The Villainess is a Marionette

“I mean the underhanded bunch that attacked that child. I watched all those children come from the same direction.”

Cayena still had the mesh put up, so the smile on her face was clearly visible.

“I remember all of their faces, too. Shall we search for them together?”

The principal turned pale and hurriedly waved his hands.

“No, Your Highness! I’ll find them!”

With a relaxed smile, Cayena calmly added, “I hope that you’ll take care of it according to the academy’s regulations.”

“Of course. I’ll… I’ll follow the rules.”

At the mention of the academy’s regulations, the principal’s face fell.

‘If we follow school regulations, is it suspension? Or is it expulsion?’

The students who fought were children from renowned families.

They must have believed in the strength of their households to touch the Emperor’s love child.

If they were punished according to the regulations, it would be difficult for the principal to maintain his position. But that was nothing that concerned Cayena.

Cayena continued with a wily expression.

“Then, I need to treat my younger sibling’s handsome face. Where is the infirmary?”

“…It’s this way.”

The principal listened carefully to the nuance of Cayena’s words. She distinctly called him ‘my younger sibling.’

“Shall we go?”

Cayena reached out a hand to Ethel.

“……”

Ethel looked down at a gloved hand that had some blood on the thumb. He knew that Cayena had protected him.

‘Why?’

It was a natural question.

Until now, they had lived like strangers. They had never met each other before.

So it didn’t make sense for her to suddenly take care of him as her younger brother. Did she perhaps want something from him?

At that moment, Cayena spoke.

“When you don’t have power, you have to make use of powerful people.”

Ethel raised his head at her words. Cayena still looked carefree.

“Knowing how to take someone’s hand is one way to survive.”

‘Did she… Did she mean I should use her?’

Ethel hesitated, then grabbed her hand. As he did, Cayena smiled widely like he had done something good.

“Let’s go.”

His hand, held tightly in hers, felt warm.

Ethel matched her stride, though he looked like he was reluctantly being dragged.

Somehow, his heart tickled.

They arrived at the infirmary. However, there was no nurse. The principal was very flustered.

“If you would wait a minute, I will find someone to assist you!”

“It’s fine. You’re dismissed.”

“E-excuse me?”

“I’ll take care of it myself, so leave. It might take you some time to find the student group that committed the assault.”

“…Then, I’ll be on my way.”

Cayena sat Ethel down and rummaged through the nurse’s office. Ethel looked at her doubtfully.

“Do you know what you’re looking for?”

She took out a bottle of medicine and slightly shook it.

“They have labels on them.”

Cayena prepared the alcohol, cotton, and ointment and began to take off her gloves to treat him.

“I will do it, Your Highness.”

Olivia, who was next to her, said, but Cayena shook her head.

“It’s all right.”

She took care of Ethel’s wounds herself. When Ethel frowned at the stinging, she even blew on the wound.

Ethel could not bear his embarrassment. He asked, “…Why are you doing this for me?”

Cayena said airily, “It’s natural for an adult to protect a child. Besides, you’re my younger brother.”

Ethel bit his lips and muttered in a sad voice. “But I’m just a bastard.”

On the other hand, Cayena’s parentage could not be disputed by anyone. She was the one and only child of the Emperor and the late empress.

“That isn’t a reason for you to not be protected.”

Cayena discovered that he was much softer than he was before. But maybe his heart was different.

She dropped the hand that was applying the ointment and asked, “Does my behavior make you feel uncomfortable?”

Ethel unintentionally grabbed Cayena’s hand as it drifted away from him.

The urgent touch surprised Cayena. Meanwhile, Ethel was shocked by his own behavior and took back his hand.

He glanced away and spoke in a small voice.

“…It doesn’t.”

Cayena began to apply the ointment again with a kind smile.

“I’m glad.”

It was the first time that an adult other than his mother looked after him like this.

The affectionate concern and protection that Cayena offered him was sweet. Ethel wriggled his hand.

