Episode 76. The Sinking Ship
I got everything I wanted.
“You’ve been so kind to me.”
“Thank you, Lady Renisha.”
Renisha handed the chamberlain a pouch of jewels.
The chamberlain accepted it with a pale face.
If not, there was no reason to endure both fear and humiliation at the Emperor’s side.
The chamberlain cheerfully put it in his pocket.
“This way.”
A musty smell from the dark hallway stung Renisha’s nose.
This is where those who died unjustly were sleeping.
Renisha smiled wryly.
She had already guessed that Laxus would grant her everything she wanted.
Laxus was crazy about Renisha right now.
She didn’t want to know what emotions were underlying it, but Renisha was content to use them. Before she knew it, she was in front of a worn wooden door.
Renisha stared blankly at the door.
"Truly..."
I swear, Laxus's death will not be beautiful.
Laxus doesn't know how to mourn or respect the deaths of others.
The final images of those Laxus had caused to die flashed before Renisha's eyes.
This wasn't just the Duke and Duchess of Lottera.
Those she was about to meet, and Count Calliot, too, countless others had lost their lives to Laxus's tongue, yet Laxus had shown no courtesy toward their deaths.
Neglected and abandoned.
Finally, only now...
A wooden chest appeared in the swirling dust.
Renisha cradled it in her arms.
It bothered her that Count Calliot had left without it.
The deaths of his children must have been a thorn in his heart, just like the deaths of the Duke and Duchess of Lottera that had driven Renisha into his heart.
Her heart ached.
The wooden chest felt colder than anything else in the world. If Renisha was like this, what must Count Calliot have felt?
In the end, he had to leave so unjustly without even being able to hold his son in his arms.
Anger toward Gale surged.
Her heart pounded.
Her fingers gripped the wooden box tightly. Her nails scraped.
“Lady Renisha...”
The chamberlain lowered his head further at Renisha’s radiant malice.
“...It is time the Emperor came to seek you. You may return now.”
Renisha issued a banishing order.
Renisha passed coldly past the chamberlain and walked slowly.
There was no Count Calliot left to welcome his son.
There was no one left.
Just as there was no Duke of Lottera to welcome Renisha.
Only the wind mixed with sand swept through her empty heart.
Death is so futile.
“I will not let anyone die.”
So Renisha will protect them. So that no one dies.
Kassius paced in front of the carriage.
After wrapping up the affairs of the tribe, he immediately chased after Renisha.
The very idea of Renisha meeting Laxus was unsettling.
Even if he knew everything about Renisha's feelings for Laxus...
They had lived together as a couple.
There must have been things between them that Kassius didn't know about.
That often fueled Kassius's jealousy.
"Renisha!"
Kassius ran towards Renisha as she emerged carrying something in her arms.
"Kassius? Did you finish your conversation with the guests?"
Renisha asked softly.
But beneath her voice lay a hollow exhaustion.
Kassius, perceiving this astutely, quirked his eyebrows.
"Renisha. What's wrong?"
Renisha blinked.
It was because she'd been unexpectedly criticized.
She'd thought she hadn't shown it. How grateful she was that Kassius understood without her even saying anything.
Renisha held the wooden box in her arms and showed it to Kassius.
"...The remains of the son and daughter-in-law that Count Calliot so desperately wanted to retrieve."
"..."
Kassius reached out and stroked the wooden box.
"This was all. All Count Calliot had hoped for. This was all... The Emperor seems to be a fool, lacking empathy. He has no understanding of the pain and sorrow of others. I..."
Renisha’s voice trembled.
“Count Calliot is dead. Count Calliot, Kassius, was... he was my father’s friend and the teacher who taught me and Laxus.”
As Renisha blinked, tears formed a trail.
These were tears that she had been holding back.
From the moment she found a wooden box piled up in a spiderweb in a corner.
“Although it was only a short time, we learned strategy and tactics from Count Calliot. Lexus, that bastard... that crazy bastard...”
Renisha bowed her head.
She couldn't continue speaking.
Uncontrollable swear words burst out indiscriminately.
Count Calliot's death left a deep scar on Renisha, but Laxus, who had committed it, was not affected in the slightest.
She couldn't understand. She couldn't accept it. She kept thinking of things she wouldn't have had to lose if it weren't for Laxus.
And that was connected to Renisha’s deep sense of guilt. This refers to the past when animals were brought into the Lottera.
Kassius reached out to Renisha.
“...Renisha.”
“I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you came. In fact, as I opened the door, I prayed and prayed for you to appear before my eyes.”
“...”
