Episode 4. A Just Price
Canary observed the Emperor.
Judging by his smiling face, he seemed to be in a good mood.
He was a man whose inner thoughts were unfathomable, so she couldn't guess what he was thinking, but she could sense that much.
"What are you thinking, Your Majesty?"
Canary asked in a coquettish voice.
She hugged the Emperor's neck and kissed his firm cheek.
The Emperor murmured languidly at the soft touch of her lips.
"Do you know Kassius?"
"You mean that slave knight, right? The hero who recently reclaimed the Chorpa Plains. I heard he fulfilled Your Majesty's wish."
"Yes."
The Emperor sipped his drink.
In his good mood, even this strong drink tasted sweet.
Canary ran her finger along the Emperor's cheek.
"Did that man do something that pleased Your Majesty? Was it something that made you think of him even when you were with Canary?"
Canary whispered softly, blew a gust of air into Laxus's ear.
It was a gesture designed to draw the Emperor's attention to herself.
Laxus chuckled pleasantly.
"That's a good thing."
The Emperor pulled Canary close.
"Ah!"
The Canary, who let out a delightful squeal, sat on Laxus's lap and smiled coquettishly.
"I want to know what it is, Canary."
Laxus whispered, tugging at the ribbon on Canary's dress.
"I found a way to leave the Empress miserably behind."
"Oh my. I see you've finally resolved your long-standing dilemma. The Empress was Your Majesty's greatest worry, wasn't she? Isn't that right, Laxus?"
Canary whispered Laxus's name in a sweet voice.
Laxus caressed Canary's exposed skin.
The Empress's family had made him, a bastard, the Emperor.
Judging by his smiling face, he seemed to be in a good mood.
He was a man whose inner thoughts were unfathomable, so she couldn't guess what he was thinking, but she could sense that much.
"What are you thinking, Your Majesty?"
Canary asked in a coquettish voice.
She hugged the Emperor's neck and kissed his firm cheek.
The Emperor murmured languidly at the soft touch of her lips.
"Do you know Kassius?"
"You mean that slave knight, right? The hero who recently reclaimed the Chorpa Plains. I heard he fulfilled Your Majesty's wish."
"Yes."
The Emperor sipped his drink.
In his good mood, even this strong drink tasted sweet.
Canary ran her finger along the Emperor's cheek.
"Did that man do something that pleased Your Majesty? Was it something that made you think of him even when you were with Canary?"
Canary whispered softly, blew a gust of air into Laxus's ear.
It was a gesture designed to draw the Emperor's attention to herself.
Laxus chuckled pleasantly.
"That's a good thing."
The Emperor pulled Canary close.
"Ah!"
The Canary, who let out a delightful squeal, sat on Laxus's lap and smiled coquettishly.
"I want to know what it is, Canary."
Laxus whispered, tugging at the ribbon on Canary's dress.
"I found a way to leave the Empress miserably behind."
"Oh my. I see you've finally resolved your long-standing dilemma. The Empress was Your Majesty's greatest worry, wasn't she? Isn't that right, Laxus?"
Canary whispered Laxus's name in a sweet voice.
Laxus caressed Canary's exposed skin.
The Empress's family had made him, a bastard, the Emperor.
The Lottera family had poured everything they had into him. Perhaps that was why. Every time he saw Renisha, a strange sense of inferiority and fear surged through him.
At the age of 20, he married Renisha, who was 17, and became Emperor.
From then on, Laxus had been keeping Lottera in check more than anyone else.
He had a reasonable suspicion that, just as they had made Laxus Emperor, they could make anyone else Emperor.
Duke Lottera, sensing Laxus's intentions, closed his doors and chose seclusion.
However, that didn't dispel Laxus's suspicions.
Laxus had driven Lottera into battle.
'I never imagined you would return from a place I sent you to die for, alive and well.'
Laxus smiled faintly and kissed Canary on the lips.
Canary flirted with him, then fell into his arms.
For eight years, Laxus and Renisha had not conceived a child.
Renisha had always been a noble Princess, exuding an aura that suggested that even the likes of Laxus could never approach her.
As if nothing Laxus could do would break Renisha.
“Aren’t you excited to see how that noble face crumbles?”
“Yes?”
Canary tilted her head and hugged Laxus.
Canary’s pretty brows furrowed as she held Laxus in her arms.
“Why are you so obsessed with that damned Empress? You could just kill her like you always did.”
Canary quickly changed her expression.
The Emperor was filled with madness.
He might change his mind at any moment and turn his sword on Canary.
Canary had to give birth to the Emperor’s child at all costs.
