Episode 39. Become a Couple
Turiel tilted his head.
“But, Your Excellency. Are you just asking for my help without any reward? I'm not one to work for nothing.”
“Is there a price you're asking?”
Turiel smiled lukewarmly.
She worked for Renisha.
And Kassius, before her, was someone who came to seek advice on Renisha's behalf.
Answering such a trivial question wasn't difficult.
Turiel only wanted one price.
“Don't change your heart.”
“What...?”
“Don't forget the sincerity with which you came all the way here for Renisha. Cherish the feelings you held for Renisha for the rest of your life.”
Turiel tilted his head.
“But, Your Excellency. Are you just asking for my help without any reward? I'm not one to work for nothing.”
“Is there a price you're asking?”
Turiel smiled lukewarmly.
She worked for Renisha.
And Kassius, before her, was someone who came to seek advice on Renisha's behalf.
Answering such a trivial question wasn't difficult.
Turiel only wanted one price.
“Don't change your heart.”
“What...?”
“Don't forget the sincerity with which you came all the way here for Renisha. Cherish the feelings you held for Renisha for the rest of your life.”
Kassius's expression grew strange.
“For a businessman, the price you're asking is absurdly small.”
“Eternity isn't that easy. It's more difficult and arduous than you think. What I ask for is the greatest price.”
“No. That's not what I meant.”
Kassius ran a hand through his hair.
His muscles, once relaxed with his arms crossed, moved slowly.
He was so large that even the slightest movement felt significant.
Turiel narrowed his eyes and stared at Kassius.
Usually, knights felt threatened when in front of her.
It wasn't something the knights did, but an instinctive feeling born from the size difference.
Kassius seemed to know this, moving slowly except when walking.
He was a man with a gentle nature.
A man who knew how to put others before himself.
"What I meant was that I, too, desire eternity. I desire eternity with Renisha. That's the price I want, not the price you want. So, your price is absurdly small."
That was Kassius's true feelings.
Kassius couldn't quite define his own feelings. He simply yearned for Renisha and wanted to protect her.
He wanted Renisha to smile and for her life to be free from pain.
And Kassius was there.
He harbored such a wish.
He himself couldn't quite pinpoint when Kassius's wish had begun.
He simply remembered knowing at first sight that his relationship with Renisha wouldn't end like that.
Turiel nodded at Kassius's words.
"Then my price is certainly insignificant. However, everything I desire is for Renisha, so it's okay."
A faint jealousy welled up in her. She had always believed that Turiel's feelings for Renisha were the deepest.
But now someone had appeared who would try to overtake Turiel.
Turiel swallowed down the discontent that was welling up inside her.
"Then speak now. What should I do?"
Kassius asked seriously again.
"Actually, I've never met the opposite sex before, so I'm clumsy."
"You've never even called a woman...?"
Kassius frowned.
"I've heard that happens often, but it has nothing to do with me."
Kassius, who had answered bluntly, stared coldly at the playful Turiel.
Strangely, he felt drawn into Turiel's presence.
Turiel was a dangerous woman in a different sense than Renisha.
"I see."
He lived almost like a monk. Turiel stuck out her tongue.
"Tell me how."
Kassius, having concluded that it would be best not to engage in any more lengthy conversations with Turiel, urged her stiffly.
"Have a meal with Lady Renisha. Talk a lot, and do everything together. Hold hands, stroll through the garden, and see beautiful things. Do good things together."
"That is..."
Kassius's shoulders relaxed.
"You must satisfy her heart first, and her body will follow. Shake Lady Renisha like a storm."
"Shake?"
"Shake her so hard she crumbles in one fell swoop. So that everything will be over before Renisha can even think, 'Oh no.' Hold her heart."
"...I don't think Renisha wants that, do she?"
“For a businessman, the price you're asking is absurdly small.”
“Eternity isn't that easy. It's more difficult and arduous than you think. What I ask for is the greatest price.”
“No. That's not what I meant.”
Kassius ran a hand through his hair.
His muscles, once relaxed with his arms crossed, moved slowly.
He was so large that even the slightest movement felt significant.
Turiel narrowed his eyes and stared at Kassius.
Usually, knights felt threatened when in front of her.
It wasn't something the knights did, but an instinctive feeling born from the size difference.
Kassius seemed to know this, moving slowly except when walking.
He was a man with a gentle nature.
A man who knew how to put others before himself.
"What I meant was that I, too, desire eternity. I desire eternity with Renisha. That's the price I want, not the price you want. So, your price is absurdly small."
