Episode 7

Vera’s eyes opened wide.

This was the first time that Kayena had shown such a lukewarm response to Raffaello Kidrey.

Even though no one knew the source of their animosity, it was an open secret that the relationship between the emperor and Duke Kidrey was poor. Because of this the emperor had been frustrated by Kayena’s fascination with Raffaello.

“If Lord Kidrey were to become the emperor’s son-in-law, there might be problems with the power structure.” It was a fairly simple statement, but it was a problem that Kayena had just now thought to consider.

Vera quietly refilled the tea and glanced at Kayena’s serene profile.

Kayena hid a calm smile behind her teacup. This matter would not go merely to Regef’s ears. Her remarks would surely be relayed to the emperor as well.

“I have been obstinate and undignified up to now, as I hadn’t understood the will of the emperor.”

Kayena’s desire for Raffaello had led to great chaos and spectacle. She had forced herself into his house and continuously summoned him into the palace. Well, to be more accurate, Kayena had made the emperor field her requests to summon Raffaello to the palace.

Of course, the emperor didn’t necessarily indulge Kayena’s whims for his daughter’s sake, but rather to humiliate the Kidrey family by breaking their next lord’s spirit.

“He must have listened to your requests, because they were appropriate enough.”

Kayena agreed inwardly with Vera’s words, but outwardly she frowned.

“As the Imperial princess, how could I not know that my conduct was inappropriate? Now, at least, I must make up for what I have done.”

“What do you intend to do?”

“My first order of business is to mend the dress for my coming-of-age celebration.”

Vera tilted her head, as the statement seemed totally unrelated to their discussion.

“Open up the dressing room,” Kayena said.

Soon, there would be a banquet for Kayena’s coming-of-age celebration. She had already had a dress prepared for the occasion, but Kayena wanted to revise the concept to make use of the recent poisoning incident.

“Would you prefer something with a plunging backline to show off your shoulders?” Vera asked.

Seeing the dress, Kayena shook her head. “No, that’s too exposing.”

She had an image in her head of what she wanted the dress to look like. A marionette should look like a marionette.

Kayena wanted a dress with fancy lace ornamentation, the kind that one would dress up their dolls in. She needed to appear as if she cared too much about beauty.

Kayena checked her reflection in the mirror and nodded.

“As always, nobody will be more beautiful than Your Imperial Highness at the banquet!”

The people around Kayena were busy fawning over her appearance. But as she helped Kayena change, Vera thought to herself, Everyone is glad that Her Highness has become well-behaved, but I worry that things like this don’t often come so easily.

Kayena’s aura and image had completely changed. Recently, she had been acting more demure as well, and now everybody wanted to stay by her side.

Her mildness and inaction seemed like she was conceding the initiative to her opponent, but she saw it more like giving a snack to a child that she knew would quickly eat it all.

Since she drank the poison, even her speech has become more refined. Vera seemed to be the only one who had noticed the change. She continued to observe Kayena quietly and incessantly.

Kayena could tell that Vera was agitated. Vera is loyal, but ambitious.

None of the court ladies in her palace were worth using other than Vera. Kayena intended to appease her, so she allowed Vera to observe her as she wished.

After some time, Kayena tried on the final dress. She had prepared it with utmost care for the coming-of-age celebration.

Kayena had loved roses, and so she liked to wear dresses that were embroidered with roses. The same was true of this dress.

“My goodness, you look just like a doll!”

Her ladies-in-waiting made a fuss, just as they always did. This was the type of compliment that Kayena used to crave the most.

Vera bit the inside of her mouth to quell her laughter. She knew that their mistress was no longer pleased with that sort of praise.

As expected, Kayena smiled quietly, not looking proud or conceited.

She really has changed. Vera wondered what this change meant. She was exceedingly curious to discover Kayena’s true intentions.

Might Kayena be a more ideal master for her than Regef?

There were many cases in which entire families died because they had supported the wrong person in the Imperial family. Vera had to be cautious. She could tell that despite the conditions against him, Regef would become emperor one day. And now, Vera’s brilliant insight was quickly re-evaluating Kayena.

“The rose embroidery isn’t excessive and has been incorporated very well.”

“Let’s keep this one as is.”

“I’ll send the rest to the tailor, Your Highness.”

Kayena nodded. Then, she looked in the mirror and lifted up her hand. It was as if there were strings attached to her limbs, manipulating her.

That look suited her.

All my life, I’ve been controlled by someone.

She hadn’t realized that she had been someone’s marionette, hanging from the puppet strings. She hadn’t known whose power it was that held her in their hands.

I once thought that I was moving under my own will.

But she had learned too much to continue living under that illusion. Kayena had no intention of making the same mistake again.

I will live as myself.

She dropped her arm, as if the string had been cut.

