Episode 104. Eye of the Storm
While Duke Cloud attended the banquet at Lottera, Laxus was issuing new orders to his aide.
"A new concubine, you say?"
Laxus nodded.
"The Prince will become the Crown Prince. However, since he's been tainted, shouldn't we prepare something new?"
The aide lowered his head with a strange expression.
For a long time, no woman had conceived.
Only Canary succeeded, and even that was a different seed.
At this point, it would be more accurate to say Laxus was infertile. Was he refusing to acknowledge it? Or was he feigning ignorance?
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will carry out your orders."
As long as he wasn't asked to make the impossible possible, what wouldn't he do?
"...There's a party at the Lottera mansion, right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"It would be best to choose a new concubine there."
Laxus smiled coldly.
"Let's bring in those who are close to Renisha. Ah, how about starting with Turiel?"
The aide swallowed.
"Ah, unfortunately, Madame Turiel is a widow, so she cannot join the harem until she has children."
He wanted to make up any excuse to stop her.
Madame Turiel would poison the Emperor and commit suicide.
That's how deeply loyal she was to Renisha.
Laxus, uninterested in the aide's words, sat down haughtily.
"Then do your best."
Ultimately, all Laxus wanted was to win over those who followed Renisha.
The aide closed his eyes tightly.
The Emperor also began to move.
Had Laxus ever failed when pointing his sword at someone?
Not even once?
Fear rose in his eyes.
By the time Laxus raised his sword at Renisha, Renisha was enjoying a rather enjoyable ball.
Isn't the charm of this place that you know everything but pretend not to?
Renisha took Kassius's hand.
Kassius had only left the Empress's palace yesterday morning, but it felt like years had passed since they'd seen each other.
It was true that, in that cold, lonely palace, she missed Kassius' warmth.
Wherever Kassius was, she felt more at home than in the palace itself. Renisha flashed a beautiful, flower-like smile for the first time in a long while.
"You look happy."
Kassius pulled Renisha's back closer to him.
By now, Kassius had become accustomed to this kind of social dancing.
Everything was changing.
What would Kassius be like when he entered the palace? He wondered anew.
Renisha briefly rested her head on Kassius's shoulder before pulling away.
"Isn't it because you're here?"
Kassius' cheeks flushed at Renisha's whisper.
They still blushed easily.
"I still can't forget last night."
He was still embarrassed.
The red snake, which had boldly crossed into the Empress's bedroom, swayed its tail.
Every aspect of Kassius was endearing.
Renisha rubbed his waist subtly.
Kassius let out a languid breath.
"Renisha..."
Renisha let out a soft laugh.
Leaving Kassius's embrace, Renisha soared into the air like a fairy, then landed back on the ground.
Everything was vividly etched into Kassius' vision.
It was as hazy as a butterfly that flies away just as it's grasped.
Kassius grasped Renisha's hand.
"Now Laxus will counterattack."
"Counterattack?"
"I attacked Laxus. The temple declared the Prince to be Laxus's child, but the suspicions planted will not be eradicated. Laxus will find another way."
"It's like a battlefield."
Renisha nodded.
"I'd say it's more than where Kassius was, not less, right?"
Renisha spun around, holding Kassius' hand.
It felt like sparkling stardust had been sprinkled across her.
"Kassius, never give up."
"..."
"Lexus will try to defeat you first to defeat me. You must survive and come to me. Take the sword I gave you."
Kassius nodded, as if he understood what she meant.
Renisha's presence here today held multiple meanings.
It showed that her affection for Kassius remained unchanged, even after she entered the Imperial Palace. It allowed Renisha's people to continue to keep an eye on Kassius.
And by appearing here, Renisha confirmed her agreement with Marquis Danvers's message.
What course would the empire take?
Change had also come to Hiloshine. It seemed Brixton incident would weaken its power, but instead, it was on the rise.
This was due to Haylin's aggressive policies.
Instead of shrinking and shrinking, she welcomed more people and distributed work.
Rumors of Hiloshine offering a viable path to prosperity swept through the empire.
Haylin completely followed her husband's and Renisha's wishes.
Even those who had been hiding within the maelstrom emerged.
"The leader of the tribes wishes to meet me?"
"Yes, Haylin,"
Therion replied matter-of-factly.
Now, Therion was more aptly described as a civil servant than a knight.
Therion pushed up the glasses resting on his nose.
As Hiloshine developed, Therion was also becoming more refined.
“…I wonder what’s going on.”
