Episode 122. Yenica's View of the Past
Yenica and her companions were given a room to recover from the aftereffects of meeting Yenica.
Renisha and Kassius were still reeling from the afterglow of meeting Yenica.
If it weren't for Isabella's intimidation, Renisha might have been mulling over Yenica's words the whole time.
Those words, so pointedly pointing out Renisha's confusion and anguish...
"Aunt! Aren't you happy to see Isabella?"
Renisha shook her head, regaining her senses.
Renisha and Kassius, who had been leaning against the sofa, straightened up. Their large gray eyes sparkled with sadness.
Isabella was particularly sensitive to others' opinions.
Renisha had likely played a part in Isabella's situation.
Yenica and her companions were given a room to recover from the aftereffects of meeting Yenica.
Renisha and Kassius were still reeling from the afterglow of meeting Yenica.
If it weren't for Isabella's intimidation, Renisha might have been mulling over Yenica's words the whole time.
Those words, so pointedly pointing out Renisha's confusion and anguish...
"Aunt! Aren't you happy to see Isabella?"
Renisha shook her head, regaining her senses.
Renisha and Kassius, who had been leaning against the sofa, straightened up. Their large gray eyes sparkled with sadness.
Isabella was particularly sensitive to others' opinions.
Renisha had likely played a part in Isabella's situation.
Lindy shook her head behind Isabella.
"It seems you're anxious about your new surroundings."
It made sense.
Isabella had briefly lost her parents in the archipelago.
This place couldn't have been all good memories for Isabella.
Renisha opened her arms to her.
"How could that be, Isabella? Come here."
Isabella hesitated, then hugged Renisha tightly.
"...People call you Your Majesty. The Emperor Isabella knows is a bad person... Has your aunt become a bad person, too?"
Isabella asked in a confused voice.
Renisha, Kassius, and Lindy also noticed the child's confusion.
Isabella seemed strangely mature, yet strangely childlike.
It seemed to reflect Isabella's own unstable childhood.
Renisha rubbed Isabella's back with pity. Renisha knew how cruel Laxus had been to the child.
The scars across the child's body and the changed color of her eyes were proof of this.
Although she had grown considerably, her hair was still significantly shorter than that of the noble ladies who grew it long, and this was also part of Renisha's guilt.
"It seems you're anxious about your new surroundings."
It made sense.
Isabella had briefly lost her parents in the archipelago.
This place couldn't have been all good memories for Isabella.
Renisha opened her arms to her.
"How could that be, Isabella? Come here."
Isabella hesitated, then hugged Renisha tightly.
"...People call you Your Majesty. The Emperor Isabella knows is a bad person... Has your aunt become a bad person, too?"
Isabella asked in a confused voice.
Renisha, Kassius, and Lindy also noticed the child's confusion.
Isabella seemed strangely mature, yet strangely childlike.
It seemed to reflect Isabella's own unstable childhood.
Renisha rubbed Isabella's back with pity. Renisha knew how cruel Laxus had been to the child.
The scars across the child's body and the changed color of her eyes were proof of this.
Although she had grown considerably, her hair was still significantly shorter than that of the noble ladies who grew it long, and this was also part of Renisha's guilt.
Isabella didn't need to go through such a harsh ordeal. The cruelty of Laxus, who had to even raise a knife to a child like her, was enough to make her swear.
Renisha held Isabella close like a precious honey pot and whispered in her ear,
"How could that be? I'm sorry. I haven't even given you a proper explanation."
Isabella grabbed Renisha's skirt.
She knew she was acting childish, but it was okay because Renisha was holding her like this.
Isabella decided to whine a little more.
"I will never become a bad Emperor. I will never be like Emperor Laxus. I promise you, Isabella. If I become a bad Emperor, can't you just come and scold me?"
"Me?"
"Of course."
"The Emperor's orders must not be disobeyed, Aunt. Can I not call you 'Aunt' anymore?"
"You can."
Isabella's expression brightened slightly at Renisha's words.
"The Emperor is a very high-ranking person... If you disobey an order without permission, you could die..."
"Shh. Isabella, nothing dangerous will ever happen to you again. I promise. Have you ever seen your aunt break a promise?"
"...You said you'd be back soon..."
Ah. Renisha touched her forehead.
She had forgotten that no promise should be made lightly to a child.
Now she realizes that those words, which she had said so casually, might have hurt Isabella.
Renisha was still a person with many shortcomings.
"I'm sorry, Isabella. I'm truly sorry. I had a lot to do."
