Episode 56. Different Thoughts and Ideals
Just as the maid, Helena, was glaring at Henry, Jane walked lightly toward Helena.
Jane and Helena were classmates from the same island.
They had been together their entire lives, having joined Renisha's palace as maids when they were young. While Helena was meticulous and tidy, Jane was lively and bubbly.
In short, their personalities were complete opposites.
Renisha cherished them both.
Jane and Helena were orphans, truly entrusting their lives to the palace.
Renisha had taken responsibility for them and brought them here.
Helena and Jane could never have imagined a life without Renisha.
The more meticulous Helena was in charge of Henry, while Jane was in charge of observing the overall atmosphere of the mansion and the town.
“Helena.”
Jane called Helena in a soft voice.
“Jane?”
Helena, who had been standing squarely within sight of Henry, turned her head slightly to look at Jane.
Yet, she seemed to be trying hard not to lose track of Henry’s movements.
“...Prince Meteo came this time, didn’t he?”
“But?”
"...Our mother and father?"
"I brought them."
Renisha gripped the railing.
Her heart pounded as if some button had been pressed.
She had brought the dead Duke and Duchess to Hiloshine, but she hadn't been able to provide them with a comfortable resting place.
Hiloshine was too harsh.
Even if she were to bury them, she wanted to bury them in a sunny, nice place.
Was this too much for Renisha?
"I'm an unfilial daughter, so I couldn't provide them with a proper resting place. Brixton, I..."
Emotions swept through her.
Renisha was alive and well, living in Hiloshine with Kassius.
She laughed and chatted freely.
Thanks to Kassius, she often felt unexpected happiness.
"When I think of those who died because of me, I..."
Renisha swallowed hot saliva.
Her mind felt like it was being stirred with a hot ladle.
"I can't breathe."
All the comforting words Kassius had used to comfort her, and even their last words, didn't completely heal Renisha.
"Renisha, come to your senses."
Brixton spoke in a cold voice.
“Whatever you think doesn’t matter now. You find your own way, Renisha. Did your parents want you to do this? No. They chose death to save you. I don’t hold any resentment toward them.”
Renisha’s face turned pale.
Brixton’s harsh words whipped her.
“Don’t make their choice in vain. Don’t think I’m cruel. After all, I’m just a poor child who lost my parents.”
Brixton was right.
“I promise, Brixton. I will never break until I offer Laxus’s head to my parents.”
Renisha put aside her weak appearance.
Brixton sighed deeply at the sight.
His shoulders slumped.
“...I know it won’t be easy. I know I was mean just now. But, Renisha. I don’t want you to break down. I... really have nothing left. You’re the only one I can trust.”
Renisha nodded slowly.
She’d forgotten that.
Brixton had no one left to truly trust but Renisha.
Renisha was the only one he could trust, thanks to her status as Empress and Laxus’s whim, but Brixton, Haylin, and even Isabella were branded as fugitives.
It was up to Renisha to save them.
“I know exactly what Brixton is talking about.”
Besides, Brixton was Isabella’s father.
That poor child whose eyes had changed color due to poison at a young age!
“I won’t fail Brixton. I promise you that too.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Renisha turned her head at the cracked voice.
Haylin was staggering as she got up.
“I’m so glad that Renisha feels that way."
Haylin's dry eyes were burning with fire.
"I want to see that son of a bitch's neck snapped. I'll do whatever it takes, Renisha. So please, just do it."
“I promise, Haylin. And Brixton, my parents... haven’t found anywhere to take them yet.”
“...It’s okay, as long as they’re not left alone in the palace. We can find a place for them to stay together.”
Renisha nodded.
“Brixton, Haylin. It’s a shabby place, but it’s good to see you here.”
Renisha offered a belated welcome.
Yesterday had been a tiring day, to be sure.
And today wasn’t going to be any smoother.
Renisha had decided to have tea with Kassius before facing the day.
It was the only small piece she could have now.
Renisha’s lips quirked slightly.
“It’s so sad that there’s nowhere in this land to take my parents, Kassius.”
Sad, sad.
It couldn’t have been a soft and affectionate word.
In fact, her emotions were raging even more fiercely.
“I just wish it were a place where the grass grew warmly and the flowers my mother loved bloomed. That’s all I wanted...”
Renisha bit her lips.
“Nothing is easy.”
“...Is it okay for flowers to bloom and grass to grow?”
Kassius asked seriously.
If he could just put a smile on Renisha’s face, he felt like he could do anything.
“Because that’s something I can’t control.”
Especially in this land called Hiloshine.
Here, wild flowers were really rare; only around the fountains could you see one or two.
The wild flowers Kassius had brought Renisha earlier were so precious.
“I... might be able to try.”
“Huh?”
Cassius said again with a confident face.
“I think I can do it. A place where flowers bloom and grass grows, just like Renisha wishes. I think I can create such a place.”
“How can you...?”
“The powers of the primordial snakes conflict with each other. The power of the black snake and the power of the red snake are the same. Where the red snake’s power resided was like a hot furnace. It felt like it would burn my entire body. However, if I went a little further from the source, I could see a field full of flowers.”
