Episode 85. A Fate Rolling Into the Abyss
“I can’t do this anymore!”
The coachman threw open the stalled carriage door and tossed his hat to the floor.
Henry bit his lip.
He groped towards the sound.
Now, blind, the only person Henry could rely on was the man who had accompanied him for the past few days.
“What on earth did you do to escape that they’re chasing me from all sides! Even if I’m being paid to do this, is it really worth risking my life?”
“I’ll pay you hazard pay. I promise more than double what I promised.”
Henry said desperately.
“Just take me to the address!”
“I need to know what grudge you’ve incurred to cause this chaos. Why are you being chased?”
The man’s voice was still filled with suspicion.
After all, there was always a reason why those who are being chased this far.
No matter how much money he might have, he didn't want to get involved in anything dangerous.
He did feel pity for Henry, who was blind, but he wasn't particularly loyal to him.
"Do you really need to know that? There's nothing to worry about. As long as we arrive at that address safely!"
Henry insisted stubbornly.
If the coachman knew he was being pursued by the Duke of Lottera, he'd probably just brush it off and leave.
"I don't even know if we'll get there now! They're chasing us for our lives, and just running away is exhausting! I want to stop now. But I can't abandon a blind person in the forest like this, so I'll take you to a nearby village. Then you figure it out!"
The coachman slammed the door shut.
Henry's hands trembled.
Blind and in this state, he was being ignored like this.
It was all because of Renisha.
If she hadn't been banished from the palace.
If she had only yielded a little to the Emperor, would this have happened?
The Emperor, though unspoken, had always cared for Renisha.
Now that he'd blamed everything on Renisha, he felt a sense of relief.
Henry slammed his fist against the chair, muttering a curse.
If he were caught here, everything would be lost.
At the very least, he had to let it be known that Brixton and Haylin were alive...
That was Henry's only way to get revenge.
He rubbed his palms against his eyes, which were blurry and blurry.
"Damn it!"
There was nothing he could do as the carriage rattled.
He felt like he was spiraling deeper into ruin.
Finally, the coachman left Henry behind.
Abandoned on a road, he didn't know where to go. Henry resolved to do one thing: if he was going to die anyway, he had to get revenge, no matter what.
It didn't matter if the method was dirty or deadly.
Just tearing Renisha's heart apart would be enough.
Henry rescued a street child and used his hand to head to his new destination.
If the Emperor wouldn't avenge Henry, he'd have to find someone else.
"Is this where I can hire mercenaries?"
Henry held his head as high as he could and spoke confidently.
The rough-looking men inside the store rose one by one.
The child supporting Henry flinched.
He'd heard of such a place, but this was his first time here.
Henry grabbed his shoulder to keep him from running away.
"I have a favor to ask."
"You must have money, right? Buying us is expensive."
Henry gritted his teeth.
He was spending all his savings like water.
But he had no regrets.
He had no family to support, and all he cared about was protecting himself.
Now that he'd lost even that, he didn't care if the money was scattered on the street, as long as it helped Henry achieve his goal.
He tossed some of the money he'd collected from the bank before Henry arrived.
"Is this enough?"
The man checked his heavy pockets.
"...What commission did you bring this much money to, exactly?"
"I'll have to kill someone."
"Whew!"
The child held captive by Henry screamed, but he couldn't escape Henry's grasp.
The mercenaries glanced at the child, who was trembling and turning blue.
He looked like a street kid, dragged here to make a few bucks.
It wasn't their business.
"People like us work for what we get. You've paid your dues, so state your wishes clearly. Who do you want me to kill? It can't be this kid, right?"
"A kid this small who lives in Hiloshine Castle. She's about thirteen years old, and her name is Isabella. Isabella Lottera."
"You want me to kill a noble child?"
"If I succeed, I'll double this amount. This is just a deposit."
Henry's eyes glared sharply.
He vowed to make Renisha feel the loss of what it felt like to lose something precious.
And Henry intended to do so.
For those who had driven him to the abyss.
Duke Cloud shifted his heavy hips.
He had heard that he had a distinguished guest.
It wasn't just Duke Cloud's hips that were heavy.
The door to the Cloud family house carried a similar weight.
There had to be a reason when the butler opened it.
"Your Majesty?"
