# Chapter 22
Chapter 22
“Isn't there anyone else she's met?
asked Count Benzeman.
“I saw Sir Raphael Kedrey with her a few times.
But they were only brief meetings,” Lydia replied.
“Hmm.
“She spends most of her time with His Highness Rezef these days.
It's good to have the opportunity to see His Highness more often, but strangely, he's not the same as before.
Have you heard the ridiculous nickname “beast trainer”?
I was amazed!
— Something is strange.
He heard that Prince Rezef had recently become quite obedient.
They told him it was the influence of Princess Cayena.
He didn't trust the rumors much, but hearing his daughter's story, it seemed like there was some truth to them.
He was suspicious of the princess's intentions and behavior.
She may have tried to obtain a regent position when the prince was crowned.
“That could be it.”
It has happened from time to time in history that the mother, sister, or wife of an heir exercised his power as if it were her own.
Even Cayena had the distinguished Count Hamel on her mother's side of the family.
Prince Rezef suddenly became complacent when he heard Cayena's words.
What does this mean?
Now that he thought about it, there was something strange when he talked to Zenon Evans about the incident with Lydia.
He had a feeling that Zenon Evans was watching Princess Cayena closely.
Count Benzeman couldn't shake the feeling that there was a conspiracy.
He grabbed Lydia's shoulder and said furtively, "Princess Cayena is suspicious." Watch closely to see if she is in contact with anyone.
Gifts, or something!
“Erm.
She receives so many gifts, however…
“Won't it be fine if you order the other ladies of the court to help?
Your father will scold them and they will follow you.
Lydia wasn't very happy about receiving a mission so suddenly.
Still, she liked what her father said about making the other court ladies listen to her again.
“I understand.
Cayena was looking at the account book with a serious face as the sun shone through the window.
Not that there was a specific problem.
“I have a lot of money left in the budget.
Rezef was the one who had the authority to control the budget.
This is because Cayena, who should have done the work in the empress's place, was incompetent.
This time, Rezef made unprecedented adjustments to the princess's palace budget.
It was a simple but sure way to show that he cared about Cayena.
“If it was the original me, I would have laughed, buying so many things that even this budget would be insufficient.”
Or perhaps she had dismantled and redone the garden or the room.
She may have bought a bouquet of flowers that would wither and be difficult to care for after a few days or thrown a party.
Now that she didn't have parties or gatherings, she didn't need any more clothes, so Cayena had nothing to spend money on.
Recently, her biggest expense was changing her shoes.
“The drinks are a little late.
Vera, who attended to Cayena alone while the other maids were away, stopped embroidering.
“Should I see what happened?
Cayena smiled and shook her head.
— You don't need to.
It is a fact that it takes time to do certain things.
Nowadays, with the exception of Vera, the ladies-in-waiting left Cayena's room whenever they could.
Vera said they seemed to be looking for something.
Because of this, they were more negligent with their duties.
Cayena didn't scold them, so they didn't care anymore.
Furthermore, Cayena didn't go out or receive guests, so the ladies-in-waiting had nothing to do.
“Afternoon tea time is almost over, Your Highness.
“Right.
Still, it's okay since I have the butter cookies I made.
“Just eating sweets is not good for the body.
I will bring your refreshments myself.
Saying this, Vera left the room.
She didn't get along well with the other ladies at court lately.
It was almost as if she was being bullied.
But Vera didn't care at all.
“Now is the day before the explosion.
Vera witnessed Rezef's change of face.
She saw firsthand how dramatically her attitude toward Cayena had changed.
Cayena continued to gently poke Vera.
Vera felt the subtle desire to choose sides soon.
“I have a feeling she will change all the ladies in waiting.”
But how would Cayena do this?
Even the emperor couldn't throw people awayin justification.
How could the princess do this?
At that time, a maid brought Cayena's drinks.
It was Donna.
“What happened to the ladies-in-waiting?
Why are you bringing Her Majesty's snacks?
Donna replied, “They said since you're here, everything would be fine.
They gave me a snack to give to His Highness and left.
She looked at Donna with suspicious eyes.
Donna was a maid who often took care of Cayena.
“There's something going on.
“…give it to me here.
Donna handed the silver tray of snacks to Vera.
She checked the drinks in the living room before entering the bedroom.
“…
Vera's expression turned dark.
“These crazy women…!
— Nut cookies were mixed in with the snacks.
Cayena was allergic to nuts.
The ladies-in-waiting needed to carefully check whether the food contained nuts before serving it to His Highness.
In other words, this was a serious case of negligence.
Click
The bedroom door opened and Cayena, wearing a light country dress, walked out.
“Why aren't you coming in?
“My apologies.
There is a problem with the refreshments, so I will prepare them again, Your Highness.
“Oh, there's no need.
Cayena smiled brightly.
“It's a very well prepared snack.
“… forgive me?
Cayena approached the table where the tray was placed.
So, she deliberately took a nut cookie.
“Your Highness, this…!
— It was a cookie with nuts.
“…?
“I think I'll eat this.
Did she intend to commit suicide?
Vera couldn't understand.
“You will give Rezef the snack I made for afternoon tea.
Because you were performing my tasks, you had no idea that nuts were mixed into soft drinks.
“Your Highness.
“I'm going to stay here alone in the room, and Donna will be shocked.
She will call the doctor immediately.
Of course, this news will have to be told to my father.
Donna will help.
But, you shouldn't know any of this.
Vera finally understood.
“Can you do this?
Vera understood that she had been chosen.
Cayena was planning to dismiss all the court ladies at once with this trick.
Everyone, except Vera herself, would be expelled.
Vera immediately knelt down and lowered her head.
“I will be Your Highness’s obedient servant.
As he did so, Cayena smiled happily.
“I'm glad to hear that.
Rezef checked his sword, his bow, and his new epaulettes.
“The spies we planted on Archduke Heinrich's side reported that he purchased a javelin.
“A dart?
Why did Archduke Heinrich buy a javelin?
“It will be a problem if the horses get scared when the spears are thrown.
See what he's trying to do.
“Yes, Your Majesty.
Rezef took off his cloak and sat on the sofa.
Then, the servants began to remove weapons from the table.
“How is my sister?
Zenon looked up from where he was working at another table.
“She's in her room.
Nowadays, the princess did not involve herself in outside activities strangely.
According to the doctor, she should have completely recovered from the poison.
“I don't know what she's thinking.
He had a bad feeling about this.
“Your Highness, a lady-in-waiting to the princess, is here to see you.
“Let her in.
Vera brought only one maid.
“We salute Your Imperial Highness.
Rezef smiled at the silver tray in his hand.
It was because he recognized that they were snacks made and sent by his sister.
“His Majesty prepared this for your afternoon tea.
“Bring it here.
Now, this event was no longer strange.
Zenon got up, took the tray and gave the snacks to a servant.
After confirming that nothing was poisoned, Rezef tried the butter biscuit.
“By the way, it seems like you come often these days.
“His Highness trusted me to do this.
“Is that so?
He looked at her with blue eyes, as if opening her to look inside.
Vera inadvertently made eye contact with him and was terrified.
“What is my sister doing?
“Just now, she had a headache because the budget for the princess's palace had been too high.
At those words, Rezef laughed.
“If she wants to spend money, she should spend as much as she wants.
He was about to talk to his sister, using that as an excuse when it happened.
At that moment, a servant urgently entered the room.
“Your Highness, something big has happened!
- What is that?
“Suddenly, His Majestyaiou and the doctor was called to his palace!
- What?
My sister fainted?!
— Rezef ran to the princess's palace.