THE VILLAINESS IS A MARIONETTE

CHAPTER 7

Vera’s eyes opened wide.

This was the first time that Cayena had shown such a lukewarm response to Raphael Kedrey.

It was an open secret that the relationship between the emperor and Duke Kedrey was poor. Though why their relations was so bad was unknown, the emperor was frustrated by Cayena’s fascination with Raphael.

“If Lord Kedrey were to become the emperor’s son-in-law, there may be problems with the power structure.”

It was a fairly simple statement, but it was a problem that Cayena never seemed to consider before now.

Vera quietly refilled the tea and glanced at Cayena’s serene profile.

Cayena hid a calm smile behind her teacup.

This matter would not just go to Rezef’s ears. Her remarks would surely be relayed to the emperor as well.

“I have been obstinate and undignified up to now as I hadn’t understood the will of the emperor.”

Cayena’s desire for Raphael was proportional to the distress she had caused to her surroundings. She had forced herself into his house and summoned him into the palace. Well, actually, the emperor had summoned Raphael to the palace at Cayena’s request every time.

Of course, this wasn’t necessarily for Cayena, but rather to humiliate the Kedrey family by breaking their next lord’s spirit.

“He must have listened to your requests because your actions were appropriate enough.”

Cayena agreed inwardly with Vera’s words, but outwardly, she frowned.

“As the imperial princess, how could I not know that my conduct was inappropriate? Now, at least, I must make up for what I have done.”

“What do you intend to do?”

“First of all, I’ll have to mend the dress for my coming-of-age celebration.”

Vera tilted her head as the statement seemed totally unrelated to their discussion.

“Open up the dressing room.”

Soon, there would be a banquet for Cayena’s coming-of-age celebration. The dress that she was going to wear had been prepared long ago, but Cayena wanted to revise the concept to make use of the incident.

“Would you prefer something with a plunging backline to show off your shoulders?” Vera asked.

Seeing the dress, Cayena shook her head. “No, that’s too exposing.”

She had an image in her head.

‘A marionette should look more like a marionette.’

Cayena wanted a dress with fancy lace decorations, the type that one would dress up their dolls in. She needed to appear as if she cared too much about beauty.

Cayena checked her reflection in the mirror and nodded her head.

“As always, nobody will be more beautiful than Your Imperial Highness at the banquet!”

The people around Cayena were busy fawning over her appearance. But Vera thought to herself as she helped Cayena change,

‘Everyone is glad that Her Highness has become well-behaved, but it has never been this easy.’

Cayena’s aura and image had completely changed. Recently, Cayena had been acting very softly, and now everybody wanted to stay by her side.

Her mildness and inaction seemed like she was conceding the initiative to her opponent, but it was really more like giving a child a snack that would quickly disappear.