# Chapter 46
Chapter 46
“No!
— Cayena quickly interrupted with a confused expression.
“I don't need another building.
A new thought slowly appeared in Raphael's mind.
What if he gave her a sacred artifact?
“So what do you want besides buildings?
A sacred relic from the ancient kingdom, or…
As he continued thinking out loud, Cayena waved her hand as if she was overwhelmed.
“No no!
I'm fine without.
I'm glad you thought of me.
“True?
Raphael's lips, without his intention, began to stretch into a smile upon hearing Cayena's words.
Cayena sighed softly with her pleasant smile.
“Even if you are the male lead, do you have to be so handsome?”
Cayena was abruptly reminded of how handsome Raphael was.
Her heart quickened even though she didn't recognize it.
“But why is Raphael sitting so close to me?”
When she paid attention again, she realized that he was very close to her.
She wondered if an old habit had crept in without her noticing.
Should she sit a little longer or just stay here?
Before she could contemplate further, Raphael continued speaking.
“Your Highness can decide what the new building will be used for.
Cayena snapped out of her thoughts.
She was a little distracted, forgetting what they were here to talk about.
“Oh, right.
So why did you come to talk to me?
she asked.
Raphael replied sincerely.
— I wanted to see you, Your Highness.
A violent reaction to these words erupted elsewhere.
“Cough cough!
— Baston, who was drinking tea, had a coughing fit, as if something had gone into the wrong place.
“Oh no, are you okay?
— Cayena asked.
“Yes yes.
I am fine.
Baston was surprised by his master, who tried to throw a fastball but failed and then charged like a bull.
“There really are steps to confessing your feelings…”
However, unlike Baston, Cayena did not read Raphael's words.
“Speaking of which, you said you wanted to ask me something,” Cayena said, as if she hadn't heard him say he wanted to meet her just to see her.
Raphael's eyes narrowed as she examined the incident very clearly.
He realized that she did not see any possibility of a relationship with him.
First, Raphael decided he would match her pace.
“All my conversations about marriage have been cancelled.
Cayena reacted frankly.
“Congratulations.
“So I came to hear the next part of the plan.
With her words, Cayena addressed all the servants in the room.
“Everyone, leave us.
Likewise, she asked Baston for his understanding.
“Could you leave the room for a bit?
“Of course, Your Highness.
Baston smiled and left the room alongside the servants.
“People outside won't be able to hear what we say in this room.
It was foolish to let anyone on the outside know that the room was one of those places.
Still, Cayena casually revealed this secret.
“There are many spies in the imperial palace.
Everything that happens here becomes rumor in less than a day.
“I understand.
Raphael nodded, feigning ignorance.
He also planted several spies in the palace.
“My goal is simple,” Cayena said frankly.
“I want you to make me a husband.
For a moment there was silence.
Make a husband?
Had she spoken badly, or had she intended to make a child?
No, there was no way the princess could say such an obscene expression.
She wasn't asking him to be her husband or introduce someone, but to make a husband.
He had never heard such a strange and absurd request in his life.
“… do you want me to find you a husband?
“Yes, a fake and imaginary husband.
But only the person must be false.
He must have rights and fortune.
In other words, she wouldn't marry him.
Words with unfiltered sincerity came out of Raphael's mouth.
“Your Highness, don't you like me?
“…
This time, Cayena was very embarrassed.
Of course she liked him.
He was Cayena's first love, and a long and unrequited love.
But that was decades ago.
“Why is he asking me this when I asked him to find me a husband?”
Raphael didn't seem to be joking.
He said this with such a serious face that Cayena was taken aback.
Another silence followed.
Cayena calmly tried to think of the appropriate response in this situation, but there was nothing.
Then, Raphael spoke again.—Was my question rude?
Of course it was rude.
But it would be strange for her to admit that she didn't.
She was the one who kept saying how much she liked him.
If they were discussing rudeness, they would first have to address Cayena's past actions.
Cayena cleared her mind and said, — The question was a little embarrassing, I admit.
Then, to show her innocence, Cayena spoke in a firm voice.
“My feelings for you have been cleared now.
I was sincere in my vow that I would not flirt with you again.
