Episode 24. The Meaning of Giving Clothes as a Gift
Kassius moved mechanically and sat across from Renisha.
He did as he was told, but froze stiffly, as if he were a statue.
Renisha, unwilling to correct her arrogant posture, simply turned her head to look at Kassius.
Something secret seemed to peek through the gap in her gown.
Kassius forced his gaze to remain steady, turning to the ceiling.
The ceiling was engraved with illustrations depicting the myths of the Hientri Empire.
He could almost count the patterns on the ceiling.
“Sir. Do you know the meaning of giving clothes as a gift?”
“I don’t know.”
Renisha would say something like that in this situation.
Her defenselessness, too. No, did she even know that Kassius was a man?
He felt a pang of emotion.
“They say it means she wants to take your clothes off.”
“Ugh!”
Kassius, who was mulling over what Renisha had said, heard a groan.
His face flushed bright red as he coughed violently. Kassius looked at Renisha, his face ablaze with disbelief.
"My ears must be going crazy. As expected, being near the Emperor...!"
Renisha spoke nonchalantly, interrupting Kassius's thoughts.
"Of course, between lovers. Thank goodness we're not."
Kassius stared at Renisha with wide eyes.
"If we were, I might have rushed to take off your clothes right now."
"Oh!"
Kassius buttoned up his collar and leaned back against the sofa.
He hadn't expected Renisha to say something like that.
Kassius swallowed.
"That means we're a perfect match, Kassius."
Renisha let out a soft laugh. Kassius thought,
"She's a truly dangerous woman. Dangerous!!!"
Today, Canary succeeded in inviting Laxus to her bedroom.
She also received a hint that something interesting was happening in the Emperor's bedroom.
He had turned Canary's stomach by feigning affectionate kisses on Renisha at an official function.
Perhaps it was all a grand scheme for tonight. It was a time when ambassadors from all over the world were gathered.
The Emperor had been seen being affectionate with the Empress at official functions.
But what if Renisha had done something like that in the Emperor's bedroom that night?
The Emperor could say crazy things like deposing the Empress, but the Empress couldn't. It was clear that Renisha would be the one to blame for the scandal.
The reason it had to be the Emperor's bedroom was also clear.
It was the only bedroom in the empire that could be locked from the outside.
The Emperor had no privacy.
Everything about him had to be on display and visible to the public.
And it had to be able to be opened from the outside at all times, just in case of an emergency.
The fact that it could be locked from the outside was one of Laxus's quirks.
The Emperor had him lock the door from the outside when he entered.
Thanks to this, Canary's bedroom was also designed to be locked from the outside.
She had no idea what Renisha and Kassius were doing in the Emperor's bedroom right now, but just imagining it made her smile.
"You look happy."
"It's because Your Majesty is here with me. You've been so busy that you haven't even thought of Canary, have you?"
Canary quickly shook off her thoughts and whispered lovingly with a pout.
Laxus snickered and kissed Canary's lips, who was burying her face in his chest.
Their entwined breaths were sweet.
Unlike when he'd kissed Renisha, it felt like swallowing a block of ice.
Canary moaned and hugged Laxus's neck.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Emperor..."
Canary whispered excitedly.
"Laxus."
She wanted to erase all traces of the nights she'd spent in Laxus's arms.
The traces of her entanglement with that lowly wretch.
Canary kissed the nape of Laxus's neck. Laxus let out a growl.
Canary needs a child.
Canary's slightly open eyes were gleaming with greed.
Renisha would leave the palace with the slave knight.
"The empty seat will definitely be mine."
She would show those who had ignored and mistreated her what kind of person she was.
Canary stroked Laxus's shoulder with her fingertips.
Today, the moonlight was strong, and Canary's body was ready. They say it's easy to get pregnant on days like this, right?
So no one would suspect anything.
Canary's eyes lit up.
It was Canary who had pulled the Empress from her position.
Canary's whispered words fanned the Emperor's suspicions.
