43. No matter how long you give trust and pour affection

Berken was the one who suggested moving the conversation to the Empress’s palace since the discussion was likely to get lengthy.

“Then I’ll step out so you can talk comfortably. I’ll take a walk around the grounds. Feel free to discuss whatever you want.”

Melchizedek had the thought that Berken’s walking route would probably pass by Jasper Palace, but he didn’t say anything. Apparently, Liana thought Berken was the same inside and out—a straightforward man.

“Blanche will soon start showing her face in society, so it’s best for the children to keep up their interaction. But having those gatherings always at the imperial palace will be difficult, so they’ll likely take place outside. Since there are no children in the Kaibrahan family, they can’t lead on that side.”

Looking at Jasper Palace’s actual condition, Melchizedek doubted it was even possible to hold a single party there, let alone regularly. They couldn’t reveal the Grand Duke’s residence, so that was out of the question. And using the banquet palace where the imperial family holds parties was too large in scale.

“There are no children in the Dowager Empress’s family either, so the Halheim family can’t help. How about simply asking Lady Martina?”

“Oh, you mentioned Blanche and Martina have become friendly? That sounds good. The Martina family has influence and is politically neutral. I know the Martina Viscount; should I ask him?”

“No, Sister-in-law, you should ask the Kaibrahan family. I’ll ask the Dowager Empress.”

Melchizedek hastily stopped Liana, who was casually making statements that would horrify Rachia if she heard them.

They had just succeeded in introducing Blanche at a banquet they held themselves, and now Liana was directly involving the Martina family in addition to Kaibrahan’s? Rachia would collapse from shock immediately.

“Is that so? I’m sorry for assigning so many tasks to you.”

“No, you’re just going along with my insistence. I have to do something too.”

She really had to do something. If she wanted the power balance between the Empress Dowager and the Empress, which Blanche had spent three years sorting out, not to be wasted.

Still, Liana was willingly leaving power in Rachia’s hands because she simply wasn’t interested in power itself. Knowing that, Melchizedek just hoped Liana would continue to be disinterested in power for at least the next ten years.

“─Then shall we wrap this up? Are you going to bed now?”

Melchizedek glanced at the clock. There was still some time before bedtime, and Berken hadn’t returned yet. He wasn’t sure if the conversation with Blanche was taking longer or what, but he decided to buy some time.

Until Berken came back, he thought he’d better keep Liana’s attention focused and relaxed his previously stiff posture.

“Sis.”

It was a title he hadn’t used in a long time. Since Liana married Berken, he had never called her that. Hearing it brought old memories to mind, and Liana smiled gently, stroking Melchizedek’s head.

“Yes, Melki.”

Melchizedek mumbled, still leaning on the table. Sometimes it felt strangely comforting to act childish in front of Liana, who wasn’t related by blood, more than with Rachia or Berken, who were.

He didn’t know why that was, since Liana wasn’t easier or more lenient with him. It was a mystery.

“You said before I was born, your engagement with Brother nearly fell apart.”

“That’s right.”

Liana didn’t even flinch as she continued stroking his hair. She was speaking of the one and only crisis she had experienced in her life.

“You also wanted to break off the engagement then, didn’t you?”

“Yes. Because I thought it was impossible for me to become Empress.”

But Berken didn’t even listen to Liana. The engagement remained, and Liana became Empress.

She became the most noble woman in the empire. Though it wasn’t a position she particularly desired, the fact that Berken wanted to give it to her meant a great deal.

“What do you think would have happened if Brother had listened to you and canceled the engagement?”

The answer was easy. Liana had thought about that situation many times. If Berken had given up his stubbornness. If he had listened to everyone else. What would have changed?

The conclusion was always the same.

“Probably not much. Even if we hadn’t married and I hadn’t become Empress, I wouldn’t have stopped loving Berken.”

Her voice was light, but the meaning was not. It wasn’t something to say to an eight-year-old. Melchizedek just tilted his head with no troubled expression.

“Did it trouble you then?”

“Very much so.”

The Crown Prince was infertile, and the heir’s status was in jeopardy. To add an infertile Crown Princess was unbelievable.

At that time, when Berken was stubborn, those who couldn’t dare rebuke the Crown Prince pressured the Kaibrahan family, which became a burden on Liana. Though the Kaibrahan family shielded her, she couldn’t help but feel the pressure.

“But I’m glad Berken didn’t give in to stubbornness, so we stayed together.”

Liana was confident. Even if they hadn’t married, Berken would have loved her his whole life, and she him. She would have been his loyal knight commander by his side, and Berken would have had her loyalty.

Still, it was better to express one’s feelings. In that sense, Liana was grateful Berken never gave up.

Melchizedek, who had been staring at Liana, muttered gloomily.

“I think I want Princess Blanche to be like Brother was then.”

“Huh?”

“Not just blindly following orders, but having her own will and standing up for something.”

Of course, Berken and Blanche were different. Berken was stubborn about their relationship, and that stubbornness ultimately helped Liana. What Melchizedek wanted from Blanche was just simple stubbornness—not comparable.

Still, he hoped Blanche would throw that kind of tantrum. Even if it didn’t benefit him, and even if it wasn’t based on love.

He thought it would be good if everyone in the world, even the other person, could stubbornly resist something to the point it made them uncomfortable—and not think the other would get tired of them.

“Oh my.”

Liana’s eyes softened, seemingly misunderstanding.

“You really are just like Berken. It’s funny when siblings resemble each other this much.”

They weren’t alike at all, and it was just Liana’s misunderstanding, but Melchizedek didn’t bother to deny it.

“Wait a bit longer. When Berken acted that stubborn, he’d already known me for ten years. Blanche’s only known you for three. To throw a tantrum, you have to trust the other person. Once Blanche knows how much you care for her, she’ll behave more willfully.”

Regarding Blanche, Liana’s advice was truly right. Melchizedek hadn’t given Blanche such absolute trust like Liana did. Expecting her to act like Berken was unrealistic.

But if it wasn’t about Blanche, if it was about the person Melchizedek overlapped Blanche with, then Liana was wrong.

No matter how much time passed, no matter how much affection was poured, that person never trusted Melchizedek.

How do you deal with someone who won’t trust you no matter how long you give them trust and affection? How do you solve a problem that time won’t fix?

But Melchizedek swallowed the question silently. What he wanted to ask wasn’t about Blanche.

The one who never believed in his affection was no longer around. Just as Blanche didn’t have to take responsibility for that, Liana didn’t have to explain for a person she didn’t even know.

“…Alright, I’ll wait and see.”

So he simply said that.

The Grand Duke really was quick to act. Saying he’d handle it himself, the Emperor came to see me in less than three hours.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

It really had been a while. It was also the first time since arriving at the empire that I met the Emperor without Liana or the Grand Duke present.

“I hope you’ve been well.”

I greeted him politely, and the Emperor waved his hand lightly.

“That’s enough, relax. We’re practically family now, aren’t we?”

Since I had no memory of becoming family, I answered politely.

“I’m more comfortable this way.”

“Boring.”

“Sorry.”

I didn’t intend to entertain the Emperor, but I apologized anyway. Ah, power—when you have it, it’s a hassle, but when you don’t, you miss it terribly.