Raphael's expression changed subtly.
That was right.
But he didn't realize that her promise not to be rude anymore meant she would never like him again.
That wasn't what he wanted.
No.
This was what he originally expected.
Contact with her was unpleasant and he didn't like how her gaze was always fixed on him.
But that wasn't the case nowadays.
Now, he felt good spending time with Cayena, and he didn't mind kissing the back of her hand.
He was fine accompanying her and when he held her in his arms…
She smelled really good.
And she still does.
Cayena was like a person painted with very light pigments.
She looked cold but at the same time sweet.
When she was close, he felt more comfortable.
It was quite an addictive sensation.
“There is no need for that.
I will believe Your Highness' words even without that vote.
Cayena still found his words hard to believe.
“Was my promise too weak?”
Maybe he thought she was shameless in trying to clear her story after harassing him so much.
But Raphael was the only one who could help her with her plans.
She thought that she would be able to live well if she cooperated with the male protagonist.
“Since Heinrich cannot interfere easily.”
She really didn't want to get involved with that crazy person.
“It would be nice if Raphael and I could become friends.”
In Cayena's opinion, it was the best relationship possible.
“…so, my request was too brazen?
Raphael knew that Cayena was sincerely concerned about his feelings.
That.
That was as good as the smile she gave him.
“It's the first time I've been asked to play a husband.
Raphael asked: — But why are you trying to marry an imaginary person?
Because it was the way she could leave the capital safely, without loose ties.
Cayena didn't really want to get married.
She could be caught by another lunatic and killed.
“Or maybe my husband will leave this life before me.”
Rezef can kill her husband, make her remarry, and continue to use her like a doll.
Like the tragedy of the most beautiful woman in some ancient history.
No, that was definitely what would happen.
“Because he really intended to send me to Heinrich and use me like this.”
It was at these times that Cayena would feel a little resentful of the novel for letting her know about all the secret plots that led to her death.
When Rezef's power weakened, Heinrich would certainly try to take Cayena's hand.
He would try to fill his lack of legitimacy by marrying Cayena.
“But he’s also one of the secondary male protagonists here, so he’s going to fall in love with Olivia and find my existence offensive.”
If he took the throne, he would try to kill Cayena and lust after Olivia.
Why was it so complicated and tiring?
Cayena felt a little exhausted as she examined her situation.
“My sins were born in the imperial family and are ignorant.”
Finally, she said calmly: — It's because a person who doesn't exist cannot be poisoned.
It was also a sentence that immediately explained Cayena's situation.
Raphael remembered Cayena's secret nickname among influential nobles.
“The prince’s puppet.
Cayena was reaching out to him to cut the rope of fate that she was hanging on to.
“Is that why she changed?”
The person who was easier to understand than anyone else was nowhere to be seen.
It was as if it was made of fog and no one could tell what was inside.
Raphael remembered that Cayena was reading travel diaries.
Maybe Cayena just wanted to find a safe place to rest.
“Firstly, this will only be possible after you inherit the duchy.
It was only a matter of time before Raphael succeeded the current duke.
Soon, the Duke and Duchess Kedrey would file for divorce.
The Duke, who married into the Kedrey family, will return to his bi familylogical.
He would be able to spend the rest of his life comfortably with the money and connections he had accumulated.
It was a lukewarm ending for a person who separated his family to have an affair.
“I heard he had an affair when Raphael was a child.”
The novel did not mention anything about the case, probably because the focus of the novel was on Olivia.
“My heart hesitates to take advantage of someone else’s family affairs, but…”
“What's wrong?
— Raphael asked when he felt her gaze on him.
Cayena couldn't tell the truth, so she gave an appropriate answer.
“You always look wonderful, but Sir Kedrey looks a little different today.
It was an appropriate attempt at flattery.
Or, actually, the compliment was sincere.
Raphael looked at his clothes.
The bright cream-colored shirt, which Baston highly recommended, caught his eye.
“Do you like this?
Cayena didn't expect that question.
She hesitated for a moment and then avoided answering directly.
“Hmm.
Everything seems to suit you well.
Raphael smiled, knowing that Cayena was purposely skirting the bush.
“Your Highness too.