# Chapter 06
Chapter 06
Scene 2: Beauty that calls death
“We need to reinvestigate the attempted assassination of the imperial princess,” Rezef said, untying the strings of his cloak.
He looked like his soul had been drained out of him.
Rezef turned to his aide, Zenon Evans.
“How many times have we orchestrated the downfall of some nobleman?
Choose someone among them with a family to support, someone who would face the guillotine in exchange for money.
“As you order.
Zenon Evans thought Rezef was acting quite strangely.
The prince often seemed tired or irritated after visiting Cayena, but Zenon had never seen him so despondent before.
“…Also, place more people around Princess Cayena.
Monitor her every move.
“Yes, Your Majesty.
The more Rezef thought about it, the stranger it was.
Rezef always thought Cayena was under his control.
Was it the other way around?
He didn't think so.
She wasn't smart, sensible, or knew enough to do that.
“So, is anyone close to her giving her advice?” It might have been Count Hamel, but why would he reveal his own weaknesses to Rezef like that?
Before Zenon left to carry out his order, Rezef called him again.
“Find information about Olivia Grace.
“As you command.
Zenon left.
Rezef's head was a jumble of thoughts, and he ran a hand through his hair.
“What are you really doing, Cayena?
The emperor was old and sick.
He was already almost dead.
Although they had children born out of wedlock, Rezef and Cayena were their only officially recognized children.
The only other person with a claim to the throne was the emperor's half-brother, Archduke Heinrich...
Normally, Heinrich would have no claim to the throne, as he was a bastard child, not recognized by the church.
Furthermore, he suffered from an incurable disease, and no one paid attention to it.
But suddenly, a young aristocrat appeared, calling himself Heinrich's son.
His name was Yester Heinrich.
After being claimed by the Archduke, Yester quickly positioned the Archduke's mother in the position of Empress, and he was therefore recognized as a potential legitimate successor to the throne.
People talked, wondering if the emperor's old age or illness had made him act so irrationally.
But that wasn't the case.
It was Yester who manipulated and ruined the Emperor by taking control
“To think he would take her hostage…
The emperor, instead of leaving Catherine and her family to their doom, legitimized Archduke Heinrich.
Rezef felt his anger increase every time he was abandoned by the so-called Archduke Heinrich's family.
Family?
It was more like a gang.
Rezef was thinking about using Cayena to send Archduke Heinrich to hell, but today's events forced him to revise his plan.
Rezef spent a lot of time manipulating Cayena.
He slowly tied her hands and feet, making her depend on him for everything, until she could do nothing on her own.
He thought he had succeeded, but….
Rezef lay down on the couch.
He couldn't forget the blue eyes that looked straight at him.
They were completely different from his previously empty eyes that only sought pleasure.
Rezef had never seen such a deep look from anyone among his peers.
“Did my older sister always have such beautiful eyes?”
“Cayena…
Rezef covered his eyes with his hand, blocking the light from the windows.
Then, he raised his hand again.
It was the same hand that Cayena kissed.
“My silly but beautiful doll.”
With his other hand, he gently touched the back of that hand.
Then, examining his hand, he slowly lowered it, letting it brush against his lips.
His eyes looked at her coldly and directly….
“What should I do with you?
— he whispered.
The fever gave way to nightmares.
“You can do this well, right?
Subordinate Jung.
The nightmare was a jumble of scenes from his workplace and the imperial family.
“And yet you call yourself the imperial princess!
“It's all your fault!
“…!
— Cayena's insides twisted in pain as her eyes opened.
“…it was just a dream.”
She lay motionless on her bed, staring as tears ran down her face.
Then, she came to her senses.
The tears were meaningless.
She was already numb to the sadness and pain of her memories.
“Are you awake, my lady?
SeeRa came to her side and began to wipe Cayena's tears with a towel dipped in warm water.
“What kind of nightmare made you cry like that?”
“You should drink some water, Your Highness.
With that, she brought Cayena some lemon water.
It had been two weeks since Cayena spoke face to face with Rezef.
Since then, Cayena has been subdued.
It wasn't just that she was recovering.
She needed to act modestly to calm Rezef's suspicions.
Rezef was really bad.
He was someone who would kill the — culprit — who poisoned Cayena without mercy.
For his own safety, he would sacrifice others without hesitation.
A typical victim of this behavior was Cayena herself.
My marriage should not affect the flow of the story.
I just need to find a position that is difficult for others to manipulate.
Only then would she be safe, and the story wouldn't collapse without her.
Rezef was suspicious and would continue testing Cayena.
“I need to stop him from killing Olivia, however, I will only interfere up to that point.
In any case, Cayena was the one who tried to poison Olivia, having been tricked by Rezef.
Even though her crime had been erased with her return to this life, she couldn't forget what she had done.
Cayena didn't want to be manipulated anymore.
And she was sincere in her request to Rezef about choosing her own husband.
“Although, the person I’m going to marry won’t exist in this world!!”
Cayena intended to invent a person she would marry.
“Until then, I just need to keep surviving and keep Rezef happy.”
“Your Highness, they say the culprit has been arrested, — said Vera, interrupting his thoughts.
Cayena wiped her mouth with a silk handkerchief and replied:
“Really?
“So he did as I told him.”
Cayena was in no hurry.
She just had to wait for the right moment until Rezef moved as she wanted.
“Today is the day of your execution.
Will you see?
Cayena shook her head.
She had no desire to watch something so terrible.
At this time, people gathered to watch the executions.
Now, Cayena only felt repulsed by the practice.
The aristocrat who poisoned His Imperial Princess Cayena knelt in front of the guillotine.
All eyes were on him as he spoke.
“I did it because I loved her so much!
Not even death can stop my love for her!
— The criminal was an unknown aristocrat who had fallen from grace.
The nobles were talking among themselves, asking if this man was present in the banquet hall.
“To think he would find someone willing to die in just two weeks.”
The nobles were hesitant to talk about the poisoning case, as rumors said that the princess's condition was serious.
Rezef's supporters were making an uproar about how Rezef, although he was young, should be officially named crown prince.
The nobles who supported Archduke Heinrich were trying to hush up the incident and them.
“Prince Rezef is not the only one who can succeed to the throne!
We can't be too hasty.
However, his words were drowned out by a timely article in the gossip columns describing how Princess Cayena's beauty had led to someone's death.
“He had to buy the newspapers too.
He must have been busy.
Gossip flowed easily into people's mouths, and Archduke Heinrich's people had dedicated themselves to advancing his agenda.
Now, however, Heinrich has been pushed out of the public eye by the incident.
Heinrich's people were overshadowed, as everyone was much more interested in talking about Cayena's beauty.
“You've always been beautiful, but people are really noticing that more now, aren't they.
Your Highness?
Cayena laughed at Vera's words.
Cayena's beauty was already famous, but now, the word “beauty” alone seemed to be lacking in describing her.
“A beauty that calls to death.”
A gossip magazine compared Cayena to a rose with a poisonous thorn.
The rumors and attention she received continued to grow smoothly, and when Cayena canceled her appearances at the parties she had previously scheduled, the excitement turned into madness.
Stories of the poisoning incident were already being told to publicize the beauty of Cayena Hill.
“They say the nobles are looking forward to their coming-of-age ceremony.
The ceremony would involve an unprecedented number of suitors.
“You might be engaged to someone soon.
Do you think Lord Kedrey would be a goodcombination?
— Vera asked carefully.
Cayena knew her answer would be repeated straight to Rezef.
She feigned ignorance.
“I am not sure.
It seems like it might be very troublesome considering the emperor wouldn't approve.