<b>Trantor: </b><span>thursdays <b>PR: </b><span>scarcecrow


    <span>Early in the morning, Olivia had received a letter from her family. Its contents could be condensed down to a single line.


    <span>「 Unfortunately, the marriage discussions to join you and Raphael Kedrey have fallen through. 」


    <span>It was something that she had foreseen the moment she was selected as the princess’sdy-in-waiting. Her father, worrying that Olivia would be heartbroken, added some words of constion; however, Olivia didn’t care much.


    <span>‘I wasn’t interested in this marriage from the beginning. The events of the imperial pce are far more entertaining.’


    <span>Watching Cayena force the head chef and the head maid to kneel was the most impressive thing Oliva had seen in her life.


    <span>Even Olivia, who was being protected by the princess, felt chills down her spine.


    <span>“Miss Olivia, Vera is asking to see you,” the maid assigned to her reported politely.


    <span>“Please let her in.”


    <span>She folded the letter and tucked it away, out of sight.


    <span>Soon, Vera entered the room. They exchanged brief greetings and sat down at the table across from each other.


    <span>Vera looked more tired than the first day Olivia entered the pce. However, her eyes were sparkling. The eyes of someone who found a person to confide in were more beautiful than jewels.


    <span>Olivia only felt worn out because of the harsh world. She had never met anyone who seemed to find themselves like Vera did.


    <span>‘Perhaps.’


    <span>Was Princess Cayena the one who found Vera?


    <span>Vera opened her mouth.


    <span>“I’d wanted to arrange something to introduce the seniordies-in-waiting, but some more work has popped up.”


    <span>“What sort of work is it?”


    <span>“Her Highness’s guest will soon be visiting the imperial pce. So it has been decided that your education will be elerated.”


    <span>Something was odd. There was no reason to teach Olivia, who was untrained, when Vera was capable of taking care of the work herself.


    <span>In other words, this could mean that someone wanted Olivia to greet this specific guest.


    <span>“Sir Raphael Kedrey will visit the pce to make a donation to the imperial academy. Miss Olivia, please wee and serve him well.”


    <span>Olivia felt flustered. She’d only just received the news that the marriage talks had ended.


    <span>She could never have predicted that Cayena would give her this order in such an awkward situation.


    <span>“If it’s an order, I will obey. But first, I must visit Her Highness.”


    <span>Olivia couldn’t just let this go when it could cause further troubles.


    <span>Vera fully understood why she was trying to be careful.


    <span>“You’ll need to wait a bit because the knightmander is going over the results of the criminal interrogation with her.”


    <span>“I don’t mind.”


    <span>They waited outside the princess’s parlor for her business to end.


    <span>A maid came out of the parlor.


    <span>“She said you may enter now.”


    <span>Vera shook her head instead of following her inside.


    <span>It meant that she would wait outside.


    <span>“Then, set up an investigation team and go to the supplier today. Those thugs who indiscriminately assault themoners must be taken out.”


    <span>“I heed this order.”


    <span>Olivia was continually discovering new parts to Cayena.


    <span>Her past, when she spilled wine on others’ dresses, didn’t show through at all.


    <span>‘She’s definitely different from before.’


    <span>After the knightmander left, Cayena faced Olivia and said, <span>“The uproar of the pce as soon as you arrived must have surprised you.”


    <span>“No, Your Highness. I understand that you’re trying to straighten out internal affairs.”


    <span>On the first day she entered the pce, Olivia somehow ended up following Cayena as she defeated the different departments one by one.


    <span>Nothing was wrong with her actions.


    <span>“Thank you for saying so.”


    <span>Cayena sat on the sofa and offered Olivia a seat as well.


    <span>“Seeing as you came here, I suppose you’ve heard the news from Vera.”


    <span>In fact, Raphael was a slightly awkward topic for Olivia to talk about.


    <span>Although she decided she couldn’t let things happen as is, there was a part of her that was embarrassed to bring it up first.


    <span>It was because it sounded like a lover’s spat, too emotional.


    <span>“I am worried that my deficient manners will cause a problem with offering Sir Kedrey hospitality.”


    <span>Olivia was trying to excuse herself from the task with a roundabout reason.


    <span>“I don’t think so. You’re intelligent, so I don’t believe you’ll have a hard time with hospitality.”


    <span>Olivia gathered a little courage and decided to speak the truth.


    <span>“I don’t know if Your Highness is aware, but the marriage talks between me and Sir Kedrey have ended.”


    <span>Cayena also answered honestly.


    <span>“It was expected since you became mydy-in-waiting. Moreover, I don’t think you seem very upset about that.”


    <span>Olivia was taken aback, like her weak spot had just been stabbed.


    <span>Cayena continued, <span>“I know what you are concerned about. I was once infatuated with Sir Kedrey, and blinded by my jealousy, I attacked you.”


    <span>Cayena got up from her seat and bowed to Olivia.


    <span>Startled, Olivia jumped up from her seat.


