Episode 86. Do you love?
Renisha had a little guest waiting every night. Leaning back on the sofa, humming, Renisha smiled. Kassius would arrive soon.
Gently running her fingers over Kassius's small body, she often felt like everything would be okay.
The festival to bless the three snake gods would soon begin. Three days, only three days left. News was coming in that the envoys were arriving at the port one after another.
Renisha blinked slowly.
She planned to sit next to Laxus at the festival banquet.
What would Kassius think of that?
A sharp thought rose deep within her.
Would he be upset? Or would he pretend not to care? Or would he ignite a jealousy towards Laxus? She didn't know how he would react, but anticipation welled up in her. Renisha ran her tongue across her lips.
She stood up. The heat rising in her stomach enveloped her. She pushed open the balcony door, and the wind whipped around her.
Today, she would appease the adorable Kassius and see him in his human form. Renisha renewed her resolve. She was pacing the balcony with anticipation.
“Renisha.”
The door opened first. Renisha instinctively turned her head. It was a voice she particularly didn’t want to hear at this hour.
Laxus stood in the doorway, his face thick with alcohol. Judging by his dilated pupils, he must have taken some medication. Behind him, Haylin was pale.
No one could have stopped Laxus.
Laxus staggered toward her. Renisha stared at him with a cold, hard face. Why was he so quiet? It felt like she was back in the palace.
Renisha sighed and backed away from Laxus.
“I’d better see you tomorrow morning, Your Majesty.”
“What’s the problem with my coming to my wife’s bedroom?”
Laxus spat angrily. Even the fingers running through his hair were drugged and limp. Renisha stared at him with contempt.
“I no longer have any personal relationship with Your Majesty. Wife, no. I’m the Duchess of Lottera, and my husband is Duke Kassius. So right now, Your Majesty, you’re being rude.”
Renisha spoke calmly, her voice low.
“Please be polite, Your Majesty. I beg you.”
“Don’t do this, Renisha.”
Laxus reached out to Renisha. Renisha took another step back.
“It’s okay.”
She wasn’t expecting this. Nothing will happen. Renisha reassured herself.
“I’m the one begging you, Your Majesty. Don’t do this.”
Laxus blinked. Beyond his blurred vision, he saw the pale Renisha. Her usually confident pink eyes were now filled with fear. He saw himself reflected in those eyes.
Why?
Laxus couldn't understand.
Renisha and Laxus had been married for a long time. They were closer than anyone else, and didn't they understand each other? Renisha knew Laxus, and Laxus knew himself. Laxus pursed his lips. Even though the time they'd spent together was far longer than Renisha had spent with Kassius.
"Smile, Renisha,"
Laxus whispered.
The image of Renisha smiling brightly at Kassius continued to complicate Laxus's mind. He walked toward Renisha. He grabbed her shoulder and spat out,
"Smile!"
Renisha twisted.
"Let go, Your Majesty."
"I told you to smile."
A fiery anger that had started from the dantian flared up.
“Why can’t you do what I want? This world is mine, why can’t you...!”
Laxus bit his lips.
“Smile, Renisha. If I give you an order, you should listen. Smile gently and act like Canary. Appease me. Lick when I tell you to lick my paw, roll when I tell you to roll. Like a well-behaved dog.”
Renisha’s expression hardened coldly.
“Am I a dog?”
“What?”
“That’s how you’ve always treated me. That’s why you were angry when things didn’t go your way.”
Renishq roughly shook Laxus’s hand away.
“Because you didn’t consider me family or a companion. Your Majesty doesn’t know how to change, so live your life like that. Don’t worry about the likes of me, and go to a good, obedient Canary.”
“You’re the same as me,”
Laxis said, gritting his teeth.
“I’m the Emperor, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling of being trampled on by you, Lottera. You arrogant, cunning woman. With eyes that said you could take me down from here at any moment...”
Laxus grabbed Renisha’s chin. Despite his strong grip, Renisha’s eyes remained calm. Something unwavering lurked within them.
Renisha said nothing. She didn’t want to know what Laxus wanted. After all, Laxus couldn’t stand Renisha.
Laxus gritted his teeth and lowered his head. Pausing before Renisha’s lips, he exhaled a breath mixed with the scent of alcohol.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“...Do you hate Lottera? Do you hate me? Or is being Emperor too much for you?”
Renisha spoke slowly. Her words pierced Laxus’ heart. Laxus’s eyes widened. It felt like his heart was being stabbed with a sharp needle.
“Do you feel judged when you stand before Lottera? Do you feel like a child being scolded for not doing his homework?”
Laxus’s hand slipped.
Only then did Kassius, who had been frozen, touch Renisha's palm.
"It was nothing."
Kassius rubbed his head as if to respond. "
It was nothing.
Laxus meant nothing to Renisha. Really?
Renisha had a little guest waiting every night. Leaning back on the sofa, humming, Renisha smiled. Kassius would arrive soon.
