The Villainess is a Marionette - Chapter 131

A familiar silhouette had appeared in front of the Princess’s Palace.

«Sister!»

After hearing about the shooting spree, Rezef came to Cayena.

«Are you all right?»

Though the same situation had happened when she took venom formerly, but now it was astonishing to see how much things have changed. It seemed as if it was only a few days ago that he had poisoned her without any hesitation just to use her for his own interests.

«Fortunately, nothing has happened.»

Rezef walked side by side with a worried look on his face.

«Shall I call the council members?»

«It’s okay as I didn’t get hit.»

«Is that so? That’s a relief.»

Before they knew it, a gatekeeper opened the bedroom’s door as soon as she arrived. Then the door was closed after Rezef came in.

Snap!

Rezef grabbed Cayena by her arm which made her turn at him. The expression of concern that he had been making a while ago was erased.

«What do you want to do with me, sister?»

Cayena looked at him with indifferent eyes.

«What do I want to do?»

They faced each other sharply.

«I’m sure that those, who you wanted me to wed with, curry favor for you, so aren’t you pleased?»

«Ha!» Rezef let out a nervous laugh. «It’s not me who’s pleased — it’s you.»

He released his sister’s hand, instead clenched and lifted Cayena up by her chin. That was unbelievably rude. Nevertheless, she didn’t blink an eye.

«What did you say to Marquis Dottie that he betrayed me?»

«What did I tell?» Cayena curled up one corner of her mouth. «You have to say it correctly. It was not me, but you who did it.»

«What?»

«You should have stopped treating people like tools. Who would trust and follow you sincerely when you treat people like that?»

At Cayena’s words, Rezef made threatening expression as if he was going to growl. She slapped Rezef’s hand. Her nerves were on edge even though Cayena pretended not to know what had happened before. Rather, her head was aching as a result of stopping time. Still, she was glad she hadn’t bled or collapsed. She commenced releasing the accessories that had been tied at her head one by one, hoping that the headache would ease a little. Cayena’s golden hair flowed gently down.

«Nobility is a tool for royalty. Everyone moves as a part of the heir who will become the next Great Emperor. Right?» spoke Rezef, clasping his sister’s beautiful hair between his fingers. «If such a tool is crossing the line, of course, as an owner, there’s a duty to let it understand the issue.»

Snap.

Cayena put her last trinket down on the table. A dry, subdued voice splitted the air.

«So you murdered my nanny?»

«…what?»

She looked back at Rezef when all her accessories had been untied imperceptibly. The light was obscured by her hair, and that created a shadow on her face. Cayena’s eyes, that were normally coldly bright, were eerie dark.

«Did you kill my nanny because I didn’t get the issue?»

«How…» only Rezef started but shutted his mouth right away.

And then he remembered what the assassins at that time said. Early on, the spies that had been put on Clarence Elivann, were chased. Were those Cayena’s men?

’Sister hadn’t even had the power worthy enough to plot back then, but who told her…’

«You always think about how to make your sister obey you well.»

«Is that why you’re doing this?» Rezef grinned. «Are you going to betray me for a woman who was lost in memories ten years ago?»

Thunderstrucking. How absurd. How dare he talk this unashamedly about someone who was actually going to take care of her.

«Face the reality — there’s nothing like that. You’re a royal.»

«…»

«You must know the burden of blood!»

At long last, Cayena lost the will to deal with him. That child really didn’t understand what was wrong. Her fingertips chilled. The aftermath of using magic was nothing compared to it. She could feel a terrible sensation covering her body and devouring it. It was not a feeling that could be expressed simply as anger or sadness.

«I’m tired and I want to rest. Go out,» Cayena asked him to leave.

Rezef stopped, pursing his lips to say something.

«…I hope you stop thinking stupid things, sister,» he warned and left the bedroom.

A little later, lower maids came in carefully, led by Annie. They began waiting for Cayena to go to bed right away.

