The Villainess is a Marionette

His blunt method of speaking made it easy for other people to misconstrue his intentions. And, as expected, all the court ladies standing behind Cayena gasped. They traded glances with each other, wondering if this might be a sign of romantic interest.

But Cayena, the one receiving his comment, did not misunderstand at all.

“You seem to have enjoyed the tea that I served last time.”

“The tea was definitely delicious,” Raphael replied.

“…I wasn’t asking for your impression.”

“I thought I should give you a present as thanks.”

When Raphael beckoned, his attendant handed Vera a box wrapped in cloth. She opened the box. Inside, there were three silver cylindrical containers. The delicately crafted containers were beautiful. On the handle of the lid, there was a ruby cut into a circle.

‘…Aren’t these tea leaves ones that you can only buy at an auction?’

Cayena could instantly recognize the packaging. It was that well known.

This brand of black tea was reputed to be difficult to obtain even with money because the production volume was small.

It seemed too much as a gift, but it wasn’t bad as an excuse for their reunion.

“Take all of this away,” Cayena instructed, addressing the servants to put away the tea leaves as well as the jewels that the Emperor had given her. Several of her ladies-in-waiting and servants left to do her bidding.

“It seems that the things I told you last time were quite informative, seeing as you even prepared a return gift.”

She had only advised him to meet Olivia, but Raphael hadn’t met with her yet. And, technically, that wouldn’t solve his troubles as she claimed it would.

“I haven’t met with Lady Olivia Grace yet.”

“Is that so?” Cayena looked out the window. “It’s a nice day. Why don’t we take a walk?”

By that, she was inviting him to go outside and talk.

Raphael nodded. “As you wish.”

As soon as they agreed to go on a walk, Vera said, “Then I will prepare a parasol, Your Highness.”

“It’s fine. Sometimes it’s good to get some sun.”

Raphael approached Cayena’s side and offered his arm to escort her.

Like before, Cayena held his arm very loosely.

‘Since he hates touching people.’

She didn’t notice Raphael’s strange gaze because she was focusing only on that part.

“Let’s walk to the back garden.”

In one corner of the back garden, there was a path decorated like a quiet country road.

That was the spot Cayena suggested to him. At the front of the path, Cayena abandoned her ladies-in-waiting.

“You all should wait here.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Even Raphael told his attendants not to follow him.

The two walked along the secluded path. As soon as the gazes that followed them disappeared, Cayena removed her hand from his arm.

Raphael paused for a moment, then lowered his arm.

“It’s surprising that Sir Kedrey isn’t trying to avoid being alone with me.”

At that, Raphael’s gaze traveled downward to Cayena’s profile.

Without thinking, his eyes were drawn to her golden hair, which gently grazed her cheek.

“Is there any reason I should avoid you?”

Cayena turned her head and met his eyes. Her gaze seemed to question why he asked something so obvious.

“What if I annoy you by sticking close to you, as I once did?”

He knew that she had changed, but he didn’t know that she would describe her past self so bitterly. It was as if she was talking about someone else entirely. Of course, it wasn’t that he was unwary of Cayena.

Cayena didn’t stop talking with just that, though.

“I don’t think you’ll believe me right away, but regardless, I want to apologize to you.”

She stopped walking.

There was a distance of about two steps between the two. It was a suitably polite distance.

“I hope you will forgive me for all my disrespect so far.”

Could a person change her attitude so quickly like this?

Usually, no. So Raphael did not carelessly accept that Cayena’s apology was sincere. He wouldn’t have been surprised at all if she suddenly reverted and called him by his nickname.

However, the act of apologizing was meaningful, independent of whether it was sincere.

‘This is a political gesture.’

As Cayena was from the imperial family, she was allowed to take some liberties when she was fond of someone. This was true even if the object of her affections was the young master of the Kedrey dukedom.

If her interest in Raphael cooled, it was okay for her to act like she had never been interested in the first place. However, Cayena refused to do so and apologized, speaking openly. It meant that there was a reason for her to avoid him holding a grudge against her.

