Episode 119. A New Journey
Yenika set off for the island with a nervous expression.
This time, an unexpected group was on board: none other than Isabella's party.
Being accompanied by a young lady from Hiloshine created a sense of both discomfort and burden for the Yi tribe.
However, such feelings were fleeting.
"...Please take care of me from now on. You can call me Isabella."
The moment they saw Isabella, her pale face, as if she had never seen the light of day, and her short hair combed down, they too fell inexplicably in love.
Her bright, lemon-colored blonde, her fragile smile, her slender figure.
Everything about Isabella touched their hearts.
It seemed they understood why the knights of Hiloshine were so protective of her.
That young lady had been through something terrible, hadn't she? She almost lost her father right before her eyes. Oh my, that happened! How sad.
Such conversations circulated among the Yi tribe.
Isabella sat among the knights, her expression blank.
Her face, hardened like a wax doll, evoked pity in the crowd.
For one reason or another, their guard was momentarily broken.
It must have been the first evening.
Having decided to sleep out after an arduous day's journey, they quickly set up camp in the forest.
The Yi tribesmen were accustomed to sleeping out in the open after their long time on the run, and the Hiloshine knights were used to it, having been through battlefields.
Having quickly set up camp, they thought that perhaps if they worked together, they could complete this journey a little more quickly and comfortably.
"Wow. You're fast."
"I've never seen anyone pitch a tent as quickly as they do..."
Thanks to the emotional exchange that had taken place in just one day, the Yi tribesmen and Isabella's party all gathered around a large campfire that evening.
Isabella, who had been dragged around like a doll all day, also sat down before the fire.
A bowl filled with hot stew was placed in her hands.
"Oh, I'm fine..."
Isabella muttered.
“Oh my, what are you talking about! At this age, you need to eat a lot to grow tall. Miss, this may not look like much, but it’s a stew made with my special sauce, so it’s truly delicious. Even if you ask for another bowl, I can’t give it to you.”
The Yi woman accompanying her on this journey winked.
Isabella silently stirred her bowl with her spoon.
“Or maybe you’re a precious lady and you’ve never had anything like this before?”
The Yi woman asked with a worried expression.
Isabella pursed her lips and shook her head.
She’d eaten worse food on the battlefield.
It wasn’t the food; it was Isabella’s recent lack of appetite.
The Hiloshine knights glanced in Isabella’s direction and the Yi woman’s direction, confirming that there was no problem between them.
Isabella, unable to resist the Yi woman’s urging, took a spoonful.
The rich, warm flavor burst through her rough mouth.
“How is it? Is it delicious?”
Isabella nodded gravely.
The two-legged woman sighed, watching Isabella struggle to scoop up each spoonful.
Now, the woman sitting next to her spoke.
“My name is Shamira. Shamira. Isn’t that a pretty name?”
Isabella nodded.
“My sister’s name is even prettier. Estelle. It means star. Our Estelle was exactly the same age as a young lady.”
Shamira smiled bitterly.
Estelle had been lost while fleeing.
It was a time when the Yi tribes' sentiment was at its peak.
Both Shamira and Estelle were young at the time.
Shamira lost her sister’s hand and was never seen again.
When she finally managed to find news of Estelle, she was already dead.
“What happened to her?”
Shamira pointed to the sky.
“She became a star.”
“Star?”
“Yes, a twinkling star. It’s watching over me from there. They say that when people die, they become stars. And the better the soul, the bigger the star they become... Since our Estelle was really good... Would that star be enough?”
Isabella’s gaze followed Shamira’s fingertips.
Isabella blinked.
Isabella asked in a trembling voice.
“Then my grandfather and grandmother... And the doctor who took care of me before... And Slin... And Elipher... And Roden...”
Isabella recited the names she knew in an urgent voice.
These were the names of those who had gone on a long journey.
Names that were engraved in Isabella's small heart.
"Will they be watching Isabella as stars?"
"Of course. They'll be watching what you eat, whether you sleep well, whether you laugh often."
Shamira smiled brightly.
Isabella's large eyes fluttered.
The child's small face hung in Shamira's mind.
It felt as if her dead sister had returned to life.
In fact, it wasn't just Shamira.
"That friend over there is called Jen, and Jen lost her husband. And that friend over there..."
Isabella blinked.
It was a moment when the pain of others entered Isabella's small world.
"...It wasn't just Isabella?"
"Yes?"
"I, I... Because I'm bad... Because I'm a bad person... So I thought only those Isabella loved were the first to leave... But wasn't that so?"
