Episode 107. Three Women in the Imperial Palace
Renisha held the Prince in her arms.
It didn't matter what name Laxus had given the child.
Renisha stroked the sleeping child's head.
Luna, limp, lay face down on the table.
"Have you never killed anyone before?"
Renisha asked softly.
Luna faithfully carried out her duties.
"...I have. But, this is the first time I've felt this drained. This is the first time a newborn has been involved in something like this."
Luna glanced at the baby in Renisha's arms.
The baby's peaceful breathing echoed throughout the room.
The baby was oblivious. Not that his fate had been thrown into a whirlpool, not even that his mother had died.
Luna turned her head.
A deep sense of guilt filled her chest.
"...You don't have to be so sorry, Luna. I'll take all of this on my shoulders."
Renisha said softly.
“What are we going to do with that baby? There’ll be chaos tomorrow. Dawn will be breaking soon. Surely that baby too...”
“I'm not that cruel, Turiel.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Turiel, who was also unable to sleep, answered.
Renisha placed the baby in Turiel’s arms.
The baby yawned with its small lips open and rubbed its eyes with its small hand.
“How is it? Do you think he resembles Laxus?”
“...Well, I don’t know yet.”
“I brought this child just to see if he resembled Laxus even a little.”
Renisha tapped the baby’s cheek.
Even now, she was troubled.
What should she do with this baby?
Canary was dead, and Laxus had no affection for the baby.
Even in this castle, there was a high chance that he would become a scapegoat.
Laxus would keep quiet about Canary’s death.
So that the three new concubines wouldn’t be afraid.
Their fear would be contagious, spreading to their father.
That meant Laxus's very foundation would be shaken.
And Laxus would remain silent about the baby's disappearance.
This was the same logic.
Perhaps he would feel relieved not having to kill it with his own hands.
What if, by a small chance, the baby grew more and more different from Laxus?
Suspicion would only grow.
Laxus might already be considering interfering with the baby.
It might be safer to send him outside than to keep him in the castle.
"This baby could grow. It might be better to kill him."
Turiel said in a subdued voice.
The warmth in her arms was a pity, but what if the baby grew up to become a sword aimed at Renisha?
"We just need to eliminate that possibility at the source. I'll send this baby to Hiloshine."
"Huh?"
Turiel's eyes widened.
"I'm saying I'll raise him as Hiloshine's baby. Haylin will accept it."
The baby's whereabouts had been decided.
Now all that remained was to wait for the sun to rise tomorrow morning.
Laxus, what will you decide?
Will you act as I predicted, or will you act in the opposite direction?
The chief chamberlain shook Laxus awake, his eyes wide open in the new concubine's bedroom.
His hand forgot all sense of insolence.
The concubine pulled the blanket over herself, covering herself.
"What kind of rudeness is this! Get out now...!"
"Shut up."
Laxus ran his hand through his hair and threw a pillow at the concubine.
His head rang. He held out his hand to the chief chamberlain.
The chief chamberlain placed the water and medicine he had prepared on it.
"There must be a reason you came all this way. Tell me."
Laxus blinked.
A discontented grumble could be heard from behind him.
Consciousness slowly returned.
He clenched his trembling right hand with his left, fighting off withdrawal symptoms.
The chief chamberlain fell flat on the floor.
"Forgive my insolence!"
The chamberlain rose from his seat and whispered in Lexus's ear, his voice too quiet for the concubine huddled behind him to hear.
"Her Majesty the Empress has passed away! And His Highness the Prince has also been confirmed missing."
“Huh.”
Laxus let out a hollow laugh.
“Renisha...”
He seemed to know who did it without even asking.
“We won’t find the culprit, right? Or is that so?”
The chamberlain lowered his head.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
“This case must be covered up. No one must know.”
Laxus narrowed his eyes.
He could guess why Renisha had done this.
Laxus glanced behind him.
It must have been to stir up the concubine who was sulking and wouldn’t come out of her blanket, and the other concubines.
Seeing her sulking and acting like that at such a mere remark, she might even pester her father the moment she found out Canary was dead.
“I’m scared, please let me go back!”
That must be what Renisha wanted.
“Yes, Your Majesty...! Then His Royal Highness...”
“Leave him alone.”
He must be alive somewhere.
But maybe it would be better to die.
Laxus’s violet eyes sank.
Laxus hadn't been able to conceive until now.
The Prince had served as proof that Laxus was capable of sexual function.
But what if the prince revealed that he resembled no one?
Ultimately, Lexus would become the center of controversy again.
It would be better if he didn't have a prince at all.