That was Kassius's true feelings.
Kassius couldn't quite define his own feelings. He simply yearned for Renisha and wanted to protect her.
He wanted Renisha to smile and for her life to be free from pain.
And Kassius was there.
He harbored such a wish.
He himself couldn't quite pinpoint when Kassius's wish had begun.
He simply remembered knowing at first sight that his relationship with Renisha wouldn't end like that.
Turiel nodded at Kassius's words.
"Then my price is certainly insignificant. However, everything I desire is for Renisha, so it's okay."
A faint jealousy welled up in her. She had always believed that Turiel's feelings for Renisha were the deepest.
But now someone had appeared who would try to overtake Turiel.
Turiel swallowed down the discontent that was welling up inside her.
"Then speak now. What should I do?"
Kassius asked seriously again.
"Actually, I've never met the opposite sex before, so I'm clumsy."
"You've never even called a woman...?"
Kassius frowned.
"I've heard that happens often, but it has nothing to do with me."
Kassius, who had answered bluntly, stared coldly at the playful Turiel.
Strangely, he felt drawn into Turiel's presence.
Turiel was a dangerous woman in a different sense than Renisha.
"I see."
He lived almost like a monk. Turiel stuck out her tongue.
"Tell me how."
Kassius, having concluded that it would be best not to engage in any more lengthy conversations with Turiel, urged her stiffly.
"Have a meal with Lady Renisha. Talk a lot, and do everything together. Hold hands, stroll through the garden, and see beautiful things. Do good things together."
"That is..."
Kassius's shoulders relaxed.
"You must satisfy her heart first, and her body will follow. Shake Lady Renisha like a storm."
"Shake?"
"Shake her so hard she crumbles in one fell swoop. So that everything will be over before Renisha can even think, 'Oh no.' Hold her heart."
"...I don't think Renisha wants that, do she?"
"Are you not going to do it just because she doesn't want it?"
Turiel smiled gently.
"Then, Lady Renisha might no longer need you, Your Excellency the Duke."
Kassius frowned.
Turiel smiled gently.
"Then, Lady Renisha might no longer need you, Your Excellency the Duke."
Kassius frowned.
"No need?"
"Please, Your Excellency, allow Renisha to lean on you. Be her support. If you've shaken her like that, then you can support her. Support her from behind and lead her from the front."
Turiel was worried about Renisha, who lived alone.
Even in the imperial palace, she had never once uttered a word of hardship, even under Laxus's oppression.
Perhaps she didn't know how to ask for help, but tried to solve everything herself. She hoped that this time wouldn't be the case.
Kassius paused for a moment.
"So you want us to become a family?"
"That's right. That will solve all your problems, Your Excellency."
Kassius nodded, his face filled with understanding.
"Become a couple. That comes first."
Kassius understood perfectly what she meant.
From his youth until now, he had grown up following the Duke and Duchess of Lottera on the battlefield.
Kassius remembered every detail of their lives.
He wasn't the only one.
The Duke and Duchess of Lottera had raised more than one young knight.
Kassius knew how they loved and supported each other.
“It was a good story. Thank you."
Renisha raised an eyebrow.
Kassius felt strange.
Was he excited about the departure?
Or was he afraid of the thought of going to Hiloshine?
Kassius had a different tribe to take responsibility for.
Renisha knew about Kassius’s origins. She also knew how the Duke of Lottera had hidden Kassius.
So, it was possible to uncover it in reverse.
“Is something wrong?”
Kassius had been staring at Renisha silently for an hour.
Or was he glaring, or was he at a loss for words?
Renisha finally closed the book she was reading.
“Have you met the Prince of Shamdir?”
“We’ll meet tomorrow,”
Kassius answered, as if he had been waiting for Renisha to speak.
“I’ve made an appointment with the Prince, and we’ll have dinner together tomorrow evening.”
“Thank goodness I was able to meet him before he left. There must be a reason the Prince of Shamdir hasn’t left yet. I think that reason is me.”
“Aha.”
Kassius nodded.
His response was remarkably plain, as if he’d been waiting for her answer.
“...Do you have anything to say?”
Renisha asked Kassius, who hadn’t taken his eyes off her.
Kassius’s throat twitched.
“Can we have dinner together tonight and go out?”
Kassius asked seriously.
“If we go out, what do you need to do? Is something wrong?”
"Please, Your Excellency, allow Renisha to lean on you. Be her support. If you've shaken her like that, then you can support her. Support her from behind and lead her from the front."
