# Chapter 83
Chapter 83
As soon as they reached the palace entrance, Cayena quickly let go of Raphael.
Feeling the heat escape from his hand, Raphael clenched his fist for a moment.
It was sad.
The times he spent with Cayena seemed to go away like a flash.
Raphael was surprised that he had experienced such hasty and impulsive feelings.
“So, I'll see you as soon as I sort out last night's problems.
“Have a safe trip home.
Raphael said goodbye and got into the carriage.
After saying goodbye to him, Cayena took Olivia with her to the princess's palace.
Olivia carefully stood beside him and said, “Congratulations, Your Highness.”
Becoming the emperor's proxy was good for Cayena.
However, the Cayena's security measures have not yet been properly prepared.
Cayena paused her steps and replied, “I'm sorry I wasn't able to put up a security fence before this happened.
“Don't worry, Your Highness.
I will support you.
“… thanks.
Although the emperor had not declared her as his official heir, many would interpret this as the entry of a new competitor to the throne.
"The emperor can be killed like this.
And if anyone frames me, I could be executed."
She could not allow herself to incur anger because she could not digest this new power.
When Cayena arrived at her palace and was about to enter her room, the princess's palace staff, led by Vera, were waiting for her in the living room.
This included the other new bridesmaids.
Susan also looked at Cayena with deep curiosity, as if she had heard everything about the situation outside.
Julia just looked uncomfortable seeing Olivia standing next to Cayena.
She did not seem to understand Cayena's new role as the emperor's proxy.
“Congratulations, Your Highness!
— The employees knelt down and greeted her politely.
They had to bow like this; Cayena was now the second most powerful person in the empire after the emperor.
“They are congratulating me…”
She simply wanted to have a fake husband and escape safely from the palace.
There was no barricade as secure as that plan.
That was what she thought, and that was why she was taking her time.
However, Rezef and the people around her would not wait for her.
Politics in the central palace would swallow up the weak.
Hesitation was a luxury.
It was clear that things would be taken away from her the moment she revealed a gap.
“Get up.
She looked at the palace workers and opened her mouth.
“I have received great power from His Majesty, but I am not his successor.
Remember this.
Control yourself well and do not act hastily.
“We will remember, Your Highness!
“The princess's palace has just begun to be organized.
I know you may be disconcerted by this change.
Cayena made eye contact with her new ladies-in-waiting, one by one.
Olivia, who saw the situation firsthand, contemplated the situation calmly.
“The new court ladies especially must work hard and adapt to the imperial palace as quickly as possible.
“Yes, Your Highness!
— They left the room in an orderly manner.
Vera was the only one to follow Cayena to her room.
Cayena asked, "What's the status of the silver spoon?"
Vera responded without pause.
“Including detailed drawings, it will be ready in two days.
“As soon as it's ready, I want it to be blessed by the church.
Organize donations separately.
“Yes, Your Highness.
Vera's voice was quite excited as she responded.
“It's not something to be satisfied with,” Cayena noted.
“But you are the deputy of the state administration, Your Highness.
Influence comes to those with power.
She wasn't wrong.
However, they had to be aware that they could be eliminated before they could even gather any forces.
“This case could seriously flare up Rezef's temper.
And even if Rezef believes me and lets it go, his faction might not.
“What can he do about an imperial order?
Furthermore, your authority is only temporary.
Cayena shook her head.
“Even if it is temporary, the traces of authority will not be erased.
If it happens once, what will prevent it from happening again?
That's what everyone is worried about.
The deputy of the state administration.
Taking care of the imperial house and business.
Nor was there anything to blink.
The problem was one of the deputy's powers: the jurismilitary dition.
In fact, it was power over the military that legitimized an emperor.
It was a difficult situation that neither Rezef nor Heinrich's factions wanted.
That being said, Cayena didn't think she needed to go on the defensive.
She was able to do it alone.
“Find information about military laws.
She hadn't thought that she would someday have to study military law, even when she wanted a connection to the military.
