Episode 82. Canary's New Decision
In a pure white uniform, with a red insignia, and amidst fluttering silver hair, the purple eyes that symbolized Laxus shone.
Standing on the red platform, Laxus shone with a noble yet vulgar glow.
Renisha slowly knelt before him.
It was a decision made to lose no one.
'I have no regrets.'
Kneeling before Laxus to achieve her desire wasn't the least bit humiliating.
In fact, if this one act could save Heylin, it would be a bargain.
Renisha put a price on her knees.
Infinitely cheaper than the price of her life.
"Your Majesty."
"Welcome, Renisha."
Laxus smiled.
"I knew it. That you would return to me."
Her tone was affectionate, as if she were addressing a former lover.
Laxus stepped down from the platform and knelt before Renisha.
Lifting her chin, Laxus continued,
“It was meant to be this way, Renisha. We’re a community of shared destiny. We’re in the same boat. No matter how much you try to abandon me, fate will always bind us like this.”
Laxus tilted his head.
He approached Renisha and gently brushed his lips against hers.
Renisha clenched her fist.
A chill ran down her spine.
The spring flowers froze, and cold contempt filled Renisha’s eyes.
Before those icy gazes, Laxus froze.
Renisha, who had bloomed like a flower before Kassius...
“What’s different about me?”
Laxus, suddenly transformed, growled.
“What makes that slave any better than me, Renisha? He’s just a slave. He’s not even close to your toes. That guy...”
Renisha stepped back from Laxus.
“It was Your Majesty the Emperor who brought me down, and I am no different. In an instant, the Lottera family became a traitorous family, and Renisha Lottera became a filthy prodigal and was banished. So, wouldn’t a slave be more fitting for me?”
“Renisha!”
Laxus blanched at the venomous words.
He stood up abruptly and paced before him.
“Renisha, you are the Empress. The Empress, I acknowledge, is the only woman the continent respects. How can you be compared to a slave! Are you trying to mock me?”
“No way, Your Majesty. How could I dare mock Your Majesty?”
Laxus’s actions were utterly ridiculous. She could see him growing madder.
He had swallowed something he couldn’t handle, and it was inevitable that he would suffer.
Renisha spoke softly.
“Everything is as Your Majesty the Emperor arranged it. I have become lowly, and Your Majesty remains aloof. Therefore, I beg you this.”
Renisha lowered her head.
Her eyes, fixed on the floor, gleamed with murderous intent.
With Laxus before her, the emotions that had been buried surged to the surface, brimming with vivid vitality.
Stab Laxus's heart.
No one will interfere, will they?
Cut his throat.
Isn't this the moment?
Renisha's malice whispered.
Acting impulsively would only give the beasts that were after her a pretext.
Forces that supported Laxus's legitimacy still remained.
Even the imperial army followed the imperial seal, not the cause.
Many had defected and joined Renisha's side, but many forces still remained. These were the forces built by the Hientri imperial family, not Laxus.
Therefore, Renisha must succeed in complete usurpation.
By defeating Laxus's supporters.
Only after she had them under her feet could she become the Emperor.
Renisha wanted to show everyone that she was different from Laxus.
To everyone!
"Give me back Haylin. Lottera has been restored to its former glory, and it's already freed from the shackles of sin. Isn't that also thanks to Your Majesty the Emperor?"
Laxus stopped.
"Haylin Lottera?"
"I know you're taking her. I'll do as you wish. If you tell me to stay in the Imperial Palace, I'll stay. If you tell me to leave, I'll leave."
Renisha spoke as if obeying, impatient for everything she had.
Renisha almost laughed at her own contradiction.
It was all a deception.
“...I will give you the palace, Renisha. You will come with me. If I die, you die, and if I live, you live.”
Laxus gestured to his aide.
His anger glowed blue.
He was filled with the inferiority complex of someone who could not possess Renisha at all costs.
“Write it down as I say. If I die, Renisha will be buried with me. Do you understand?”
“...Yes, Your Majesty.”
Renisha laughed bitterly.
You filthy bastard.
The chamberlain personally guided Renisha.
“Lady Renisha. This is the place.”
The chamberlain glanced at Renisha.
“If you have anything to say, say it.”
“...I heard that Chamberlain Henry is coming to the capital.”
“So?”
“Then what happens to me? If Your Majesty the Emperor brings Chamberlain Henry back, I will...”
"Don't worry. Henry has been condemned to never return to the palace for his misstep. The Emperor will be concerned about Henry's treatment, not yours."
Renisha brushed past the chamberlain and entered the palace.
Was he crazy?
What Laxus had given Renisha was the Empress's palace.
The place Canary had coveted so much.
