Renisha burst into a refreshing laugh, like a bursting lemon.
Her life was filled with nothing to laugh about, but thanks to Kassius, she was smiling.
Perhaps Kassius was a symbol of blessings for Renisha.
“You can be jealous. I’ll let you.”
Kassius rubbed his flushed face with his palm.
Kassius let out a long sigh and shook his head.
Calliot looked at the two with a strange expression.
A strange pity washed over him.
He knew Renisha’s smile would soon fade.
Meteo hadn’t come to see Renisha right away because he wanted to take care of Brixton and Haylin.
He had personally taken care of them throughout their journey to Hiloshine.
Calliot smiled bitterly.
Seeing that scene reminded him of his son and daughter-in-law.
How bitter it must have been for them to leave behind such a precious child.
Calliot placed his precious grandson in the furthest territory from the island.
He would visit him once a month and return.
He wondered if the poor child would have been happier if his son and daughter-in-law were still alive.
“Prince Meteo will come to see you both soon.”
Count Calliot had limited options.
Truthfully, he didn’t know the specifics of why Meteo had come to protect them.
Only Meteo could explain.
Calliot took a step back, and soon after, Meteo arrived where they had been.
Though exhausted, he was smiling.
He was captivating enough to captivate anyone.
After exchanging a quick glance, Meteo spoke, his expression brimming with conviction.
“Do you remember that I once told you I would repay your kindness?”
Renisha was still as polite as if she were an Empress.
“I remember. In Shamdir, you always try to give me more than I deserve, even though I have nothing left to give.”
"I'm just doing what I have to do."
Meteo took a deep breath.
He couldn't tell how long he'd dreamed of this moment.
Renisha was a bird held captive by Laxus.
Meteo had been waiting for the moment when she could be free.
Now that Renisha had arrived in Hiloshine, it was the perfect time.
Kassius stared at Meteo with a displeased expression.
He hated that Meteo could do what he couldn't.
Kassius had to be the only one who could do everything for Renisha.
Kassius bit the flesh inside his mouth.
"It's something that must be done. Stop wasting time, Prince."
"...You were looking for Brixton and Haylin, weren't you?"
In that moment, Renisha's world changed. Renisha held her breath.
Kassius grabbed her hand, as if to tell her not to forget him.
But Renisha's gaze was fixed on Meteo.
"...Did you hear anything?"
“I’m protecting the two, Lady Renisha. And I brought them here.”
Renisha blinked slowly.
Everything seemed to stop.
Brixton and Haylin.
The names were like stones in her heart.
“Were they... alive? Really?”
“Yes, they are.”
Renisha’s breathing faltered.
Deep down, she’d actually thought they might be dead. She’d been relieved that she could at least save Isabella.
But the world wasn’t so cruel, and Brixton and Haylin were said to be alive.
Her heart felt like it was going to burst.
“I-I need to see them. I need to see them with my own eyes.”
Kassius supported Renisha, who was staggering.
“You can take your time,”
Meteo said softly.
“They won’t be going anywhere anymore. If Lady Renisha wishes, they’ll stay here forever.”
“...”
Renisha’s strength gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.
Kassius lifted Renisha up and sat her down on a chair.
Renisha burst into tears.
Seeing this, Kassius's heart was filled with complex emotions.
Renisha had asked Kassius to find the Duke and Duchess.
But Kassius had failed, and Renisha hadn't asked him about them for quite some time.
But Meteo had done what Kassius couldn't.
A burning emotion surged through him.
It had to be Kassius.
Kassius had to find them.
The saliva that ran down his throat felt like it would burn him.
Jealousy, this was definitely jealousy.
If his feelings for Laxus were a mild jealousy toward someone distant, someone whose true nature was not close, this was an intense jealousy toward someone close.
Kassius now understood why he was wary of Meteo.
Meteo wasn't as crazy as Laxus, but rather capable and seemed to have excellent judgment.
"...How did you find them?"
"I didn't find them. I rescued them, Lady Renisha. I took them out before the Emperor's knights raided the mansion. So, it's not quite right to say I found them."
Calliot looked at the two with a strange expression.
A strange pity washed over him.
He knew Renisha’s smile would soon fade.
Meteo hadn’t come to see Renisha right away because he wanted to take care of Brixton and Haylin.
