Episode 31. The Person Kassius Must Meet
“Yes, he’s pretty...”
Cassius stuttered.
He really wasn’t like this, but he couldn’t understand why he became like this whenever he was in front of Renisha.
Kassius drank tea to soothe his parched throat.
One thing that had changed was that the tea tasted much better.
Kassius sighed, his face flushed.
“Is Kassius pretty?”
Renisha said leisurely.
“Yes. He’s pretty. His hair is like flames. His eyes sparkle like the sun... Anyway, he’s pretty.”
Isabella smiled bashfully, seemingly unable to find any more words to express her feelings.
Renisha stroked Isabella’s cheek.
Looking at her like this, it seemed as if nothing had happened. As if she had returned to the days when she was a noble young lady, raised in a loving family within the walls of Lottera.
Renisha played with Isabella’s short hair with a wistful expression.
“You should grow my hair out, Isabella.”
“Hair?”
“Yes. Isabella used to love growing it out long like a doll and wearing headbands. Now you don’t like that?”
Even the people of the empire refused to protect their Emperor.
“At least that’s fortunate. Find a way to approach the Duke. Tell him I wish to meet him.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The subordinate bowed.
“So, what do you think of Lord Kassius? How did the investigation into him go?”
“He seems to have a good reputation among the knights. Over a hundred knights followed him.”
Thanks to that, Kassius’s mansion was now a knightly den.
“And what about the women?”
"No."
The man shook his head. Meteo paced the room.
"It would be fortunate if the Duke were a good person, but..."
If not.
If Renisha simply wished to be able to leave the mansion, Meteo would have no choice but to grant her wish.
After all, he had traveled this far to repay her kindness.
Meteo could not forget the thrill he felt the moment their eyes met.
Even in such a situation, Renisha remained unwavering. She was strong and beautiful.
Meteo believed that true strength lay in inner strength.
An unwavering resolve, even in the face of humiliation, was a valuable virtue.
Renisha possessed all of these qualities.
Renisha was not a puppet to be used by Laxus, guarding him.
Renisha...
"If you so desire, I must help you live the life Your Majesty desires."
That was Meteo's way of repaying the favor.
To help Renisha live the noble life she deserved.
“Yes, he’s pretty...”
Cassius stuttered.
He really wasn’t like this, but he couldn’t understand why he became like this whenever he was in front of Renisha.
Kassius drank tea to soothe his parched throat.
One thing that had changed was that the tea tasted much better.
Kassius sighed, his face flushed.
“Is Kassius pretty?”
Renisha said leisurely.
“Yes. He’s pretty. His hair is like flames. His eyes sparkle like the sun... Anyway, he’s pretty.”
Isabella smiled bashfully, seemingly unable to find any more words to express her feelings.
Renisha stroked Isabella’s cheek.
Looking at her like this, it seemed as if nothing had happened. As if she had returned to the days when she was a noble young lady, raised in a loving family within the walls of Lottera.
Renisha played with Isabella’s short hair with a wistful expression.
“You should grow my hair out, Isabella.”
“Hair?”
“Yes. Isabella used to love growing it out long like a doll and wearing headbands. Now you don’t like that?”
“No, I like it. Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
Isabella smiled brightly.
“The doctor who took care of me said I was better off as a boy, Auntie. That’s why I couldn’t grow it out after I got my haircut.”
Girls’ hair grows faster than boys’.
Precocious Isabella, understanding the doctor’s words, had to cut it off with her own hands, in a place no one knew about.
Renisha smiled, hiding her regret.
“It’s okay now. I like Isabella as a girl.”
It meant that she would keep Isabella safe so she could live as a girl.
Renisha patted Isabella on the back.
“Lindy will teach you how to make tea.”
Lindy understood what she meant and held out her hand to Isabella.
Isabella silently took his hand and left the room.
Kassius and Renisha were left alone again.
“...I guess everyone has the same eyes, Kassius. Even Isabella said you were pretty.”
“...Did you brainwash them?”
“No way. Did you see me as such a villain?”
“We slept in the same bed last night, so it’s enough to...”
What nonsense is this? Kassius rubbed his face.
When he was with Renisha, absurd things would happen, and he would often end up talking nonsense like this.
Kassius clicked his tongue.
Renisha noticed his predicament and smiled.
“We need someone we can trust.”
Kassius lowered his hand and looked at Renisha.
“My father’s knights had the Emperor’s eyes.”
“...I know.”
That’s why he was able to understand the situation and drive Duke Lottera to his death.
“They died by my hand,”
Kassius said, his golden eyes gleaming.
In that moment, he didn't look like a fool in front of Renisha, but like a battle-hardened veteran.
Slurp.
Red scales rose and then faded across Kassius's cheeks.
