# Chapter 30
Chapter 30
As Raphael held her, Cayena's body trembled slightly.
“What’s wrong?”
When he had that strange thought, Cayena turned her head and made eye contact with him.
His face was pale.
She was terrified.
Cayena's face was drenched in fear when her eyes met Raphael's, but it quickly turned into an expression of relief.
It was a dramatic change that made him feel like a reliable ally.
“…Raphael.
His name in his mouth was strangely unfamiliar.
Was it because she only called him Sir Kedrey these days?
Cayena stood up.
Raphael helped her.
She seemed a little distracted.
She was still holding onto Raphael's arm, but she didn't seem to be aware of it.
Raphael also didn't realize that he felt no discomfort with the contact.
Vera furiously grabbed Gillian with an angry face.
— What disrespect is this?!
— The escorts of knights who were waiting a little further away arrived at that moment.
“What's going on here?
“Take that man away now.
He dared to try to harm His Highness!
— They knew that Gillian was the heir of an aristocrat, but there were still four months before he had any real power, so they weren't very cautious.
They immediately grabbed Gillian and began to take him away.
“What?
I just offered to accompany her.
What are you doing?!
— Gillian shouted with smoking eyes.
“I've never seen such an ungentlemanly escort!
You moved your hands threateningly towards her!
— Vera looked at Gillian with contempt, as if she wanted to slap him on the cheek.
Gillian quickly released the anger from her face.
“You are mistaken.
I saw that Her Highness had a maid with her but no companion, so I willingly offered to accompany her.
It's true that my hands were stiff because I was nervous, but I never had bad intentions.
Because it was a plausible answer, the knights looked at each other with puzzled faces.
Raphael, who was silently observing the situation, opened his mouth.
“Henverton Gillian.
Then, Gillian's gaze reached Raphael.
For a moment, Raphael saw his gaze rest on Cayena's hand.
“I also saw the situation from behind.
You say you had no impure intentions, but you certainly didn't seem to act out of consideration for the lady.
“… Sir Kedrey.
I'm not saying I'm not guilty.
I regret my mistake.
Gillian looked contrite, though still contemptible.
Cayena remembered how he acted like a gentleman outside but abused her when he returned home.
He was good at lying.
“…I think I exaggerated because there have been so many incidents recently.
As she said this, she slightly raised her arm, which was still wrapped in gauze.
The princess had been burned by a hot pie not long ago, so she encouraged the notion that was the reason she was surprised by unexpected behavior.
“I believe that Mr.
Gillian offered to accompany me with good intentions.
Still, could the imperial princess go around without an escort?
“It's my fault, Your Highness.
My apologies.
The knight immediately bowed and admitted his mistake.
Cayena shook her head.
“No.
I understand.
Most gentlemen would be surprised and not approach a woman who was not accompanied by anyone other than a maid.
She pointed out Gillian's rudeness while pretending to forgive the knights who should have escorted her.
“You must have been surprised too, Lord Gillian, when you approached.
Gillian was smiling, but he looked at Cayena persistently with mysterious eyes.
Politely, he replied: — Excuse me, Your Highness.
I’ll say “hello” correctly next time.
Gillian left and Cayena felt warmth return to her cold fingertips.
“I always end up running into you, — she said to Raphael with a sad look.
His attitude was once again calm and direct.
But his hand was still holding Raphael's arm tightly.
He grabbed Cayena's hand.
“…!
— It was then that Cayena realized that she was still holding Raphael.
That's when she tried to take his hand away to let him go.
“I apologize that a vassal of my family surprised you like this.
His blue eyes lifted again.
Raphael was in a strange mood for some reason.
“I'll take you to the carriage.
Then, he realized.
Her warmth in his hands was not at all unpleasant.el.
Scene 6.
A new appearance.
Cayena's skin was still white.
His hands were starting to heat up.
The trembling of his body gradually subsided.
“Is there any reason she should be so afraid of Henverton Gillian?”
It was almost pitiful how much she was pretending to be okay.
Maybe that's why Raphael wasn't offended by her contact and felt he had to take her to the carriage.
Cayena knew she couldn't walk alone.
So instead of being stubborn, she thanked him for his favor.
“Then I am in your care.
Vera and the knights stayed behind and followed them.
Cayena gradually felt her reason returning to her.
Her mind became more stable, and even when she remembered Gillian's bright eyes, she didn't hesitate.
She looked at Raphael's hand.
It seemed to be because of Raphael.
“I don’t know why I was so relieved the moment I saw Raphael’s face.”
It was still like that now.
The only thing that changed from before was Raphael's presence, but she felt as if this space had become completely safe.
In fact, the nobles who broke into the imperial library to see Cayena couldn't even think about getting closer.
Clear disappointment appeared on their faces.
“Wasn’t it said that she didn’t like Raphael anymore?!”
They hoped to become the emperor's son-in-law or gain some other favor through Cayena.
They were people who always had expectations and desires.
But she was walking affectionately with Raphael.
No noble, whether they could fly or crawl on the ground, could compare in front of Raphael Kedrey.
“But why is Raphael here?”
Cayena was intrigued by Raphael's sudden appearance.
“Sir Kedrey, may I ask why you came here?
She was referring to him like that again.
Thinking that Cayena's motive had returned, he said, — There was work I needed to do at the imperial academy.
This made sense because the gym was right next to the library.
But did he come here alone?
“I came here because I heard that Your Highness was here.
“…
He still had that direct and objective way of speaking that could cause misunderstandings.
Cayena laughed as if it were absurd, then added an explanation.
“There were definitely a lot of things going on in the palace that could make you curious.
Do you have any questions for me?
Raphael glanced at Cayena's cheek, where her skin had fully recovered.
“This doesn't seem like the right time for that.
Cayena blinked because she hadn't thought he would be worried about her condition.
Then, she smiled with sincere gratitude.
It was a refreshing smile that didn't match the cloudy weather.
Then, raindrops began to fall from the sky.
She suddenly looked at Raphael, who hadn't brought any companion with him.
“It's raining.
Will you be okay coming back?
Did you take a carriage?
“I didn't.
I walked because it was close.
He didn't really care if it got a little wet, so he said it like he didn't care.
Cayena frowned slightly.
“It's easy to catch a cold in the spring, so you have to be careful.
She called a servant.
“Borrow an umbrella from the library.
“Yes, Your Majesty.
Cayena's carriage had already arrived.
While the servant went to borrow an umbrella, she couldn't leave first, so she stood still and waited.
“I think I can let go of my hand now…”
Cayena looked at her hand, as if it was troublesome.
Raphael, like a gentleman, held her hand firmly so she could walk, one step at a time.
She was grateful for the help, but she didn't want to offend him anymore.
“I really appreciate your help today.
As she said this, she naturally removed her hand from the position she was in while being escorted.
Raphael again felt that Cayena was intentionally distancing herself.
He couldn't figure out why.
She acted like a person who was uncomfortable with human contact.
She seemed to have the same symptoms as him.
That was weird.
But no.
Not that she felt uncomfortable with the contact.
Didn't she easily accept Rezef's escort?
And when she left first, she held him first.
“She seems to be considerate of me.”
It was as if she knew he really hated touching people.
“…I’m thinking too much.”
There was no way.
An adjutant who has served you for a long time may be vaguely aware of this, buthe never admitted it out loud.
How could she know something that not even her own parents knew?
Then the servant arrived with an umbrella.
Cayena walked away from Raphael with a relieved look.
“Then I'll see you again next time.
Raphael watched as Cayena got into the carriage and drove away, like a fairy tale about a woman who ran away before the magic could be undone.