The Villainess is a Marionette - Chapter 132

Timid sunrise highlights touched Cayena tenderly. Her heavy drooping eyelids slowly opened and she glanced at the cold blueness outside. It seemed like there was some time left before dawn. A short breath came out slightly. The shade of an unfamiliar color appeared in her sight. The touch of a somewhat different blanket, the solid body that was felt behind her back, the arms of the man wrapping around Cayena’s waist slowly jolted her awake to reality.

’Not dead today again,’ thought Cayena before she became aware of all that unusualness of the situation.

She couldn’t understand whether the odd emotion which she felt was relief or not. Anyway, she saved some time before her imminent death. That fact itself was important. Then a little more work could be done.

Cayena commenced slowly tossing because she was going to scuttle back to the Palace. But Raphael held her tightly in his arms as if he had predicted she would flee away. It was not easy for her to struggle with aching stiffness all over her body, so she gave up quickly and a yawn leaked out. Until dawn, Raphael hugged her and was making her blush over and over. Apparently, she thought it was not too late, but the time she saw right before going to sleep was around 3 am… Cayena forcibly turned her body to stare at his sleeping face. Dark glow laid upon the countenance of slumbering Raphael. His perfect features created magnificent shading, his long lashes, and his cheeky thick lips, that she had bitten so much earlier, still had a lovely look.

’Hm-m.’

Lying still like this and watching Raphael made Cayena’s face bloom with a smile. Wasn’t it said that good-looking guys provide wealth? It occurred to Cayena that the welfare of her life was getting better properly. Cayena raised her head and kissed the tip of his chin slightly. Now it was time to leave. There was a need for other arrangements. Carefully outing his arms, she put her nightgown back on and took the robe. Even at this moment Raphael did not wake up.

’Looks like you’ve been having trouble sleeping lately.’

What kind of worries did he have, so that he couldn’t sleep at night? Cayena approached him and gave a peck on his forehead.

«Raphael.»

She called him softly, but only Raphael’s light breathing could be heard. Only Jeremy knew that she had visited Raphael, but since he said he would come in the morning, therefore Cayena had to go back to the Imperial Palace. She thought of coming back anyway.

«It’s a bit far away, but I think that’s all right.»

Cayena evoked some mana up, thinking about her bedchamber — she was going to teleport by adjusting the space. When a clear image came to mind, Cayena erased herself out of this place and soon the woman’s figure disappeared from the room. The light that Cayena had been silhouetted against, reflected on Raphael’s face. A peaceful tireless pounding was still heard. Though, the quiet sound of breath suddenly had stopped and there was a peculiar hush.

«…»

Red eyes were clearly visible in the glow of blue dawn.

* * *

Cayena left the mansion before it was too late. After returning to her room by editing the space she removed her robe and then cluttered her bedding moderately. Cayena didn’t forget to drink Elixir as well — just in case there were any marks left on her body. Let alone the banquet, there were a lot of things to check in advance. On a day like this, the maids would come to her bedroom early in the morning as they knew that Cayena woke up at dawn. And not surprisingly soon enough, Donna and other junior maids soon came in with the maids of honor.

«Are you up, Your Highness?»

Cayena rolled up the bed curtains as if she had just woken up.

«Water in the bathroom is ready.»

For a few months, the Princess began spending her time with strict punctuality. The Imperial Palace’s courtiers were already accustomed to preparing breakfast according to the schedule in the early hours. When Cayena got up with her slippers on, a soft marten fur blanket was laid on her shoulders. It would have been a disaster if the Princess, who was cooling down after waking up, caught a cold due to her thin nightie. Cayena moved forward to the wardrobe room. It was clear that the maids had already prepared this room before coming to the Princess. It was still early dawn, thus there was not enough light and the lamps and candles were lit up. On a narrow, lengthwise long table, the clothing ready to wear was placed one after another. Cayena glanced at the pre-prepared banquet gown as she began changing.

«There is no need for a party dress,» she said.

She didn’t intend to go to the Grand Hall today. No one would find it strange if she missed a day or so due to yesterday’s shooting incident.

«Prepare commoner’s clothes and a hiding robe.»

Despite these unexpected instructions, the maids didn’t get bewildered and promptly found the suitable stuff. Donna rolled her eyes: she wanted to carry this news quickly to the Prince’s Palace, but she had to make soup for Cayena to eat. Her quick-witted master would have soon noticed the strangeness of the situation even if it had been a little late. Donna had been delivering a pumpkin soup with plenty of cream, thinking she’s being cautious enough. Cayena took her plate and scooped the soup with a silver spoon. There was nothing more to be prepared for as Cayena was briefed on the identity of the gunman who was questioned overnight.

«It’s Viscount Kate. A provincial nobleman, who used to be commander of quite a few soldiers. It was figured out that his family got into debts and now it is absorbed by a man named Count Zodiac.»

Count Zodiac — it was another underworld nickname of Yester. Cayena chuckled.

’I’ve got to make up a nickname like that to enter the underworld.’

«Okay, make sure to discover Zodiac’s identity.»

