Episode 68. Barbara
Among them, Renisha's blue dress stood out the most.
"Lady Renisha!"
"Lady Renisha! Are you coming back like this?"
"You don't know how long I've waited. I sent you a letter. Did you receive it?"
The ladies scrambled to get up, eager to say even one more thing to Renisha.
Renisha clasped her hands.
The ladies bowed before Renisha, who raised her head and lowered her eyes.
Renisha took a step forward.
Renisha's seat was the highest table, right next to it.
Next to Canary.
Renisha snickered.
Canary probably thought she would stand out more if Renisha sat next to her. She must have held the title of Empress firmly in her heart.
But it's not the position that makes the person.
It's the person who makes the position.
Just as no one now regards Canary as Empress.
Despite countless questions, Renisha remained silent.
Until she sat down, more elegant and noble than ever.
Only then did Renisha finally give her answer to those who were clamoring for her.
“I will not return here.”
Renisha slowly turned her head, gazing at Canary’s seat.
“If I do return, it will be to a different place.”
Did those present understand what Renisha meant?
Renisha smiled.
“However, I will definitely return to the palace. In the form I desire. I don’t know if that’s what you desire.”
“My Lady Renisha, I will follow whatever path is required.”
“Me too! To submit to such a lowly Empress...”
“What were you discussing? I think I’m late.”
At that moment, a voice, as if lost in a sweet dream, cut through the commotion.
It was Canary. The beautiful imperial bird.
Canary placed a hand on her swollen belly and blinked.
Canary realized something was off.
She noticed the swirling blue waves.
Canary's smile cracked.
"Didn't you all get what I said? I clearly told you to bring red to this banquet."
Canary said shrilly.
"But none of you kept my word. This was clearly a miscommunication. Isn't that right, Barbara?"
"Your Majesty..."
Barbara called out to Canary in a trembling voice.
At that moment, Barbara turned her head, and Renisha's eyes met.
Barbara's shoulders hunched.
A chill ran down her spine as she faced Renisha's coldness.
Canary couldn't even see her trembling.
Renisha's anger was far more terrifying than Canary's.
When no one answered, no one paid attention to Canary. Renisha spoke.
"Your Majesty."
Renisha slowly stood up. Renisha stared at Canary.
“There must have been a mistake. Could it be that those here deliberately disobeyed Her Majesty the Empress’s orders?”
Canary knew in that moment.
Renisha had orchestrated all of this.
Who had helped Renisha?
Canary bit her lip and trembled.
“It must have been someone’s mistake.”
“A mistake? Who could have so carelessly relayed the Empress’s order? I clearly told Madame Turiel to prepare a red dress.”
“Yes. Madame Turiel brought me a red dress.”
Renisha lied naturally.
Her unwavering expression showed no sign of wavering.
“But the other ladies asked if it was right for me to wear a red dress when everyone else was wearing blue. Isn’t that right?”
Renisha asked the ladies who had been begging for her attention.
The ladies nodded solemnly. They had voluntarily joined Renisha's play.
"I was torn. Oh, what was the right thing to do? I once wore a red dress to stand out. Just by myself."
Renisha smiled softly, as if recalling the past.
“And then I thought. Her Majesty the Empress wanted to wear a red dress alone, but Turiel misunderstood. So I reordered a blue dress from Turiel and came wearing this.”
“Then..."
“Who conveyed Her Majesty the Empress’s wishes? Who is carrying out Her Majesty’s wishes?”
Renisha slowly nodded at Barbara.
“I was also told by the imperial family that I must wear a blue dress.”
“Me too, Your Majesty.”
“Me too!”
The noble ladies rushed to support Renisha.
Canary’s trembling gaze turned to Barbara.
Barbara shook her head.
This was a trap. Someone had dragged Barbara’s foot into the mud.
“I, I, I didn’t. Your Majesty, you know me! There’s no way I would have made such a mistake...”
“If it wasn’t a mistake, was it intentional?”
Renisha tilted her head.
“Intentional!!!”
Barbara screamed.
Malice filled Canary’s eyes.
Her mind was racing, so heated that she couldn't make a clear judgment.
How did Canary get here?
"You know I'm sincere to Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
Barbara's plea fortunately reached Canary's ears.
It was true that Barbara had played a significant role in Canary's arrival.
Barbara had risked everything for Canary.
Barbara must not be abandoned.
She doesn't know who exactly did this, but...
