# Chapter 65
Chapter 65
Scene 12.
Harvesting the Flower from the Black Garden.
On the night of the princess's kidnapping, Raphael sent a messenger to his mother, who was still in the capital.
Viscount Gillian was a pillar of the west.
And since he had decided to dismantle it, they had to plan how to get the most out of it.
"We have to make a decision by today.
Someone will certainly act tomorrow, be it Gillian himself or the imperial palace."
Furthermore, the light in Prince Rezef's eyes was not ordinary.
The prince, who was said to be a ruffian, had to be restrained before acting unexpectedly.
That way, Cayena would be safe.
When Cayena fainted, he clearly felt how thin and weak she was.
Raphael couldn't leave her struggling in the tumultuous waters of the imperial palace.
He had to hurry and find an alternative.
The carriage stopped at Kedrey Villa.
When Raphael got out of the carriage, his domestic staff bowed to him.
“Congratulations on your succession, Your Excellency!
— Raphael was quite indifferent to it.
This was why he couldn't understand how much his vassals had been waiting for this moment.
It was safe to say that Duchess Kedrey was running the duchy alone.
It had been a long time since Duke Leo abandoned everything and left the Western Duchy.
They had no real head of the family.
Raphael had helped run the household as his successor.
But his father was his father and Raphael wasn't very close to his mother, so he didn't want to get involved in family matters.
The vassals were disturbed and looked nervously at the heir.
Today was an auspicious day for them.
“Everyone stand up.
But the occasion was not very happy for Raphael.
Not that he felt any particular regret in claiming his inheritance.
It was because of Cayena.
“Today is a day when His Highness was put in danger.
Everyone should act more calmly.
“Yes, Your Excellency!
— The vassals have scattered.
Baston, who was guarding the house, quickly approached.
Raphael entered the mansion and received a letter from Baston.
“It's a message from you.
「Viscount Gillian is just waiting for the opportunity, so it doesn't matter if you trouble them.
For the rest, you are the owner of the family.
Take good care of it.
」
In fact, her mother was quick to understand the situation.
She handed over the authority to him as soon as she heard the news.
She did the minimum necessary steps and let Raphael do the rest.
Raphael burned the letter in a candle flame.
“Request a private audience with His Majesty the Emperor.
I'll see him tomorrow morning.
“Yes, Your Excellency!
— Raphael knew that the cause of his parents' conflict was infidelity.
His father had a woman he loved before he married into the Kedrey family.
He seemed unable to forget her and continued to see her.
Raphael once tried to find out who the lover was.
However, someone had completely covered their tracks.
Just seeing this made Raphael realize that his father's lover must be formidable.
He had a feeling that it would be dangerous to dig deeper.
Since then, Raphael has stopped trying to discover the identity of his father's lover.
In any case, the important fact is that his father was selfish and had harmed the Kedrey family greatly.
Raphael had stopped feeling affection for his father when he was ten.
He felt sorry for his mother, but that was all.
Now everything would be done on his own terms.
Raphael had no ties to his family and it was logical what he had to do.
He would betray his father, whom the emperor hated very much.
“I salute Your Imperial Majesty.
Raphael looked at Emperor Esteban, who was sitting on his bed and leaning against the post.
No one else was in the room.
It was just the emperor and Raphael.
Luden, the valet, was also asked to leave.
“You saved the princess.
“It was the right thing to do.
The emperor silently, gently closed his eyes for a moment.
“Do you have feelings for Cayena?
Rafael never thought that the emperor would ask a question like this.
He hesitated, and the emperor smiled slightly.
The smile seemed to suggest that the emperor had heard enough.
It was already clear to him that Raphael had come with the news that the Kedreys would no longer protect Raphael's father, Leo.
“I only have a few days to live, Duke.
When Esteban opened his eyes again, he spoke not like an emperor, but like a father with a daughter, a human being.
“The palaceimperial is truly a terrible place.
People once filled this place, but they all turned into monsters.
The emperor's voice didn't sound as strong as before to Raphael.
It was very different from just a few months ago.
“I was also a monster and I was stronger than anyone else.
I thought my strength, my youth, would last forever.
But they didn't last.
Their eyes met.
“I'm still stupid and I left my life in the hands of a bad decision I made in the past.
“What do you mean?
Emperor Esteban said calmly: — Prince Rezef is not my son.
“… forgiveness?
Raphael couldn't believe what he had heard.
If Prince Rezef was not the emperor's son… whose son was he?
Raphael's heartbeat accelerated.
Emperor Esteban spoke harshly, like a brand of iron.
“He is your father's son.
The emperor calmly continued his disgusting words.
“Your father was the late empress's lover.
She had gone south to warmer climates to recover after giving birth to Cayena.