Isabella's voice trembled.
Everyone in Hiloshine Castle had been careful not to touch Isabella's pain.
Her already fragile heart was so wounded, she didn't know what to do.
But Isabella needed this comfort and empathy.
Isabella was no longer a child who needed protection.
"No, no. Why is that your fault, my lady? And what did such a young lady do wrong? It's not your fault they left..."
Shamira pointed to the sky.
"They left to become stars. They called from there."
"The sky called..."
"Yes. They are good and kind people, so come quickly to the sky and become shining stars, it's what they said."
Shamira said with a smile.
Shamira knew this was merely a consolation for the survivors.
How could Shamira know what happened to the dead?
No one could know that until they died.
But Shamira found solace in this story.
The thought that Estelle was watching over her from somewhere had allowed her to get up and live.
She wondered if Isabella needed that kind of consolation, too.
"Really?"
“Yes, my lady.”
Isabella’s expression brightened slightly.
She pursed her lips.
“My grandfather and grandmother liked it when I ate well.”
“Then how about we start by finishing this stew?”
Isabella hesitated, then nodded. The knights felt a pang of relief as they watched Isabella move her spoon with determination. They felt a sense of anticipation that Isabella might gain more from this journey.
By her side was Jane.
Jane, who had not left Isabella’s side for a single moment since Helena left. Jane had set out on this path partly for Isabella’s sake...
Jane had a friend she needed to find.
‘Helena... Where are you now...’
Helena fingered her cracked fingers.
Her once-well-manicured nails had long since been torn to shreds.
Helena had made a promise to herself. She would definitely break the Emperor’s neck with these hands.
Surely there were more than a few who thought that.
Helena was confident. She had to return the long way.
Initially, she had planned to enter the palace, but Laxus was more suspicious than she'd expected. She had no choice but to stall, and when Renisha entered the palace, much had changed in the intervening years.
Helena crouched in the midst of the rapidly changing times, biding her time.
At first, when the reforms succeeded, she'd been disillusioned, believing Laxus to be dead.
She felt she wouldn't be able to keep her oath.
But, as if by God's help, Laxus escaped the palace alive.
The edict of the fugitive Emperor's abdication was issued.
Helena had been tracking Laxus's whereabouts ever since.
Meanwhile, Helena's always neat and tidy appearance had deteriorated.
Her hair was a mess, her skin rough.
She felt heavy, having washed dishes in restaurants and slept in a small room.
In that short time, Helena felt as if she had carried ten years of life on her shoulders.
And finally...
"Helena?"
A woman with a puffy face called out to her.
Her name was Leline.
It was the name of the Emperor's last concubine.
Helena had taken advantage of Count Flans's presence and entered this place. They said it was where Laxus was seeking out his humble existence.
"Yes, that's right."
"You used to work at the Imperial Palace, correct?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Hmm."
Leline nodded.
Something about her gaze seemed different.
"You're in terrible shape, having been chased from the Imperial Palace and running away."
Helena laughed awkwardly, fiddling with the hem of her skirt.
"Why are they chasing someone like you?"
"Ah... I served... Her Majesty the Empress."
"Empress? Canary?"
Helena lowered her head.
She'd never done so, but women of this ilk were usually tempted by the idea of serving the Imperial Palace, especially the Empress.
Leline seemed to be no exception.
Leline's eyes sparkled.
"Really? So you know how to serve the Empress?"
"Yes, that's right. I remember everything I learned at the Imperial Palace."
“Great! Actually, who knows what will happen in the future? There’s someone incredibly important here! I might even rise to a higher position later,”
Leline said, her face puffed out with dreams.
“It would be nice to keep you by my side just in case.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Helena bowed her head, her expression dark.
Leline’s vanity seemed like the perfect prey for Helena to exploit.
“Great. Then... do you know something about His Majesty the Emperor Laxus’s tastes?”
“I can help you. I know the bath salts, perfumes, and makeup the former Empress used.”
“Oh my! Did you know I’m from the same family as the Empress Canary?”
Leline remained interested.
“Great. Just tell me about the most important things.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Leline’s ears twitched. Her relationship with Laxus had recently reached a breaking point.
Leline needed a key to untie it.
And then Helena appeared.
It was only natural that Leline's heart thawed like spring frost.
"So that'll change His Majesty the Emperor's mind? Of course. Not that His Majesty the Emperor Laxus is here."
Helena muttered to herself.
