A Thorny First Meeting
* * *
Today was the day she had arranged to meet Raphaelo. It was also the final day of Lezeff’s house arrest.
“The imperial physician has reported that an audience with His Majesty will be possible today.”
Every morning, she received a report on the Emperor’s condition. If her father’s health seemed stable that day, she would request an audience before noon. Paying her respects in this manner had become part of her new routine.
Cayena, already dressed for going out, visited the Emperor’s chambers accompanied by her maids.
“I greet you, Father.”
“You must be busy. There’s no need to send servants every time just to pay your respects.”
Though the words sounded indifferent, they were a complete acknowledgment of Cayena’s achievements. She smiled and drew closer to the Emperor.
“I can’t put my mind at ease for even a moment when I’m worried about you.”
Those watching were touched by the princess’s devoted filial piety and smiled warmly.
The Emperor glanced at his daughter’s attire.
“It looks like you’re heading out.”
“Yes. I thought I’d check the site where the new building will be constructed at the Imperial Academy. I also want to see for myself what facilities the students actually need.”
He had already heard that Raphaelo had given her a building as a birthday gift.
‘Raphaelo wouldn’t have done that without good reason…’
The Emperor nodded.
Chief Chamberlain Luden handed Cayena a leather pouch.
“His Majesty requested this for you.”
‘It’s the appointment document for the Western Military Governor.’
Cayena knelt on one knee and bowed with proper etiquette.
“Thank you for granting my foolish request.”
“It was something that needed to be done anyway. I trust you will use it wisely.”
She exchanged a few light words with the Emperor before stepping outside.
“How are things at the Crown Prince’s palace?”
Vera answered immediately.
“They say it remains quiet.”
Once today passed, the matter with Lezeff would keep her busy again for some time.
“I should head to the Academy early and look into the location for the new building.”
Cayena said she would take Olivia with her.
The carriage was prepared, and they soon left the imperial palace, heading for the Imperial Academy. She arrived an hour earlier than the time she had agreed upon with Raphaelo. Accompanied only by a single knight and Olivia as her entourage, she entered the academy grounds. Since classes were still in session, she had no intention of causing a disturbance.
“It appears the site for the new building is over there, Your Highness.”
Cayena turned her gaze to where Olivia pointed. Traces of preliminary work before construction were visible, but there were no laborers present. It was likely because the students were still in class.
She walked toward the empty plot. However, the assumption that no one was there turned out to be a mistake. As she drew closer, a strange noise began to reach her ears—dull, heavy thuds.
“You insolent bastard!”
The sudden loud curse made their steps falter for a moment. Cayena frowned slightly.
“What is that sound?”
The escort knight stepped forward.
“Just in case, I will go check, Your Highness.”
Cayena nodded and stopped where she was. The knight disappeared behind the building, and the commotion abruptly ceased.
“Looks like students fighting among themselves.”
Olivia nodded as well. Even during her own time at the academy, such incidents, though not frequent, had occurred from time to time.
Soon the escort knight returned with several male students whose appearances were in complete disarray. They were panting heavily, but when they caught sight of Cayena, they glanced at her nervously and quickly slipped away.
‘Hmm?’
While brawling was naturally something to be ashamed of, the way they avoided her so awkwardly felt off. The knight soon approached with a rather awkward expression.
“Those boys were ganging up on one student.”
So it was bullying? Her expression darkened further. The knight continued, looking troubled.
“However… the student they were attacking was Ydel Lindberg.”
At the name Ydel Lindberg, Cayena froze.
“You mean Lady Catherine’s son?”
“Yes.”
Feeling a strange sense of curiosity, Cayena headed directly behind the building herself. There, a silver-haired boy was sitting on the ground, breathing raggedly.
‘As expected.’
Before her regression, she had never once seen Ydel Lindberg. There had been no point of contact, and since Lezeff despised him, she had never felt the need to meet him. This was truly her first time seeing him in person.
Ydel had the same clean, beautiful silver hair as the Emperor. Beneath it, his strikingly bright blue eyes also resembled those of Emperor Esteban.
‘He looks quite a bit like me.’