Haylin put down her work and stood up.
The leader of the tribe was waiting for Haylin in the castle’s reception room.
“It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for accepting such an unexpected request.”
The leader raised her head.
Haylin caught sight of the woman’s eyes, clouded with white.
The scars tracing them were thick and red, as if revealing the horrors of the past.
“...No.”
Haylin swallowed, trying to hide her surprise.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t show your face, but I think it’s right for me to be the one to reveal the truth to build trust.”
The leader touched his face, his wrinkled hand tracing his scar.
“No. It’s just... I’m sorry. I was rude.”
“It’s okay. Everyone who sees me for the first time is surprised.”
A brief silence filled the space between them.
It was the chieftain who broke it.
“Lady Heylin.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know how the lineage of the successors of the Yi tribes in the past was wiped out?”
It was part of Hientri history, so of course Haylin knew.
High-ranking nobles, regardless of age or gender, were expected to study history as a form of education.
“I think it’s a shameful history.”
While Duke Cloud attended the banquet at Lottera, Laxus was issuing new orders to his aide.
"A new concubine, you say?"
Laxus nodded.
"The Prince will become the Crown Prince. However, since he's been tainted, shouldn't we prepare something new?"
The aide lowered his head with a strange expression.
For a long time, no woman had conceived.
Only Canary succeeded, and even that was a different seed.
At this point, it would be more accurate to say Laxus was infertile. Was he refusing to acknowledge it? Or was he feigning ignorance?
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will carry out your orders."
As long as he wasn't asked to make the impossible possible, what wouldn't he do?
"...There's a party at the Lottera mansion, right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"It would be best to choose a new concubine there."
Laxus smiled coldly.
"Let's bring in those who are close to Renisha. Ah, how about starting with Turiel?"
The aide swallowed.
"Ah, unfortunately, Madame Turiel is a widow, so she cannot join the harem until she has children."
He wanted to make up any excuse to stop her.
Madame Turiel would poison the Emperor and commit suicide.
That's how deeply loyal she was to Renisha.
Laxus, uninterested in the aide's words, sat down haughtily.
"Then do your best."
Ultimately, all Laxus wanted was to win over those who followed Renisha.
The aide closed his eyes tightly.
The Emperor also began to move.
Had Laxus ever failed when pointing his sword at someone?
Not even once?
Fear rose in his eyes.
***
By the time Laxus raised his sword at Renisha, Renisha was enjoying a rather enjoyable ball.
Isn't the charm of this place that you know everything but pretend not to?
Renisha took Kassius's hand.
Kassius had only left the Empress's palace yesterday morning, but it felt like years had passed since they'd seen each other.
It was true that, in that cold, lonely palace, she missed Kassius' warmth.
Wherever Kassius was, she felt more at home than in the palace itself. Renisha flashed a beautiful, flower-like smile for the first time in a long while.
"You look happy."
Kassius pulled Renisha's back closer to him.
By now, Kassius had become accustomed to this kind of social dancing.
Everything was changing.
What would Kassius be like when he entered the palace? He wondered anew.
Renisha briefly rested her head on Kassius's shoulder before pulling away.
"Isn't it because you're here?"
Kassius' cheeks flushed at Renisha's whisper.
They still blushed easily.
"I still can't forget last night."
He was still embarrassed.
The red snake, which had boldly crossed into the Empress's bedroom, swayed its tail.
Every aspect of Kassius was endearing.
Renisha rubbed his waist subtly.
Kassius let out a languid breath.
"Renisha..."
Renisha let out a soft laugh.
Leaving Kassius's embrace, Renisha soared into the air like a fairy, then landed back on the ground.
Everything was vividly etched into Kassius' vision.
It was as hazy as a butterfly that flies away just as it's grasped.
Kassius grasped Renisha's hand.
"Now Laxus will counterattack."
"Counterattack?"
"I attacked Laxus. The temple declared the Prince to be Laxus's child, but the suspicions planted will not be eradicated. Laxus will find another way."
"It's like a battlefield."
Renisha nodded.
"I'd say it's more than where Kassius was, not less, right?"
Renisha spun around, holding Kassius' hand.
It felt like sparkling stardust had been sprinkled across her.
"Kassius, never give up."
"..."
"Lexus will try to defeat you first to defeat me. You must survive and come to me. Take the sword I gave you."
Kassius nodded, as if he understood what she meant.
Renisha's presence here today held multiple meanings.