Gently running her fingers over Kassius's small body, she often felt like everything would be okay.
The festival to bless the three snake gods would soon begin. Three days, only three days left. News was coming in that the envoys were arriving at the port one after another.
Renisha blinked slowly.
She planned to sit next to Laxus at the festival banquet.
What would Kassius think of that?
A sharp thought rose deep within her.
Would he be upset? Or would he pretend not to care? Or would he ignite a jealousy towards Laxus? She didn't know how he would react, but anticipation welled up in her. Renisha ran her tongue across her lips.
She stood up. The heat rising in her stomach enveloped her. She pushed open the balcony door, and the wind whipped around her.
Today, she would appease the adorable Kassius and see him in his human form. Renisha renewed her resolve. She was pacing the balcony with anticipation.
“Renisha.”
The door opened first. Renisha instinctively turned her head. It was a voice she particularly didn’t want to hear at this hour.
Laxus stood in the doorway, his face thick with alcohol. Judging by his dilated pupils, he must have taken some medication. Behind him, Haylin was pale.
No one could have stopped Laxus.
Laxus staggered toward her. Renisha stared at him with a cold, hard face. Why was he so quiet? It felt like she was back in the palace.
Renisha sighed and backed away from Laxus.
“I’d better see you tomorrow morning, Your Majesty.”
“What’s the problem with my coming to my wife’s bedroom?”
Laxus spat angrily. Even the fingers running through his hair were drugged and limp. Renisha stared at him with contempt.
“I no longer have any personal relationship with Your Majesty. Wife, no. I’m the Duchess of Lottera, and my husband is Duke Kassius. So right now, Your Majesty, you’re being rude.”
Renisha spoke calmly, her voice low.
“Please be polite, Your Majesty. I beg you.”
“Don’t do this, Renisha.”
Laxus reached out to Renisha. Renisha took another step back.
“It’s okay.”
She wasn’t expecting this. Nothing will happen. Renisha reassured herself.
“I’m the one begging you, Your Majesty. Don’t do this.”
Laxus blinked. Beyond his blurred vision, he saw the pale Renisha. Her usually confident pink eyes were now filled with fear. He saw himself reflected in those eyes.
Why?
Laxus couldn't understand.
Renisha and Laxus had been married for a long time. They were closer than anyone else, and didn't they understand each other? Renisha knew Laxus, and Laxus knew himself. Laxus pursed his lips. Even though the time they'd spent together was far longer than Renisha had spent with Kassius.
"Smile, Renisha,"
Laxus whispered.
The image of Renisha smiling brightly at Kassius continued to complicate Laxus's mind. He walked toward Renisha. He grabbed her shoulder and spat out,
"Smile!"
Renisha twisted.
"Let go, Your Majesty."
"I told you to smile."
A fiery anger that had started from the dantian flared up.
“Why can’t you do what I want? This world is mine, why can’t you...!”
Laxus bit his lips.
“Smile, Renisha. If I give you an order, you should listen. Smile gently and act like Canary. Appease me. Lick when I tell you to lick my paw, roll when I tell you to roll. Like a well-behaved dog.”
Renisha’s expression hardened coldly.
“Am I a dog?”
“What?”
“That’s how you’ve always treated me. That’s why you were angry when things didn’t go your way.”
Renishq roughly shook Laxus’s hand away.
“Because you didn’t consider me family or a companion. Your Majesty doesn’t know how to change, so live your life like that. Don’t worry about the likes of me, and go to a good, obedient Canary.”
“You’re the same as me,”
Laxis said, gritting his teeth.
“I’m the Emperor, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling of being trampled on by you, Lottera. You arrogant, cunning woman. With eyes that said you could take me down from here at any moment...”
Laxus grabbed Renisha’s chin. Despite his strong grip, Renisha’s eyes remained calm. Something unwavering lurked within them.
Renisha said nothing. She didn’t want to know what Laxus wanted. After all, Laxus couldn’t stand Renisha.
Laxus gritted his teeth and lowered his head. Pausing before Renisha’s lips, he exhaled a breath mixed with the scent of alcohol.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“...Do you hate Lottera? Do you hate me? Or is being Emperor too much for you?”
Renisha spoke slowly. Her words pierced Laxus’ heart. Laxus’s eyes widened. It felt like his heart was being stabbed with a sharp needle.
“Do you feel judged when you stand before Lottera? Do you feel like a child being scolded for not doing his homework?”
Laxus’s hand slipped.
“Shut up.”
Laxus gritted his teeth.
“Before I tear your mouth open.”
“Will that ease your mind? It would be better if you killed me. Nothing would bother Your Majesty anymore.”
Renisha cast her cold spring-day eyes at Laxus.
“If that’s what you wish, then yes. Go ahead. If it ends with me dying, then that’s fine too. After I’m gone, you’ll stop tormenting my people, right?”
“...”