Turiel was worried about Renisha, who lived alone.
Even in the imperial palace, she had never once uttered a word of hardship, even under Laxus's oppression.
Perhaps she didn't know how to ask for help, but tried to solve everything herself. She hoped that this time wouldn't be the case.
Kassius paused for a moment.
"So you want us to become a family?"
"That's right. That will solve all your problems, Your Excellency."
Kassius nodded, his face filled with understanding.
"Become a couple. That comes first."
Kassius understood perfectly what she meant.
From his youth until now, he had grown up following the Duke and Duchess of Lottera on the battlefield.
Kassius remembered every detail of their lives.
He wasn't the only one.
The Duke and Duchess of Lottera had raised more than one young knight.
Kassius knew how they loved and supported each other.
“It was a good story. Thank you."
***
Renisha raised an eyebrow.
Kassius felt strange.
Was he excited about the departure?
Or was he afraid of the thought of going to Hiloshine?
Kassius had a different tribe to take responsibility for.
Renisha knew about Kassius’s origins. She also knew how the Duke of Lottera had hidden Kassius.
So, it was possible to uncover it in reverse.
“Is something wrong?”
Kassius had been staring at Renisha silently for an hour.
Or was he glaring, or was he at a loss for words?
Renisha finally closed the book she was reading.
“Have you met the Prince of Shamdir?”
“We’ll meet tomorrow,”
Kassius answered, as if he had been waiting for Renisha to speak.
“I’ve made an appointment with the Prince, and we’ll have dinner together tomorrow evening.”
“Thank goodness I was able to meet him before he left. There must be a reason the Prince of Shamdir hasn’t left yet. I think that reason is me.”
“Aha.”
Kassius nodded.
His response was remarkably plain, as if he’d been waiting for her answer.
“...Do you have anything to say?”
Renisha asked Kassius, who hadn’t taken his eyes off her.
Kassius’s throat twitched.
“Can we have dinner together tonight and go out?”
Kassius asked seriously.
“If we go out, what do you need to do? Is something wrong?”
This was the first time Kassius had made such a request.
He had always followed Renisha’s orders, blindly, like a well-behaved military dog.
“I heard there’s a market opening today. This time, there’s a lot of imported goods coming in, so there’s a lot to see.”
“So?”
Renisha tilted her head.
“I’m suggesting we... go out together.”
Kassius was consistently serious.
He had never said such a thing.
He had no idea what to say, how to say it, or when to say it.
And he didn't want to interrupt Renisha's reading, so he kept his mouth shut the whole time, choosing his words.
The only thing that came out was the utterly uncool "going out."
He had always followed Renisha’s orders, blindly, like a well-behaved military dog.
“I heard there’s a market opening today. This time, there’s a lot of imported goods coming in, so there’s a lot to see.”
“So?”
Renisha tilted her head.
“I’m suggesting we... go out together.”
Kassius was consistently serious.
He had never said such a thing.
He had no idea what to say, how to say it, or when to say it.
And he didn't want to interrupt Renisha's reading, so he kept his mouth shut the whole time, choosing his words.
The only thing that came out was the utterly uncool "going out."
He was almost lamenting his own linguistic abilities.
Fortunately, Renisha's reaction wasn't bad.
"Sightseeing. That would be nice, too. The abundance of imported goods means there will be a lot of tourists. There must be a ship carrying them. Kassius and I tend to stand out, so covering up with clothes would be a good idea."
Kassius was the one who initiated the conversation, but Renisha was the one taking the initiative.
"I'll ask Lindy to find some clothes. Shamdir's clothes would be perfect."
"Shamdir's clothes?"
"Did you see what Canary is wearing? We wasted precious Shamdir's silk."
Renisha said with a smile.
"Shamdir silk is especially beautiful when woven into Shamdir clothing. When woven well, the patterns of Shamdir silk are seamless. Furthermore, since it's being presented to the Queen of Shamdir, even greater care must have been taken."
"...How does Renisha know all that?"
“Because I was the Empress. It was natural for her to learn the cultures and customs of the major countries. In some countries, shaking hands is rude, while in others, a kiss on the cheek is the standard greeting. How could I possibly deal with envoys without knowing such things?”
Renisha shrugged lightly.
“Is this right?”
Turiel had asked Kassius to speak with Renisha.
He wasn’t sure if this was the right conversation to be having.
“Canary didn’t even know the spelling of my name.”
