Side Story Episode 4. Strawberry
It was the moment when Baryton's nickname became firmly established as Strawberry.
The brown-haired boy was grinning.
"You are the famous His Highness Crown Prince?"
"..."
"I'm Clugh Danvers."
"The Marquis Danvers?"
Baryton tilted his head.
Baryton knew about the Marquis Danvers.
The Marquis Danvers was especially close to Renisha.
Madame Turiel, the Marquis Danvers, Chief Maid of Honor Lindy... He heard that many others had been together for a long ago.
However, the Marquis Danvers had never had a child this large.
It had only been a year since he had conceived a child.
"Ah. I'm the Marquis Danvers' younger brother. The Danvers you know is my older brother."
"Brother??"
Baryton's eyes widened.
"Yes, brother."
"T-is that right?"
Clugh shrugged. He even added that he knew the complicated family registers of nobles.
Baryton nodded, stopping his question.
That wasn’t important.
Baryton cleared his throat and asked,
“But why did you talk to me?”
“Because I was curious about the famous Strawberry. Everyone was chasing after you, wanting to see you. Those girls, and those guys over there, and those girls over there.”
“It’s not Strawberry. It’s Baryton.”
“Why? My brother also calls you the Strawberry of the Imperial Castle.”
Baryton clenched his fist.
I was being nice to him! His favorability rating for the Marquis of Danvers plummeted.
“I think I know why he calls you that.”
“Why?”
“Do you know what nickname your mother has?”
It was the first time he’d heard about his parents.
No one in the Imperial Castle spoke about Renisha.
The Emperor wasn’t someone to judge.
But, he even badmouths the Emperor when she's not around.
And wasn't this academy full of honest kids?
"What's her nickname?"
"Cherry Blossom Tree."
"Cherry Blossom Tree?"
Baryton tilted his head. Really?
"Her Majesty, your eyes are a bright pink. They say they call her that because her smile is so dazzling. I haven't seen Her Majesty, so I don't know. But I heard you look just like Her Majesty."
Thanks to that, he was already receiving a lot of love from his father.
"Your eyes are also a bright pink. Like ripe strawberries."
"It's Baryton, though."
"I know, Strawberry."
Clugh grinned mischievously.
Baryton held back a scream.
Why is it so hard to make friends?
At that moment, Clugh and Baryton had already become friends, unaware of this.
Renisha bowed her head before her parents' graves.
"Did I take too long?"
The wind seemed to caress Renisha.
“...It wasn't an easy road. Just like Father and Mother said.”
Renisha bent down and wiped the dust from the gravestone.
As if wiping away tears, she kept her hands on the gravestone until it was clean and the gloves on her hands were dirty.
“I miss you, Father. Mother.”
Renisha's voice trembled.
“I really miss you.”
Every time the traces and memories they left behind surfaced, her heart clenched, almost bursting. Even in difficult and painful moments, thinking of them kept her going.
The saddest moment was when she was giving birth.
If her parents were alive, they would have held Renisha's hand tightly.
Her mother would have encouraged and comforted her with a gentle voice.
Her father would have prepared a gift for Renisha.
“It's okay, Renisha. Just give it a little more strength!”
It was Yenica who held Renisha's hand in her mother's stead.
She had passed away last year.
Those she loved were still leaving her.
Renisha swallowed back tears.
"It was so hard. I was in pain and sad. There were times when I wanted to give up. But..."
Renisha swallowed.
"I couldn't."
Renisha shrugged.
If she failed, not only would people, but even her dead parents would point fingers at her.
Her parents, who had embraced everything in their love for her, passed away.
Renisha fiddled with the tombstone with trembling hands.
“I just couldn’t do that.”
A wind blew past Renisha.
She raised her head and gazed at the sky.
The wind seemed to caress her just now, as if she had done a very good job.
“...I love you, mother. Father. Next time, I’ll come with my son. His name is Baryton. He looks just like me, so I’m sure Mother and Father will love him.”
Renisha remained motionless for a long time.
Time had flown by as she recounted the stories she’d been holding back.
Renisha finally stood up when the sun was setting.
Kassius hugged her.
“...If they knew you, they’d be so proud of you.”
“I know,”
Renisha said with a tearful voice.
Come to think of it, wasn't Kassius also a gift from her parents?