“That means...”
“The red snake makes life bloom. The black snake makes life wither. If I push away the power of the black snake, I will be able to do what I wish.”
“...Kassius.”
Renisha’s expression was filled with emotion.
“I, you.”
She didn’t know what to add... but one thing was clear.
“I’m so glad you’re by my side.”
Being comforted by Kassius and receiving his help was becoming a familiar experience.
“As expected, you were my chance. Thank you for showing up, Kassius.”
It was Renisha’s sincerity.
Some couldn’t sleep all night.
It was Helena and Jane.
People were returning to this barren place.
That meant that if they went out into the streets, they might be able to get what they wanted.
Helena and Jane visited the apothecary before the mansion became noisy under the morning dew.
Helena had heard of a blinding potion a long time ago.
And now, Helena had that potion in her arms.
If Henry could hear but not see.
‘Wouldn’t all the problems be solved?’
Because the things he could discern with those ears would be significantly reduced!
Just as the maid, Helena, was glaring at Henry, Jane walked lightly toward Helena.
Jane and Helena were classmates from the same island.
They had been together their entire lives, having joined Renisha's palace as maids when they were young. While Helena was meticulous and tidy, Jane was lively and bubbly.
In short, their personalities were complete opposites.
Renisha cherished them both.
Jane and Helena were orphans, truly entrusting their lives to the palace.
Renisha had taken responsibility for them and brought them here.
Helena and Jane could never have imagined a life without Renisha.
The more meticulous Helena was in charge of Henry, while Jane was in charge of observing the overall atmosphere of the mansion and the town.
“Helena.”
Jane called Helena in a soft voice.
“Jane?”
Helena, who had been standing squarely within sight of Henry, turned her head slightly to look at Jane.
Yet, she seemed to be trying hard not to lose track of Henry’s movements.
“...Prince Meteo came this time, didn’t he?”
“But?”
“It seems he brought the Duke and Duchess with him. I don’t know the details, but if this gets to Butler Henry.”
Helena turned her head and stared at Henry. Henry seemed clearly dissatisfied with his current situation. While Henry did occasionally appear humane, most of the time, he prioritized his own interests. If it benefited him, Henry would undoubtedly report the Duke and Duchess’s affairs to the Emperor.
Helena’s heart pounded as a thousand thoughts crossed her mind. The happiest thing was that the Duke and Duchess had returned. That alone would at least ease half of Renisha’s sorrow. However, because of Henry, her joy could turn to anger. Henry was a drop of poison that Laxus had dropped here. Those who had come with Kassius had suffered greatly on the battlefield thanks to Laxus. And the people in Renisha's palace inherently harbored a deep hatred for Laxus. They had seen firsthand how Laxus treated Renisha, how the servants they served were humiliated.
Usually, servants who serve others take pride in their masters. So to speak, Renisha was their pride. More beautiful and noble than anyone else. Loved and acknowledged by everyone. Laxus had effectively trampled not only Renisha but everyone in the Empress's palace. What if Laxus found out about the Duke and Duchess this time?
"I love Hiloshine,"
Helena muttered quietly.
"I love serving Lady Renisha, who has become more comfortable since coming to Hiloshine. Do you, Jane?"
“Yeah, me too.”
Jane nodded slowly. Helena clenched her fists. You can block what you hear, but you can’t block what you see. If you can’t block it, shouldn’t you solve the root problem?
A cruel light flashed in Helena’s eyes and then disappeared. Helena slowly moved her lips.
“I want to protect us, Jane.”
“I agree with you.”
Jane grabbed Helena’s fingertips. Helena had always looked after the naive Jane. What she wanted was what Jane wanted too.
***
The vast land of Hiloshine was plunged into darkness. The sound of cutting through the wasteland, where not a single blade of grass could grow, was carried by the wind.
Slurp, slurp.
It sounded like the wind, or like the sound of something passing by. It was the sound that colored the night of Hiloshine. It is said that the people who live here use that sound as a lullaby to fall asleep. Renisha stood on the balcony, her gaze fixed on the outside as she welcomed the night of Hiloshine.
Haylin hadn't regained consciousness since she collapsed.
Brixton had been sitting next to Haylin, watching her the whole time.
Renisha spoke in a low voice.
"...I told you not to say anything to Isabella yet. I don't think it would be good for her to see you like this."
"Thank you, Renisha."
Renisha turned at Brixton's cracked voice.
"...Thank you, Brixton. For showing up to me alive."
Brixton smiled bitterly at Renisha's slow words.
Now that Isabella was safe, he thought of those who had not returned.
Brixton had been sitting next to Haylin, watching her the whole time.
Renisha spoke in a low voice.
"...I told you not to say anything to Isabella yet. I don't think it would be good for her to see you like this."
"Thank you, Renisha."
Renisha turned at Brixton's cracked voice.
"...Thank you, Brixton. For showing up to me alive."
Brixton smiled bitterly at Renisha's slow words.
Now that Isabella was safe, he thought of those who had not returned.
"...Our mother and father?"
