Episode 5. Renisha's First Gift
"One week from now. If the Emperor doesn't respond within a week, we'll handle things our way."
"Yes, Sir Kassius!"
Kassius brushed back his newly grown red hair.
This, too, was proof that the war was over.
Short hair was always required on the battlefield.
Kassius drank the last drop of wine from his glass and stood up.
Ever since the banquet, the image of Renisha had been etched in Kassius's mind.
He kept recalling the expression on Renisha's face, the way she had looked at him that day.
It wasn't like a cow chewing its cud.
Kassius frowned.
"Huh..."
It was because of Renisha's gaze. Eyes that resembled the Duke of Lottera's.
Kassius shook his head.
"Sir Kassius, sir!"
Kassius turned at the urgent voice calling him.
A boy, perhaps only thirteen years old, rolled over to Kassius.
It was the child Kassius had rescued from the Chorpa Plains.
The child, with chestnut-like hair and gray eyes, was named Tesha.
Tesha had suffered a severe injury across her back.
The child had lost all memory and had been following Kassius ever since.
Kassius had also given him the name.
“What are you running around like that for?”
Kassius asked absentmindedly.
“We have a guest! Riding in a magnificent carriage... You look so noble!”
Kassius frowned and stuck his head out.
Who on earth could be... at this hour...!
Of course, only the imperial family would be so rude.
After confirming the guest’s identity, Kassius left Tesha behind and ran down to the first floor.
“Could it be Renisha?”
A ridiculous expectation ignited within him.
Of course, it was truly a ridiculous expectation.
“The Emperor sent me. I am Henry Florian, the Grand Chamberlain of the Imperial Castle.”
“...Kassius.”
“Yes, Sir Kassius. I’ve met you before.”
Henry bowed politely.
Perhaps it was because he was the grand chamberlain of the imperial palace. He had a different aura about him.
Kassius straightened, having been hunched over from running.
That alone made his massive frame radiate intimidation.
“I apologize for my rudeness at this late hour. It’s His Majesty the Emperor’s order...”
Henry chuckled awkwardly.
“On the battlefield, if it’s urgent, you can even come and go at dawn.”
It was a rebuke, asking why he came at this hour if it wasn’t urgent.
Henry cleared his throat and held out the parchment he was holding.
“It’s an order from the Emperor. He asks you to attend a banquet at the imperial palace in three days.”
“His Majesty chose the fief and title he’ll bestow upon me?”
“I have no answer for that.”
Henry bowed his head.
Kassius frowned and unfolded the parchment.
The parchment contained only brief information about the meeting Kassius was to attend.
Henry hesitated, then gave Kassius a hint.
“On that day, just wear the dress code. The same uniform as before would be too much, so please wear something appropriately tailored.”
“...Ha.”
Kassius let out a hollow laugh.
Henry offered Kassius another kind gesture.
“His Majesty the Emperor dislikes anything that violates formality.”
He seemed like the most uncivilized of rascals.
Kassius held back his words.
“I’ll try.”
“Well, I’ll see you then.”
Henry took another sip and boarded the carriage.
"One week from now. If the Emperor doesn't respond within a week, we'll handle things our way."
"Yes, Sir Kassius!"
Kassius brushed back his newly grown red hair.
This, too, was proof that the war was over.
Short hair was always required on the battlefield.
Kassius drank the last drop of wine from his glass and stood up.
Ever since the banquet, the image of Renisha had been etched in Kassius's mind.
He kept recalling the expression on Renisha's face, the way she had looked at him that day.
It wasn't like a cow chewing its cud.
Kassius frowned.
"Huh..."
It was because of Renisha's gaze. Eyes that resembled the Duke of Lottera's.
Kassius shook his head.
"Sir Kassius, sir!"
Kassius turned at the urgent voice calling him.
A boy, perhaps only thirteen years old, rolled over to Kassius.
It was the child Kassius had rescued from the Chorpa Plains.
The child, with chestnut-like hair and gray eyes, was named Tesha.
Tesha had suffered a severe injury across her back.
The child had lost all memory and had been following Kassius ever since.
Kassius had also given him the name.
“What are you running around like that for?”
Kassius asked absentmindedly.
“We have a guest! Riding in a magnificent carriage... You look so noble!”
Kassius frowned and stuck his head out.
Who on earth could be... at this hour...!
Of course, only the imperial family would be so rude.
After confirming the guest’s identity, Kassius left Tesha behind and ran down to the first floor.
“Could it be Renisha?”
A ridiculous expectation ignited within him.
Of course, it was truly a ridiculous expectation.