The boy resembled her enough that one could tell they were siblings. However, the sharp glint in his eyes and his disheveled state seemed to perfectly reflect his formidable temperament.
Ydel also spotted Cayena. He was wiping his mouth with his sleeve when he suddenly stopped. She saw his brow furrow deeply. It was a gaze filled with hostility.
To Cayena, it simply looked like a hedgehog bristling its quills in self-defense.
‘After Father took to his sickbed, I read that he’s been having quite a difficult time.’
In the novel, Ydel Lindberg only became important after he had grown somewhat. That was when, with the full support of the Kedrey ducal family, he pushed Lezeff aside and became the next emperor. She had never expected to witness firsthand the harsh childhood he had endured.
‘It doesn’t seem like this group assault was a one-time thing.’
Cayena slightly lifted the veil covering her face. Surprise flickered across Ydel’s previously hostile expression. He was startled by her appearance—similar to his own, yet unbelievably beautiful.
She greeted him brightly.
“Hello?”
“……?”
Ydel wore the expression of someone thinking, What is this crazy woman?
It had been a long time since Cayena had encountered someone who displayed their emotions so transparently on their face. Strangely, she found it rather amusing.
“You’re Ydel Lindberg, correct?”
“……I greet Her Highness the Princess.”
He offered the greeting reluctantly, his face clearly unwilling.
Cayena smiled inwardly and reached out to help him up. Ydel coldly brushed her hand away and stood on his own. It wasn’t arrogance born from relying on the Emperor’s favor. He was simply a child who didn’t yet know how to navigate the world and could only bare his thorns. He was also a full head shorter than her.
“It seems you don’t get along very well with your friends.”
Ydel bared his teeth in protest.
“They are not my friends.”
“If they are children of high-ranking nobles, it would be better for you to get along with them.”
“What does that have to do with you?”
At his insolent tone, the escort knight flinched. Cayena responded casually.
“Because I’m your older sister.”
“……Hah!”
Ydel had never imagined he would encounter the princess he had only heard about so many times in such an unexpected place and at such an unexpected moment. The situation itself was absurd, but her attitude was so ridiculous it left him speechless.
His older sister? Yes. They shared half the same blood. If one only considered the factual relationship, she was indeed his older sister. But could their relationship really be defined so simply?
Ydel knew that, out of fear of potential consequences, both Crown Prince Lezeff’s faction and Grand Duke Heinrich’s faction had thoroughly ostracized him and his mother.
While the Emperor could still move about, everyone had at least treaded carefully. But now it was different. As had just happened, sons of powerful families would pick fights with him at the slightest provocation.
It was fortunate that Ydel possessed the qualities of a promising swordsman, allowing him to beat them back when they attacked together. However, after every fight, his family would inevitably suffer repercussions.
His mother never said much, but the fact that her dress had not changed in three years was enough to tell him how bad things were. So he had once tried not fighting back. That only led to more children looking down on him, and the group beatings became even more frequent.
Today had been just another ordinary day like that—until he ran into Cayena.
“You look quite badly hurt.”
Cayena treated him with an attitude that was somewhat indifferent yet strangely ordinary. She approached right up to his face without hesitation. Ydel flinched and tried to step back, but Cayena was faster. Her slender hand, covered in a silk glove, gently grasped his chin and brushed over his split lip.
“Ugh!”
He let out a short groan at the sting before clamping his mouth shut. His ears burned with embarrassment.
“Y-Your Highness!”
Just then, the headmaster, who had heard of Cayena’s visit, came rushing over. When he saw Ydel in such a wretched state beside her, he swallowed hard.
“Oh dear, Your Highness. I am terribly sorry. To show you such an undisciplined sight…”
The headmaster knew that the imperial family’s descendant and Lady Lindberg’s son did not get along. He grabbed Ydel roughly by the arm.
“I will make sure this student, who has disturbed the peace, is severely punished. Please do not worry, Your Highness.”
Ydel clenched his teeth, swallowing his rage. His fists trembled. At that moment, a clear voice scattered his fury.
“Then what do you plan to do about the other students involved?”
The villainess is a marionette.