“You shouldn’t gain scars.”

After applying the ointment to his face, Cayena also fixed his disheveled hair.

His school uniform was messed up, so he would have to change to a different one.

“Olivia, will you bring a change of clothes for Ethel?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Cayena then called for her new escort knight for today.

“Ansel.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Tell the principal to take care of Ethel’s classes. He’ll come back for his afternoon classes.”

“Wouldn’t it be dangerous for you to be alone?”

Cayena shook her head at the knight’s worry.

“There’s another knight here who took down five people by himself, so it’ll be all right.”

Ethel’s face burned red at those words.

“I heed your order.”

The princess’s retainers left to carry out their orders, leaving only the two of them behind.

Ethel thought that there was nothing Cayena couldn’t make happen if she willed it. He realized that this must be what they called ‘power.’

Everything he thought could never be done, she was doing with ease.

The principal, who treated Ethel like a bug, could not threaten him with the school rules.

Ethel had never seen him so embarrassed except for when he was dealing with the Kedrey heir.

‘Someone like that helped me.‘

Ethel had no other siblings.

Most of those he considered his friends left him when the Emperor became ill. The only person he could depend on was his mother. However, his mother felt overwhelmed as she tried to maintain their normal lives. Every time that happened, Ethel felt guilty. His mother was suffering because he was born.

He had no desire to become the crown prince. He only wanted a little peace and his family.

He wanted to put the flowers his mother liked on a table and eat together, and he also wanted to have a puppy. He desired the sort of everyday life where, when he came to the academy, he could get along with his friends.

Right now, everything was a mess. In crumbles. Slowly, little by little, everything was turning dark… Until he met Cayena today. She wasn’t bright like the sun, nor was she as dangerous as candlelight.

She was just like the soft moonlight. She only gave the amount of light that he needed, but strangely, he felt certain that she would always be there.

While Ethel was going through a change of heart, Cayena was lost in other thoughts.

‘If Rezef can’t get his act together and becomes a tyrant, this child will become the emperor.’

When she thought about it, she couldn’t help but feel distressed.

She was taking measures to ensure that such a situation wouldn’t happen.

Nonetheless, she knew well that one person may not make a difference, no matter how hard she worked.

Knock, knock.

Olivia, who obtained new clothes, entered. Cayena handed over the clothes to Ethel.

“Will you take off your clothes?”

“W-what are you talking about?!”

At his cry, Cayena widened her eyes.

“Don’t you have wounds on your body? I have to apply the ointment.”

‘Even if I’m young… And even if I’m her younger brother, this is…’

Ethel flushed red up to his neck.

“I’ll do it myself, so it’s fine!”

“Well… If you say so.”

Cayena casually thought, ‘Is this kid already going through puberty?’

Olivia, who saw this scene from the side, turned her head slightly as if she was laughing. Every so often, Cayena acted like an old noblewoman. She didn’t seem to be aware of it, though.

Then, the escort knight returned.

“I received confirmation that the principal will take care of the classes, as you said. Also, I saw that the carriage from the Kedrey duchy has arrived.”

“Already?”

It was earlier than they had agreed to meet. Of course, Cayena also arrived before the scheduled time.

“Olivia, would you go greet Sir Raphael first?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Ethel quietly listened to their conversation, holding the uniform tightly in his hand. It seemed Cayena would leave soon for an appointment.

He quickly stood up and went behind a partition. For some reason, he felt annoyed, and he threw his ruined clothes on the floor.

On the other side of the partition, Cayena asked, “Can you put it on by yourself? Do you need help?”

Ethel squawked.

“I’m 13 years old! I can dress myself!”

‘Does puberty happen around the age of 13…?’

Cayena shook her head.

It was already difficult to deal with her younger brother who could become a tyrant. She didn’t expect she’d also have to deal with their youngest brother who was going through puberty.

She sighed so subtly that others couldn’t perceive it.

~~~