# Chapter 25
Chapter 25
They were prepared for a long battle.
However… they exchanged glances, perplexed by the Emperor's attitude.
He changed the punishment as if he had been waiting for it.
Then, they lowered their heads immediately.
“Yes, Your Majesty.
The nobles left the emperor's chambers.
Princess Cayena was no longer in her previous place where she had been kneeling before.
“Recently, the relationship between His Majesty and His Highness has been good.
It's very useful, isn't it?
Today's credit definitely went to Cayena.
Zenon looked at them as if they were pathetic.
They were very pleased with the easy victory.
“Don’t they remember who blamed Prince Rezef for receiving the Emperor’s wrath in the first place?”
Only their families were splendid.
As people, they were incomparable idiots.
It was an exaggeration to say that Cayena had fallen.
“I was on my knees for three hours and I couldn’t get up.”
When they saw her sink to the ground, people panicked, thinking that Cayena had collapsed.
Her thin clothes, as well as her blue lips and face, pale from the cold, triggered the misunderstanding.
“You worked hard, Your Highness,” said Vera, massaging Cayena's legs.
“You worked hard for me too.
“It's not like that.
Cayena wore the simplest inner clothes she had.
She was kneeling in an unfashionable dress, with all the decorations peeled off.
“What would you have done if His Majesty hadn't changed his mind?
Cayena, who was warming herself with hot tea, said with a smile:
“It would not have been possible for my father to give such an order unless he really intended to keep Rezef out of the crown.
“Well, I… I think so.
When Vera heard it, she thought it must be like this.
If he was placed on probation for an indefinite period of time, it meant that Rezef would not be considered as a possible successor.
Considering the emperor's cold disposition, it would have been more comfortable for him to take Rezef out of the battle for the crown.
“This was a test.
He must have been watching how I would handle this.
“Did she really make such a calculation at that time?”
Vera closed her mouth.
Cayena was able to maintain a cool demeanor without shedding blood or tears.
The blood of the imperial family certainly flows differently from the blood of ordinary people.
Then, suddenly, she became curious.
“If so, did Your Highness pass the test?
Instead of responding, Cayena smiled brightly.
At that time, they heard a knock and Annie entered the room.
“Your Highness, Grand Chamberlain Luden has asked to see you.
“Let him in.
The emperor's old chamberlain, Luden, entered holding a box wrapped in cloth.
“How are you feeling, Your Highness?
“I feel good.
He held out the box in front of her.
Vera quickly approached him and received the box.
“His Highness's ordeal was set to last ten days.
“I am impressed by my father's generosity.
Vera opened the box and handed it to Cayena.
Inside was a jeweled key.
“There is an Imperial Order.
With those words, Cayena knelt on the ground.
The same happened with Vera, who knelt down.
“Listen, Cayena Hill, the first princess of Eldaim.
Luden straightened his back and transmitted the Imperial Order.
“The First Prince of Eldaim, Rezef Hill, has been judged unfit to govern the ladies-in-waiting, therefore, during his parole, his authority over the internal affairs of this palace will be temporarily transferred to the First Princess, Cayena Hill.
Without knowing it, Vera grabbed the box tightly.
“It's temporary, but for the first time, royal power has been given to the princess!”
Cayena was not disturbed despite receiving her first real power in 19 years.
“Thanks.
No, how old is 19?
In her first life, she didn't get any real power, even while dying.
One of her nicknames was “Paper Princess,” so she could see how deep the misfortune went.
“My sincere congratulations, Your Highness.
Luden bowed deeply and congratulated Cayena.
Cayena stood up with Vera's support.
She took the key from the box.
It was an ornate golden key.
It was a key administered by generations of empresses, and the key his mother once possessed.
“I'm still young and lacking in many areas, so I'm in your care.
“Your Highness, you will do a great job.
Luden praised her once again.
“ByPlease understand that the situation being what it is, is just a small temporary change in your authority.
“How could I not know?
Luden smiled gently and then excused himself, leaving the room.
“Your Highness.
Vera looked at Cayena as if she felt oppressed.
Cayena put the key back in the box and said, teasing Vera:
“It's just the beginning.
Are you so intimidated by this little power?
“But…
The ordeal lasted only ten days.
During this time, Rezef's people could look after the palace.
It was not necessary to change the person responsible in this way.
However, the emperor handed over authority to Cayena.
“He is officially announcing that she has the power to govern.”
As Cayena said, this was just the beginning.
“It looks like I got the answer right.
Vera feared that the princess's petition to the emperor might have crossed the line.
But looking at the results obtained, she regretted having dared to doubt the princess.
She was curious about Cayena's next move since she had made the first move perfectly.
“What's your next plan?
Cayena sighed at the question.
There were piles of work to do.
If she didn't take care of them in the proper order, everything would get messy.
“And every task is very important.”
“First of all, I have to choose a companion for myself.
I will formally select Olivia Grace with Her Majesty's edict.
Vera was intrigued by the name.
“Isn't this lady already being recruited by His Highness Rezef?
“The Grace family is sponsored by the Kedrey duchy.
So how could they obey Rezef's request to bring her as my lady-in-waiting?
She even sent a letter through Annie so that the lady wouldn't accept it.
Everything was for this day.
“If she came at Rezef's request, it would mean that the Kedreys directly or indirectly supported him as successor.
So, they will delay as much as possible.
“But the story would be different if it were His Majesty's decree.
At Vera's words, Cayena smiled and looked at her tenderly.
“Yes, you're right.
Selecting new ladies-in-waiting and getting them into the palace was a very important job.
This was because it was necessary to consider which family the lady would come into contact with and what kind of power she would have in the future.
“Olivia, the protagonist of this world and the most powerful card, must become one of my people.”
Furthermore, it would be good to offer his protection since Olivia was defenseless, as if she was in the open sea.
Rezef and Heinrich would not be able to touch her easily if she became the lady of Cayena's court.
Cayena drank some more hot tea.
“The tea tastes very good.
Cayena's composure seemed to make Vera more impatient.
“His Highness's ordeal will only last ten days.
What else will you do during this time?
Cayena placed the cup of tea on the small table next to her.
“I'll pit them against each other.
Cayena laughed a little while saying this.
“Coming between two sides… wasn’t that a really wicked trick?”
It was a trick that deserved to be considered a nasty and dirty trick, but also a way to make big gains.
“Turn them… against each other?
Vera speculated that one of the people Cayena would interfere with would be Rezef.
However, she could not easily find out who she would be by separating from him.
As she thought deeply, Cayena told her the answer.
“Zenon Evans.
Rezef's lieutenant and one of the key figures in the Imperial Prince's faction.
He would be the target of their plans.