“For some strange reason, I feel safe when you’re by my side. I feel like you won’t abandon me even if I’m a mess. I feel like you’ll pick me up and lead me forward.”
“...”
Kassius breathed, hoping that Renisha’s rapid breathing would calm down.
The hand that patted her was infinitely affectionate.
Renisha buried her head in Kassius’s embrace.
Her heart was pounding, pounding, pounding.
Emotion welled up in her throat.
“Kassius... I wanted to kill Laxus,”
Renisha whispered.
“He was right in front of me, and in that moment, I couldn’t contain my murderous desire. I had to run away quickly.”
Kassius picked Renisha up in his arms.
“Kassius!”
“Renisha can do whatever she wants. Whether it’s revenge or just hatred.”
Kassius had her sit on the carriage seat and snatched the wooden box she was holding. He placed the strangely cold box on the carriage floor. Kassius slowly opened her hand. Her palm was hollowed out, where her fingernails had dug into it, and blood had pooled.
Kassius wrapped it in a handkerchief.
He had mentioned a fishy smell, and she had returned with a wound.
Kassius clicked his tongue in frustration.
“So don’t do something like this.”
“...This?”
“Hurting Renisha. It hurts me so much.”
“Kassius hurts?”
Eenisha tilted her tearful face.
“Yes.”
“What if I get seriously hurt?”
“It would be twice as upsetting and painful, because I couldn’t protect Renisha.”
“...What if I die?”
Renisha asked with pure malice.
“...Renisha.”
Kassius touched the back of her hand with his lips.
A warm, smooth touch touched her, then pulled away.
Kassius, with a look of longing, intertwined his fingers with hers.
“Renisha...”
Renisha was dying.
Renisha continued to flap her wings furiously, like a moth to a flame.
In truth, he knew Renisha was undertaking a dangerous task.
To ascend to the throne of the Emperor.
Blood could not be shed along the way.
He knew that it could be Renisha’s blood.
“Don’t do that.”
Kassius shook his head childishly.
“Don’t leave me.”
“Kassius.”
Renisha’s lips curled up.
It was joy. A complete joy born of pure malice.
Renisha reached out and stroked Kassius’s cheek.
All the emotions that had been swirling around her seemed to subside.
It seemed to transfer to Kassius.
Renisha was now pure joy.
"The mere thought of you being gone suffocates me. I can't even imagine. I... can't live in this world without you."
I got everything I wanted.
“You’ve been so kind to me.”
“Thank you, Lady Renisha.”
Renisha handed the chamberlain a pouch of jewels.
The chamberlain accepted it with a pale face.
If not, there was no reason to endure both fear and humiliation at the Emperor’s side.
The chamberlain cheerfully put it in his pocket.
“This way.”
A musty smell from the dark hallway stung Renisha’s nose.
This is where those who died unjustly were sleeping.
Renisha smiled wryly.
She had already guessed that Laxus would grant her everything she wanted.
Laxus was crazy about Renisha right now.
She didn’t want to know what emotions were underlying it, but Renisha was content to use them. Before she knew it, she was in front of a worn wooden door.
Renisha stared blankly at the door.
"Truly..."
I swear, Laxus's death will not be beautiful.
Laxus doesn't know how to mourn or respect the deaths of others.
The final images of those Laxus had caused to die flashed before Renisha's eyes.
This wasn't just the Duke and Duchess of Lottera.
Those she was about to meet, and Count Calliot, too, countless others had lost their lives to Laxus's tongue, yet Laxus had shown no courtesy toward their deaths.
Neglected and abandoned.
Finally, only now...
A wooden chest appeared in the swirling dust.
Renisha cradled it in her arms.
It bothered her that Count Calliot had left without it.
The deaths of his children must have been a thorn in his heart, just like the deaths of the Duke and Duchess of Lottera that had driven Renisha into his heart.
Her heart ached.
The wooden chest felt colder than anything else in the world. If Renisha was like this, what must Count Calliot have felt?
In the end, he had to leave so unjustly without even being able to hold his son in his arms.
Anger toward Gale surged.
Her heart pounded.
Her fingers gripped the wooden box tightly. Her nails scraped.
“Lady Renisha...”
The chamberlain lowered his head further at Renisha’s radiant malice.
“...It is time the Emperor came to seek you. You may return now.”
Renisha issued a banishing order.
Renisha passed coldly past the chamberlain and walked slowly.
There was no Count Calliot left to welcome his son.
There was no one left.
Just as there was no Duke of Lottera to welcome Renisha.
Only the wind mixed with sand swept through her empty heart.
Death is so futile.
“I will not let anyone die.”
