LLTEEFM 29

#029. Princess Blanche Was a Child Worth Watching

The conversation with the Empress Dowager continued late into the night.

“Liana wants to present the Princess to imperial society.”
“That’s something to be grateful for.”

If I could live quietly as if I didn’t exist, that would be best. But with three out of the four royal family members already entangled with me, that was clearly impossible. So debuting in high society was inevitable—I murmured indifferently.

“Yes, I too support the idea of introducing her to society. After all, the Princess is Melki’s first chosen friend. If we keep her hidden away, it will only spark strange rumors.”

So she agrees with the idea ‘in principle.’ That means she has objections about other aspects.

“Then, Your Majesty, do you wish to introduce me personally?”

The Empress Dowager smiled kindly.

“That’s right. But it can’t be right now.”

Of course. She’s three years old. What kind of debutante enters society at three? Even the current hostage social gatherings I rebranded as “friendly get-togethers” are too much for a toddler.

But the fact that she pointed out something so obvious made me feel uneasy. Just in case, I asked carefully.

“…Surely Her Majesty the Empress wasn’t planning to present me right away?”

The Empress Dowager’s smile deepened. Ah, so she was.

I lowered my gaze silently.

“You’ve probably guessed some of this already. The Empress… she grew up very sheltered. She was showered with love in a noble family, and because she’s quite talented, she’s never once encountered true obstacles. So she doesn’t really understand concepts like ‘waiting for the right time’ or ‘assessing the situation.’ She just finds the Princess unbearably cute and wants to show her off to everyone she knows.”

After hearing this assessment of the Empress, I couldn’t help but wonder how she’d manage running the palace later. Eventually, she would need to take over that responsibility.

At first glance, she seemed like the counterbalance to the potentially tyrannical Emperor—but now it felt like they were just two of a kind.

“Typically here, debutantes are introduced at around age 17. Sometimes as early as 15. If a direct royal attends a party, it’s permitted to bring children of a similar age to socialize—but that doesn’t count as a formal debut. So if the Princess attends now, it’ll just be dressed up as something else.”

The Empress Dowager paused and let out a long sigh.

“But right now, everyone thinks the Empress was the one who handed the Princess over to the Grand Duke. If she appears at a party now, every noble will assume she’s in the Empress’s faction.”

In truth, it was the Emperor who decided to give me to the Grand Duke, but I kept my mouth shut. Silence is golden.

“So I’d prefer if the Princess could lie low for a year or two. Until everyone forgets that the Empress handed her over to the Grand Duke. In the meantime, I’ll work on highlighting my own relationship with the Princess. Until she’s seen as someone with ties to the broader royal family—not just the Empress. —Then I’ll present her at a party I host.”

In that case, I had a suggestion. Coincidentally, the Empress Dowager’s goals aligned fairly well with the plan I had been envisioning.

Feigning hesitation, I put on a thoughtful expression.

“Ah, then… how about in three years?”

“Three years?”

“Yes.”

I met her gaze directly. Her golden eyes, which might seem soft and delicate at first glance, shimmered with ambition—an unmistakable lust for power.

I’d seen eyes like those often in my previous life. Not the kind that desired riches or glory through power—but those that craved power itself.

Perhaps the age I was when I reached the rank of Commander-in-Chief? If things had gone as they originally had, I’d still be wielding power. Too young to leave the stage, just as this body is too young to enter it.

“By chance, I came across a fine young colt. I thought it would be a perfect tribute to Her Majesty the Empress. But it needs about three years to mature.”

She’s on stage now. I’m still preparing to step onto it. We both want to hold out as long as possible from where we stand.

I laid out my plan as though to a co-conspirator—the one royal who might truly empathize with me.

“Three years from now, Your Majesty will personally host a birthday celebration for Her Majesty the Empress. I hear you’re currently overseeing the palace affairs. At that party, I’ll present the horse myself.”

I’ll be six then. No one would think a six-year-old raised and trained a horse herself, so it would appear as though the Empress Dowager used the child the Empress adores to gift the horse indirectly.

That would help dispel suspicions that they are at odds.

The Empress Dowager seemed to understand what I wasn’t saying, her gaze filled with interest.

“Liana may not have introduced her knowing all this… but the Princess really is similar to Melki.”

A remark that only deepened my suspicion that the Grand Duke might also be a reincarnator. Should I prepare a fake identity in case he sees through me? “Yi Baekryeon” would draw too much attention if used openly.

“Very well, let’s go with the Princess’s suggestion. We’ll introduce her at Liana’s birthday party in three years.”

“Then I’ll be sure to visit often so we can coordinate preparations.”

This would naturally show off the closeness between the Empress Dowager and me.

“Yes. And perhaps using the Princess as an excuse, the three of us—the Empress, you, and I—can meet together. It’s important to temper public opinion.”

At this rate, despite officially being the Grand Duke’s playmate, I might end up spending more time with the Empress and Empress Dowager instead.

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

I knew it was rude to end a conversation without being dismissed, but this body could only endure so much. I bowed deeply out of respect.