Even in their dying moments, they cared for Renisha.
Tears flowed at that profound love.
She will never forget that love.
Thanks to Brixton and Haylin, settling down in Hiloshine was easy.
The two went down to the mansion they had prepared for themselves in Hiloshine.
It was then that the castle fully began to function as an imperial palace.
Fortunately, Haylin had made extensive preparations for the capital's relocation over the past eight years. She had paved roads and built bridges across the river.
She had divided the districts into sections, established shops, and worked to open previously closed areas and connect them to surrounding cities. She had ensured that the road network extending from Hiloshine would extend nationwide.
Furthermore, as Renisha had commanded, she had already selected the site for the railway.
"You must have had a hard time, Haylin."
Haylin had become Renisha's right-hand man.
Haylin had refused the new title.
"I need my freedom, Your Majesty."
It was the moment when Baryton's nickname became firmly established as Strawberry.
The brown-haired boy was grinning.
"You are the famous His Highness Crown Prince?"
"..."
"I'm Clugh Danvers."
"The Marquis Danvers?"
Baryton tilted his head.
Baryton knew about the Marquis Danvers.
The Marquis Danvers was especially close to Renisha.
Madame Turiel, the Marquis Danvers, Chief Maid of Honor Lindy... He heard that many others had been together for a long ago.
However, the Marquis Danvers had never had a child this large.
It had only been a year since he had conceived a child.
"Ah. I'm the Marquis Danvers' younger brother. The Danvers you know is my older brother."
"Brother??"
Baryton's eyes widened.
"Yes, brother."
"T-is that right?"
“There could be an older brother with a big age gap.”
Baryton nodded, stopping his question.
That wasn’t important.
Baryton cleared his throat and asked,
“But why did you talk to me?”
“Because I was curious about the famous Strawberry. Everyone was chasing after you, wanting to see you. Those girls, and those guys over there, and those girls over there.”
“It’s not Strawberry. It’s Baryton.”
“Why? My brother also calls you the Strawberry of the Imperial Castle.”
Baryton clenched his fist.
I was being nice to him! His favorability rating for the Marquis of Danvers plummeted.
“I think I know why he calls you that.”
“Why?”
“Do you know what nickname your mother has?”
It was the first time he’d heard about his parents.
No one in the Imperial Castle spoke about Renisha.
The Emperor wasn’t someone to judge.
But, he even badmouths the Emperor when she's not around.
And wasn't this academy full of honest kids?
"What's her nickname?"
"Cherry Blossom Tree."
"Cherry Blossom Tree?"
Baryton tilted his head. Really?
"Her Majesty, your eyes are a bright pink. They say they call her that because her smile is so dazzling. I haven't seen Her Majesty, so I don't know. But I heard you look just like Her Majesty."
Thanks to that, he was already receiving a lot of love from his father.
"Your eyes are also a bright pink. Like ripe strawberries."
"It's Baryton, though."
"I know, Strawberry."
Clugh grinned mischievously.
Baryton held back a scream.
Why is it so hard to make friends?
At that moment, Clugh and Baryton had already become friends, unaware of this.
***
Renisha bowed her head before her parents' graves.
"Did I take too long?"
The wind seemed to caress Renisha.
“...It wasn't an easy road. Just like Father and Mother said.”
Renisha bent down and wiped the dust from the gravestone.
As if wiping away tears, she kept her hands on the gravestone until it was clean and the gloves on her hands were dirty.
“I miss you, Father. Mother.”
Renisha's voice trembled.
“I really miss you.”
Every time the traces and memories they left behind surfaced, her heart clenched, almost bursting. Even in difficult and painful moments, thinking of them kept her going.
The saddest moment was when she was giving birth.
If her parents were alive, they would have held Renisha's hand tightly.
Her mother would have encouraged and comforted her with a gentle voice.
Her father would have prepared a gift for Renisha.
“It's okay, Renisha. Just give it a little more strength!”
It was Yenica who held Renisha's hand in her mother's stead.
She had passed away last year.
Those she loved were still leaving her.
Renisha swallowed back tears.
"It was so hard. I was in pain and sad. There were times when I wanted to give up. But..."
Renisha swallowed.
"I couldn't."
Renisha shrugged.
If she failed, not only would people, but even her dead parents would point fingers at her.
Her parents, who had embraced everything in their love for her, passed away.