"Enough to forget Isabella?"
Renisha, speechless, kissed Isabella's forehead.
"Forget the bad memories, Isabella. I promise that nothing like that will happen again."
Isabella paused for a moment before saying,
"No matter what happens?"
“No matter what happens, Isabella, I have a duty to create a better country for you and your friends.”
“...That’s difficult.”
“It’s not easy... I’m just saying that I won’t become a bad Emperor in Isabella’s eyes.”
“Promise.”
Renisha bet her own on Isabella’s extended pinky.
Isabella, who had been in Renisha’s arms for a long time, returned exhausted.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Renisha, who had accepted everything Isabella had to say, slumped down in exhaustion.
Kassius offered Renisha a glass.
“...Kassius, you’ve worked hard too.”
Isabella's barrage of questions wasn't limited to Renisha.
The child seemed to have many questions for Kassius as well.
How could Yenica be Kassius's mother? She heard they were Yi people, but was Kassius one of them? What exactly were the Yi people? Did Kassius miss Yenica?
Isabella's lips, which had been tightly shut, flowed freely like a river melting in spring.
"It's good to see Isabella's cheerful self again. Didn't you say there were concerns in Hiloshine?"
"Yes. I heard she wasn't eating well and wasn't speaking. I can't tell from her current appearance, though."
"...If I could be a place where the child could rest."
"It wouldn't be ideal."
Kassius kissed Renisha's hair.
"You must have been quite surprised today. I'm sorry, Renisha. For putting you in that situation."
"You didn't expect that, did you, Kassius. How was it? Were you nervous? Or happy?"
Renisha's eyes sparkled.
Clinging to Kassius, Renisha, questioning him, resembled Isabella in a way.
Kassius chuckled.
"I was taken aback. I hadn't expected this encounter either. I might have seemed a bit harsh. Don't you usually shed tears in situations like this? I was so indifferent. I might have even laughed instead of crying."
Renisha held Isabella close like a precious honey pot and whispered in her ear,
"How could that be? I'm sorry. I haven't even given you a proper explanation."
Isabella grabbed Renisha's skirt.
She knew she was acting childish, but it was okay because Renisha was holding her like this.
Isabella decided to whine a little more.
"I will never become a bad Emperor. I will never be like Emperor Laxus. I promise you, Isabella. If I become a bad Emperor, can't you just come and scold me?"
"Me?"
"Of course."
"The Emperor's orders must not be disobeyed, Aunt. Can I not call you 'Aunt' anymore?"
"You can."
Isabella's expression brightened slightly at Renisha's words.
"The Emperor is a very high-ranking person... If you disobey an order without permission, you could die..."
"Shh. Isabella, nothing dangerous will ever happen to you again. I promise. Have you ever seen your aunt break a promise?"
"...You said you'd be back soon..."
Ah. Renisha touched her forehead.
She had forgotten that no promise should be made lightly to a child.
Now she realizes that those words, which she had said so casually, might have hurt Isabella.
Renisha was still a person with many shortcomings.
"I'm sorry, Isabella. I'm truly sorry. I had a lot to do."
"Enough to forget Isabella?"
Renisha, speechless, kissed Isabella's forehead.
"Forget the bad memories, Isabella. I promise that nothing like that will happen again."
Isabella paused for a moment before saying,
"No matter what happens?"
“No matter what happens, Isabella, I have a duty to create a better country for you and your friends.”
“...That’s difficult.”
“It’s not easy... I’m just saying that I won’t become a bad Emperor in Isabella’s eyes.”
“Promise.”
Renisha bet her own on Isabella’s extended pinky.
Isabella, who had been in Renisha’s arms for a long time, returned exhausted.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Renisha, who had accepted everything Isabella had to say, slumped down in exhaustion.
Kassius offered Renisha a glass.
“...Kassius, you’ve worked hard too.”
Isabella's barrage of questions wasn't limited to Renisha.
The child seemed to have many questions for Kassius as well.
How could Yenica be Kassius's mother? She heard they were Yi people, but was Kassius one of them? What exactly were the Yi people? Did Kassius miss Yenica?
Isabella's lips, which had been tightly shut, flowed freely like a river melting in spring.
"It's good to see Isabella's cheerful self again. Didn't you say there were concerns in Hiloshine?"
"Yes. I heard she wasn't eating well and wasn't speaking. I can't tell from her current appearance, though."
"...If I could be a place where the child could rest."
"It wouldn't be ideal."
Kassius kissed Renisha's hair.
