Episode 70. Each One's Own Path
"Henry, you're doing well!"
Isabella nodded, clenching her dainty fist.
"Careful, careful!"
Henry followed Isabella's voice.
His slow feet descending the stairs were tinged with invisible fear and hesitation.
Henry trusted Isabella.
Isabella was not at an age where she could be malicious and deceived.
He couldn't trust anyone in this mansion, but Isabella...
Henry gritted his teeth, staring at the blurry figure of the child.
It had been a long time since he had written a letter to the Emperor. He was blind, so he was helpless. He had to do something before the Emperor abandoned him, or before he misunderstood him for betrayal... He could only ask for help from Isabella.
Helena.
Jane.
They were the only people Henry was allowed to turn to.
'What should I do?'
His only way out was blocked.
No matter where he went, he felt like he was plummeting down a dark cliff.
The fear Laxus posed was greater than the unseen terror.
It felt like Laxus would send someone to Hiloshine at any moment to end Henry's life.
He'd think Laxus could catch him by the ankle.
The old gentleman, always neat and tidy, was disheveled.
He could tell he was becoming a mess, even without seeing it.
Henry slowly ran a trembling hand through his hair. He seemed to smell like he hadn't washed properly, and his clothes were shabby.
He was becoming like the rascals he'd seen on the street.
What should he let go of?
Laxus's hand, or...
Henry's hazy gaze turned to Isabella.
"You did very well, Henry! If you do that, you can come down the stairs!"
Was it that girl with the brightest smile?
The space that seemed empty was filled with more people than expected.
The knights, gathered behind the pillar, were watching Isabella with a strong presence.
“Tch. What is that old man doing to our young lady?”
“To Isabella? He doesn’t want to be torn limb from limb.”
“His gaze is truly cold. You, The most frightening thing is when those kinds of people struggle for their last breath.”
Isabella was by no means alone.
Everyone in the manor knew that the child wanted to help Henry and that she was doing so.
Thanks to this, everyone, aside from Helena and Jane, was paying attention to Henry and Isabella.
“You don’t have to worry too much.”
“Your Excellency, the little Duke...!”
"Henry, you're doing well!"
Isabella nodded, clenching her dainty fist.
"Careful, careful!"
Henry followed Isabella's voice.
His slow feet descending the stairs were tinged with invisible fear and hesitation.
Henry trusted Isabella.
Isabella was not at an age where she could be malicious and deceived.
He couldn't trust anyone in this mansion, but Isabella...
Henry gritted his teeth, staring at the blurry figure of the child.
It had been a long time since he had written a letter to the Emperor. He was blind, so he was helpless. He had to do something before the Emperor abandoned him, or before he misunderstood him for betrayal... He could only ask for help from Isabella.
Helena.
Jane.
They were the only people Henry was allowed to turn to.
'What should I do?'
His only way out was blocked.
No matter where he went, he felt like he was plummeting down a dark cliff.
The fear Laxus posed was greater than the unseen terror.
It felt like Laxus would send someone to Hiloshine at any moment to end Henry's life.
He'd think Laxus could catch him by the ankle.
The old gentleman, always neat and tidy, was disheveled.
He could tell he was becoming a mess, even without seeing it.
Henry slowly ran a trembling hand through his hair. He seemed to smell like he hadn't washed properly, and his clothes were shabby.
He was becoming like the rascals he'd seen on the street.
What should he let go of?
Laxus's hand, or...
Henry's hazy gaze turned to Isabella.
"You did very well, Henry! If you do that, you can come down the stairs!"
Was it that girl with the brightest smile?
***
The space that seemed empty was filled with more people than expected.
The knights, gathered behind the pillar, were watching Isabella with a strong presence.
“Tch. What is that old man doing to our young lady?”
“To Isabella? He doesn’t want to be torn limb from limb.”
“His gaze is truly cold. You, The most frightening thing is when those kinds of people struggle for their last breath.”
Isabella was by no means alone.
Everyone in the manor knew that the child wanted to help Henry and that she was doing so.
Thanks to this, everyone, aside from Helena and Jane, was paying attention to Henry and Isabella.
“You don’t have to worry too much.”
“Your Excellency, the little Duke...!”
“You shouldn’t call me that anymore. Just Brixton will suffice.”
“Lord Brixton.”
Brixton, who had been standing at the farthest point, stepped into the crowd. He crossed his arms and watched Isabella.
“There was an old man who helped that child when he was injured, right? What happened to that doctor?”
“...He died. He originally volunteered as a battlefield doctor, facing death.”
"Aha. When I see Henry, I think of that doctor. He wants to help."
It would have been easy to resent the world, but Isabella was pure and bright.
Was it the child's nature, or perhaps it was the many people who cared for her and reached out to her when she was struggling?
"Help him when he needs help. If Henry tries to do something stupid..."
"Then?"
"You may kill Henry. I will permit it."
"Yes!"
The knights answered bravely.
The order had been given.
Now all they had to do was wait for Henry to slip up.
The knights' faces flashed sinisterly as they watched Henry.
***
Meanwhile, in the palace.
Gale was the first to relay the news of Count Calliot's death to the Emperor.
Count Calliot had instructed Gale to be careful about what he should and shouldn't share. He had warned that telling nothing would only arouse suspicion.
Those words only fueled Gale's anger.
Calliot's death left a deep scar on Gale, but he couldn't help it.
He couldn't forget the happiest moment in his life.
When a child is born and grows up, you hold his hand, call him, run to him on two legs, and hug him.
