A Subtle Shift
Cayena thought he had only spoken out of formality.
“I’ll send an invitation when I can brew the most delicious black tea with the tea leaves I received today, so there’s no need to overexert yourself.”
The people around them couldn’t help but admire Cayena’s words. Jeremy, Raphaelo’s aide, was especially astonished. He had heard rumors that the princess had changed, but he never expected to witness such a stark difference.
‘Did Her Highness possess such wit?’
She hadn’t specified an exact date, yet promised to send the invitation before the tea ran out. Even if it was meant as a refusal, the message was considerate and perfectly measured.
It was hard to believe that that Cayena had said such a thing.
Jeremy glanced at Raphaelo. His master’s expression, already difficult to read, seemed even more enigmatic today.
‘……I’ve never seen that look before.’
It was a stiff yet oddly gentle expression, impossible to decipher. The important thing was that he had never seen it until now.
‘As expected, even Master finds Her Highness’s change strange.’
That was all he thought.
“Then next time, I’ll prepare refreshments as a gift.”
Raphaelo approached Cayena, knelt on one knee, and extended his hand.
Cayena understood his intention to kiss the back of her hand.
‘Should I tell him such formalities are no longer necessary?’
She feared it would only make her seem overly distant.
‘At least he’s wearing gloves.’
Swallowing a sigh, she reluctantly held out her hand. She only hoped the gesture wouldn’t cause him any particular discomfort.
“It is an honor.”
Raphaelo took her hand as he spoke. Until now, this act had always been tainted with revulsion. He had only ever endured it through sheer patience, eager to finish quickly.
‘Such a small, delicate hand.’
Yet this time, the contact was far more tolerable than expected. No—it was more than tolerable. Strangely pleasant. Perhaps because she wasn’t being clingy as usual, he felt at ease.
He suddenly realized just how small Cayena’s hand was within his own.
‘During our conversation, I never thought of her as such a small person.’
Her natural dignity and grace made her seem neither weak nor diminutive.
He lowered his head and pressed his lips to the back of her hand. His fine, soft black hair cascaded gently downward. For a fleeting moment, Cayena had the absurd thought that it would feel soft if she stroked it.
It happened just as Raphaelo lifted his lips and began to rise.
“So you were here, Sister.”
At the familiar voice, both Cayena and Raphaelo turned. Rezef was approaching with his attendants in tow.
‘He must be busy preparing for the hunting season.’
It was the time when he needed to socialize with heads and heirs of influential families. She had assumed he would be occupied purchasing new weapons, yet here he was, coming to see Raphaelo.
“I greet His Highness the Prince.”
Everyone bowed their heads. Raphaelo also paid his respects.
“Raphaelo Kedrey greets His Highness the Prince.”
“Rise.”
Rezef offered a friendly smile. He had rushed here after hearing that Cayena was walking with Raphaelo.
“Were you taking a walk with Sister?”
The Kedrey ducal house was a family he absolutely had to win over.
Rezef lacked military command authority, whereas Archduke Heinrich had already secured several military families. Even combined, however, they could not match the Kedrey house. It was the elite among elites, a military family that had long guarded the borders.
‘On my side, I have the Evans marquisate with the largest granary.’
Instead of military strength, Rezef possessed economic power rooted in the Evans marquisate’s abundant lands. Since the Evans family fully supported him, Rezef could resolve the Kedrey house’s supply issues. Together, they could complement each other’s weaknesses.
“I came looking for Sister, thinking we might have afternoon tea together. I didn’t expect you to be here as well, Sir.”
There was no way Rezef, who had deliberately sought this place out, wouldn’t have known Raphaelo was present.
“We were just about to part ways.”
“Ah, is that so? What a shame.”
Cayena spoke quickly, worried Rezef might suggest joining them for tea.
Raphaelo seemed to notice her intent; his gaze brushed against the side of her face.
“Then take care on your way, Sir Kedrey.”
Her tone was clearly eager to send him off. Raphaelo slowly lowered his eyes at her unfamiliar attitude.
“Please go safely, Your Highness.”
