# Chapter 13
Chapter 13
“Did you get hurt somewhere?
— Rezef asked.
“No, I'm fine.
Rezef took off Cayena's leather slippers and examined her foot.
It would have been disastrous if she had stepped on the glass, especially since she would soon have to dance in the middle of the Great Hall for her coming-of-age celebration.
“I am fine.
“Well, I'm not okay with that.
With that said, Cayena told the servants to quickly clean the room.
“And bring me something for the cut on your cheek.
The servants expected to tremble in fear for at least the next two days, but now, they were perplexed.
They found it especially difficult to believe that Cayena was the one who had made the atmosphere so mellow.
“… let's prepare some ointment right now, Your Highness.
They left quickly, afraid that Rezef's mood would change again.
“Then I will also take my leave,” said Zenon.
He looked at Cayena suspiciously before leaving the room.
Cayena had come looking for Rezef on purpose today, knowing what news he would receive from his former supporters.
She waited for a long time as he vented his anger around her before telling the servants to announce his presence.
It was a wise decision as it gave Rezef some time to regain his senses.
“No matter how angry you get, don't act so hastily.
Your body is precious; You are the one who will inherit the Empire one day.
At her words, Rezef remembered what angered him, and he clicked his tongue.
As for her, Cayena had heard from the outside what exactly made Rezef explode.
And it was truly something Cayena could fix.
“With my coming of age ceremony, there will be many more people coming to the capital.
Cayena gently stroked Rezef's head.
A calm, gentle scent touched the tip of Rezef's nose.
Come to think of it, the perfumes in the princess's palace had changed.
Was that the smell?
Maybe it was because of the gentle touch, but Rezef felt calm.
It was like the gentle embrace of a loving guardian or protector.
Strangely enough, his sister had been acting more like an adult for some time now.
Even if Rezef was capable, he still needed an adult's help.
Cayena opened her mouth when she saw that the affection-starved Rezef had become docile.
“Our father gave me permission to choose who to marry,” she said.
Smiling, she continued:
“Word will spread among the nobles soon.
So, wouldn't they think something like that?
Cayena fluttered her eyes coquettishly and made a dramatic voice.
“Oh!
If I could win over the princess, I could become the emperor's son-in-law!
— Rezef smiled, dismissing his thought as overly optimistic.
“Everyone will think you're still targeting Raphael.
“Unless Raphael is engaged.
“… groom?
Why was she suddenly talking about Raphael getting engaged?
Were there rumors like that?
Then, Rezef suddenly remembered what his subordinates told him – that Cayena mentioned marriage during tea and criticized several women as possible matches for Raphael.
Was this somehow connected?
“Just welcome and be kind to the nobles who will soon come to the capital.
Until then, your older sister will continue to pretend to be fragile.
Soon, a servant came in with the medicine.
Cayena dismissed the maid and began applying the ointment to Rezef's wound.
“So, she really gave up on Raphael?”
“I cannot force Raphael Kedrey to marry you, even if I become emperor,” Rezef said.
He couldn't dispel his doubt that Cayena was just trying to marry that man with the support of an emperor.
Cayena smiled.
“It is true that I once desired Lord Kedrey.
But just because it was true in the past doesn't mean it's true now.
Rezef grimaced as if he had been slapped.
He could never have expected Cayena to speak about Raphael so coldly.
“… don't you love him?
“Who knows?
Now, I wonder if it was even love to begin with.
How can feelings remain constant forever?
“She says it might not have been love.
Cayena watched Rezef as he contemplated this, his mind falling into chaos.
Scene 3.
Regarding the role of the villain
Just as Cayena told Rezef, she did not leave the palace, claiming she was too weak to do so.
And while she acted like a bird in a cage, society found a new source of entertainment.
“I heard that Lord Kedrey received some portraits.The goal of a wedding portrait was not to be truthful, but rather to flatter and beautify the subject.
Since everyone commissioned their portraits from the most skilled painters, a small number of painters dominated the market.
As such, rumors about who was marrying who spread quickly.
The rumors about Raphael were even more serious, as he was the most eligible bachelor in the capital.
“Is His Highness just letting this happen?
Recently, strange rumors have emerged about the imperial family and the current situation.
For example, “the princess no longer cares about Lord Raphael!”
If this were true, then one of the ladies who recently had portraits made could actually become Raphael's wife.
Who would be the next duchess?
The nobility turned their full attention to this new issue in high society.
“It's hard to find a good groom.
Isn't that true, Lady Grace?
Before the full social season began, the capital's leading families often held smaller, more intimate gatherings.
Olivia had never been to such a gathering before, but when word spread that her portrait was sent to Duchess Kedrey, she received several invitations.
Even now, she was attending one of the meetings to appease her parents.
“It takes time to find the right person,” Olivia replied vaguely.
She sat in the Marreth literary salon on Lawrence Street, feeling out of place.
“I wonder what kind of jewelry Prince Rezef is looking for.
“Lord Zenon is also single.
The Evans family is also magnificent.
But none of them could compare to Raphael.
The ladies at the meeting happily discussed the latest society gossip.
“I hear that Lady Grace may be making a good marriage soon.
Is this right?
They thought that Olivia would definitely be happy with this opportunity.
If Olivia married Raphael, the princess would no longer be able to harass her.
What more perfect revenge could there be?
Furthermore, Olivia's family was poor.
Her family had many mouths to feed, and as the eldest daughter, Olivia had suffered greatly.
If she married well, her younger brothers would be able to live better.
“Is that so?
— Olivia replied, smiling.
The ladies then stopped talking to Olivia, seeing how unenthusiastic she was.
“It seems they don’t know that I was invited into the palace as the princess’s lady-in-waiting.”
His family had been trying desperately to keep the news a secret.
“There’s simply no way the princess would want me by her side.”
Olivia knew better how much Cayena hated her.
Thinking about it, the moment was quite strange.
Shortly after receiving the request from the palace, Duchess Kedrey asked her to send a portrait to begin marriage negotiations.
“It's probably not a coincidence.
Olivia could only think of it as Cayena requesting her presence because she predicted the wedding would talk.
The Grace family could not fulfill his request, however, because of the Kedrey dukedom.
The Kedrey duchy was remaining neutral in the battle for the throne; as such, the Grace family could not get involved in politics.
They were partially seen as another of Kedrey's vassals.
If Olivia entered the princess's palace at Rezef's request, people might see that as a reflection of Kedrey's will.
It would seem like they were secretly showing their hand through their family.
While Olivia would be forced to go if Prince Rezef ordered, now, it was just a request.
“Why would they ask for me?”
Princess Cayena hated seeing Olivia's face.
“There’s no way she can help me gain social status by placing me as one of her ladies-in-waiting.”
The ladies who served in Cayena were the highest ranked among the court ladies.
Even if Cayena only wanted to monitor her, the position she was invited to was a high-level one.
After the meeting was over, Olivia waited for the carriage to bring her back home.
“Are you Lady Olivia Grace?
While her maid called for a carriage, an unknown lady came looking for Olivia.