It showed that her affection for Kassius remained unchanged, even after she entered the Imperial Palace. It allowed Renisha's people to continue to keep an eye on Kassius.
And by appearing here, Renisha confirmed her agreement with Marquis Danvers's message.
What course would the empire take?
***
Change had also come to Hiloshine. It seemed Brixton incident would weaken its power, but instead, it was on the rise.
This was due to Haylin's aggressive policies.
Instead of shrinking and shrinking, she welcomed more people and distributed work.
Rumors of Hiloshine offering a viable path to prosperity swept through the empire.
Haylin completely followed her husband's and Renisha's wishes.
Even those who had been hiding within the maelstrom emerged.
"The leader of the tribes wishes to meet me?"
"Yes, Haylin,"
Therion replied matter-of-factly.
Now, Therion was more aptly described as a civil servant than a knight.
Therion pushed up the glasses resting on his nose.
As Hiloshine developed, Therion was also becoming more refined.
“…I wonder what’s going on.”
Haylin put down her work and stood up.
The leader of the tribe was waiting for Haylin in the castle’s reception room.
“It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for accepting such an unexpected request.”
The leader raised her head.
Haylin caught sight of the woman’s eyes, clouded with white.
The scars tracing them were thick and red, as if revealing the horrors of the past.
“...No.”
Haylin swallowed, trying to hide her surprise.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t show your face, but I think it’s right for me to be the one to reveal the truth to build trust.”
The leader touched his face, his wrinkled hand tracing his scar.
“No. It’s just... I’m sorry. I was rude.”
“It’s okay. Everyone who sees me for the first time is surprised.”
A brief silence filled the space between them.
It was the chieftain who broke it.
“Lady Heylin.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know how the lineage of the successors of the Yi tribes in the past was wiped out?”
It was part of Hientri history, so of course Haylin knew.
High-ranking nobles, regardless of age or gender, were expected to study history as a form of education.
“I think it’s a shameful history.”
“We too. It was thanks to you that we came to this point, so I guess it was deserved.”
The chieftain smiled lightly.
A sense of relief, having shed all past hatred, emanated from her.
“The reason I came here today is... because I have something to reveal.”
“What...”
“It was said that all the successors of the past were dead. But that’s not true.”
“If you’re talking about Duke Kassius...”
Haylin lowered her voice.
The open secret known only to Kassius' inner circle was still being kept.
As long as the Yi tribes’ shackles remained, that secret would remain forever.
“No. It has nothing to do with him. I’m talking about myself, Lady Haylin.”
The chief’s story?
Haylin’s eyes widened.
“I was Hisham’s wife in the past and gave birth to an heir.”
Haylin took a deep breath, understanding the meaning.
“My husband died like that, becoming a star, and my son disappeared.”
Haylin gritted her teeth and suppressed a scream.
Thinking about it, she felt like she recognized the chief’s face.
The sharp angles of her jaw, her eyes, the shape of her face.
“I reveal this now to make a request.”
The woman bowed her head.
“I have the power to see the future, though briefly. It’s not permanent, and only happens occasionally. I’ve seen two futures.”
Haylin nodded, her mouth pressed tightly together, ready to listen, whatever it was.
"In one future, all the Yi people died and became fertilizer for the land. This is linked to the defeat of the Hiloshans and Lottera. This means that our Yi people share the same fate as the Hiloshans."
"..."
“I’ve been prepared for this from the beginning, so I’m not afraid of it.”
The woman laughed hollowly.
“And in another future, I saw a tree in bloom. Pink blossoms bloomed on radiant golden branches.”
Renisha.
“In that future, the Yi tribes were laughing comfortably, forgetting all the ills of the past. That’s why I came here today.”
“...”
“Use the Yi tribe’s warriors at your own convenience.”
“What do you mean...?”
“The Yi tribe’s warriors are currently in an ambiguous position. However, I know that Hiloshine and Lottera do not have sufficient troops. I will provide our warriors. Use them as your own. Make them the main characters in the coming war.”
The woman’s milky eyes sparkled.
“Help them become the shining sword of the new imperial family.”
“...What should I call them?”
"I'm just a woman, without title or name. It doesn't matter if no one knows about my existence. I've trained the Yi tribe warriors for this day. Trust them and entrust them with this important task."
"Are you saying I can send them to the imperial palace? So they can fight against the Emperor on the very front lines..."
"If we can be of any help, it will be a joy to the Yi tribe."
Haylin understood those words perfectly.
Slaying Laxus was the Yi tribe's wish.
