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“He headed out, concerned that the temple’s paladins will get involved in the security of the capital.”

“I see. That’s good. In this situation, reducing the central army’s power further will ensure that they are completely pushed out by the temple.”

Cayena wanted to lie down in bed right away, considering she had stayed up all night, but she couldn’t do that.

“Did the dough finish rising?”

“It’s here, Your Highness.”

The kitchen servants were bewildered by how Cayena, who had become the deputy of state affairs, continued baking. They couldn’t grasp the scale of how much Cayena’s influence had grown.

‘Is this how the imperial family originally is like?’

She had even been nearly kidnapped twice this week. Cayena, who was cooking in the kitchen like always, appeared out of place.

This time, Cayena baked many more sweets than she normally did. She also asked the kitchen servants to make and chill a lot of fruit juice.

Meanwhile, an aide to the knight commander came to find her.

“Warren, a member of the central army, greets Her Highness the Princess.”

Cayena looked at him while checking the sweets in the oven, her sleeves rolled up.

“Ah, did Commander Jed send you to report on the needed improvements? He works quickly.”

Warren stared open-mouthed at the strange sight of a princess watching over an oven, then politely answered, “Yes, indeed!”

He felt shy in front of the astoundingly beautiful princess. A goddess was baking cookies… He was momentarily confused.

“I’m sorry, but can you wait a minute?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Cayena tilted her head slightly as she looked at Warren, who acted extremely disciplined. She liked how he did not look down on her, a woman, for laying her hands on military affairs.

Cayena left the cleanup to the kitchen servants and untied her apron.

“Here is the report.”

Cayena wiped her hands and received the report. There were too many things that the central army needed; they had been harshly neglected until now.

“Vera, there’s still plenty of allowance left for the princess’s palace, correct?”

The budget that Rezef increased greatly a while ago was still unspent.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Then, try to find a fabric merchant who can visit the imperial palace sometime soon.”

It would be best to improve the central army’s appearance before proceeding with the land development project.

“Please gather all palace servants who can be temporarily reassigned. We need to begin improving the sanitation of the central army.”

“I shall prepare them.”

Cayena turned to Warren. “Is the army chef in charge of the food budget and menu? Can you tell me how the supply distribution works?”

Warren gawked when the princess spoke like someone familiar with the military, then snapped back to attention.

“As you said, the army chef manages the budget and the diet. There’s a separate person in charge of the supply.”

“All right. Tell them to revise the menu with the new budget. I’ll help them connect to the top food suppliers.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Cayena read over the report again at that point. “Most of the issues can be solved by this week with a few days’ work. Vera, you’ll have to work a little more.”

“You needn’t worry for me,” Vera replied.

“Reserve enough of the budget for the princess’s palace and transfer the rest to the central army.”

What was she talking about now?

Warren felt faint. At that moment, a kitchen servant carefully approached them.

“Your Highness, the cookies are done. We prepared the amount to be sent to Prince Rezef as usual.”

“Good work. You’re taking care of things well even without my orders now.”

The kitchen servant’s cheeks blushed at the princess’s praise.

Cayena prepared a slightly large basket, laid out a red checkered cloth, and filled it abundantly with the cookies.

Cayena wrapped it up and handed it out to Warren.

Warren didn’t understand her actions and looked at her vacantly.

“My arm hurts.”

At Cayena’s words, Warren hurriedly received the basket. There was a considerable amount of cookies inside, so it was quite heavy.

“Take it back and share it with the others. I’m sorry that there aren’t that much.”

Was it possible that she had baked so many cookies for them? Cayena also handed him the juice that she ordered to be prepared.

Warren couldn’t believe it. He stuttered, “Uhh, then, this is…”

“I made a lot so that the knights of the central army could have some. By any chance, you don’t happen to dislike cookies, do you?”

“N-not at all!”

Warren was still stunned by this incredible kindness and ended up shouting instinctively,

“We’ll eat it well, Your Highness!”

Cayena looked at him with some surprise, then gently curved her eyes into a small smile.

Instead of saying ‘thank you for your favor,’ he had said that he would enjoy the food. It was a long time since she heard that kind of greeting.¹

“Your words make me glad.”

It went without saying that Warren’s face turned red.

Scene 16. Organization and Establishment

Rezef returned to business as usual and headed to his study for work.

‘I need to formally select the head maid now.’

It was fine that Cayena’s influence in the imperial palace had increased somewhat, but it was always necessary to have a means to control her.

‘Since it’s nearly her coming-of-age, she’ll require a chaperone.’

Rezef was thinking of putting his nanny in that position.

While he was writing a letter of appeal to the emperor, he heard a knock.

“Come in.”

It was Julia, a court lady of the princess’s palace. When he saw it was her, Rezef set down his pen. Julia looked at the prince and bowed, her face blushing.

“I greet His Highness, the Prince.”

“Julia Evans?”

Julia’s heart leaped at the fact that he had remembered her. But on the surface, she pretended not to be excited and stepped closer to him, holding his snacks.

“Her Highness sent over these cookies.”

Rezef smiled kindly, the corner of his eyes crinkling elegantly.

“Thank you.”

Julia almost sighed when she saw that smile. However, she quickly woke up from her daze and poured cold juice into a finely crafted crystal glass. Rezef reached out to grab Julia’s hand.

“Oh my!”

Julia flinched in surprise. Rezef smoothly took the pitcher from her.

“I think it looks too heavy for you to carry,” he said, and he poured his own cup. Needless to say, Julia’s face turned redder. “You’ve worked hard to prepare this.”

At his tender concern, Julia squirmed with shyness and replied, “Not at all, Your Highness.”

Rezef suddenly noticed Julia’s dress. It was gorgeous, decorated with jewels and lace. He could tell that she was trying to look nice in front of him.

“How pretty.”

He smirked, gesturing toward the dress.

“The dress, that is.”

Julia pouted a little.

“And the person wearing it looks even better,” Rezef continued.

Julia’s eyes widened at the words. The prince, who had been working under the sunlight in his study, smiled at her and praised her for her beauty.

Right now, she felt like she was in a scene from a novel. Like love would blossom in this moment.

“You’ve worked hard, so you can take your leave now.”

Julia was disappointed, but when Rezef lifted his pen again, she grabbed the hem of her dress.

“…I’ll take my leave then, Your Highness.”

Rezef put the pen back down when she left. His gentle smile turned cold.

“Both the older brother and younger sister don’t know their place at all.”

When he remembered Zenon, who dared to covet and kidnap Cayena, Rezef suffered from the urge to strike the man’s neck. It was funny that Julia didn’t understand her situation and foolishly showed Rezef her affection.

Cayena was incomparable to her. Rezef’s sister was so calm and collected that she did not seem to have undergone any hardships. His gaze reached the plate of juice and cookies.

‘This was all prepared by my sister.’

Cayena continued to act the same way as usual. She was still devoted and affectionate, preparing his snacks and paying attention to him. That was good to see.

When Rezef stood up and opened one of the library’s bookshelves, a hidden office appeared.

“Jamil.”

He called his secret attendant.

“What is it, Your Highness?”

“What happened to the portraits I mentioned before?”

“We’ve recruited all of the local lords who overlook the paths out of the empire. Street painters and sculptors will create art commemorating Her Highness’s coming-of-age and display them in every square.”

That wasn’t enough. He needed a more concrete method. What was the best way to tie Cayena down?

‘What can I do to keep my sister from breaking out?’

~~~

^{1. Saying that you’ll enjoy the meal is the greeting Koreans use before eating.↩}