere seconds.
Moreover, the same thought kept swirling around in his head.
'...It seems the Emperor is trying to marry the Empress to the Lord!'
He must be crazy.
"What, what do you mean, 'hard'? I, I absolutely... absolutely not hard!"
Kassius shouted, oblivious to what I was saying.
It was to assert his innocence.
And the moment he saw Renisha's smiling expression, he realized:
'You crazy idiot.'
Renisha hadn't meant it that way.
No, she hadn't even been in a position to say it with that intention in the first place.
All Renisha had been holding onto was Kassius's wrist.
Kassius's face flushed like his own hair.
Renisha burst into a cheerful laugh.
It felt like a white rose was in full bloom.
Kassius couldn't come up with an excuse, keeping his mouth shut.
It was certain. This was crazy. There was no other way to explain it.
'That damned Emperor.'
He felt he needed to slap that bastard's face cleanly to relieve this embarrassment.
Kassius, blaming Laxus for all of this, gritted his teeth.
Even so, he couldn't take his eyes off Renisha's smiling face.
"...I see. You're not so tough."
"Forget it. There's definitely a demon inside me."
Kassius sighed and made a ridiculous excuse.
Renisha burst into laughter, even that amused.
She hadn't realized he was such a funny person.
Kassius ran a hand through his hair.
The knightly attire he'd worn for this occasion felt like it was squeezing him.
His chest tightened.
"...I have business, Your Majesty."
Kassius was desperately trying to change the subject.
It was nice to see Renisha smile, but he couldn't stand the embarrassment.
If he could dig a hole like a rabbit, he would have dug a hole and laid down.
"Speak, Sir Kassius, who is not stiff,"
Kassius thought. He's ruined.
"What, what do you mean, 'hard'? I, I absolutely... absolutely not hard!"
Kassius shouted, oblivious to what I was saying.
It was to assert his innocence.
And the moment he saw Renisha's smiling expression, he realized:
'You crazy idiot.'
Renisha hadn't meant it that way.
No, she hadn't even been in a position to say it with that intention in the first place.
All Renisha had been holding onto was Kassius's wrist.
Kassius's face flushed like his own hair.
Renisha burst into a cheerful laugh.
It felt like a white rose was in full bloom.
Kassius couldn't come up with an excuse, keeping his mouth shut.
It was certain. This was crazy. There was no other way to explain it.
'That damned Emperor.'
He felt he needed to slap that bastard's face cleanly to relieve this embarrassment.
Kassius, blaming Laxus for all of this, gritted his teeth.
Even so, he couldn't take his eyes off Renisha's smiling face.
"...I see. You're not so tough."
"Forget it. There's definitely a demon inside me."
Kassius sighed and made a ridiculous excuse.
Renisha burst into laughter, even that amused.
She hadn't realized he was such a funny person.
Kassius ran a hand through his hair.
The knightly attire he'd worn for this occasion felt like it was squeezing him.
His chest tightened.
"...I have business, Your Majesty."
Kassius was desperately trying to change the subject.
It was nice to see Renisha smile, but he couldn't stand the embarrassment.
If he could dig a hole like a rabbit, he would have dug a hole and laid down.
"Speak, Sir Kassius, who is not stiff,"
Kassius thought. He's ruined.
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