Episode 120. Mother
Leline was still lost in sweet dreams.
This was because no one had told her that her dreams were vain.
Count Flans, on the contrary, encouraged her, saying that if she just worked hard, she could definitely become Empress someday.
“You have to have a child, Leline. You know, men inevitably become more interested when their own children are born. Do you understand what I mean?”
“Yes, Mother. But His Majesty hasn’t paid any attention to me lately. He just shuts himself in and drinks...”
Leline grumbled.
“I heard you brought in a maid who used to serve the Empress Canary. You can do it, Leline. He won’t even meet us...”
“...Is there any news or anything His Majesty would find interesting? Or, is there anything His Majesty would wish for...”
“Your father hasn’t said anything yet. He’s already struggling to keep the traitors in check. It would be great if His Majesty would step in at a time like this...”
“I’ll explain it to you.”
Leline puffed out her cheeks.
Countess Flans comforted Leline and sent her up to Laxus’s room.
Count Flans appeared behind Countess Flans.
His expression was hard, as if he had heard everything that had been said.
“That child must bear Emperor Laxus’s child.”
“Is it possible? There are rumors that Emperor Laxus is infertile.”
“Then we must make sure that she bears a child that can be believed to be Emperor Laxus’s child.”
“What do you plan to do, Emperor Laxus?”
Count Flans rubbed his tanned face with his palm.
From the beginning, Count Flans had planned to restore Laxus as Emperor.
That was the case until the temple acknowledged the divinity of Hiloshine and Lottera and supported Renisha.
Now that Renisha had made it to the temple, even those who had maintained ties with Count Flans were avoiding him.
No one wanted to meet him.
And with Laxus in such a state, what good would there be from running around on two legs?
Count Flans was also on the defensive.
In this situation, it was only natural that he would have other thoughts. If Leline could just give birth to Emperor Laxus's child...
Kassius blinked.
He had never imagined a moment like this.
He thought they had all died. In Kassius' place!
Leline was still lost in sweet dreams.
This was because no one had told her that her dreams were vain.
Count Flans, on the contrary, encouraged her, saying that if she just worked hard, she could definitely become Empress someday.
“You have to have a child, Leline. You know, men inevitably become more interested when their own children are born. Do you understand what I mean?”
“Yes, Mother. But His Majesty hasn’t paid any attention to me lately. He just shuts himself in and drinks...”
Leline grumbled.
“I heard you brought in a maid who used to serve the Empress Canary. You can do it, Leline. He won’t even meet us...”
“...Is there any news or anything His Majesty would find interesting? Or, is there anything His Majesty would wish for...”
“Your father hasn’t said anything yet. He’s already struggling to keep the traitors in check. It would be great if His Majesty would step in at a time like this...”
“I’ll explain it to you.”
Leline puffed out her cheeks.
Countess Flans comforted Leline and sent her up to Laxus’s room.
Count Flans appeared behind Countess Flans.
His expression was hard, as if he had heard everything that had been said.
“That child must bear Emperor Laxus’s child.”
“Is it possible? There are rumors that Emperor Laxus is infertile.”
“Then we must make sure that she bears a child that can be believed to be Emperor Laxus’s child.”
“What do you plan to do, Emperor Laxus?”
Count Flans rubbed his tanned face with his palm.
From the beginning, Count Flans had planned to restore Laxus as Emperor.
That was the case until the temple acknowledged the divinity of Hiloshine and Lottera and supported Renisha.
Now that Renisha had made it to the temple, even those who had maintained ties with Count Flans were avoiding him.
No one wanted to meet him.
And with Laxus in such a state, what good would there be from running around on two legs?
Count Flans was also on the defensive.
In this situation, it was only natural that he would have other thoughts. If Leline could just give birth to Emperor Laxus's child...
"Once she gives birth, there will be room to discuss Renisha's legitimacy."
"Then Emperor Laxus..."
Count Flans lowered his eyes.
"He should be killed."
The Countess's eyes wavered at Count Flans' assertion.
It seemed only now that she realized what they were up to.
Count Flans turned his head and stared out the window. He felt as if black shadows were waving.
Count Flans slowly opened his lips.
“We can’t keep investing in something that won’t work. Even now, Renisha is paying attention to us. She’s not ignorant and neglecting us,”
Countess Flans asked in a voice filled with fear.
“Then? If she’s not ignorant, then why on earth...”
