Episode 30. I Like It Because It's Pretty
The maid returned quite some time after Isabella's bath.
While Madame Turiel waited in the reception room, Isabella was examined by a female doctor.
Renisha stared at everything with a cold face.
"There's a deep wound on your back, Miss."
"Ugh..."
Isabella lowered her head as if guilty of something.
Renisha's heart tore at the sight of the child fidgeting nervously.
She was always confident and honest in any situation. She was so lovable that anyone could not help but love her.
The old doctor's eyes were filled with pity.
Clearly a young lady from a noble family, the child was cowering and frightened.
She mumbled, wary of others.
It was a sight that belied the love she had received.
The old doctor carefully took Isabella's hand.
"Could you tell me how you were hurt? I can help you get better."
“Really? Can you get rid of the scar?”
“Not completely, but I can lighten it. You’re still growing, young lady, and there are many good medicines in the world.”
Isabella’s expression brightened noticeably.
Renisha, who had been watching, paused.
“It must have been a scar.”
It was only then that she realized. What meaning did that scar have for the child?
It was a delicate age.
She was naturally sensitive, so the scar must have held a greater meaning for her than for other children.
And looking at the scar, she must have relived the horror of that day.
Renisha gritted her teeth.
But so as not to startle Isabella, Renisha pretended to be calm, drinking tea and reading a book.
As if she were relaxed. Just like the Renisha Isabella had always seen.
“...I was wounded by a sword. I heard it was poisoned. According to the doctor who treated me, I had a fever for ten days. I had to live with a bandage on my back because of the wound, so people thought I was a boy. My head was also cut off badly when I was cut. So I had no choice but to cut it like this.”
Isabella pointed to her hair.
“And my grandfather said. He thought it would be better to just live as a boy.”
“Why did you pretend to lose your memory?”
Renisha asked softly.
Isabella widened her eyes and looked at her.
Isabella answered bluntly.
“Mom told me to do that if I thought it was dangerous.”
Renisha swallowed a bitter smile along with her tea.
“Well done.”
Isabella nodded and smiled brightly.
The old doctor also comforted Isabella.
“Well done, Miss. You’re admirable.”
“So, now can you make the wound less noticeable?”
“Yes. I’ll make you some medicine. You just need to apply it twice a day. Are you sure you can handle it?”
“Yes!”
“Isabella. Go change your clothes and come back. I bought you some new clothes. You liked purple, didn’t you?”
Isabella blushed.
Renisha was the same.
Isabella was 13, Renisha was 24.
They were niece and aunt, only 11 years apart.
So they grew up like sisters.
Isabella often confided in Renisha things she couldn’t tell her parents.
After Renisha became Empress, such interactions gradually decreased. Isabella glanced at Renisha. Even though it had been a long time since she saw her, Renisha seemed the same. She was as pretty as if she came out of a picture book...
The maid returned quite some time after Isabella's bath.
While Madame Turiel waited in the reception room, Isabella was examined by a female doctor.
Renisha stared at everything with a cold face.
"There's a deep wound on your back, Miss."
"Ugh..."
Isabella lowered her head as if guilty of something.
Renisha's heart tore at the sight of the child fidgeting nervously.
She was always confident and honest in any situation. She was so lovable that anyone could not help but love her.
The old doctor's eyes were filled with pity.
Clearly a young lady from a noble family, the child was cowering and frightened.
She mumbled, wary of others.
It was a sight that belied the love she had received.
The old doctor carefully took Isabella's hand.
"Could you tell me how you were hurt? I can help you get better."
“Really? Can you get rid of the scar?”
“Not completely, but I can lighten it. You’re still growing, young lady, and there are many good medicines in the world.”
Isabella’s expression brightened noticeably.
Renisha, who had been watching, paused.
“It must have been a scar.”
It was only then that she realized. What meaning did that scar have for the child?
It was a delicate age.
She was naturally sensitive, so the scar must have held a greater meaning for her than for other children.
And looking at the scar, she must have relived the horror of that day.
Renisha gritted her teeth.
But so as not to startle Isabella, Renisha pretended to be calm, drinking tea and reading a book.
As if she were relaxed. Just like the Renisha Isabella had always seen.
“...I was wounded by a sword. I heard it was poisoned. According to the doctor who treated me, I had a fever for ten days. I had to live with a bandage on my back because of the wound, so people thought I was a boy. My head was also cut off badly when I was cut. So I had no choice but to cut it like this.”
Isabella pointed to her hair.
“And my grandfather said. He thought it would be better to just live as a boy.”
