The First Step Toward Power
The nobles had steeled themselves for a long, drawn-out battle. Yet the Emperor’s sudden decision to revise the punishment left them exchanging bewildered glances. In the next breath, they bowed their heads.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The nobles filed out of the Emperor’s chambers.
Princess Cayena, who had been kneeling in petition, was nowhere to be seen.
“They say His Majesty and Her Highness have grown quite close lately. It seems the rumors were true.”
Today’s true victor was undoubtedly Cayena. While the nobles were still rejoicing over their easily won victory, Zenon Evans watched them with open contempt.
Whose fault was it that Prince Rezef ended up under house arrest in the first place?
They were nothing but flashy fools—families with grand names and empty heads.
It was an exaggeration to say that Cayena had collapsed.
After kneeling for three hours, how could I possibly stand up without issue?
When she tried to rise and immediately sank back to the floor, the people around her had panicked and declared she had fainted. Her thin clothing, the blue tint of her lips from the cold, and her pale face had only fueled the misunderstanding.
“You have endured a great deal, Your Highness.”
Vera said as she massaged Cayena’s legs.
“You’re the one who suffered because of me.”
“Not at all.”
Cayena had chosen the plainest of her indoor gowns—one she had left untouched after stripping away all its outdated decorations. She had worn it while kneeling.
“What would you have done if His Majesty had not changed his mind?”
Cayena, who had been warming herself with hot tea, smiled.
“If Father truly intended to strip Rezef of his position as prince, he would never have issued such an order.”
“I… suppose that’s true.”
Now that she thought about it, it made sense. An indefinite house arrest essentially meant becoming a prince in name only. Given the Emperor’s cold nature, it would have been far simpler to simply remove him from the line of succession altogether.
“This was a test. He wanted to see how I would respond.”
Had she calculated all of that in that single moment? Vera slowly closed her mouth, awed by the cold, bloodless logic that ran in the veins of the imperial family. It seemed the blood of the imperial house flowed differently from that of ordinary people. Then a question occurred to her.
“Then… does that mean Your Highness has passed the test?”
Cayena answered with nothing more than a gentle smile.
Just then, a knock sounded and Annie entered.
“Your Highness, Chief Chamberlain Luden has arrived.”
“Let him in.”
The Emperor’s elderly chief chamberlain, Luden, entered carrying a box wrapped in luxurious fabric.
“Are you feeling better, Your Highness?”
“I am.”
He held out the box. Vera quickly stepped forward to receive it.
“Prince Rezef’s house arrest has been reduced to ten days.”
“I can only be grateful for Father’s generous mercy.”
Vera opened the box and presented it to Cayena. Inside lay a key studded with jewels.
“This is His Majesty’s command.”
At those words, Cayena rose from her seat and knelt on one knee. Vera did the same.
“Cayena Hill, First Princess of the Eldaim Empire, hear this decree.”
Luden straightened his back and delivered the imperial order in a clear voice.
“It has been determined that during his period of house arrest, the First Prince Rezef Hill cannot oversee the Inner Palace. Therefore, the authority over the Inner Palace is hereby temporarily transferred to the First Princess, Cayena Hill.”
Vera unconsciously tightened her grip on the box.
Temporary or not, this is the first time real power has been granted to Her Highness!
Even though it was the first real authority she had received in nineteen years, Cayena answered with perfect composure.
“I am grateful.”
Wait—nineteen years? In her first life, she had never held a single shred of real power until the day she died. One of her nicknames had been “the Paper Princess.” The depth of that humiliation was beyond measure.
“Congratulations, Your Highness.”
Luden bowed deeply as he offered his felicitations.
With Vera’s help, Cayena stood and took the key from the box. It was an ornate piece plated in gold—the very key that only empresses had ever held. The same key her own mother had once possessed.
“I am still young and lacking in many ways. I ask for your guidance.”
“Your Highness will surely perform splendidly.”
Luden bowed once more.
“Given the circumstances, the authority has been transferred in a rather modest manner. I hope you will understand.”
“How could I not?”
Luden gave a kindly smile, announced his departure, and withdrew.
“Your Highness.”
Vera looked at Cayena with an expression full of emotion.
Cayena placed the key back into the box and teased her gently.
“This is only the beginning. If your heart is already so small, how will you manage?”
“But…”
It was only ten days of house arrest. During that time, Rezef’s subordinates could simply handle the affairs of the Inner Palace. There had been no need to change the person in charge. And yet the Emperor had deliberately handed the authority to Cayena.
This is an official declaration that the princess possesses the ability to wield such power.
Which meant, just as Cayena had said, this was only the beginning.
“It seems I answered correctly.”
Vera had secretly worried that Cayena’s petition might have crossed a line. But the result spoke for itself.
She regretted having dared to doubt her mistress. Now she was deeply curious about Cayena’s next move.
“What is Your Highness’s next plan?”
Cayena let out a small sigh at the question. There was a mountain of work to do. And if she didn’t set the proper order, everything would fall apart.
Not a single one of them is insignificant.
“First, I must select new ladies-in-waiting for the princess’s palace. I will ask His Majesty to issue an imperial decree appointing Olivia Grace.”
Vera looked puzzled at the name.
“Is that young lady not already being recruited by His Highness Prince Rezef?”
“The Grace family receives sponsorship from the Kedrey ducal house. Do you really think she would enter my service at Rezef’s request?”
Besides, she had already sent a letter through Annie to ensure Olivia would not accept the position. Everything had been for this very day.
“If she entered at Rezef’s request, it would be seen as indirect support for him as the successor. So she must be lying low.”
“But if it is an imperial decree from His Majesty, the situation changes entirely.”
At Vera’s words, Cayena smiled with clear approval.
“Exactly as you say.”
Selecting new ladies-in-waiting and bringing them into the princess’s palace was an extremely important matter. It was practically a public declaration of which families she would associate with and what kind of faction she intended to build.
Olivia—the protagonist of this world and my strongest card—must become my person without fail.
Moreover, this was the best way to protect Olivia, who had no one to shield her. Neither Rezef nor Grand Duke Heinrich would dare treat her harshly once she became Cayena’s lady-in-waiting.
Cayena took another sip of the warm tea.
“This tea really is excellent.”
Seeing her composure, Vera felt even more impatient.
“His Highness the Prince’s house arrest is only ten days. What do you plan to do within that time?”
Cayena set her teacup down on the side table.
“Sow discord.”
She smiled faintly as she spoke.
Sowing discord—how very fitting for a villainess. It was a despicable, dirty tactic that could earn contempt, yet it was also one of the most effective ways to gain a great advantage.
“Sow discord… you say?”
Vera guessed that one of the targets would be Rezef. But she could not easily imagine who else Cayena intended to set against him.
When Vera fell into thought, Cayena gave her the answer.
“Zenon Evans.”
Rezef’s aide and one of the central figures of the prince’s faction.
He was the target of her scheme.
The villainess is a marionette.