“She's playing with us like a cat playing with a mouse.”
It was a monotonous line.
Laxus stared at Leline with unfocused eyes.
“Your Majesty. If you keep drinking like this, you’ll ruin your health.”
Leline said in a charming voice.
Today, she was determined to gently curry favor and somehow manage to spend the night together.
Leline sat down next to Laxus.
“You seem troubled, Your Majesty.”
“Huh.”
“Your Majesty?”
“You’re wasting time with pointless talk. If you’re not going to give me what I want, then get out.”
“You asked to be let into the palace, right?”
Laxus rolled his eyes and chased Leline.
Since Laxus arrived here, one demand remained constant.
Let him into the palace immediately.
And stand him before Renisha.
Let Laxus die by Renisha's hand!
However, Count Flans had defied these demands and locked him in this room.
Whether or not he knew this, Leline's smile was almost hateful.
Leline snatched the bottle from Laxus and whispered sweetly,
"I'll help you."
"How could you? Even the Count couldn't do this. And what could you, a mere Count's daughter, possibly do?"
Leline's face flushed with shame.
Even after hearing such a story, how could she still be acting coy?
Leline forced a smile.
“I brought Your Majesty here from the imperial palace. Why don’t we just go back? We should be able to reach the imperial palace by retracing our steps.”
This was quite an interesting story.
“There will be patrols.”
“We can bribe one of them.”
Leline said lightly.
“I will grant Your Majesty’s wish. So...”
Leline sat up and climbed onto Laxus’s lap. She stroked his cheek with a soft hand.
“Give me what I wish, Your Majesty.”
Leline took Laxus’ hand and placed it on her lower abdomen.
“Become Emperor once again. And you will pass the throne to the child I bear.”
Laxus chuckled.
This woman still didn’t know what her parents were thinking.
In this situation, there was only one reason to force the baby on Leline.
‘To kill me.’
Laxus chuckled.
When Laxus's baby was born, it would become the new heir.
Laxus would be of no use, and Count Flans would kill him, it was clear.
Leline was too foolish to consider even this.
Laxus had given her his body.
It was destined to end up in the dust anyway. Even if it were to be used until the very end, it didn't matter.
Even with Laxus on top of her, he thought of Renisha.
'What are you doing right now...?'
It was a night when he desperately wanted to see Renisha.
The carriage carrying Isabella entered the capital.
Isabella had grown considerably during the short journey.
For the first time, she was traveling alone, away from her parents.
There were servants, but this was the first trip where Isabella's will dictated everything.
The helpless little Isabella was gone.
Isabella poked her head out from beyond the carriage, gazing at the landscape of the capital.
She lived here for the longest time, yet this place felt more unfamiliar than the battlefield or Hiloshine.
'Is it because I've been gone so long?'
Kassius, having heard Isabella was coming, had come to the border of the capital to meet her.
The tall man, hooded and riding a black horse, was visible from afar.
"Kassius!!!"
Isabella's voice rose sharply.
Isabella galloped towards Kassius.
As if he had been waiting, Kassius lifted Isabella into his arms.
Isabella buried her face in Kassius's shoulder.
Only then did Isabella realize the fear she'd been harboring deep inside.
She'd thought that perhaps Renisha and Massius hadn't returned because they had gone so far away, to a place they could never return from. That they would never see each other again.
Isabella desperately wrapped her arms around Kassius's neck.
"Isabella. How have you been?"
Kassius asked in the softest of voices.
“...No. I wasn’t doing well at all. I didn’t eat and cried every day.”
Isabella sniffled.
“Oh.”
Kassius rubbed Isabella’s back.
He knew what Isabella had been through. He’d heard the child was unstable.
He didn’t know what that meant, but he felt unnecessarily concerned about the child.
“Liar. You’re so fine. And you promised to come back with my aunt.”
“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry, Isabella.”
"Then Emperor Laxus..."
Count Flans lowered his eyes.
"He should be killed."
The Countess's eyes wavered at Count Flans' assertion.
It seemed only now that she realized what they were up to.
Count Flans turned his head and stared out the window. He felt as if black shadows were waving.
Count Flans slowly opened his lips.
“We can’t keep investing in something that won’t work. Even now, Renisha is paying attention to us. She’s not ignorant and neglecting us,”
Countess Flans asked in a voice filled with fear.
“Then? If she’s not ignorant, then why on earth...”
