# Chapter 18
Chapter 18
The capital's courtiers invented a new nickname for Cayena.
“Beast Trainer.”
Although the disrespectful nickname was not spoken openly, it still spread behind closed doors.
It was so shocking that she managed to calm Rezef down.
Furthermore, the news that she forgave her lady-in-waiting after the lady burned her spread like wildfire.
Emperor Esteban also heard the rumors at one point.
He looked curiously at his daughter, who had brought him a snack that she made with her own hands.
“How are the preparations going for your coming of age celebration?
Calmly, Cayena replied: — Everything is going well thanks to your help.
But how could it be going well?
Cayena was poisoned and burned in short succession.
The problems were endless, to the point where it seemed as if she had been cursed with bad luck.
However, the palace was peaceful despite the constant incidents.
It was proof that Cayena was handling things well.
The emperor smiled as he watched Cayena.
He once thought she was pathetic, but it seemed like his blood really flowed in her now.
“You will only become an adult once in your life, so you must be especially careful.
The servants, who were lined up behind them, politely held out what was in their hands to Cayena.
“It's a little late, but here's something to help you.
The objects were for his banquet budget.
The budget for the banquet had been tight because the original Cayena spent much of it on her wardrobe.
The emperor knew this and awarded him additional jewels.
Cayena quickly stood up from her seat and bowed to her father.
“I will not forget this kindness, Your Majesty.
“This ceremony is important to you.
As he said, the coming of age ceremony was very important.
This was because Cayena Hill, the Empire's only princess, was hosting a full banquet to find a groom.
“How is your injury?
It was a question he would never have asked, normally.
The emperor thought he must have aged, as he used to be more rigid.
“I just have to apply the ointment diligently.
“The imperial family will have no problems even if we get rid of the Benzeman family.
Cayena smiled softly and placed the pudding she brought into a small crystal bowl.
If Cayena had seriously tried to punish the Benzeman family, she would have been reprimanded for overreacting.
“This is not very sweet, so please try a little.
The pudding that Cayena made was also well suited to her taste.
Has there been anyone who has pleased you like this recently?
The emperor felt as if he understood why the Rezef vandal had been so obedient to his sister these days.
“It may seem now that your ladies-in-waiting are humble and beneath you, but it is very important to have subordinates, — he advised.
“As your valet, Luden?
Luden, who was next to them, smiled softly and lowered his head.
“You flatter me,” he said shamelessly.
The emperor laughed.
—Luden is the best positioned vassal in my life.
“I will carry your words in my heart, Your Majesty.
I was also thinking that I wanted new ladies-in-waiting, but I wasn't sure how to go about that.
The emperor knew very well that all the court ladies in Cayena's palace were under Rezef's control.
He hadn't thought much about it, but the situation was a little different now.
It was the first time Cayena said she wanted to bring someone alone.
“But even if you bring in a new person, they will fall into Rezef's hands.
The emperor placed the silver spoon on the plate.
“You can't get rid of them all there without a just cause.
In this aristocratic society, pretext and justification were of considerable importance.
No one would trust the imperial family if they exercised their power without reason.
This was a problem that Cayena had to deal with alone.
Although the emperor was tolerant of his daughter, he did not like her very much.
Cayena was well aware of this.
And all of this was just the foundation for what she had to do in the future.
“Anyway, I’ll have to replace all the ladies-in-waiting.”
There was a difference between telling him she wanted to do it and actually doing it.
This would show him how she acted at a critical moment.
Cayena smiled as if she didn't know anything.
That was all of her wisdom she would show.
It wasn't yet the right time to revreveal your deep vision.
Instead, she talked about how she made the pudding.
It wasn't important that others knew this about her.
She had to pretend that her interest was elsewhere, had to divert attention from her change in behavior.
She was pretending to be a girl who was only interested in getting married and starting a family.
The emperor's elderly servants watched Cayena happily as she performed her filial duty as a daughter.
They were all old, so they were uncomfortable with how little their children visited him, even though the emperor was a cold father.
Cayena took advantage of this antiquated notion.
Luden suggested to the emperor: — It will be very quiet when Your Highness gets married and leaves the palace, Your Majesty.
Cayena's gaze moved to Luden.
He smiled a little and winked.
“It looks like he will help me.”
She smiled inwardly.
