THE VILLAINESS IS A MARIONETTE

CHAPTER 4

Rezef considered his words, and his expression became slightly twisted.

“But Cayena, you realize that you nearly died.”

Cayena lightly nodded her head, acknowledging the statement.

“That’s right.”

‘Because of you.’
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Knowing the truth, Cayena could see clearly how Rezef carefully weaved his words.

“Are you perhaps afraid of retaliation? If so, please don’t worry. I’ll ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.”

Cayena tiredly shook her head. Because she hadn’t completely healed yet, it was quite burdensome for her to have such a difficult conversation. She had already spent a lot of energy talking with her ladies-in-waiting.

Though Cayena would have liked to rest, this was a conversation she had to finish, even if she passed out at the end. This was her intent.

“No. I’m not afraid.”

She exhaled, a feverish breath spilling out of her mouth.

Rezef and the ladies-in-waiting in the room held their breaths. This sadness was something they hadn’t expected from the ridiculous Cayena.

“There’s no need to play a game that you’ll lose, Rezef.”

Rezef couldn’t understand her words.
He was the one who had arranged for the poison to be used, and he had also established himself a suitable alibi. He had already selected which targets he would remove with this opportunity, and all he had to do was to send them to the guillotine. This game was completely set in his favor; there was no way that he couldn’t win.

At least, that’s what he thought.

“Everyone, please leave this area for a little while.”

At her request, everyone left. The only ones left in the room were Cayena and Rezef.

“Rezef,” Cayena called. She spoke so calmly and composedly that Rezef felt strange.

“You can’t forget that there are more things happening than what you can see with your eyes.”

“What are you…?”

“Do you know how many people I’ve danced with in the banquet hall? And how many people brought me food and drinks? Under these circumstances, it’s far too difficult to determine who had poisoned me. On the other hand… These circumstances are perfect to pick the culprit.”

Cayena struggled to remember quickly what had happened regarding this incident.

Rezef could never have predicted this to happen to his plan.

“There was a young nobleman who was obsessed with me, wasn’t there?”

She recalled the person that Rezef had led to the guillotine. It was her previous husband. She remembered that Viscount Gillian had yet to receive his inheritance, so she merely referred to him as a ‘young nobleman.’

“That is…”

“Do you intend to execute him and destroy his entire family? Good. He’s one of Kedrey’s vassals. It’s not a bad choice.”

That was the whole reason Rezef had concocted this plan.

The Gillian family was renowned for keeping splendid horses. The price of a single one of their horses surpassed that of a mansion. And the Kedrey duchy had such a family as their vassals.

The Kedrey family was militant, holding the largest and strongest army in the empire as they protected the western border. They stood in the way of Rezef’s path to the throne, and he was eager to reduce their influence in any way possible.