The Villainess is a Marionette

Chapter 26

***

The next day was bright. Cayena stopped in front of Rezef’s room.

“We greet Her Majesty, the Princess!”

The knights, including those that were guarding the door, greeted her with exemplary military discipline.

“You may rise.”

Her voice was so gentle that even the greatest songstress in the Empire would be nothing more than an unpleasant noise by her side.

The knights gulped as they took in Cayena’s breathtaking beauty.

Today, Cayena had her put half of her hair up with a sky-blue ribbon, and the rest of her hair flowed down gently to her shoulders.

She wore a blue dress with a subtle gloss and had a dream-like, beautiful figure.

To them, Cayena certainly looked like ‘the beauty who called to death.’

“I want to see Rezef,” said Cayena, meeting the eyes of the knight at the front.

The knight who caught her glance froze.

He was so distracted that he didn’t even realize he was trembling with tension.

“T, that isn’t allowed, Your Highness.”

“But I’m so worried about my younger sibling…”

A slight frown on her forehead, half-lidded blue eyes, and a small voice. Everyone looked at each other restlessly.

They couldn’t allow the probation to be broken, as it was the Emperor’s order. But they also couldn’t stand firm in front of Cayena.

‘She just wants to see her younger brother. Do we really have to block her…?’

That was what they were thinking.

If Cayena had acted out or tried to coerce them, the knights may have quickly remembered their duties.

Well aware of that fact, Cayena had resolved not to act like that.

“That is… This is so…”

They were dragging their heels because they couldn’t say no when there was another voice.

“I respectfully greet Her Majesty.”

Rezef’s lieutenant, Zenon Evans, courteously greeted the princess.

Cayena slowly turned around to look at him. With just a glance, she could read his expression: Zenon was on guard against her.

“Hello, Sir Evans.”

“I’m honored that you remember my name.”

‘It’s no coincidence that Cayena gained authority to choose her new ladies-in-waiting. Yet, she still brazenly walked here to the prince’s palace.’

Zenon thought Cayena was detestable.

He knew in his head that Cayena was now an opponent that he shouldn’t ignore.

But his heart couldn’t accept that fact.

Until now, Cayena had just been a stupid woman with a pretty face.

“I’m glad that you’re here,” Cayena said. “Please open the door for me. I’ve been so worried about Rezef that I couldn’t even sleep at night.”

Zenon almost burst into laughter at her obvious attempt at manipulation.

‘I can never allow the prince and Cayena to meet.’

Zenon politely asked for her understanding.

“I apologize, but I cannot. Please consider that I am unable to disobey His Majesty’s orders.”

“How is Rezef right now? You know that much, right?”

“His Highness is fine. However, it may be difficult for him if Your Highness stayed here much longer.”

Cayena wrung her hands together, seemingly anxious.

Because she seemed so pitiful, the knights gave Zenon dirty looks. Couldn’t he word things a little more nicely?

‘Nobody is in their right minds.’

Zenon was becoming disillusioned with their pathetic behavior.

“I am…”

Cayena glanced at the tightly closed door with an expression of resignation.

Zenon internally clicked his tongue.

‘With that beauty, she can bring about catastrophes. Perhaps more.”

Actually, at this moment, the only man who was not bewitched by Cayena was Zenon alone.

“I understand. I’ve just caused you all unnecessary trouble.”

“N, not at all, Your Highness!”

“It could never be like that!”

The knights wanted to do whatever they could to improve this beautiful person’s mood, even just a little.

And the more they felt like that, the more hostility they felt toward Zenon.

“Then, Sir Evans. Would it be all right to ask you to escort me?”

“…Pardon me?”

Zenon stepped back unknowingly at the unexpected request.

Cayena said calmly, “On the way back, I’d like to hear how Rezef is doing.”

“That’s…”

At Zenon’s hesitant reaction, the knights coughed and glared at him.

“Ahem. A true gentleman would escort Her Highness. Don’t you agree, Sure Evans?”

Cayena was currently accompanied by one court lady and two maids, which were far too few people to be appropriate for a princess’s outing.

