The Marionette's Strings
Raphaelo furrowed his brow as he added circumstantial evidence to his own hypothesis. She couldn’t possibly have discussed this with her mother in advance… could she?
His mother, oblivious to the storm brewing in her son’s mind, offered her thoughts with casual indifference.
“They were all refined and quite lovely young ladies.”
Raphaelo took a slow sip of his strongly brewed tea.
Refined and lovely young ladies…
He recalled the traits Cayena had described in her potential marriage candidates.
Dolores Eiban, who played the piano and embroidered beautifully but fainted at the sight of blood.
Rita Brukin, who had once trained to become a knight but was known for her violent temper.
And Olivia Grace, whom his mother sponsored and the princess herself had recommended.
It feels as though I’ve been bewitched.
The princess had given him remarkably accurate information. And if her words were true…
None of them are suitable to become the duchess. Not a single one.
The duchess pointed to one of the portraits.
“What do you think of the young lady from the Grace viscount family? She seems well-mannered and quite intelligent.”
Raphaelo answered his mother without hesitation.
“I have no intention of marrying, Mother.”
From a rational standpoint, his mother was right. When considering the family’s future, nothing was more important than solidifying his own position.
But the mere thought of those sticky gazes and secretive touches made his stomach turn. And they wanted him to take a wife?
If he could have maintained a marriage that only required sharing meals, he would have done so long ago. He felt no affection for anyone. Not even for his own mother. Simply having someone enter his personal space was enough to cause him immense stress.
“You can’t possibly mean that. Don’t forget that marrying quickly is for the sake of your family, Rapi.”
The affectionate nickname clashed sharply with the icy warning.
Having said her piece, she rose from her seat. Once his mother left and the door clicked shut behind her, the room fell into heavy silence.
His gaze landed on the neatly arranged portraits on the table. It stopped on the one labeled Olivia. A striking beauty with wheat-colored hair and vivid green eyes stared back at him. How had Princess Cayena known? And how had she managed to bring up the topic of marriage candidates at precisely the right moment?
Raphaelo turned to the butler who had just entered the dining room.
“Tell Jeremy to arrange an audience with Her Highness the Princess.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
His curiosity about the princess had been thoroughly piqued.
The moment Cayena arrived at the princess’s palace, she noticed that her room had not been tidied.
“It doesn’t appear the bedroom has been cleaned.”
“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness!”
The young maid in charge of the bedroom cleaning dropped to her knees in terror.
“Make sure there are no more mistakes in the future.”
“Y-yes, Your Highness!”
The maids exchanged secretive glances, surprised that Cayena had let the error slide so gently.
The princess had certainly changed. Lately she had become remarkably lenient. The fact that the bedroom had been left untouched today was no accident. Having served her closely, they were the first to truly notice how different she had become.
“I wish to rest now, so you may all leave.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
The maids filed out of the bedroom and retreated to their own lounge. Lower-ranking maids had already prepared tea and refreshments for their break—noticeably higher quality than before.
“Lydia.”
Vera’s voice was sharp as she called out to the maid who had neglected the bedroom.
“Why didn’t you complete your duties properly? You’re not some low-ranking maid who makes such careless mistakes.”
Lydia’s face twisted with displeasure at the reprimand.
“Her Highness forgave me, so why are you scolding me?”
She even turned the blame back on Vera.
“It’s just cleaning a bedroom. Must you make such a fuss over skipping it for one day…?”
“What?”
Vera was stunned.
She had only held her tongue because of Cayena’s notoriously fierce temper, but Lydia was the daughter of a powerful noble family and had always been arrogant. Now that Cayena seemed softer, Lydia’s true nature had surfaced immediately.
“Besides, the one who hired me wasn’t Her Highness Princess Cayena—it was His Highness Prince Rezef.”
Was there anyone in this room who could claim otherwise? Every last one of them had come at Rezef’s summons to serve as the princess’s maids.
“His Highness will protect us anyway. He needs the power of our families, after all.”
At Lydia’s words, the other maids began to nod in agreement.
“Vera, you should remember what our real mission is. We are Prince Rezef’s people.”
“You know we can’t let Princess Cayena’s influence grow stronger, right?”
“……”
Vera closed her mouth, tired of the foolish conversation.
They understand that much, yet they fail to grasp what it truly means to be that person’s maid.
One only had to look at the fact that Lydia Benzeman—the daughter of the most powerful family among them—was here to understand. These women were nothing more than double-edged swords. It would be a shame to lose them, but they offered little real benefit. Vera no longer felt any desire to scold such short-sighted fools.
“Why is she acting so high and mighty?”
The maids muttered as they brushed past her.