‘What could that reason be?’

He thought that it might be an extension of the last time she tried to solve his problems.

“I’m being sincere, so please accept my apology.”

Raphael began to look defensive.

Cayena seemed to have expected it, as she bet her honor on it this time.

“I swear on my honor that I won’t do so again.”

At this point, Raphael became very curious. What exactly did she want to negotiate for her to do all this?

He realized that he had to accept this apology in order to find out what Cayena wanted from him.

“It’s water under the bridge. You needn’t worry about it now.”

Raphael thought that it was a political move, but Cayena’s apology was, in fact, half-sincere.

Apologizing like this and being forgiven relieved a little of the guilt that remained in Cayena’s heart. It was residual guilt from her life before she returned, though Raphael couldn’t remember it.

“Thank you.”

So, she was able to smile, feeling relieved. The wind lightly tussled her flowing golden hair.

It was good to see that smile. It was a little weird for Raphael to think such a thing.

How did that smile make him feel that way?

He tilted his head slightly. He didn’t understand this situation, this mood, nor his feelings.

“Then, I’m sure you’ve noticed that I had other intentions. I’ll tell you them now.”

His previous sentiment did not last long. This was because Cayena started focusing on business again. The smile on Cayena’s mouth disappeared as she became serious once more.

Raphael strangely felt regretful.

“I asked you to meet Lady Grace. She herself is brilliant, but there are also political reasons for this.”

As they started to head back toward the garden, she explained why.

“I’m going to select Lady Olivia as one of my ladies-in-waiting soon.”

Although Rezef already requested her to come in as Cayena’s court lady, that wasn’t enough to make it happen.

“If so, couldn’t we roughly predict Duchess Kedrey’s reaction?”

“She will cut off her support to the Grace family and act as if the marriage talks never happened.”

“Exactly. But it’s not just Olivia that matters.”

“Do you mean that the other two ladies who have been in talks with my mother will also be selected as your court ladies?”

Cayena shook her head.

“No. Instead, there will be other reasons for not being able to choose their families.”

Reasons that he couldn’t choose their families?

Raphael said the first thing that came to his mind.

“Are you going to support the prince or Archduke Heinrich as the next emperor?”

“If I could do such a thing, it would be a great method. But it’s a little hard to do with such a short amount of time.”

Cayena read the original novel and had quite a bit of information.

For example, a family’s corruption or scandal.

“Since nobles do not work, they often lose their sense of reality. They think that money grows on trees.”

“You are saying that they’re passing over bonds and being mortgaged by another family. If that’s so, the head of the family will be replaced.”

It was a rare event, but it was still rather boring.

“It’s hard to know for certain unless you actually check the ledger,” Cayena said. “The Avon family’s bonds will soon be passed over, and their existence will be in jeopardy. Your duchy could potentially pay off the debt. But what if Archduke Heinrich was involved in that event?”

“Archduke Heinrich…?”

The peerlessly cunning old fox actively used others’ debt to grow in power. He brought a family down toward bankruptcy and put them under his control. In that way, he quickly became stronger.

“Then, the last remaining option would be the Brukin family. But I’m sure the marriage talks with them will end as well.”

“Why do you believe that?”

“Rita Brukin has a hereditary madness. This news is staying within her family right now, but I’m sure it’ll be exposed to the noble society soon.”

In an aristocratic society, where one has to give birth to a successor who will inherit the family, it was a fatal blow to one’s marriage prospects.

“Now, this has made all the families chosen by Duchess Kedrey useless. Congratulations on breaking up your engagement, Sir Kedrey.”

Among these incidents, the only thing Cayena directly affected was her trying to win over Olivia Grace.

‘Because the two must get together, the other families must be flawed.’

And thanks to that, Cayena was able to use the information for her own safety.

“According to your words, I won’t be told to marry for a while.”

“That’s correct.”

“Then, what are you aiming for, Your Highness?”

Cayena answered without hesitation.

“Your trust.”

Raphael was silent at these unexpected words.

His trust? Why would she need that?

~~~