The Villainess is a Marionette

***

The two settled at a small table in the back garden.

Smoothing her skirt as she sat down, Cayena asked slyly, “Sir Evans, are you still single?”

“Yes, I am.”

“How come an outstanding man like you still doesn’t have a fiancée? Doesn’t Marquis Evanscare?”

Zenon was the second son of Marquis Evans, who owned one of the largest granary fields in the Empire. It was a rare for someone like Zenon to remain unattached.

It was especially unusual for the younger brother of a land baron.

“I missed the right timing.”

“That doesn’t sound right, Sir Evans. You’re still in your prime.”

He was only in his late 20s.

Even though his expression was cold, he was, overall, a good-looking man. His diligent training had developed him a strong body, equipped with masculine charm.

“I’m moved by your words.”

Zenon only thought of women as people who would tie him down by his ankles.

There was no woman who suited the second son of the marquis.

If she had good looks, she lacked intelligence, and if she was intelligent, her family was too lowly ranked.

“It would be good if you could find someone who suits you at the banquet for my coming-of-age ceremony. There will be a lot of young nobles around then.”

“Would it be appropriate for me to search for a match at an event where Your Highness is meant to find someone?”

Cayena replied breezily, “Is it possible to find our destiny if we are so particular about the time of the night allowed to us?”

“…How romantic of you, Your Highness.”

“It’s because love is something that can be found in an instant, almost like an accident.”

Cayena’s voice was composed, and each word was calming.

As he looked at Cayena, he became thirsty, as if his throat was burning.

‘Is this really a woman who is just about to reach adulthood?‘

He was much older than her. Strangely, though, Cayena didn’t feel younger at all.

Yes, she made him feel like he was a younger man, full of passion and vitality.

‘It’s really strange.‘

He had never expected to feel this sort of tension while dealing with Princess Cayena.

But looking at himself now…

It was much more interesting to talk with Cayena than his older brother, the loser of the east.

“…Did Your Highness find such love?”

This question was clearly referring to Raphael.

Cayena laughed.

“I’m not looking for it.”

It was when Evans slightly frowned.

Cayena put her arms on the table and leaned in a little bit.

“I’m waiting for it to find me.”

Cayena looked at Zenon with an undecipherable smile. At that smile, Zenon clenched his fist under the table.

The insolent princess was provoking him.

‘I’ll give you a chance, so try to court me if you can.’

That was what she was saying.

She wasn’t trying to win him over, but rather giving him a chance.

It was ridiculous, but it made him feel like he wanted to win.

‘The princess.‘

He had never thought of Cayena as a potential marriage partner.

It was because although she was beautiful, she was even less suitable as a match than the ladies of lower nobility.

But now, Cayena was different.

‘How fun.‘

Somewhere in his heart, a desire to respond to that provocation arose. He licked his lips at this pressure.

If he married Cayena, he wouldn’t have to bow before Rezef.

But he couldn’t just recklessly run into that swamp.

The more he talked with her, the clearer it became to him.

Princess Cayena was dangerous.

She was like fog, a woman with whom you couldn’t see your next step. Also, the swamp was of unknown depths.

He was an ordinary man, just like the others who were entranced by a beautiful member of the opposite sex. The reason this has not been revealed so far was because no woman in the castle suited his taste.

But at this moment, possessiveness struck his heart like an accident.

“Your Highness, you confuse me.”

Cayena opened her eyes wide and laughed like a flower swaying in the wind.

“You’re only confused because you don’t know. There won’t be any confusion if you knew the correct answer.”

With this, the structure of their relationship was made clear.

Zenon got up and approached Cayena’s side.

He went down on one knee, took her hand, and kissed it for a long moment.

“I will definitely find you.”

Zenon accepted her provocation. He was confident that he would win.

Try as she might, Cayena was only a princess in name. She did not know that her title was only a foolish illusion.

***

Cayena refused his offer to escort her to the princess’s palace.