Canary slowly regained her senses.
Swallowing a dry spit, she forced a smile.
"I almost lost my temper with those people without even realizing it. Barbara is my loyal maid. This must have been her mistake. But I intend to forgive her."
"She must be punished!"
Cried a noblewoman.
"How can we just ignore the maid who almost sowed discord between us and Your Majesty the Empress with such a grave mistake?"
“That’s right. The maid must be punished!”
Renisha didn’t need to add any more.
The noble ladies were already stepping forward, demanding that Barbara be punished.
Renisha mingled among them and took a seat.
A victorious smile spread across her face.
“Punish Barbara...”
“Yes!”
“O-okay. Cut Barbara’s salary...”
“Will that do?”
Madame Turiel appeared.
Canary spun around.
Turiel, who had appeared last, as if she were the main character, was also wearing a blue dress.
“Good morning, Your Majesty. I see that the dress I made for you fits you well. It suits you well.”
“Th-thank you.”
“Please send Barbara to me. I will take care of everything. I will teach her never to make this mistake again and send her back.”
Canary’s gaze turned to Barbara.
All the noble ladies gathered here were looking at her.
Among them, Renisha's blue dress stood out the most.
"Lady Renisha!"
"Lady Renisha! Are you coming back like this?"
"You don't know how long I've waited. I sent you a letter. Did you receive it?"
The ladies scrambled to get up, eager to say even one more thing to Renisha.
Renisha clasped her hands.
The ladies bowed before Renisha, who raised her head and lowered her eyes.
Renisha took a step forward.
Renisha's seat was the highest table, right next to it.
Next to Canary.
Renisha snickered.
Canary probably thought she would stand out more if Renisha sat next to her. She must have held the title of Empress firmly in her heart.
But it's not the position that makes the person.
It's the person who makes the position.
Just as no one now regards Canary as Empress.
Despite countless questions, Renisha remained silent.
Until she sat down, more elegant and noble than ever.
Only then did Renisha finally give her answer to those who were clamoring for her.
“I will not return here.”
Renisha slowly turned her head, gazing at Canary’s seat.
“If I do return, it will be to a different place.”
Did those present understand what Renisha meant?
Renisha smiled.
“However, I will definitely return to the palace. In the form I desire. I don’t know if that’s what you desire.”
“My Lady Renisha, I will follow whatever path is required.”
“Me too! To submit to such a lowly Empress...”
“What were you discussing? I think I’m late.”
At that moment, a voice, as if lost in a sweet dream, cut through the commotion.
It was Canary. The beautiful imperial bird.
Canary placed a hand on her swollen belly and blinked.
Canary realized something was off.
She noticed the swirling blue waves.
Canary's smile cracked.
"Didn't you all get what I said? I clearly told you to bring red to this banquet."
Canary said shrilly.
"But none of you kept my word. This was clearly a miscommunication. Isn't that right, Barbara?"
"Your Majesty..."
Barbara called out to Canary in a trembling voice.
At that moment, Barbara turned her head, and Renisha's eyes met.
Barbara's shoulders hunched.
A chill ran down her spine as she faced Renisha's coldness.
Canary couldn't even see her trembling.
Renisha's anger was far more terrifying than Canary's.
When no one answered, no one paid attention to Canary. Renisha spoke.
"Your Majesty."
Renisha slowly stood up. Renisha stared at Canary.
“There must have been a mistake. Could it be that those here deliberately disobeyed Her Majesty the Empress’s orders?”
Canary knew in that moment.
Renisha had orchestrated all of this.
Who had helped Renisha?
Canary bit her lip and trembled.
“It must have been someone’s mistake.”
“A mistake? Who could have so carelessly relayed the Empress’s order? I clearly told Madame Turiel to prepare a red dress.”
“Yes. Madame Turiel brought me a red dress.”
Renisha lied naturally.
Her unwavering expression showed no sign of wavering.
“But the other ladies asked if it was right for me to wear a red dress when everyone else was wearing blue. Isn’t that right?”
Renisha asked the ladies who had been begging for her attention.
The ladies nodded solemnly. They had voluntarily joined Renisha's play.
"I was torn. Oh, what was the right thing to do? I once wore a red dress to stand out. Just by myself."
Renisha smiled softly, as if recalling the past.
“And then I thought. Her Majesty the Empress wanted to wear a red dress alone, but Turiel misunderstood. So I reordered a blue dress from Turiel and came wearing this.”