So Renisha will protect them. So that no one dies.
***
Kassius paced in front of the carriage.
After wrapping up the affairs of the tribe, he immediately chased after Renisha.
The very idea of Renisha meeting Laxus was unsettling.
Even if he knew everything about Renisha's feelings for Laxus...
They had lived together as a couple.
There must have been things between them that Kassius didn't know about.
That often fueled Kassius's jealousy.
"Renisha!"
Kassius ran towards Renisha as she emerged carrying something in her arms.
"Kassius? Did you finish your conversation with the guests?"
Renisha asked softly.
But beneath her voice lay a hollow exhaustion.
Kassius, perceiving this astutely, quirked his eyebrows.
"Renisha. What's wrong?"
Renisha blinked.
It was because she'd been unexpectedly criticized.
She'd thought she hadn't shown it. How grateful she was that Kassius understood without her even saying anything.
Renisha held the wooden box in her arms and showed it to Kassius.
"...The remains of the son and daughter-in-law that Count Calliot so desperately wanted to retrieve."
"..."
Kassius reached out and stroked the wooden box.
"This was all. All Count Calliot had hoped for. This was all... The Emperor seems to be a fool, lacking empathy. He has no understanding of the pain and sorrow of others. I..."
Renisha’s voice trembled.
“Count Calliot is dead. Count Calliot, Kassius, was... he was my father’s friend and the teacher who taught me and Laxus.”
As Renisha blinked, tears formed a trail.
These were tears that she had been holding back.
From the moment she found a wooden box piled up in a spiderweb in a corner.
“Although it was only a short time, we learned strategy and tactics from Count Calliot. Lexus, that bastard... that crazy bastard...”
Renisha bowed her head.
She couldn't continue speaking.
Uncontrollable swear words burst out indiscriminately.
Count Calliot's death left a deep scar on Renisha, but Laxus, who had committed it, was not affected in the slightest.
She couldn't understand. She couldn't accept it. She kept thinking of things she wouldn't have had to lose if it weren't for Laxus.
And that was connected to Renisha’s deep sense of guilt. This refers to the past when animals were brought into the Lottera.
Kassius reached out to Renisha.
“...Renisha.”
“I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you came. In fact, as I opened the door, I prayed and prayed for you to appear before my eyes.”
“...”
“For some strange reason, I feel safe when you’re by my side. I feel like you won’t abandon me even if I’m a mess. I feel like you’ll pick me up and lead me forward.”
“...”
Kassius breathed, hoping that Renisha’s rapid breathing would calm down.
The hand that patted her was infinitely affectionate.
Renisha buried her head in Kassius’s embrace.
Her heart was pounding, pounding, pounding.
Emotion welled up in her throat.
“Kassius... I wanted to kill Laxus,”
Renisha whispered.
“He was right in front of me, and in that moment, I couldn’t contain my murderous desire. I had to run away quickly.”
Kassius picked Renisha up in his arms.
“Kassius!”
“Renisha can do whatever she wants. Whether it’s revenge or just hatred.”
Kassius had her sit on the carriage seat and snatched the wooden box she was holding. He placed the strangely cold box on the carriage floor. Kassius slowly opened her hand. Her palm was hollowed out, where her fingernails had dug into it, and blood had pooled.
Kassius wrapped it in a handkerchief.
He had mentioned a fishy smell, and she had returned with a wound.
Kassius clicked his tongue in frustration.
“So don’t do something like this.”
“...This?”
“Hurting Renisha. It hurts me so much.”
“Kassius hurts?”
Eenisha tilted her tearful face.
“Yes.”
“What if I get seriously hurt?”
“It would be twice as upsetting and painful, because I couldn’t protect Renisha.”
“...What if I die?”
Renisha asked with pure malice.
“...Renisha.”
Kassius touched the back of her hand with his lips.
A warm, smooth touch touched her, then pulled away.
Kassius, with a look of longing, intertwined his fingers with hers.
“Renisha...”
Renisha was dying.
Renisha continued to flap her wings furiously, like a moth to a flame.
In truth, he knew Renisha was undertaking a dangerous task.
To ascend to the throne of the Emperor.
Blood could not be shed along the way.
He knew that it could be Renisha’s blood.
“Don’t do that.”
Kassius shook his head childishly.
“Don’t leave me.”
“Kassius.”
Renisha’s lips curled up.
It was joy. A complete joy born of pure malice.
Renisha reached out and stroked Kassius’s cheek.
All the emotions that had been swirling around her seemed to subside.
It seemed to transfer to Kassius.
Renisha was now pure joy.
