The Villainess is a Marionette

In this era, there were no special toys. Male aristocrats often rode horses as a hobby. As such, they liked to bet which families owned the faster horse.

‘It would be good to give Ethel a Thoroughbred or a Hackney horse.’¹

“Thank you for the counsel.”

Cayena gave Annie a small pearl ring that she had placed on the table.

“This is too much, Your Highness!”

The surface of the pearl was smooth and polished. It was clearly a superior product.

“Please take it. Your advice was very helpful.”

“Thank you for your kindness.”

Annie gratefully received the ring.

‘Who is this 13-year-old?’

Annie continued to think about the child’s identity while she continued the massage. Finally, something flashed in her mind.

‘It’s Ethel Lindbergh!’

At that moment, Vera returned to the bedroom.

“Is there anything important?” Cayena asked.

“Lady Catherine has been officially registered as Count Hamel’s foster daughter. She’ll be moving to a mansion owned by the Hamels.”

It seemed that Rezef had followed through on what Cayena had previously told him to do.

“She’s now part of my family from my mother’s side. Could you find a good horse with a proper pedigree? I should give her a gift and say hello sometime this week.”

“I shall prepare it.”

Annie pretended to focus on the massage while keeping her ears open. As she supposed, the present was for Ethel Lindbergh. She would have to go to the Kedrey villa today and inform the duke.

Susan reentered the office as well, having left before to retrieve stationery for Cayena.

“This is enough,” Cayena said to Annie. She stood up.

Cayena wrote a letter to Catherine and ordered Olivia to deliver it right away.

“I’m planning to see Catherine Hamel tomorrow, so get her reply.”

“I will heed your order.”

Olivia bowed her head.

***

The archduke and his people were busy trying to erase evidence about the princess’s abduction and the gunpowder production. Rezef’s supporters were sidetracked by the issue with the Evans cannabis farm, and Rezef was secluding himself for other reasons. In any case, the whole world was distracted by the problems linked to Cayena.

In contrast, Cayena was leisurely preparing to go out after waking up. She got ready while eating freshly baked, chewy bread dipped in soup.

“I haven’t seen Julia today, either.”

Vera rubbed her forehead and spoke breathlessly. “She suddenly asked for a leave. I said that Your Highness had to approve it, but…”

“It’s all right. The princess’s palace is stable now.”

Of course Julia wouldn’t be able to attend to the princess, what with the troubles in her family.

Thinking that, Cayena glanced at herself in the mirror.

A dark blue silk ribbon embroidered with gold thread was woven into her updo.

Her dress was a refreshing mint color. Her earrings and necklace matched; both had pearls that gave off a delicate sheen.

Susan brought over a pastel-colored corsage.

“Would you like to wear it on your waist?”

Cayena said yes, and Susan pinched the fabric of the dress to secure the corsage. With the pleats, the skirt of the dress looked more abundant and elegant.

“So you can also wear corsages like this,” Olivia admired from beside them. “I think Miss Susan’s eyes must be as sharp as those of the most fashionable dressmakers.”

Susan shrugged. “Blanc’s Boutique? They’re fine, but their main customers are young singles. It’s far from the dignity of the imperial court.”

Cayena recalled the apricot-colored dress she wore at Raphael’s home. It certainly had a fresh and energetic feeling.

Vera explained, “It’s likely because many young women go there when they become of marriageable age.”

“Ah.”

“You’ll probably be able to see many of their dresses at Her Highness’s coming-of-age celebration.”

Cayena smiled slyly at them. “You three are also young and unmarried. Do you have a dress for the celebration?”

Their faces turned grim.

‘Was Julia the only one who was interested in marriage?’

Cayena found it a bit funny how none of them were keen on marriage. She burst into laughter.

After calming down, she said seriously, “I’ve sent a lot of fabric and jewelry to your homes, so you have to wear dresses that are comparable to Blanc’s.”

“…Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness.”

They had no choice but to accept and thank her. Olivia, though, was relatively calm. In her case, the imperial gifts from Cayena were absolutely necessary.

“Speaking of, I believe that Olivia’s younger sister is debuting at the celebration. Her name was Emma, right?”

“Yes.”

“I hope she will make pleasant memories. Please let her know that.”

Olivia bowed her head.

“Thank you for your concern.”

Once Cayena finished grooming, she gave Susan a golden plaque for her hard work. Susan’s eyes began to sparkle.

“You wanted to see the palace library, correct?”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Susan was very knowledgeable about old books, art, and antiques because of her interest in them.

She had always looked toward Cayena because she couldn’t see the art in the castle without the permission of someone from the imperial family. Knowing that, Cayena gave Susan the gold plaque to prove she had permission.

“You probably want to take a look right away, so go ahead.”

“Thank you.”

Susan quickly bid them goodbye and left the dressing room.

Vera’s head throbbed.

‘In this situation, she should say “No, Your Highness.” ‘

Both Julia and Susan still lacked awareness as the princess’s ladies-in-waiting.

“Oh, by the way. What’s the status of Ethel’s gift?”

Vera replied, “Miss Susan said she would ask the Lepores.”

The Lepores were Susan’s family, so they would send over their best colt. Cayena felt that perhaps Susan liked her better than she had thought.

‘She’s someone who’ll do as she likes, whether or not I order her around.’

Not bad. Cayena was relieved that there wouldn’t be any unnecessary distractions.

She told Olivia to prepare a carriage. Once Olivia had also left, Vera brought up a surreptitious topic.

“Annie left the imperial palace yesterday as well. I had someone follow her, but she immediately shook them off. She’s quite skillful.”

They still did not know whose spy she was. However, they had cast the bait; sooner or later, she would slip.

“And…” Vera continued speaking with great difficulty. “Baroness Clarence Elivan’s obituary arrived through a messenger today.”

This was news that Cayena had already heard. She had hidden the envelope on which her nanny had drawn in the depths of her letter box.

“I’m sorry to inform you of such news.” Vera lowered her head, unable to hide her sorrow.

Cayena’s lips moved for an instant before closing them again quietly.

She had to ask about the cause of death.

Her nanny was murdered, but it was disguised as a suicide. Suicide was a dishonorable death.

The Temple would not accept her body if she was said to have cut off her own breath.

Cayena gulped and asked, “…How?”

“It was judged to be suicide, but the Temple received an anonymous tip that it was murder.”

‘It must have been Raphael.’

It was clear to Cayena that the anonymous informant was Raphael.

Her throat burned.

“I see… That’s a pity. Find out if Baroness Elivan has any relatives and take care of their safety.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Then, let’s go.”

Cayena went to where her carriage was waiting. She was about to see Catherine Hamel, who had become her relative.

That was the ostensible reason, but Cayena had a separate purpose as well.

‘I’ll ask Catherine to be my chaperone.’

Catherine was ridiculed by society for being the emperor’s defrocked lover. Nonetheless, she had unexpectedly become Count Hamel’s foster daughter, shaking up the social world.

Cayena would further drive in the wedge.

The imperial princess’s chaperone was a position of great honor. This was even more so for a chaperone who would accompany her at a nation-wide anniversary.

Having Catherine as a chaperone would show everyone once and for all that Cayena regarded the woman as family.

Cayena had a reason to help her.

‘If I fail to succeed the throne, Ethel must become the next emperor.’

His birthright, supporting family, and influence had to be established starting now. Rezef could not be allowed to become the emperor again and kill innocents.

“I’ll be back.”

Cayena left the imperial castle with Olivia as her only lady-in-waiting.

~~~

^{1. Thoroughbreds are racing horses, and Hackneys pull carriages. This isn’t really relevant to the story, but it’s kind of cool.↩}