Episode 59. Canary's Despair and Hope
Renisha rubbed her face.
Her heart pounded.
Even if someone were to cut her flesh, it wouldn't be as painful as it was now.
It felt like the guilt that had been dormant had awakened and was exploding.
Everyone told Renisha it was okay.
Even the Duke and Duchess didn't blame Renisha until the moment they died.
But Renisha still resented herself.
Being free from nightmares and able to breathe was a separate issue.
Renisha hated her past self.
If it weren't for Renisha, how could her family have endured this?
Tracing back everything, Renisha was there. Even as she orchestrated and maneuvered this whole thing, Renisha never once let go of her guilt.
"Thank you for staying alive, baby. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, Isabella. I couldn't protect you and made you suffer."
Brixton and Haylin also cried, repeatedly wiping at the child's discolored eyes.
Renisha bit her lip. It was Renisha's job to remember and watch over all of this.
To return it all. To take everything from Laxus. It was Renisha who started it all.
Renisha rubbed her face.
Her heart pounded.
Even if someone were to cut her flesh, it wouldn't be as painful as it was now.
It felt like the guilt that had been dormant had awakened and was exploding.
Everyone told Renisha it was okay.
Even the Duke and Duchess didn't blame Renisha until the moment they died.
But Renisha still resented herself.
Being free from nightmares and able to breathe was a separate issue.
Renisha hated her past self.
If it weren't for Renisha, how could her family have endured this?
Tracing back everything, Renisha was there. Even as she orchestrated and maneuvered this whole thing, Renisha never once let go of her guilt.
"Thank you for staying alive, baby. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, Isabella. I couldn't protect you and made you suffer."
Brixton and Haylin also cried, repeatedly wiping at the child's discolored eyes.
Renisha bit her lip. It was Renisha's job to remember and watch over all of this.
To return it all. To take everything from Laxus. It was Renisha who started it all.
She knew that Laxus considered her his possession. But Renisha simply left Laxus. It wasn't Laxus who abandoned her; it was Renisha who abandoned Laxus.
Why couldn't there be a way to protect the Empress's throne? She had to give it up because it wasn't what she wanted. This is how she takes it away, one by one. Even the throne, the only thing left to him!
***
Canary paced the room anxiously. Turiel had promised to contact her, but there had been no response.
"I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"
Barbara shook her head.
"No way. Your Majesty simply wrote a letter to the Duchess."
"Yes, that's true."
Barbara reassured Canary. She'd thought that if she kicked out Renisha, the entire palace would belong to Canary. The only suitable owners for this palace were Renisha or Canary.
"You're even having a wedding!"
"A wedding?"
Canary chuckled. Laxus, who had been making every excuse to postpone the wedding, had finally ordered it. Even so, it would be a simple ceremony, just the two of them. Canary gritted her teeth. The hand that wrapped around her stomach was filled with malice. She had given everything for this position, and she had finally obtained it. Instead, she felt it wasn't as good as it used to be.
Laxus hadn't used her pregnancy as an excuse to visit her for quite some time. She hadn't imagined a loving, ordinary couple. Laxus was often violent and self-willed. And she knew he treated Canary like nothing more than a caged bird, ready to be picked up and discarded at any moment. She just didn't want to admit it.
"That bastard has nothing but Renisha in his heart. Do you know what that madman's been up to lately?"
Canary glared at Barbara, sobbing. Barbara sighed.
"He's building a mansion outside the castle to bring Lady Renisha to."
It was an incident that had thrown the entire palace into disarray. A few days ago, for some reason, Laxus announced that he would find an empty lot in the capital and build a magnificent mansion. His aides, always on the lookout for orders, had successfully purchased the land that suited his tastes as soon as morning broke. Curious about his actions, the Marquis asked what he planned to do with the land. His answer was a masterpiece.
"My wife will be back soon, so shouldn't I build her a mansion befitting her?"
Everyone unanimously agreed that they had seen the clear look in Renisha's eyes at that moment. It was an insult and a disregard for Canary. It was clear that he didn't even consider Canary a wife.
Barbara said, watching Canary whine.
“So what difference does it make? Will Lady Renisha return to the palace? Or will she become Empress? Your Majesty is already Empress! There can’t be two Empresses in this empire. That’s a law that has been in place since the empire was founded. Even if he's the Emperor, can he break that? You’re ruining your life by worrying unnecessarily.”
Barbara was sarcastic.
Barbara took Canary’s hand, hoping to climb higher and higher.
But with Canary whining and just letting go, what could she do?
Disappointment seeped through her.
“You went to Madame Turiel and asked for help, and you wrote a letter to Lady Renisha. After that, you should do what comes next.”
“And what comes next?”
Canary cried, her eyes burning with anger.
Barbara’s refusal to comfort her and take her side fueled her anger.
“Lady Renisha is a very proud woman. Do you think she would want to return to this place? She would definitely refuse. That’s why Lady Renisha is making a tempting offer. You should consider what you can give if Your Majesty can settle down, have a safe child, and become Emperor.”
