#024. Even If You Don’t Know, Your Strengths Surely Exist
“…You. You didn’t believe me when I said my sister-in-law liked you, did you?”
His tone made me feel cornered, so I quickly made an excuse.
“No, I believe it. I just don’t understand what the Empress liking me has to do with Your Highness caring about me.”
The Archduke looked displeased, but it was still better than getting caught in a lie. I widened my eyes to appear as innocent as possible. After all, this body had a fairly decent appearance. It might not work on adults, but it should have some effect.
“That’s what I’m saying. Why would she favor a child like you? If it were me, I wouldn’t.”
I hesitated for a moment. Should I pretend to be hurt? Or should I just admit it honestly? After thinking it over, I decided the latter would work better on him. The Archduke was unusually sharp for a five-year-old. He read people well and disliked pretentiousness.
So, I answered honestly.
“I was thinking the same thing.”
I could understand that this body looked harmless and cute, but loving a living being is different from adoring a porcelain doll.
If it were just about cuteness and harmlessness, it’d be better to get a doll and fawn over that. I’m not even truly three years old, so I’m not innocent or endearing.
I know how to flatter, but I’ve never done it properly, so she can’t be fond of me because of that.
“I thought… the Empress was kind to me because she wanted me to be Your Highness’ playmate.”
Given that I can’t use my full abilities right now, my only appeal is that I’m quite advanced for a three-year-old—just enough to suit the precocious Archduke.
That’s my strength. Something that neither genuinely lovable nor innocent children, nor those born into prestigious families, can replicate.
It’s also something that could make even the Emperor take an interest in me.
“But Your Highness is saying the Empress genuinely cares for me?”
At this point, the Archduke didn’t seem angry—just dumbfounded. Well, that was better than rage.
“…Let me put it this way. Just the fact that you didn’t cry in front of her is enough reason for her to care about you.”
“Cry…?”
You mean normal kids, not clueless infants? They cried in front of someone so kind and gentle? I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
“Yeah. Among all the kids under ten, only you and I haven’t cried after meeting her.”
Ah, so that’s why.
Now I understood why the Empress was so surprised when I asked to sit next to her at the tea party.
Ten years old… That’s old enough not to be considered a toddler. Even for commoners, that’s not an age to cry easily. If such children cried, doesn’t that mean she exudes murderous energy on a daily basis?
It was a fatal mistake, even if I made it unknowingly.
“I didn’t know.”
I said it with complete sincerity. Had I known, I would’ve taken a different approach.
“Yeah, you really didn’t. You’re the first one to call her kind and gentle, you know.”
The Archduke sounded genuinely astonished.
“Anyway, even if you don’t know, your strengths still exist. You don’t understand everyone, so why do you dismiss others’ feelings just because you don’t get them?”
I was at a loss for words. I couldn’t tell him the truth.
The reason I think, “There’s no way people can love me,” or “It’s strange for someone to care for me,” is because of my past life. In my previous life, Yi Baek-ryeon had never received unprompted affection.
The Archduke’s question was valid. It’s unusual for a normal three-year-old to search for reasons behind affection. That kind of mindset only develops after years of emotional resignation.
So I couldn’t explain why I was trying to find reasons behind the Empress’s affection. I stayed silent, unable to answer, and the Archduke seemed to think I was intimidated. He graciously changed the subject.
“So. How’s the mango juice? Does it suit your taste?”
“Yes. The fruit is fresh—it’s tangy and refreshing.”
It was a much easier question to answer, so I responded quickly. The Archduke chuckled and lightly tapped his glass. Since the table was wide, he probably couldn’t reach mine.
“The only reason I came here today was because of that. The Empress repeatedly asked me to treat you well. So, since I made the time, I figured I’d take you somewhere nice and feed you something good. It wasn’t because I had anything particular to say.”
It’s hard to trust affection when it’s been 65 years of habit not to. Just because one person—like the Empress—loves me without a reason doesn’t mean I can suddenly change how I feel. At least not while I still have the consciousness of Yi Baek-ryeon.
“…You said you’d be taking a gift back to the Empress later, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Would it be alright if I delivered it to her instead?”
Even so, I don’t want to live like Yi Baek-ryeon did. I don’t want to end up giving my all, only to be discarded and die alone.
If so, then maybe I should start learning how to be loved for no reason.
“She’ll be pleased. Go ahead.”
The Archduke smiled faintly and handed me a small chocolate plaque from the top of the ganache cake. I quietly held out my plate and received it.
Scene Change
“Oh my. I’ve been wanting to visit this place! How thoughtful of you!”
As the Archduke predicted, the Empress was delighted. Even though he ordered the food, paid for it, and the knights carried the box the whole way, I simply handed it to her at the door—and still, she praised me.
“The princess is so considerate.”
Even though he did everything, the Archduke smiled like it was no big deal. I guess he didn’t mind me getting the credit. He probably just wanted to maintain a close relationship with the Empress.
It seemed he prioritized staying in her good graces over showing off his own achievements.
So, I figured I should go along with his intent and act endearing toward the Empress. I twiddled my fingers shyly and said,
“The food was yummy, and it made me think of Your Majesty.”
“Oh my.”
The Archduke usually despised baby talk, but he didn’t say anything—maybe because the Empress looked like she was dying from the cuteness.
“Come to think of it, you haven’t eaten yet, right? Would you like to join us for a meal before you go?”
“Ah, n-no. I was just—”
“Hey! Tell the kitchen to prepare another meal for Princess Blanche.”
I was about to decline—since joining someone else’s family dinner uninvited felt inappropriate—but the Emperor acted faster than I could. Unlike the Empress, who asked my opinion, he made the decision without consulting me.
“…Thank you.”
Honestly, I was going to say no because I didn’t want to look shameless, but since they were being so insistent, there was no need to refuse. I quietly sat back down.
The previous meal was more like a formal presentation where I was introduced to the Archduke as a playmate candidate. But this meal—it felt like an actual, casual family dinner.
Because I was joining an already scheduled family meal, the Emperor and Empress seemed at ease. Even the Archduke, who normally acted all cynical around me, behaved like the child he was.
Seeing them so relaxed made an old question pop into my mind again:
How exactly do the Emperor and Empress view the Archduke?