‘An arrogant man is easy to deal with,‘ she thought with an expressionless face.

“I should select the ladies-in-waiting as soon as possible.”

Upon returning to her quarters, Cayena wrote a letter of appeal to the Emperor.

She intended to hire only four court ladies, including Vera.

It was to strengthen the image that being a court lady of the princess’s palacewas a privilege above all else.

There was a good reason why she decided that she would have only four ladies-in-waiting.

This was because the responsibilities of her palace could be divided into four main categories.

One lady would be in charge of the daily routines and procedures, such as hosting her guests and managing parties and meetings.

One lady would be in charge of all aspects of what the she ate, that is, both diet and medication.

One lady would manage her closet, living quarters, and means.

One lady would regulate the conduct and duties of all employees belonging to the princess’s palace and punish them if necessary.

‘It’s an unspoken law that power only comes to those who work.’

Until now, Rezef had intervened in everything at the princess’s palace because he had authority over the internal affairs.

The court ladies of the princess’s palace were only for show, lacking any real power themselves.

Cayena had to fix that first.

She only had a short amount of time, but she would set up her palace so that it couldn’t be dragged about by Rezef when he was reinstated.

“Vera. From now on, l give you the authority to enforce the conduct and duties of the court ladies and the maids belonging to this palace.”

Among the things her ladies-in-waiting would have to do, this task required the most discretion.

Vera was the perfect fit for the job.

“I will support Your Highness with all my heart.”

As for the rest of the tasks, she had already considered her ideal candidates.

Olivia would act as her messenger, entertaining and hosting Cayena’s guests.

‘I’ll help increase Olivia’s social influence.’

Olivia, as a heroine, was naturally observant and insightful. She was definitely the right fit for the job.

Now, Cayena had to select the other two.

“I will select Julia Evans and Susan Lepore as my court ladies.”

Vera frowned a little at an unexpected names and started to think.

The precious daughter of Marquis Evans, Julia, and the second daughter of Count Lepore, Susan…

“In terms of their house, both are flawlessly wonderful,but I doubt their competence as individuals, Your Highness. Especially in the case of Miss Julia Evans.”

Rezef would not be against it if Julia Evans entered the princess’s palace.

Rather, he would welcome it if they welcomed her. He would think that Cayena chose one of his people.

However, it was unclear whether the only daughter of the Evans family, who was called the ruler of the east, could do the job well as a lady-in-waiting.

Furthermore, what of Susan, the second daughter of Count Lepore? She would likewise never have worked in her life.

And Susan was quite…

“She’s known to be eccentric.”

Unlike Count Lepore, who had a quiet temper, Susan was known as the viper with a sword in her mouth.

She was smart and had a lot of talent, but she easily wrote people off as insignificant. She did not mince her words, so she was not very popular in the social world.

“By the way, will His Highness Rezef accept Lady Susan?”

Count Lepore was related to Archduke Heinrich through his mother’s side.

However, there was a reason Cayena was pushing forth with this.

‘In my past life, Susan Lepore became Olivia’s unparalleled friend.‘

Before Cayena’s return, Susan was someone who had even dared to pour wine on Cayenaand laugh at her.

“Even though her family is related to Archduke Heinrich, she’s like a stranger to him.”

The Lepore family was also one of those families who had not yet declared support for any of the successors.

However, since the count was related to Archduke Heinrich, everyone thought he would back him.

‘And Susan hates Archduke Heinrich very much.’

Of course, she hated Rezef, too. In many ways, it was good to bring her to Cayena’s side when the opportunity came.

“The Lepore family is loyal and neutral, so it will be good for others to see Susan here. And how significant would it be if Rezef’s people, Heinrich’s people, and Kedrey’s people were gathered in one place?”

Vera burst into admiration at this remark.

It was exactly as she said when Vera thought on it. The three most representative forces of the Eldaim Empire would be gathered in the princess’s palace.

And though Susan wasn’t really one of Heinrich’s people, that’s what she was in the eyes of the society.

~~~