Episode 108. Where Renisha Should Be
“So you have His Majesty the Emperor in mind?”
“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have come here. Am I the same as Lady Renisha, who entered the palace as another man’s wife?”
Leline chuckled. Renisha read the contempt and superiority filling Leline’s eyes.
“Of course, Lady Renisha created all the opportunities. Since you couldn’t bear the Emperor’s child... isn’t that right? We should also be grateful to Lady Renisha.”
Leline spurred on the concubines beside her.
Renisha snickered.
Why are there so many fools who can’t tell right from wrong?
To Renisha, they were worse than flies swarming around a lion’s tail.
Renisha sighed.
“Are you done?”
“Huh?”
Leline frowned.
It was humiliating, but Renisha's expression remained impassive.
Leline's lips trembled with anger.
Renisha had not given birth to the Emperor's heir.
Whatever the cause, she was banished for a humiliating reason.
And now, wasn't she a hostage, held captive in the Imperial Palace?
The Emperor couldn't have acted this way unless he hated Lottera so vehemently.
She should have been dispirited, but why was she so arrogant?
Leline clenched her fists.
"No! I still have something to say! His Majesty the Emperor will be visiting my chambers for a while. It's a world apart from Renisha, who could die at any moment..."
"Shhh."
Renisha gently placed her index finger on her lips.
"I'm just saying. I guess that's where your value lies. To bear the Emperor's child."
Leline's mouth fell open, unsure of what to say to the sudden retort.
All Leline had seen was Renisha, who had been persecuted by the Emperor.
Consequently, she had been unaware of the truth behind it.
Count Plans had clearly warned her to be careful with Renisha, but Leline had thought his worries were unnecessary.
“I don’t place my value on such trivial things. Giving birth to the Emperor’s child isn’t that important to me, Lenisha.”
Renisha placed her clasped hands on her stomach.
Her indolence reflected in Leline’s eyes.
Renisha showed no fear whatsoever.
Her delicate body seemed more than adequate to stand up to this imperial court.
Leline bit her lip.
This was an optical illusion. Renisha was nothing!
“What kind of rude remark is that? Giving birth to a child is the most important thing for a woman entering the Imperial Palace...”
“First, I am not the Emperor’s woman. Don’t confine me to such a small vessel,”
Renisha whispered gently.
“And second, I am alive and well.”
“...”
“Of the women who have passed by the Emperor, there are more than a few who have died. Many more have been miserably driven away. But I am still here, like this, unharmed. Do you know what that means?”
Renisha’s lips curled.
Her smile stabbed Leline’s eyes.
The darkness beneath Renisha’s feet seemed to support her.
Even though their feet were on the same level, Renisha’s position seemed higher.
Lenisha swallowed involuntarily.
“It means the Emperor cannot kill me. And even if I were to kill you here, the Emperor wouldn’t say a word.”
Renisha laughed.
It was truly ridiculous.
Laxus tormented Renisha like a child.
But he couldn’t tolerate others tormenting Renisha.
“H-How can you be sure of that?”
“Shall we try it?”
Lenisha gulped.
Renisha now seemed like someone capable of killing Leline.
Leline cringed under the pressure.
'Father was right...!'
The image of Renisha being dragged around by the Emperor was merely a cross-section.
Renisha was a woman who could survive in the palace on her own.
Moreover, Renisha's words were not wrong.
Despite having had numerous opportunities to kill Renisha, Laxus failed to do so. Even after slaughtering Lottera and driving Renisha out.
Instead, he held her captive in the palace...
'As if she didn't want to be taken away...'
Leline realized her own stupidity.
She had figured out the secret of this strange castle.
What Laxus was looking at, and who he was holding inside.
Leline abruptly stood up from her seat.
"I-I'm going to go now."
Leline fled in a panic.
Renisha clicked her tongue as she watched his back.
"Would it have been better to kill her?"
"She would have incurred the backlash of the other families, including Plans."
"Still, it might be better than looking ridiculous."
Renisha tilted her head.
"It would have been a sufficient example of what happens to the hounds who betray me."