“Does Lady Renisha have the power to do that? She went to Hiloshine. Madame Turiel...”
“Madame Turiel is Lady Renisha’s person. And although she doesn’t say it out loud, there must be more than one person like her?”
Barbara carefully unraveled what she had heard from the maids.
“The ladies of high society are currently divided into two groups.”
“Two?”
“Yes. One group follows Lady Renisha, and the other wants to bring in the Empress and restore order to the palace. So, which side should Your Majesty side with?”
“Of course...”
Canary’s face clouded over.
There was talk of bringing in the Empress.
Even when Renisha was the barren Empress, people never once spoke of such things. They simply watched as Laxus brought in a government, never challenging Renisha's authority.
This was Canary's current situation.
"The Empress cannot."
"That's right! Madame Turiel has now agreed to help us, so ask her to arrange a meeting with them. You can tell her you will support her, win them over to Your Majesty, and provide her with as much convenience as possible."
"What kind of convenience can you provide?"
"Like giving Hiloshine a portion of the budget for the Empress's palace."
Barbara blurted out whatever came to mind.
"Like implementing welfare policies for Hiloshine. Lady Renisha must have something she desires."
Canary nodded with a harsh expression.
Her face seemed much brighter than before.
Barbara's expression was pitiful.
Canary was weak-hearted.
Even though she hated and loathed Laxus so much now, if he treated her just a little better, she would let go and laugh again.
Canary was starved for affection. Laxus had made her that way.
It was difficult to expect anything from Canary.
In fact, once Canary was established and her child safely ascended to the throne, wasn't the next step already decided?
Assassination.
Kill the Emperor and take his place.
Before the Emperor brought in another woman to create a new heir and push Canary out.
Could Canary go that far?
'If she can't, then she must make him go.'
What effort had Barbara put into creating that child in her womb?
Hadn't she driven her lover to death?
She needed someone with a clear identity, someone with a tight mouth.
Of all the men she knew, he was the only one with the Emperor's hair color.
Barbara had personally handed him the poison.
She had seized this opportunity. She had risked everything, so she would gain everything.
“So, please prepare for the wedding first. Then, we will go to Madame Turiel.”
“I think it would be best to do as you say.”
Canary nodded.
“I am glad you are here, Barbara.”
Kassius stopped at the edge of a cliff.
The end of the land of Hiloshine.
Beneath that distant cliff lay a deep sea that could not be fathomed by human senses.
“...Was there such a place?”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Solein, who was in charge of Kassius’s guidance, bowed his head.
“It is called the end of Hiloshine. That black sea is also said to be the last bloodshed by the black snake as it dies.”
Kassius looked at it calmly.
The majestic beauty was almost awe-inspiring.
It felt almost mesmerizing.
“What if the two who passed away settled here?”
“...They would love it. It was the former Duke's favorite place.”
“The Duke?”
“Yes, that's right. He said his heart raced when he stood here. He said he could see the unseen. It was like the future.”
“The future...”
Kassius seemed to understand.
Wasn't he afraid, even as a Duke?
This place held many responsibilities and obligations.
And the Duke had chosen to protect his daughter, rather than abandon her.
“He was human, too.”
Renisha had left the choice of location to Kassius.
Kassius wanted to choose the best place for the Duke and his wife.
And he thought this was the right place.
The Duke had said he had seen the future from here.
Renisha would create the future he envisioned.
This place, while a cliff, was also the highest point in Hiloshine.
The Duke and Duchess would be able to keep an eye on Renisha the entire time.
“Let’s do this.”
Kassius dismounted.
The barren wasteland was filled with the power of the black snake.
Perhaps because it was so close to the sea, the power of the black snake seemed to be more intense than anywhere else.
Kassius bent down and touched the ground.
He felt the power writhing beneath his palm.
Kassius slowly infused his strength.
The power of the red snake heated his body.
Red scales sprouted across his skin, and his hair swung with energy.
His golden eyes condensed vertically, and where the white part disappeared, a black iris revealed itself.
Sharp claws dug into the ground.
Kassius gritted his teeth.
“Whew…”
The bright red power dug into the ground.
Solein watched this wondrous scene blankly.
“They say the red snake and the black snake were brothers who didn’t get along. But, brothers sometimes get along well, and sometimes not, don’t they? The two snakes don't get along well, but when they get together, they're such a match..."
Why does a story he heard as a child come to mind?
The land of Hiloshine, which at first seemed rebellious, slowly began to embrace the power of the red snake.
Bright green leaves sprouted on the once barren land.
It was the scent of life that he hadn't smelled in a long time in Hiloshine.
“So what difference does it make? Will Lady Renisha return to the palace? Or will she become Empress? Your Majesty is already Empress! There can’t be two Empresses in this empire. That’s a law that has been in place since the empire was founded. Even if he's the Emperor, can he break that? You’re ruining your life by worrying unnecessarily.”
Barbara was sarcastic.
Barbara took Canary’s hand, hoping to climb higher and higher.
But with Canary whining and just letting go, what could she do?
Disappointment seeped through her.