“Why did you pretend to lose your memory?”
Renisha asked softly.
Isabella widened her eyes and looked at her.
Isabella answered bluntly.
“Mom told me to do that if I thought it was dangerous.”
Renisha swallowed a bitter smile along with her tea.
“Well done.”
Isabella nodded and smiled brightly.
The old doctor also comforted Isabella.
“Well done, Miss. You’re admirable.”
“So, now can you make the wound less noticeable?”
“Yes. I’ll make you some medicine. You just need to apply it twice a day. Are you sure you can handle it?”
“Yes!”
“Isabella. Go change your clothes and come back. I bought you some new clothes. You liked purple, didn’t you?”
Isabella blushed.
Renisha was the same.
Isabella was 13, Renisha was 24.
They were niece and aunt, only 11 years apart.
So they grew up like sisters.
Isabella often confided in Renisha things she couldn’t tell her parents.
After Renisha became Empress, such interactions gradually decreased. Isabella glanced at Renisha. Even though it had been a long time since she saw her, Renisha seemed the same. She was as pretty as if she came out of a picture book...
The way she spoke, which had always been particularly gentle towards Isabella, was still the same.
“A dress?”
“Yes. Do you want to change?”
It was something she had completely forgotten while pretending to be a boy. Isabella bit her lip and answered quietly.
“Yes.”
She had never imagined the day would come when she could wear a dress again. Renisha, who had seen Isabella leave holding Lindy’s hand, asked the doctor,
“Is she injured anywhere else?”
“The knights’ food may not have been enough for her, my lady. She seems to be malnourished.”
A dull headache accompanied the anger, and Renisha rubbed her forehead.
“And?”
“Aside from the sword wound on her back, I don’t see any major injuries.”
“...Thank you.”
“No.”
“We’ll be leaving this island soon. We’re planning to go to Hiloshine. If you’re so inclined, would you like to come with us?”
“...I won’t reveal anything about you, young lady. I promise you this on the life I have left. There are street children here that I must care for until the day I die. Please show them some mercy.”
The old doctor bowed deeply.
Renisha took a deep breath.
“...It’s not like that. I wasn’t so bad as to harm my benefactor. I just thought it would be nice to have a good doctor to look after the child. I’m worried because the child has many injuries.”
“Thank you for your kind consideration, ma’am.”
“Go to Madame Turiel’s dressing room. You can leave the medicine there, and she’ll take care of the payment.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The old doctor withdrew, and Renisha buried her face in her palms.
The maids who had been by her side stared at her with worried expressions.
Renisha breathed in and out slowly, repeating the same process.
She hadn't thought she'd be okay from the start.
Just being alive was enough.
But now that she'd seen it for herself, her heart felt like it was being ripped out of her chest.
"I shouldn't have opened the door."
She resented her past self for making the mistake of letting an ungrateful beast inside.
If only she hadn't been so childish, thinking she could control every situation, this wouldn't have happened.
Renisha slowly raised her head.
"Yes, grace isn't something you give lightly."
Perhaps the old doctor's life might be better.
Renisha smiled coldly.
"A girl?"
"A girl? Who?"
"Tesha! Tesha was a girl."
"Nonsense!"
The knights shook their heads.
The knights were the first to be horrified after learning Tesha's true identity.
What had Tesha been like all this time?
He didn't hesitate to sleep out with the knights, and he'd even scurry around the training grounds like a squirrel.
Although he was overly shy, he thought it was natural because he was still young.
“When I offered to scrub his back, he somehow refused!”
“What? You mean you said something like that to her?”
“I asked her to go to the bathroom with me...”
“What!”
“I-I said I’d teach her how to get a girlfriend...”
The knights, pale with fear, became solemn.
“She said it was Isabella, not Tesha.”
Kassius said with an indifferent expression.
“Ugh!”
The knights, startled by Kassius’s sudden appearance, jumped to their feet or stumbled backward.
A small, unexpected commotion erupted in the training hall.
Kassius, who had been standing awkwardly, bit into the apple he was holding.
Kassius added with a gentle expression,
“To be exact, Miss Isabella. She’s the daughter of House Lottera.”
“Yes?”
“Lottera?”
“That Lottera?”
Most of the knights here were those who would give their lives for House Lottera.
Knights usually obey those with exceptional swordsmanship or strength.
Lottera, on top of that, possessed exceptional leadership.
Every knight who had ever fought alongside the Duke of Lottera in battle had always mythologized him or regarded him as a hero.
