#040. You’re Right. There Are Things That Displease Me.
Surprisingly, just that one small action was enough to calm the horse right away.
“It was because of the shadow, huh…”
Berken, who had been tense as if he might leap up at any moment, relaxed and muttered to himself in a drained tone. He hadn’t said it to anyone in particular, but Riana responded with a grin.
“Very clever. It calmed down the moment it noticed the change.”
It was Blanche who interrupted again, her voice cutting in as she watched the now-calm horse.
Seeing the horse settle quickly made Riana’s smile deepen.
“Right? The temperament’s a little sensitive, but I thought it wouldn’t be a problem for Your Majesty. It’s intelligent and strong—truly the finest of horses.”
Riana glanced at the now-docile horse and the hem of her dress, a look of slight regret on her face.
“I’d love to ride it, but that’ll have to wait.”
“You’re welcome to ride it as much as you like after the banquet. Once again, happy birthday. I hope I’ve brought you some joy.”
Blanche’s tone suddenly took on a regal air, but everyone was too stunned by the scene unfolding to notice the subtle shift. Everyone, that is, except Melchisedec, who stood beside Blanche offering his arm. He turned his gaze from the horse to Blanche, clearly catching the change.
“You’ve brought me more joy than I can express.”
Riana’s tone, perhaps unintentionally influenced by Blanche’s, became more formal than usual—more like the Empress Dowager than herself.
In that formal tone, Riana asked Blanche:
“Then let me ask you: is there something you desire? I shall reward you.”
“Your Majesty’s joy is my own.”
A clever answer. Riana laughed aloud at Blanche’s flattery. Like a nightingale’s song, her clear laughter echoed into the air.
“Then would you grant me the honor of making your joy mine as well?”
A murmur spread through the nobles once more.
Riana, born the legitimate child of a ducal house, had become crown princess at a young age, and later, Empress. Her talents were beyond question.
And so, humility was never expected of her. Everyone being beneath her was simply natural. For her to speak so highly of someone like that—?
“If Your Majesty puts it that way…”
Whether she knew of the nobles’ stirring or not, Blanche tilted her head slightly, seemingly lost in thought. She seemed to be considering that refusing too firmly might itself be impolite.
“I would like to receive swordsmanship lessons from Your Majesty.”
The nobles, still reeling from what had just happened, were a beat late in realizing the bombshell Blanche had dropped.
“Huh?”
Even Riana, who had been focused on Blanche, didn’t grasp the meaning of her words right away. At her puzzled response, Blanche clearly repeated:
“I would like to be personally trained in swordsmanship by Your Majesty.”
Blanche had shocked the adults for the fourth time in under ten minutes.
Despite my concern that I’d have to spend the entire day alone with the Grand Duke, I was let off easily. The goal of presenting me to imperial society had already been achieved, and the Grand Duke excused me, saying there was no need to remain.
“Would you care for a cup of tea before you leave?”
It was a polite offer. I doubted he was truly thirsty after being at a party moments ago.
But the Grand Duke readily accepted my suggestion.
“Why not?”
I hadn’t expected such a positive response and was momentarily caught off guard, but I smiled naturally.
“Of course. This way, please. Toula, would you prepare some tea?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Toula, almost as if she had prepared in advance, quickly brought out the tea. After waiting a moment for it to cool, she poured it. The Grand Duke took a polite sip before diving straight into the real topic.
“So, I offered to find you a swordsmanship teacher, and you went and got one yourself?”
Though his tone was calm, I immediately straightened my posture. My life, figuratively speaking, was in this man’s hands. Even the Empress and the Empress Dowager wouldn’t protect me if the Grand Duke turned his back on me.
“I heard the suggestion rather suddenly. I didn’t have anything planned.”
“You didn’t prepare an answer in advance?”
The casual phrasing somehow felt like a veiled thorn.
“I didn’t plan it deliberately. I didn’t expect Her Majesty the Empress to be so pleased, either.”
“Oh? Even after setting up a situation that made her that happy?”
“Still, Her Majesty’s promises carry weight. I didn’t expect her to make one so lightly.”
