# Chapter 79
Chapter 79
“Does the dress not suit your taste?
— The maid asked carefully, shuddering at Cayena's sigh.
Cayena shook her head.
“It's not that.
I was thinking about something else.
“We have several other dresses you can wear.
Cayena looked down at the apricot dress.
She guessed that the maids had worked hard the night before to get the dress from the capital's most popular boutique.
“Blanc's Boutique is the most prominent store today.
I like it a little.
You must have worked hard last night.
The maids, who hadn't expected to hear such praise, paused.
They had heard the recent rumors that the princess had changed, but the princess had a chaotic image in the Kedrey duchy.
Having seen her in person, they didn't believe the rumors; still, she had not been more demanding than other noble ladies today.
Clang!
At that moment, the youngest maid dropped a sugar bowl, spilling sugar on the table and floor.
Instantly, the atmosphere in the room turned cold.
“P-please kill me, Your Highness!
— The maid prostrated herself on the floor with her face pale.
The other maids also hardened their expressions.
Making a mistake in front of a guest would damage the prestige of the duchy.
Furthermore, this mistake happened in front of the princess.
They quickly retreated and lowered their heads.
Cayena picked up the cup placed on the dresser and took a sip.
The fragrance and taste were good.
The temperature was also good.
“The tea tastes good enough that sugar is not necessary.
Who did this?
The younger maid raised her head.
“I prepared the tea…
Even though Cayena said it was okay, she couldn't avoid being scolded.
This is because she made a mistake in front of the duke's guest and the imperial family.
The maid had only spilled some sugar, but that was just the way it was.
“I would like to ask you to prepare tea for me if I visit again,” Cayena said.
As a result, the youngest employee would not be fired.
The maid realized that she had received a kindness.
“…thank you, Your Highness.
I will serve you with all my heart!
— The maids were deeply amazed at Cayena's display of tolerance.
In particular, the older maids were impressed by Cayena's behavior.
Wasn't she the very image of an ideal lover?
Duchess Kedrey, Raphael's mother, was a perfectionist and stingy with praise.
She punished them much more than she rewarded them.
Used to such a lover, they were stunned by Cayena's actions.
After they finished dressing her, Cayena looked so beautiful that she naturally attracted admiration.
Her hair was tied high to reveal her pale neck.
Instead of a clunky necklace full of large jewels, she wore a thin necklace with pink diamonds.
“Your Highness, Master has invited you to the dining room.
As calmly as she could, Cayena replied that she would go.
His mind wandered to the dining room.
“I should have just asked him to take me to the palace at dawn.”
She had to look at his face right after they shared their deep feelings with each other.
It was no different from torture.
The dining room door opened.
Pink peonies in full bloom entered his vision.
Raphael was wearing comfortable indoor clothes and had his black hair down.
He was reading the newspaper when he caught Cayena's gaze.
It felt like a meeting of newlyweds in the morning.
Once again, his heart tickled.
“I greet Her Highness, the Princess.
He greeted Cayena shamelessly and naturally.
Cayena was almost mistaken for an official guest.
“…I didn't think that the person who saved me twice would be the one who would actually kidnap me,” Cayena pointed out, smiling.
Raphael calmly pulled out a chair for her.
He whispered softly in her ear so no one else could hear.
“I wish that were really the case.
“…!
— Raphael sat down in front of Cayena before she could scold him.
Then he added:
“I have no intention of causing problems for Your Highness.
“He speaks well.”
As soon as the two sat down, the servants began to serve the meal.
Raphael watched them set down the trays one by one and said: — Henverton Gillian was murdered.
“Your accomplice moved slower thanwhat I expected.
“All the contractors who were captured yesterday were also killed.
The employees serving them gulped.
On this refreshing morning, in a place full of pink peonies, the conversation between the attractive duo was a little bloody.
The servants quickly arranged the food for the two of them to eat, and they fled the dining room.
Raphael continued, “If the contracting business belongs to Archduke Heinrich, as you claim, Your Highness, it is clear that he is behind these murders as well.
This means he must be an accomplice to your kidnapping.
Cayena shook her head.