Rezef looked between the two. They seemed quite different from how they used to be. Cayena wasn’t clinging to Raphaelo, and Raphaelo……
‘He doesn’t seem particularly displeased.’
He couldn’t tell whether it was because his sister had conducted herself well or because Raphaelo happened to be in an unusually good mood. Either way, it was fortunate if their amicable relationship continued.
‘Sister keeps creating all sorts of entanglements with him.’
The Grace family still hadn’t responded to the letter about selecting a maid—an arrogant delay, but only a matter of time.
‘There was talk of a marriage proposal with Olivia Grace, wasn’t there?’
Rezef approached Cayena and offered his escort. She took his hand without hesitation and leaned against him.
Before departing, Raphaelo cast a peculiar glance at the sight, then turned away.
‘What was that look just now?’
Rezef’s brows furrowed slightly.
“Hmm……”
When he let out a short hum, Cayena looked up.
“What’s wrong?”
Rezef gazed down at his sister. A beautiful, gentle woman who could melt even an icy heart in an instant.
He donned his familiar mask.
“It’s nothing.”
It seemed he would have to keep a closer eye on Raphaelo after all.
* * *
“Father!”
Lydia ran toward Count Benzeman, who had come to the imperial palace, shouting like a scream.
“What did His Highness the Prince say? Everything was resolved properly, wasn’t it?”
There was no other reason for the count’s visit. It was because of the accident Lydia had caused recently.
Even if Cayena was only a princess in name, she was still royalty. To burn her like that—her father had often been disappointed by his foolish daughter, but this time she had truly made a grave mistake.
“Sir Zenon Evans handled it. You must never act so recklessly again. Do you understand!”
Despite his scolding, Lydia showed no sign of intimidation.
“It’s too stifling, Father. When exactly does the Evans family plan to recommend me as a candidate for the prince’s consort?”
The count clicked his tongue and glanced at the true nature that had just surfaced.
‘The Evans family also has a daughter of marriageable age. There’s no way they would push my daughter over her.’
He looked at his daughter, who firmly believed she would become the prince’s consort.
‘As long as she serves as Prince Rezef’s limbs well, that’s enough.’
He couldn’t afford to make an enemy of the Evans family by being too greedy.
Still, since a possibility might exist, Count Benzeman spoke in a way that wouldn’t hurt his daughter’s feelings.
“Don’t be too impatient. If possible, try to get along well with Her Highness the Princess as well.”
Lydia spoke sharply.
“That woman deliberately made me spill the pie! Look at my hand, Father!”
The count’s head throbbed.
“How dare you call her ‘that woman,’ Lydia!”
She had slightly burned her fingers while holding the plate that had just been moved with the hot pie. Lydia couldn’t shake off her suspicion that Cayena had done it on purpose.
“While telling me to bring the snacks to Her Highness, she encouraged competition among the maids! Who would know that the pie needs to be cooled unless they’re a kitchen servant?”
Her suspicion held some accuracy.
“She deliberately rolled up her sleeves and waited right in front of the pie. She was trying to use that as an excuse to gain sympathy from His Highness Prince Rezef.”
“Watch your words! Have you forgotten that this is the imperial palace?”
Lydia was frustrated with her overly cautious father.
“Father, please. Those insolent things keep ignoring me.”
Recently, Lydia had been under immense stress. Not only Vera but the other maids as well were cautious about associating with her, which infuriated her.
The count advised his daughter.
“Anyway, if this father says just one word, they’ll come to their senses again. So calm yourself and keep a close watch on the princess.”
At his words, Lydia let out a deep sigh.
“There’s nothing to watch. She doesn’t even leave the palace and stays in her bedroom every day. Even though the budget is overflowing, she doesn’t hold a single party.”
“She doesn’t hold parties even though she has a large budget?”
Come to think of it, nearly two months had passed since the poisoning attempt. Was there still a reason for her seclusion?
Moreover, Cayena’s coming-of-age ceremony was to be held when the roses were in full bloom—only a little over a month away. It was certainly strange that she had done nothing until now.