“The Emperor sent me. I am Henry Florian, the Grand Chamberlain of the Imperial Castle.”
“...Kassius.”
“Yes, Sir Kassius. I’ve met you before.”
Henry bowed politely.
Perhaps it was because he was the grand chamberlain of the imperial palace. He had a different aura about him.
Kassius straightened, having been hunched over from running.
That alone made his massive frame radiate intimidation.
“I apologize for my rudeness at this late hour. It’s His Majesty the Emperor’s order...”
Henry chuckled awkwardly.
“On the battlefield, if it’s urgent, you can even come and go at dawn.”
It was a rebuke, asking why he came at this hour if it wasn’t urgent.
Henry cleared his throat and held out the parchment he was holding.
“It’s an order from the Emperor. He asks you to attend a banquet at the imperial palace in three days.”
“His Majesty chose the fief and title he’ll bestow upon me?”
“I have no answer for that.”
Henry bowed his head.
Kassius frowned and unfolded the parchment.
The parchment contained only brief information about the meeting Kassius was to attend.
Henry hesitated, then gave Kassius a hint.
“On that day, just wear the dress code. The same uniform as before would be too much, so please wear something appropriately tailored.”
“...Ha.”
Kassius let out a hollow laugh.
Henry offered Kassius another kind gesture.
“His Majesty the Emperor dislikes anything that violates formality.”
He seemed like the most uncivilized of rascals.
Kassius held back his words.
“I’ll try.”
“Well, I’ll see you then.”
Henry took another sip and boarded the carriage.
The carriage, bearing the ornate imperial emblem, pulled out of Kassius’ small mansion.
Kassius clutched the parchment in his hand.
Maybe he could see Renisha again here.
And maybe he could convey to her, to the woman who was troubling him.
Then maybe he can shake off all this debt.
Kassius unrolled the parchment again.
“Where do I have a suit?”
He doesn’t even have enough money to eat or die. Kassius gritted his teeth.
An invitation with the same content was delivered to Renisha.
“A banquet hosted by the Emperor.”
Renisha’s lips curled up into a smirk.
The maids watched Renisha's expression.
Ever since the Duke and Duchess died, Renisha had acted like an emotionless paper doll, manipulated by the Emperor.
Renisha had finally regained her composure after hearing news that her family had survived.
And she seemed even more elated after the previous banquet she'd attended.
"Will you attend?"
Henry, the Lord Chamberlain, asked with an anxious expression.
True, even as the Emperor, he couldn't force the Empress, but Laxus was different.
If Renisha refused, he would do whatever it took to force her to obey.
"Of course, I will."
"I will convey that."
"Sir Kassius will be attending this event, correct?"
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
Renisha rubbed her lips.
"I'll be leaving now."
Henry swallowed his anxiety and stepped back.
The Empress was showing unusual interest in Kassius. The Emperor was as unpredictable as the Empress, but the Empress was no less so.
It felt like some kind of uproar was brewing in the palace.
Henry left, and Renisha summoned Linda, the head maid.
“Linda.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I heard the Emperor is hosting a banquet in three days.”
“Will that woman be there too?”
Linda said, her face furious.
At that moment, the maids gathered in the room shut their mouths, and stared at Renisha.
There was only one woman Linda could call that.
“Canary?”
“Yes!”
Linda said, clenching her fists.
“I don’t know if Canary will come. It’s a small banquet hosted by the Emperor. I don’t know what kind of people he’s inviting or why.”
“...So she might come.”
Renisha shrugged.
Canary was someone Renisha didn’t care about. No matter what Canary did, Renisha never wavered.
Nevertheless, the maids always burned with fighting spirit toward Canary.
“I need to prepare a new dress.”
“How about taking out the ruby that the Little Duke of Lottera sent you a while ago?”
“That would be good too. How about a silver dress embroidered with gold thread? With white shoes, you would look noble and beautiful.”
The maids were already chatting in a combative manner.
Leaving them behind, Renisha called the head maid again.
“Linda.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Could you send a gift in your family’s name?”
“...?”
“Send Sir Kassius' clothes to wear at this banquet.”
There was only one reason the Emperor would host a banquet and invite guests.
This banquet was for Renisha and Kassius.
Renisha chuckled coldly.
Renisha recognized Kassius as the one the Emperor had prepared for her that day.
However, Kassius might not have recognized her either.
“Clothes... you mean?”
“Yes.”
Head maid Linda lowered her head with a confused expression.
She couldn't understand Renisha's motives for issuing such an order.
Why Kassius, of all people?
However, she couldn't ask any more questions of Renisha, who had a sullen expression on her face, and had no choice but to retreat.