In other words, that's when Rezef was conceived.
“I've already shut the mouths of most people who know about this.
Probably everyone except your mother.
Raphael wanted to sigh.
But since he couldn't do it in front of the emperor, he swallowed it.
The sigh was as hot as a fireball, burning the inside of his throat.
“I could not forgive the empress.
I couldn't stand the fact that she made me a laughing stock.
He said in an unusually low voice, “She was simply allergic to nuts.
“…
It was a horrible story.
Raphael continued to listen to this violent tale with an expressionless face.
“Rezef was a product of the empress's infidelity.
I couldn't admit it, so I changed it so he was known as my son.
Fortunately or not, he doesn't look much like the empress.
“…he looks like my father.
Why hadn't Raphael seen this before, when he saw Rezef's round eyes and gentle impression?
“Do you hate me for telling the truth?
Hate?
Raphael wasn't sure.
His emotions were dulled.
Still, at this point I didn't know if he was confused or if he felt warm or frozen.
“I thought of this poison that I could not raise as my own son and eventually poisoned this imperial family.
The fact that Rezef had become a poison, everything that had happened to the imperial family – it was all Emperor Esteban's fault.
“Cayena looks a lot like the empress.
So I didn't really feel affection for that child.
Raphael clenched his fist.
It was a very familiar story.
Raphael also looked a lot like his mother.
Both were born with the black hair and red eyes characteristic of the Kedrey family.
His father, Leo, used to watch him miserably.
Half of the blood in Raphael's body was his father's.
Still, Leo left Raphael aside despite their relationships because he didn't love his wife.
“You have heard of my rivalry with the Kedrey Duchy.
I know that Noa Kedrey and you are the victims.
But I can't say I'm sorry.
I still believe my revenge is justified.
Now Raphael understood why Leo acted like this.
He knew that the empress had died at the hands of the emperor.
When Raphael thought about it, he realized that his father's depression and alcoholism coincided with the empress's death.
“I've been thinking a lot since Cayena moved recently.
I was looking at the child as being the same foolish empress.
But that girl suddenly became brilliant.
It was a change that Cayena made on her own.
She could not have survived or lived in peace without her.
“Cayena is affectionate and takes tender care of Rezef.
Maybe she thinks he can change, like she did.
Her younger brother who poisoned her.
“…
“The poison Cayena drank at the last party was from Rezef.
I believe she is aware of this.
And yet, she forgave him.
This story was actually the worst.
It was incredibly messy and terrible.
In this nauseating place, Cayena was calmly biding her time.
Alone, in this place.
It wasn't hard to think about how desperate she would be with no one to reach but herself.
Raphael couldn't help but ask: — Aren't you sorry for the princess?
The emperor responded with words like a sigh.
“I really feel regret.
Then he added dryly: — But that is the destinyin that of the imperial family.
A red flame lit up in Raphael's eyes.
He wanted to grab the emperor's collar now and put a fist on that composed face.
“Ah, that’s why.”
That was why Cayena was fighting so hard to escape.
Nothing in this place would allow her to breathe.
No, it wasn't just the imperial palace.
“It’s as if this world was created to kill Cayena.”
Raphael looked stupidly at the emperor who had told him the whole truth.
“Why did you tell me that?
The emperor laughed softly.
“To finish my revenge.
— He smiled.
“I'm glad you fell in love with my daughter.
A dirty, disingenuous human — that's what Raphael thought of Emperor Esteban.
Finishing your revenge?
Yes, the emperor's judgment was very accurate.
Raphael could not forgive Prince Rezef, and he would never allow the prince to use Cayena.
There was no law stating that someone who poisoned once would not take their life the next time.
What Henverton Gillian had said rang in Raphael's ears.
“It wasn't because of me, it was because of Your Highness.
“Do you think things like this will stop if I disappear?
Now, Raphael completely understood why he said that.
As long as Rezef stayed by her side, Cayena would remain in danger again and again.
The emperor intended to use Raphael's power to suppress Rezef.
“Please listen to my request, Your Majesty.
Esteban returned to his role as master of the empire and faced him.
It was because Raphael wanted something.
Since Raphael had decided to betray his father, this favor would not be normal.
“Speak.
Raphael slowly lowered himself to the ground on one knee.
“Do not punish Prince Rezef, who disobeyed your orders and gathered the army for this kidnapping case.
“And?
“Do not make Her Highness your heir, but give her the power of successor.
If Cayena were named heir, she would certainly be attacked by both sides.
However, if she held the authority of the heir without the title, both sides would want her.
This power would protect Cayena.
She was smart, so she would quickly learn how to use the power.
Raphael needed time to turn the tide.
It was time to establish a new successor other than Rezef.
The emperor smiled slightly.
“I will grant your requests.