"You're kidding."
Yenika set off for the island with a nervous expression.
This time, an unexpected group was on board: none other than Isabella's party.
Being accompanied by a young lady from Hiloshine created a sense of both discomfort and burden for the Yi tribe.
However, such feelings were fleeting.
"...Please take care of me from now on. You can call me Isabella."
The moment they saw Isabella, her pale face, as if she had never seen the light of day, and her short hair combed down, they too fell inexplicably in love.
Her bright, lemon-colored blonde, her fragile smile, her slender figure.
Everything about Isabella touched their hearts.
It seemed they understood why the knights of Hiloshine were so protective of her.
That young lady had been through something terrible, hadn't she? She almost lost her father right before her eyes. Oh my, that happened! How sad.
Such conversations circulated among the Yi tribe.
Isabella sat among the knights, her expression blank.
Her face, hardened like a wax doll, evoked pity in the crowd.
For one reason or another, their guard was momentarily broken.
It must have been the first evening.
Having decided to sleep out after an arduous day's journey, they quickly set up camp in the forest.
The Yi tribesmen were accustomed to sleeping out in the open after their long time on the run, and the Hiloshine knights were used to it, having been through battlefields.
Having quickly set up camp, they thought that perhaps if they worked together, they could complete this journey a little more quickly and comfortably.
"Wow. You're fast."
"I've never seen anyone pitch a tent as quickly as they do..."
Thanks to the emotional exchange that had taken place in just one day, the Yi tribesmen and Isabella's party all gathered around a large campfire that evening.
Isabella, who had been dragged around like a doll all day, also sat down before the fire.
A bowl filled with hot stew was placed in her hands.
"Oh, I'm fine..."
Isabella muttered.
“Oh my, what are you talking about! At this age, you need to eat a lot to grow tall. Miss, this may not look like much, but it’s a stew made with my special sauce, so it’s truly delicious. Even if you ask for another bowl, I can’t give it to you.”
The Yi woman accompanying her on this journey winked.
Isabella silently stirred her bowl with her spoon.
“Or maybe you’re a precious lady and you’ve never had anything like this before?”
The Yi woman asked with a worried expression.
Isabella pursed her lips and shook her head.
She’d eaten worse food on the battlefield.
It wasn’t the food; it was Isabella’s recent lack of appetite.
The Hiloshine knights glanced in Isabella’s direction and the Yi woman’s direction, confirming that there was no problem between them.
Isabella, unable to resist the Yi woman’s urging, took a spoonful.
The rich, warm flavor burst through her rough mouth.
“How is it? Is it delicious?”
Isabella nodded gravely.
The two-legged woman sighed, watching Isabella struggle to scoop up each spoonful.
Now, the woman sitting next to her spoke.
“My name is Shamira. Shamira. Isn’t that a pretty name?”
Isabella nodded.
“My sister’s name is even prettier. Estelle. It means star. Our Estelle was exactly the same age as a young lady.”
Shamira smiled bitterly.
Estelle had been lost while fleeing.
It was a time when the Yi tribes' sentiment was at its peak.
Both Shamira and Estelle were young at the time.
Shamira lost her sister’s hand and was never seen again.
When she finally managed to find news of Estelle, she was already dead.
“What happened to her?”
Shamira pointed to the sky.
“She became a star.”
“Star?”
“Yes, a twinkling star. It’s watching over me from there. They say that when people die, they become stars. And the better the soul, the bigger the star they become... Since our Estelle was really good... Would that star be enough?”
Isabella’s gaze followed Shamira’s fingertips.
Isabella blinked.
Isabella asked in a trembling voice.
“Then my grandfather and grandmother... And the doctor who took care of me before... And Slin... And Elipher... And Roden...”
Isabella recited the names she knew in an urgent voice.
These were the names of those who had gone on a long journey.
Names that were engraved in Isabella's small heart.
"Will they be watching Isabella as stars?"
"Of course. They'll be watching what you eat, whether you sleep well, whether you laugh often."
Shamira smiled brightly.
Isabella's large eyes fluttered.
The child's small face hung in Shamira's mind.
It felt as if her dead sister had returned to life.
In fact, it wasn't just Shamira.
"That friend over there is called Jen, and Jen lost her husband. And that friend over there..."
Isabella blinked.
It was a moment when the pain of others entered Isabella's small world.
"...It wasn't just Isabella?"
"Yes?"
"I, I... Because I'm bad... Because I'm a bad person... So I thought only those Isabella loved were the first to leave... But wasn't that so?"