"I brought them."
Renisha gripped the railing.
Her heart pounded as if some button had been pressed.
She had brought the dead Duke and Duchess to Hiloshine, but she hadn't been able to provide them with a comfortable resting place.
Hiloshine was too harsh.
Even if she were to bury them, she wanted to bury them in a sunny, nice place.
Was this too much for Renisha?
"I'm an unfilial daughter, so I couldn't provide them with a proper resting place. Brixton, I..."
Emotions swept through her.
Renisha was alive and well, living in Hiloshine with Kassius.
She laughed and chatted freely.
Thanks to Kassius, she often felt unexpected happiness.
"When I think of those who died because of me, I..."
Renisha swallowed hot saliva.
Her mind felt like it was being stirred with a hot ladle.
"I can't breathe."
All the comforting words Kassius had used to comfort her, and even their last words, didn't completely heal Renisha.
"Renisha, come to your senses."
Brixton spoke in a cold voice.
“Whatever you think doesn’t matter now. You find your own way, Renisha. Did your parents want you to do this? No. They chose death to save you. I don’t hold any resentment toward them.”
Renisha’s face turned pale.
Brixton’s harsh words whipped her.
“Don’t make their choice in vain. Don’t think I’m cruel. After all, I’m just a poor child who lost my parents.”
Brixton was right.
“I promise, Brixton. I will never break until I offer Laxus’s head to my parents.”
Renisha put aside her weak appearance.
Brixton sighed deeply at the sight.
His shoulders slumped.
“...I know it won’t be easy. I know I was mean just now. But, Renisha. I don’t want you to break down. I... really have nothing left. You’re the only one I can trust.”
Renisha nodded slowly.
She’d forgotten that.
Brixton had no one left to truly trust but Renisha.
Renisha was the only one he could trust, thanks to her status as Empress and Laxus’s whim, but Brixton, Haylin, and even Isabella were branded as fugitives.
It was up to Renisha to save them.
“I know exactly what Brixton is talking about.”
Besides, Brixton was Isabella’s father.
That poor child whose eyes had changed color due to poison at a young age!
“I won’t fail Brixton. I promise you that too.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Renisha turned her head at the cracked voice.
Haylin was staggering as she got up.
“I’m so glad that Renisha feels that way."
Haylin's dry eyes were burning with fire.
"I want to see that son of a bitch's neck snapped. I'll do whatever it takes, Renisha. So please, just do it."
“I promise, Haylin. And Brixton, my parents... haven’t found anywhere to take them yet.”
“...It’s okay, as long as they’re not left alone in the palace. We can find a place for them to stay together.”
Renisha nodded.
“Brixton, Haylin. It’s a shabby place, but it’s good to see you here.”
Renisha offered a belated welcome.
***
Yesterday had been a tiring day, to be sure.
And today wasn’t going to be any smoother.
Renisha had decided to have tea with Kassius before facing the day.
It was the only small piece she could have now.
Renisha’s lips quirked slightly.
“It’s so sad that there’s nowhere in this land to take my parents, Kassius.”
Sad, sad.
It couldn’t have been a soft and affectionate word.
In fact, her emotions were raging even more fiercely.
“I just wish it were a place where the grass grew warmly and the flowers my mother loved bloomed. That’s all I wanted...”
Renisha bit her lips.
“Nothing is easy.”
“...Is it okay for flowers to bloom and grass to grow?”
Kassius asked seriously.
If he could just put a smile on Renisha’s face, he felt like he could do anything.
“Because that’s something I can’t control.”
Especially in this land called Hiloshine.
Here, wild flowers were really rare; only around the fountains could you see one or two.
The wild flowers Kassius had brought Renisha earlier were so precious.
“I... might be able to try.”
“Huh?”
Cassius said again with a confident face.
“I think I can do it. A place where flowers bloom and grass grows, just like Renisha wishes. I think I can create such a place.”
“How can you...?”
“The powers of the primordial snakes conflict with each other. The power of the black snake and the power of the red snake are the same. Where the red snake’s power resided was like a hot furnace. It felt like it would burn my entire body. However, if I went a little further from the source, I could see a field full of flowers.”
“That means...”
“The red snake makes life bloom. The black snake makes life wither. If I push away the power of the black snake, I will be able to do what I wish.”
“...Kassius.”
Renisha’s expression was filled with emotion.
“I, you.”
She didn’t know what to add... but one thing was clear.
“I’m so glad you’re by my side.”
Being comforted by Kassius and receiving his help was becoming a familiar experience.
“As expected, you were my chance. Thank you for showing up, Kassius.”
It was Renisha’s sincerity.
***
Some couldn’t sleep all night.
It was Helena and Jane.
People were returning to this barren place.
That meant that if they went out into the streets, they might be able to get what they wanted.
Helena and Jane visited the apothecary before the mansion became noisy under the morning dew.
Helena had heard of a blinding potion a long time ago.
And now, Helena had that potion in her arms.
If Henry could hear but not see.
‘Wouldn’t all the problems be solved?’
Because the things he could discern with those ears would be significantly reduced!
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