# Chapter 32
Chapter 32
That wasn't all.
Zenon returned to Rezef's quarters after a long absence.
Rezef could smell a familiar scent from him.
It was the smell that burned in the censer in Cayena's room.
“…so you met my sister.
“…how did he know?”
Currently, Rezef did not have employees who could report the external situation to him.
Even the knights stationed outside his room didn't dare enter his chambers without reason.
But Rezef was able to determine that Zenon met with Cayena immediately.
Zenon's spine tingled.
He was currently being influenced by Cayena.
But now, it was more like he was weighing his mind.
He had no intention of giving in to her.
Of course, he also had no intention of helping her strengthen her relationship with Prince Rezef.
However, he had a strong premonition that Rezef would not hesitate to draw his sword depending on how he responded.
“His Highness came to see you earlier.
He had just made Cayena's position a little more advantageous for Rezef.
“She was looking for him anxiously regarding her health and current situation.
Because the knights blocked her way, she returned to her palace.
It was fun.
He had ignored the princess before because she was a woman, but now, he was protecting her when she wasn't even here.
“… is that so?
Rezef was impatient and violent, but he was not stupid.
He noticed that Zenon's behavior was strange.
Did something happen to Cayena?
Suddenly, he realized that something he thought he had in his hand was slowly slipping away, like grains of sand.
“I'll call you if I need anything, so leave.
“Then, I'll say goodbye.
A long time after Zenon left the room, Rezef called another helper into his room.
“Keep an eye on Zenon Evans.
“I will comply with your order.
Out of habit, Rezef asked, —What is my sister doing now?
“His Highness went for a walk.
"So don't you think you should tell me where she went?"
“I apologize, Your Highness.
I will find this information immediately.
Expressionlessly, Rezef grabbed and threw the candlestick beside him.
The assistant was hit on the head by the brass candlestick, but he remained in his hunched position without blinking.
Then, as if nothing had happened, Rezef continued in an indifferent voice:
“Find out my sister's actions.
“I will comply with your order.
“And I suppose you're still mixing poison into my father's tea?
“Yes.
The emperor always washed away the bitter taste of medicine with sweet tea.
Rezef had already done a trick with a silver spoon.
This spoon did not stain when placed in tea.
That was the reason why the emperor was not cured at all.
“Increase the dosage.
The adjutant bowed his still bloody head.
He left to carry out his command and Rezef closed his eyes gently.
It was still bearable.
He could be patient.
He still believed that Cayena was without a doubt his.
The peace and happiness she had shown him until now could not be fake.
Did she want your help to marry the person she wanted?
He would help fulfill your request.
Although he didn't know how long his partner would be able to hold his breath and live.
Cayena was his.
She had always been under his influence, and still was.
“She saw Raphael in the imperial library…
The aide chasing Cayena announced the sighting.
Raphael Kedrey.
This man was someone Rezef could not touch, even if he was the emperor.
If Cayena became his wife, she would escape Rezef's sphere of influence.
Did she always intend to stab him in the back after making him let his guard down?
Rezef agreed that it was good to bring Raphael as an ally.
It was a really excellent plan.
However, Rezef could not allow that man to take what was his.
Rezef was seized by a mad obsession.
Rezef opened the entrance to the secret passage that led out of the prince's palace.
He had to confirm Cayena's innermost emotions immediately.
He arrived at the princess's chambers through the secret passage.
The only thing separating the two was a single tapestry.
At that time, Cayena, sensing him, called out to him with a slightly choked voice.
“Why don't you leave now, Rezef?
She looked directly at where Rezef was hiding.
Rezef obediently left.
After he came out of the hall, it rained a little, so his hair was gray.completely wet.
She stood up from her seat.
She grabbed the dry towel that was stored in his room and brought it to him.
Rezef just stared coldly at Cayena through his wet bangs.
Cayena had no choice but to try and dry her hair herself.
Smack!
Rezef slapped her hand away and the towel fell helplessly to the floor.
With a sigh, Cayena said, — You're going to catch a cold.
Rezef let out a laugh and then scoffed.