“Then..."
“Who conveyed Her Majesty the Empress’s wishes? Who is carrying out Her Majesty’s wishes?”
Renisha slowly nodded at Barbara.
“I was also told by the imperial family that I must wear a blue dress.”
“Me too, Your Majesty.”
“Me too!”
The noble ladies rushed to support Renisha.
Canary’s trembling gaze turned to Barbara.
Barbara shook her head.
This was a trap. Someone had dragged Barbara’s foot into the mud.
“I, I, I didn’t. Your Majesty, you know me! There’s no way I would have made such a mistake...”
“If it wasn’t a mistake, was it intentional?”
Renisha tilted her head.
“Intentional!!!”
Barbara screamed.
Malice filled Canary’s eyes.
Her mind was racing, so heated that she couldn't make a clear judgment.
How did Canary get here?
"You know I'm sincere to Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
Barbara's plea fortunately reached Canary's ears.
It was true that Barbara had played a significant role in Canary's arrival.
Barbara had risked everything for Canary.
Barbara must not be abandoned.
She doesn't know who exactly did this, but...
Canary slowly regained her senses.
Swallowing a dry spit, she forced a smile.
"I almost lost my temper with those people without even realizing it. Barbara is my loyal maid. This must have been her mistake. But I intend to forgive her."
"She must be punished!"
Cried a noblewoman.
"How can we just ignore the maid who almost sowed discord between us and Your Majesty the Empress with such a grave mistake?"
“That’s right. The maid must be punished!”
Renisha didn’t need to add any more.
The noble ladies were already stepping forward, demanding that Barbara be punished.
Renisha mingled among them and took a seat.
A victorious smile spread across her face.
“Punish Barbara...”
“Yes!”
“O-okay. Cut Barbara’s salary...”
“Will that do?”
Madame Turiel appeared.
Canary spun around.
Turiel, who had appeared last, as if she were the main character, was also wearing a blue dress.
“Good morning, Your Majesty. I see that the dress I made for you fits you well. It suits you well.”
“Th-thank you.”
“Please send Barbara to me. I will take care of everything. I will teach her never to make this mistake again and send her back.”
Canary’s gaze turned to Barbara.
All the noble ladies gathered here were looking at her.
Canary had no choice but to make a decision. The decision they wanted.
“...Let it be so.”
Canary tucked her tail.
Barbara screamed in frustration, but there was nothing more she could do.
At Turiel’s gesture, Barbara was dragged away by the maids.
Canary had no choice but to force a smile and continue the banquet.
Wasn’t this a celebration of Canary’s ascension to the throne?
Today was Canary’s day. Clearly.
Turiel boarded Renisha’s carriage.
It was after the banquet.
Renisha had confirmed the loyalty of not only Turiel but also the central ladies at the banquet today.
Everyone had appeared in blue dresses, following Renisha’s wishes.
“You did a great job today, Turiel.”
She couldn’t help but feel satisfied.
Renisha had once again shown Canary the harshness of reality.
Did Canary really think it was Barbara’s mistake?
She wasn’t that stupid.
Renisha twisted her lips.
“Hmph.”
"Lady Renisha...?"
"Pfft, puhahahahaha!"
Renisha burst out laughing.
Turiel stared at her with a dumbfounded expression.
She had never seen her laugh like that before.
Renisha laughed for a long time before finally stopping.
Wiping away the tears forming in her eyes, she stared at Turiel.
“Isn’t this hilarious?”
“...”
“She won’t even realize what she's losing, and she’ll lose them one by one.”
Turiel lowered his head.
“Turiel. Find out everything you can from Barbara.”
This was an unintended but small benefit.
Thanks to Turiel’s timely appearance.
“The Emperor has slept with countless women, but he’s never had a child. Even the royal doctor shook his head. They say the Emperor’s weak mind and body make it difficult for him to conceive. Do you know what that means?”
Turiel looked up.
“Laxus was infertile.”
A dry bolt of lightning struck Renisha’s back.
With a blue smile, Renisha pursed her lips.
“This is a secret only I know, Turiel.”
“What does that mean...?”
“It was a little more distant. When I saved Laxus. I fed him ‘Roccha’s Tears’ to save him. ‘Roccha’s Tears’ can even save the life of someone on the verge of death. Do you know where those ‘Roccha’s Tears’ come from?”
Turiel shook his head.
Even Turiel didn’t know such a legendary story.