Renisha smiled brightly.
"...Luna."
"Why?"
"Tonight, cut off that woman's head."
"What????"
Luna's eyes widened.
"Why are you so surprised? Did you think I would just take it like this?"
Renisha's beautiful pink eyes were bathed in a cold light.
Luna swallowed without realizing it.
Count Plans opened the envelope containing the letter from Renisha.
For some reason, he felt a chill.
He had grasped the Emperor's hand because of his desire to ascend higher.
The Emperor's grandfather.
He coveted that position.
The ambition to place this empire in the palm of his hand stirred within Count Plans.
The envelope bearing Renisha's name sent a chill down the back of his neck.
"What is this?"
The letterhead was nowhere to be seen.
Count Plans tilted his head and ripped the envelope clean.
Thud.
The contents spilled out onto the table in a mess.
"Ugh! This, this, this... what the heck!!!"
Count Plans screamed.
Inside was Leline's hair, which had entered the palace.
He had a vision of the hair writhing, coming back to life, bearing its sharp fangs at Count Plans.
Count Plans pushed the table aside and leaped to his feet.
Count Plans shouted,
“So you have His Majesty the Emperor in mind?”
“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have come here. Am I the same as Lady Renisha, who entered the palace as another man’s wife?”
Leline chuckled. Renisha read the contempt and superiority filling Leline’s eyes.
“Of course, Lady Renisha created all the opportunities. Since you couldn’t bear the Emperor’s child... isn’t that right? We should also be grateful to Lady Renisha.”
Leline spurred on the concubines beside her.
Renisha snickered.
Why are there so many fools who can’t tell right from wrong?
To Renisha, they were worse than flies swarming around a lion’s tail.
Renisha sighed.
“Are you done?”
“Huh?”
Leline frowned.
It was humiliating, but Renisha's expression remained impassive.
Leline's lips trembled with anger.
Renisha had not given birth to the Emperor's heir.
Whatever the cause, she was banished for a humiliating reason.
And now, wasn't she a hostage, held captive in the Imperial Palace?
The Emperor couldn't have acted this way unless he hated Lottera so vehemently.
She should have been dispirited, but why was she so arrogant?
Leline clenched her fists.
"No! I still have something to say! His Majesty the Emperor will be visiting my chambers for a while. It's a world apart from Renisha, who could die at any moment..."
"Shhh."
Renisha gently placed her index finger on her lips.
"I'm just saying. I guess that's where your value lies. To bear the Emperor's child."
Leline's mouth fell open, unsure of what to say to the sudden retort.
All Leline had seen was Renisha, who had been persecuted by the Emperor.
Consequently, she had been unaware of the truth behind it.
Count Plans had clearly warned her to be careful with Renisha, but Leline had thought his worries were unnecessary.
“I don’t place my value on such trivial things. Giving birth to the Emperor’s child isn’t that important to me, Lenisha.”
Renisha placed her clasped hands on her stomach.
Her indolence reflected in Leline’s eyes.
Renisha showed no fear whatsoever.
Her delicate body seemed more than adequate to stand up to this imperial court.
Leline bit her lip.
This was an optical illusion. Renisha was nothing!
“What kind of rude remark is that? Giving birth to a child is the most important thing for a woman entering the Imperial Palace...”
“First, I am not the Emperor’s woman. Don’t confine me to such a small vessel,”
Renisha whispered gently.
“And second, I am alive and well.”
“...”
“Of the women who have passed by the Emperor, there are more than a few who have died. Many more have been miserably driven away. But I am still here, like this, unharmed. Do you know what that means?”
Renisha’s lips curled.
Her smile stabbed Leline’s eyes.
The darkness beneath Renisha’s feet seemed to support her.
Even though their feet were on the same level, Renisha’s position seemed higher.
Lenisha swallowed involuntarily.
“It means the Emperor cannot kill me. And even if I were to kill you here, the Emperor wouldn’t say a word.”
Renisha laughed.
It was truly ridiculous.
Laxus tormented Renisha like a child.
But he couldn’t tolerate others tormenting Renisha.