He had personally taken care of them throughout their journey to Hiloshine.
Calliot smiled bitterly.
Seeing that scene reminded him of his son and daughter-in-law.
How bitter it must have been for them to leave behind such a precious child.
Calliot placed his precious grandson in the furthest territory from the island.
He would visit him once a month and return.
He wondered if the poor child would have been happier if his son and daughter-in-law were still alive.
“Prince Meteo will come to see you both soon.”
Count Calliot had limited options.
Truthfully, he didn’t know the specifics of why Meteo had come to protect them.
Only Meteo could explain.
Calliot took a step back, and soon after, Meteo arrived where they had been.
Though exhausted, he was smiling.
He was captivating enough to captivate anyone.
After exchanging a quick glance, Meteo spoke, his expression brimming with conviction.
“Do you remember that I once told you I would repay your kindness?”
Renisha was still as polite as if she were an Empress.
“I remember. In Shamdir, you always try to give me more than I deserve, even though I have nothing left to give.”
"I'm just doing what I have to do."
Meteo took a deep breath.
He couldn't tell how long he'd dreamed of this moment.
Renisha was a bird held captive by Laxus.
Meteo had been waiting for the moment when she could be free.
Now that Renisha had arrived in Hiloshine, it was the perfect time.
Kassius stared at Meteo with a displeased expression.
He hated that Meteo could do what he couldn't.
Kassius had to be the only one who could do everything for Renisha.
Kassius bit the flesh inside his mouth.
"It's something that must be done. Stop wasting time, Prince."
"...You were looking for Brixton and Haylin, weren't you?"
In that moment, Renisha's world changed. Renisha held her breath.
Kassius grabbed her hand, as if to tell her not to forget him.
But Renisha's gaze was fixed on Meteo.
"...Did you hear anything?"
“I’m protecting the two, Lady Renisha. And I brought them here.”
Renisha blinked slowly.
Everything seemed to stop.
Brixton and Haylin.
The names were like stones in her heart.
“Were they... alive? Really?”
“Yes, they are.”
Renisha’s breathing faltered.
Deep down, she’d actually thought they might be dead. She’d been relieved that she could at least save Isabella.
But the world wasn’t so cruel, and Brixton and Haylin were said to be alive.
Her heart felt like it was going to burst.
“I-I need to see them. I need to see them with my own eyes.”
Kassius supported Renisha, who was staggering.
“You can take your time,”
Meteo said softly.
“They won’t be going anywhere anymore. If Lady Renisha wishes, they’ll stay here forever.”
“...”
Renisha’s strength gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.
Kassius lifted Renisha up and sat her down on a chair.
Renisha burst into tears.
Seeing this, Kassius's heart was filled with complex emotions.
Renisha had asked Kassius to find the Duke and Duchess.
But Kassius had failed, and Renisha hadn't asked him about them for quite some time.
But Meteo had done what Kassius couldn't.
A burning emotion surged through him.
It had to be Kassius.
Kassius had to find them.
The saliva that ran down his throat felt like it would burn him.
Jealousy, this was definitely jealousy.
If his feelings for Laxus were a mild jealousy toward someone distant, someone whose true nature was not close, this was an intense jealousy toward someone close.
Kassius now understood why he was wary of Meteo.
Meteo wasn't as crazy as Laxus, but rather capable and seemed to have excellent judgment.
"...How did you find them?"
"I didn't find them. I rescued them, Lady Renisha. I took them out before the Emperor's knights raided the mansion. So, it's not quite right to say I found them."
"...Ha."
Renisha covered her face with her palm.
Tears flowed like a waterfall.
She's thought Brixton and Haylin might have stayed at the mansion to attract attention and then left, trying to save Isabella. A sliver of hope blazed brightly.
"Are they well?"
"Yes, both of you are fine."
Hiloshine had struck a chord with Renisha.
Wasn't she regaining what she'd lost?
Kassius had opened the fire.
As she thought, Kassius had been lucky with Renisha.
"...I'll come see you."
"If you want, of course."
Renisha felt she needed to see and confirm it with her own eyes to be satisfied.
She stood on shaky legs. She took a deep breath and wiped away her tears.
"Are you okay?"
Renisha nodded at Kassius's question.
Kassius offered Renisha his arm for support.
Kassius and Renisha walked slowly.