They claim to have forgotten the past, but why would they gladly lend their strength to Renisha?
Destroy the Hientri royal family and establish a new one in its place!
There was no revenge more certain.
Haylin seemed to understand why the woman trusted the Yi tribe warriors.
They, too, had a common enemy.
"I will become a sharp sword and cut down our enemies."
The leader's smile deepened. It was a smile that Kassius shared.
Laxus summoned the man who had replaced Gale as Count Calliot.
In just a few months, three people had passed by Count Calliot's place.
"Your Majesty, you have summoned me."
Thanks to this, the new Count Calliot, who had been hiding like a rat, bowed his head.
"How many knights are available now?"
Laxus asked listlessly.
Instead of his familiar wine glass, he held a teacup.
It was a medicinal tea that detoxified the poison accumulated in his body.
Laxus's hands trembled with severe withdrawal symptoms.
However, Laxus's face remained calm, as if nothing had happened.
"Avoiding war is not the Emperor's attitude."
The chieftain smiled lightly.
A sense of relief, having shed all past hatred, emanated from her.
“The reason I came here today is... because I have something to reveal.”
“What...”
“It was said that all the successors of the past were dead. But that’s not true.”
“If you’re talking about Duke Kassius...”
Haylin lowered her voice.
The open secret known only to Kassius' inner circle was still being kept.
As long as the Yi tribes’ shackles remained, that secret would remain forever.
“No. It has nothing to do with him. I’m talking about myself, Lady Haylin.”
The chief’s story?
Haylin’s eyes widened.
“I was Hisham’s wife in the past and gave birth to an heir.”
Haylin took a deep breath, understanding the meaning.
“My husband died like that, becoming a star, and my son disappeared.”
Haylin gritted her teeth and suppressed a scream.
Thinking about it, she felt like she recognized the chief’s face.
The sharp angles of her jaw, her eyes, the shape of her face.
“I reveal this now to make a request.”
The woman bowed her head.
“I have the power to see the future, though briefly. It’s not permanent, and only happens occasionally. I’ve seen two futures.”
Haylin nodded, her mouth pressed tightly together, ready to listen, whatever it was.
"In one future, all the Yi people died and became fertilizer for the land. This is linked to the defeat of the Hiloshans and Lottera. This means that our Yi people share the same fate as the Hiloshans."
"..."
“I’ve been prepared for this from the beginning, so I’m not afraid of it.”
The woman laughed hollowly.
“And in another future, I saw a tree in bloom. Pink blossoms bloomed on radiant golden branches.”
Renisha.
“In that future, the Yi tribes were laughing comfortably, forgetting all the ills of the past. That’s why I came here today.”
“...”
“Use the Yi tribe’s warriors at your own convenience.”
“What do you mean...?”
“The Yi tribe’s warriors are currently in an ambiguous position. However, I know that Hiloshine and Lottera do not have sufficient troops. I will provide our warriors. Use them as your own. Make them the main characters in the coming war.”
The woman’s milky eyes sparkled.
“Help them become the shining sword of the new imperial family.”
“...What should I call them?”
"I'm just a woman, without title or name. It doesn't matter if no one knows about my existence. I've trained the Yi tribe warriors for this day. Trust them and entrust them with this important task."
"Are you saying I can send them to the imperial palace? So they can fight against the Emperor on the very front lines..."
"If we can be of any help, it will be a joy to the Yi tribe."
Haylin understood those words perfectly.
Slaying Laxus was the Yi tribe's wish.
They claim to have forgotten the past, but why would they gladly lend their strength to Renisha?
Destroy the Hientri royal family and establish a new one in its place!
There was no revenge more certain.
Haylin seemed to understand why the woman trusted the Yi tribe warriors.
They, too, had a common enemy.
"I will become a sharp sword and cut down our enemies."
The leader's smile deepened. It was a smile that Kassius shared.
***
Laxus summoned the man who had replaced Gale as Count Calliot.
In just a few months, three people had passed by Count Calliot's place.
"Your Majesty, you have summoned me."
Thanks to this, the new Count Calliot, who had been hiding like a rat, bowed his head.
"How many knights are available now?"
Laxus asked listlessly.
Instead of his familiar wine glass, he held a teacup.
It was a medicinal tea that detoxified the poison accumulated in his body.
Laxus's hands trembled with severe withdrawal symptoms.
However, Laxus's face remained calm, as if nothing had happened.
"Avoiding war is not the Emperor's attitude."
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