Episode 9

“Lastly, there’s Olivia Grace.”

Kayena named Olivia, the protagonist of the novel she had read in her other life, last.

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

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

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

“Personally, I think my lord 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.” Kayena spoke this meaningfully, like she was negotiating.

Raffaello examined her closely, trying to find her real intentions. Looking back on their history, there was no reason for Kayena 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 into each other’s truest depths.

“If it’s for Lord Kidrey, I think you would know why,” Kayena 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?

Raffaello couldn’t even guess at what Kayena would gain from it.

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

Because the two of them are the main characters, they are bound to end up together, Kayena mused. So it will be beneficial if they think I helped arrange their meeting.

Furthermore, Olivia would soon become one of her ladies-in-waiting, and then Kayena, Olivia, and Raffaello would 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.

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

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

One of the ladies-in-waiting bowed her head. They must have rushed to Regef’s palace to tell him of this meeting.

That had in fact been exactly why Kayena had sent off all of the ladies-in-waiting save for Vera.

“I apologize, Your Highness.”

“It’s all right. Prepare the tea. You did make sure to prepare it well, correct?” Kayena personally checked the conditions of the tea leaves and the teacups. “Steep the tea strongly and mix it with milk for Lord Kidrey.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

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

Kayena explained her thought process behind offering tea to Raffaello, 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? Raffaello just nodded, seeing as it didn’t matter very much to him.

Kayena 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, Raffaello opened his eyes wide at the pleasantly spreading scent and the taste that flowed smoothly down his throat. It suited his tastes perfectly.

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

“It’s delicious,” Raffaello answered, in slight wonder.

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

Kayena didn’t realize it, but this was the first time that Raffaello had shown a true preference for something. In his eagerness to drink, he accidentally scraped the white porcelain saucer with the hand that was holding the teacup.

He suddenly 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,” he said. This meant that they should go inside. The ladies-in-waiting brought over a thick coat and draped it across Kayena’s shoulders.

“It’s been a pleasure.” She bade him farewell lightly. She didn’t seem anxious to spend more time with him or to bother him to make plans in the future, unlike in the past. “Right,” Kayena added. 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.”

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

***

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

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

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

Jeremy knitted his brows and scolded him. “That wasn’t what I meant. I meant that her aura has completely changed.”

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

“...You should stop talking.”

Jeremy told him off, and Basten looked at him as if he thought it was unfair.

Then, Raffaello quietly opened his mouth. “That’s true.”

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

Raffaello recalled the image of Kayena, who had taken complete control of the moment for a short period of time.

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

Who was the Kayena that he had known 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.”

Raffaello nodded and handed over his overcoat, then hesitated. There was an unexpected guest who was looking at him.

“You’re late.”

It was his mother, Duchess Noah Kidrey.

Raffaello 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.

Raffaello 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 a few flowers and candelabra.

The duchess saw the decorations and clicked her tongue. “Without a wife, the management of this house is very poor.”

“I just don’t see the point in keeping anything around that I don’t need.”

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

Raffaello did not answer.

“Were you surprised because I arrived 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 had ordered his people to keep quiet? Raffaello had the sneaking suspicion that his mother had probably prepared something for him that he would not like.

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

“Isabel.”

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

Raffaello glanced down at the black wooden box.

“What is this?”

“These are your marriage offers.”

He balked at the box in front of him.

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

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

“You need to start thinking about who you are going to choose as your fiancée.”

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

Raffaello’s eyebrows shot up.

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

They were the exact ladies in the exact order that Kayena had mentioned to him.

...The princess didn’t actually discuss this with my mother, did she?

He frowned as he added this circumstantial evidence to his hypothesis.

Unaware of his complex inner thoughts, his mother praised the ladies. “They are all wise and virtuous young women,” she said.

Raffaello took a sip of the strong tea to moisten his mouth.

A wise and virtuous young woman…

He recalled the different traits of his potential partners that Kayena had mentioned.

Dolores Avan, who was skilled at piano and embroidery but who fainted at the sight of blood.

Rita Brukin, who was violent and had trained as a knight.

And Olivia Grace, who was sponsored by his mother and recommended by the princess.

...I think I’ve been given a sign.

The princess had provided him with very precise information. And if her words were right…

None of them are suitable to be a duchess. I’m sure of it.

The duchess pointed to one of the portraits. “What do you think of Lady Grace? She isn’t lacking by any means, and she’s very intelligent.”

“I have no intention of getting married, Mother,” answered Raffaello.

Rationally, though, his mother was correct. The most important thing for the family was for him to solidify his position by getting a proper marriage partner.

However, Raffaello was disgusted by physical affection and the thought of someone being interested in him.

How would he be able to choose a spouse like this?

If it was just someone to sit with during meals, he would have already chosen someone. But Raffaello didn’t feel affection for anybody but himself. He had never even felt love for his own mother.

Even just her current presence in his villa caused him a great amount of stress.

“You can’t really mean that,” she said. “Don’t forget that marrying quickly is for the sake of your family, Raphy.”

Her cold reminder did not suit the cutesy nickname she had bestowed upon him.

The duchess got up as soon as she finished saying what she had to say. Then, she left, and the door closed firmly behind her.

Raffaello once again noticed the portraits that were still neatly placed on the table. His eyes paused on Olivia’s likeness. She was an impressive beauty with wheat-colored hair and green eyes.

How had Kayena known? How had she ended up discussing his potential wives with him at just the right time?

Raffaello spoke to a butler who had entered the dining room. “Tell Jeremy to request an audience with Her Highness Kayena.”

“Yes, sir.”

He was curious about the princess.