“I never studied military law, not even when I thought I would marry Raphael.”
Well, the lady of the house didn't necessarily need to study military science.
“I will comply with your order.
Vera left the room to satisfy Cayena's wishes, leaving Cayena alone inside.
“State deputy…”
Since the emperor fell ill, the chancellor's authority had grown.
This was also Rezef's authority.
However, Cayena surpassed Chancellor Debussy as the second most powerful person in the empire.
She was asked to take care of state affairs as the emperor's proxy, and this included military matters.
It meant absolute trust in her.
The emperor made the decision with the confidence that she would never attempt a coup d'état against him.
“Why would he trust me like that when I’ve changed so much?”
And why was Rezef excluded?
Suddenly she thought maybe she didn't have all the facts.
Something was definitely wrong.
“Why is he treating Rezef so…
“Why is he being so insensitive?”
The emperor gave Cayena enough authority to rival an official heir because she handled internal affairs properly.
That was also a little strange.
“Does this have something to do with Rezef’s biological mother?”
Rezef is not expanded on in detail in the novel.
“I need to find out who your biological mother is.”
Cayena let out a small sigh.
Besides, she had a lot of work to do.
“Furthermore, it seems the knight commander disapproves of Rezef.”
If she made the knight commander one of her people, even Rezef wouldn't be able to touch her.
Instead, Rezef would consider her more seriously.
But that would threaten Zenon's position.
Zenon had his eye on the chancellor's seat and was risking his life to support Rezef.
However, suddenly Cayena had become the emperor's proxy and given much more influence than the chancellor.
Would Zenon try to eliminate Cayena or try to subdue her in another way?
Zenon went straight to the palace after hearing that the emperor spat out blood.
A tiny amount of poison was constantly mixed into the emperor's tea.
It wasn't a poison that would kill people immediately; however, if the dosage were increased, the poisoned person would quickly become ill.
“The emperor suddenly went into critical condition.”
There was no way that could happen.
It couldn't.
"We don't even have military control yet.
If the emperor's condition worsens, Heinrich's faction will find it easier to move!"
Very few people knew that the emperor was being poisoned.
Zenon realized that Rezef must have increased the dosage without consulting him.
“What a stupid move!”
The prince should have consulted him before this act, but Rezef had decided something so important without going through Zenon.
In other words, he didn't trust Zenon.
Recently, he and Rezef weren't working well together.
Friction was inevitable when working with the emotional and violent Rezef, but he never expected to be caught off guard like this.
Just because the prince's forces were a little bigger now didn't mean they would win the throne.
His opponent was Yester Heinrich.
This ruffian broke the rules of noble society as if they were nothing.
“As for that bastard…”
It was unbelievable that he sent contractors to the temple to get Cayena.
He had to be crazy.
And Zenon was even more foolish to allow such a man to control his weakness!
Furthermore, if the emperor died like this, Rezef would obviously try to thwart Cayena's marriage.
“He will be busy while negotiating with her.”
Immediately upon learning that the emperor was in critical condition, Zenon sent a servant to the chancellor and waited for further news.
He needed to hear what had happened directly.
The expressions of the knights guarding Rezef's chambers were not good.
The senior knight saw Zenon and recognized him.
“Ah, Sir Evans.
Did you also hear the news?
Zenon nodded.
“Is His Highness inside?Rezef was investigating the attempted kidnapping last night, as well as the murder of Henverton Gillian.
And soon after returning to the palace, he went to the emperor to report his progress and check on the emperor's condition.
“His Highness has just returned from visiting Your Majesty.
Zenon nodded and entered Rezef's room.
He said to the servants inside: — Don't let anyone in until I call someone.
If there is something you must inform us immediately, send a deaf servant.
The servants looked at the prince, who was just observing the situation calmly.
They withdrew silently.
Zenon saw Rezef drinking tea at a table in the sun.
The prince did not seem to understand the gravity of the situation.
Zenon gritted his teeth and asked: — Why didn't you consult me?