Until then, she had no choice but to pretend not to know anything and survive.
“Canary has no idea what Laxus is talking about.”
Canary sighed and whispered in Laxus’s ear.
“Don’t overthink it, just let Canary enjoy it.”
Canary snuggled into Laxus’s arms.
The chamberlain confirmed Laxus's location and secretly headed to the Empress's palace.
If the Emperor found out that he was colluding with Renisha, neither he nor his family would be safe.
However, it was thanks to the Empress that this crazy imperial palace had been able to survive until now.
The chamberlain caught his breath and bowed his head before Renisha.
"Your Majesty, Your humble servant, I greet you."
"Chief Chamberlain."
Renisha called to him in a calm voice.
The reason he could maintain his composure even after being treated like that in the banquet hall was that the Empress was Renisha.
The chamberlain gulped.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
“I have summoned you because I have something to ask you.”
“Please proceed.”
Renisha stared at the chamberlain with sunken eyes. The chamberlain was the only one who knew Laxus the best.
Laxus didn’t want anyone near him. Perhaps Laxus’s instincts were just picking sides.
The chamberlain pretended to take Renisha’s side and interacted with her, but he was fundamentally someone who would never betray the Emperor.
“...I summoned you because I wanted to know what Laxus was thinking.”
“What do you mean...?”
The chamberlain looked at Renisha with a puzzled expression.
Renisha smiled.
“Do you know which territory Laxus intends to grant to Kassius?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The chamberlain bowed.
However, despite his answer, no further words came out.
Renisha, sensing the meaning of the prolonged silence, gave a short laugh.
“You are indeed a very kind person.”
The chamberlain narrowed his eyes at Renisha's voice, which sounded like a gentle breeze.
The territory the Emperor had decided to bestow upon Kassius this time was Hiloshine.
Hiloshine was the most barren and sparsely populated of the original lands.
The problem was that Hiloshine had originally belonged to Lottera.
Hiloshine and other Lottera territories had been annexed by the imperial family eight years earlier, when the Duke and Duchess of Lottera were forced to go to war.
The Emperor had seized most of the Duke of Lottera's holdings under the pretext of war funds.
For some unknown reason, the Duke of Lottera had given up most of it as the Emperor desired.
Even the Chamberlain could not easily say that he would bestow upon Kassius the land he had so forcibly seized, as if it were his own.
And in front of Lottera's descendants.
"Hiloshine. They probably wouldn't have treated a hero of slave origin like Kassius well in the first place. Wouldn't they?"
“...That’s right. His Majesty the Emperor wishes to grant Hiloshine to Sir Kassius through the succession process.”
The chamberlain barely swallowed through his chapped throat.
In fact, an even more obscene order had been given, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it, so he clenched his jaw.
That was all Renisha asked.
“Thank you, Lord Chamberlain.”
The chamberlain bowed his head and stepped away. Renisha ran a finger over the line of her mouth.
‘I was not wrong.’
If Hiloshine is the land Kassius will inherit, and Renisha goes there...!
‘Laxus. I guarantee it with everything I have. You will never die in peace.’
Renisha’s lips curled into a cold smile.
The moonlight illuminating the night sky, which seemed shrouded in a black curtain, was like a lamp illuminating Renisha’s path.
She would never waver, nor lose her way.
Kassius and the knights were staying in a mansion temporarily provided by the palace.
It wasn't the grand mansion of nobles, but they were content to lie down warmly and dine in a comfortable setting.
Having spent eight years on the battlefield, they couldn't hide their excitement, and the atmosphere was like a festival every day.
Among the noisy and chaotic diners, only Kassius remained silent.
"What on earth are you doing?"
"I don't know."
Terion shook his head.
In truth, he didn't know what had happened at the banquet that day, either.
Kassius had inquired about Empress Renisha, but that was likely merely a curiosity piqued by Duke Lottera.
Surely, only a madman would covet the Empress of the empire?
"Surely you're not going to grant us a fief? We're already running low on supplies! If I'd known this would happen, I should have accepted the Kingdom of Ferrisen's offer."
The knights complained.
As they had said, after the final great battle on the Chorpa Plains, the King of Ferrisen had offered them naturalization into the Kingdom of Ferrisen.
On the condition that they take the entire Chorpa Plains with them.
King Ferrisen had promised Kassius the title of Duke, along with a vast territory and commensurate assets.
Having abandoned that and returned here, he was not being treated properly, and his discontent was growing.
“Shh! What if such a careless remark reaches the Emperor? Didn’t you see how Duke Lottera died?”
The knights cleared their throats.
The army had collapsed after Duke Lottera’s death. With their leader gone, what could they do?