“From what you said, I'm sure of it.
The accomplice is Zenon Evans.
It was an unexpected name.
Raphael tilted his head, curious.
Cayena licked her lips with a sip, without touching the food.
“The kidnapping last time must have been a collaboration between Henverton and Zenon Evans.
However, Heinrich was the master of several mercenaries they hired.
“How are you so confident about this?
“It's because I threatened the firm hired by Heinrich.
Although he wasn't sure whether to believe me, when I visited the temple, he took the bait on purpose.
It was fortunate that Yester overly relied on his power.
Zenon would never have taken that bait.
“I never expected you to step in and actually put an end to his operation.
“…
For a moment, Raphael thought about how to reprimand this reckless lady.
“What would you have done if I hadn't been there?
he asked.
“I had a secret guard.
“I didn't see them.
“Because it's a secret.
Raphael pretended to give up, realizing that Cayena had no intention of talking about it.
“I will accept these words in the same way I accepted when you said you no longer cared about me.
“You…!
— Cayena's face flushed with the sudden attack.
It was very embarrassing.
She actually clarified her feelings for Raphael immediately after she returned to this life.
That was what she had thought until yesterday.
However, Raphael somehow naturally sneaked into her heart.
Even so, it was surprising that Raphael also cared about Cayena.
“I thought Your Excellency hated me.
Raphael admitted.
“It certainly may have seemed that way in the past.
“Then I must have behaved correctly.
I thought my plan would work as long as we became good friends.
With that, Raphael smiled warmly.
The smile was soft enough to break Cayena's commitment to maintaining her composure.
Her cheeks were dyed a ripe peach, like the curtains of the room she had stayed in.
“It seems that you have completely won me over, Your Highness.
She lost.
It was Raphael's perfect victory.
Cayena looked away for a moment to calm her thundering heart.
“But why did you bring me to your house?
“If you had stayed in the imperial palace, you would not have been able to rest like you are doing now.
That was true.
If Cayena was in the palace now, she would have been bombarded by Rezef's faction.
“I coincidentally discovered that the princess was being attacked.
Following your tracks, I found your base.
It was a good alibi.
In any case, the people Cayena had brought from the palace fell asleep because of some gas.
“Since they might retaliate, I brought His Highness to a safe house, namely my mansion, where I could immediately use my knights.
This excuse of protecting the imperial lineage was only possible because Rafael was the only one capable of mobilizing his forces.
The fact that this occurred at dawn, when the emperor could not be awakened, also had an influence.
“I heard that the high priest visited the imperial palace today, so Heinrich won't be able to move quickly.
He cut some cooked meat into small pieces and nodded.
Because of the recent series of crimes involving temple annexes, the church was in turmoil.
This would greatly undermine the authority of the clergy.
Furthermore, since the victim of the crimes was the imperial princess, the imperial family may close this temple forever.
But-
“Somehow it seems like he was just trying to get me here.”
He had given good reasons, but she couldn't shake the thought that he had arranged it so that she would stay in his village.
She looked at him with suspicious eyes, but Raphael just shrugged.
“IfIf I had sent Your Highness to the imperial palace like this, you would have avoided me.
So, we would only see each other during his majority.
Cayena, who intended to do just that, was surprised.
“A lot of time would have passed between now and then, so you would have pretended you didn't remember or acted as if yesterday hadn't happened.
Am I wrong?
“Hmm…
His prediction was shockingly accurate.
Cayena was unable to refute anything.
Raphael got up and placed a plate in front of Cayena.
She hadn't eaten, and Raphael cut some meat for her.
“… Duke, I am not your lover.
It's troublesome if you act this way.
With a serious face, Raphael asked: — Then why didn't you reject me?
He was referring to their kiss.
“…aren’t you speaking too shamelessly?
Raphael responded lightly to her criticism.
“At this moment, I have the courage to act without shame.
"Who the hell said he was a gentleman?
What kind of gentleman spoke so boldly?"
Her flushed cheeks didn't have a chance to cool.
His heart continued to pound.
“Duke.
“Raphael.
He leaned close to her and met Cayena's eyes.
“It seems better when you call me that.