Laxus stepped back. His face was uneasy, and he circled Renisha in circles. His mind was in turmoil. His heart was racing.
Killing Renisha? Was that even possible? How many times had I resolved to do so, yet never been able to put it into action?
“Be honest, Your Majesty,”
Renisha whispered.
“Do you love me? Is that why you look at me with such a yearning for affection?”
Laxus held his breath.
“Why don’t you just ask me to love you?”
His throat felt choked. Laxus’s vision turned white. Renisha took a step toward him. The tables were turned.
“Get down at my feet and beg for my love. Who knows, maybe I’ll change my mind and grant it.”
At that moment, the red, sleek snake that had intervened between Renisha and Laxus grew in size.
Slurp.
The snake stuck out its crimson tongue, opened its maw, and bared its sharp fangs. Golden eyes gleamed.
“Kassius!”
The air shifted again. Renisha backed away, pushed back by Kassius. Where had he heard that? Renisha rubbed her eyes. Why was the timing so bad today? If Kassius had returned after driving out Laxus, they might have had a great time as planned. Kassius threatened Lexus. Fortunately, you couldn't kill snakes in Hientri.
Laxus's expression changed. The expression that had been swirling with emotion calmed down. With a face that couldn't be read, Laxus opened his mouth. Renisha gasped in tension.
"What a fucking, heartbreaking love. Did you say love, Renisha? I love you."
Laxus's eyes widened.
“I hate you. I hate you to death! I hate myself for not being able to kill you, and I hate myself for not being able to abandon you. Why did you appear before me and save me? You should have just let me die! You shouldn’t have trapped me in this damned cage. You shouldn’t have opened that door! You shouldn’t have shared your warmth with that starving wretch! Why did you do that to that worm who didn’t even know what human emotion was!”
Laxus shouted hysterically. Beyond Kassius, Laxus stared at Renisha stiffly.
“So it’s all your fault. It’s your fault that Lottera died, it’s your fault that you and I are at odds, and it’s your fault that all of this is your fault!”
And so we stand together in misery. Laxus laughed bitterly.
“I shouldn’t have opened the door.”
Laxus froze at Renisha’s gentle words.
“Ha...”
“I shouldn’t have saved you.”
It was a cold death sentence. Laxus's blunt and intense confession was instantly dismissed. Without a moment's hesitation. It felt as if all the strength he possessed had evaporated.
Laxus's body trembled. He stumbled out of the room. A sharp, storm-like atmosphere filled the room. The chamberlain hurriedly closed the door. Then Kassius moved his massive body to encircle Renisha. Kassius raised his head and stared at Renisha.
"...It's okay."
Renisha reached out to Kassius.
"Kassius."
Only then did Kassius, who had been frozen, touch Renisha's palm.
"It was nothing."
Kassius rubbed his head as if to respond. "
It was nothing.
Laxus meant nothing to Renisha. Really?
Renisha smiled slowly, her face weary.
"Please hold me. It's so cold and dark here."
It was an order Kassius had no choice but to obey.
Hesitation and shame vanished, and Kassius returned to his human form. Renisha smiled faintly at the sight of him naked.
"So that's why you were embarrassed."
"...I wasn't embarrassed."
Kassius said bluntly and reached out to Renisha. His body, filled with burning heat, embraced her.
Renisha lowered her head in his embrace.
"Just stay like this for a moment. Just a moment."
Late at night, fate began to move again.
Canary's labor pains began.
It was two months early. The imperial doctors paced anxiously in front of her palace.
Everyone's attention was focused on this place.
The Emperor's chamberlain also continued to move in and out of Canary's room.
"Ahhhhhh!"
Screams of pain, the urgent voices of the midwife and doctor. Mixed with them were the baby's cries.
Finally,
"It's the Prince! Your son has been born!"
A furious cry pierced through the door. And the voice reached everyone gathered. Canary had safely given birth to the Prince. This news spread throughout the empire before dawn.
"Please hold me. It's so cold and dark here."
It was an order Kassius had no choice but to obey.
Hesitation and shame vanished, and Kassius returned to his human form. Renisha smiled faintly at the sight of him naked.
"So that's why you were embarrassed."
"...I wasn't embarrassed."
Kassius said bluntly and reached out to Renisha. His body, filled with burning heat, embraced her.
Renisha lowered her head in his embrace.
"Just stay like this for a moment. Just a moment."
***
Late at night, fate began to move again.
Canary's labor pains began.
It was two months early. The imperial doctors paced anxiously in front of her palace.
Everyone's attention was focused on this place.
The Emperor's chamberlain also continued to move in and out of Canary's room.
"Ahhhhhh!"
Screams of pain, the urgent voices of the midwife and doctor. Mixed with them were the baby's cries.
Finally,
"It's the Prince! Your son has been born!"
A furious cry pierced through the door. And the voice reached everyone gathered. Canary had safely given birth to the Prince. This news spread throughout the empire before dawn.
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