# Chapter 11
Chapter 11
“… the princess didn’t discuss this with my mother, did she?”
He frowned as he added this circumstantial evidence to his hypothesis.
Unaware of his complex inner thoughts, his mother praised the women.
“They are all wise and virtuous girls,” she said.
Raphael took a sip of strong tea to moisten his mouth.
“A wise and virtuous young woman”
He remembered the different characteristics of his potential partners that Cayena mentioned.
Dolores Avon, who was an expert at piano and embroidery, fainted at the sight of blood.
Rita Brukin, who was violent and trained as a knight.
And Olivia Grace, who was sponsored by her mother and recommended by the princess.
“…I think I got a sign.”
The princess had given him very accurate information.
And if your words were right
"None of them are fit to be a duchess.
I'm sure of that."
The duchess pointed to a portrait.
“What do you think of Lady Grace?
She is not lacking in any way, and she is very smart.
“I have no intention of getting married, mother.
— replied Raphael.
Rationally, though, his mother was right.
The most important thing for the family is that he solidifies his position.
However, Raphael was disgusted at the thought of anyone being interested in him.
How could he choose such a wife?
If it was just someone to sit with during meals, he would have already chosen someone.
But Raphael felt no affection for anyone other than himself.
He never felt love for his own mother.
Her presence in his territory caused him a lot of stress.
“You can't really say that,” she said.
“Don't forget that getting married quickly is for the good of your family, Raphinha.
It was a cold reminder that didn't fit with the friendly nickname she gave him.
The duchess quickly stood up as soon as she finished saying what she had to say.
Then, she left, and the door closed firmly behind her.
Raphael once again noticed the portraits that were still neatly placed on the table.
His eyes stopped on Olivia's image.
She was a striking beauty, with wheat-colored hair and green eyes.
How did Cayena know?
How did she end up discussing his potential wife with him at the right time?
Raphael spoke to a butler who had entered the dining room.
“Tell Jeremy to request an audience with Her Highness, Cayena.
“Yes sir.
He was curious about the princess.
As soon as Cayena arrived at her palace, she noticed that her room was messy.
“I see you didn't clean this room.
“I apologize, Your Highness!
— The young lady-in-waiting in charge of cleaning the chamber was surprised and her knees buckled beneath her.
“Make sure you don't make that mistake again.
“Yes, Your Majesty.
The ladies-in-waiting secretly exchanged glances, seeing how Cayena generously ignored the mistake.
The princess has definitely changed.
She was much more mature now.
And since they were the closest to her, they were the ones who saw how much she had changed.
“I would like to rest now, so you can go.
“Then please excuse us.
The ladies left Cayena's rooms and went to the salon.1
Some servants brought tea and refreshments for the ladies' break.
The products they brought were of much higher quality than before.
“Lydia.
Vera called Lydia, the lady-in-waiting responsible for cleaning the room.
“Why didn't you fulfill your duties properly?
You are not a poor lady-in-waiting to make such a mistake.
Lydia made a face of displeasure at Vera's reprimand.
“His Highness has forgiven me, so why are you bringing this up?
She immediately started scolding Lydia back.
“It's just the room.
Just because I skipped today…
“What?
Vera was stunned.
Lydia originally behaved because Cayena had a temper, but in reality, Lydia was arrogant because she came from an influential family.
Now that Cayena was more kind and tolerant, Lydia quickly showed her true personality.
“And the one who hired me was Prince Rezef, not Princess Cayena.
Among everyone who gathered here, who wasn't?
They were all brought by Rezef to be Cayena's ladies-in-waiting.
“His Highness Rezef will protect me no matter what.
He needs my family's power.
The servants around Lydia began to agree with her one by one.
“Really, it is Vera who must not forget our mission.
We are the people of PRprince Rezef.
“Don't you know that we can't let Princess Cayena's influence become too strong?
“…
Vera couldn't speak while listening to that foolish conversation.
“They realize this, but they don’t understand why we were planted as their ladies-in-waiting.”
The reason became apparent just by seeing Lydia Benzeman, who came from the most powerful family among them.
They were like chicken ribs.
In other words, they weren't worth much, but it was better to have them than to throw them away.
Vera lost all desire to reprimand them.
They were peerless fools.
“Why are you butting in and making noise?
— They murmured as they passed Vera.
“…
She felt dejected.
And now that she saw the true nature of those she believed to be her colleagues, she felt tired.
“How did I think I could be recognized in this place?”
