The Villainess is a Marionette

‘What’s wrong?’

When he had that odd thought, Cayena turned her head and made eye contact with him.

Her face was pale. She was terrified. Cayena’s face was soaked with fear when her eyes met Raphael’s, but it quickly turned to an expression of relief.

It was a dramatic change that made him feel as if he were a reliable ally.

“…Raphael.”

His name in her mouth was strangely unfamiliar.

Was it because she had only called him Sir Kedrey lately?

Cayena pulled herself up. Raphael helped her.

She looked a little distracted.

She was still holding onto Raphael’s arm, but she didn’t seem to be aware of it.

Raphael also did not realize that he felt no discomfort with the contact.

Vera furiously snapped at Gillian with an angry face. “What disrespect is this?!”

The knight escorts who were waiting a bit further away arrived at that moment.

“What is going on here?”

“Take that man away right now. He dared to try to harm Her Highness!”

They knew that Gillian was the heir of an aristocrat, but there were still four months before he had any real power, so they weren’t too wary.

They immediately grabbed Gillian and started to take him away.

“What? I only offered to escort her. What are you doing?!” Gillian shouted with fuming eyes.

“I have never seen such an ungentlemanly escort! You moved your hands threateningly toward her!”

Vera glared at Gillian with contempt, as if she wanted to slap his cheek.

Gillian quickly released the anger from his face.

“You are mistaken. I saw that Her Highness was with a maid but no escort, so I offered to escort her out of the good will of my heart. It’s true that my hands were stiff because I was nervous, but I never had bad intentions.”

Because it was a plausible comeback, the knights looked at each other with puzzled faces.

Raphael, who had quietly watched the situation, opened his mouth.

“Henverton Gillian.”

Then, Gillian’s gaze reached Raphael.

For a moment, Raphael saw his gaze rest on Cayena’s hand.

“I’ve also seen the situation from behind. You say that you had no impure intentions, but you certainly did not seem to act out of consideration of the lady.”

“…Sir Kedrey. I am not saying that I am not at fault. I regret my error.”

Gillian looked repentant, albeit still contemptible.

Cayena remembered how he acted like a gentleman outside but abused her when he returned home.

He was good at lying.

“…I think I’ve overreacted because there have been so many incidents recently.”

As she said so, she slightly lifted her arm, which was still wrapped in gauze.

The princess had been burned by a hot pie not too long ago, so she encouraged the notion that it was the reason she was surprised by unexpected behavior.

“I believe Mister Gillian offered to escort me with good intentions. Still, could the imperial princess go around without an escort?”

“It’s my fault, Your Highness. I apologize.”

The guarding knight immediately bowed and admitted his mistake.

Cayena shook her head.

“No. I understand. Most gentlemen would be surprised and not approach a woman who was unaccompanied by anyone other than a maid.”

She pointed out Gillian’s rudeness while pretending to forgive the knights who should have escorted her.

“You must have been surprised as well, Mister Gillian, to come closer.”

Gillian was smiling, but he looked at Cayena persistently with eerie eyes. Politely, he replied,

“Excuse me, Your Highness. I will properly say hello again next time.”

Gillian left, and Cayena felt the warmth return to her cold fingertips.

“I always end up relying on you,” she said to Raphael with a sorry look.

Her attitude was once again calm and direct. But her hand was still tightly grasping Raphael’s arm.

He grasped Cayena’s hand.

“…!”

It was then that Cayena realized that she was still holding onto Raphael.

It was when she tried to take her hand out of his grip to let him go.

“I apologize that a vassal of my family surprised you like this.”

Her blue eyes rose up again.

Raphael was in a strange mood for some reason.

“I will take you to the carriage.”

Then, he realized.

Her warmth felt in his hands did not feel unpleasant at all.

Scene 6. A New Appearance

Cayena’s complexion was still white.

Her hands were starting to warm. The trembling of her body gradually subsided.

‘Is there any reason for her to be so afraid of Henverton Gillian?’