"The mere thought of you being gone suffocates me. I can't even imagine. I... can't live in this world without you."
Kassius's heartbreaking confession became Renisha's breath, her flesh.
Her soul, once a rag, felt fulfilled.
“Please live for me, Renisha.”
Renisha intertwined her fingers with Kassius’s.
Renisha gave him a short kiss.
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
“...Renisha.”
“For Kassius, I won’t die, I’ll survive.”
Renisha’s spring-colored eyes were filled with fire.
Her slender fingers stroked Kassius’s fiery hair.
Renisha kissed Kassius’s fingers as well.
Meanwhile, Canary found Barbara wandering the streets.
She wasn’t her usual neat and tidy self, but a complete mess.
Canary approached Barbara with a nervous expression.
“Barbara.”
Barbara turned her head at Canary’s thin voice.
“...Empress?”
Barbara paled and stepped back.
“Barbara!”
Canary called out to Barbara in a raised voice.
“...Why, why didn’t you come back?”
“Don’t you even know that?”
Barbara asked Canary's question, as if she found it absurd.
Her expression was one of despair, having lost even the will to run away.
Canary bit her lip.
“...No. I know. You probably betrayed me. You might have told Renisha things you shouldn't have.”
“Why are you asking if you already know?”
“...You're pretending not to know!”
Canary shouted sharply.
“Because I only have Barbara... You're pretending not to know even though you know everything. Isn't Barbara the one who doesn't know that?”
“...Pretending not to know. What would that change? Would it even make things better? Renisha knew everything. You never know what that viper-like woman might do. And the Empress... Don't you know you could be ousted?”
Canary shook her head.
“And you're giving up just like this? I just have to fool Laxus. If Laxus trusts me, this child can become Emperor.”
Canary pointed to her swollen belly, her eyes widening with venom.
“What will Renisha do? Laxus has no children anyway. There’s no successor! Laxus has no choice but me. Would he kill my child?”
Barbara stared blankly at Canary.
Canary, consumed by evil, desperately clutched her belly.
Canary had only that child left.
Then what was left for Barbara?
She was still wandering the streets, with nowhere to go.
Barbara had staked everything on her ambition.
Her life, her love.
Barbara had nothing left but Canary.
Even if the canary was a sinking ship, she had no choice but to climb aboard.
Barbara laughed.
“Fine. What would I have to choose from?”
Barbara grabbed Canary’s hand.
Her soul, once a rag, felt fulfilled.
“Please live for me, Renisha.”
Renisha intertwined her fingers with Kassius’s.
Renisha gave him a short kiss.
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
“...Renisha.”
“For Kassius, I won’t die, I’ll survive.”
Renisha’s spring-colored eyes were filled with fire.
Her slender fingers stroked Kassius’s fiery hair.
Renisha kissed Kassius’s fingers as well.
***
Meanwhile, Canary found Barbara wandering the streets.
She wasn’t her usual neat and tidy self, but a complete mess.
Canary approached Barbara with a nervous expression.
“Barbara.”
Barbara turned her head at Canary’s thin voice.
“...Empress?”
Barbara paled and stepped back.
“Barbara!”
Canary called out to Barbara in a raised voice.
“...Why, why didn’t you come back?”
“Don’t you even know that?”
Barbara asked Canary's question, as if she found it absurd.
Her expression was one of despair, having lost even the will to run away.
Canary bit her lip.
“...No. I know. You probably betrayed me. You might have told Renisha things you shouldn't have.”
“Why are you asking if you already know?”
“...You're pretending not to know!”
Canary shouted sharply.
“Because I only have Barbara... You're pretending not to know even though you know everything. Isn't Barbara the one who doesn't know that?”
“...Pretending not to know. What would that change? Would it even make things better? Renisha knew everything. You never know what that viper-like woman might do. And the Empress... Don't you know you could be ousted?”
Canary shook her head.
“And you're giving up just like this? I just have to fool Laxus. If Laxus trusts me, this child can become Emperor.”
Canary pointed to her swollen belly, her eyes widening with venom.
“What will Renisha do? Laxus has no children anyway. There’s no successor! Laxus has no choice but me. Would he kill my child?”
Barbara stared blankly at Canary.
Canary, consumed by evil, desperately clutched her belly.
Canary had only that child left.
Then what was left for Barbara?
She was still wandering the streets, with nowhere to go.
Barbara had staked everything on her ambition.
Her life, her love.
Barbara had nothing left but Canary.
Even if the canary was a sinking ship, she had no choice but to climb aboard.
Barbara laughed.
“Fine. What would I have to choose from?”
Barbara grabbed Canary’s hand.
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