Gale couldn't possibly give up the happiness his child had brought him.
Laxus called Gale closer.
"A little closer."
Only when Laxus was close enough to see every last bit of his fur did Gale stop.
Gale knelt before Laxus.
What story should he tell, and what should he hide?
The eye the Emperor had sent still remained there.
Gale swallowed hard.
The story he was telling him couldn't be completely different.
'You still don't know about the Little Duke.'
He'd heard that Henry, the butler sent by the Emperor, had lost both his eyes.
Then there was only one thing Henry could see.
"What did you see and hear there?"
"Duke Kassius possessed an unexpected ability. Hiloshine is no longer a wasteland. Grass sprouts and trees grow."
"Huh..."
Laxus smiled wryly.
He didn't want to know about Kassius's abilities or his talents.
He wished he were bad.
So that Renisha could look at Kassius with contempt.
Just as she did at Laxus!
“How did things seem between the Duke and Renisha? I imagine Renisha would have hated that slave, wouldn’t she? A woman of noble blood, she would have definitely looked down on him, wouldn’t she?”
Laxus acted as if there was only one definitive answer.
Gale shook his head slightly.
“I never had the chance to meet Lady Renisha.”
That would be the most appropriate answer.
“That’s why I don’t know how things were between you two.”
“Oh, that’s true. How could anyone know that without the dead Calliot?”
Laxus chuckled.
“It’s a good thing he died, that old man. How can he betray me with that shameless face? He forgot that he owed me a favor by saving his grandson. May the Calliot family continue on in your line.”
“Huh?”
Gale looked up.
"Your Majesty. Just that... just that order, please retract it!"
Gale buried his head in the floor.
The Emperor's order hung like a heavy weight on Gale's mind.
He had murdered the revered Calliot with Gale's own hands, under the pretext of saving his family.
Because of that, the Calliot family had once again fallen into chaos.
What would people say if Gale became Count Calliot?
They'd accuse him of plotting to murder the Count to seize the title.
It seemed obvious even without him hearing it.
Gale shook his head.
"I-I don't deserve this position. Your Majesty, retract it."
"No, no. Even a rascal like Calliot disobeyed my orders, yet you, a mere rascal, kept your promise to me. You deserve the reward."
It was the price of betrayal.
The Emperor had said the same thing twice, so there was no way he could go back.
Any further pointless defiance would only endanger Gale.
"I will follow your orders."
"Very well, Gale Calliot."
Laxus smiled.
“Tell me what else you saw.”
Gale opened his trembling lips.
“I-I saw a child there.”
The Duke had to get out of the way.
Alarms rang in Gale’s head.
If he mentioned the Duke’s name, the dead Count would come back to life and kill him.
“A child?”
“Yes. She looks different, but I’m certain. The child was Isabella Lottera.”
“Huh?”
Laxus let out a cold exclamation.
Isabella Lottera?
Not dead or missing.
Not one of those two, but alive and well in Hiloshine?
The puzzle seemed to fall into place.
The reason Renisha refused to return to the capital was.
Laxus could come up with a hundred ways to seize the opportunity in this situation.
Why not risk the child’s life?
His elation surged.
The opportunity to make Renisha his puppet once again had arrived.
"If there was something so precious, it should be mine! Isn't it? Why didn't Henry tell me until now?"
"Since we haven't met, Your Majesty, I haven't been able to hear the situation. Isn't it possible that Hiloshine is restricting correspondence?"
“...That could be true. Gale, you should go. Go and bring the child with Henry.”
“The child... You mean?”
Gale’s forced smile broke.
To protect his own child, he sold another child.
Was this really the right thing to do?
“Henry, check with him. If it seems, he betrayed us... I can use the same poison I used on the Count.”
Laxus declared slowly.
His words also showed his tenacity, determined not to miss anything.
Gale creaked and lowered his head.
“Yes, yes. Your Majesty...”
This was all he had gained from selling Count Calliot.
Selling another child’s life instead of his own!
A deep sense of shame washed over Gale.
***
“Barbara.”
Turiel poked Barbara’s cheek with the end of his fan.
Barbara stubbornly kept her mouth shut and turned her head away.
It was the only expression of defiance she could muster.
Canary gave up on Barbara without a second thought.
She knew their relationship was shallow, but...
Barbara gave her a vicious look.
“What! You won’t hear anything from me.”
“Do you really think so?”
Turiel said regretfully.
“I think you’ll be able to tell me anything soon. Don’t give me anything. Not water, not food. What could be more precious to a person than themselves?”
“Chuh!”
Barbara spat at Turiel.
It missed Turiel and fell through the air to the ground, but Barbara didn’t give up.
“You vile and despicable bastards! Do you think I’d be swayed by something like that?”
Barbara said.
“The Empress will come for me! I just have to endure it for a little while!”
Even while tied up, Barbara stamped her legs and screamed.
“Canary will come for you? You really think that’s true?”
“T-then! You know I’m the only one who truly cares about Lady Canary!”
“Yes, then. Let’s see who’s right.”
Turiel shrugged with confidence. Her face was filled with the certainty that Barbara would definitely lose.
***
Canary bit her nails.
Having Barbara taken away wasn’t a nightmare or a hallucination. It was real.
Canary was truly left alone.
"W-What do we do now?”
Canary was confused.
Hadn’t Barbara taught her how to protect the child and how to protect Canary?
‘I’ll tell His Majesty the Emperor...’
No, no. It was obvious that he would take Renisha’s side.
Canary habitually rubbed her belly.
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