Meteo stood in front of them.
Meteo glanced at Kassius.
There must have been a reason why Kassius's gaze turned cold as he looked at Meteo.
Meteo chuckled.
"Are you jealous of me?"
Why on earth?
It was Kassius who had Renisha, not Meteo.
It was truly pointless jealousy.
Meteo clicked his tongue and turned his head slightly.
"I kept it a secret from everyone, in case there were any spies for the Emperor in the castle. I only told the truth to Head Maid Lindy, and she received help."
"It was the right measure."
Her mind was racing, but her body wouldn't follow.
Renisha stubbornly walked, unsteadily, even as she stumbled.
Kassius held her firmly.
Fortunately, Kassius was worthy of this position.
Kassius and Meteo's gazes met several times.
A powerful spark flew between them.
"This is it."
Meteo knocked cautiously on the door.
No words could be heard from inside.
Meteo, on the other hand, spoke.
“The Prince of Shamdir will soon return to the palace.”
“There lives a beautiful, youngest Princess.”
A small voice answered from within.
And then the door opened.
Renisha held her breath, staring at everything.
Even the door’s opening felt slow.
The air, the temperature, even the dust in the air, seemed to have stopped.
“Brixton...!”
Renisha gasped.
“Renisha!”
Brixton raised his voice.
It was true. Brixton and Haylin were alive.
The guilt that had been weighing on Renisha seemed to dissipate.
“Alive... alive.”
“Yes. Alive, Renisha.”
Brixton said in a tearful voice and spread his arms.
“Let me hold you, my sister. How did you get so thin?”
Renisha buried her head in his embrace.
Judging by the sobs coming from behind, it must have been Haylin.
Renisha gasped, unable to hold back her tears.
As if melting away the sadness that had been building up in her heart.
“I, I thought two people died... maybe that’s what happened...”
“It’s still the same, Renisha.”
Except for Brixton, everyone here was seeing Renisha for the first time.
Brixton rubbed Renisha's back.
"Thank you for coming back, thank you so much for being alive."
"...I'm the one who should be thankful that you didn't forget me and came looking for me, Renisha. But Isabella couldn't come with me. She..."
"I, I have her."
"...What?"
"I have her, Brixton."
Now it was Brixton and Haylin's turn to be surprised.
Haylin pushed Brixton aside and burst through the door.
"What did you just say, Renisha?"
"I said I had her, Isabella."
The next moment, Haylin collapsed like a puppet with its strings ripped off.
An unexpected commotion erupted in the mansion.
Henry sighed and glanced at the maid clinging to him.
Judging by the maid who was blatantly following Henry, it was clear Renisha had ordered her to do it.
He knew why Renisha didn't trust him, but seeing this made him feel so sad.
"I can go take care of business now."
"The head butler needs my attention."
The maid seemed completely out of place.
Henry finally gave up on chasing her away and focused on his own work.
"The expenses are too high. We need to find a productive way quickly."
Henry continued his work under the watchful eye of the thorny maid.
"I heard you have guests today. Fortunately, we have a room that can accommodate them all."
And the longer the guests stayed, the more expenses would increase.
Henry sighed and pressed his forehead.
The overall budget was up to Renisha and Kassius, but it was Henry's responsibility to use the budget given to him.
And it was also his responsibility to pay the servants who worked in the castle.
"The family's assets can only increase if the estate begins to be productive."
From Henry's perspective, Hiloshine seemed to be on the move now.
The question was what purpose they were pursuing.
Renisha's will was likely reflected in it.
He was torn about what to tell the Emperor.
In fact, the news that Laxus should have been most pleased with was about Isabella...
'What crime has a child committed?'
Besides, he had already promised to keep quiet about Hiloshine and Isabella.
And with that maid watching Henry, it wasn't easy to do anything.
'How did I end up in this situation?'
Henry frowned slightly. He couldn't help but feel dissatisfied.
Renisha covered her face with her palm.
Tears flowed like a waterfall.
She's thought Brixton and Haylin might have stayed at the mansion to attract attention and then left, trying to save Isabella. A sliver of hope blazed brightly.
"Are they well?"
"Yes, both of you are fine."
Hiloshine had struck a chord with Renisha.
Wasn't she regaining what she'd lost?
Kassius had opened the fire.
