# Chapter 40
Chapter 40
“So there was a rebel spy in the imperial palace,” Cayena said.
“… sorry?
— said Mrs.
Helier.
“A spy?
Cayena ordered the knight: — Arrest the traitor.
“I am not a traitor, Your Highness!
Actually, I'm not.
I simply received this gift from the Sovenin family!
If there is a problem with these items, then they must be the traitors!
— Then Mrs.
Sovenin's appearance changed abruptly.
“What are you talking about?
These jewels don't belong to my family!
— Mrs.
Helier's face looked more like a demon than usual.
She spat:
“Shut up, you ingrate!
— She took the ring from her hand and threw it at Mrs.
Sovenin.
“Kyaa!
— It hit Mrs.
Sovenin's forehead and fell to the floor.
“I shouldn't have accepted anything from such a humble and baseless family!
Your Highness, these people approached me with bad intentions.
But I have nothing to do with them!
“Of course, Mrs.
Helier.
I know well that you have been trying hard to take care of the imperial palace.
Therefore, it is unfair to suspect him of disloyalty.
Cayena took a ring off her finger and gave it to a knight near her.
It was the gold ring that proved she was a member of the imperial family.
“Search Helier's house and her house before she married into the family.
Find anything with the traitor family's seal on it.
Mrs.
Helier collapsed to the floor.
Cayena added gently, “That's an order.
“What a mess,” said Vera, who had followed Cayena all day to inspect the palace.
His face was tired.
They punished or rewarded each section of the imperial palace.
Of course, there were far more punishments than rewards.
People have stopped worrying about how Cayena knew all this.
What mattered to them was how much more she knew.
On the other hand, Cayena was smiling.
“It went as I expected.
Then, she turned to comfort Vera and Olivia.
“Olivia, you went through a lot of hazing on your first day at the palace.
“Not at all, Your Highness.
“I want you to have a good, long rest tomorrow.
Still, since you followed me today, everyone should know your face and not act rashly against you.
Olivia curtsied briefly.
“I am grateful for your care.
“You can go.
Get some rest, Olivia.
With Cayena's words, Olivia left the room.
“How was His Majesty?
— Cayena asked Vera.
Amidst her busy schedule, Cayena assigned servants from the other kitchens to the central kitchen in order to prepare dinner for the emperor and Rezef.
Vera took care of delivering the food to the emperor's bed herself.
“You've heard everything.
Your Majesty told me to quickly come to your side as you would be busy.
It was an indirect but unequivocal expression of support for Cayena's actions.
“I should think about what kind of reward to ask from him,” Cayena muttered.
“I also have to think about how to deal with Rezef’s reaction.”
His head throbbed with pain.
The prince's room was under repair.
In the meantime, Rezef was moved to a small room.
It was lucky he wasn't crazy anymore, threatening to kill people or destroy things.
But there was another problem.
“Please reconsider, Your Highness.
Rezef had a book in his hands.
There were also several books on the table, all related to travel.
They were copies of the books lent by Cayena.
Zenon wanted to curse his carefree appearance, but he barely controlled himself.
He asked, “Why are you trying to bring Catherine Lindbergh, Your Highness?” It's very risky.
Rezef didn't look up from the book as he answered, as if there was no problem.
“What's the problem?
She will only be recorded as an adopted daughter in Count Hamel's family register.
“This change will only create new competitors.
The thing called influence is fluid.
Then, Rezef put down the book he was reading and looked at Zenon.
“You speak as if the forces I have gathered thus far will certainly break apart to support Lindbergh's son.
Rezef's forces, which had grown in size since they formed, would now be more careful instead of advancing uncontrollably.
In particular, the nobles who supported Rezef tended to be conservative.
“If Catherine Lindbergh becomes empress, her son will have a more legitimate claim to the throne than anyone else.
Your Highness, don't you see how dangerous that would be?
Most conservative nobles supported Rezef for a reasonsimple: he was the emperor's son.
“Legitimacy, this, legitimacy, that!
Bam!
Rezef threw a cup of tea.
In an instant, the atmosphere turned cold.
“No matter how hard Lindbergh tries!
— Rezef said, looking at Zenon with piercing blue eyes.
“I will be faster to obtain the throne.
Now, Rezef was in no position to be persuaded.
Zenon took a step back and lowered his head.
“Please forgive me.
It was a slip of the tongue.
Something was wrong.
“I don't want to look at you, so leave.
Rezef said nothing more and turned the page of his book.
After Zenon left, the outside became a little noisy before becoming quiet again.
Thump.
He closed the book and turned to the secret passage, calling out someone's name.
“Jamil.
His assistant, hidden in the passage, revealed himself.
The secret helper, who covered his face and wore a black exorcist uniform, knelt down.
“Spread a portrait of Princess Cayena throughout the empire.
Rezef looked at his capable secret advisor with a good-natured smile.
“Take artists who are specifically near the ports and land routes leaving the empire and place the princess's portrait on display everywhere.
I want it so that even a country slut knows her face.
“I will comply with your order.
Jamil bowed and disappeared back into the secret passage.
Rezef threw the book in his hand onto the table.
There was nothing left to see.
“I never gave her permission to run away from me.
He stretched and looked out the window.
Ever since he read an uninteresting book, he felt sleepy.
Rezef murmured languidly, —The only thing left is marriage…
At this moment, a servant carefully entered the room.
“What is it?
“Your Highness is punishing every department in the palace.
These words made his drowsiness disappear.
“…what did you say?
The servant announced that Cayena had already expelled a significant number of courtiers, including the maid.
Rezef's eyes turned dark.
“Is my sister trying to reduce my influence…?
The maid position was vacant because of Cayena's actions.
Rezef thought about the person who would likely take his place.
“Now that I think about it… she said she called the woman Elivan.”
That woman was the one who interfered in everything so that he and Cayena didn't get along.
As a result, he framed her and sent her into exile.
It was impossible to let that woman return when he had worked so hard to drive her out of the palace in the first place.
“Make sure Clarence Elivan can't come to the capital.
The servant bowed.
“I will comply with your order.
Scene 8.
The Ladies of the Court of the Princess's Palace
If you were to rank the grandest mansion in the capital, Alquiem, number one would undoubtedly be Kedrey Villa.
That beautiful building cost a fortune to build and was refined enough to counteract the dull, militaristic image of the Kedrey family.
Masterpieces by Alquiem's most beloved craftsman covered the interior.
In particular, the garden and the huge lake, decorated in the fashionable style of the empire, were unique attractions of Kedrey Villa.
However, there was another reason the mansion was famous.
It was a mansion where the night didn't come.
With the family's tremendous wealth, candles were lit generously every night, making the village look like a giant lamp.
One quiet night, a visitor passed through a secret passage that was not illuminated by bright lights.
It was a woman who hid her appearance by wearing a hood.
She pulled the rope at the entrance and soon the door opened.
A servant came out.
In a low voice, the woman said: — I have news from the princess's palace.
The servant covered the woman's eyes with a blindfold and accompanied her to an unknown place.
Finally, the blindfold was removed.
It was a room with a large marquee in the center.
“Remove your hood,” ordered a knight.
The woman did as he ordered.
It was Annie, a maid at the princess's palace.