“Healo Shine. It’s the refined venom of a black snake soaked in healo shine. It’s a type of poison. If processed well, it can become a deadly poison, but even if you twist it a little...”
“Lady Renisha. What you’re saying is...”
“No one knows what mistakes I made when I was young. Even I had forgotten.”
Renisha recalled that memory after meeting Meteo.
I heard that the Princess of Shamdir had recovered safely.
Without any aftereffects.
The mention of aftereffects brought back memories of her past mistakes and the pregnant Canary.
“If my guess is correct, Laxus is infertile.”
Renisha swallowed her words.
“But Canary is pregnant. Who do you think holds that secret?”
“Barbara...”
“That’s right, Turiel. You’ve been truly excellent today. Not like someone who arrived late.”
“I thought there would be something I could learn from Barbara. And since Canary half-trusted me, I thought she’d give Barbara to me.”
“And that was right. I got Barbara. Turiel, you know what I’m asking of you, don’t you?”
“...Let it be so.”
Canary tucked her tail.
Barbara screamed in frustration, but there was nothing more she could do.
At Turiel’s gesture, Barbara was dragged away by the maids.
Canary had no choice but to force a smile and continue the banquet.
Wasn’t this a celebration of Canary’s ascension to the throne?
Today was Canary’s day. Clearly.
***
Turiel boarded Renisha’s carriage.
It was after the banquet.
Renisha had confirmed the loyalty of not only Turiel but also the central ladies at the banquet today.
Everyone had appeared in blue dresses, following Renisha’s wishes.
“You did a great job today, Turiel.”
She couldn’t help but feel satisfied.
Renisha had once again shown Canary the harshness of reality.
Did Canary really think it was Barbara’s mistake?
She wasn’t that stupid.
Renisha twisted her lips.
“Hmph.”
"Lady Renisha...?"
"Pfft, puhahahahaha!"
Renisha burst out laughing.
Turiel stared at her with a dumbfounded expression.
She had never seen her laugh like that before.
Renisha laughed for a long time before finally stopping.
Wiping away the tears forming in her eyes, she stared at Turiel.
“Isn’t this hilarious?”
“...”
“She won’t even realize what she's losing, and she’ll lose them one by one.”
Turiel lowered his head.
“Turiel. Find out everything you can from Barbara.”
This was an unintended but small benefit.
Thanks to Turiel’s timely appearance.
“The Emperor has slept with countless women, but he’s never had a child. Even the royal doctor shook his head. They say the Emperor’s weak mind and body make it difficult for him to conceive. Do you know what that means?”
Turiel looked up.
“Laxus was infertile.”
A dry bolt of lightning struck Renisha’s back.
With a blue smile, Renisha pursed her lips.
“This is a secret only I know, Turiel.”
“What does that mean...?”
“It was a little more distant. When I saved Laxus. I fed him ‘Roccha’s Tears’ to save him. ‘Roccha’s Tears’ can even save the life of someone on the verge of death. Do you know where those ‘Roccha’s Tears’ come from?”
Turiel shook his head.
Even Turiel didn’t know such a legendary story.
“Healo Shine. It’s the refined venom of a black snake soaked in healo shine. It’s a type of poison. If processed well, it can become a deadly poison, but even if you twist it a little...”
“Lady Renisha. What you’re saying is...”
“No one knows what mistakes I made when I was young. Even I had forgotten.”
Renisha recalled that memory after meeting Meteo.
I heard that the Princess of Shamdir had recovered safely.
Without any aftereffects.
The mention of aftereffects brought back memories of her past mistakes and the pregnant Canary.
“If my guess is correct, Laxus is infertile.”
Renisha swallowed her words.
“But Canary is pregnant. Who do you think holds that secret?”
“Barbara...”
“That’s right, Turiel. You’ve been truly excellent today. Not like someone who arrived late.”
“I thought there would be something I could learn from Barbara. And since Canary half-trusted me, I thought she’d give Barbara to me.”
“And that was right. I got Barbara. Turiel, you know what I’m asking of you, don’t you?”
“Yes, Lady Renisha.”
Turiel disembarked from Renisha’s carriage.
Renisha’s carriage started.
A brilliant moonlight fell upon her carriage, as if protecting Renisha.
Turiel disembarked from Renisha’s carriage.
Renisha’s carriage started.
A brilliant moonlight fell upon her carriage, as if protecting Renisha.
Comments
Post a Comment