"I disciplined them with martial law. And I showed my knights the punishment for betraying their lord. The Duke of Lottera was a great knight. He wouldn't have gone so vainly. I couldn't have ungrateful beasts under his command. None of the knights I command would betray me. We've fought together on the battlefield, and we know the Emperor's cruelty. I've even seen how he abandons his hounds."
Renisha smiled faintly.
Fortunately, Kassius seemed to be more capable than Renisha had thought.
Kassius had assured her of the knights' integrity, so Renisha was prepared to trust him.
"Since you trust them, I will trust you too. We have much work ahead of us."
Kassius nodded.
"I know."
"If I move, the Emperor will pay attention to me again. However, if Kassius moves, the Emperor will ignore you. I'm sorry, but the Emperor will probably think of Kassius as a worthless slave knight."
Kassius nodded with a serious expression.
He didn't take it as an insult, but as a fact.
Renisha found that a little surprising.
Kassius seemed to have no inferiority complex or even shame about his past.
That much confidence in himself.
It was difficult to possess such strength.
Kassius seemed to be as strong on the inside as he looked.
“Go outside and meet the people I mentioned. We need to secure their support for Hiloshine.”
“Will they help us?”
“They will.”
Renisha reached out and covered the back of Kassius’s hand, which was neatly placed on the table.
Kassius’s eyes widened. Renisha touched Kassius so casually that he felt like a hostage, held captive by Renisha. Kassius froze, staring at Renisha.
“Of course.”
Isabella smiled brightly.
“The doctor who took care of me said I was better off as a boy, Auntie. That’s why I couldn’t grow it out after I got my haircut.”
Girls’ hair grows faster than boys’.
Precocious Isabella, understanding the doctor’s words, had to cut it off with her own hands, in a place no one knew about.
Renisha smiled, hiding her regret.
“It’s okay now. I like Isabella as a girl.”
It meant that she would keep Isabella safe so she could live as a girl.
Renisha patted Isabella on the back.
“Lindy will teach you how to make tea.”
Lindy understood what she meant and held out her hand to Isabella.
Isabella silently took his hand and left the room.
Kassius and Renisha were left alone again.
“...I guess everyone has the same eyes, Kassius. Even Isabella said you were pretty.”
“...Did you brainwash them?”
“No way. Did you see me as such a villain?”
“We slept in the same bed last night, so it’s enough to...”
What nonsense is this? Kassius rubbed his face.
When he was with Renisha, absurd things would happen, and he would often end up talking nonsense like this.
Kassius clicked his tongue.
Renisha noticed his predicament and smiled.
“We need someone we can trust.”
Kassius lowered his hand and looked at Renisha.
“My father’s knights had the Emperor’s eyes.”
“...I know.”
That’s why he was able to understand the situation and drive Duke Lottera to his death.
“They died by my hand,”
Kassius said, his golden eyes gleaming.
In that moment, he didn't look like a fool in front of Renisha, but like a battle-hardened veteran.
Slurp.
Red scales rose and then faded across Kassius's cheeks.
"I disciplined them with martial law. And I showed my knights the punishment for betraying their lord. The Duke of Lottera was a great knight. He wouldn't have gone so vainly. I couldn't have ungrateful beasts under his command. None of the knights I command would betray me. We've fought together on the battlefield, and we know the Emperor's cruelty. I've even seen how he abandons his hounds."
Renisha smiled faintly.
Fortunately, Kassius seemed to be more capable than Renisha had thought.
Kassius had assured her of the knights' integrity, so Renisha was prepared to trust him.
"Since you trust them, I will trust you too. We have much work ahead of us."
Kassius nodded.
"I know."
"If I move, the Emperor will pay attention to me again. However, if Kassius moves, the Emperor will ignore you. I'm sorry, but the Emperor will probably think of Kassius as a worthless slave knight."
Kassius nodded with a serious expression.
He didn't take it as an insult, but as a fact.
Renisha found that a little surprising.
Kassius seemed to have no inferiority complex or even shame about his past.
That much confidence in himself.
It was difficult to possess such strength.
Kassius seemed to be as strong on the inside as he looked.
“Go outside and meet the people I mentioned. We need to secure their support for Hiloshine.”
“Will they help us?”
“They will.”
Renisha reached out and covered the back of Kassius’s hand, which was neatly placed on the table.
Kassius’s eyes widened. Renisha touched Kassius so casually that he felt like a hostage, held captive by Renisha. Kassius froze, staring at Renisha.
“They saw the future of this royal family. Canary is stupid, and the Empress’s position is empty. Will the royal family function properly with Canary alone?”
Renisha shook her head slightly.
“The smart nobles saw that.”
“...Even so, you....”
