***
“Call a doctor!”
Vera poured the cold water on Cayena’s arm.
Cayena grimaced at the pain. Fortunately, the burn was not severe because the pie only touched her briefly before falling.
Lydia prostrated herself on the floor and begged Cayena for forgiveness.
“I’ve committed a crime worthy of death! Please forgive me, Your Highness!”
It was a felony to put even the tiniest scar on the body of one of the Imperial family.
But to burn the only princess of the Imperial family—the apology wouldn’t be enough even if Lydia was immediately flogged.
“Lydia! You’ve gone insane!”
“Enough.”
Cayena stopped Vera.
“I needlessly shocked you all greatly. It was my fault for not explaining that the pie must be cooled first, so there’s no need to do this.”
How could it be Cayena’s fault? It was ridiculous.
Then, the doctor came running in, panting.
“The doctor has arrived, Your Highness!”
Cayena showed her red arm to the doctor. It was a bit painful, but otherwise in a good condition.
“It should be fine if you just apply ointment for a few days.”
Everyone was inwardly relieved at those words.
“I’m glad that it is only a light burn.”
It may not have been a big burn, but this incident was not something to go over lightly.
However, Cayena kindly comforted Lydia.
“You must have been very surprised, Lydia.”
“I, I am undeserving…”
“It’s all right. You’re still young, so of course you may sometimes make mistakes.”
‘Lydia is the same age as Her Highness.’
Vera’s head hurt, as if it was slightly throbbing.
“Since we’ve already prepared it, I can at least split the remaining pie in half and send it to Rezef.”
Cayena saw that the remaining pie had cooled, and she ordered it to be prepared with other refreshments.
The kitchen servants were deeply moved by her calmness and magnanimity.
“This is for you, as I promised.”
The head chef received the slice with both hands, admiring Cayena’s tolerant attitude during the madness.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Cayena also told the ladies-in-waiting, “Everyone must have been very surprised, so take Lydia with you and go rest.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
Vera handled the rest of the situation and took Cayena to her bedroom.
“Lydia will not repent her actions, Your Highness.”
Vera had been patient with the court ladies’ poor management, but she couldn’t bear it today.
“Why are you so generous to them?” she asked. She sighed as she looked down at Cayena’s arm, wrapped up in gauze.
Cayena smiled softly at Vera’s worried words and held her hand.
“I thought you’d know that I wasn’t really giving them a pass out of goodwill.”
Vera hesitated at the remark.
‘I did think that it seemed almost planned, but…’
She felt chills when Cayena confirmed her guess.
“Have you not been observing me until now?”
“…!”
Vera was speechless.
How did Cayena know? Was she that obvious?
Vera calmed her mind and voice. “…Forgive my ignorance, but I don’t understand what you mean, Your Highness.”
Cayena had a skeptical look on her face, as if she was asking, ‘Really?’
Vera gulped. Her mouth had turned dry. Then—
“Your Highness, the snacks are ready. What would you like us to do?” asked a maid as she entered the room.
Cayena gave Vera a mission, as if she was testing how she would act now.
“Go deliver the refreshments to Rezef.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
Vera accepted the order with a complicated expression.
***
Rezef hadn’t had an appetite since breakfast.
“…I’m tired.”
Recently, many aristocrats have been visiting the capital and Rezef also had to keep Archduke Heinrich in check. There had been many things to pay attention to.
“What’s my sister doing now?” he asked his adjutant. It had almost become like a habit.
“The last report stated that she was heading to the kitchen in her palace.”
As he did not have time to meet Cayena while dealing with all the visitors, Rezef asked about her more than a dozen times each day.
Thanks to this, Zenon was confident that he knew the whereabouts of Cayena better than anyone else in the city.
Rezef tilted his head when he heard about her unexpected location.
“The kitchen?”
He didn’t see how the place could possibly be of interest to Cayena.
“What is she doing there?”
“I didn’t receive any detailed reports because the ladies-in-waiting were busy serving Her Highness.”
‘What is she doing in the kitchen?’