Even though he was strictly refraining from going outside, it wasn't to the point where he couldn't recognize the woman's face.
It was the newly crowned Empress, Canary.
Skinny and deformed, with a bulging belly,
Canary looked somewhat intimidated, while the maid standing next to her seemed even more arrogant.
Duke Cloud narrowed his eyes and offered Canary a seat.
"You've come this far. If you were looking for me, I would have come to see you myself."
"...No, Duke. It's the one who needs a favor who should make the move."
"Please..."
Canary said in a trembling voice.
"Renisha has returned to the palace. Who knows what that vicious woman might do to me!"
Duke Cloud frowned at the sudden question.
Such open displays of emotion weren't his style.
Intangible things tended to exert their power the more they were concealed.
"I don't understand what you're saying. I know Lady Renisha entered the palace, but that was by His Majesty the Emperor's will. What could she possibly do to Your Majesty the Empress?"
Canary trembled.
Renisha can't do anything?
That woman would come back to life like a demon if thrown into the desert and strangle Canary.
If Renisha truly forgave Canary, she shouldn't have taken Barbara away that day.
She shouldn't have starved Canary until she confessed her secret.
After all, hadn't Renisha been the one who grabbed Canary's leash?
Renisha was someone you absolutely couldn't let your guard down.
"Are you serious? Renisha can't do anything!"
"Well, I don't know what's in her mind."
"I'm looking for someone who will make my child the Emperor. No matter what."
Canary glanced behind her.
Barbara nodded in approval.
Barbara had emphasized that Duke Cloud was the last remaining thread.
If even this were lost, Canary would have nothing left.
Canary swallowed dryly.
“And I believe you can do so.”
“...If things were to go according to plan, His Majesty the Emperor’s bloodline would ascend to the throne.”
“I’m not speaking of natural law!”
Canary shook her head vigorously.
“I intend to defy natural law. I want this child to become Emperor immediately after birth. I want this child to have the power to protect me!”
Duke Cloud fell silent.
This had been expected, to some extent, ever since Canary had arrived with such a worried expression.
Rumors of the Emperor mistreating the Empress, who was pregnant with his child, had spread among the nobles. There were even rumors that the Emperor was truly insane or possessed a strange temperament.
Whatever the truth, Duke Cloud believed that the Hientri bloodline should protect the throne.
If that law were to be broken, chaos would ensue.
The very foundations of this vast empire would be shaken.
Duke Cloud stroked his chin.
From a tangible perspective, Canary's choice wasn't bad.
Wasn't he using the child to secure his own life?
This was a better option than fleeing abroad with the Emperor's child.
Would the imperial family ever abandon a child?
Then, what Duke Cloud had to consider was whether it was worth jumping into this war.
Even if he waited, if he could protect the child, he would safely become Emperor.
Even Renisha, who was acting out of character, would inevitably calm down by then.
If he had to make the child Emperor now and kill Laxus, there had to be a valid reason.
More precisely, what could Duke Cloud gain from him?
“...Your Majesty, you don’t seem to understand the basics of a deal.”
“No! If my child becomes Emperor, I will make your daughter, niece, or grandchild Empress. I don’t mind having the ceremony as soon as the child is born!”
Canary quickly played the card she had prepared.
She had been prepared for this when she had given up on fleeing abroad and come to Duke Cloud’s household.
It would be a lie to say she wasn’t seduced by Barbara’s offer.
Then, an even more tempting temptation befell Canary.
To become the mother of the Emperor, as she had dreamed.
No one could defeat Canary.
Even the noble Renisha would have to give up her palace if Canary so desired.
Sweet temptation overcame fear.
Duke Cloud chuckled at the eager Canary.
“That’s not enough,”
Duke Cloud added.
“The military power that Duke Lottera possessed. Give it to me.”
He coveted the military power held by the baseless slave knight.
With that power alone, he could control the Emperor, Canary, and this empire.
Just look at the previous Duke Lottera, who had used that power to make Laxus Emperor.
It was a foolish choice to sacrifice that power for the sake of his daughter.
He could have another child, but not his life and power.
“If you promise me this, I will try to do what you desire.”
Duke Cloud revealed his hidden ambition.
Perhaps in his old age, he might acquire something precious.
The power to shake Hientri.