“Canary... is just a scarecrow. Laxus wouldn’t expect that from Canary. She’d truly be worthy of bearing children.”
Renisha said coldly.
“That’s not right.”
Kassius swallowed.
“Wouldn’t people recognize us if we wore Shamdir’s clothes?”
“There’s a traditional Shamdir attire that involves wearing a hat and covering the face. Then they wouldn’t recognize us.”
“What color will you wear, Renisha?”
“To match me?”
“I’m going to ask Lindy to do that.”
Renisha burst out laughing.
“Yes. Today...”
Renisha tapped her cheek.
“How about pink?”
“Yes.”
Kassius didn’t care.
His goal was to become a ‘couple’ with Renisha. Just like Turiel had said.
He had a small desire for others to see Kassius and Renisha as a couple.
Renisha burst out laughing.
“You really don’t mind pink? Oh my gosh.”
Renisha stood up.
“What did Turiel talk about? What did you learn, Kassius?”
Kassius’s eyes widened.
“H-How?”
“It’s the smell of Kassius. It’s Turiel’s favorite perfume. When you go to Turiel’s shop, the scent lingers. It’s natural for it to become ingrained in you.”
“Ah.”
Renisha was a sharp person.
Kassius rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward face.
“Did Turiel say that?”
Renisha closed her eyes and smiled.
“Go on a date with me?”
“Ugh!”
Kassius coughed involuntarily.
“So you’ve been glaring at me all this time because you wanted to ask me out.”
“...”
“Yes. You’re cute, so I’ll take you.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at the obvious trick.
Renisha’s heart crumbled at a speed that surprised her.
Fortunately, Renisha's reaction wasn't bad.
"Sightseeing. That would be nice, too. The abundance of imported goods means there will be a lot of tourists. There must be a ship carrying them. Kassius and I tend to stand out, so covering up with clothes would be a good idea."
Kassius was the one who initiated the conversation, but Renisha was the one taking the initiative.
"I'll ask Lindy to find some clothes. Shamdir's clothes would be perfect."
"Shamdir's clothes?"
"Did you see what Canary is wearing? We wasted precious Shamdir's silk."
Renisha said with a smile.
"Shamdir silk is especially beautiful when woven into Shamdir clothing. When woven well, the patterns of Shamdir silk are seamless. Furthermore, since it's being presented to the Queen of Shamdir, even greater care must have been taken."
"...How does Renisha know all that?"
“Because I was the Empress. It was natural for her to learn the cultures and customs of the major countries. In some countries, shaking hands is rude, while in others, a kiss on the cheek is the standard greeting. How could I possibly deal with envoys without knowing such things?”
Renisha shrugged lightly.
“Is this right?”
Turiel had asked Kassius to speak with Renisha.
He wasn’t sure if this was the right conversation to be having.
“Canary didn’t even know the spelling of my name.”
“Canary... is just a scarecrow. Laxus wouldn’t expect that from Canary. She’d truly be worthy of bearing children.”
Renisha said coldly.
“That’s not right.”
Kassius swallowed.
“Wouldn’t people recognize us if we wore Shamdir’s clothes?”
“There’s a traditional Shamdir attire that involves wearing a hat and covering the face. Then they wouldn’t recognize us.”
“What color will you wear, Renisha?”
“To match me?”
“I’m going to ask Lindy to do that.”
Renisha burst out laughing.
“Yes. Today...”
Renisha tapped her cheek.
“How about pink?”
“Yes.”
Kassius didn’t care.
His goal was to become a ‘couple’ with Renisha. Just like Turiel had said.
He had a small desire for others to see Kassius and Renisha as a couple.
Renisha burst out laughing.
“You really don’t mind pink? Oh my gosh.”
Renisha stood up.
“What did Turiel talk about? What did you learn, Kassius?”
Kassius’s eyes widened.
“H-How?”
“It’s the smell of Kassius. It’s Turiel’s favorite perfume. When you go to Turiel’s shop, the scent lingers. It’s natural for it to become ingrained in you.”
“Ah.”
Renisha was a sharp person.
Kassius rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward face.
“Did Turiel say that?”
Renisha closed her eyes and smiled.
“Go on a date with me?”
“Ugh!”
Kassius coughed involuntarily.
“So you’ve been glaring at me all this time because you wanted to ask me out.”
“...”
“Yes. You’re cute, so I’ll take you.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at the obvious trick.
Renisha’s heart crumbled at a speed that surprised her.
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