“You went to Madame Turiel and asked for help, and you wrote a letter to Lady Renisha. After that, you should do what comes next.”
“And what comes next?”
Canary cried, her eyes burning with anger.
Barbara’s refusal to comfort her and take her side fueled her anger.
“Lady Renisha is a very proud woman. Do you think she would want to return to this place? She would definitely refuse. That’s why Lady Renisha is making a tempting offer. You should consider what you can give if Your Majesty can settle down, have a safe child, and become Emperor.”
“Does Lady Renisha have the power to do that? She went to Hiloshine. Madame Turiel...”
“Madame Turiel is Lady Renisha’s person. And although she doesn’t say it out loud, there must be more than one person like her?”
Barbara carefully unraveled what she had heard from the maids.
“The ladies of high society are currently divided into two groups.”
“Two?”
“Yes. One group follows Lady Renisha, and the other wants to bring in the Empress and restore order to the palace. So, which side should Your Majesty side with?”
“Of course...”
Canary’s face clouded over.
There was talk of bringing in the Empress.
Even when Renisha was the barren Empress, people never once spoke of such things. They simply watched as Laxus brought in a government, never challenging Renisha's authority.
This was Canary's current situation.
"The Empress cannot."
"That's right! Madame Turiel has now agreed to help us, so ask her to arrange a meeting with them. You can tell her you will support her, win them over to Your Majesty, and provide her with as much convenience as possible."
"What kind of convenience can you provide?"
"Like giving Hiloshine a portion of the budget for the Empress's palace."
Barbara blurted out whatever came to mind.
"Like implementing welfare policies for Hiloshine. Lady Renisha must have something she desires."
Canary nodded with a harsh expression.
Her face seemed much brighter than before.
Barbara's expression was pitiful.
Canary was weak-hearted.
Even though she hated and loathed Laxus so much now, if he treated her just a little better, she would let go and laugh again.
Canary was starved for affection. Laxus had made her that way.
It was difficult to expect anything from Canary.
In fact, once Canary was established and her child safely ascended to the throne, wasn't the next step already decided?
Assassination.
Kill the Emperor and take his place.
Before the Emperor brought in another woman to create a new heir and push Canary out.
Could Canary go that far?
'If she can't, then she must make him go.'
What effort had Barbara put into creating that child in her womb?
Hadn't she driven her lover to death?
She needed someone with a clear identity, someone with a tight mouth.
Of all the men she knew, he was the only one with the Emperor's hair color.
Barbara had personally handed him the poison.
She had seized this opportunity. She had risked everything, so she would gain everything.
“So, please prepare for the wedding first. Then, we will go to Madame Turiel.”
“I think it would be best to do as you say.”
Canary nodded.
“I am glad you are here, Barbara.”
***
Kassius stopped at the edge of a cliff.
The end of the land of Hiloshine.
Beneath that distant cliff lay a deep sea that could not be fathomed by human senses.
“...Was there such a place?”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Solein, who was in charge of Kassius’s guidance, bowed his head.
“It is called the end of Hiloshine. That black sea is also said to be the last bloodshed by the black snake as it dies.”
Kassius looked at it calmly.
The majestic beauty was almost awe-inspiring.
It felt almost mesmerizing.
“What if the two who passed away settled here?”
“...They would love it. It was the former Duke's favorite place.”
“The Duke?”
“Yes, that's right. He said his heart raced when he stood here. He said he could see the unseen. It was like the future.”
“The future...”
Kassius seemed to understand.
Wasn't he afraid, even as a Duke?
This place held many responsibilities and obligations.
And the Duke had chosen to protect his daughter, rather than abandon her.
“He was human, too.”
Renisha had left the choice of location to Kassius.
Kassius wanted to choose the best place for the Duke and his wife.
And he thought this was the right place.
The Duke had said he had seen the future from here.
Renisha would create the future he envisioned.
This place, while a cliff, was also the highest point in Hiloshine.
The Duke and Duchess would be able to keep an eye on Renisha the entire time.
“Let’s do this.”
Kassius dismounted.
The barren wasteland was filled with the power of the black snake.
Perhaps because it was so close to the sea, the power of the black snake seemed to be more intense than anywhere else.
Kassius bent down and touched the ground.
He felt the power writhing beneath his palm.
Kassius slowly infused his strength.
The power of the red snake heated his body.
Red scales sprouted across his skin, and his hair swung with energy.
His golden eyes condensed vertically, and where the white part disappeared, a black iris revealed itself.
Sharp claws dug into the ground.
Kassius gritted his teeth.
“Whew…”
The bright red power dug into the ground.
Solein watched this wondrous scene blankly.
“They say the red snake and the black snake were brothers who didn’t get along. But, brothers sometimes get along well, and sometimes not, don’t they? The two snakes don't get along well, but when they get together, they're such a match..."
Why does a story he heard as a child come to mind?
The land of Hiloshine, which at first seemed rebellious, slowly began to embrace the power of the red snake.
Bright green leaves sprouted on the once barren land.
It was the scent of life that he hadn't smelled in a long time in Hiloshine.
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