“She's playing with us like a cat playing with a mouse.”
It was a monotonous line.
***
Laxus stared at Leline with unfocused eyes.
“Your Majesty. If you keep drinking like this, you’ll ruin your health.”
Leline said in a charming voice.
Today, she was determined to gently curry favor and somehow manage to spend the night together.
Leline sat down next to Laxus.
“You seem troubled, Your Majesty.”
“Huh.”
“Your Majesty?”
“You’re wasting time with pointless talk. If you’re not going to give me what I want, then get out.”
“You asked to be let into the palace, right?”
Laxus rolled his eyes and chased Leline.
Since Laxus arrived here, one demand remained constant.
Let him into the palace immediately.
And stand him before Renisha.
Let Laxus die by Renisha's hand!
However, Count Flans had defied these demands and locked him in this room.
Whether or not he knew this, Leline's smile was almost hateful.
Leline snatched the bottle from Laxus and whispered sweetly,
"I'll help you."
"How could you? Even the Count couldn't do this. And what could you, a mere Count's daughter, possibly do?"
Leline's face flushed with shame.
Even after hearing such a story, how could she still be acting coy?
Leline forced a smile.
“I brought Your Majesty here from the imperial palace. Why don’t we just go back? We should be able to reach the imperial palace by retracing our steps.”
This was quite an interesting story.
“There will be patrols.”
“We can bribe one of them.”
Leline said lightly.
“I will grant Your Majesty’s wish. So...”
Leline sat up and climbed onto Laxus’s lap. She stroked his cheek with a soft hand.
“Give me what I wish, Your Majesty.”
Leline took Laxus’ hand and placed it on her lower abdomen.
“Become Emperor once again. And you will pass the throne to the child I bear.”
Laxus chuckled.
This woman still didn’t know what her parents were thinking.
In this situation, there was only one reason to force the baby on Leline.
‘To kill me.’
Laxus chuckled.
When Laxus's baby was born, it would become the new heir.
Laxus would be of no use, and Count Flans would kill him, it was clear.
Leline was too foolish to consider even this.
Laxus had given her his body.
It was destined to end up in the dust anyway. Even if it were to be used until the very end, it didn't matter.
With just this small hope Leline has given, Laxus will be able to survive for a few more days.
'What are you doing right now...?'
It was a night when he desperately wanted to see Renisha.
***
The carriage carrying Isabella entered the capital.
Isabella had grown considerably during the short journey.
For the first time, she was traveling alone, away from her parents.
There were servants, but this was the first trip where Isabella's will dictated everything.
The helpless little Isabella was gone.
Isabella poked her head out from beyond the carriage, gazing at the landscape of the capital.
She lived here for the longest time, yet this place felt more unfamiliar than the battlefield or Hiloshine.
'Is it because I've been gone so long?'
Kassius, having heard Isabella was coming, had come to the border of the capital to meet her.
The tall man, hooded and riding a black horse, was visible from afar.
"Kassius!!!"
Isabella's voice rose sharply.
Isabella galloped towards Kassius.
As if he had been waiting, Kassius lifted Isabella into his arms.
Isabella buried her face in Kassius's shoulder.
Only then did Isabella realize the fear she'd been harboring deep inside.
She'd thought that perhaps Renisha and Massius hadn't returned because they had gone so far away, to a place they could never return from. That they would never see each other again.
Isabella desperately wrapped her arms around Kassius's neck.
"Isabella. How have you been?"
Kassius asked in the softest of voices.
“...No. I wasn’t doing well at all. I didn’t eat and cried every day.”
Isabella sniffled.
“Oh.”
Kassius rubbed Isabella’s back.
He knew what Isabella had been through. He’d heard the child was unstable.
He didn’t know what that meant, but he felt unnecessarily concerned about the child.
“Liar. You’re so fine. And you promised to come back with my aunt.”
“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry, Isabella.”
“I... I... I was afraid Kassius wouldn’t come back... I was afraid Renisha might have gone far away...”
“That can’t be true.”
Kassius’s soft whisper didn’t stop Isabella’s tears.
Fortunately, they had parked the carriage in a secluded area.
Isabella’s nanny and Jane were all there, looking at them with pitiful faces.
Isabella stubbornly shook her head.
“If you were to become a star and go far away, you should have told me in advance.”
“...”
"Il had so much to say, but I was so upset I couldn't say a single thing."
"Isabella..."