It was Canary who had driven the Duke and Duchess of Lottera to their deaths.
Despite being childless, Canary had survived in the imperial court by pleasing the Emperor for so long!
All Canary wanted was a fair reward.
Canary and Laxus were entangled like vines.
If anything, she hoped the child she was about to conceive would be Laxus's.
With that in mind, Canary embraced Laxus.
"Well, I'm glad you say it suits you."
"The shirt should be a little bigger,"
Renisha said, staring at Kassius's chest.
"Every time you inhale, the shirt seems to be straining."
Kassius moved mechanically and sat across from Renisha.
He did as he was told, but froze stiffly, as if he were a statue.
Renisha, unwilling to correct her arrogant posture, simply turned her head to look at Kassius.
Something secret seemed to peek through the gap in her gown.
Kassius forced his gaze to remain steady, turning to the ceiling.
The ceiling was engraved with illustrations depicting the myths of the Hientri Empire.
He could almost count the patterns on the ceiling.
“Sir. Do you know the meaning of giving clothes as a gift?”
“I don’t know.”
Renisha would say something like that in this situation.
Her defenselessness, too. No, did she even know that Kassius was a man?
He felt a pang of emotion.
“They say it means she wants to take your clothes off.”
“Ugh!”
Kassius, who was mulling over what Renisha had said, heard a groan.
His face flushed bright red as he coughed violently. Kassius looked at Renisha, his face ablaze with disbelief.
"My ears must be going crazy. As expected, being near the Emperor...!"
Renisha spoke nonchalantly, interrupting Kassius's thoughts.
"Of course, between lovers. Thank goodness we're not."
Kassius stared at Renisha with wide eyes.
"If we were, I might have rushed to take off your clothes right now."
"Oh!"
Kassius buttoned up his collar and leaned back against the sofa.
He hadn't expected Renisha to say something like that.
Kassius swallowed.
"That means we're a perfect match, Kassius."
Renisha let out a soft laugh. Kassius thought,
"She's a truly dangerous woman. Dangerous!!!"
***
Today, Canary succeeded in inviting Laxus to her bedroom.
She also received a hint that something interesting was happening in the Emperor's bedroom.
He had turned Canary's stomach by feigning affectionate kisses on Renisha at an official function.
Perhaps it was all a grand scheme for tonight. It was a time when ambassadors from all over the world were gathered.
The Emperor had been seen being affectionate with the Empress at official functions.
But what if Renisha had done something like that in the Emperor's bedroom that night?
The Emperor could say crazy things like deposing the Empress, but the Empress couldn't. It was clear that Renisha would be the one to blame for the scandal.
The reason it had to be the Emperor's bedroom was also clear.
It was the only bedroom in the empire that could be locked from the outside.
The Emperor had no privacy.
Everything about him had to be on display and visible to the public.
And it had to be able to be opened from the outside at all times, just in case of an emergency.
The fact that it could be locked from the outside was one of Laxus's quirks.
The Emperor had him lock the door from the outside when he entered.
Thanks to this, Canary's bedroom was also designed to be locked from the outside.
She had no idea what Renisha and Kassius were doing in the Emperor's bedroom right now, but just imagining it made her smile.
"You look happy."
"It's because Your Majesty is here with me. You've been so busy that you haven't even thought of Canary, have you?"
Canary quickly shook off her thoughts and whispered lovingly with a pout.
Laxus snickered and kissed Canary's lips, who was burying her face in his chest.
Their entwined breaths were sweet.
Unlike when he'd kissed Renisha, it felt like swallowing a block of ice.
Canary moaned and hugged Laxus's neck.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Emperor..."
Canary whispered excitedly.
"Laxus."
She wanted to erase all traces of the nights she'd spent in Laxus's arms.
The traces of her entanglement with that lowly wretch.
Canary kissed the nape of Laxus's neck. Laxus let out a growl.
Canary needs a child.
Canary's slightly open eyes were gleaming with greed.