As she thought, Kassius had been lucky with Renisha.
"...I'll come see you."
"If you want, of course."
Renisha felt she needed to see and confirm it with her own eyes to be satisfied.
She stood on shaky legs. She took a deep breath and wiped away her tears.
"Are you okay?"
Renisha nodded at Kassius's question.
Kassius offered Renisha his arm for support.
Kassius and Renisha walked slowly.
Meteo stood in front of them.
Meteo glanced at Kassius.
There must have been a reason why Kassius's gaze turned cold as he looked at Meteo.
Meteo chuckled.
"Are you jealous of me?"
Why on earth?
It was Kassius who had Renisha, not Meteo.
It was truly pointless jealousy.
Meteo clicked his tongue and turned his head slightly.
"I kept it a secret from everyone, in case there were any spies for the Emperor in the castle. I only told the truth to Head Maid Lindy, and she received help."
"It was the right measure."
Her mind was racing, but her body wouldn't follow.
Renisha stubbornly walked, unsteadily, even as she stumbled.
Kassius held her firmly.
Fortunately, Kassius was worthy of this position.
Kassius and Meteo's gazes met several times.
A powerful spark flew between them.
"This is it."
Meteo knocked cautiously on the door.
No words could be heard from inside.
Meteo, on the other hand, spoke.
“The Prince of Shamdir will soon return to the palace.”
“There lives a beautiful, youngest Princess.”
A small voice answered from within.
And then the door opened.
Renisha held her breath, staring at everything.
Even the door’s opening felt slow.
The air, the temperature, even the dust in the air, seemed to have stopped.
“Brixton...!”
Renisha gasped.
“Renisha!”
Brixton raised his voice.
It was true. Brixton and Haylin were alive.
The guilt that had been weighing on Renisha seemed to dissipate.
“Alive... alive.”
“Yes. Alive, Renisha.”
Brixton said in a tearful voice and spread his arms.
“Let me hold you, my sister. How did you get so thin?”
Renisha buried her head in his embrace.
Judging by the sobs coming from behind, it must have been Haylin.
Renisha gasped, unable to hold back her tears.
As if melting away the sadness that had been building up in her heart.
“I, I thought two people died... maybe that’s what happened...”
“It’s still the same, Renisha.”
Except for Brixton, everyone here was seeing Renisha for the first time.
Brixton rubbed Renisha's back.
"Thank you for coming back, thank you so much for being alive."
"...I'm the one who should be thankful that you didn't forget me and came looking for me, Renisha. But Isabella couldn't come with me. She..."
"I, I have her."
"...What?"
"I have her, Brixton."
Now it was Brixton and Haylin's turn to be surprised.
Haylin pushed Brixton aside and burst through the door.
"What did you just say, Renisha?"
"I said I had her, Isabella."
The next moment, Haylin collapsed like a puppet with its strings ripped off.
An unexpected commotion erupted in the mansion.
***
Henry sighed and glanced at the maid clinging to him.
Judging by the maid who was blatantly following Henry, it was clear Renisha had ordered her to do it.
He knew why Renisha didn't trust him, but seeing this made him feel so sad.
"I can go take care of business now."
"The head butler needs my attention."
The maid seemed completely out of place.
Henry finally gave up on chasing her away and focused on his own work.
"The expenses are too high. We need to find a productive way quickly."
Henry continued his work under the watchful eye of the thorny maid.
"I heard you have guests today. Fortunately, we have a room that can accommodate them all."
And the longer the guests stayed, the more expenses would increase.
Henry sighed and pressed his forehead.
The overall budget was up to Renisha and Kassius, but it was Henry's responsibility to use the budget given to him.
And it was also his responsibility to pay the servants who worked in the castle.
"The family's assets can only increase if the estate begins to be productive."
From Henry's perspective, Hiloshine seemed to be on the move now.
The question was what purpose they were pursuing.
Renisha's will was likely reflected in it.
He was torn about what to tell the Emperor.
In fact, the news that Laxus should have been most pleased with was about Isabella...
'What crime has a child committed?'
Besides, he had already promised to keep quiet about Hiloshine and Isabella.
And with that maid watching Henry, it wasn't easy to do anything.
'How did I end up in this situation?'
Henry frowned slightly. He couldn't help but feel dissatisfied.
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