The next morning, an order was placed in the costume shop under the name of Linda's family.
Renisha's position in the empire was ambiguous. She hadn't prepared for the future by giving birth, nor was she on friendly terms with the Emperor.
However, everyone agreed that the empire wouldn't function properly without her.
Renisha was a wonderful Empress.
In winter, the poor endured the harsh season wearing the cotton clothes she provided, and in spring, they filled their hungry stomachs with grains she distributed from the imperial budget.
Merchants survived thanks to diplomacy led by Renisha, who possessed exceptional beauty and social skills.
Since Renisha's name was attached to everything the imperial family did, it was impossible not to praise her.
It was a stronghold that even the Emperor's favorite Canary, no matter how stubborn, could not break.
News of the Emperor's banquet circulated through the wardrobe as soon as the morning arrived.
The night before, Canary, who had been invited to the banquet, had sent a warning letter to the wardrobe that would not tolerate the Empress's clothes.
"Isn't that ridiculous?"
Madame Turiel clicked her tongue and handed the warning letter to the clerks who were swearing.
“That’s what I’m saying. A government official of commoner origins dares to speak ill of Her Majesty the Empress...”
“Even if Loretta’s family was destroyed, is it really possible for her to speak ill of Her Majesty the Empress like this?”
“That’s what I’m saying. This is the end of the world, the end of the world.”
Turiel stuck out her tongue.
“Have you measured Her Majesty’s size before?”
“Yes, Madame Turiel.”
“Make a pair of gorgeous white satin shoes in that size and send them to me. Do I really need to listen to a commoner like that?”
Kassius clutched the parchment in his hand.
Maybe he could see Renisha again here.
And maybe he could convey to her, to the woman who was troubling him.
Then maybe he can shake off all this debt.
Kassius unrolled the parchment again.
“Where do I have a suit?”
He doesn’t even have enough money to eat or die. Kassius gritted his teeth.
***
An invitation with the same content was delivered to Renisha.
“A banquet hosted by the Emperor.”
Renisha’s lips curled up into a smirk.
The maids watched Renisha's expression.
Ever since the Duke and Duchess died, Renisha had acted like an emotionless paper doll, manipulated by the Emperor.
Renisha had finally regained her composure after hearing news that her family had survived.
And she seemed even more elated after the previous banquet she'd attended.
"Will you attend?"
Henry, the Lord Chamberlain, asked with an anxious expression.
True, even as the Emperor, he couldn't force the Empress, but Laxus was different.
If Renisha refused, he would do whatever it took to force her to obey.
"Of course, I will."
"I will convey that."
"Sir Kassius will be attending this event, correct?"
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
Renisha rubbed her lips.
"I'll be leaving now."
Henry swallowed his anxiety and stepped back.
The Empress was showing unusual interest in Kassius. The Emperor was as unpredictable as the Empress, but the Empress was no less so.
It felt like some kind of uproar was brewing in the palace.
Henry left, and Renisha summoned Linda, the head maid.
“Linda.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I heard the Emperor is hosting a banquet in three days.”
“Will that woman be there too?”
Linda said, her face furious.
At that moment, the maids gathered in the room shut their mouths, and stared at Renisha.
There was only one woman Linda could call that.
“Canary?”
“Yes!”
Linda said, clenching her fists.
“I don’t know if Canary will come. It’s a small banquet hosted by the Emperor. I don’t know what kind of people he’s inviting or why.”
“...So she might come.”
Renisha shrugged.
Canary was someone Renisha didn’t care about. No matter what Canary did, Renisha never wavered.
Nevertheless, the maids always burned with fighting spirit toward Canary.
“I need to prepare a new dress.”
“How about taking out the ruby that the Little Duke of Lottera sent you a while ago?”
“That would be good too. How about a silver dress embroidered with gold thread? With white shoes, you would look noble and beautiful.”
The maids were already chatting in a combative manner.
Leaving them behind, Renisha called the head maid again.
“Linda.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Could you send a gift in your family’s name?”
“...?”
“Send Sir Kassius' clothes to wear at this banquet.”
There was only one reason the Emperor would host a banquet and invite guests.
This banquet was for Renisha and Kassius.
Renisha chuckled coldly.
Renisha recognized Kassius as the one the Emperor had prepared for her that day.
However, Kassius might not have recognized her either.
“Clothes... you mean?”
“Yes.”
Head maid Linda lowered her head with a confused expression.
She couldn't understand Renisha's motives for issuing such an order.
Why Kassius, of all people?
However, she couldn't ask any more questions of Renisha, who had a sullen expression on her face, and had no choice but to retreat.