"Thank you for saving me, Kassius. Thank you for taking me to my aunt and for introducing me to my mom and dad. And... and..."
Isabella stuttered and continued,
“Thank you for making Aunt Renisha happy.”
“Me?”
“Renisha smiles a lot when she’s with Kassius. She looks happy. Renisha... didn’t look happy, but she’s different when she’s with Kassius.”
Kassius chuckled softly at the child’s honest words.
“I’m glad you see it that way too.”
“Huh?”
“I’m the kind of person who really wants to make your aunt happy.”
“Wow. Kassius is such a good person. Like a puppy.”
Kassius’s eyes widened.
He wondered where that Therion bastard had been talking and why Isabella was even saying such things.
Isabella buried her head in Cassius’s arms.
Thanks to Isabella’s giggles, he couldn’t even get angry.
Kassius hugged Isabella and gestured behind him.
He had already heard that the Yi tribes would be coming today.
They were no longer heretics.
There would be a proclamation from the temple, and the Yi tribes would be appointed to important positions as meritorious subjects.
Kassius's heart swelled at the sight of the Yi tribes.
Kassius had done what he had to do as Hisham.
He was finally confronting the duty he had been forced to ignore.
'Father.'
Kassius bit his lip.
'And mother.'
He repeated the names of those who had protected him and died.
The procession of the Yi tribes drew closer. The distance between them and Kassius was as great as their awkwardness.
Kassius took one step after another toward them.
A woman with a veil drawn over her face appeared among the Yi tribes.
The Yi tribes hesitated, making way for her.
The woman, supported by someone, stepped forward and slowly removed her veil.
His eyes, clouded with mist, caught his eye first.
Then the deep scar on his face, and then...
“That can’t be true.”
Kassius’s soft whisper didn’t stop Isabella’s tears.
Fortunately, they had parked the carriage in a secluded area.
Isabella’s nanny and Jane were all there, looking at them with pitiful faces.
Isabella stubbornly shook her head.
“If you were to become a star and go far away, you should have told me in advance.”
“...”
"Il had so much to say, but I was so upset I couldn't say a single thing."
"Isabella..."
"Thank you for saving me, Kassius. Thank you for taking me to my aunt and for introducing me to my mom and dad. And... and..."
Isabella stuttered and continued,
“Thank you for making Aunt Renisha happy.”
“Me?”
“Renisha smiles a lot when she’s with Kassius. She looks happy. Renisha... didn’t look happy, but she’s different when she’s with Kassius.”
Kassius chuckled softly at the child’s honest words.
“I’m glad you see it that way too.”
“Huh?”
“I’m the kind of person who really wants to make your aunt happy.”
“Wow. Kassius is such a good person. Like a puppy.”
Kassius’s eyes widened.
He wondered where that Therion bastard had been talking and why Isabella was even saying such things.
Isabella buried her head in Cassius’s arms.
Thanks to Isabella’s giggles, he couldn’t even get angry.
Kassius hugged Isabella and gestured behind him.
He had already heard that the Yi tribes would be coming today.
They were no longer heretics.
There would be a proclamation from the temple, and the Yi tribes would be appointed to important positions as meritorious subjects.
Kassius's heart swelled at the sight of the Yi tribes.
Kassius had done what he had to do as Hisham.
He was finally confronting the duty he had been forced to ignore.
'Father.'
Kassius bit his lip.
'And mother.'
He repeated the names of those who had protected him and died.
The procession of the Yi tribes drew closer. The distance between them and Kassius was as great as their awkwardness.
Kassius took one step after another toward them.
A woman with a veil drawn over her face appeared among the Yi tribes.
The Yi tribes hesitated, making way for her.
The woman, supported by someone, stepped forward and slowly removed her veil.
His eyes, clouded with mist, caught his eye first.
Then the deep scar on his face, and then...
Kassius blinked.
He had never imagined a moment like this.
He thought they had all died. In Kassius' place!
It was a burden that weighed on his heart like a boulder, a burden he could never put down.
That's why he sympathized with Renisha and could empathize with her grief.
Because he shared her pain!
Because he couldn't forget the family members who died to save him.
But...
"Mother..."
His shackles magically appeared before his eyes.
That's why he sympathized with Renisha and could empathize with her grief.
Because he shared her pain!
Because he couldn't forget the family members who died to save him.
But...
"Mother..."
His shackles magically appeared before his eyes.
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