The place that had been Canary's for a while.
"Did Canary just give this up?"
The chamberlain laughed awkwardly.
Renisha, reading so much from that smile, stuck out her tongue.
Laxus' madness was truly unbearable.
In the bedroom, Haylin was waiting for Renisha.
Her face was covered in bruises. Renisha sighed.
"Renisha."
"...Haylin."
Renisha's eyes slanted.
The emotions she had been suppressing welled up to the tip of her tongue.
Renisha thought she was good at holding back.
Haven't she been patient with Laxus all this time?
But even that patience seems to be running out.
Laxus keeps hurting Renisha's people.
If only she could root out that evil, everything would be resolved, but it felt elusive.
Renisha bit her lips.
"Don't make that face, Renisha. I'm fine."
"How on earth..."
"A wound of honor. This time, I saved Isabella."
Haylin touched her face.
If Haylin hadn't volunteered, Isabella would have suffered this in her place.
"The information leaked, Haylin. There was a traitor,"
In a pure white uniform, with a red insignia, and amidst fluttering silver hair, the purple eyes that symbolized Laxus shone.
Standing on the red platform, Laxus shone with a noble yet vulgar glow.
Renisha slowly knelt before him.
It was a decision made to lose no one.
'I have no regrets.'
Kneeling before Laxus to achieve her desire wasn't the least bit humiliating.
In fact, if this one act could save Heylin, it would be a bargain.
Renisha put a price on her knees.
Infinitely cheaper than the price of her life.
"Your Majesty."
"Welcome, Renisha."
Laxus smiled.
"I knew it. That you would return to me."
Her tone was affectionate, as if she were addressing a former lover.
Laxus stepped down from the platform and knelt before Renisha.
Lifting her chin, Laxus continued,
“It was meant to be this way, Renisha. We’re a community of shared destiny. We’re in the same boat. No matter how much you try to abandon me, fate will always bind us like this.”
Laxus tilted his head.
He approached Renisha and gently brushed his lips against hers.
Renisha clenched her fist.
A chill ran down her spine.
The spring flowers froze, and cold contempt filled Renisha’s eyes.
Before those icy gazes, Laxus froze.
Renisha, who had bloomed like a flower before Kassius...
“What’s different about me?”
Laxus, suddenly transformed, growled.
“What makes that slave any better than me, Renisha? He’s just a slave. He’s not even close to your toes. That guy...”
Renisha stepped back from Laxus.
“It was Your Majesty the Emperor who brought me down, and I am no different. In an instant, the Lottera family became a traitorous family, and Renisha Lottera became a filthy prodigal and was banished. So, wouldn’t a slave be more fitting for me?”
“Renisha!”
Laxus blanched at the venomous words.
He stood up abruptly and paced before him.
“Renisha, you are the Empress. The Empress, I acknowledge, is the only woman the continent respects. How can you be compared to a slave! Are you trying to mock me?”
“No way, Your Majesty. How could I dare mock Your Majesty?”
Laxus’s actions were utterly ridiculous. She could see him growing madder.
He had swallowed something he couldn’t handle, and it was inevitable that he would suffer.
Renisha spoke softly.
“Everything is as Your Majesty the Emperor arranged it. I have become lowly, and Your Majesty remains aloof. Therefore, I beg you this.”
Renisha lowered her head.
Her eyes, fixed on the floor, gleamed with murderous intent.
With Laxus before her, the emotions that had been buried surged to the surface, brimming with vivid vitality.
Stab Laxus's heart.
No one will interfere, will they?
Cut his throat.
Isn't this the moment?
Renisha's malice whispered.
Acting impulsively would only give the beasts that were after her a pretext.
Forces that supported Laxus's legitimacy still remained.
Even the imperial army followed the imperial seal, not the cause.
Many had defected and joined Renisha's side, but many forces still remained. These were the forces built by the Hientri imperial family, not Laxus.
Therefore, Renisha must succeed in complete usurpation.
By defeating Laxus's supporters.
Only after she had them under her feet could she become the Emperor.
Renisha wanted to show everyone that she was different from Laxus.
To everyone!
"Give me back Haylin. Lottera has been restored to its former glory, and it's already freed from the shackles of sin. Isn't that also thanks to Your Majesty the Emperor?"
Laxus stopped.
"Haylin Lottera?"
"I know you're taking her. I'll do as you wish. If you tell me to stay in the Imperial Palace, I'll stay. If you tell me to leave, I'll leave."
Renisha spoke as if obeying, impatient for everything she had.
Renisha almost laughed at her own contradiction.
It was all a deception.
“...I will give you the palace, Renisha. You will come with me. If I die, you die, and if I live, you live.”