The next morning, an order was placed in the costume shop under the name of Linda's family.
***
Renisha's position in the empire was ambiguous. She hadn't prepared for the future by giving birth, nor was she on friendly terms with the Emperor.
However, everyone agreed that the empire wouldn't function properly without her.
Renisha was a wonderful Empress.
In winter, the poor endured the harsh season wearing the cotton clothes she provided, and in spring, they filled their hungry stomachs with grains she distributed from the imperial budget.
Merchants survived thanks to diplomacy led by Renisha, who possessed exceptional beauty and social skills.
Since Renisha's name was attached to everything the imperial family did, it was impossible not to praise her.
It was a stronghold that even the Emperor's favorite Canary, no matter how stubborn, could not break.
News of the Emperor's banquet circulated through the wardrobe as soon as the morning arrived.
The night before, Canary, who had been invited to the banquet, had sent a warning letter to the wardrobe that would not tolerate the Empress's clothes.
"Isn't that ridiculous?"
Madame Turiel clicked her tongue and handed the warning letter to the clerks who were swearing.
“That’s what I’m saying. A government official of commoner origins dares to speak ill of Her Majesty the Empress...”
“Even if Loretta’s family was destroyed, is it really possible for her to speak ill of Her Majesty the Empress like this?”
“That’s what I’m saying. This is the end of the world, the end of the world.”
Turiel stuck out her tongue.
“Have you measured Her Majesty’s size before?”
“Yes, Madame Turiel.”
“Make a pair of gorgeous white satin shoes in that size and send them to me. Do I really need to listen to a commoner like that?”
Madame Turiel was a costume designer, a former Viscountess.
To Madame Turiel, Canary’s words were nothing more than the barking of a dog outside.
“Good idea, Madame Turiel.”
At that moment, a visitor had come to Turiel.
Linda entered the costume shop, took off her hat, and greeted Turiel with a bright smile.
“Turiel!”
“Linda? It’s been a while since you’ve come here in person. What’s the matter?”
Turiel also greeted Lindei warmly.
They had been friends since childhood.
“I have come on Her Majesty’s orders, Turiel.”
“Hmm?”
“You know Sir Kassius?”
“Oh.”
“Her Majesty would like to gift him clothes to wear at the banquet.”
Turiel’s eyes widened.
Lindei produced a pouch of gold coins engraved with the Empress’s emblem from her bag.
“I would like to place the order in our family’s name. Can you do it?”
Turiel chuckled, amused.
“Of course. It seems Her Majesty is up to something again.”
Turiel’s clothing shop was at the forefront of making the cotton garments that the Empress distributed to the poor in the winter.
And noble ladies who wanted to join the Empress’s good deeds also made cotton garments and brought them to Turiel.
Turiel’s clothing shop was one of the Empress’s greatest supporters.
Linda shrugged without answering. Turiel shouted in a raised voice.
"Close the costume shop today! We need to tailor Sir Kassius's clothes, so gather all the black fabrics by type! Oh, and leather for shoes!"
"Yes, Madam!"
"Then we'll be seeing lots of fit knights, huh?"
The clerks chuckled.
Linda and Turiel exchanged meaningful smiles.
“Good idea, Madame Turiel.”
At that moment, a visitor had come to Turiel.
Linda entered the costume shop, took off her hat, and greeted Turiel with a bright smile.
“Turiel!”
“Linda? It’s been a while since you’ve come here in person. What’s the matter?”
Turiel also greeted Lindei warmly.
They had been friends since childhood.
“I have come on Her Majesty’s orders, Turiel.”
“Hmm?”
“You know Sir Kassius?”
“Oh.”
“Her Majesty would like to gift him clothes to wear at the banquet.”
Turiel’s eyes widened.
Lindei produced a pouch of gold coins engraved with the Empress’s emblem from her bag.
“I would like to place the order in our family’s name. Can you do it?”
Turiel chuckled, amused.
“Of course. It seems Her Majesty is up to something again.”
Turiel’s clothing shop was at the forefront of making the cotton garments that the Empress distributed to the poor in the winter.
And noble ladies who wanted to join the Empress’s good deeds also made cotton garments and brought them to Turiel.
Turiel’s clothing shop was one of the Empress’s greatest supporters.
Linda shrugged without answering. Turiel shouted in a raised voice.
"Close the costume shop today! We need to tailor Sir Kassius's clothes, so gather all the black fabrics by type! Oh, and leather for shoes!"
"Yes, Madam!"
"Then we'll be seeing lots of fit knights, huh?"
The clerks chuckled.
Linda and Turiel exchanged meaningful smiles.
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