Lexus ran a hand through his hair again.
He'd already guessed that he might not be able to bear children anyway.
That's why he'd been more puzzled than happy when Canary told him she was pregnant.
But he hadn't guessed that the foolish and mean Canary would betray Lexus.
'I was naive. It's human nature to pursue self-interest even if you have the power to lift a spoon.'
It would have been far better if he could have put the palace in order with Renisha's help.
Renisha couldn't bring this to light.
That would have triggered a massive investigation, and Renisha would have been labeled a potential suspect.
Canary's death... It didn't bring Laxus any inspiration.
He was just a little disappointed.
He'd never hear Canary's song again.
The chamberlain, having heard all the orders, withdrew.
Only then did Leline peek out from under the covers.
"Is it all over now?"
"Yes."
Laxus replied nonchalantly and leaned back against the headboard.
He had intended to remain still until the drug wore off.
However, Leline seemed to have other ideas.
Leline snaked onto Laxus's leg.
Laxus squinted, staring at the provocative scene.
"...I don't want the servants or the chamberlain to see this, Your Majesty. I hope it never happens again."
Leline said softly.
Laxus chuckled at Leline's cute expression.
Laxus reached out and cupped Leline's cheek.
"Ah!"
"What do you think you're doing with me?"
"Huh?"
Leline's pronunciation was slurred as
she asked, "What do you think you and I are doing? Dating? Love?"
Tears welled up in Leline's clear eyes.
Leline shook her head.
"E-even if it's not like that... But we're still a couple!"
"Haha... Leline, if you came here to make a contract, you should just make a contract. If it's this confusing, wouldn't it be difficult for both of us?"
Leline's lips trembled.
Laxus was astonished that he could say such things after seeing this.
Leline glared at Laxus venomously.
"Is it because of that woman?"
"What?"
"I mean, Renisha Lottera! Why on earth is she using the Empress's Palace when she's not even the Empress? Her Majesty Empress Canary is in that position...!"
Laxus grabbed Leline's chin.
"Ah!"
"You shouldn't take Renisha's name lightly. She's not the kind of woman to do that, Her Majesty Empress Canary. You really don't respect her, Leline. You're probably saying that because she's easier on you than Renisha. It's better to be honest than foolish, Leline."
Laxus smiled softly.
In Laline's eyes, Laxus looked like a demon.
A truly captivating demon.
Beneath his silver hair, his purple eyes sparkled with a strange light.
Leline swallowed, her face as if she was about to cry.
“I, I really didn’t do that.”
“Of course.”
“Lady Renisha... Then what should I call Lady Renisha? What position does she hold here? Please tell me.”
Leline tucked her tail between her legs.
Laxus let go of Leline’s chin.
Laxus blinked.
Renisha? To Laxus, Renisha... Renisha...
“A natural being.”
“Yes?”
“A natural being. Someone who is so natural to be there.”
Someone who Laxus couldn’t imagine not being by his side.
That was also why Laxus couldn’t kill Renisha.
He couldn’t even imagine life without Renisha.
Leline opened her mouth.
She knew about Laxus and Renisha. She knew how much of a mess Laxus had been to Renisha.
But “a natural being”? That word didn’t suit her.
But Renisha's presence seemed larger than expected within Laxus.
Leline puffed out her cheeks. She had to take that spot. It wouldn't be easy.
"...Who should I say good morning to?"
Laxus rolled his eyes.
Of course.
"Renisha. There's no need to go to Canary."
Laxus had planned to completely conceal the now-dead Canary, while Leline believed Canary's status in the castle was that low.
It was a perfect case of two worlds apart.
Renisha let out a hollow laugh.
The three concubines had come running in, insisting on saying good morning to Renisha.
"His Majesty the Emperor has ordered it."
Lenisha Plans.
The only daughter of the Margrave of Plans.
Renisha heard she was studying abroad in the imperial capital, but who would have thought we'd meet here like this?
Renisha tilted her head.
"I followed Lenisha..."
"Me too. I followed Lenisha."
The women, except Lenisha, shrugged.
As if the mere sight of Renisha was frightening.
Even in that rabble, there seemed to be a head.
That head was Leline.
“Thank you for coming to see me so early in the morning.”
Renisha said softly.
She hadn’t slept a wink since dawn.
Until the Prince safely departed and the dawn air filled the palace, Renisha sat like a still life.
And these women she’d met in the midst of all that...
Renisha swallowed a sigh of exhaustion.
“His Majesty the Emperor cares deeply for you, Lady Renisha.”
Leline smiled.
“Have you perhaps taken note of His Majesty the Emperor?”