Rezef was curious.
The person he was most curious about these days was Cayena.
She had completely changed since she collapsed from drinking poison.
And it was Rezef himself who was benefiting from the change. In particular, there were many benefits he gained from preparing for Cayena’s coming-of-age ceremony.
The deep-seated, stubborn nobles had begun to move, thinking they had a chance of becoming a part of the Imperial family.
Anyway, Cayena was the only princess of the Imperial family, and her value had increased recently as well. Rezef had been able to take advantage of the situation.
Actually, there were many other positive things apart from the political advantages that had come about from her change.
Without him noticing, Cayena had grown up, and his stomach was calmed when he was beside her.
He thought she was just a foolish and beautiful doll, but he was wrong.
Rezef was surprised to realize that spending time with Cayena was more enjoyable than he expected.
Since when did she have such an influence over him?
But it wasn’t as if that was bad. It was just about the level where it would be a shame to see her leave when she married.
“One of Her Highness’s ladies-in-waiting has arrived. What should we do with her?”
He waved his hand at the aide’s words, telling him to let her in.
Soon Vera came into the drawing room.
“I greet His Imperial Highness.”
“That’s enough.”
He showed uncharacteristic favor for her by allowing her to skip the unnecessary procedures and salutations
It was not because of Vera herself, but rather because she was someone that Cayena had sent.
Vera thanked him quickly and handed over the silver platter in her hand to Evans.
“This is a snack prepared by the Princess herself.”
Rezef scrunched his eyebrows in confusion at Vera’s explanation.
“…My sister? Herself?”
“Yes.”
What did this mean?
Zenon widened his eyes at the unexpected words. This was suspicious.
He heard that she went to the kitchen, but that she made snacks? That was almost unbelievable.
“Bring it here.”
Zenon put the platter on the table. The subtle scent of apple pie arose when he lifted the cover.
The maid who followed Vera here had also brought over cookies, scones, jam, and buttercream. The teapot was still warm.
Rezef felt an unknown warmth.
“This apple pie was handmade by Her Highness.”
Rezef observed the apple pie with doubtful eyes. To begin with, it looked alright. The smell was fine as well.
“My sister really made this?”
“Yes.”
Vera’s calm answer made him stare at the apple pie and then quickly take a bite.
Zenon, who was about to test for poison with a silver needle, startled.[1]
“Your Highness!”
He should know what sort of things could be slipped into the food—but he just ate it without any caution!
Moreover, the opponent was Princess Cayena.
Evans had been quite wary of Cayena, whose intentions have been unclear lately.
But Rezef did not care about any of that. He was just surprised to find that the food was more palatable than he thought.
He had no appetite since the morning, but the moderately fresh and not-too-sweet taste stimulated his appetite.
“What is this scent? Not the apple. I rather like it.”
Though it was an apple pie, there was a peculiar fragrance to it.
Vera explained by his side. “Her Highness put in cinnamon.”
“Ah, cinnamon.”
He liked cinnamon, with its slightly bitter taste and aroma.
His nerves, which had been a little sharp with fatigue, softened. It was funny that one snack could make him feel this relaxed.
By his side, Vera poured some warm honey tea. Then, she dipped a silver teaspoon she had prepared into the cup. There was no change.
“Did my sister have this kind of talent?”
Rezef ate two slices of pie and then smiled contentedly.
He had some free time now, so he wanted to have tea with Cayena.
“What is my sister doing now?”
Vera couldn’t answer straight away.
She broached the topic carefully.
“…Actually, there had been an accident in the kitchen.”
Rezef, who was wiping his hands on a moist napkin, froze.
He laid down the napkin and stared at Vera.
“Accident?”
“One of the ladies-in-waiting accidentally spilled a pie on Her Highness’s arm and burned her.”
The words made Rezef’s eyes turn cold.
~~~
[1] Silver has historically been used to detect poisons such as arsenic as the metal tarnishes in the presence of sulfides. It’s definitely not a catch-all, but it can help detect one of the most common poisons.