# Chapter 100
Chapter 100
They caught attention as if they had been suddenly hit by cold water.
“W-we salute Her Highness, the Princess!
— They greeted her urgently.
“Tsk.
If this were during a war, you would all be punished for being so absent-minded!
“We apologize!
— The knights had heard many stories about Princess Cayena's temper and swallowed hard, expecting to be reprimanded.
“Get up.
The knights hesitantly rose from their bows.
Cayena laughed lightly.
She said to Jed, “It's natural they didn't recognize me.
I had been inattentive to them until now.
Their faces, flushed with embarrassment, looked refreshing and young.
When Cayena laughed, their faces soon relaxed and smiled together.
She suddenly thought of Raphael, who was similar to them in age.
He would also have the capacity for that kind of youth considering his age.
However, he did not give the impression of being young because of his unique personality and behavior.
Furthermore, his thoughts and actions were different from them.
"Nothing about him is ordinary, including his appearance.
Well, it's natural for the male protagonist..."
Cayena stopped herself from thinking about him.
“Hmm…
She had inadvertently thought of Rapahel again.
She sighed briefly and moved on.
Jed, who was next to her, noticed her expression.
He looked at her and asked:
“Did something displease you?
Jed was worried that the princess was unhappy because of the knights' attitude.
But Cayena had no problems with the knights.
They just reminded her of Raphael.
Cayena smiled self-deprecatingly, thinking she was still acting immature.
“It's not that.
I was thinking about something else.
Commander Jed kept looking at her in doubt.
Embarrassed, she smiled before offering a more appropriate excuse.
“To be honest, I haven't slept much while studying to take care of state affairs.
I didn't want others to know that...
I think I was being immature.
Vera, who followed her silently, added:
“His Highness has been working so much recently that he barely sleeps.
She was especially trying hard to improve the treatment of the central army, according to the report you sent.
“Vera.
Cayena called her name to hold her back, but Vera didn't stop there.
She continued speaking as if she wanted to hammer Cayena's deeds into Jed's head.
“There were many incidents, but Her Highness dismissed everything and said that she was fine, so her subordinates' concerns are quite numerous.
Cayena laughed, embarrassed.
She was sleeping an average of four hours a night.
She wanted to pass out, just a little, but she could handle it for now.
“But I’m glad the work is going well.”
She had worked late into the night, planning the reallocation of her budget, securing the largest textile merchant in the capital and acquiring large quantities of food, among other things.
How great would it be if energy drinks existed in this world?
“No, you don't need to try so hard.
Jed was surprised by Vera's words.
He felt gratitude towards Cayena once again.
“Thank you for your vast generosity, Your Highness.
He sincerely expressed his thanks.
“In the emperor's chambers and at the council meeting, I was satisfied.
As if a decade-old illness was being cured.
How long ago was he caught in a fierce battle with Chancellor Debussy, fighting for power?
“Your Highness and…” Looking at the princess as she walked slowly and gracefully, he carefully opened his mouth.
“… very different from what I imagined.
“Is that so?
Cayena smiled.
It had been a long time since Jed served such a flexible member of the imperial family.
Interestingly, this made him remember his youth and he felt energized.
“I will continue to support the central army with my palace budget until it becomes stable.
"If you are going to put someone in your debt, you have to definitely do it so that the other person feels sorry.
Then they will remember it with their hearts."
Cayena continued to smile and said:
“Right now, I would like you to focus all your energy on repairing the situation, Knight Commander.
Jed lowered his head in a bow.
“To transform the central army into an influential force, appearance is also important.
“After the completion of the agrarian reforms, I andI was thinking about placing only the elite knights in the palace.
“Excellent.
It would be beneficial if a fixed number of knights were stationed and managed here.
After speaking with Jed, Cayena looked around the training room.
She swallowed hard and thought about what to do next.
First, the land that needed to be cleared around the capital needed to be identified.
Afterwards, she had to study administration to prepare for the next board meeting and make more snacks for Rezef.
“Plus, my coming of age ceremony is coming up.”
Cayena told Jed one last thing before doing other work.
“Please purchase all necessary items without reservation.
Simply attach receipts to your report.
“As you command.
Then a servant came to Cayena.
She had sent the servant to request an audience with the emperor.
The servant bowed and said:
“His Majesty says you may enter.
“All good.
Should we go?
Cayena happily followed the servant.
She was going to gift the silver spoons she prepared today.
They quickly walked to the emperor's chambers.
When they reached the room, a voice from inside granted them permission to enter.
“I greet Your Imperial Majesty, Father.
The emperor stood up and said: — I heard that you visited the Hamels.
“Yes.
I briefly went to see my esteemed aunt.
Emperor Esteban looked at his daughter's face.
She was difficult to understand; Cayena seemed to be getting more adept at containing her expressions.
She had already relaxed to a certain extent, but now she was restrained to a frightening degree.
“She decided something.”
Cayena had grown into a ruler ready for power.
“You must always pay attention to your relatives so that none of them have strange ideas in their heads.
“I will keep your teachings in mind, Father.
That's what Cayena replied, but internally she felt it was an unusual thing to say.
You should always be attentive to your relatives, shouldn't you?
“Is not the sight before me the result of not being attentive?”
Cayena looked at her father, who was thinner than before, and called Vera.
“Vera, bring what we prepared.
Vera brought a box wrapped in silk, a sign that she had been blessed by the temple.
“What is that?
“It's a silver spoon that was blessed by the temple.
Each of the five silver spoons in the box was decorated with jewels of different colors.
All were beautiful in form and adornment.
“I prepared you in the hope that you will recover your health soon, father, and stay with us for a long time.
In this castle full of schemes and trickery, a silver spoon was one of the most important items anyone could have.
Furthermore, the temple even verified that it was made of genuine silver and blessed it.
“Child, there was no need for that.
You must be busy with the affairs of the empire.
“How could I not care?
Cayena smiled.
Then, she looked around the chamber and noticed an anxious attendant with his head down.
It was the servant who poisoned the emperor's tea and he had already drunk the poison with Cayena.
“You there.
She called that attendant deliberately.
He shuddered.
“Y-yes?
Cayena pointed to the box with the spoons and said: — Take it and leave.
Immediately, the servant approached and received the silver spoons.
His expression didn't look very good.
Grand Chamberlain Luden, who was next to them, smiled.
“His Highness's filial piety grows every day.
The princess must be the role model for all nobles, Your Majesty.
Cayena smiled and lowered her head a little.
“I've heard about the central army.
You did splendidly.
“You flatter me.
The emperor was about to tell her that she didn't need to be so humble when he broke into a coughing fit.
His face became paler.
Luden said with a hardened expression, “His Majesty needs to rest now.
“That seems to be the best.
So, I will be back.
Cayena got up from her seat.