If Zenon, Rezef’s closest aide, were to escort her, it would look good for their image.

“…It is an honor. Your Highness.”

Zenon yielded to social norms.

There were too many eyes around, and if he backed down now, he would surely disappoint the princess and her fans.

Zenon swallowed a sigh and stepped up by her side.

Cayena wrapped her arm around his.

The princess’s palace was on the other side of the Imperial residence. The castle was longer than it was wide, so one would have to walk quite a bit to get there.[1]

“Knowing his character, that child must be scolding his people. Are you all right?”

Zenon recalled the prince’s bedroom.

The only part of it that was ‘all right’ was the ceiling. And that was only because the ceiling was out of the reach of Rezef’s sword.

‘I’ll have to move him to another place.’

Would he have to change the room ten times in ten days?

His head throbbed in pain.

“Your hardship must be great.”

“Not at all, Your Highness.”

Cayena comforted him.

To Zenon, it looked like she was making fun of him.

“If I had been a little bit more careful, I wouldn’t have sent the ladies-in-waiting out like that.”

She wore a face that looked truly remorseful.

Zenon had told himself that he would not be fooled, but even he became confused whether Cayena was serious.

That was how much her feelings weakened his heart.

‘Tsk. If she were better behaved, she really would have been pretty.’

Just then, Cayena turned her head and made eye contact with him, as if she had noticed Zenon belittling her in his mind.

Involuntarily, Zenon swallowed dryly as he received Cayena’s unreadable gaze.

“Don’t you have to choose new court ladies quickly? Your coming of age ceremony is very close,” he said, avoiding her gaze.

‘You’re the one who got rid of all of Rezef’s people. So who do you plan to put in their place?’

Indeed, he was curious what Princess Cayena would say.

“Even disregarding the issue with the court ladies, it’s so troublesome these days. But Sir Evans, I believe I heard that you had a younger sister?”

Evans raised his eyebrows at the unexpected words.

“…Yes. Her name is Julia Evans, and she is similar in age to Your Highness.”

“What is she like? It would be better if my lady-in-waiting came from a family of people who can be trusted.”

‘People who can be trusted?’

Zenon was perplexed.

Had she kicked out Rezef’s people only to bring in someone from the Evans family?

‘Not bad. Actually, it’s a great opportunity.’

The Evans family had hoped that Rezef and Julia would connect.

Since it was an opportunity to produce the next empress, they couldn’t help but be greedy.

However, until now, the two rarely had a chance to meet.

If his younger sister became Cayena’s lady-in-waiting, there would be many good opportunities for her to meet with Rezefwhile working.

‘Just what are you thinking, Princess?’

Was she really just a thoughtless, dumb woman?

The princess’s palace got closer while Zenon fiercely considered the thoughts in his head. He lightly bit his lower lip.

‘I need some more time.’

At that moment, Cayena began to speak.

“Oh, by the way. I had made a snack to give to Rezef. Won’t you accompany me for some tea to go along with it?”

It was a blatant offer to let him pry into her mind.

Zenon tried to read something out of her innocent smile, but he couldn’t figure it out.

“The weather is nice, and the flowers are blooming in the back garden, so it would be nice to have tea there.”

‘…Fine. I’ll discover what exactly you’re thinking.’

He thought he would be able to see through Cayena’s true intentions.

“I shall follow your will, Your Highness.”

Cayena smiled brightly.

An arrogant person who was overconfident in his abilities and believed in his wisdom was bound to fall by his own tricks.

~~~

[1] Just a quick note for clarification: I’m a little uncertain about the layout, but I believe “palace” refers to the residence of a member of the Imperial family within a larger castle. The “castle” would include all the palaces and the gardens.

A typical distinction between a castle and a palace is that a castle is fortified, or meant for protection. The terminology as it is used here may seem weird, but considering that the Lobkowicz Palace is a part of the Prague Castle complex (thanks Wikipedia) I’m going to say that it makes sense for palaces to be independent buildings within a castle.

(Sorry, the note is no longer quick.)