"You must have been quite surprised today. I'm sorry, Renisha. For putting you in that situation."
"You didn't expect that, did you, Kassius. How was it? Were you nervous? Or happy?"
Renisha's eyes sparkled.
Clinging to Kassius, Renisha, questioning him, resembled Isabella in a way.
Kassius chuckled.
"I was taken aback. I hadn't expected this encounter either. I might have seemed a bit harsh. Don't you usually shed tears in situations like this? I was so indifferent. I might have even laughed instead of crying."
"Kassius..."
"Actually, I don't remember well. What I felt at the time, what my thoughts were. But one thing was certain."
"What?"
"...I think I was happy. She was someone I had truly missed. If I could see my mother, I wanted to make the promise I couldn't make then."
"What was it?"
"I would never die, I would come back alive. That's what I wanted to promise. In the end, I was a pathetic son who could only hold onto my mother's skirt and cry."
"...You were young back then."
Kassius shook his head.
"She must have worried for a long time. Because I wasn't a proper son."
"...Did you have a thorough conversation with your mother?"
“I couldn’t do that.”
In addition to arriving home late, Yenica seemed exhausted and went to bed early.
By the time Renisha and Kassius were freed from Isabella’s chattering, the lights had already gone out in Yenica’s room.
Kassius hadn’t asked or heard anything from Yenica since their reunion.
“Don’t think you’ll have much time left. The world isn’t fair. It’ll strike you in the back of the head at any moment.”
“...I understand.”
“You should visit your mother tomorrow.”
Kassius nodded heavily.
Renisha stretched her tired body.
The tension that had suddenly come over her had long since subsided, but she felt physically and mentally exhausted.
Of course, she had been pushing herself too hard.
Renisha had been giving her all to bring this empire back to a safe orbit.
No one thought of Renisha as Laxus.
Just as Renisha had hoped.
She had given her all to that.
Kassius pressed hard on Renisha's calf.
The tightly knotted muscles slowly relaxed.
"Ugh..."
Renisha groaned and twisted her body.
Her clothes became disheveled as a result.
Kassius, blushing, tried to turn his head but instead stared at Renisha.
His golden eyes seemed to boil like lava.
Renisha licked her lips as she watched Kassius massage her muscles, occasionally fumbling with his hands.
Kassius was still straight and upright.
He wouldn't have said anything if he had stopped massaging her legs and pulled up her stockings, pretending not to notice.
Sweat began to seep from Kassius's palms.
Renisha moved her unattached foot.
"Renisha!"
Kassius called out in surprise.
Renisha smiled softly, like flower petals fluttering.
It was still the same as when they first met.
Kassius blinked.
"Kassius. I think I need a bath. I think I'll feel better if I soak in hot water with plenty of essential oils."
"...Understood."
Kassius put Renisha's feet down and was about to stand when Renisha pinned his thighs with her legs, preventing him from getting up.
"Renisha?"
"And Kassius? Aren't you tired?"
Kassius narrowed his eyes to gauge Renisha's intentions.
What could this siren-like woman possibly want from Kassius...?
Renisha moved her feet again.
"Ugh! Renisha, please..."
"Kassius needs to wash, too. I wonder if it's necessary to tire others out."
Renisha reached out to Kassius.
"The bathtub is spacious, Kassius."
Kassius finally understood what she meant and closed his eyes tightly.
Renisha's sense of humor remained intact. Renisha burst out laughing.
"My virile lady. Shall I rise?"
Kassius obeyed meekly.
This was an order he absolutely could not refuse.
Yenika greeted Kassius with a neat face.
Her face seemed completely free of the emotions she had shed yesterday.
Kassius fiddled with his clothes for no reason.
It seemed like Kassius was the only one nervous.
“...Do you remember what I said before?”
“You said you couldn’t see my future.”
“Yes. I’ve never seen anything like that before, but I couldn’t see even a small part of your future. I began to see your future when the destruction of the tribes was just around the corner. I saw you burning red. That’s why I warned you. You must never covet the power of the gods.”
Yenica continued softly.
“I thought that power would consume you. Even now, you...”
Yenica held out her hand to Kassius. Kassius hesitated, then took it.
“You are burning in flames. This is the just price to pay for devouring the forbidden power of the gods.”
“...I was prepared for this.”
“You must constantly train your body. The moment you are weakened, this power...”
Slurp.
Red scales sprouted across Kassius’s skin, then subsided.
As if noticing this, Yenica stroked his skin.