“……”
It was disheartening. Seeing the true colors of people she had once considered comrades left her utterly drained.
How could I have ever thought I would be acknowledged in a place like this?
In truth, most of the maids gathered here had their sights set on Rezef. He was the empire’s only prince, and his gentle, kind appearance stirred their hearts. They deluded themselves into thinking they could become his savior and melt his cold, cruel nature.
What a ridiculous notion.
Vera knew her place. None of them would ever become Rezef’s partner. She simply wanted her usefulness to be recognized. If she caught his eye, she might receive a title or strengthen her family’s influence.
There must have been a reason Her Highness kept only me behind today.
Vera’s heart grew heavy with complicated emotions.
After dismissing all her maids, Cayena leaned back comfortably on the sofa.
Given Vera’s personality, she won’t simply overlook such negligence.
The rift between them was practically inevitable. It had happened in her first life as well. Originally, Vera would have reported the other maids’ incompetence and neglect, thereby increasing her own influence. But the situation was slightly different now.
She must have realized on her own that she won’t be truly important to Rezef.
Still, Rezef was undoubtedly the next emperor. That was the biggest reason for Vera’s hesitation. Cayena decided she needed to ease the confusion in the young woman’s heart.
“What would be the best way to handle this?”
At her quiet murmur, the lower-ranking maids briefly lifted their heads before returning to their tasks.
Unlike the noble-born maids, these servants came from humble origins. Most could neither read nor write, which kept them relatively outside Rezef’s line of sight. For that reason, Cayena had deliberately kept only these maids in the room.
“Don’t clean too thoroughly. Make it look like you did it against your will.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Rezef had left the management of these lower maids to the higher-ranking ones. Today, the maid in charge of them was none other than Lydia—the very one who had caused the problem.
“Your wisdom has saved you both.”
The lower maids, Dona and Annie, smiled brightly.
The moment they had received Lydia’s order not to clean the bedroom, they had secretly reported it to Cayena. She already knew that Lydia was deeply resented by the lower servants.
“Use my name to obtain whatever medicine you need.”
Dona immediately prostrated herself on the floor.
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
Both of Dona’s parents were ill. A maid’s salary could never cover the cost of their medicine. Dona clenched her fists tightly, thinking she had made the right choice by siding with Cayena.
In truth, this was something their direct superior, Lydia, should have taken care of. But Lydia hated having to ask Cayena for anything.
After all, she might one day become empress. How could she lower herself to make such trivial requests?
I hope Lydia continues to act even more recklessly and foolishly.
In her first life, Lydia had never yielded to Cayena’s temper and had remained willful until the end. It had also been her role to report Cayena’s every move to Rezef.
Leaving this place as soon as possible would be best for you as well.
Lydia would eventually be executed by Rezef. Since he would be looking to cut off loose ends, she might be able to avoid execution if things changed now.
Now that I’ve gained new allies, I should put them to good use.
In the original story, the tale began with the discussion of a marriage between Olivia and Raphaelo. There were preparations to be made to match that timing. She needed to adjust when Olivia would enter the princess’s palace as a lady-in-waiting.
She had told Rezef she wanted Olivia as one of her maids. However, if Olivia entered the palace at Rezef’s request, it would cause problems. After all, she was sponsored by the Kedrey ducal family.
If she becomes a maid through Rezef’s request rather than an imperial decree, her relationship with the Kedrey family will be completely ruined.
That would create a major political obstacle to her union with Raphaelo. Cayena wanted to bring the two together—she had no intention of becoming an obstacle herself.
“Annie, bring me some writing paper.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Cayena wrote a very short and concise letter, skipping any lengthy introductions.
Olivia will not be moved by Rezef’s influence. I must make her my person regardless of him.
The Grace family was of humble status but possessed great loyalty. There was no chance they would betray the Kedrey ducal family that sponsored them.
If they ignored Rezef’s summons now, he might eventually apply pressure. He hated being challenged or looked down upon. He might explode in anger, demanding how a lowly family dared refuse his request.
Cayena dripped red wax onto the letter and pressed it firmly with a smooth seal that bore no engraving. A secret missive with its sender concealed was complete.
“Annie.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Even in the same uniform, Annie wore it with far more elegance. If she were dressed in a proper gown, she could easily pass for a noblewoman.
“I have an errand for you.”
Cayena handed the sealed letter to Annie.
“Take this to the Marlette Salon on Laurence Street.”
In the meantime, she would need to distract Rezef’s attention. Cayena rose from her seat.
“I will be going to the prince’s palace.”
Lady Olivia Grace,
I wish to speak with you in private. Please visit the Marlette Salon on Laurence Street at your earliest convenience.
— A person who wishes you well
The villainess is a marionette.