Kassius smirked, watching the knights' shocked expressions.
"Well, that's fine. Since you've treated such a noble lady with such disrespect."
While the knights were denying reality, Terion rushed over.
"Duke Kassius!!"
"Why?"
Kassius asked, tilting his head crookedly.
Terion spoke to Kassius, who was carelessly tossing the remains of an apple in his hand into the training grounds' trash can.
"The lady is looking for..."
There was no need to continue.
Kassius had already stopped teasing the knights and left.
Terion stared at Kassius's back, his face trembling, as he vanished like the wind.
The knights huddled together, clung to Terion.
"Is Tesha really the lady?"
"Say no!"
"She's pretty,"
Terion said in one word.
"And the dress suits her well."
And he finished the kill.
Terion chuckled as he watched the knights collapse on the floor, denying reality.
Beside Renisha sat Tesha, dressed in a purple dress like a doll.
"Ah, now Isabella."
Kassius nodded slightly and sat down in the chair Renisha had pointed to.
Pointing to Kassius, who was sitting upright, Renisha said to the child,
"Lord Kassius and I are married, Isabella."
Renisha spoke kindly, making sure Isabella understood.
Isabella looked up, surprised.
"Yes? So you're not Her Majesty the Empress anymore?"
"That's right. I'm not that scary anymore."
Renisha smiled faintly. Isabella mumbled,
"Then, then... can you be my aunt instead of the Empress...?"
Renisha nodded to Isabella, who was watching her closely as she spoke more often than when she was younger.
She wanted to be more of a friend than someone difficult to approach. Someone Isabella could always lean on.
"Yes."
"I like my aunt better than the Empress. I liked living with her better."
Renisha smiled at Isabella's words.
“Me too, Isabella. I was bored without you... and I wondered how much our ugly tomato had grown.”
“It’s not a tomato anymore! Mom said I’d be a young lady now.”
Isabella shook her head in denial.
The eyes staring at Renisha with a cold demeanor were the same as when she was a child.
Renisha ran a hand over the child’s head, where the maids had meticulously tied a ribbon.
Renisha pointed to Kassius, who was sitting quietly, and asked Isabella,
“How’s Kassius?”
“Huh?”
“Your uncle.”
Kassius chuckled awkwardly at the sudden gaze. She wondered if he had done anything wrong to Isabella.
“I don’t think so...”
She had once cried.
Of course, that wasn’t Kassius’ intention.
A strange tension washed over her.
Even though she had known Isabella for a long time, it felt like it was the first time they had met.
Isabella smiled faintly.
“I like Sir Kassius!”
“It’s Duke Kassius now, Isabella.”
“Really?”
“Yes. He became the Duke of Lottera.”
“...Loterra is us. I don’t know what that means.”
“You don’t need to know right now. I was just asking what Kassius was like as an uncle. Why do you like Kassius?”
Isabella’s gaze turned back to Kassius.
Kassius froze with a smile.
He had never thought he would be judged like this.
“...I like him because he’s pretty.”
Isabella whispered shyly.
Renisha burst out laughing, and Kassius froze in a daze.
It was clear that Renisha and Isabella were of the same blood.
“We’ll be leaving this island soon. We’re planning to go to Hiloshine. If you’re so inclined, would you like to come with us?”
“...I won’t reveal anything about you, young lady. I promise you this on the life I have left. There are street children here that I must care for until the day I die. Please show them some mercy.”
The old doctor bowed deeply.
Renisha took a deep breath.
“...It’s not like that. I wasn’t so bad as to harm my benefactor. I just thought it would be nice to have a good doctor to look after the child. I’m worried because the child has many injuries.”
“Thank you for your kind consideration, ma’am.”
“Go to Madame Turiel’s dressing room. You can leave the medicine there, and she’ll take care of the payment.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The old doctor withdrew, and Renisha buried her face in her palms.
The maids who had been by her side stared at her with worried expressions.
Renisha breathed in and out slowly, repeating the same process.
She hadn't thought she'd be okay from the start.
Just being alive was enough.
But now that she'd seen it for herself, her heart felt like it was being ripped out of her chest.
"I shouldn't have opened the door."
She resented her past self for making the mistake of letting an ungrateful beast inside.
If only she hadn't been so childish, thinking she could control every situation, this wouldn't have happened.
Renisha slowly raised her head.
"Yes, grace isn't something you give lightly."
Perhaps the old doctor's life might be better.
Renisha smiled coldly.
***
"A girl?"
"A girl? Who?"