“H-How can you be sure of that?”
“Shall we try it?”
Lenisha gulped.
Renisha now seemed like someone capable of killing Leline.
Leline cringed under the pressure.
'Father was right...!'
The image of Renisha being dragged around by the Emperor was merely a cross-section.
Renisha was a woman who could survive in the palace on her own.
Moreover, Renisha's words were not wrong.
Despite having had numerous opportunities to kill Renisha, Laxus failed to do so. Even after slaughtering Lottera and driving Renisha out.
Instead, he held her captive in the palace...
'As if she didn't want to be taken away...'
Leline realized her own stupidity.
She had figured out the secret of this strange castle.
What Laxus was looking at, and who he was holding inside.
Leline abruptly stood up from her seat.
"I-I'm going to go now."
Leline fled in a panic.
Renisha clicked her tongue as she watched his back.
"Would it have been better to kill her?"
"She would have incurred the backlash of the other families, including Plans."
"Still, it might be better than looking ridiculous."
Renisha tilted her head.
"It would have been a sufficient example of what happens to the hounds who betray me."
Renisha smiled brightly.
"...Luna."
"Why?"
"Tonight, cut off that woman's head."
"What????"
Luna's eyes widened.
"Why are you so surprised? Did you think I would just take it like this?"
Renisha's beautiful pink eyes were bathed in a cold light.
Luna swallowed without realizing it.
***
Count Plans opened the envelope containing the letter from Renisha.
For some reason, he felt a chill.
He had grasped the Emperor's hand because of his desire to ascend higher.
The Emperor's grandfather.
He coveted that position.
The ambition to place this empire in the palm of his hand stirred within Count Plans.
The envelope bearing Renisha's name sent a chill down the back of his neck.
"What is this?"
The letterhead was nowhere to be seen.
Count Plans tilted his head and ripped the envelope clean.
Thud.
The contents spilled out onto the table in a mess.
"Ugh! This, this, this... what the heck!!!"
Count Plans screamed.
Inside was Leline's hair, which had entered the palace.
He had a vision of the hair writhing, coming back to life, bearing its sharp fangs at Count Plans.
Count Plans pushed the table aside and leaped to his feet.
Count Plans shouted,
“Everyone, send someone to the palace immediately to confirm Leline’s life or death!!!”
He had forgotten.
Renisha was of Lottera’s blood.
He felt the previous Duke’s cold gaze sweep over Count Plans. It was as if his former master, merciful to his loyal subjects and cruel to those who betrayed him, was standing before him.
Count Plans stumbled.
“...I was mad...”
Even so, there was no turning back. All he could do was move forward.
He didn’t kill Lenisha.
He merely showed her the palace’s fierceness.
Lenisha cried out in fear and accused Renisha to Laxus, but he didn’t budge.
Only then did Lenisha realize her true purpose.
“...I have to tell you the truth like this for you to understand.”
Renisha clicked her tongue in pity.
Renisha, who had thrown the apology letter Leline had sent to the floor, paced around the room.
Renisha had attacked Leline, partly to provoke Count Plans.
Count Plans, feeling threatened, had released his knights.
Renisha stared at the moon outside the window.
She could almost hear the stirrings of fate.
Kassius had come that dawn.
Renisha couldn't sleep.
She pushed Laxus on the back.
There was no way Laxus wouldn't know the Prince was in her hands.
By now, Laxus must have realized what Renisha wanted.
He wasn't stupid. He was simply observing from behind.
Renisha stared into the thick darkness with a cold gaze.
A rustle.
A red snake raised its head from the bushes.
"...Kassius."
The tension that had been building up inside Renisha seemed to dissipate.
Renisha let out a breath.
Kassius, who entered with the cold dawn breeze, embraced Renisha.
Kassius gasped for breath.
Laxus's army had moved.
The moment he realized this, he ran, breathless.
Horrific images flooded his mind.
Renisha was too close to Laxus.
The fear of losing Renisha felt like his heart was stopping.
Knights were lined up around Renisha's quarters.
Kassius was finally able to breathe comfortably after holding Renisha in his arms.