“I can’t do this anymore!”
The coachman threw open the stalled carriage door and tossed his hat to the floor.
Henry bit his lip.
He groped towards the sound.
Now, blind, the only person Henry could rely on was the man who had accompanied him for the past few days.
“What on earth did you do to escape that they’re chasing me from all sides! Even if I’m being paid to do this, is it really worth risking my life?”
“I’ll pay you hazard pay. I promise more than double what I promised.”
Henry said desperately.
“Just take me to the address!”
“I need to know what grudge you’ve incurred to cause this chaos. Why are you being chased?”
The man’s voice was still filled with suspicion.
After all, there was always a reason why those who are being chased this far.
No matter how much money he might have, he didn't want to get involved in anything dangerous.
He did feel pity for Henry, who was blind, but he wasn't particularly loyal to him.
"Do you really need to know that? There's nothing to worry about. As long as we arrive at that address safely!"
Henry insisted stubbornly.
If the coachman knew he was being pursued by the Duke of Lottera, he'd probably just brush it off and leave.
"I don't even know if we'll get there now! They're chasing us for our lives, and just running away is exhausting! I want to stop now. But I can't abandon a blind person in the forest like this, so I'll take you to a nearby village. Then you figure it out!"
The coachman slammed the door shut.
Henry's hands trembled.
Blind and in this state, he was being ignored like this.
It was all because of Renisha.
If she hadn't been banished from the palace.
If she had only yielded a little to the Emperor, would this have happened?
The Emperor, though unspoken, had always cared for Renisha.
Now that he'd blamed everything on Renisha, he felt a sense of relief.
Henry slammed his fist against the chair, muttering a curse.
If he were caught here, everything would be lost.
At the very least, he had to let it be known that Brixton and Haylin were alive...
That was Henry's only way to get revenge.
He rubbed his palms against his eyes, which were blurry and blurry.
"Damn it!"
There was nothing he could do as the carriage rattled.
He felt like he was spiraling deeper into ruin.
***
Finally, the coachman left Henry behind.
Abandoned on a road, he didn't know where to go. Henry resolved to do one thing: if he was going to die anyway, he had to get revenge, no matter what.
It didn't matter if the method was dirty or deadly.
Just tearing Renisha's heart apart would be enough.
Henry rescued a street child and used his hand to head to his new destination.
If the Emperor wouldn't avenge Henry, he'd have to find someone else.
"Is this where I can hire mercenaries?"
Henry held his head as high as he could and spoke confidently.
The rough-looking men inside the store rose one by one.
The child supporting Henry flinched.
He'd heard of such a place, but this was his first time here.
Henry grabbed his shoulder to keep him from running away.
"I have a favor to ask."
"You must have money, right? Buying us is expensive."
Henry gritted his teeth.
He was spending all his savings like water.
But he had no regrets.
He had no family to support, and all he cared about was protecting himself.
Now that he'd lost even that, he didn't care if the money was scattered on the street, as long as it helped Henry achieve his goal.
He tossed some of the money he'd collected from the bank before Henry arrived.
"Is this enough?"
The man checked his heavy pockets.
"...What commission did you bring this much money to, exactly?"
"I'll have to kill someone."
"Whew!"
The child held captive by Henry screamed, but he couldn't escape Henry's grasp.
The mercenaries glanced at the child, who was trembling and turning blue.
He looked like a street kid, dragged here to make a few bucks.
It wasn't their business.
"People like us work for what we get. You've paid your dues, so state your wishes clearly. Who do you want me to kill? It can't be this kid, right?"
"A kid this small who lives in Hiloshine Castle. She's about thirteen years old, and her name is Isabella. Isabella Lottera."
"You want me to kill a noble child?"
"If I succeed, I'll double this amount. This is just a deposit."
Henry's eyes glared sharply.
He vowed to make Renisha feel the loss of what it felt like to lose something precious.
And Henry intended to do so.
For those who had driven him to the abyss.
***
Duke Cloud shifted his heavy hips.
He had heard that he had a distinguished guest.
It wasn't just Duke Cloud's hips that were heavy.
The door to the Cloud family house carried a similar weight.
There had to be a reason when the butler opened it.
"Your Majesty?"
