# Chapter 12
Chapter 12
As Rezef listened to his subordinate's report, his hand stopped writing the letter.
“Your Majesty, the Emperor spoke to the princess as if he was going to allow her to choose her own husband.
“Did my father do this?
Rezef asked if anything about Raphael came up during this conversation.
The subordinate shook his head and said:
“She said she didn't want to marry Lord Raphael.
“Is that so?
Cayena must have been serious about her condition of wanting to marry someone of her choice.
It was convenient for Rezef that the emperor pressured Raphael using Cayena as an excuse—he was a little sad that that excuse was gone.
“But they also say that His Highness had tea with Lord Raphael after his audience with the emperor.
“…two of them?
“Yes.
Ms.
Lydia came and briefed us on how to prepare the tea.
“Are you saying that Raphael obediently agreed to this?
“Yes.
Her Highness Cayena offered to help him solve his problems if he would join her for tea.
Rezef furrowed his eyebrows.
Then, the Cayena who looked directly at him appeared in his thoughts.
“What did the two of you talk about?
“The lady-in-waiting named Vera said that they were talking about marriage partners, and His Highness criticized the families' daughters.
However, she praised Lady Olivia Grace.
"She praised Olivia Grace...
and why is she going to become one of her ladies-in-waiting?
Was it because of me?"
Rezef couldn't understand his actions.
Nowadays, Cayena looked different and at the same time different from the sister he knew.
“… all is well then.
You can leave now.
He couldn't pay much attention to it because he had too much to deal with at the moment.
There was a lot of care to be taken to reverse the situation with the attempted murder.
Knock, Knock.
As the knock echoed through the room, a servant entered.
“Your Highness, Zenon Evans is asking to see you.
“Let him in.
Zenon Evans entered the office and began to bow.
Rezef raised his hand.
“There's no need for that.
What happened?
The gray-haired man approached Rezef, holding a silver tray full of letters in his hand.
“Since the last conversation with Heinrich, some aristocrats have changed their behavior, — said Zenon.
Rezef frowned at the mention of Heinrich.
That lunatic kept getting up no matter how much he stepped on him, and it hurt inside.
“What nonsense did that insect tell them now?
Just look at this incident with Cayena.
This stupid and reckless idiot, whose blood was not even linked to the imperial family, was clamoring for the throne.
Rezef wanted to hit him and his fans with a fire bat and knock them out.
He put down the pen and opened the envelope to check the contents of the letter.
“Ignorant, you wretched mongrel!
— He jumped out of his chair, furious.
Zenon silently retreated, waiting for this to happen.
“These idiots decided to side with Heinrich?!
— They were letters from his former supporters, who declared that they had decided to join hands with Heinrich.
They argued that Archduke Heinrich had been personally recognized by the emperor as having a right to the throne, that he was a legitimate heir.
This was also something that aroused Rezef's ire.
Rezef was not the son of an empress, but rather the emperor's mistress.
Unless his biological mother became empress, he would remain an illegitimate child.
However, if his name were entered by the empress in the family register, he would be considered legitimate.
That would be enough to be recognized by the church.
But the emperor did nothing.
The Archduke's people claimed that being adopted into the emperor's family gave Heinrich as much right to the throne as Rezef.
“How much have I done for them...
and they still betray me for a few girls?
I am the true heir to the throne, not that dirty, fake Heinrich!
Bam!
Rezef turned the table upside down.
“When I become emperor, they will all be eliminated!
These things don't even know their place!
— Rezef roughly brushed his bangs out of his face and turned to Zenon.
“There has still been no response from the Grace family?
“Viscount Grace has not yet responded.
Rezef threw a vase at Zenon.
Fortunately, he missed.
It hit the wall and broke into pieces.
“How have you not received a response from them yet?!
It's because of you that these unimportant people are ignoring me!
— It was something he should havebe expected from the beginning.
The Grace family was supported by the Kedrey duchy, so they wouldn't be able to respond easily.
But it was clear that if Zenon said this to Rezef, his neck would be cut.
Zenon lowered his head, swallowing a sigh.
“… I'm sorry, Your Highness.
“There is not a single useful person around me!
That's why Heinrich can run so wildly!
— In his mind, Zenon found it difficult to say whether Archduke Heinrich or Rezef was worse.
That's when a scared-looking servant entered the room and called Rezef.
“Y-Your Highness.
“What is it?
Rezef looked at the servant with his young eyes.
Click.
“It's me, Rezef.
Cayena opened the door and entered.
Zenon avoided clicking his tongue.
He looked at Rezef, who was clenching his fists and struggling to control his anger, and approached Cayena.
“Princess, I apologize, but it would be better to visit again later.
In return, Cayena looked at Zenon with a cold expression.
“What are you planning to do if Rezef gets hurt?
With his words, the unpleasant tension in the office dissipated.
It was as if this violent confusion was reduced to a child's tantrum.
“Since when does the princess have such a strong will?”
Zenon retreated because of his intensity.
Cayena smiled and gracefully walked past him.
She looked around the destroyed room and slowly approached Rezef.
The floor was covered in broken pottery and glass.
Since she was wearing thin leather slippers, stepping on something could cause her serious injury.
“Don't come near me, Cayena,” Rezef said stiffly with cold, sunken eyes.
But Cayena still approached him as if nothing was wrong.
She didn't even look at the floor.
It wouldn't be strange if she got hurt.
Annoyed, Rezef warned again:
“I told you not to come any closer!
“But if I don't get close to you, you'll be alone.
“What…?
His face twisted at this absurd remark.
Then, Cayena stepped on something and tripped, losing her balance.
“Aah!
— If she fell right there, she would be seriously injured.
Rezef swallowed and quickly grabbed her.
“That's why I told you not to-!
— But before Rezef could finish venting, Cayena lightly brushed Rezef's cheek.
The tingling sensation made Rezef frown.
“You are hurt, Rezef.
While he was throwing things, he received a small cut from a piece that bounced off him.
“What are you doing with your pretty face?
Cayena wiped the blood from his cheek with her sleeve.
Rezef just looked at this disapprovingly.
Still, the anger that had been churning inside him like lava began to subside.
It was the first time seeing his sister helped him let go of his anger.
He held Cayena in his arms and carried her to a safer location in the room.
The long sofa that stood next to the bed was the only place that was left intact.
“You are so strong!
— Cayena exclaimed, marveling at her power.
As light as Cayena was, she was not a piece of paper.
Rezef still carried her as if he were unhindered.
Rezef somehow felt his energy drain with Cayena's attitude.
He suddenly felt like an idiot, having acted angrily like a madman until now.