After taking several deep breaths, Kassius spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Renisha, we must leave the castle."
"...Has Laxus moved?"
"The knights who set out from the castle have turned their horses toward Hiloshine. Assassins have been deployed around the Duke of Lottera. There are knights scattered around here as well. We must flee."
He had forgotten.
Renisha was of Lottera’s blood.
He felt the previous Duke’s cold gaze sweep over Count Plans. It was as if his former master, merciful to his loyal subjects and cruel to those who betrayed him, was standing before him.
Count Plans stumbled.
“...I was mad...”
Even so, there was no turning back. All he could do was move forward.
***
He didn’t kill Lenisha.
He merely showed her the palace’s fierceness.
Lenisha cried out in fear and accused Renisha to Laxus, but he didn’t budge.
Only then did Lenisha realize her true purpose.
“...I have to tell you the truth like this for you to understand.”
Renisha clicked her tongue in pity.
Renisha, who had thrown the apology letter Leline had sent to the floor, paced around the room.
Renisha had attacked Leline, partly to provoke Count Plans.
Count Plans, feeling threatened, had released his knights.
Renisha stared at the moon outside the window.
She could almost hear the stirrings of fate.
Kassius had come that dawn.
Renisha couldn't sleep.
She pushed Laxus on the back.
There was no way Laxus wouldn't know the Prince was in her hands.
By now, Laxus must have realized what Renisha wanted.
He wasn't stupid. He was simply observing from behind.
Renisha stared into the thick darkness with a cold gaze.
A rustle.
A red snake raised its head from the bushes.
"...Kassius."
The tension that had been building up inside Renisha seemed to dissipate.
Renisha let out a breath.
Kassius, who entered with the cold dawn breeze, embraced Renisha.
Kassius gasped for breath.
Laxus's army had moved.
The moment he realized this, he ran, breathless.
Horrific images flooded his mind.
Renisha was too close to Laxus.
The fear of losing Renisha felt like his heart was stopping.
Knights were lined up around Renisha's quarters.
Kassius was finally able to breathe comfortably after holding Renisha in his arms.
After taking several deep breaths, Kassius spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Renisha, we must leave the castle."
"...Has Laxus moved?"
"The knights who set out from the castle have turned their horses toward Hiloshine. Assassins have been deployed around the Duke of Lottera. There are knights scattered around here as well. We must flee."
Renisha pursed her lips. If Renisha won this war, Laxus would become the Emperor who slaughtered his loyal subjects. Unable to bear the persecution, he would take up his sword, becoming a hero who saved the empire. To cut Laxus out of this rotten castle. Renisha hugged Cassius's back.
"Finally... It's beginning."
There was a faint joy in her voice.
“How long have I waited for this moment...”
Laxus should have been the first to draw his sword. Hadn’t she been putting in the effort to pressure Laxus for this moment? Canary’s death and Count Plans's determination must have been the final switch that moved Laxus. If you don’t want to lose what you have, you must move, Laxus.
“We must run,”
Kassius said desperately.
“Kassius, I have something I must do here.”
Renisha raised her head. She was smiling more affectionately than ever.
“Luna will protect me... and as I said before, if it becomes too dangerous, I will escape with Luna.”
Kassius felt an indescribable fear in that moment.
“Renisha...”
“Turiel, me, and Luna. The three of us can’t sneak out like this. Leaving here today...”
Renisha and Turiel’s eyes met. Turiel shook her head silently, but Renisha was quick.
“It’s Turiel. Kassius, take Turiel out.”
Kassius’s visit today was also part of Renisha’s calculations.
“Laxus can’t kill me. But he can kill Turiel. It’s Turiel who has to leave today, not me.”
Renisha spoke again. Kassius opened his mouth and closed it again. Renisha was stubborn.
“You said you’d give me anything I want, right?”
Renisha stroked Kassius’ cheek.
“You’ll do it for me, right?”
His eyes showed he would never accept no. Kassius bit his lip.
“Take this sword and come to me. I’ll be waiting here.”
Renisha decided on her path.
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