    <span>“Your Highness!”


    <span>“I should have apologized for my rudeness earlier.”


    <span>That wasn’t all. Before Cayena returned, she hadmitted the vile act of poisoning Olivia. Even though Olivia had magicallye back to life, Cayena had to apologize for her actions.


    <span>“I’m sorry.”


    <span>Olivia couldn’t help but believe her sincerity.


    <span>However, this apology was excessive. Cayena hadn’t even mistreated her very much.


    <span>At best, she had ruined one of Olivia’s dresses and ignored her greetings.


    <span>“Please, Your Highness. I’m all right.”


    <span>Cayena gave a small smile.


    <span>“…Of course.”


    <span>Even after being poisoned, Olivia did not me Cayena after she was revived with magic.


    <span>Rather, she pitied her for being used by Rezef tomit such a terrible act.


    <span>‘This is why Olivia is the main character.”


    <span>Cayena added in a light tone,


    <span>“Also, I n to marry a better man. So, I hope you don’t have any doubts about Raphael Kedrey in the future.”


    <span>Olivia’s eyes widened.


    <span>‘Saying that she’ll marry someone else…’


    <span>She rxed her expression, thinking that Cayena was just saying it to reassure her.


    <span>“Now, can you receive my guest with an easy mind?”


    <span>Olivia bowed deeply and said,


    <span>“I will serve him properly so that it doesn’t be troublesome for you.”


    <span>***


    <span>Olivia became ustomed to her role in just one day.


    <span>As Cayena said, the work wasn’t terribly difficult. Though, it could have been that this particr guest was not picky.


    <span>Olivia only needed to remember one instruction.


    <span>‘He likes strongly brewed ck tea.’


    <span>Soon, a carriage from the Kedrey family arrived at the imperial pce.


    <span>‘So it’s that man.’


    <span>She didn’t need to look at anybody else; it was clear that Raphael Kedrey was the handsome man with deep ck hair and crimson eyes.


    <span>“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Olivia Grace.”


    <span>Raphael lifted up his head at the familiar name.


    <span>Wheat-colored hair and green eyes. They matched the appearance he had seen in the picture her mother showed him.


    <span>Raphael could tell right away who had arranged for thisdy-in-waiting toe out to receive him.


    <span>‘Did she really mean what she said to me?’


    <span>He couldn’t understand why the imperial princess was acting like a matchmaker.


    <span>However, he greeted Olivia politely because she was thedy-in-waiting of the princess whom he hade to meet.


    <span>“Pleasure to meet you. I am Raphael Kedrey.”


    <span>Olivia thought the situation was extremely strange right now.


    <span>The first person that she greeted today was the heir of the family that sponsored her own family. Because of that person, she had been hated by the princess.


    <span>Well, that was the kind of thing that could happen in high society. But on the whole, marriage between a woman and her sponsor’s son was something out of a novel.


    <span>‘It’s something that happens often in social climbing romances.’


    <span>She hadn’t expected that she would ascend social ranks by bing a courtdy rather than through marriage.


    <span>‘Though I never dreamed of raising my status in the first ce…’


    <span>All she wanted was just somebody who she could talk to in this strange world.


    <span>Olivia opened her mouth.


    <span>“Her Highness is busy this morning because of her work with internal affairs. She’s handling the criminal interrogations personally.”


    <span>“I see.”


    <span>“First, pleasee inside.”


    <span>Olivia treated Raphael with a very businesslike attitude.


    <span>Baston, who came along instead of Raphael’s aide, Jeremy, whispered to his master.


    <span>“Master, isn’t that the youngdy with whom your marriage talks ended?”


    <span>“She is.”


    <span>Baston oohed and admired her a little.


    <span>“Isn’t she a stunning beauty?”


    <span>Raphael didn’t answer him.


    <span>“Butpared to Her Imperial Highness…”


    <span>“Baston.”


    <span>When Raphael called his name, Baston realized that he had overstepped.


    <span>“Who gave you the right to make such an assessment?”


    <span>As expected, Raphael reprimanded him in his characteristic cold, emotionless manner.


    <span>Baston covered his mouth, thinking that a boss who swore and kicked him would be better.


    <span>“Nevermind, Master. I’m merely a foolish man who knows nothing of chivalry. My mouth is just…!”


    <span>Raphael regretted that he didn’t bring along Jeremy. It was a mistake to let Baston join his entourage because Baston wanted to see the princess.


    <span>“But Master, doesn’t it seem like thatdy is also quite unusual? Herplexion didn’t even change.”


    <span>The day before, Raphael had also received a one-sided notification from her mother that the marriage talk had ended. It was something that could break the heart of a young noblewoman. So it was a little weird, since Cayena wouldn’t have acted so inconsiderately.


    <span>‘…What the hell am I thinking?’


    <span>Raphael was dumbfounded at what he had just thought.


    <span>Did he just presume that Cayena would be considerate?


    ~~~