Renisha fiddled with the tombstone with trembling hands.
“I just couldn’t do that.”
A wind blew past Renisha.
She raised her head and gazed at the sky.
The wind seemed to caress her just now, as if she had done a very good job.
“...I love you, mother. Father. Next time, I’ll come with my son. His name is Baryton. He looks just like me, so I’m sure Mother and Father will love him.”
Renisha remained motionless for a long time.
Time had flown by as she recounted the stories she’d been holding back.
Renisha finally stood up when the sun was setting.
Kassius hugged her.
“...If they knew you, they’d be so proud of you.”
“I know,”
Renisha said with a tearful voice.
Come to think of it, wasn't Kassius also a gift from her parents?
Even in their dying moments, they cared for Renisha.
Tears flowed at that profound love.
She will never forget that love.
***
Thanks to Brixton and Haylin, settling down in Hiloshine was easy.
The two went down to the mansion they had prepared for themselves in Hiloshine.
It was then that the castle fully began to function as an imperial palace.
Fortunately, Haylin had made extensive preparations for the capital's relocation over the past eight years. She had paved roads and built bridges across the river.
She had divided the districts into sections, established shops, and worked to open previously closed areas and connect them to surrounding cities. She had ensured that the road network extending from Hiloshine would extend nationwide.
Furthermore, as Renisha had commanded, she had already selected the site for the railway.
"You must have had a hard time, Haylin."
Haylin had become Renisha's right-hand man.
Haylin had refused the new title.
"I need my freedom, Your Majesty."
If my daughter leaves again, I'll follow her this time. Couldn't it be possible if Brixton d I keep pace?
She couldn't hold on to Haylin, who had built Hiloshine to this extent over the past eight years.
However, Haylin promised to help Renisha until she could fully establish herself in Hiloshine.
"Don't be so harsh. I just did what I had to do. How could I ever forget the kindness I owed Lottera and Renisha?"
Haylin smiled softly.
In the past, Haylin's family had been shattered by Laxus's blade.
It was the late Duke of Lottera who protected Haylin and helped keep her parents alive.
Thanks to him, Haylin was able to see her parents more clearly.
A year later, until they set off on their eternal journey.
Haylin decided to dedicate her life to Lottera.
So Haylin did what she had to.
"Still, you've worked hard. Brixton's rehabilitation and all..."
She couldn't hold on to Haylin, who had built Hiloshine to this extent over the past eight years.
However, Haylin promised to help Renisha until she could fully establish herself in Hiloshine.
"Don't be so harsh. I just did what I had to do. How could I ever forget the kindness I owed Lottera and Renisha?"
Haylin smiled softly.
In the past, Haylin's family had been shattered by Laxus's blade.
It was the late Duke of Lottera who protected Haylin and helped keep her parents alive.
Thanks to him, Haylin was able to see her parents more clearly.
A year later, until they set off on their eternal journey.
Haylin decided to dedicate her life to Lottera.
So Haylin did what she had to.
"Still, you've worked hard. Brixton's rehabilitation and all..."
"Then, Your Majesty, please give me a reward."
Renisha said in a hesitant voice.
"Just say whatever you want."
"We can no longer have children. I've only seen His Highness the Crown Prince in portraits. I long to see my cute and lovely niece."
Renisha blinked. A niece? She'd been so busy that she hadn't even thought about it. Baryton's younger sister.
"...I'll consider it positively."
Haylin smiled.
"Oh, how is the Princess of Shamdir doing?"
Renisha quickly changed the subject. The Princess of Shamdir was a brilliant student. She finished the eight-year academy course in five and then left for Hiloshine, saying she felt her usefulness lay in Hiloshine. Haylin smiled brightly.
"You mean Yerikana? She's doing well. She's been a huge help in Hiloshine's development. Yerikana certainly possesses a foresight that others lack."
"It was Yerikana who brought up the railroad, wasn't it?"
Hiloshine, upon learning of the conflict between the central nobles and Renisha, came up with the solution: the railroad. Using the railroad, travel from Hiloshine to the old capital would take only three hours.
"That's right. She liked to wander around even before coming here, right?"
Yerikana's first visit to Hientri was part of that.
He had volunteered to be the messenger.
“You’ve seen and heard so much. Listening to Yerikana’s stories, the days seem fleeting. She said she’d only be around for a month, so she’ll be back soon.”