In fact, most of the female servants gathered here were targeting Rezef.
He was the only prince of the Empire, and his soft and gentle appearance shook their hearts.
They were under the impression that they could save him and melt his cold, cruel nature.
“As if that could happen.”
Vera knew what that would be like.
None of them would be a match for Rezef.
As for her, she just wanted to be recognized for her own values.
If she could be recognized, perhaps it would be enough to receive a title of nobility or establish her family's influence.
“I'm sure Her Highness made me stay with her today for a reason.”
Vera's mind was confused.
After dismissing her ladies-in-waiting, Cayena leaned back comfortably on the sofa.
“Because of Vera’s nature, she does not neglect her work.”
The division between her and the other court ladies was proceeding as planned.
It was very similar to Cayena's first life too.
In the original, Vera increased her influence by accusing the other ladies-in-waiting of incompetence and negligence.
But now, the situation was a little different.
“She’ll start to realize that Rezef doesn’t care.”
However, Rezef would definitely be the next emperor.
This was Vera's biggest reason for hesitation.
So Cayena needed to calm the confusion in Vera's mind.
“What would be the best way to do this?
At his murmur, the maidservants briefly raised their heads before continuing to clean the room.
Unlike their ladies-in-waiting, the servants came from humble circumstances.
They were relatively beyond Rezef's control, as most of them could not read or write.
So Cayena currently only had the maids in her room.
“Don't clean things too well.
Make it seem like you were reluctant to do it.
“Yes, Your Majesty.
Rezef entrusted the care of the servants to his ladies-in-waiting, but the lady who commanded them today was the problem.
“Your intelligence saved yourselves.
The servants, Donna and Annie, smiled.
As soon as Lydia ordered them not to clean the room today, they secretly reported the fact to Cayena.
Cayena discovered that Lydia was quite hated among the servants.
“You can use my name to get the medicine you need.
Then, Donna prostrated herself on the floor.
“Thank you, Your Highness!
— Donna's parents were sick, but a maid's salary was not enough to cover the price of medicine.
Donna thought it was definitely good to be on Cayena's side.
She clenched her fist.
This was something that Lydia, her direct superior, should be careful about.
However, Lydia hated the idea of asking Cayena for anything.
It would have hurt his pride to make such a trivial request of her when she could become the next empress.
“Lydia will become more reckless and foolish.”
In Cayena's first life, Lydia eventually became unafraid of Cayena's temper and refused to submit to her, acting undisciplined until the end.
It was also part of his duties to report all of Cayena's movements to Rezef.
“She’d better get out of here as soon as possible.”
Lydia ended up being executed by Rezef.
And although Cayena intended to cut off her tail, at least she would keep her life.
“Now that I am stronger and have more power, I have to use that power.”
The original novel began with Raphael's marriage proposal to Olivia.
Cayena had to prepare herself for this moment.
She needed to coordinate the timing of Olivia's entry into her palace.
Cayena told Rezef that she wanted Olivia as one of her ladies-in-waiting.
However, it would be difficult toto Rezef to bring her, as Olivia was sponsored by the Kedrey Duchy.
“If she becomes a lady-in-waiting at Rezef's request rather than the emperor's, she will step away from the Kedrey dukedom.
So it would be a political problem for Raphael and Olivia to get married.
Cayena was trying to put the two together.
She had no intention of getting in the way.
“Annie, bring me some stationery.
“Yes, Your Majesty.
Cayena wrote a very brief letter, disregarding the flowery introductions.
"Olivia will not move because of Rezef's orders.
I have to do this so that she becomes one of mine, regardless of Rezef."
The Grace family was humble but loyal.
They would never betray their sponsors, the Kedreys.
At the moment, they were pretending that they didn't know that Rezef was asking for their daughter, but Rezef would eventually pressure them.
It was because Rezef hated being challenged or humiliated.
He might be angry at how such a humble family dared to ignore his request.
Cayena let the wax drip from the red candlestick and pressed the wax with an unengraved stamp to seal it.
His secret letter was complete.
“Annie.
“Yes, Your Majesty.
Annie, even in the same uniform as the others, looked very stylish.
If she wore a good enough dress, she would look like a noblewoman.
“I have a mission for you.
Cayena handed the sealed letter to Annie.
“Take this to Marreth Salon on Lawrence Street.
In the meantime, she would have to distract Rezef.
Cayena stood up and said:
“I will go to the prince's palace.