Kassius was the one who had scrambled to take the place and ultimately brought the war to a close.
Without Kassius, this place would certainly not exist.
So, after the war, those who were to leave left, and those who remained followed Kassius.
At the age of 20, he married Renisha, who was 17, and became Emperor.
From then on, Laxus had been keeping Lottera in check more than anyone else.
He had a reasonable suspicion that, just as they had made Laxus Emperor, they could make anyone else Emperor.
Duke Lottera, sensing Laxus's intentions, closed his doors and chose seclusion.
However, that didn't dispel Laxus's suspicions.
Laxus had driven Lottera into battle.
'I never imagined you would return from a place I sent you to die for, alive and well.'
Laxus smiled faintly and kissed Canary on the lips.
Canary flirted with him, then fell into his arms.
For eight years, Laxus and Renisha had not conceived a child.
Renisha had always been a noble Princess, exuding an aura that suggested that even the likes of Laxus could never approach her.
As if nothing Laxus could do would break Renisha.
“Aren’t you excited to see how that noble face crumbles?”
“Yes?”
Canary tilted her head and hugged Laxus.
Canary’s pretty brows furrowed as she held Laxus in her arms.
“Why are you so obsessed with that damned Empress? You could just kill her like you always did.”
Canary quickly changed her expression.
The Emperor was filled with madness.
He might change his mind at any moment and turn his sword on Canary.
Canary had to give birth to the Emperor’s child at all costs.
Until then, she had no choice but to pretend not to know anything and survive.
“Canary has no idea what Laxus is talking about.”
Canary sighed and whispered in Laxus’s ear.
“Don’t overthink it, just let Canary enjoy it.”
Canary snuggled into Laxus’s arms.
***
The chamberlain confirmed Laxus's location and secretly headed to the Empress's palace.
If the Emperor found out that he was colluding with Renisha, neither he nor his family would be safe.
However, it was thanks to the Empress that this crazy imperial palace had been able to survive until now.
The chamberlain caught his breath and bowed his head before Renisha.
"Your Majesty, Your humble servant, I greet you."
"Chief Chamberlain."
Renisha called to him in a calm voice.
The reason he could maintain his composure even after being treated like that in the banquet hall was that the Empress was Renisha.
The chamberlain gulped.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
“I have summoned you because I have something to ask you.”
“Please proceed.”
Renisha stared at the chamberlain with sunken eyes. The chamberlain was the only one who knew Laxus the best.
Laxus didn’t want anyone near him. Perhaps Laxus’s instincts were just picking sides.
The chamberlain pretended to take Renisha’s side and interacted with her, but he was fundamentally someone who would never betray the Emperor.
“...I summoned you because I wanted to know what Laxus was thinking.”
“What do you mean...?”
The chamberlain looked at Renisha with a puzzled expression.
Renisha smiled.
“Do you know which territory Laxus intends to grant to Kassius?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The chamberlain bowed.
However, despite his answer, no further words came out.
Renisha, sensing the meaning of the prolonged silence, gave a short laugh.
“You are indeed a very kind person.”
The chamberlain narrowed his eyes at Renisha's voice, which sounded like a gentle breeze.
The territory the Emperor had decided to bestow upon Kassius this time was Hiloshine.
Hiloshine was the most barren and sparsely populated of the original lands.
The problem was that Hiloshine had originally belonged to Lottera.
Hiloshine and other Lottera territories had been annexed by the imperial family eight years earlier, when the Duke and Duchess of Lottera were forced to go to war.
The Emperor had seized most of the Duke of Lottera's holdings under the pretext of war funds.
For some unknown reason, the Duke of Lottera had given up most of it as the Emperor desired.
Even the Chamberlain could not easily say that he would bestow upon Kassius the land he had so forcibly seized, as if it were his own.
And in front of Lottera's descendants.
"Hiloshine. They probably wouldn't have treated a hero of slave origin like Kassius well in the first place. Wouldn't they?"
“...That’s right. His Majesty the Emperor wishes to grant Hiloshine to Sir Kassius through the succession process.”
The chamberlain barely swallowed through his chapped throat.
In fact, an even more obscene order had been given, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it, so he clenched his jaw.
That was all Renisha asked.
“Thank you, Lord Chamberlain.”
The chamberlain bowed his head and stepped away. Renisha ran a finger over the line of her mouth.
‘I was not wrong.’
If Hiloshine is the land Kassius will inherit, and Renisha goes there...!
‘Laxus. I guarantee it with everything I have. You will never die in peace.’
Renisha’s lips curled into a cold smile.
