The Villainess is a Marionette

Chapter 10

“Lastly, there’s Olivia Grace.”

Cayena named Olivia, the protagonist of the novel, last.

Raphael recognized that last name. The Grace family was one that his own family supported.

“The Grace family is the most lowly of the three. However, while they have no fortune or power, they do have the interesting position of having been sponsored by the Kedrey duchy.”

Since Raphael had ears, he was aware of the fact that Cayena truly detested Olivia. But Cayena still mentioned her. What in the world was she up to?

“Personally, I think milord should meet with Miss Olivia Grace.”

“You mean that you’re recommending that I marry her?”

“That’s correct. The lady is clever and observant. She’s considerate, but she’s also self-reliant and strong.”

Cayena spoke this meaningfully, like she was negotiating.

Raphael examined her closely to find her real intentions. Looking back on their history, there was no reason for Cayena to be saying this.

So he asked her openly.

“I don’t know why you’re saying this.”

Their eyes met for a moment. Their gazes were deep and serene, as if they were looking inside each other.

“If it’s Lord Kedrey, I think you would know why,” Cayena said enigmatically. Her attitude showed that she had no intention of telling him the correct answer.

‘What sort of benefit would the princess gain if I were to meet with the lady?’

Raphael couldn’t even guess at what Cayena would gain from it.

But of course Raphael couldn’t know. Raphael did not know that this was a novel, nor what would happen in the future—and, of course, he did not know Cayena’s true goal.

‘Because the two of them are the main characters, they are bound to get together. So it will be beneficial if they think I helped arrange their meeting.’

Furthermore, Olivia will soon become one of her ladies-in-waiting, and then Cayena, Olivia, and Raphael will have their fates tied together like strings.

“The other ladies-in-waiting are arriving,” Vera whispered as she approached them. In other words, it was time to end their current conversation.

Cayena was now certain that Vera was already emotionally distant from the other court ladies, to some extent.

“You’re a little late in preparing the tea,” Cayena rebuked lightly.

One of the ladies-in-waiting bowed her head.

They must have rushed to Rezef’s palace to tell him of this meeting.

Actually, that was why Cayena sent off all of the ladies-in-waiting save for Vera.

“I apologize, Your Highness.”

“It’s fine. Prepare the tea. You did make sure to prepare it well, correct?”

Cayena personally checked the conditions of the tea leaves and the teacups.

“Steep the tea strongly and mix it with milk for Lord Kedrey.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The ladies-in-waiting put some charcoal into a small brazier and placed a tea kettle on top to heat it.

Cayena explained what she was doing to Raphael, who was staring at her.

“I thought that you might be skipping meals because you’re so busy with your work. A mix of black tea and milk is good for these situations.”

Did she like strong tea? Raphael just nodded, seeing as it didn’t matter very much.

Cayena often prepared him gifts or did things that suited her own tastes. This was just another one of those instances.

Finally, a strongly brewed milk tea was placed in front of him. It didn’t smell so bad.

“…!”

After a sip, Raphael opened his eyes wide at the pleasantly spreading scent that flowed smoothly down his throat.

It suited his tastes perfectly.

“How is it?” Cayena asked. Her attitude was relaxed, as if she was certain that he would like it.

“It’s delicious,” Raphael answered, with a slight wonder.

Cayena smiled, kindly and affectionately. “I’m glad to hear that.”

Raphael accidentally scraped the white porcelain saucer with his hand that was holding the teacup.

Cayena didn’t realize it, but this was the first ‘preference’ that Raphael had.

Suddenly, he thought that he should get up now. He felt that it would somehow be dangerous to stay.

“Since it’s early in the spring, the wind is rather cold.”

This meant that they should go inside.

The ladies-in-waiting brought over a thick coat and draped it across Cayena’s shoulders.

“It’s been a pleasure.”

She greeted him lightly. She didn’t seem anxious to spend more time with him or to bother him to make plans in the future, unlike the past.

“Right,” Cayena said.

She looked like she had just remembered something.

“If things go well with Lady Grace, I hope you won’t forget that I was the first to support your meeting.”

The smile on her face was quite impish.

It would be worthwhile to have this sort of favor in the future.

“…Please be careful on your way back, Your Highness.”

Raphael didn’t have any other answer to give, so he just gave her a courteous greeting.

***

The carriage on its way back to the Kedrey home was still. It was because Raphael was keeping his mouth shut, as if he were thinking of something.

“It was a little strange wasn’t it?” Raphael’s aide, Jeremy, said carefully. “Her Imperial Highness, I mean. She was quite different from usual.”

“She was much more beautiful than usual,” agreed Baston, the knight who had accompanied them.

Then, Jeremy knitted his brows and scolded, “That wasn’t what I meant. I mean that her atmosphere completely changed.”

“That’s why she was so much more beautiful!”

“…You should stop talking.”

As Jeremy told him off, Baston looked as if he thought it was unfair.

Then, Raphael quietly opened his mouth.

“That’s true.”

It was unclear who he was agreeing with, Jeremy or Baston. They just blinked in confusion and stayed quiet so that they would no longer interrupt his thoughts.

Raphael recalled the image of Cayena, who took complete control of the moment for a short period of time.

It wasn’t intimidating, but she certainly took the lead.

Who was the Cayena that he had seen before, and who was she now?

The carriage arrived at the villa and slowly came to a stop. Several of the employees, including the vassals, saw the carriage and came outside.

“Welcome home, Master.”

Raphael nodded and turned over his overcoat, then hesitated.

There was an unexpected guest who was looking at him on the other side.

“You’re late.”

It was his mother, Duchess Noa Kedrey.

Raphael addressed his mother, who he hadn’t seen in a long time, without a trace of welcome.

“What are you doing here?”

Why was his mother in the capital city instead of in the western mansion?

‘The vassals hid her visit from me.’

They must have known that she was visiting.

“You can’t even offer your mother a cup of tea?” she asked.

Raphael told a maid to fetch them some tea. Then, he suddenly called the maid back.

“Make sure to brew one of them very strongly.”

“Yes, Master.”

They then went to a small dining room with windows that went all the way up to the high ceiling. On the table, there were some flowers and candlesticks.

The duchess saw the decorations and clicked her tongue.

“Without a wife, the management of this house is very poor.”

“I just don’t keep anything I don’t need.”

“It’s because your steward only buys what others buy.”

Raphael did not answer.

“Were you surprised because I came so suddenly?”

“I didn’t receive any notice.”

“I’m sure you didn’t. I told them not to make a fuss.”

What was her reason for dropping by so secretively that she ordered his people to keep quiet?

Raphael thought that his mother had probably prepared something that he would not like.

Sure enough, the duchess called over her lady-in-waiting, who had been standing still behind her like a wax figure.

“Isabel.”

The lady-in-waiting named Isabel carefully laid down a box on the table.

Raphael glanced down at the black wooden box.

“What is this?”

“These are your marriage offers.”

“…”

The timing was really coincidental. He had just gotten back from hearing Cayena talk about his potential marriage partners.

Did she plot this with his mother? It was a ridiculous thought, but his mother was someone who really might do just that.

“You need to start choosing your fiancée.”

When the duchess beckoned, Isabel opened up the box and took out the portraits.

Raphael’s eyebrows shot up.

Below the portraits were Dolores Avon, Rita Brukin, and Olivia Grace.

They were the exact ladies in the exact order that Cayena had told him about.