“I need to change my clothes.” Kayena took off her dress and changed into her everyday clothes. “Where is Regef?” she asked.

“He’s still out, Your Highness.”

Regef had been quite busy recently, as he was in the midst of a power struggle with Archduke Heinrich’s son Easter for the position of crown prince.

Regef, did you think that raising my value would contribute to your own power?

Though Regef would eventually become a tyrant of an emperor, he was still only eighteen years old right now. Kayena looked at him and saw that he was still just a child.

On the other hand, Kayena only appeared to be a young woman; she had already lived two lives. Kayena had experienced horrible things in her lifetimes, and so to her, Regef still seemed young and malleable.

He’s overlooking the fact that there are others who can lend me their strength at this point in time. How foolish.

Kayena addressed Vera. “I must go see the emperor.”

***

The emperor of the Eldyme Empire, Esteban Hill, lay in his bed and drank medicine for his illness. Then, he looked at his daughter, Kayena, with lifeless eyes.

“To think that you would come looking for me first like this… It must be something special.”

At his words, Kayena grabbed the hem of her dress. Curtsying, she said, “Please forgive me for my disrespect, Your Majesty.”

“Enough.”

The emperor was not one to moved by such words. His voice was cold, knowing that his tone would hurt Kayena’s pride.

His daughter was a fool. He was contemplating when she would come to her senses when she spoke again.

“Though it is late, please look kindly upon your daughter who is now trying to fulfill her duty as your obedient child.”

Her words were as sweet as honey. They weren’t the sort of words that Kayena would usually say.

The emperor’s eyebrows raised in wonder. Kayena drew nearer to his side.

“I’m sure I have been causing you to worry as of late,” she said.

It didn’t really matter whether or not the emperor had been concerned. What was important was that Kayena showed that she was thinking of him and his well-being.

“I’ve come to speak with you so that you do not need to worry. I have nearly recovered fully.”

Kayena took the dish with the teapot and cups that an attendant was bringing over for the emperor. She helped him drink the tea with a silver spoon, her actions as natural as flowing water.

Are the rumors true? The emperor wondered.

It had been reported to him that Kayena’s attitude had changed considerably after the poisoning incident. They said that there was mercy and generosity in her words and actions now.

He couldn’t remember when his daughter had ever been kind, except for perhaps when she was very young.

At some point, their the father-daughter relationship had become distant. Kayena had felt uncomfortable near the emperor, and the emperor had started to feel contempt for her.

But now, Kayena did not look uncomfortable at all as she sat in the chair beside him and cared for him.

“Whose scheme is this?” he asked openly. The emperor had been a ruler all his life. This sort of incident never happened on its own.

He began to wonder if the process of finding the culprit as well as the aftermath of the incident had all been fabricated.

Is he aware that Regef is the true culprit? Kayena wondered.

To buy time, she took a silk handkerchief from a servant and deftly dabbed at the emperor’s lips. The emperor’s question was open-ended and ambiguous, as was to be expected of a seasoned politician. The original Kayena would certainly have been caught in that trap. But instead, she spoke slyly.

“Please look upon me kindly.” Her voice was unexpectedly soft. Moreover, her composed smile was not that of an immature young woman, and the emperor was inwardly impressed.

Has this child always been this skilled at hiding her true self?

The emperor wondered what change had overcome his daughter since the poisoning incident.

Has she finally come to her senses? He had to admit to himself that his daughter had changed.

The emperor’s eyes flashed. “You don’t mind if the real criminal is not caught?”

If Kayena wanted it, the emperor was willing to lend his help in finding the real culprit.

The situation was not yet clear, but it was highly likely that Regef was the culprit. The emperor thought it might also be a good opportunity to put Regef in his place again.

Is he suspicious of Regef? Kayena thought. If Regef’s power decreases at this time, I won’t be able to use him.

Kayena shook her head. “Regef will punish the real culprit. I thought that it would be better to deal with the incident in this way rather than inciting the nobility.”

The emperor felt a spark of admiration for his daughter. “That’s quite impressive.”

“I was afraid that my foolish thoughts would disturb your health even further, Father.”

Kayena knew what she was doing: Even as she revealed her tactics, she credited her results to the emperor.

“You have trusted in and waited for your firstborn daughter this entire time, so now I will do my part.”

At Kayena’s words, the emperor burst into laughter.

It seemed to him now that a king’s child was born with a king’s ability. With a happy heart, he thought that he should give Kayena some sort of reward.

“Now that I think of it, your coming-of-age ceremony is coming up.”

Kayena did not reply. She just handed over the teacup to a servant.

Then the emperor said, “I must start looking for a good marriage partner for you.”

A marriage partner. At that phrase, Kayena immediately thought of Raffaello Kidrey. It was something of a habit. However, she tried hard to push down the thought.

“You’re correct, Father. I’ll come of age soon.”