# Chapter 98
Chapter 98
Rezef kicked Zenon's head with his foot.
“Aghh-!
— Zenon groaned in pain, holding his face.
Before him, he saw a shoe illuminated behind the burning fire of lamp oil.
When he raised his head, he saw Rezef looking sadly at him.
The prince had removed his hood to reveal his face.
Understanding struck Zenon like a bolt of lightning.
He was discovered.
The prince knew that Zenon was the accomplice in the kidnapping.
“Your Highness, I can explain.
It's a misunderstanding...
Rezef didn't want to hear any more.
He kicked Zenon in the stomach.
Zenon suffered excruciating pain, as if his ribs had been broken.
“Is it so difficult to know your place?
I really can't understand you.
“Cough-!
— Zenon began to understand what would happen now that he found the mad prince in a place where he had no control.
Although the prince was much younger than Zenon, he was almost 185 cm tall and began swordsmanship training when he was five years old.
There was no way Zenon, who had trained just enough to be in shape, could beat him.
“It's very easy.
Look at me, Zenon.
Do you think I could have survived the imperial family until now if I didn't know my position?
Zenon scraped and spat out blood.
He had to survive.
He just needed to escape from here and take control of the monstrous prince.
He was the second son of the Evans family, one of the pillars of the empire.
He had no reason to be mistreated like this.
As Zenon crawled away, Rezef stepped on his ankle and broke it.
“Argh!
“When I think about how hard I worked to lure you here these past few days, I get so angry that I can't bear it.
Rezef was the one who leaked the false information that there was a contractor unaffiliated with Archduke Heinrich.
He asked abruptly: — You must have been very nervous.
Right?
You didn't investigate properly before rushing here.
Thump!
Thump!
Relentless fists began to mess with Zenon's face.
“Why?
Do you want to kidnap my sister again?
Or are you trying to kill her?
Rezef's eyes glittered with madness.
“Did you go blind because of the failed poisoning?
“Cough-!
— Whatever Zenon wanted to say, he couldn't express it.
He raised his arms to cover his face.
“Anyway, why are there so many hassles?
You and that bastard Raphael too.
Rezef felt that Raphael, who had become more prickly when he succeeded to the dukedom, was trying to gain greater influence over his sister.
Rezef smiled and pretended to be fine, but inside, he was boiling.
He had to quickly become emperor and ensure that Cayena could not marry Raphael.
“I can't let you bugs covet what's mine.
Rezef stopped his efforts to turn Zenon into mush.
He grabbed Zenon's neck and walked towards the fire.
“Do you think… you're going to get away with this?
Even as he was dying, Zenon spoke fiercely.
“I am… an Evans…!
— Rezef burst into laughter as if he had heard a funny joke.
“You idiot.
Rezef smiled vilely and looked at Zenon with pity.
“Did you know that Marquis Roderick is in the capital?
I've already spoken to him.
“… my brother- cough!
— Zenon coughed up a drop of blood, unable to speak.
“He said he didn't realize his second son was growing marijuana on his farm.
“What…?
“You were cut.
Zenon's eyes in the firelight were tinged with despair.
Was his brother really cheating on him?
Why?
Zenon couldn't understand.
He was competent and commanded influence within the imperial palace.
He could not meet his end like this.
“Let me go!
I welcomed you, a half-prince, and you dare…!
“Of course, my blood is only half imperial.
Rezef stopped his steps in front of the flames.
Zenon struggled and squirmed, but Rezef easily pulled him up.
“I'm going to make you half a person too.
— Rezef threw Zenon over the pit of fire.
“Aaaagh-!
— The oil and flames rose towards Zenon, making him scream horribly.
Rezef clicked his tongue.
“Hmm.
I would only burn half of it…
Well, it couldn't be avoided if the man burned completely.
Rezef shrugged and turned away.
“Vera, bring Annie to my quarters.
As soon as Cayena arrived at the princess's palace, she called Annie and told everyone to leave.
Cayena sat on the couch with her legs crossed whileo removed the ribbons from her hair.
“Annie may be young, but she hasn’t been caught as a spy in a decade.”
Cayena tapped her fingers on the side table and thought about how to deal with Annie.
At first, she was going to kick her out.
But now, Cayena has changed her mind.
“She will definitely be useful.”
After Cayena returned to this world, she prepared a bag of money in her room, just in case.
Cayena thought about where the bag was and reached out her hand.
Plop!
A blue silk bag fell heavily into his hand.
Cayena felt that her understanding of her abilities was increasing.
She might even be able to teleport if her skill is refined.
“But I wonder if my body can handle it.”
She almost passed out after stopping time for about a minute.
It may have been because his body was weakened from reducing his life expectancy.
“I don’t think it’s a skill I can use casually.”
KNOW KNOW.
Finally, Annie entered the room.
“Did you call me, Your Highness?
There was no one else in the room except Cayena.
Annie felt something was wrong.
Beat!
The bedroom door closed behind her.
Annie felt a strange pressure from Cayena, who was sitting cross-legged on the sofa right in front of the door.
Tension dried his lips.
Plop!
Cayena threw the bag she was holding in front of Annie.
“…?
Annie's gaze returned to the heavy bag on the floor.
Somehow, she knew it was full of money.
Finally, Cayena spoke.
“Take it and leave.
His voice was shrill.
Annie felt as if she had been splashed with cold water.
She made some mistake.
She immediately knelt down and prostrated herself, her hands flat on the ground as she bowed.
“Please forgive me, Your Highness!
— Cayena looked at Annie confused.
“I have no intention of keeping anyone who is not mine.
“She knows I’m a spy!”
Annie was an expert at her job.
She was sure she would never be caught.
She couldn't understand how this happened.
“I must have moved a lot because of all the news in the princess's palace recently.”
She bit her lip and blamed herself for her mistake.
Cayena smiled and said,
“You're not even making excuses.
Annie closed her eyes tightly and thought.
She thought about what would happen when she left the palace, how she would live and what she should say to the princess.
The Kedrey Duchy would never fall into ruin.
What was the palace compared to this?
The palace was rotten to the point that it would not be unusual for it to collapse at any moment.
But.
“…even if I had ten mouths, I can't make excuses.
Annie admired Cayena during the time she worked for her.
And surprisingly, his feelings turned into reverence.
It was not for malicious purposes that Annie continued to be Raphael's informant.
“Duke Kedrey favors His Highness.”
Annie was sure of it.
Whenever she went to report the events in the princess's palace, the duke only asked for information about the princess's safety.
It was information to keep Cayena safe.
Annie thought of the Duke as a secret knight who protected the princess.
Cayena said,
“Raise your head.
Annie looked at Cayena with a determined expression.
She clearly understood what she had to say next.
“Please use me as you wish, Your Highness.
“Hmm.
Cayena tilted her head.
“Are you telling me to use you, who betrayed me, as one of my own?
“I promise nothing like this will happen again.
I swear on my insignificant life.
After seeing Annie's steady eyes, Cayena uncrossed her legs and stood up.
She met Annie's eyes and said, "Then be mine." However,” Cayena's face turned stern, “there will be no next time.
Annie bit her lip again and swallowed her excitement.
She bowed again with complete sincerity.
“I will absolutely repay Your Highness’s kindness.