Renisha would leave the palace with the slave knight.
"The empty seat will definitely be mine."
She would show those who had ignored and mistreated her what kind of person she was.
Canary stroked Laxus's shoulder with her fingertips.
Today, the moonlight was strong, and Canary's body was ready. They say it's easy to get pregnant on days like this, right?
So no one would suspect anything.
Canary's eyes lit up.
It was Canary who had pulled the Empress from her position.
Canary's whispered words fanned the Emperor's suspicions.
It was Canary who had driven the Duke and Duchess of Lottera to their deaths.
Despite being childless, Canary had survived in the imperial court by pleasing the Emperor for so long!
All Canary wanted was a fair reward.
Canary and Laxus were entangled like vines.
If anything, she hoped the child she was about to conceive would be Laxus's.
With that in mind, Canary embraced Laxus.
***
"Well, I'm glad you say it suits you."
"The shirt should be a little bigger,"
Renisha said, staring at Kassius's chest.
"Every time you inhale, the shirt seems to be straining."
Kassius swallowed. The shirt bulged as if it were about to scream.
Of course, that was natural.
Right now, Renisha was rambling, agitated Kassius, and Kassius was acting like prey, inflating his size to scare the predator.
In this absurd situation, the most captivating thing was, of course, Kassius.
There was something delightful about Kassius, his raw emotions revealing themselves.
Renisha let out a sigh-like smile.
Laxus's methods were, as always, messy to the end.
It felt like any remaining attachment was being extinguished once again.
The deformed battle would finally end.
And their relationship would be redefined.
Renisha would draw her sharpest sword and aim it at Laxus.
But for now, she had to focus on Kassius, the upright and innocent young man who seemed completely unaware of the situation.
Renisha glanced at the cold tea on the table.
Even in the greenhouse, Kassius hadn't lifted a finger from his cup.
“Do you like tea?”
Renisha asked gently, her overbearing demeanor gone.
Kassius glanced at what was on the table.
Tea? All Kassius had ever drunk was... a poisonous concoction made by Tesha, imitating something.
“Try it. This tea has a particularly good aroma. It seems Laxus had a conscience. It’s the most expensive tea in the imperial palace.”
Kassius swallowed hard.
He didn’t want to ruin Renisha’s present.
Even without Kassius, Renisha’s present would be a mess. Kassius awkwardly grasped the teacup.
Since Renisha had offered it, he was prepared to drink it, even if it was poisonous.
Of course, that was natural.
Right now, Renisha was rambling, agitated Kassius, and Kassius was acting like prey, inflating his size to scare the predator.
In this absurd situation, the most captivating thing was, of course, Kassius.
There was something delightful about Kassius, his raw emotions revealing themselves.
Renisha let out a sigh-like smile.
Laxus's methods were, as always, messy to the end.
It felt like any remaining attachment was being extinguished once again.
The deformed battle would finally end.
And their relationship would be redefined.
Renisha would draw her sharpest sword and aim it at Laxus.
But for now, she had to focus on Kassius, the upright and innocent young man who seemed completely unaware of the situation.
Renisha glanced at the cold tea on the table.
Even in the greenhouse, Kassius hadn't lifted a finger from his cup.
“Do you like tea?”
Renisha asked gently, her overbearing demeanor gone.
Kassius glanced at what was on the table.
Tea? All Kassius had ever drunk was... a poisonous concoction made by Tesha, imitating something.
“Try it. This tea has a particularly good aroma. It seems Laxus had a conscience. It’s the most expensive tea in the imperial palace.”
Kassius swallowed hard.
He didn’t want to ruin Renisha’s present.
Even without Kassius, Renisha’s present would be a mess. Kassius awkwardly grasped the teacup.
Since Renisha had offered it, he was prepared to drink it, even if it was poisonous.
Kassius lifted the teacup to his lips. He squeezed his eyes shut and poured it into his mouth.
Wow.
Kassius looked surprised at the gently spreading aroma.