Look at this?
Renisha held the Prince in her arms.
It didn't matter what name Laxus had given the child.
Renisha stroked the sleeping child's head.
Luna, limp, lay face down on the table.
"Have you never killed anyone before?"
Renisha asked softly.
Luna faithfully carried out her duties.
"...I have. But, this is the first time I've felt this drained. This is the first time a newborn has been involved in something like this."
Luna glanced at the baby in Renisha's arms.
The baby's peaceful breathing echoed throughout the room.
The baby was oblivious. Not that his fate had been thrown into a whirlpool, not even that his mother had died.
Luna turned her head.
A deep sense of guilt filled her chest.
"...You don't have to be so sorry, Luna. I'll take all of this on my shoulders."
Renisha said softly.
“What are we going to do with that baby? There’ll be chaos tomorrow. Dawn will be breaking soon. Surely that baby too...”
“I'm not that cruel, Turiel.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Turiel, who was also unable to sleep, answered.
Renisha placed the baby in Turiel’s arms.
The baby yawned with its small lips open and rubbed its eyes with its small hand.
“How is it? Do you think he resembles Laxus?”
“...Well, I don’t know yet.”
“I brought this child just to see if he resembled Laxus even a little.”
Renisha tapped the baby’s cheek.
Even now, she was troubled.
What should she do with this baby?
Canary was dead, and Laxus had no affection for the baby.
Even in this castle, there was a high chance that he would become a scapegoat.
Laxus would keep quiet about Canary’s death.
So that the three new concubines wouldn’t be afraid.
Their fear would be contagious, spreading to their father.
That meant Laxus's very foundation would be shaken.
And Laxus would remain silent about the baby's disappearance.
This was the same logic.
Perhaps he would feel relieved not having to kill it with his own hands.
What if, by a small chance, the baby grew more and more different from Laxus?
Suspicion would only grow.
Laxus might already be considering interfering with the baby.
It might be safer to send him outside than to keep him in the castle.
"This baby could grow. It might be better to kill him."
Turiel said in a subdued voice.
The warmth in her arms was a pity, but what if the baby grew up to become a sword aimed at Renisha?
"We just need to eliminate that possibility at the source. I'll send this baby to Hiloshine."
"Huh?"
Turiel's eyes widened.
"I'm saying I'll raise him as Hiloshine's baby. Haylin will accept it."
The baby's whereabouts had been decided.
Now all that remained was to wait for the sun to rise tomorrow morning.
Laxus, what will you decide?
Will you act as I predicted, or will you act in the opposite direction?
***
The chief chamberlain shook Laxus awake, his eyes wide open in the new concubine's bedroom.
His hand forgot all sense of insolence.
The concubine pulled the blanket over herself, covering herself.
"What kind of rudeness is this! Get out now...!"
"Shut up."
Laxus ran his hand through his hair and threw a pillow at the concubine.
His head rang. He held out his hand to the chief chamberlain.
The chief chamberlain placed the water and medicine he had prepared on it.
"There must be a reason you came all this way. Tell me."
Laxus blinked.
A discontented grumble could be heard from behind him.
Consciousness slowly returned.
He clenched his trembling right hand with his left, fighting off withdrawal symptoms.
The chief chamberlain fell flat on the floor.
"Forgive my insolence!"
The chamberlain rose from his seat and whispered in Lexus's ear, his voice too quiet for the concubine huddled behind him to hear.
"Her Majesty the Empress has passed away! And His Highness the Prince has also been confirmed missing."
“Huh.”
Laxus let out a hollow laugh.
“Renisha...”
He seemed to know who did it without even asking.
“We won’t find the culprit, right? Or is that so?”
The chamberlain lowered his head.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
“This case must be covered up. No one must know.”
Laxus narrowed his eyes.
He could guess why Renisha had done this.
Laxus glanced behind him.
It must have been to stir up the concubine who was sulking and wouldn’t come out of her blanket, and the other concubines.
Seeing her sulking and acting like that at such a mere remark, she might even pester her father the moment she found out Canary was dead.
“I’m scared, please let me go back!”
That must be what Renisha wanted.
“Yes, Your Majesty...! Then His Royal Highness...”
“Leave him alone.”
He must be alive somewhere.
But maybe it would be better to die.
Laxus’s violet eyes sank.
Laxus hadn't been able to conceive until now.
The Prince had served as proof that Laxus was capable of sexual function.
But what if the prince revealed that he resembled no one?
Ultimately, Lexus would become the center of controversy again.
It would be better if he didn't have a prince at all.
Lexus ran a hand through his hair again.