It was almost pitiable how much she was pretending to be fine.

Maybe that was why. Raphael wasn’t offended by her contact and felt that he had to take her to the carriage.

Cayena knew she couldn’t walk alone.

So instead of being stubborn, she thanked him for his favor.

“Then, I am in your care.”

Vera and the knights fell behind and followed them.

Cayena gradually felt her reason returning to her. Her mind became more stable, and even when she recalled Gillian’s glaring eyes, she didn’t hesitate.

She looked down at Raphael’s hand. It seemed to be because of Raphael.

‘I don’t know why I was so relieved the moment I saw Raphael’s face.‘

It was still like that now.

The only thing that changed from before was Raphael’s presence.

But she felt like this space had become completely safe.

In fact, the nobles who swarmed into the Imperial Library to see Cayena couldn’t even think about approaching.

A clear disappointment showed on their faces.

‘Wasn’t it said that she no longer favored Raphael?!’

They had been hoping to become the Emperor’s son in law or gain some other favor through Cayena. They were people who always had expectations and desires. But she was affectionately walking along with Raphael.

No nobles, whether they could fly or crawled on the ground, could compare in front of Raphael Kedrey.

‘But why is Raphael here?’

Cayena was puzzled by Raphael’s sudden appearance.

“Sir Kedrey, may I enquire why you came here?”

She was referring to him like that again.

Thinking that Cayena’s reason had returned, he said, “There was some work I had to do at the Imperial Academy.”

That made sense because the academy was right next to the library. But did he come all the way here by himself?

“I came here because I heard that Your Highness was here.”

“…”

He still had that straightforward, no-nonsense way of speaking that could cause misunderstandings.

Cayena laughed as if it was absurd, then tacked on an explanation.

“Definitely, there were a lot of things happening in the palace that could make you curious. Did you have any questions for me?”

Raphael glanced sideways at Cayena’s cheek, where her complexion was now fully returned.

“This doesn’t seem to be the right time for that.”

Cayena blinked because she hadn’t thought that he would be concerned about her condition.

Then, she smiled with sincere gratitude.

It was a refreshing smile that didn’t match the overcast weather.

Then, raindrops began to fall from the sky. She suddenly looked at Raphael, who had not brought any attendants with him.

“It’s raining. Will you be all right heading back? Did you take a carriage?”

“I didn’t. I walked because it was nearby.”

He didn’t really care if he got a little wet, so he said it like he didn’t care. Cayena slightly frowned.

“It’s easy to catch a cold in springtime, so you have to be careful.”

She called for a servant.

“Borrow an umbrella from the library.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Cayena’s carriage had already arrived.

While the servant went to borrow an umbrella, she couldn’t leave first, so she stood still and waited.

‘I think I can let my hand go now…’

Cayena looked at her hand as if it was troublesome.

Raphael, like a gentleman, held her hand firmly so that she could walk, one step at a time.

She was grateful for the help, but she didn’t want to offend him anymore.

“I really appreciate your help today.”

As she said so, she naturally removed her hand from the position it was in while being escorted.

Raphael again felt Cayena was intentionally distancing herself. He couldn’t figure out why.

She acted like a person who was uncomfortable with human contact. She seemed to have the same symptoms as himself.

That was weird.

But no. It wasn’t that she was uncomfortable with contact.

Didn’t she easily accept Rezef’s escort?

And when she was out of it earlier, she held onto him first.

‘She seems to be acting considerate of me.’

It was as if she knew that he really hated touching people.

‘…I’m overthinking it.‘

There was no way. An aide who had served him for a long time may be vaguely aware of it,

but he had never admitted it out loud. How could she know something that even his own parents were unaware of?

Then, the servant arrived with an umbrella. Cayena stepped back from Raphael with a relieved look.

“Then, I’ll see you again next time.”

Raphael looked as Cayena stepped in the carriage and rode away, like a fairytale story about a woman who ran away before the magic could be undone.

~~~