# Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Cayena thought Raphael was acting like this out of courtesy.
“I'll send you an invitation when I can make delicious tea with the leaves you gave me today, so there's no need to force yourself.
The people nearby couldn't hold back their admiration for Cayena's words.
In particular, Raphael's aide Jeremy was the most surprised.
He heard rumors that the princess was different now, but he didn't expect her to be so different.
“Has the princess always had this tact?”
She didn't promise an exact date, just that she would send him an invitation before the black tea was over.
Even though it was a rejection, the message contained an appropriate level of consideration.
Jeremy couldn't believe “that” Cayena said that.
He looked at Raphael.
Raphael's expressions were difficult to read on normal days, but today, it was even more subtle.
“…I have never seen such an expression.”
It was hard and soft, a completely unfamiliar countenance.
Anyway, the important thing is that Jeremy had never seen such an expression on him.
“Of course, the master also seems to bring about strange changes in His Highness.”
“Then next time I will prepare a snack as a gift.
Raphael approached Cayena, knelt on one knee and held out his hand.
Cayena knew he wanted to kiss the back of her hand.
“Should I say he doesn’t need to be so nice to me now?”
Cayena thought it would be too much for her to do.
“It must be a little better since I’m wearing gloves.”
She sighed and reluctantly reached out her hand.
She just hoped this action didn't offend him.
“It was an honor.
Raphael said, and shook her hand.
Until now, his mind was stained with disgust when he had to do this.
He had only thought about staying patient and getting over it quickly.
“It’s a small, fragile hand.”
But this contact was more bearable than he thought.
No, it was just not bearable.
It was, strangely, good.
Did he just feel more comfortable because she wasn't hitting on him like usual?
He suddenly realized that Cayena's hand was so small in his own.
“When we talked today, I didn’t think she was such a small person.”
Perhaps because of her natural dignity and grace, she never seemed weak or small.
He lowered his head and kissed Cayena's hand.
Fine, straight black hair flowed.
Cayena had the strange thought that if she patted him at the moment, he would feel soft.
That was when Raphael's lips separated from his hand and he simply stood up.
“So you were here, sister.
With that familiar voice, Cayena and Raphael turned their heads.
Rezef was approaching them, an attendant following behind him.
“But he must have been busy preparing for hunting season.”
It was a time of coexistence with influential nobles and their successors.
Cayena thought he would be busy because he had to buy new weapons, but it seemed like he came to see Raphael.
“We salute Your Imperial Highness.
Everyone lowered their heads to him.
Raphael was also courteous to him.
“Raphael Kedrey greets His Highness the Prince.
“Get up.
Rezef smiled gently.
He ran when he heard that Cayena was walking with Raphael.
“Were you still hanging out with my sister?
The Kedrey ducal family was a family he needed to recruit.
Rezef's weakness was that he had no military power, while Archduke Heinrich had taken over several families with soldiers at his side.
Of course, even after combining them all, they couldn't compare to the Kedrey Duchy.
This was because the Kedrey Duchy was the elite of the elite, a military family that had protected the empire's border for a long time.
“I have the Marquess of Evans with the largest agricultural zone.”
Although he had weak military power, Rezef had strong economic power based on the Evans family's wealthy granary.
The Evans family fully supported Rezef, and he would be able to resolve Kedrey's provisioning issues.
If the two of them teamed up, they could complement each other's weaknesses.
“I came to look for my sister because I was thinking about having afternoon tea with her.
But I didn't know you'd be with her.
There was no way Rezef came here to find her, he came because he knew Raphael was here.
“I was almost leaving.
“Oh, really?
What a shame.
Cayena spoke hurriedly, fearing that Rezef would tell Raphael to stay for tea.
RaphaelHe also felt this urgency.
His gaze reached Cayena's side profile.
“Have a safe journey back, Sir Kedrey.
Unlike before, now it seemed like she was trying to make him leave quickly.
Raphael's eyes slowly moved to look at her because of her strange attitude.
