Translator: thursdays PR: scarcecrow

Once they had reached the entrance of the palace, Cayena quickly let go of Raphael. Feeling the warmth escape from his hand, Raphael clenched his fist for a moment.

It was sad. The times he spent with Cayena seemed to go away like a flash.

Raphael was amazed by the fact he experienced such rash and impulsive feelings.

Then, Ill see you as soon as I sort out the troubles from last night.

Have a safe trip home.

Raphael bid his farewell and climbed into the carriage.

After seeing him off, Cayena took Olivia with her to the princesss palace.

Olivia carefully stuck to her side and said, Congratulations, Your Highness.

Becoming the emperors proxy was good for Cayena.

However, Cayenas safety measures were not properly prepared yet. Cayena paused her steps and replied, Im sorry that I hadnt been able to set up a safety fence before this happened.

Dont worry, Your Highness. I will support you.

Thank you.

Although the emperor had not declared her as his official heir, many would interpret this as the entrance of a new competitor to the throne.

The emperor may be killed like this. And if someone frames me, I could be executed.

She couldnt permit herself to incur anger because she couldnt digest this new power.

When Cayena arrived at her palace and was about to enter the bedroom, the employees of the princesss palace, led by Vera, were waiting for her in the parlor. This included the other new senior ladies-in-waiting.

Susan also looked at Cayena with a deep curiosity like she had heard everything about the situation outside.

Julia only looked uncomfortable seeing Olivia standing by Cayenas side. She didnt seem to understand Cayenas new role as the emperors proxy.

Congratulations, Your Highness!

The employees knelt down and greeted her politely. They had to bow like that; Cayena was now the second most powerful person in the empire after the emperor.

Theyre congratulating me

She had simply wanted to make a fake husband and escape safely from the palace. There was no barricade as secure as that plan. That was what she had thought, and that was why she had been taking her time.

However, Rezef and the people around her would not wait for her.

Politics in the central palace would swallow up the weak. Hesitation was a luxury. It was clear that things would be taken from her the moment she revealed a gap.

Rise.

She looked around at the palace workers and opened her mouth.

I have received great power from His Majesty, but I am not his successor. Remember that. Control yourselves well, and dont act rashly.

We will remember, Your Highness!

The princesss palace has just begun to be organized. I know that you may be disconcerted by this change.

Cayena made eye contact with her new ladies in waiting, one by one.

Olivia, who had seen the situation first-hand, contemplated the situation calmly.

The new court ladies especially should work hard and adapt to the imperial palace as soon as possible.

Yes, Your Highness!

They exited the parlor in an orderly fashion.

Vera was the only one to follow Cayena into her bedroom. Cayena asked, What is the situation of the silver spoon?

Vera answered without a pause. Including the detailed drawings, it will be ready within two days.

Once its ready, I want it to be blessed by the church. Arrange the donations separately.

Yes, Your Highness.

Veras voice was rather excited while she replied.

Its isnt something to be pleased about, Cayena noted.

But youre the deputy for the state administration, Your Highness. Influence comes to those with power.

She wasnt wrong. However, they had to be aware that they might be eliminated before they could even gather any forces.

This affair could seriously set off Rezefs temper. And even if Rezef believes in me and lets it slide, his faction may not.

What can he do about an imperial order? Furthermore, your authority is only temporary.

Cayena shook her head. Even if it is temporary, the traces of authority wont be erased. If it happens once, what would prevent it from happening again? Thats what everyone is worried about.

The deputy for the state administration. Taking care of the imperial household and affairs. Neither was anything to blink at. The problem was one of the powers of the deputy: military jurisdiction.

In fact, it was power over the military that legitimized an emperor.

This was a predicament that neither Rezefs nor Heinrichs factions desired. That said, Cayena didnt think she needed to go on the defensive. She was capable of taking this round for herself.

Find me information on military law.

She hadnt thought that she would ever have to study military law, even when she wanted a connection with the military.

