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Vera was different. She adapted to the silence and keenly opened her eyes and ears. She was watching for when the storm would arrive in the palace.

And the moment she was given the opportunity, she didn’t miss it.

Cayena, who appeared to pass out after eating a nut cookie, got up from the bed as if everything were normal. Annie and Donna were guarding the door. The windows were covered by the curtains, and candles lit up the room.

“Vera.”

Cayena reached out to Vera.

Vera quickly approached the bed, kneeled on the floor, and grasped Cayena’s hand in hers.

“I know that your family supports Rezef, even to the point of death.”

Vera wasn’t surprised to hear Cayena say that she already knew that she was one of the prince’s people.

She strangely believed that if it was this new Cayena, of course she would know.

“I intend to make Rezef emperor.”

“……”

Vera gulped, her mouth feeling dry. Could words be more chilling than these? However, Cayena said them peacefully, as if she was thinking about what to have for afternoon tea.

“It means that if you follow me, you won’t be betraying your family or Rezef.”

“…Your Highness.”

“Rezef is not a subtle child. Even if you run naked in front of him, he won’t give you a title.”

It was a painful thing to hear.

Vera had only come this far by chasing after that hope. She had always been anxious. The realistic thought that all of this might be for nothing tortured her mind.

Whenever that happened, she turned away, blaming her own weak heart.

“Receiving a rank and receiving a title are very different things.”

Receiving a title was not a simple thing. It didn’t end with someone just saying, ‘I now appoint you as baron.’ One had to go through a complex legal process.

However, Vera desperately needed the title, enough to put herself through that difficult task.

“I know that your family tried to marry you to your cousin, and that you came to be my court lady as if you were trying to run away.”

“How…!”

Vera looked at Cayena with amazement.

“I know that shameless man wants to take you in as the lady of the house and make your younger siblings concubines.”

There was no trace of discomfort on her face. The way she calmly revealed Vera’s past was eerie. Vera wanted to bite her tongue.

“You were going to get a title and take your younger siblings away with you, right?”

As if she knew everything, Cayena stroked Vera’s head.

This competent and sincere court lady was also too responsible. She stood up against her close-minded parents, and to protect herself and her siblings, she walked into this heartless palace.

She was only 25 years old. She was still too young to bear that weight.

Cayena had also been in a difficult situation in her second life. She remembered how she struggled to take care of her ailing mother. Though she was a ‘woman’ at that time, she was too young to do everything alone.

So, Cayena gladly declared herself as Vera’s guardian.

“You don’t have to worry about anything anymore.”

Vera closed her eyes.

Tears ran down her cheeks. The feeling of relief filled her heart.

“…My siblings are still young.”

“I see.”

“My father only sees his daughters as property.”

That was a prevalent thought among most nobles.

Vera said with a tear-soaked face, “Neither I nor my younger siblings are tools to keep the house.”

She was convinced that if it was Cayena, she would understand her more than anyone else.

Because within the imperial family, the emperor and Prince Rezef had also isolated Cayena and controlled her as they wished.

Cayena smiled. It was such a painful smile that Vera thought that Cayena may have been more pitiful than herself. She, at least, could be free by receiving a title.

But what about Cayena?

Vera composed herself, and once her tears had dried, she asked, “Your Highness, what are you going to do now?”

Her voice was determined and eager.

Cayena said the next plan she already had in mind.

“Do I own any dresses that look shabby?”

***

The courtiers looked down from the railings.

There was Cayena, kneeling in a modest dress that looked like pajamas or play clothes.

“Your Highness, you shouldn’t be doing this here…”

This was what the princess, who reportedly collapsed because of an allergic reaction, did as soon as she opened her eyes.

Both the courtiers and the knights were embarrassed. The princess was on her knees in the middle of the castle, so how could they pass in front of her? They had been trapped inside. It was a hostage situation with everyone there.

Cayena continued to kneel there with a sorrowful face. She looked like a weak princess who was lost without her younger brother. By her side, Vera, the only court lady who remained, was supporting her.

“Your Highness, this really might get you in big trouble…!”

When the princess seemed as if she would never retreat, the court officials stepped back in embarrassment.

Of course, it was the nobles who supported Rezef that were the most pleased with this news.

Zenon had been holding an emergency meeting due to Rezef’s indefinite confinement. It was during that meeting that a nobleman shared the good news.

“It’s strange. Why did the princess suddenly give us such great help?”

Cayena had helped them before, but that was the result of Rezef’s own manipulations. This was the first time that Cayena took her own actions to help them this much.

Only Zenon’s eyes shone sharply when everyone rejoiced at the unexpected windfall.

‘Is this action really for Prince Rezef?’

If it was the Cayena in the past, Zenon could have counted on her sincerity without much worry.

But now, it was different.

In this case, all of her ladies-in-waiting were chased away. Rezef’s influence was greatly reduced. In addition, Rezef received the emperor’s wrath and was put on probation indefinitely. Cayena had lost nothing in this incident.

Rather, she was able to fill her palace with the ladies-in-waiting she chose.

It was the most reasonable deduction to think that Cayena had arranged this situation.

‘Did she even eat the cookie for real?”

Even these sorts of thoughts floated in Zenon’s head.

‘No, that’s a pointless train of thought. It’s already happened.‘

Anyway, since she was now petitioning on Rezef’s behalf, this could be an opportunity.

“How did His Majesty react?”

“They say that the emperor won’t budge.”

They seriously wondered if they would have to wait for the emperor’s anger to subside.

Zenon stepped forward and said, “If we do not solve this today, the momentum will lean toward Archduke Heinrich.”

“That’s right. We don’t have time to waste, so everyone get ready to act!”

***

“Your Majesty, what will you do?”

This question was asked regarding Cayena, who still kneeling outside in petition.

“How long has she been doing that?”

“It’s been three hours.”

Cayena, in her thin and shabby dress, had been on her knees for three hours already.

“The doctor said that if she continues, she could hurt herself.”

Then, an attendant came into the bedroom and said, “Your Majesty, some nobles are asking for an audience.”

Then, he began to recite the names of influential nobles, including Zenon Evans.

“I see that they’re biting at their opportunity.”

This was clearly an opening that Cayena created. The emperor beckoned and said, “Let them in.”

As the door opened, twelve nobles poured in. They all threw back their cloaks and knelt on one knee.

“Your Majesty! Please take pity on Her Highness the Princess!”

The emperor’s cold blue eyes glanced over the nobles.

“Do you think that you’re in a position to say that you find the princess pitiful?”

“All of this is a misunderstanding! It was admittedly His Highness’s error in failing to crack down on the idiocy of the court ladies, but this is too much!”

“Are you saying that I am too much?”

They were not as afraid of the setting sun as they once had been. In their eyes, this father, who imprisoned his son, deserved reproach.

“Please think again, Your Majesty!”

They bowed their heads and cried out in unison. This was their show of strength.

Even the emperor could not completely ignore the words of the influential nobles gathered here.

At that time, a servant rushed in and delivered a whisper to the senior attendant.

The attendant bowed his head as if he was sorry and said, “Your Majesty, Her Highness has collapsed again. The doctor is looking over her now.”

The nobles began crying out in grief.

“Your Majesty!”

The emperor opened his mouth as he watched them act disgustingly, all moving with one thought in mind.

“I have not yet decided the prince’s punishment.”

“Your M—! Excuse me?”

The nobles looked dumbfounded for an instant.

The emperor turned to Luden and said, “Rezef shall be put on probation for ten days.”

Then, to the nobles, he said, “A notice will be released soon. You are dismissed.”

~~~