A promise made in private is heavy enough. Who would expect her to make a public offer of her own accord in front of all those people?
I thought I’d at least get to ride that celestial horse before claiming a reward.
“So, this wasn’t a roundabout way of refusing?”
“Pardon?”
“I thought you were saying you didn’t need my help.”
The Grand Duke looked at me over his teacup, half his face obscured by it. I quickly shook my head in alarm. No matter how others viewed me—whether as part of the Empress Dowager’s faction or the Empress’s—I was, officially, still the Grand Duke’s playmate. I couldn’t afford to lose his favor.
“No, not at all. I’ve been considering your offer, just as you said.”
“Oh, good. I’m relieved.”
“…Was there a time limit on the offer?”
While it wouldn’t be a loss if I didn’t get his support, it would be a problem if he felt I’d ignored his proposal. But his answer was gentle:
“No, just don’t forget about it.”
That was all. As if he’d said all he wanted to, the Grand Duke sipped his tea with a calm face. It was like this conversation was over.
But something about it left a bitter taste. The Grand Duke had always been blunt—his words could usually be taken at face value. Still, I couldn’t shake my unease. I hesitated, then spoke cautiously.
“This may be presumptuous of me…”
The Grand Duke, cup still to his lips, gestured with his eyes for me to go on.
“Is there something you don’t like about me? If so, please tell me—I’ll fix it.”
His hand paused mid-air, holding the teacup. Maybe I’d asked a pointless question. But I chose to trust my instincts. I waited patiently until he finally spoke.
“No.”
“Did I misread you?”
“No, I meant there’s nothing you need to fix.”
His answer came a bit too quickly. I remained silent, letting him continue at his pace.
“You’re right. There is something that displeases me.”
Sipping his tea slowly, he continued.
“But it’s not your fault. It’s my own issue.”
Our eyes finally met after a long time. His blue gaze was firm, the strictness in his eyes directed not at me—but inward.
I admired that thoroughness. It’s rare for someone in power to be so strictly self-aware.
“So, don’t concern yourself with it any further. Thank you for the tea. Once I’ve sorted things out, we’ll speak again. I’ll likely skip this week’s teatime, so get some rest.”
The Grand Duke, having emptied his cup, stood and left.
Unlike him—who had emptied his tea without me even noticing—I still had half a cup left. I tilted back the cold tea and let my thoughts wander. The bitterness helped me focus.
“For now, I should honor His Grace’s wishes.”
Of course, it’s common sense not to take a superior’s words at face value. Every ruler says they dislike flattery, yet always keeps a sycophant close.
But that doesn’t mean you should just blindly flatter them either. That’s the tricky part. You have to read them well and flatter them the right way—in the direction they truly desire.
“The Grand Duke is even more fair-minded than I thought.”
Only eight years old, and already a crown prince. He had every reason to believe the world revolved around him. Yet here he was, trying to distinguish public from private, justice from bias.
“The Letaille Empire need not worry about its successor.”
The current Emperor might have his flaws, but with such a stable heir, his authoritarian rule might even be seen in a positive light. A charismatic emperor expands the empire, while a just emperor stabilizes it. That’s the rule of great empires.
“Well, if that’s how His Grace wishes it, I’ll wait.”
If he’s so determined to be fair, I should help make that happen. I’ll let him make his choice, and then support it—whatever it may be.
I emptied my teacup and rose from my seat. I had plans with Lady Martina tomorrow, so it wouldn’t hurt to return early and rest.
Three years had passed since Grand Duke Melchisedec Randolph took on his first “playmate.” In that time, he had visited Blanche’s palace at least once a week to spend time with her.
But for the past month, the Grand Duke had suddenly stopped visiting Jasper Palace. Coincidentally, it was right after Princess Blanche had made her debut in society.
What could it mean? Had all that bonding been nothing more than preparation before presenting Blanche to society? Was she simply the Empress and Empress Dowager’s chosen pawn, with no connection to the Grand Duke? And if so… what was Princess Blanche truly worth?
It was, on the surface, a small matter—but the entire aristocratic society had turned its attention to it.