It was just as Haylin had said.
Yerikana, who had toured Hiloshine and the surrounding cities, returned home in a noisy state.
“Oh my goodness, Your Majesty the Emperor!!!”
Yerikana ran towards Renisha.
Yerikana bowed to Renisha.
“I really missed you! How have you been? Are you feeling any pain? Your face looks thin...”
“Enough,”
Renisha cut her off.
“I’m perfectly fine. You don’t need to worry.”
“...I guess I was the only one gaining weight.”
Yerikana stared at Renisha with sparkling eyes.
If Renisha hadn’t been the Emperor and had been younger than Yerikana, she definitely wouldn’t have let it go.
She would have become like Yerikana’s most precious doll.
Even now, the eyes glancing at Renisha were impure.
“Actually, I bought a bunch of things to give to Your Majesty the Emperor!”
Lindy burst out laughing, unable to stop herself.
Yerikana unfolded the items she had brought in front of Renisha.
“These are pearls from the East Sea. Aren’t they really big? I think they’ll be perfect for adorning Your Majesty’s necklace. And these are diamonds from the south. A pair that can be made into earrings. These are made from the skin of a water buffalo, known as the strongest in the world, and they’re incredibly soft. I think they’ll be perfect for Your Majesty’s shoes and bag.”
Yerikana continued to unfold the items.
When the dizzying display was over, Yerikana beamed.
“You’ll keep them all, right? You have to use them!”
“I’m not a doll, Yerikana,”
Renisha said with a laugh.
“Ahh... I think it’s time for a doll that resembles Your Majesty the Emperor to come out.”
“Yerikana.”
“You’re so beautiful. How could someone like Your Majesty the Emperor exist?”
A dazed Yerikana muttered.
Renisha stuck out her tongue.
Whatever Renisha said now seemed to fall on deaf ears.
It took a long time of praising Renisha before Yerikana could calm down.
“...Actually, Yerikana, I called you here to ask if you would be my aide, as promised.”
Judging by what she's doing today, she's not sure if this was the right decision.
He had volunteered to be the messenger.
“You’ve seen and heard so much. Listening to Yerikana’s stories, the days seem fleeting. She said she’d only be around for a month, so she’ll be back soon.”
It was just as Haylin had said.
Yerikana, who had toured Hiloshine and the surrounding cities, returned home in a noisy state.
“Oh my goodness, Your Majesty the Emperor!!!”
Yerikana ran towards Renisha.
Yerikana bowed to Renisha.
“I really missed you! How have you been? Are you feeling any pain? Your face looks thin...”
“Enough,”
Renisha cut her off.
“I’m perfectly fine. You don’t need to worry.”
“...I guess I was the only one gaining weight.”
Yerikana stared at Renisha with sparkling eyes.
If Renisha hadn’t been the Emperor and had been younger than Yerikana, she definitely wouldn’t have let it go.
She would have become like Yerikana’s most precious doll.
Even now, the eyes glancing at Renisha were impure.
“Actually, I bought a bunch of things to give to Your Majesty the Emperor!”
Lindy burst out laughing, unable to stop herself.
Yerikana unfolded the items she had brought in front of Renisha.
“These are pearls from the East Sea. Aren’t they really big? I think they’ll be perfect for adorning Your Majesty’s necklace. And these are diamonds from the south. A pair that can be made into earrings. These are made from the skin of a water buffalo, known as the strongest in the world, and they’re incredibly soft. I think they’ll be perfect for Your Majesty’s shoes and bag.”
Yerikana continued to unfold the items.
When the dizzying display was over, Yerikana beamed.
“You’ll keep them all, right? You have to use them!”
“I’m not a doll, Yerikana,”
Renisha said with a laugh.
“Ahh... I think it’s time for a doll that resembles Your Majesty the Emperor to come out.”
“Yerikana.”
“You’re so beautiful. How could someone like Your Majesty the Emperor exist?”
A dazed Yerikana muttered.
Renisha stuck out her tongue.
Whatever Renisha said now seemed to fall on deaf ears.
It took a long time of praising Renisha before Yerikana could calm down.
“...Actually, Yerikana, I called you here to ask if you would be my aide, as promised.”
Judging by what she's doing today, she's not sure if this was the right decision.
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