“They don’t think I’ve been kicked out, Kassius. They think I’ve given up a step. For the next time. My downfall is theirs, and perhaps even the downfall of Hientri. That’s what I’ve built up in the palace all these years.”
Renisha sparkled. She possessed a strong conviction in what she had accomplished. Kassius looked at her as if entranced. Her spring-like eyes, her platinum hair shimmering with light. The colors that made up Renisha were delicate, yet she was still the ruler of Hientri. Everything seemed destined to go as Renisha said.
“...I will do as Renisha says.”
“Good.”
Renisha tapped the back of Kassius’s hand. Kassius lowered his hand and wrapped his other hand around her. It felt like a fire had been lit. Renisha had casually set Kassius ablaze.
Renisha held out a small piece of paper she had prepared in advance. There were three names written on it. Among them, one caught Kassius's eye.
"The Prince of Shamdir...?"
Why this man?
***
He was the man most resembling a King in Shamdir. However, he wasn't particularly interested in the position. He was focused on making his older brother King. A King had too many responsibilities and too many things to endure. He hated such constraints.
Meteo preferred to hide behind the King's shield, doing his job while bearing his own responsibilities. Even Meteo had a line to follow: family. Meteo loved his royal family and his family.
The royal couple were harmonious and cared for each other. The children born to them were also cared for and loved each other. Meteo loved Shamdir for that. The incident that nearly brought disaster to such a peaceful royal family was a great warning. He wouldn't have coveted something he didn't have from the beginning. There was no reason to mourn for what he lost. However, Meteo and his brothers were born into wealth and harmony. The fear of losing it was deeply engraved in his bones.
Learning of what had happened to the youngest Princess, the royal court of Shamdir fell silent. The King and Queen, unable to conceal their impatience, spoke out for the first time. Discord arose between the family, and a wall was formed. Meteo had not forgotten the favor he owed Renisha, who had prevented the discord from escalating. Renisha had protected not only the youngest Princess, but also Shamdir. And she had preserved Meteo's peace and stability.
"Have you found a way to approach Empress Renisha?"
Meteo, overlooking the splendid cityscape of Hientri, asked his subordinate in a cold voice. The man bowed and said,
"I heard Duke Kassius came out of the mansion today."
In fact, while Kassius's mansion appeared shabby, most of those currently residing some knights had long been on the battlefield. No one could penetrate them and spy on Kassius's mansion. In fact, there were a few who had snooped around Kassius's mansion. However, they were soon chased away like flies.
'What the heck, snooping around in the mansion? Huh? You! Should I turn you into kindling and leave you to poke the fireplace?'
'Why is the world so cruel these days? What are you trying to steal from this poor mansion! Come here, I'll strip you naked and kick you out!'
How could they have been so good-natured? And like a gangster, they had no mercy whatsoever. All the spies were treated like robbers and had to be chased out.
In that situation, the eyes peeking around the mansion disappeared.
“Phew.”
That put Meteor in a difficult position.
Since Kassius had opened the door and come out, it seemed like it would be best to contact him through him.
He didn’t know anything about Kassius and Renisha’s relationship.
However, he did know that Kassius was a hero of Hientri and that Renisha had been pushed into a marriage arranged by Laxus. It was common knowledge that Laxus had gone mad and committed a shameless act against his Empress.
“Phew.”
That put Meteor in a difficult position.
Since Kassius had opened the door and come out, it seemed like it would be best to contact him through him.
He didn’t know anything about Kassius and Renisha’s relationship.
However, he did know that Kassius was a hero of Hientri and that Renisha had been pushed into a marriage arranged by Laxus. It was common knowledge that Laxus had gone mad and committed a shameless act against his Empress.
Even the people of the empire refused to protect their Emperor.
“At least that’s fortunate. Find a way to approach the Duke. Tell him I wish to meet him.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The subordinate bowed.
“So, what do you think of Lord Kassius? How did the investigation into him go?”
“He seems to have a good reputation among the knights. Over a hundred knights followed him.”
Thanks to that, Kassius’s mansion was now a knightly den.
“And what about the women?”
"No."
The man shook his head. Meteo paced the room.
"It would be fortunate if the Duke were a good person, but..."
If not.
If Renisha simply wished to be able to leave the mansion, Meteo would have no choice but to grant her wish.
After all, he had traveled this far to repay her kindness.
Meteo could not forget the thrill he felt the moment their eyes met.
Even in such a situation, Renisha remained unwavering. She was strong and beautiful.
Meteo believed that true strength lay in inner strength.
An unwavering resolve, even in the face of humiliation, was a valuable virtue.
Renisha possessed all of these qualities.
Renisha was not a puppet to be used by Laxus, guarding him.
Renisha...
"If you so desire, I must help you live the life Your Majesty desires."
That was Meteo's way of repaying the favor.
To help Renisha live the noble life she deserved.
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