# Chapter 62
Chapter 62
“Rezef, this is not the time to act like this.
“Sister, you seem to think I'm a child who can't do anything.
He was only 18 years old.
What was he saying he could do?
Of course, he was much smarter and stronger than his peers.
She was about to say that of course he was very young when she suddenly changed her mind.
Technically, Cayena was only 19 years old.
“It's because you're my little brother.
Then, Rezef's attitude, which had been caustic until now, softened.
“…still, you need to rest.
Cayena knows this was a normal concern.
Who would tell someone who was kidnapped yesterday to get to work immediately?
It was appropriate to rest after such a traumatic experience.
That is, if she were an ordinary person.
Unfortunately, Cayena was not a normal noblewoman.
Furthermore, if she didn't diligently remove the thorns from the road in front of her, she would end up stabbed to death.
What the future held would be as difficult as yesterday's kidnapping or worse.
“Father is a strict man.
You know that.
This was something Rezef knew better than anyone.
He smiled glumly.
“Yes I know.
With displeasure on his face, Rezef said: — But you don't need to worry.
Duke Raphael has already resolved this problem.
Cayena stopped when Raphael was suddenly mentioned.
Hesitantly, she asked: — How is he?
Rezef didn't know either.
He shrugged.
“When I entered the palace in the morning, he was having a private conversation with the emperor.
It seemed to go well.
Thanks to that, I owe the duke.
He didn't like that part, but he thought it was okay for the problem to be handled discreetly.
“He came to the palace.”
Cayena seemed to continue receiving undeserved help from him.
It was unlikely that Raphael would do this just for Rezef.
“I thought I was being overly self-conscious.”
Raphael was apparently showing her some favor.
She didn't say what kind of goodwill it came from, but it made her feel warm.
“That is also the case with how he inherited his title.”
She felt embarrassed admitting this fact.
Then there was a knock on the door.
Vera, who was as still as the air, checked the door and politely informed Cayena: — Your Highness, Olivia requests an audience with you.
Cayena thought for a moment.
She was hesitating because of Rezef.
However, she knew that it was inevitable that they would meet once she called Olivia to the imperial palace.
She thought it would be better if they saw each other now rather than out of Cayena's sight.
She couldn't keep delaying, so Cayena chose to face him head on.
“Let her in.
After a while, the door opened and Olivia's skeletal form entered.
Rezef glanced at Olivia indifferently, then sat down on the sofa next to the bed.
Olivia knelt down, bowed to Cayena and asked carefully, “Your Highness… are you okay?”
Cayena gestured for her to get up and replied: — I'm fine.
Olivia's face had poor skin, perhaps because the day before she had suffered a lot.
His eyes also looked painful.
Cayena reached out to Olivia.
“Come here.
Heeding his call, Olivia cautiously approached the bed and took his hand.
Cayena had never thought deeply about the fact that Olivia was only 20 years old.
She just thought Olivia was a sensible and intelligent person.
Cayena had been very inattentive.
Olivia must have been scared.
She, rather than Cayena, may have developed trauma.
Cayena pulled Olivia's hand to drag her into her arms and patted Olivia on the back.
“Were you scared?
Then, Cayena said the words that were used to comfort her.
“Everything is fine now.
With those words, Olivia hugged Cayena as if she was falling apart.
His body seemed to tremble.
“…I'm so grateful you're safe.
“It's thanks to you.
Olivia knew that Cayena had sent her on this mission to protect her.
That was why she thought she should thank her.
From the side, Rezef looked up sharply to see this scene.
Then he laughed so softly that no one else would hear.
Here was another thing he would have to keep under control.
He noticed that Cayena cared about Olivia more than usual.
Strange things kept latching onto her sister.
Cayena did not notice Rezef's distorted feelings and continued tocomfort Olivia.
“I'll give you a few days off, so visit your house.
You will feel better if you rest somewhere you feel comfortable.
Olivia pulled herself slightly out of Cayena's embrace and nodded at Cayena's affectionate regard.
“No.
I want to stay by Your Highness’s side.
Cayena opened her eyes, a little surprised, and smiled.
“Thanks.
This incident had definitely formed a bond between them.
Olivia looked at Cayena again with serious eyes.
“But you need to rest.
Get checked by a doctor too.
“Thank you for worrying about me.
Rezef, who was watching silently, called out to Cayena with a displeased voice.
“Sister.
At this call, both Cayena and Olivia turned to Rezef.
Olivia was scared.
She hadn't realized that Rezef was in the room because from the beginning, she had only been looking at Cayena.
