# Chapter 55
Chapter 55
To tell the truth, she didn't pay much attention to the coachman, but he seemed different.
However, his clothes were obviously those of an imperial charioteer.
When Cayena noticed one oddity, she began to notice the others.
Except for his carriage, the surroundings were exceedingly calm.
It seemed like it had been arranged that way on purpose.
His mind, which was overwhelmed because of Raphael a moment ago, went cold.
She smiled gently and looked at Olivia in a serene manner.
“I just remembered that I forgot to return the books I borrowed from the imperial library.
She could feel the gazes of the coachman and the escort knight turn sharp.
His instincts told him that he shouldn't arouse suspicion by hastily showing that he didn't want to get into the carriage.
Cayena asked a servant to bring the book.
She was acting as close to normal as she could.
“I'll be waiting in the carriage, so will you please return the book to me, Olivia?”
If something happened to her, Olivia would notice.
Olivia vaguely felt that Cayena's behavior was unusual.
However, objectively speaking, there was nothing suspicious she could point to.
“As you order.
She took the book and left.
The knight opened the carriage door.
Cayena was still on edge, but on the surface, she showed a casual smile.
“It's a nice day, so I'm going for a walk until Olivia gets back.
“Understood.
The knight accepted his words without a rebuttal.
Was she thinking too much or was something really wrong?
In either case, it wasn't a bad idea to be cautious.
Cayena took a step.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her from behind and covered her face with a towel soaked in a knockout drug.
“Mmph-!
— So she fell unconscious.
Olivia took the book and headed towards the library.
But before she got very far, someone grabbed her roughly.
“…!
— She tried to scream, but a rough hand quickly covered her mouth.
She couldn't understand what was happening.
However, she could tell that this man was trying to take her to a secluded place.
Thump!
“Aghh!
— The man suddenly struggled.
Olivia turned and saw Raphael.
“Are you well?
“Y-yes.
She was so surprised that her hands shook.
Olivia looked at the man Raphael's attendants had tied up.
“Why were you alone without the princess?
With that, Olivia suddenly raised her head.
“His Highness is in the carriage…!
— Raphael's expression turned cold.
“Guys, search the area and arrest anyone suspicious.
“We obey your orders!
— Raphael immediately ran to where the carriage was.
An ominous premonition struck him.
Please, please!
But despite his sincere wishes, the carriage was not there.
There was a yellow light.
Cayena soon realized that what she was seeing was the light from a lamp.
Where was she?
As she forcibly cleared her foggy mind, she tried to stand up.
“…
She was tied up.
“I was kidnapped.
At that moment, a man entered the dark room.
She didn't recognize his face.
He held some bread and a single bowl in his hands.
“Are you awake, Your Highness?
He knew who she was.
He must have been a subordinate of the person who instigated his kidnapping.
The man felt a little uncomfortable when Cayena watched him with an expressionless face instead of crying or getting angry.
His eyes gave him goosebumps.
Cursing, he approached Cayena.
The bowl in his hand was carelessly thrown onto the floor, its contents scattering haphazardly.
The bread was also thrown onto the dirty floor.
“Eat,” said the man, and lay down on the couch.
Cayena checked the light shining through the thick curtains.
Seeing the reddish color, it seemed to be late afternoon.
She looked around to see what she could discern from the lamp's light.
Seeing the interiors, she could guess where this place was.
“It's the annex of the temple.
The man paused.
“Don't even think about shouting.
There's no one around here anyway.
And if you're loud, I might gag you.
Even with his threat, Cayena remained calm.
The princess was certainly beautiful.
But something about her made him suspicious.
The man had a good sense of instinct about these things.
“I'm guessing you're going to relocate me later in the night?”
“Hi, Your Highness.
“Seeing how carefully you are treating me, the person who controls youAtou doesn't want me to get hurt.
So...
Bang!
The man kicked a table aggressively.
“This is no time to play detective.
Then some men came from outside.
Confused by the sudden noise, they asked: — What's going on?
“Nothing happened…
Cayena spoke before the man could finish speaking.
“I'm sure at least one of you is working for Heinrich, so I'll say it like this.
If you don't take me back to the imperial palace in perfect health, my younger brother will receive some unfortunate news.
For example, the location of a secret group.
Then, some of the guys' expressions changed.
The man had a dangerous appearance, like a demon, and tried to calm Cayena.
“I really should gag you so you would shut up…
“I always considered the possibility of being kidnapped.
She looked at the man with incomparable apathetic eyes.
“If you don't take me back to the imperial palace within a day, you will see for yourself whether my words are true or not.
The man backed away as if tired.
“… this crazy princess.
She was threatening them despite being kidnapped.
Cayena shrugged.
“I hear that all the time.
It's nothing new.
Of course, that was before she came back.
Scene 10.
A Strange Hostage
When Raphael met Cayena at the gym, he realized how eagerly he had been waiting for this day.
The day before, time strangely seemed to pass very slowly.
He thought he was bored.
However, it was less tedious to book the restaurant.
The best seats in the restaurant, highly recommended by Baston, had already been reserved a week in advance by someone else.
“Find out who made the reservation.
The reservation was made by a young couple who were about to get married.
Raphael gave them a small wedding gift and asked them to give up their reservation.
If they did, the future Duke Kedrey would not forget this favor and would attend the upcoming wedding himself.
A wedding attended by Raphael!
It was clear that other high-ranking families would be eager to attend the wedding if he was there.
The couple's family prestige would increase in an instant.
Furthermore, the wedding gift was a matrimonial home for the bride and groom.
It was a very expensive mansion on the outskirts of the capital.
They just made an appointment at a popular restaurant, but ended up with an unexpected surprise.
“It would have been better to give the mansion as a gift to your heir, once you have a son…
Jeremy felt sick to his stomach knowing that Raphael had given an incredible mansion as a gift just for a restaurant reservation.
He looked at Baston, who recommended the restaurant.
It was all because of Baston and his wicked mouth.
Baston whistled and pretended not to notice Jeremy's gaze.
“It doesn't matter, since I can buy a better mansion right now.
Or I can start building one now.
“…
Jeremy knew that Raphael was talented, but sometimes he thought that his master didn't have much sense in economics.
Of course, Raphael was rich enough not to worry about that.
"Humph.
Even so, donating a mansion is a waste..."
It was not a mansion that should be thrown away, just to go on a date with the princess.
As he thought about this, Jeremy suddenly had an understanding.
He gave his master a strange look.
“Does that mean he really favors the princess?”
Raphael seemed too formal for that.
He did not have the characteristic emotion of a person who has fallen in love.
“Wait, is this what he looks like when he’s excited?”
Seeing how he was spending money recklessly… that might be the case.