“Or would you prefer to drink some hot tea?
It was obvious he would refuse, but she still asked.
Sure enough, Rezef scolded her in a cold voice.
“How can you say something like that now?
Cayena was tired.
She had gone out for the first time in a long time, only to run into her ex-husband.
Memories of how she wrote to Rezef, painfully begging him to save her, emerged in full detail.
She remembered how she despaired when Rezef didn't answer a single one of the countless letters she sent him every day.
But she tried to push it out of her mind.
That past didn't exist here.
She could just consider this as her punishment for acting like a villain, and she swallowed the rising heat.
She told herself that they had been very hurt as children and could not have done anything more.
His brother, who was before his eyes now, was still young.
She had to believe there was room for him to change.
Both could be saved.
They could just be brothers with a slightly bad temper instead of villains.
That's what she thought.
Cayena said in her most thoughtful voice, “So what should I say?”
She tried to grab a clean towel, but Rezef grabbed her arm tightly so she couldn't move from her spot.
Cayena frowned in pain.
“Is marriage what you really want?
Is that why you went to meet Raphael today?
“It was just a coincidence.
“Of course it was a coincidence.
Sister.
It was a face that didn't believe her at all.
Cayena recognized that Rezef had completely turned away from her in anger and disbelief.
“Why aren't you saying anything else?
Suffice to say, everything went according to plan.
Just like you got rid of all the people in your palace.
“Including me.”
But he didn't add the last part.
Rezef squeezed his arm.
Cayena let out a small moan.
“That hurts, Rezef.
He laughed in disbelief and let go of her arm.
Instead, he grabbed Cayena by the neck.
Their eyes met.
“My beautiful older sister.
I don't like it when my authority is challenged.
This was something Cayena already knew well.
“I can't leave anything that could be a threat to me around.
Her fingers began to tighten around the back of Cayena's slender head.
“If I want, your life can just disappear, anyway.
Because the next emperor is none other than me.
Still being strangled, Cayena said: — It's okay.
So kill me.
Rezef's hand stopped for a moment.
“… what?
“It's okay if you kill me.
Like you said, you can kill me whenever you want.
I know that too.
Cayena smiled faintly.
Then, she held the hands that were wrapped around her neck with both hands and squeezed.
She squeezed so hard that bones could be seen beneath her delicate white hands.
“… are you crazy?!
— Rezef shouted.
He slapped her hands away.
A red mark was already blooming on his neck.
Cayena coughed a few times, then spoke to her younger brother as if she was teaching him a lesson.
“Why are you shouting?
Don't you know what will happen if it is discovered that you ran away here?
His calm was frightening.
Rezef thought that Cayena had become quite mature.
He felt that she had become calm, sweet and gentle.
“Are you in your right mind?
He asked the question in all sincerity.
There was no way she would do that unless she was crazy.
The madness and anger that had risen to the tip of his head began to cool.
Cayena didn't care.
She grabbed Rezef's hand again, as if telling him to hurry up and strangle her.
He hit her hand hard.
Cayena, pushed by the force, fell to the ground.
“Stop it!
— She got up and smoothed her hair, which was messy.
His naked eyes were terribly dry.
“And you?
Why aren't you suffocating me?
“…
Rezef couldn't respond.
The two stood face to faceface.
There was a strange tension in the air.
Rezef found it embarrassing and absurd that he was so tense when facing his older sister.
He was definitely being pressured by Cayena's will.
She, on the other hand, was calm.
There was no sign of scorn on his face.
“Why don’t you strangle me?”
He was someone who did not hesitate to draw a sword when he was angry.
But now, he couldn't touch Cayena with a single finger.
This fact hurt his pride.
It was also confusing.
“They seem to have noticed that Rezef is inside.”
It was clear that his talented employees had guessed the internal situation.
Rezef had spoken loudly several times, but no one entered the room to check.
Furthermore, Vera, who said she was going to prepare the bath water, hadn't returned yet.
It seemed like she was handling the situation outside by herself.
Cayena did not want to continue this fruitless confrontation.
Cayena asked in a calming voice: — Now, do you want to talk?