Isabella's voice trembled.
Everyone in Hiloshine Castle had been careful not to touch Isabella's pain.
Her already fragile heart was so wounded, she didn't know what to do.
But Isabella needed this comfort and empathy.
Isabella was no longer a child who needed protection.
"No, no. Why is that your fault, my lady? And what did such a young lady do wrong? It's not your fault they left..."
Shamira pointed to the sky.
"They left to become stars. They called from there."
"The sky called..."
"Yes. They are good and kind people, so come quickly to the sky and become shining stars, it's what they said."
Shamira said with a smile.
Shamira knew this was merely a consolation for the survivors.
How could Shamira know what happened to the dead?
No one could know that until they died.
But Shamira found solace in this story.
The thought that Estelle was watching over her from somewhere had allowed her to get up and live.
She wondered if Isabella needed that kind of consolation, too.
"Really?"
“Yes, my lady.”
Isabella’s expression brightened slightly.
She pursed her lips.
“My grandfather and grandmother liked it when I ate well.”
“Then how about we start by finishing this stew?”
Isabella hesitated, then nodded. The knights felt a pang of relief as they watched Isabella move her spoon with determination. They felt a sense of anticipation that Isabella might gain more from this journey.
By her side was Jane.
Jane, who had not left Isabella’s side for a single moment since Helena left. Jane had set out on this path partly for Isabella’s sake...
Jane had a friend she needed to find.
‘Helena... Where are you now...’
***
Helena fingered her cracked fingers.
Her once-well-manicured nails had long since been torn to shreds.
Helena had made a promise to herself. She would definitely break the Emperor’s neck with these hands.
Surely there were more than a few who thought that.
Helena was confident. She had to return the long way.
Initially, she had planned to enter the palace, but Laxus was more suspicious than she'd expected. She had no choice but to stall, and when Renisha entered the palace, much had changed in the intervening years.
Helena crouched in the midst of the rapidly changing times, biding her time.
At first, when the reforms succeeded, she'd been disillusioned, believing Laxus to be dead.
She felt she wouldn't be able to keep her oath.
But, as if by God's help, Laxus escaped the palace alive.
The edict of the fugitive Emperor's abdication was issued.
Helena had been tracking Laxus's whereabouts ever since.
Meanwhile, Helena's always neat and tidy appearance had deteriorated.
Her hair was a mess, her skin rough.
She felt heavy, having washed dishes in restaurants and slept in a small room.
In that short time, Helena felt as if she had carried ten years of life on her shoulders.
And finally...
"Helena?"
A woman with a puffy face called out to her.
Her name was Leline.
It was the name of the Emperor's last concubine.
Helena had taken advantage of Count Flans's presence and entered this place. They said it was where Laxus was seeking out his humble existence.
"Yes, that's right."
"You used to work at the Imperial Palace, correct?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Hmm."
Leline nodded.
Something about her gaze seemed different.
"You're in terrible shape, having been chased from the Imperial Palace and running away."
Helena laughed awkwardly, fiddling with the hem of her skirt.
"Why are they chasing someone like you?"
"Ah... I served... Her Majesty the Empress."
"Empress? Canary?"
Helena lowered her head.
She'd never done so, but women of this ilk were usually tempted by the idea of serving the Imperial Palace, especially the Empress.
Leline seemed to be no exception.
Leline's eyes sparkled.
"Really? So you know how to serve the Empress?"
"Yes, that's right. I remember everything I learned at the Imperial Palace."
“Great! Actually, who knows what will happen in the future? There’s someone incredibly important here! I might even rise to a higher position later,”
Leline said, her face puffed out with dreams.
“It would be nice to keep you by my side just in case.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Helena bowed her head, her expression dark.
Leline’s vanity seemed like the perfect prey for Helena to exploit.
“Great. Then... do you know something about His Majesty the Emperor Laxus’s tastes?”
“I can help you. I know the bath salts, perfumes, and makeup the former Empress used.”
“Oh my! Did you know I’m from the same family as the Empress Canary?”
Leline remained interested.
“Great. Just tell me about the most important things.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Leline’s ears twitched. Her relationship with Laxus had recently reached a breaking point.
Leline needed a key to untie it.
And then Helena appeared.
It was only natural that Leline's heart thawed like spring frost.
"So that'll change His Majesty the Emperor's mind? Of course. Not that His Majesty the Emperor Laxus is here."
Helena muttered to herself.
"You're kidding."
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