"Tesha! Tesha was a girl."
"Nonsense!"
The knights shook their heads.
The knights were the first to be horrified after learning Tesha's true identity.
What had Tesha been like all this time?
He didn't hesitate to sleep out with the knights, and he'd even scurry around the training grounds like a squirrel.
Although he was overly shy, he thought it was natural because he was still young.
“When I offered to scrub his back, he somehow refused!”
“What? You mean you said something like that to her?”
“I asked her to go to the bathroom with me...”
“What!”
“I-I said I’d teach her how to get a girlfriend...”
The knights, pale with fear, became solemn.
“She said it was Isabella, not Tesha.”
Kassius said with an indifferent expression.
“Ugh!”
The knights, startled by Kassius’s sudden appearance, jumped to their feet or stumbled backward.
A small, unexpected commotion erupted in the training hall.
Kassius, who had been standing awkwardly, bit into the apple he was holding.
Kassius added with a gentle expression,
“To be exact, Miss Isabella. She’s the daughter of House Lottera.”
“Yes?”
“Lottera?”
“That Lottera?”
Most of the knights here were those who would give their lives for House Lottera.
Knights usually obey those with exceptional swordsmanship or strength.
Lottera, on top of that, possessed exceptional leadership.
Every knight who had ever fought alongside the Duke of Lottera in battle had always mythologized him or regarded him as a hero.
Kassius smirked, watching the knights' shocked expressions.
"Well, that's fine. Since you've treated such a noble lady with such disrespect."
While the knights were denying reality, Terion rushed over.
"Duke Kassius!!"
"Why?"
Kassius asked, tilting his head crookedly.
Terion spoke to Kassius, who was carelessly tossing the remains of an apple in his hand into the training grounds' trash can.
"The lady is looking for..."
There was no need to continue.
Kassius had already stopped teasing the knights and left.
Terion stared at Kassius's back, his face trembling, as he vanished like the wind.
The knights huddled together, clung to Terion.
"Is Tesha really the lady?"
"Say no!"
"She's pretty,"
Terion said in one word.
"And the dress suits her well."
And he finished the kill.
Terion chuckled as he watched the knights collapse on the floor, denying reality.
***
Beside Renisha sat Tesha, dressed in a purple dress like a doll.
"Ah, now Isabella."
Kassius nodded slightly and sat down in the chair Renisha had pointed to.
Pointing to Kassius, who was sitting upright, Renisha said to the child,
"Lord Kassius and I are married, Isabella."
Renisha spoke kindly, making sure Isabella understood.
Isabella looked up, surprised.
"Yes? So you're not Her Majesty the Empress anymore?"
"That's right. I'm not that scary anymore."
Renisha smiled faintly. Isabella mumbled,
"Then, then... can you be my aunt instead of the Empress...?"
Renisha nodded to Isabella, who was watching her closely as she spoke more often than when she was younger.
She wanted to be more of a friend than someone difficult to approach. Someone Isabella could always lean on.
"Yes."
"I like my aunt better than the Empress. I liked living with her better."
Renisha smiled at Isabella's words.
“Me too, Isabella. I was bored without you... and I wondered how much our ugly tomato had grown.”
“It’s not a tomato anymore! Mom said I’d be a young lady now.”
Isabella shook her head in denial.
The eyes staring at Renisha with a cold demeanor were the same as when she was a child.
Renisha ran a hand over the child’s head, where the maids had meticulously tied a ribbon.
Renisha pointed to Kassius, who was sitting quietly, and asked Isabella,
“How’s Kassius?”
“Huh?”
“Your uncle.”
Kassius chuckled awkwardly at the sudden gaze. She wondered if he had done anything wrong to Isabella.
“I don’t think so...”
She had once cried.
Of course, that wasn’t Kassius’ intention.
A strange tension washed over her.
Even though she had known Isabella for a long time, it felt like it was the first time they had met.
Isabella smiled faintly.
“I like Sir Kassius!”
“It’s Duke Kassius now, Isabella.”
“Really?”
“Yes. He became the Duke of Lottera.”
“...Loterra is us. I don’t know what that means.”
“You don’t need to know right now. I was just asking what Kassius was like as an uncle. Why do you like Kassius?”
Isabella’s gaze turned back to Kassius.
Kassius froze with a smile.
He had never thought he would be judged like this.
“...I like him because he’s pretty.”
Isabella whispered shyly.
Renisha burst out laughing, and Kassius froze in a daze.
It was clear that Renisha and Isabella were of the same blood.
Comments
Post a Comment