Laxus gestured to his aide.
His anger glowed blue.
He was filled with the inferiority complex of someone who could not possess Renisha at all costs.
“Write it down as I say. If I die, Renisha will be buried with me. Do you understand?”
“...Yes, Your Majesty.”
Renisha laughed bitterly.
You filthy bastard.
***
The chamberlain personally guided Renisha.
“Lady Renisha. This is the place.”
The chamberlain glanced at Renisha.
“If you have anything to say, say it.”
“...I heard that Chamberlain Henry is coming to the capital.”
“So?”
“Then what happens to me? If Your Majesty the Emperor brings Chamberlain Henry back, I will...”
"Don't worry. Henry has been condemned to never return to the palace for his misstep. The Emperor will be concerned about Henry's treatment, not yours."
Renisha brushed past the chamberlain and entered the palace.
Was he crazy?
What Laxus had given Renisha was the Empress's palace.
The place Canary had coveted so much.
The place that had been Canary's for a while.
"Did Canary just give this up?"
The chamberlain laughed awkwardly.
Renisha, reading so much from that smile, stuck out her tongue.
Laxus' madness was truly unbearable.
In the bedroom, Haylin was waiting for Renisha.
Her face was covered in bruises. Renisha sighed.
"Renisha."
"...Haylin."
Renisha's eyes slanted.
The emotions she had been suppressing welled up to the tip of her tongue.
Renisha thought she was good at holding back.
Haven't she been patient with Laxus all this time?
But even that patience seems to be running out.
Laxus keeps hurting Renisha's people.
If only she could root out that evil, everything would be resolved, but it felt elusive.
Renisha bit her lips.
"Don't make that face, Renisha. I'm fine."
"How on earth..."
"A wound of honor. This time, I saved Isabella."
Haylin touched her face.
If Haylin hadn't volunteered, Isabella would have suffered this in her place.
"The information leaked, Haylin. There was a traitor,"
Renisha continued, her voice seething.
"The Emperor wasn't entirely foolish. He planted a spy next to Count Calliot, and Gale took his place... Count Calliot died, and Gale sold Isabella."
"..."
Haylin nodded.
“I knew it wouldn’t be easy. So, it’s okay, Renisha. I’m satisfied that I saved Isabella.”
“...Laxus won’t stop here.”
The Emperor would do anything to enslave Renisha.
Was it just Haylin?
It was obvious he would try to grab Isabella and Brixton as well.
His bizarre obsession with Renisha was growing stronger by the day.
Renisha touched the table.
Renisha clenched her fist.
There was a lot at stake.
Not just Renisha, but many others were risking their lives on this.
Renisha had to jump into the fire, carrying not only her own life but the lives of others on her shoulders.
“...It won’t take long.”
Before Renisha reached Hiloshine.
Before he crossed the line.
“Just wait a little longer.”
Haylin wrapped her arm around Renisha’s shoulder.
Canary ran a trembling hand through her hair.
What she had barely managed to obtain was taken away again.
Canary was an Empress in name only.
All circumstances pointed to Renisha as Empress.
The Empress's palace had also been returned to Renisha, and rumors were circulating that she would receive the delegation.
All that was left to Canary was Barbara, this dilapidated palace, and finally, her child.
"I meant to do this... I meant to do this..."
Canary clutched her stomach.
"Miss Canary!"
“Is what’s inside this belly really going to protect me? Look at me, Barbara. Look at me being driven out again!”
“...You’re still the Empress. You have to do what you can. Are you just going to give up?”
“Weren’t I going to run away anyway? What’s the point of having a child?”
Canary punched her belly.
Barbara stared coldly at Canary, who gasped and burst into tears.
Canary’s heart was too fragile.
It changed twelve times a day.
As the time for giving birth approached, she could see fear eating away at her.
“Then give it to me.”
“What?”
“I’ll make His Highness the Emperor,”
Barbara said viciously.
“Your Majesty will escape as we have prepared. I will take His Highness the Prince...”
Barbara hovered in place.
Those who supported the Emperor were after superficial blood relations.
They supported Laxus for only one reason.
It was because of the unique legitimacy of Hientri flowing through his body.
And that child is destined to be born as Laxus's.
The doctor said the baby was already in the early stages of labor.
There was a possibility it would be born much earlier than the due date.
And the legitimacy also flows through the child. People believe the child is Laxus's.
The biggest force supporting Laxus right now is...
"I will take His Highness the Prince to Cloud."
"You?"
"Yes."
Barbara nodded.
What couldn't she do!
If he were the Duke Cloud, he could make the child the Emperor.
"Joining hands with Renisha? Wouldn't that be faster? We can just bring Renisha to our side."
