# Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Rezef stubbornly didn't open his mouth.
Cayena could guess why he was acting like this.
It was probably because she didn't give up her authority over internal affairs, guaranteed the independence of the princess's palace, and also met with Raphael Kedrey today.
“Sit down,” Cayena said, and she headed for the censer.
When she opened the lid of the censer and moved it a little, a subtle scent blossomed from the burning embers.
Originally, Cayena liked to wear a perfume that had a clear, bright presence.
If she put on a special fragrance, it seemed like she had become a living flower.
But that was all in the past.
The smell she changed to now was a formula to calm her nerves.
The calm and subtle fragrance paired well with the current Cayena.
It was also a combination she chose because of Rezef.
She took out a new towel to replace the one that had fallen to the floor.
Then, she sat down Rezef, who was standing absently, sitting on the chair.
She covered her wet hair with a towel and began to gently dry it.
It was as if she was telling him to stay calm.
Now, it seemed like the environment was more open to dialogue.
Without stopping her hands, she began to speak.
“I don't know exactly why you feel betrayed by me.
Rezef shuddered when Cayena mentioned the betrayal with her own lips.
She had already predicted that this incident would upset Rezef.
She has also long thought about how to deal with the turmoil.
“To be honest, authority over internal affairs is not the kind of authority that belongs to a prince.
Emperor Esteban gave him this authority instead of true power.
In part, it was because Cayena didn't do her part properly as a princess, but there was also a bigger reason.
“Don't you know that authority is just a trick?
The emperor deliberately entrusted authority to Rezef so that he would not have to give him too much real power.
It was to deceive the eyes, as Cayena said.
“Since you have lost authority over internal affairs, this gap will have to be filled with something new.
Cayena pointed out that he could not have held internal affairs authority forever, anyway.
It was a legitimate argument.
“So you're saying this is an opportunity for me that I have to take advantage of myself?
“It's the perfect opportunity, Rezef.
Cayena responded positively to his sarcasm.
“I told you.
I intend to make you the emperor.
Cayena turned the towel over and dried her hair again.
“You have the opportunity to show Father that you have changed.
Rezef grabbed her wrist, stopping her from drying her hair.
It was a careful hand, unlike his rough treatment of her before.
“What do you mean?
“Once your ordeal is over, go to the Father and ask for forgiveness.
Then tell him that it would be good to put Lady Catherine Lindbergh on Count Hamel's family register.
Cayena mentioned the emperor's mistress, who had never managed to cross the threshold of the imperial palace.
As soon as he heard her name, Rezef frowned.
He knew a lot about the emperor's mistress.
Just before the emperor retired to his sickbed, he met Catherine Lindbergh on a hunt.
Catherine Lindbergh was beautiful enough to catch the emperor's attention with just one look.
“Do you mean to say that I should increase the number of competitors for the throne with my own hands?
This woman had a thirteen-year-old son with Emperor Esteban.
Thanks to that, she had all kinds of attention on her.
“I agree, it will be difficult if Catherine Lindbergh is empress.
But that won't happen.
Archduke Heinrich swallowed the Lindbergh family, as if he had overthrown and subjugated the Avon family through debt.
Catarina's father was killed under the pretext of an accident and placed his own man as head of the family.
Cayena was convinced that the former Lindbergh patriarch did not die in an accident because she saw how it was secretly handled in the novel.
Archduke Heinrich could have turned Catherine Lindbergh into a commoner.
The emperor avoided this by recognizing Archduke Heinrich's mother as a member of the imperial family and accepted Archduke Heinrich's adopted son as a potential successor to the throne.
Rezef asked back, intrigued:
“How are you so sure?
“Do you really think that the archidWhy would Heinrich allow Catherine Lindbergh to do anything?
Instead, the addition of another legitimate successor was something Heinrich was more reluctant about than Rezef.
“Do you think the Hamels, the late empress's biological family, would accept this?
It was obvious that Count Hamel would not like Cayena's influence as the sole lady of the imperial family to diminish.
“But of course it would be much better for them to accept the emperor's mistress as their daughter than to lose control over the black market.
Cayena reminded Rezef of the existence of the black market again.
“… my supporters will not stand still.
“That's no reason to worry.
See how the emperor is taking steps to remove his power.
Naturally, the nobles who support you will feel as threatened as you do.
Furthermore, Susan Lepore, who Cayena chose as a court lady this time, will be very meaningful to them.
“And if Lady Catherine is adopted by Count Hamel, what could her son do?
People have already declared their sides in the battle for the throne.
“…
Everything she said was correct.
Rezef suppressed his initial revulsion and considered his words seriously.
The emperor's most beloved son was neither Cayena nor Rezef.
He was Lindbergh's son.
This was why he recognized the Heinrichs' claim to the throne—so that the Lindbergh family would not be disturbed.
However, even with such measures, his lover was unable to enter the imperial palace.
It was because there were too many people keeping her under control, and Catherine had to hide in her mansion to save herself.
“Her son must now be a student at the Imperial Academy.”
“You will be recognized and gain a large hostage at the same time.
“While it is possible to threaten Count Hamel with the black market to make him adopt the Lindberghs, her becoming my hostage is another matter.
Count Hamel would undoubtedly take advantage of Catherine if she fell into his hands.
Cayena scoffed.
“Count Hamel is my maternal family.
What could be the problem with that?
Cayena was heavily influenced by the life she lived before.
In her second life, she was composed, but there was also a dark and meticulous side to her.
That didn't mean the nasty villain temper inside her was gone.
She certainly was feisty.
She was better at hiding this than Rezef, who didn't hesitate to show off and abuse his power.
She could easily manipulate someone like Count Hamel.
"Was this really not pre-calculated?
Could she have planned all this now?"
Rezef was confused.
Did this really come from Cayena's head?
“How is this possible?
She shouldn’t have access to much news.”
He was wide awake to the realization that Cayena was much more useful than he thought.
Cayena took the towel off her head and bent down to fix her hair.
“Are we done fighting now?
“…ha.
Rezef didn't want to answer, but without thinking, he laughed.
Cayena saw him smile and it matched hers.
“…your hands are cold.
He suddenly remembered that his sister's hands were as cold as ice and held them in his own.
His hands were still cold.
“It's good to be young, huh.
Even after being in the rain, you have a lot of body heat.
“We are only a year apart.
And you also have to exercise.
How was it that his insane rage, which made him want to kill everyone, disappeared in an instant?
Now, he felt so calm that his previous anger seemed colorless.
Cayena was still his caring sister.
His peace has not disappeared.
“But this intelligence can be a little dangerous.”
Rezef decided it was necessary to have tighter control over his sister.
After a while, Vera entered the room.
“The bath is still hot.
Your Highness.
“Thank you.
Cayena was completely exhausted.
She went to the bathroom, soaked in a marble bathtub and received an oil massage.
Cayena, who continued to be served silently, put on a robe at the end, allowing the maids to leave.
Then, she said to Vera: — Please purchase a best quality silver spoon for His Majesty the Emperor.
The more ornate it is, the better.
The emperor takes medicine every day.
Then, after taking the medicine, he drank a few sips of the sweet tea with a silver spoon.
She was thinking of preparing a silver spoon herself for this purpose.
“I need to prepare before Rezef poisons theemperor."
If the shape were more extravagant and glamorous, it could not be replaced with another spoon as it would be noticed at first glance.
The silver spoon currently used by the emperor was not real silver.
Rezef had put a trick spoon in his place so he could poison the emperor whenever he wanted.
She could never allow the emperor to die according to Rezef's will.
“I will prepare it as quickly as possible.
Cayena nodded.