“...I don’t think it was like this.”
“Hmm?”
“I thought tea was something you couldn’t drink.”
Kassius spoke seriously.
“There’s no proper servant at my mansion right now. So a boy who runs errands brings me tea... but it’s not like this.”
“An errand boy?”
“Yes. There’s a boy named Tesha with chestnut-like hair.”
Renisha blinked.
Now that she thinks about it... Now they were alone with Kassius.
Should she ask about Isabella?
No, no. Even now, you never know where someone might be listening.
It was a time when every word had to be carefully considered.
Renisha drank her tea, suddenly overcome by thirst, and said,
“What a lovely name. It’s a girl’s name.”
“Actually, Tesha is a child I met on the battlefield. He was poisoned. And he was badly injured. The doctor barely managed to save him, but he lost his memory.”
“Oh dear.”
“That’s the name the doctor who saved Tesha gave him. He said it was the name of his dead granddaughter. I couldn’t leave him there, so I brought him here. If I find Tesha’s family, or if Tesha has something he wants to do, I plan to send him there.”
Kassius, trying to fill the gap, started talking about Tesha.
Fortunately, Renisha seemed to enjoy the topic and was listening intently.
Kassius found another topic.
"But he really can't make tea."
“...I had a nephew who couldn’t make tea. He was the same. He begged to make tea himself, so I taught him, and he would create indescribable things.”
Renisha’s lips curved thinly.
“I miss him.”
At that moment, Kassius and Renisha’s eyes met.
Kassius swallowed.
Why did he suddenly remember the gift Kassius had sent Renisha?
Tesha was the only one who had acted suspiciously at the mansion.
However, after that day, Kassius hadn’t been able to ask Tesha anything.
It was difficult to ask carelessly, as the child was still crying until he almost suffocated.
If that child had any reason to approach Renisha... Either that child had some connection to Isabella.
Or maybe it was Isabella herself.
Kassius’s mind rang loudly as he deduced that much.
“...I want to hear more about your nephew. What kind of child was she?”
“She had platinum blonde hair, just like mine. She looked exactly like me, as if she were my own child, not my brother’s.”
Renisha narrowed her eyes and continued.
Kassius showed no sign of agitation.
“Except her eyes were a more lovely shade of pink.”
Pink. Tesha’s eyes were a pale gray.
Kassius blinked.
Meeting Renisha’s expectant gaze, Kassius composed himself.
He didn’t want to disappoint her with hasty words.
She looked like a sweet cookie dusted with powdered sugar. He didn’t want to see Renisha cry.
He was afraid she would burst into tears. Kassius changed the subject.
“...What will happen to us if we spend the night here?”
Kassius hadn’t asked out of ignorance.
Renisha smiled faintly and answered,
“We’ll be sent to the territory bestowed upon you. I’m no different from a piece of candy that you spit out, now that I’ve lost my sweetness.”
“What is that?”
Kassius’s face twisted.
His wheat-colored face was stained with rage and humiliation.
Renisha confirmed this and smiled faintly.
Even Kassius, a knight born to slavery, knew a shame that the Emperor of this empire did not.
Kassius spat out between his teeth,
“Even a brat like me knows how precious my wife is.”
Wow.
Kassius looked surprised at the gently spreading aroma.
“...I don’t think it was like this.”
“Hmm?”
“I thought tea was something you couldn’t drink.”
Kassius spoke seriously.
“There’s no proper servant at my mansion right now. So a boy who runs errands brings me tea... but it’s not like this.”
“An errand boy?”
“Yes. There’s a boy named Tesha with chestnut-like hair.”
Renisha blinked.
Now that she thinks about it... Now they were alone with Kassius.
Should she ask about Isabella?
No, no. Even now, you never know where someone might be listening.
It was a time when every word had to be carefully considered.
Renisha drank her tea, suddenly overcome by thirst, and said,
“What a lovely name. It’s a girl’s name.”