“Then I will withdraw, Your Highness.
Rezef looked back and forth between the two.
Somehow, their relationship seemed very different from the one he knew.
Cayena wasn't making advances on Raphael, and Raphael…
“The atmosphere here doesn’t seem so bad.”
It was unclear whether it was because of his sister's good conduct or because Raphael was in an exceptional mood today.
In any case, it would be lucky if their relationship continued to be cordial like this.
“My sister is always making excuses to get involved with him.”
Although the Grace family did not respond to his letter stating that their daughter had been chosen as one of Cayena's ladies-in-waiting, it was only a matter of time.
“She said he would marry Olivia Grace, I believe.”
Rezef approached Cayena and accompanied her.
Cayena grabbed his hand and leaned into him without hesitation.
Raphael looked at the scene with a strange look before turning around and leaving.
“What was that look just now?
Rezef frowned slightly.
“Hmm…
As Rezef muttered softly, Cayena raised her head.
“What's wrong?
Rezef looked at his sister.
She was a beautiful and caring sister who could melt a heart of ice in a moment.
He put on a familiar mask.
“It's nothing.
In any case, he thought he would have to keep an eye on Raphael.
“Father!
— Lydia shouted as she ran towards Count Benzeman, who had come to the Imperial Palace.
“What did His Highness Rezef say?
Everything worked fine, right?
There was no other reason to visit the Imperial Palace.
It was because of the incident when Lydia injured the princess a while ago.
Even though it was just a title, Cayena was still part of the imperial family.
Lydia burning her like that...
Count Benzeman was often disappointed in his idiot daughter.
But this time, she made a huge mistake.
“Sir Evans took care of that.
You cannot behave so rashly again.
Do you understand?!
—Lydia didn't show a single sign of remorse despite her reprimand.
“It's very oppressive, Dad.
When did the Evans recommend me as a candidate for the prince's bride?
The earl clicked his tongue and looked at his daughter's emerging true nature.
"The Evans family also has an eligible bachelor.
I can't ignore him and try to push my daughter into the imperial family."
He looked at his daughter, who had no doubt that she would become a princess.
“It is enough if she becomes the hands and feet of Prince Rezef.”
They failed to attract the ire of the Evans family because they were too greedy.
Still, there was a change for her, so Count Benzeman said this so that his daughter wouldn't get hurt.
“Don't be too impatient.
First, you must have a smooth relationship with the imperial princess.
Lydia said pointedly: — That woman made me spill the pie on purpose!
Look at my hand, dad!
— The count's head throbbed with pain.
“What do you mean by “that woman”, Lydia!
— She grabbed the plate with the hot pie and slightly burned her finger.
Lydia suspected that Cayena had organized everything.
“She encouraged the court ladies to compete, telling us to deliver the snack to His Highness!
Who but a kitchen employee would know that you have to cool the pie?
Part of his accusation was correct.
“She was deliberately walking around, showing her arms, and she waited right in front of the pie.
She did this to gain the compassion of His Highness Prince Rezef.
“Be careful with your words!
Have you forgotten that this is the Imperial Palace?
Lydia felt frustrated with her unnecessarily passive father.
“Dad, please.
These insolent things keep ignoring me.
Recently, Lydia was going through difficult times.
The other maids, and Vera of course, were careful not to be seen with Lydia, and Lydia was furious.
The count tried to reason with his daughter.
“They will return to normal as soon as your father says the word.
So take care of your heart and take good care of the princess.
Lydia sighed at her father's words.
“There's nothing to watch.
I don't even leave the Imperial Palace, and I just stayin the room all the time.
The budget is running out, but she doesn't even want to throw a party.
“You say she's not socializing, even with a big budget?
Come to think of it, it had been two months since the poisoning attempt.
Was there any reason for her to isolate herself like this?
Furthermore, Cayena's coming-of-age ceremony would be held when the roses were in full bloom.
There was just over a month left.
It was certainly strange that she hadn't done anything until now.