It was where the red scales had once sprouted.
"It will devour you, Kassius. You will vanish without a trace."
It was just as the red serpent had warned Kassius.
[Foolish human. Do not delude yourself into thinking that a human vessel can contain the full power of a god. My power will one day lead you to destruction.]
"Actually, I don't remember well. What I felt at the time, what my thoughts were. But one thing was certain."
"What?"
"...I think I was happy. She was someone I had truly missed. If I could see my mother, I wanted to make the promise I couldn't make then."
"What was it?"
"I would never die, I would come back alive. That's what I wanted to promise. In the end, I was a pathetic son who could only hold onto my mother's skirt and cry."
"...You were young back then."
Kassius shook his head.
"She must have worried for a long time. Because I wasn't a proper son."
"...Did you have a thorough conversation with your mother?"
“I couldn’t do that.”
In addition to arriving home late, Yenica seemed exhausted and went to bed early.
By the time Renisha and Kassius were freed from Isabella’s chattering, the lights had already gone out in Yenica’s room.
Kassius hadn’t asked or heard anything from Yenica since their reunion.
“Don’t think you’ll have much time left. The world isn’t fair. It’ll strike you in the back of the head at any moment.”
“...I understand.”
“You should visit your mother tomorrow.”
Kassius nodded heavily.
Renisha stretched her tired body.
The tension that had suddenly come over her had long since subsided, but she felt physically and mentally exhausted.
Of course, she had been pushing herself too hard.
Renisha had been giving her all to bring this empire back to a safe orbit.
No one thought of Renisha as Laxus.
Just as Renisha had hoped.
She had given her all to that.
Kassius pressed hard on Renisha's calf.
The tightly knotted muscles slowly relaxed.
"Ugh..."
Renisha groaned and twisted her body.
Her clothes became disheveled as a result.
Kassius, blushing, tried to turn his head but instead stared at Renisha.
His golden eyes seemed to boil like lava.
Renisha licked her lips as she watched Kassius massage her muscles, occasionally fumbling with his hands.
Kassius was still straight and upright.
He wouldn't have said anything if he had stopped massaging her legs and pulled up her stockings, pretending not to notice.
Sweat began to seep from Kassius's palms.
Renisha moved her unattached foot.
"Renisha!"
Kassius called out in surprise.
Renisha smiled softly, like flower petals fluttering.
It was still the same as when they first met.
Kassius blinked.
"Kassius. I think I need a bath. I think I'll feel better if I soak in hot water with plenty of essential oils."
"...Understood."
Kassius put Renisha's feet down and was about to stand when Renisha pinned his thighs with her legs, preventing him from getting up.
"Renisha?"
"And Kassius? Aren't you tired?"
Kassius narrowed his eyes to gauge Renisha's intentions.
What could this siren-like woman possibly want from Kassius...?
Renisha moved her feet again.
"Ugh! Renisha, please..."
"Kassius needs to wash, too. I wonder if it's necessary to tire others out."
Renisha reached out to Kassius.
"The bathtub is spacious, Kassius."
Kassius finally understood what she meant and closed his eyes tightly.
Renisha's sense of humor remained intact. Renisha burst out laughing.
"My virile lady. Shall I rise?"
Kassius obeyed meekly.
This was an order he absolutely could not refuse.
***
Yenika greeted Kassius with a neat face.
Her face seemed completely free of the emotions she had shed yesterday.
Kassius fiddled with his clothes for no reason.
It seemed like Kassius was the only one nervous.
“...Do you remember what I said before?”
“You said you couldn’t see my future.”
“Yes. I’ve never seen anything like that before, but I couldn’t see even a small part of your future. I began to see your future when the destruction of the tribes was just around the corner. I saw you burning red. That’s why I warned you. You must never covet the power of the gods.”
Yenica continued softly.
“I thought that power would consume you. Even now, you...”
Yenica held out her hand to Kassius. Kassius hesitated, then took it.
“You are burning in flames. This is the just price to pay for devouring the forbidden power of the gods.”
“...I was prepared for this.”
“You must constantly train your body. The moment you are weakened, this power...”
Slurp.
Red scales sprouted across Kassius’s skin, then subsided.
As if noticing this, Yenica stroked his skin.
It was where the red scales had once sprouted.
"It will devour you, Kassius. You will vanish without a trace."
It was just as the red serpent had warned Kassius.
[Foolish human. Do not delude yourself into thinking that a human vessel can contain the full power of a god. My power will one day lead you to destruction.]
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