The emperor agreed with Luden's words.
“It is true.
After she becomes an adult.
It won't be long until you get married.
Cayena pretended to be unconscious.
“Do I need to hurry?
I also like to be by your side and I will get married when the time comes.
Their marriage, which would bring a new prince into the imperial family, would likely be used to promote a political alliance.
Luden smiled at Cayena, who gave the correct answer.
— It won't be easy for you to get help to prepare for the wedding, since you have no sisters.
“Hmm…
The emperor realized that he had no one who could help Cayena arrange her marriage.
Originally, Cayena had a nanny to take care of such problems.
That woman was Baroness Clarence Elivan, but Rezef banished her long ago, claiming she had deceived the Imperial family.
After that, Rezef's nanny started taking care of Cayena, but Cayena quickly stopped seeing her because she didn't like her.
“All the court ladies in the palace are now unmarried young women.
Typically, noblewomen learned about married life from a companion, a nanny, or a godmother.
But there was no one to fill that role for Cayena.
“Now that I think about it, there aren't many staff in the princess's palace.
“That's enough.
Emperor Esteban clicked his tongue, thinking that he had been very inattentive.
“Shouldn't you ask a date before the coming-of-age ceremony?
In her first life, Cayena performed the ceremony without an escort.
Rezef recommended his nanny to be his companion, but she refused.
The married women of the palace refused to take care of the wild Cayena.
Then Luden said, “Baroness Clarence Elivan will handle Her Highness's wedding arrangements as if she were her own daughter.
The words made the other servants freeze.
Even Cayena's hand stopped for a moment as she was cleaning the plates in which she brought the pudding.
“I never thought he would mention Madame Elivan right away.”
Madame Elivan, the late Empress's milk sister and Cayena's old nanny, was perfect as a companion.
Cayena recalled her childhood, when she trusted Madame Elivan in place of her mother, who had died very young.
“… I miss Madame Elivan.
When she said this, the servants in the room checked the emperor's countenance.
The emperor agreed with Rezef in his decision to banish Baroness Elivan.
It was because he didn't want to keep Madame Elivan in the palace as she reminded him of the empress who betrayed him.
“The flow of time is evanescent.”
Esteban, who was on his deathbed, looked back on his life several times.
In the process, he was able to forgive things he thought he would never forgive and regretted things he didn't know he would regret.
His cold-blooded nature became much more tolerant.
Luden noticed the emperor's thoughts and said mean things to help Cayena.
“You looked a lot like the empress when you were young, but now I can see a part of you that looks like me.
Cayena's beauty was mainly inherited from the empress.
However, his haughty icy blue eyes resembled that of Emperor Esteban.
The emperor had no intention of exchanging all the court ladies of the imperial palace for Cayena.
Still, he could at least invite his nanny back to the palace.
“Reverse the ban of Baroness Clarence Elivan.
Cayena quickly expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.
The emperor waved his hand and said, “Now, I need to rest.r.
Cayena helped him lie down and left the room.
Luden personally accompanied Cayena to say goodbye to her.
“Thank you, Luden.
“Your Majesty is in a good mood thanks to Your Highness these days.
So how could I not help you?
Luden smiled relaxedly.
“If I want to reach the emperor, it seems like I need to gain Luden’s favor.”
Cayena waved to a court lady, who was waiting with Cayena's basket.
“I made a lot of pudding, so everyone can at least taste it.
The steward quickly received the basket.
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness.
Cayena smiled.
“Thanks.
Not everyone could be favored by the emperor.
The skillful and cunning Luden saw Cayena's potential immediately.
When the door handle opened the living room door, Cayena lifted the hem of her dress and walked forward.
Then, she suddenly stopped.
This happened because the eyes met with Raphael, who was sitting on a chair in the hall.
“…it was a little harsh of me to refuse to meet you five times in a row.”
However, she didn't think that Raphael would find her like this.
He came to Cayena, who had once sucked him in on her own.
Raphael, who found Cayena, stood up from his seat and greeted her in a perfectly formal manner.
“Raphael Kedrey greets His Highness.
Cayena pretended to be oblivious again.
“… nice to see you, Lord Kedrey.
Are you here to see His Majesty?
“No.
Raphael didn't bother asking about their cases, going straight to his next words.
“I came to see you.