It would be Yester at the end.

’The one who knows that Count Zodiac is Yester — is Marquis Rodrick Evans…’

In addition, the number of central troops to be mobilized for land reclamation today, and the preparation status of soup kitchens to be set up throughout the capital were also being reported.

Knock-knock!

When the door opened, Eden, a knight directly under the Imperial court, entered the room.

«The carriage is ready.»

As Cayena went down to the lobby, she saw Jedaiah dressed neatly in a knight’s uniform. She immediately opened the window as she got into the carriage and its door was closed. As expected, Jedaiah was galloping right next to the carriage.

«What did Grand Duke Heinrich say?»

Jedaiah startled but spoke, thinking she might have blocked the sound with magic again.

«I’ve been ordered to become Princess’s knight somehow within this week.»

It was obvious from the beginning that Jedaiah would be let to enter the Palace.

«Hm-m, really? Then how do you intend to become my knight?»

«Since yesterday’s incident, Imperial knights directly under the royal family have been keeping a low profile. They’re all getting paid by Marquis Evans.»

«Well, you were supposed to join my palace by yourself without any effort…»

«If so, wouldn’t it be a long way for me to get out of the Palace?»

If he became a member of the Princess’ Palace and left his place, it would be revealed that he was naturally working under the Princess.

«Isn’t it a relief that Yester set up everything brilliantly?»¹ Cayena said in a casual manner. «You, whoever sees you, go and make a fishy fuss about your longing to enter the Palace,» she continued when Jedaiah made a puzzled look.

Then everything would be resolved on its own.

«And what if I get my throat cut?»

He, as a suspected one, was more likely to be put up in prison rather than being eliminated…

«It’s all right. You’ll be decapitated on the spot,» Cayena replied at his concern.

«…Eh?»

«Don’t be too surprised when it happens then because I’ve just warned you.»

’How can I not be surprised if I am suddenly being beheaded?’

«The corpse will go out of the Palace,» she laughed. «Living as a dead man would be a little uncomfortable, but there’s no need in a person indicated as a living one in the underworld anyway.»²

«…Yes.»

He seemed to understand roughly what her plan was. The scheme was to fake Jedaiah’s death in front of witnesses and then to take his body out by pretending to get rid of it. But still… He let out a low sigh.

«Your brother, will you send him to the Palace?»

«…Eh yes?»

«It’s too harsh for your little brother to let him keep on suffering from illness while you’re taking care of all the work. And I need you, therefore I must take him hostage.»

Hence Cayena was going to accept Jedaiah’s younger brother as a courtier.

«Don’t worry, I’ll put him in a position in which he’ll barely work. I’m able to take care of my own people without doubt.»

Jedaiah bit his lip. He was quite uptight although he was pretending he wasn’t. He tried to hide his little brother away from Yester’s eyes, but he couldn’t provide a perfect defense. Moreover, the child’s condition was getting worse. However, Cayena declared that she would cure her brother’s illness and take him to the Imperial Palace, which was out of Yester’s influence. She indifferently wrapped it up as if she was going to take him as a hostage. As a matter of fact, he didn’t really understand. Why would the royal scion be so careful about an ordinary contractor? Was she such a great person? Jedaiah was almost moved to tears and clenched his arms even tighter. To be honest, he was grateful and he meant to express his gratitude sincerely, regardless of all the other interests.

«…My thanks, Princess.»

Cayena looked away from the window without giving him a glance and snapped.

«Giving gratitude for taking a hostage,» muttered Cayena, turning away from the window to avoid looking at him. «Such a strange thing to do.»

’A-ah, so, here is why…’

It seemed that people continued gathering around the Princess due to this character feature. Those who believed in her and followed her had a particular sense of fairness and were well-rounded people as well. Jedaiah could not dare to imagine what a country governed by such a person would be like as there had never been such a ruler. Although his mind might have changed later, he decided to do his best for now. Besides, there was a significant issue to deal with right now.

«I have something to tell Your Highness.»

«What is it?»

«I witnessed strange people at the residence I visited yesterday.»

Jedaiah had an extraordinary ability to detect crises. He remembered an unusual group of people that Grand Duke Heinrich had met in the small villa arranged by him near the Capital. It felt pretty bad. As the Princess was a magician, wouldn’t she be able to figure out what was going on? So, Jedaiah detailed what he had seen.

«A bunch of people in black robes?»

Sadly, Cayena knew nothing of those people. She frowned slightly and commenced recalling what she had known from the novel.

’A suspicious crowd in black robes… There’s not much precise information about the assassins used by the Grand Duke.’

Yet, it was strange that there was no information about such odd people. Jedaiah felt kind of awkward when Cayena tried to turn a blind eye to it.

‘Has the future changed?’

* * *

1. As if he took care of everything well so they can do their thing.

2. Here was something like ’no need in living man with a hopae’. Hopae were identification tags carried by Koreans during the Joseon dynasty, recording the bearer’s name, place of birth, status and residence. It means something like ‘a person who is known as alive isn’t really useful’.