"Your Majesty. The Emperor attacked Hiloshine. It wasn't official, but there are widespread rumors that someone was taken to the palace and tortured."
"...But?"
"Would Renisha try to make one of the Emperor's bloodlines the Emperor?"
"Ah..."
Canary lowered her head.
Canary's gaunt shoulders trembled.
Adapting to this jungle-like place, which changed twelve times a day, was too difficult.
Even Canary's song was gradually losing its luster.
Whatever she had been trying to grasp was becoming hazy.
"So, I'll go to Duke Cloud. He's a grumpy old man. I believe traditions must be upheld. No matter what happens to Emperor Laxus, Duke Cloud will make His Highness the emperor."
Barbara offered Canary a new path.
"...The Marquis of Danvers?"
"The Marquis of Danvers is also subordinate to Duke Cloud, Your Majesty. We must join hands with the greatest power."
Canary nodded with a confused expression.
Her eyelids, wrapped around her stomach, trembled.
"The Emperor wasn't entirely foolish. He planted a spy next to Count Calliot, and Gale took his place... Count Calliot died, and Gale sold Isabella."
"..."
Haylin nodded.
“I knew it wouldn’t be easy. So, it’s okay, Renisha. I’m satisfied that I saved Isabella.”
“...Laxus won’t stop here.”
The Emperor would do anything to enslave Renisha.
Was it just Haylin?
It was obvious he would try to grab Isabella and Brixton as well.
His bizarre obsession with Renisha was growing stronger by the day.
Renisha touched the table.
Renisha clenched her fist.
There was a lot at stake.
Not just Renisha, but many others were risking their lives on this.
Renisha had to jump into the fire, carrying not only her own life but the lives of others on her shoulders.
“...It won’t take long.”
Before Renisha reached Hiloshine.
Before he crossed the line.
“Just wait a little longer.”
Haylin wrapped her arm around Renisha’s shoulder.
***
Canary ran a trembling hand through her hair.
What she had barely managed to obtain was taken away again.
Canary was an Empress in name only.
All circumstances pointed to Renisha as Empress.
The Empress's palace had also been returned to Renisha, and rumors were circulating that she would receive the delegation.
All that was left to Canary was Barbara, this dilapidated palace, and finally, her child.
"I meant to do this... I meant to do this..."
Canary clutched her stomach.
"Miss Canary!"
“Is what’s inside this belly really going to protect me? Look at me, Barbara. Look at me being driven out again!”
“...You’re still the Empress. You have to do what you can. Are you just going to give up?”
“Weren’t I going to run away anyway? What’s the point of having a child?”
Canary punched her belly.
Barbara stared coldly at Canary, who gasped and burst into tears.
Canary’s heart was too fragile.
It changed twelve times a day.
As the time for giving birth approached, she could see fear eating away at her.
“Then give it to me.”
“What?”
“I’ll make His Highness the Emperor,”
Barbara said viciously.
“Your Majesty will escape as we have prepared. I will take His Highness the Prince...”
Barbara hovered in place.
Those who supported the Emperor were after superficial blood relations.
They supported Laxus for only one reason.
It was because of the unique legitimacy of Hientri flowing through his body.
And that child is destined to be born as Laxus's.
The doctor said the baby was already in the early stages of labor.
There was a possibility it would be born much earlier than the due date.
And the legitimacy also flows through the child. People believe the child is Laxus's.
The biggest force supporting Laxus right now is...
"I will take His Highness the Prince to Cloud."
"You?"
"Yes."
Barbara nodded.
What couldn't she do!
If he were the Duke Cloud, he could make the child the Emperor.
"Joining hands with Renisha? Wouldn't that be faster? We can just bring Renisha to our side."
"Your Majesty. The Emperor attacked Hiloshine. It wasn't official, but there are widespread rumors that someone was taken to the palace and tortured."
"...But?"
"Would Renisha try to make one of the Emperor's bloodlines the Emperor?"
"Ah..."
Canary lowered her head.
Canary's gaunt shoulders trembled.
Adapting to this jungle-like place, which changed twelve times a day, was too difficult.
Even Canary's song was gradually losing its luster.
Whatever she had been trying to grasp was becoming hazy.
"So, I'll go to Duke Cloud. He's a grumpy old man. I believe traditions must be upheld. No matter what happens to Emperor Laxus, Duke Cloud will make His Highness the emperor."
Barbara offered Canary a new path.
"...The Marquis of Danvers?"
"The Marquis of Danvers is also subordinate to Duke Cloud, Your Majesty. We must join hands with the greatest power."
Canary nodded with a confused expression.
Her eyelids, wrapped around her stomach, trembled.
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