Perhaps because she had a child of similar age, the Empress Dowager didn’t take offense.

“Ahaha, yes. It’s time for children to sleep. I’ll order an escort to see you back to the palace.”

“Thank you for your kindness.”

I expressed my heartfelt thanks and stood up. At least this meant I wouldn’t have to meet anyone new for a while.

*

After the child left, Rachia sat alone in the room, slowly reflecting on their conversation. Those steady black eyes, the calm voice, and the round cheeks that didn’t quite match it all.

Then she let out a small laugh.

“Now I understand why Melki chose that child as his friend.”

Indeed, Princess Blanche was a child worth keeping an eye on.

*

I truly thought this matter was settled now. The schedule being pushed back three years didn’t just buy time—it meant I could plan around that timeline.

Ever since coming to the Empire, I’d been in a constant state of alert, unsure of what disaster might strike the very next day.

With three years of breathing room guaranteed, I could refocus—not just on Tula’s education, but on my own development. I could be more careful, make my behavior less suspicious, less “reincarnator-like.”

“Sorry about last time.”

But the morning after I took comfort in that thought, an unexpected guest arrived.

Her name was Fania Saint Martina—the Duke of Martina’s daughter. She was the one who complained about the lack of citrus fruits at the last tea party and ended up clashing with the Marquess Argonne’s daughter.

“After going home and thinking about it, I realized how rude I was. I felt it was only right to apologize in person.”

I rubbed my forehead.

“Don’t you think this is even more rude?”

There were plenty of issues with Lady Martina’s visit. First, she hadn’t sent notice a week in advance. In fact, she hadn’t even said she was coming. She just showed up. And at 10 in the morning, no less.

“You must’ve gotten up very early to be here at this hour.”

I was awake anyway—I usually wake around six.

But what if I had been a normal child? That’s a perfectly reasonable time to still be asleep. Who barges in unannounced at this hour to apologize? What kind of manners were these? Kids these days, honestly.

“Ah… sorry again. I just couldn’t wait when I thought about needing to apologize to you…”

I let out a short sigh, covering my face. How old was Lady Martina again? The kids at the tea party were all around the same age as the Grand Duke, maybe a year older at most. So she couldn’t be more than seven.

“I can’t seriously get angry at a seven-year-old…”

She might even be five. A complete baby.

At the tea party, I made her cry on purpose, but this time I had no reason. And I certainly wasn’t in a position to discipline her.

I rubbed my face in frustration and sighed deeply.

“Uh… should I just go…?”

Where did the little brat who threw a tantrum over fruit go?

Lady Martina fidgeted nervously. Ah, if things had gone differently, I really might’ve had a granddaughter that age. That thought made it harder to be cold. I suppressed my irritation and forced a kind smile.

“Why don’t you stay for a meal? It would be rude to send a guest away empty-handed.”

I must’ve sounded pleasant enough, because Lady Martina’s face lit up.

While nibbling on sea bream, Fania peeked at Blanche across the table. Blanche was delicately eating small pieces of asparagus with her fork.

“You came here alone, didn’t you?”

“I did. If you mean whether I came with family, then yes, I’m alone.”

She answered calmly, but Fania didn’t quite believe her. How lonely she must be, coming here without family…

Fania hadn’t intended to apologize at all. Apologize? She should be apologizing to me, she thought. She humiliated me in front of everyone!

But after the tea party incident, Fania’s older sister had scolded her.

“Fania. I heard Princess Blanche came here all by herself. She’s only three years old. Imagine how scared and lonely she must feel without any family or allies around. Wouldn’t you act out too if everyone around you was hostile?”

That hadn’t even crossed Fania’s mind. To her, Blanche was just the annoying girl who stole the position she desperately wanted.

The Crown Prince Melki Zedek Georges Pendleton. Grand Duke Randolph. So many noble children coveted the position next to the future Emperor. In fact, it was harder to find one who didn’t.

And yet, the Grand Duke—who had never chosen a single companion—picked her as his first friend. Naturally, she became a target.

So Fania just wanted to tease her. Maybe make her pout or tear up a little. That’s probably all the others at the tea party wanted too.

But after hearing her sister’s words, she realized that might not have been how it felt from Blanche’s side. Maybe she thought everyone was ganging up on her. Maybe that’s why she reacted so strongly.

And once that occurred to her, the urge to apologize came rushing in. She hadn’t cared about the time—she just had to come.

“If you ever feel lonely, you’re welcome to visit our house anytime.”

“Huh?”

Blanche’s eyes widened just as she was about to take another bite of sea bream. She had seemed so scary at the tea party, but now she looked just like a regular child. Even younger than Fania, the youngest in the Martina household.

That made Blanche seem a little cuter, and Fania tilted her chin confidently.

“Well, the Grand Duke is a bit cold, isn’t he? If you ever need a playmate, just come over. I barged in today without notice, so you can do the same.”

Blanche paused with the sea bream halfway to her mouth, then suddenly burst into laughter.

“I’d be delighted to accept your kindness.”

Her laughter rang out, clear and bright like an autumn sky.