“Actually, Tesha is a child I met on the battlefield. He was poisoned. And he was badly injured. The doctor barely managed to save him, but he lost his memory.”
“Oh dear.”
“That’s the name the doctor who saved Tesha gave him. He said it was the name of his dead granddaughter. I couldn’t leave him there, so I brought him here. If I find Tesha’s family, or if Tesha has something he wants to do, I plan to send him there.”
Kassius, trying to fill the gap, started talking about Tesha.
Fortunately, Renisha seemed to enjoy the topic and was listening intently.
Kassius found another topic.
"But he really can't make tea."
“...I had a nephew who couldn’t make tea. He was the same. He begged to make tea himself, so I taught him, and he would create indescribable things.”
Renisha’s lips curved thinly.
“I miss him.”
At that moment, Kassius and Renisha’s eyes met.
Kassius swallowed.
Why did he suddenly remember the gift Kassius had sent Renisha?
Tesha was the only one who had acted suspiciously at the mansion.
However, after that day, Kassius hadn’t been able to ask Tesha anything.
It was difficult to ask carelessly, as the child was still crying until he almost suffocated.
If that child had any reason to approach Renisha... Either that child had some connection to Isabella.
Or maybe it was Isabella herself.
Kassius’s mind rang loudly as he deduced that much.
“...I want to hear more about your nephew. What kind of child was she?”
“She had platinum blonde hair, just like mine. She looked exactly like me, as if she were my own child, not my brother’s.”
Renisha narrowed her eyes and continued.
Kassius showed no sign of agitation.
“Except her eyes were a more lovely shade of pink.”
Pink. Tesha’s eyes were a pale gray.
Kassius blinked.
Meeting Renisha’s expectant gaze, Kassius composed himself.
He didn’t want to disappoint her with hasty words.
She looked like a sweet cookie dusted with powdered sugar. He didn’t want to see Renisha cry.
He was afraid she would burst into tears. Kassius changed the subject.
“...What will happen to us if we spend the night here?”
Kassius hadn’t asked out of ignorance.
Renisha smiled faintly and answered,
“We’ll be sent to the territory bestowed upon you. I’m no different from a piece of candy that you spit out, now that I’ve lost my sweetness.”
“What is that?”
Kassius’s face twisted.
His wheat-colored face was stained with rage and humiliation.
Renisha confirmed this and smiled faintly.
Even Kassius, a knight born to slavery, knew a shame that the Emperor of this empire did not.
Kassius spat out between his teeth,
“Even a brat like me knows how precious my wife is.”
He didn’t like the way Renisha expressed herself.
No, what he disliked more was the idea that Laxus might truly think of Renisha that way.
Renisha burst into a bright laugh.
“What can I do when the Emperor is worse than you? Make sure you understand.”
Renisha’s calm tone only made Kassius feel more frustrated.
Perhaps it was the perfect topic to distract Renisha.
“...Are all nobles like that?”
Renisha asked sharply.
“Does that mean I’m the same as the Emperor?”
Kassius bit his lip.
No, what he disliked more was the idea that Laxus might truly think of Renisha that way.
Renisha burst into a bright laugh.
“What can I do when the Emperor is worse than you? Make sure you understand.”
Renisha’s calm tone only made Kassius feel more frustrated.
Perhaps it was the perfect topic to distract Renisha.
“...Are all nobles like that?”
Renisha asked sharply.
“Does that mean I’m the same as the Emperor?”
Kassius bit his lip.
“So it is when you say it.”
"That's not it... But does this mean Your Majesty the Empress will become my wife?"
Wife.
She never expected to hear such affectionate words.
"It's your choice. But, didn't you already promise?"
Renisha said, looking at Kassius.
"You'll take me anywhere."
"That's not it... But does this mean Your Majesty the Empress will become my wife?"
Wife.
She never expected to hear such affectionate words.
"It's your choice. But, didn't you already promise?"
Renisha said, looking at Kassius.
"You'll take me anywhere."
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