She quickly bowed to Rezef.
“I salute Your Imperial Highness.
Rezef acted as if Olivia was invisible and didn't recognize her.
He looked past Olivia and touched Cayena's forehead.
He thought there was a flush on her face that wasn't there before, and once he checked, he saw that her fever was rising.
“Sister, you really should rest now.
Only after saying that did Rezef look at Olivia.
“My sister needs to rest, so leave now.
Olivia felt Rezef's disapproval.
She didn't really understand why, but he was the prince who was said to be a bandit.
Olivia lowered her head and said, “Then I will leave now.”
Meanwhile, Cayena seemed in disbelief at what her brother was doing.
"Wasn't it love at first sight?
I definitely remember him being curious about her from the beginning."
Even when Olivia left, Rezef was only concerned with putting a blanket on Cayena.
She obediently lay down on the bed.
“…I guess it’s lucky.”
Cayena closed her eyes.
Julia had been pestering the servant to meet her brother since yesterday.
However, Zenon remained absent from the imperial palace.
As soon as she heard that he had returned, Julia went to his room.
“Exactly where you've been, brother!
— Zenon didn't respond, just taking off his tie clip and throwing it on the table.
Julia followed him and scolded him.
“I was so scared I thought I was going to die!
“Yesterday was really scary.
She cringed at the atmosphere of the imperial palace, which suddenly turned brutal when Olivia announced that the princess had been kidnapped.
Furthermore, Vera gathered the courtiers, including Julia, saying that they must drive away the knights blocking the prince's chambers.
Julia was terrified to hear that she would have to deal with sword-wielding knights.
How could anyone think of doing this in good conscience!!
“Why was the princess kidnapped when there is the central army in the palace and the escort knights to protect her?
If I had known this would happen, I would never have become the princess's lady-in-waiting!
Zenon soon exploded at Julia.
“This is what the imperial palace is like!
— At his scream, Julia's eyes widened like an oil lamp.
“B-brother?
“Did you think this was a place for you to play house?
How can a child who is almost of legal age be so stupid!
— It was the first time he saw Zenon, who was sarcastic but always calm, so angry.
She was so surprised that her heart skipped a beat.
“Brother, how can you-
Julia's eyes filled with tears in an instant.
“How can you treat me like this?
I was so scared...
Zenon was already sensitive because of Yester.
When Julia came to him and complained about being scared, he couldn't contain his anger.
“I can't believe you're the same age as His Highness.
He got rid of his younger sister and left the room.
Julia, who was left alone, cried sadly.
Then, she tried to hold back the tears.
She couldn't help but think that she had been abandoned in the palace.
Julia had no friends here and her only family member treated her coldly.
The only people she could count on were the maids she brought from home.
She would have been happier in the eastern region, even if it was full of ugly men.
Julia left Zenon's room.
With her head lowered, she weakly walked towards the princess's palace.
“What should I do now?”
She felt as if she had lost all courage.
Thud!
“There!
— Julia met someone when she turnedthe corner.
She held her head in her hands and looked up.
“Oh…
She stared at the man she had collided with.
A handsome man with beautiful blonde hair, light blue eyes, and a gentle aura looked at her.
Despite her soft impression, her eyes lacked warmth.
This dangerous feeling made Julia's heart flutter even more.
“Hmm.
The man looked at her dubiously.
Julia finally came to her senses.
“Oh my, I'm so sorry.
“… sorry?
The man examined Julia carefully and smiled.
Julia's face became bright because of how wonderful that smile was.
“Don't you know who I am?
“… Yes?
“Blonde hair and blue eyes.
You must be Julia Evans.
She slowly blinked her eyes, not understanding.
“Who is this man…?”
Then, she realized.
“Y-Your Highness, the Prince?
Julia was surprised and quickly knelt down to greet him.
“I salute Your Imperial Highness!
— She never thought that this incredibly handsome man could be the prince.
Hearing that he was a year younger than her, she was not interested in the prince.
Even when she was told to familiarize herself with him by looking at his portrait, she said she would do so later.
It was because she liked Raphael and not the young prince.
She looked at Rezef, a handsome man who was tall, robust, refined, and glamorous.
Rezef couldn't ignore that look if he tried.
He looked at Julia and raised one corner of his mouth.
“Oh, look at this.”
Rezef knew very well that his appearance easily attracted other people.
Cayena's beauty level was absurd, but he was also handsome and attracted many eyes.
He gently curved his eyes and smiled affably.