I never studied military law, not even when I thought I would marry Raphael.

Well, the lady of the house didnt necessarily have to study military science.

I will heed your order.

Vera left the bedroom to fulfill Cayenas desires, leaving Cayena alone inside.

The state deputy

Since the emperor fell sick, the chancellors authority had grown. That was also Rezefs authority.

However, Cayena overtook Chancellor Debussy as the second most powerful person in the empire. She was asked to take care of state affairs as the emperors proxy, and that included military matters.

It meant absolute trust in her. The emperor made the decision with the confidence she would never attempt a coup dtat against him.

Why would he trust me like this when Ive only changed so much?

And why was Rezef excluded? Suddenly, she had the thought that she may not have all the facts. Something was definitely off.

Why is he treating Rezef so

Why is he being so cold-hearted?

The emperor had given Cayena authority enough to rival an official heir because she had taken care of internal affairs properly. That was also a bit weird.

Does it have something to do with Rezefs birth mother?

Rezef was not expanded upon in detail in the novel.

I need to find out who his birth mother is.

Cayena let out a small sigh. Besides this, she had a lot of work to do.

Plus, it seems that the knight commander disapproves of Rezef.

If she made the knight commander one of her people, even Rezef would not be able to touch her. Rather, Rezef would consider her more seriously.

But that would threaten Zenons position.

Zenon had his eye on the chancellors seat and was risking his life to support Rezef. Yet suddenly, Cayena had become the emperors proxy and given much more influence than the chancellor.

Would Zenon try to eliminate Cayena, or would he try to subdue her some other way?

Zenon headed straight to the palace after hearing the emperor had spat out blood.

A minuscule amount of poison was constantly mixed in the emperors tea. It wasnt a poison that would kill people right away; however, if the dosage increased, the person being poisoned would quickly become unwell.

The emperor suddenly entered a critical condition.

There was no way that could happen. It couldnt.

We dont even have military control yet. If the emperors condition worsens, Heinrichs faction will find it easier to move!

Very few people knew that the emperor was being poisoned. Zenon realized that Rezef must have increased the dosage without consulting him.

What a stupid move!

The prince should have consulted with him before this act, but Rezef had decided something so important without going through Zenon. In other words, he didnt trust Zenon.

Recently, he and Rezef had not been working well together. Friction was inevitable when working with the emotional and violent Rezef, but he had never expected to be blindsided like this.

Just because the princes forces were a little bigger right now did not mean that they would gain the throne. Their opponent was Yester Heinrich. That ruffian broke the rules of noble society like they were nothing.

As for that bastard

It was unbelievable that he sent contractors to the temple to get Cayena. He had to be crazy.

And Zenon was even more foolish for letting such a man hold his weakness!

Moreover, if the emperor died just like this, Rezef would obviously try to thwart Cayenas marriage.

Hell become busy while negotiating with her.

Immediately after hearing that the emperor was in a critical condition, Zenon sent a servant to the chancellor and waited for more news. He needed to hear what had happened directly.

The expressions of the knights who guarded Rezefs chambers were not good. The senior knight spotted Zenon and acknowledged him.

Ah, Sir Evans. Have you also heard the news?

Zenon nodded. Is His Highness inside?

Rezef had been out investigating the abduction attempt last night as well as the assassination of Henverton Gillian.

And right after he returned to the palace, he went to the emperor to report his progress and check the emperors condition.

His Highness has just come back after meeting His Majesty.

Zenon nodded and entered Rezefs bedroom. He said to the servants inside, Dont let anyone in until I call for someone. If there is something you must report to us immediately, send in a deaf servant.

The servants glanced at the prince, who only watched the situation calmly. They quietly withdrew.

Zenon saw Rezef drinking tea at a table in the sunlight. The prince did not seem to grasp the seriousness of the situation at all.

Zenon gritted his teeth and asked, Why didnt you consult me?