Even though he was strictly refraining from going outside, it wasn't to the point where he couldn't recognize the woman's face.
It was the newly crowned Empress, Canary.
Skinny and deformed, with a bulging belly,
Canary looked somewhat intimidated, while the maid standing next to her seemed even more arrogant.
Duke Cloud narrowed his eyes and offered Canary a seat.
"You've come this far. If you were looking for me, I would have come to see you myself."
"...No, Duke. It's the one who needs a favor who should make the move."
"Please..."
"Please... Save me, Duke,"
Canary said in a trembling voice.
"Renisha has returned to the palace. Who knows what that vicious woman might do to me!"
Duke Cloud frowned at the sudden question.
Such open displays of emotion weren't his style.
Intangible things tended to exert their power the more they were concealed.
"I don't understand what you're saying. I know Lady Renisha entered the palace, but that was by His Majesty the Emperor's will. What could she possibly do to Your Majesty the Empress?"
Canary trembled.
Renisha can't do anything?
That woman would come back to life like a demon if thrown into the desert and strangle Canary.
If Renisha truly forgave Canary, she shouldn't have taken Barbara away that day.
She shouldn't have starved Canary until she confessed her secret.
After all, hadn't Renisha been the one who grabbed Canary's leash?
Renisha was someone you absolutely couldn't let your guard down.
"Are you serious? Renisha can't do anything!"
"Well, I don't know what's in her mind."
"I'm looking for someone who will make my child the Emperor. No matter what."
Canary glanced behind her.
Barbara nodded in approval.
Barbara had emphasized that Duke Cloud was the last remaining thread.
If even this were lost, Canary would have nothing left.
Canary swallowed dryly.
“And I believe you can do so.”
“...If things were to go according to plan, His Majesty the Emperor’s bloodline would ascend to the throne.”
“I’m not speaking of natural law!”
Canary shook her head vigorously.
“I intend to defy natural law. I want this child to become Emperor immediately after birth. I want this child to have the power to protect me!”
Duke Cloud fell silent.
This had been expected, to some extent, ever since Canary had arrived with such a worried expression.
Rumors of the Emperor mistreating the Empress, who was pregnant with his child, had spread among the nobles. There were even rumors that the Emperor was truly insane or possessed a strange temperament.
Whatever the truth, Duke Cloud believed that the Hientri bloodline should protect the throne.
If that law were to be broken, chaos would ensue.
The very foundations of this vast empire would be shaken.
Duke Cloud stroked his chin.
From a tangible perspective, Canary's choice wasn't bad.
Wasn't he using the child to secure his own life?
This was a better option than fleeing abroad with the Emperor's child.
Would the imperial family ever abandon a child?
Then, what Duke Cloud had to consider was whether it was worth jumping into this war.
Even if he waited, if he could protect the child, he would safely become Emperor.
Even Renisha, who was acting out of character, would inevitably calm down by then.
If he had to make the child Emperor now and kill Laxus, there had to be a valid reason.
More precisely, what could Duke Cloud gain from him?
“...Your Majesty, you don’t seem to understand the basics of a deal.”
“No! If my child becomes Emperor, I will make your daughter, niece, or grandchild Empress. I don’t mind having the ceremony as soon as the child is born!”
Canary quickly played the card she had prepared.
She had been prepared for this when she had given up on fleeing abroad and come to Duke Cloud’s household.
It would be a lie to say she wasn’t seduced by Barbara’s offer.
Then, an even more tempting temptation befell Canary.
To become the mother of the Emperor, as she had dreamed.
No one could defeat Canary.
Even the noble Renisha would have to give up her palace if Canary so desired.
Sweet temptation overcame fear.
Duke Cloud chuckled at the eager Canary.
“That’s not enough,”
Duke Cloud added.
“The military power that Duke Lottera possessed. Give it to me.”
He coveted the military power held by the baseless slave knight.
With that power alone, he could control the Emperor, Canary, and this empire.
Just look at the previous Duke Lottera, who had used that power to make Laxus Emperor.
It was a foolish choice to sacrifice that power for the sake of his daughter.
He could have another child, but not his life and power.
“If you promise me this, I will try to do what you desire.”
Duke Cloud revealed his hidden ambition.
Perhaps in his old age, he might acquire something precious.
The power to shake Hientri.
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