THE VILLAINESS IS A MARIONETTE

CHAPTER 9

The servant hesitated for a moment. It had been according to the emperor’s will that he delayed announcing Raphael’s presence.

“What are you doing?”

As Cayena stopped smiling and turned cold, the servant had no choice but to go to the emperor’s chambers. It was better for him to inform the emperor of Raphael’s request for an audience than it was to deal with the fuss if he dared to ignore the princess.

Raphael watched this series of events suspiciously. Though Cayena frequently acted out to get his attention, this was the first time she had actually helped him.

Was she doing this so that she could bother him again?

But Cayena seemed to act cautiously after she gave the order to the servant. She seemed reluctant to even meet Raphael’s eyes.

How strange. He was usually able to read her clearly, but Raphael couldn’t sense any intent behind her action. It was like her favor just now did not have any ulterior motives.

“Then, I’ll leave it at this.”

Cayena left the waiting room, taking her ladies-in-waiting with her. It was clear to everyone in the room that Cayena was obviously keeping her distance from Raphael.

Raphael nearly called out to Cayena. He looked at her with a slight frown as she passed by, feeling odd.

Then, one of the emperor’s attendants called out to him.

“Lord Kedrey.”

Only then did Raphael turn away from the door through which Cayena just left.

“His Majesty is resting right now, so you will have to call on him again tomorrow,” the attendant said awkwardly.

Raphael’s retainers, who had been in the waiting room with him, were deeply angered.

“Are you telling the truth? Her Highness just left his room!”

They looked at the attendant ferociously and clenched their fists.

“Stop.”

Raphael ordered them to cease their murderous aura.

“We are in front of His Majesty’s room. Do not raise your voice.”

“…Yes, sir.”

To roam the battlefield meant being familiar with murder. The servants, who had just faced their potential deaths, sighed with relief.

They thought it was fortunate that Raphael was a gentleman, but their thought was a short-sighted illusion. In fact, Raphael had nothing to lose from this scenario. He had a significant amount of power, and he was not interested in the quarrel over the throne.

‘Emperor Esteban should know that I am not siding with either faction.’

And the emperor couldn’t be this stubborn forever. Raphael was only being lenient now as he did not want to bother.

“Then, I’ll be back,” he said.

The attendant nodded his head, wiping away the cold sweat from his brow with a handkerchief.

“Yes, yes. Please come back later.”

Raphael walked out of the waiting room, then stopped in his tracks.

Cayena had been waiting outside for him.

Ah, he knew it… He had wondered why she had retreated so mildly earlier.

“As expected, the emperor did not meet with you.”

Cayena’s complexion was still poor, not having recovered fully from the poison’s effects, but she had still stood in the hallway to wait for Raphael to come out.