He'd already guessed that he might not be able to bear children anyway.
That's why he'd been more puzzled than happy when Canary told him she was pregnant.
But he hadn't guessed that the foolish and mean Canary would betray Lexus.
'I was naive. It's human nature to pursue self-interest even if you have the power to lift a spoon.'
It would have been far better if he could have put the palace in order with Renisha's help.
Renisha couldn't bring this to light.
That would have triggered a massive investigation, and Renisha would have been labeled a potential suspect.
Canary's death... It didn't bring Laxus any inspiration.
He was just a little disappointed.
He'd never hear Canary's song again.
The chamberlain, having heard all the orders, withdrew.
Only then did Leline peek out from under the covers.
"Is it all over now?"
"Yes."
Laxus replied nonchalantly and leaned back against the headboard.
He had intended to remain still until the drug wore off.
However, Leline seemed to have other ideas.
Leline snaked onto Laxus's leg.
Laxus squinted, staring at the provocative scene.
"...I don't want the servants or the chamberlain to see this, Your Majesty. I hope it never happens again."
Leline said softly.
Laxus chuckled at Leline's cute expression.
Laxus reached out and cupped Leline's cheek.
"Ah!"
"What do you think you're doing with me?"
"Huh?"
Leline's pronunciation was slurred as
she asked, "What do you think you and I are doing? Dating? Love?"
Tears welled up in Leline's clear eyes.
Leline shook her head.
"E-even if it's not like that... But we're still a couple!"
"Haha... Leline, if you came here to make a contract, you should just make a contract. If it's this confusing, wouldn't it be difficult for both of us?"
Leline's lips trembled.
Laxus was astonished that he could say such things after seeing this.
Leline glared at Laxus venomously.
"Is it because of that woman?"
"What?"
"I mean, Renisha Lottera! Why on earth is she using the Empress's Palace when she's not even the Empress? Her Majesty Empress Canary is in that position...!"
Laxus grabbed Leline's chin.
"Ah!"
"You shouldn't take Renisha's name lightly. She's not the kind of woman to do that, Her Majesty Empress Canary. You really don't respect her, Leline. You're probably saying that because she's easier on you than Renisha. It's better to be honest than foolish, Leline."
Laxus smiled softly.
In Laline's eyes, Laxus looked like a demon.
A truly captivating demon.
Beneath his silver hair, his purple eyes sparkled with a strange light.
Leline swallowed, her face as if she was about to cry.
“I, I really didn’t do that.”
“Of course.”
“Lady Renisha... Then what should I call Lady Renisha? What position does she hold here? Please tell me.”
Leline tucked her tail between her legs.
Laxus let go of Leline’s chin.
Laxus blinked.
Renisha? To Laxus, Renisha... Renisha...
“A natural being.”
“Yes?”
“A natural being. Someone who is so natural to be there.”
Someone who Laxus couldn’t imagine not being by his side.
That was also why Laxus couldn’t kill Renisha.
He couldn’t even imagine life without Renisha.
Leline opened her mouth.
She knew about Laxus and Renisha. She knew how much of a mess Laxus had been to Renisha.
But “a natural being”? That word didn’t suit her.
But Renisha's presence seemed larger than expected within Laxus.
Leline puffed out her cheeks. She had to take that spot. It wouldn't be easy.
"...Who should I say good morning to?"
Laxus rolled his eyes.
Of course.
"Renisha. There's no need to go to Canary."
Laxus had planned to completely conceal the now-dead Canary, while Leline believed Canary's status in the castle was that low.
It was a perfect case of two worlds apart.
***
Renisha let out a hollow laugh.
The three concubines had come running in, insisting on saying good morning to Renisha.
"His Majesty the Emperor has ordered it."
Lenisha Plans.
The only daughter of the Margrave of Plans.
Renisha heard she was studying abroad in the imperial capital, but who would have thought we'd meet here like this?
Renisha tilted her head.
"I followed Lenisha..."
"Me too. I followed Lenisha."
The women, except Lenisha, shrugged.
As if the mere sight of Renisha was frightening.
Even in that rabble, there seemed to be a head.
That head was Leline.
“Thank you for coming to see me so early in the morning.”
Renisha said softly.
She hadn’t slept a wink since dawn.
Until the Prince safely departed and the dawn air filled the palace, Renisha sat like a still life.
And these women she’d met in the midst of all that...
Renisha swallowed a sigh of exhaustion.
“His Majesty the Emperor cares deeply for you, Lady Renisha.”
Leline smiled.
“Have you perhaps taken note of His Majesty the Emperor?”
Look at this?
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