The Villainess is a Marionette
Chapter 54

Translator: thursdays PR: scarcecrow

Raphael knew that Cayena had felt embarrassed this whole time. Well, it was understandable. Even he could see that the restaurant was cheesy.

‘How did Baston know about a place like this?’

The one who energetically recommended this restaurant to him was none other than Baston. He pushed Raphael to make the reservation here, telling him that this place would definitely suit Princess Cayena.

In the end, Baston was right.

There were vines wrapped around the columns, white curtains, vases richly adorned with pale spring flowers, and round tables covered by light-hued tablecloths. All this along with Cayena, who looked like a goddess that had descended in this space, created an unparalleled beautiful scene.

Raphael sat across from Cayena as her brows were slightly furrowed in thought.

It was enjoyable.

The orchestra’s songs that flowed out of the restaurant weren’t bad, and the appetizers were better than he expected.

The weather, the atmosphere—everything was perfect.

And he liked that Cayena was spending this peaceful time alongside him.

Was spending time with someone this pleasant?

“Something like this is good, too.”

Raphael smiled softly. It was an effortless, charming smile. This was the first time Cayena learned that he could smile like that.

“…You’re right.”

Cayena suddenly realized she was enjoying this moment.

Unlike other people, the person facing her didn’t ask her for anything.

He was just quietly staring at Cayena, and in the moment that she needed assistance, he was the first person to hold out his hand to help.

What should she do if she became used to this kindness that didn’t belong to her?

She had to be careful. Cayena reminded herself to know her place.

“I like it too. It would have been better if you had come here on a date with a lovely lady.”

Everything would be ruined the moment she yearned for too much. Cayena knew well that her situation was not very peaceful.

“It was the right choice to come here, since I’m with the most beautiful person in the empire.”

“…There is no need to flatter me.”

Raphael spoke in a normal voice, like there was nothing strange.

“It’s not flattery.”

“……”

Cayena sighed briefly.

“It would be better for you to spend time with a witty and pleasant lady like Olivia than with me.”

He again told Cayena, who mentioned Oliva, exactly how he felt.

“I like now.”

She had no idea how to interpret Raphael’s words. He was someone who often said things that could be misinterpreted. Hence, she couldn’t delude herself like that. He wasn’t telling her this because she was special. She had to keep that in mind.

Cayena changed the subject.

“The emperor has given me the letter to appoint you as the leader of the western military. Once we get back to the academy, I’ll give it to you.”

“Thank you.”

“I only pulled a few strings to do something that would have happened anyway. There’s no need to thank me.”

It was a defensive remark.

Cayena spoke like she was determined not to allow anybody beside her, and Raphael noticed her attitude.

He couldn’t act rashly. This changed princess was extremely sharp and cautious. After reflecting on that, he opened his mouth.

“I’m thinking about inheriting the title soon.”

Cayena was glad to hear it, but it was unexpected. She was aware of why he remained as the heir, not the duke, even though he was more than skilled enough.

“I think it would be better to take care of it now since Your Highness has arranged for the military leadership.”

“…That’s not a bad idea.”

Raphael lowered his utensils and said, “As expected, you know that my parents are going through a divorce.”

“……”

Cayena was rarely so unsettled.

It was fairly difficult to pretend ignorance for something you knew. This was especially the case when the information was not very important.

“I’m not saying this to interrogate you.”

Cayena knew that, too. She just had the feeling that Raphael shouldn’t be underestimated.

“I realized that Your Highness is a pacifist whose first priority is your own safety.”

It was a fairly roundabout description of Cayena.

“You’re also someone who isn’t afraid to take drastic actions to counter any threats.”

“You seem to have observed me quite a bit.”

“You effectively reward and punish people, and you make decisions so quickly that it’s sometimes incomprehensible.”

It was because she already had the answer sheets.

“I don’t understand why such a sensible person like you insists on trying to tie me to Miss Olivia.”

“That’s…”

Because the two of them were fated to be together. Cayena knew that for a fact.

She knew it like she knew how Duke and Duchess Kedrey were getting a divorce. But because she had that knowledge, she mistakenly took things for granted.

Cayena acknowledged that she had been acting excessively.

“I went too far. I apologize.”

Then, she sincerely added, “There wasn’t any other intention in my words. I only thought that the two of you suited each other very well.”

She had overlooked that it may come across as her being intrusive.

That was right. Things would work out between them anyway, so she shouldn’t interfere.

‘Let’s just focus on protecting Olivia from Rezef.’

Cayena looked apologetically at Raphael and hesitated. He was looking at her with a subdued expression.

After that, the meal went on quietly.

Cayena could barely taste the food as she retraced her mistakes.

Should she not have mentioned Olivia?

Yes, that could have been her mistake. It was rude to keep trying to matchmake two people who didn’t know each other well.

‘But…’

They should have felt that they were fated from their first meeting.

In the novel, when Raphael grabbed Olivia’s hand while escorting her, he was strangely not disgusted by the contact.

That was the first occasion in which he felt Olivia was special.

‘Then, did Raphael feel distressed when he held her hand, like he does with everyone else?’

Could it be that the story had been modified?

‘Did their situation change because I altered so many things from my original life?’

It was frustrating. She could only speculate; she had no clear answers.

It wasn’t as if she could openly ask him, “Did you feel creeped out when you held Olivia’s hand?”.

Her hands became slower and slower.

Even in her original life, she hadn’t eaten enough to take care of her body. After returning, she had forced herself to swallow down the food in order to become stronger. Thanks to this, she was able to eat some more now, but she still felt uncomfortable when she ate a lot.

Now, even though she ate only half of what she normally used to, she couldn’t eat more.

She already felt bloated as her mind was worried about too many things.

However, thinking about Raphael’s sincerity, she kept pushing food into her mouth.

If she, the princess, ate very little and put down her utensils, her intentions could be misconstrued.

At the end of the meal, Cayena sent a waiter to call for Olivia and the knight.

“Let’s return to the academy now.”

The atmosphere in the carriage as they went back was atypical. Olivia subtly tried to figure out the situation.

Did the two of them have a fight? But Olivia couldn’t imagine them arguing at all.

Upon returning to the imperial academy, they discussed the purpose of the building with the senior management, completed the paperwork, and notarized it.

“What happened to those violent students?”

When Cayena asked the principal what he had done with the students who had attacked Ethel, he informed her that he had decided to suspend them.

The academy had been turned upside down because the gang of students who tried to beat up Ethel was punished.

The fact that the princess had intervened in the matter also quickly spread.

The students began to wonder if the reason Princess Cayena visited the academy was to protect her half-brother, Ethel.

Cayena wanted to return to the palace and rest. Perhaps her stomach was upset, as her fingers were cold and her head hurt.

She instructed a servant to hand over the pouch containing the documents to Raphael’s attendant.

“This is the letter of appointment for you to take over the military rule of the western duchy.”

Raphael glanced at the pouch.

“Then, goodbye.”

Cayena headed for the carriage without even waiting for him to say farewell.

Only Olivia hurriedly said goodbye in his direction and followed after Cayena.

While Raphael watched her retreating form, he roughly ran his hand through his hair.

***

Cayena thought it felt a little easier to breathe now that she was out of Raphael’s sight.

The coachman who was waiting in front of the carriage asked politely,

“Are you returning to the palace?”

“Yes.”

Cayena was about to get onto the carriage, but she hesitated.

Something was weird.

‘Is this the same coachman as before?’

~~~

[PR] Thank you so much for the kind wishes. I’m grateful for working on this novel along with Thurs, it has so many extraordinary readers. Also, I want to thank Thurs and you (once again) for existing and taking me in as PR.