The moonlight illuminating the night sky, which seemed shrouded in a black curtain, was like a lamp illuminating Renisha’s path.
She would never waver, nor lose her way.
***
Kassius and the knights were staying in a mansion temporarily provided by the palace.
It wasn't the grand mansion of nobles, but they were content to lie down warmly and dine in a comfortable setting.
Having spent eight years on the battlefield, they couldn't hide their excitement, and the atmosphere was like a festival every day.
Among the noisy and chaotic diners, only Kassius remained silent.
"What on earth are you doing?"
"I don't know."
Terion shook his head.
In truth, he didn't know what had happened at the banquet that day, either.
Kassius had inquired about Empress Renisha, but that was likely merely a curiosity piqued by Duke Lottera.
Surely, only a madman would covet the Empress of the empire?
"Surely you're not going to grant us a fief? We're already running low on supplies! If I'd known this would happen, I should have accepted the Kingdom of Ferrisen's offer."
The knights complained.
As they had said, after the final great battle on the Chorpa Plains, the King of Ferrisen had offered them naturalization into the Kingdom of Ferrisen.
On the condition that they take the entire Chorpa Plains with them.
King Ferrisen had promised Kassius the title of Duke, along with a vast territory and commensurate assets.
Having abandoned that and returned here, he was not being treated properly, and his discontent was growing.
“Shh! What if such a careless remark reaches the Emperor? Didn’t you see how Duke Lottera died?”
The knights cleared their throats.
The army had collapsed after Duke Lottera’s death. With their leader gone, what could they do?
Kassius was the one who had scrambled to take the place and ultimately brought the war to a close.
Without Kassius, this place would certainly not exist.
So, after the war, those who were to leave left, and those who remained followed Kassius.
The knights of Lottera, who had lost their masters, were no exception.
“Even Lord Kassius hasn’t said anything, so why are you causing such a fuss?”
Terion retorted, but Kassius opened his mouth, which had been closed until then.
“No. It’s understandable to be dissatisfied.”
Kassius' piercing golden eyes burned like the sun.
Kassius, who had been leaning back, straightened and muttered coldly,
“If the Emperor continues to dilly-dally, we will have no choice but to accept another sacrifice, Terion.”
“Yes, Sir Kassius. There seem to be between 300 and 500 knights currently stationed at the castle. Judging by the distance, it would take half a day to summon those stationed outside.”
Kassius touched the table.
Those who had been chattering loudly fell silent and focused on Kassius.
Kassius's lips curled upward.
Something always happened when Kassius laughed like that.
The knights gulped.
They even put down their food.
Terion was the most intelligent of the knights Kassius led. He was adept at gathering information and always came up with the best strategies.
"How many are we now?"
"About 250."
"This is enough to give it a try. If the Emperor breaks his promise, won't he pay the price for making us suffer?"
"That's right!"
Someone pumped a fist upward.
A bright face, devoid of fear.
"It's better than the Chorpa Plains!"
"The Emperor's head, your next target? Are you trying to become Emperor?"
The knights burst into laughter.
However, at that moment, Kassius was thinking of...
It was Renisha, sitting in the Emperor's seat, not the Empress's, and wearing a splendid golden crown.
“Even Lord Kassius hasn’t said anything, so why are you causing such a fuss?”
Terion retorted, but Kassius opened his mouth, which had been closed until then.
“No. It’s understandable to be dissatisfied.”
Kassius' piercing golden eyes burned like the sun.
Kassius, who had been leaning back, straightened and muttered coldly,
“If the Emperor continues to dilly-dally, we will have no choice but to accept another sacrifice, Terion.”
“Yes, Sir Kassius. There seem to be between 300 and 500 knights currently stationed at the castle. Judging by the distance, it would take half a day to summon those stationed outside.”
Kassius touched the table.
Those who had been chattering loudly fell silent and focused on Kassius.
Kassius's lips curled upward.
Something always happened when Kassius laughed like that.
The knights gulped.
They even put down their food.
Terion was the most intelligent of the knights Kassius led. He was adept at gathering information and always came up with the best strategies.
"How many are we now?"
"About 250."
"This is enough to give it a try. If the Emperor breaks his promise, won't he pay the price for making us suffer?"
"That's right!"
Someone pumped a fist upward.
A bright face, devoid of fear.
"It's better than the Chorpa Plains!"
"The Emperor's head, your next target? Are you trying to become Emperor?"
The knights burst into laughter.
However, at that moment, Kassius was thinking of...
It was Renisha, sitting in the Emperor's seat, not the Empress's, and wearing a splendid golden crown.
Comments
Post a Comment