«If Your Highness is tired, would Your Highness like to have some massage?»

«Yes, please,» Cayena nodded at Annie’s question.

«What about Donna?» asked Cayena after sending all the maids away but Annie.

«I haven’t noticed any dubious movement so far, but she certainly spends more time near Your Highness than before.»

«Keep an eye on her.»

«Yes, Your Highness.»

Cayena stayed silent and her mood was settling as she was being given a massage. Actually, there were no expectations about any special patience from Rezef. She had also given up on treating herself like a human being in the first place. She didn’t know how much time she had left, so she had to just move forward. Cayena was determined to reach the finish line by using everything she had. Then Raphael popped into her mind. Wasn’t she told to be honest? Please, make sure you’re reading on novelqueendom site and our credits aren’t erased; dear, we see you.

«…Annie.»

«Yes, please, speak.»

«There’s something I need you to help me with.»

Help? Annie blinked puzzled.

* * *

«An urgent message from the Princess’s Palace is incoming.»

The gatekeeper, who was guarding the secret passage, slightly tilted his head.

«…the Princess’s Palace?»

That voice wasn’t the same as the woman who always delivered the news from the Palace. However, this passageway was strictly confidential, so the gatekeeper thought it was a new secret agent that he probably hadn’t known about yet. He got more convinced of that idea because that woman hadn’t come for a while. He entered the room to inform about it, keeping sight on the woman covered by the robe. The knight waiting inside called Jeremy.

«News from the Princess’s Palace?» Jeremy asked again, wondering.

Annie’s life as a spy was over. She had completely turned into the Princess’s aid, but an urgent message out of the blue? Something was out of the ordinary. There was a possibility that it was a trap.

’It’s unlikely that this secret passage has been detected outside…’

Jeremy had prepared to chop his opponent down if it would be necessary. The secret agent went down to the room. The person hidden within the robe could be seen behind the veil.

«Reveal your face.»

«Get the knights out.»

Jeremy made a pause — huh, wasn’t he used to this voice? It was unusual: he had done something he would never have normally done.

«All, get out.»

As everybody but Jeremy had left the room, the figure pulled down the hood.

Though she was covered with the translucent veil, he couldn’t help but notice her beauty even through this cloth.

«Y-your Highn…!»

«Shhh,» Cayena put her finger on her lips and put the hood back on.

«I want to meet the Duke.»

Jeremy was so startled that his heart was palpitating, but he quickly returned to consciousness. That day, Raphael had a drink before going to bed. Although, the chances that he wasn’t sleeping yet were high. Jeremy ushered Cayena with great politeness and courtesy. There were no people nearby Raphael’s bedchamber — he disliked having people around him.

Knock-knock.

Jeremy knocked on the bedchamber door.

«Master, it’s Jeremy.»

Shortly after, Raphael opened the door with only his pants and a bathrobe hanging on.

«What’s going on?»

Jeremy usually didn’t interfere with Raphael’s time alone, except for urgent matters. And yet, it meant that there was something important enough to come here. Jeremy took a step back and bowed his head.

«…?»

At the moment of wonder, a figure covered with the robe appeared from the shadow beyond the door.

«I’ll come to serve you myself tomorrow morning.»

«What?» was all Raphael could say when the disguised person went inside pushing him in the chest. At that moment Raphael tried to push his opponent down reflexively.

«You told me to be honest, didn’t you?»

«…Your Highness?»

When the hood was lifted, her grinning face was seen. Raphael frowned for a second. Did he drink too much? Was he seeing a hallucination? Cayena unfastened the robe and her nightgown could be seen. Made of thin fabric, the dress was winding around her body and, as she moved to him, it revealed her nude silhouette.

«I want you, Raphael,» she said, grabbing and pulling his robe towards her.

The meaning was clear thus Raphael immediately picked up Cayena, heading to his bed. And only their breath was mixed passionately.