41. I Don’t Like That You Rely on My Sister-in-Law

The emperor, who could no longer stand the quiet whispers circulating in high society, decided to find the source of the rumors. It was none other than Grand Duke Randolph, Melchizedek — Berken’s younger brother.

“Is something wrong, Melki?”

Melchizedek, lying sprawled on the couch with a disinterested expression, shook his head.

“Why would you think something’s wrong?”

Berken couldn’t understand why his brother was pretending nothing was going on. So he answered honestly.

“Because since Riana’s birthday, you haven’t been hanging out with Princess Blanche at all.”

Melchizedek sighed and shut the book he had been reading.

“People sure love to talk about others.”

“That’s no surprise.”

Berken sat on the armrest of the couch and started stroking his brother’s hair. Aside from slight differences in their facial features, the brothers looked nearly identical — even their hair color and texture were the same.

“You don’t like Princess Blanche?”

Melchizedek quietly murmured, resting his head against his brother.

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then why?”

Melchizedek kept his mouth firmly shut. Well, if he were going to answer honestly, Berken wouldn’t have needed to come ask him directly.

Despite not properly debuting in society yet, Melchizedek was surprisingly well aware of social dynamics.

“Melki, if you don’t like Princess Blanche, there’s no need to keep her by your side. I can always switch her out for someone else.”

It was because of Melchizedek that Berken had taken an interest in Blanche from the start.

Though Riana and Latcia had also taken notice of Blanche, she could just remain the darling of the Empress and Empress Dowager. There was no need for her to be Melchizedek’s companion if it was inconvenient.

“It’s not that.”

But Melchizedek shook his head with his eyes closed.

“It’s just… something emotional happened. I need some time alone to think. It’s not Princess Blanche’s fault.”

One month — long enough for people to gossip, but also short enough that if Melchizedek and Blanche reconciled, the rumors would quickly die down. It would just be seen as kids having a small fight.

Melchizedek hoped Berken would treat it as such. That the kids had a trivial quarrel and were only temporarily apart.

But Berken was persistent.

“Even if it’s not her fault.”

Berken’s hand gently stroked Melchizedek’s hair — a touch reserved for only two people in the world.

“You don’t have to endure it, my dear brother.”

Melchizedek opened his eyes and looked up at his brother who spoke those harsh words with a kind voice. If he were to agree to that here, what would become of Blanche? If she had never been involved, it might not matter, but what if she was pushed out after once being a playmate?

The empire’s nobles would see Blanche as nothing more than Riana’s pet.

So here was the question: had Blanche’s behavior really annoyed Melchizedek enough for that? He seriously thought about it and came to a conclusion.

“No, even after thinking it over, it’s not that. Princess Blanche is a friend I like. It’s just…”

Melchizedek hesitated. Saying it aloud felt too childish and wounded his pride.

“I was the one who first offered to find a fencing instructor for her. But she asked my sister-in-law instead, and that kind of upset me. But it’s not a big deal — I wasn’t planning to teach her myself or had a particular instructor in mind. Even if I’d been left to decide, I’d have come to the same conclusion. So, this is really just my mood issue.”

Berken’s hand stopped its gentle stroking. That was indeed a childish thing to say. Melchizedek’s face flushed with embarrassment, and he squeezed his eyes shut.

But instead of a voice of disbelief, what returned was laughter.

“What? You were jealous?”

Caught off guard, Melchizedek immediately opened his eyes to deny it.

“That’s not true.”

But Berken wasn’t listening.

“Ahaha, I thought it was a bit disappointing that this was the only thing we could communicate about. But you’ve gotten pretty close, haven’t you? I’ve got a good eye for people, after all — see?”

Melchizedek didn’t scold Berken for pretending not to know Blanche before hearing about her from Riana. Something more urgent was on his mind.

“No, I’m telling you it’s really not that. Blanche and I don’t have a relationship where jealousy would even make sense.”

“Alright, alright, let’s just say that’s true.”

“It’s not a ‘let’s just say’ kind of thing—”

Melchizedek was about to say that it was different from the epic love story Berken and Riana had since they were five, but seeing Berken’s expression, he changed his strategy.

“Even leaving feelings aside, there’s no reason for it. Princess Blanche knows her place well. She might like my sister-in-law more, but she’s not dumb enough to forget that I’m the priority. She knows very well that I’m number one, so what jealousy could there be?”

Being loved by Riana or Latcia was just a bonus. It was Melchizedek who was making Blanche the empire’s next rising star in society.

So Blanche would thoroughly prioritize Melchizedek. If he told her not to take lessons from Riana, she would obey.

Knowing all that, what jealousy could there be? It was nonsense.

“Jealousy isn’t just about losing number one, you know.”

Despite Melchizedek’s perfectly logical argument, Berken didn’t seem to want to listen.

“Jealousy is also worrying that your share in someone’s life might shrink. That’s jealousy too, Melki.”

“…Fine, let’s say that’s true.”

At this point, whatever he said would just be taken as childish stubbornness, so Melchizedek gave up on trying to persuade his brother. Well, he no longer cared if he was misunderstood.

“Then go and tell her.”

“Telling her what? Whether it’s jealousy or not, it’s just my mood problem.”

“You said it yourself, Blanche knows her position well. Then, from the point of view of a six-year-old who knows her place very well, which would be better: you showing that you’re upset but staying silent, or honestly telling her what bothers you?”

Melchizedek closed his mouth and thought about it. Berken’s point was valid.

That day, Blanche had already noticed that Melchizedek was upset. She had left telling him not to worry and hadn’t come back for a month. Even for a precocious child, it was understandable to be concerned.

“Okay, I’ll do it. But not because I want anything from Princess Blanche. I just think it would make her feel more comfortable knowing the situation.”

Knowing Berken’s decisiveness well, Melchizedek added firmly:

“I’ll handle it, so don’t pressure Blanche unnecessarily, brother.”

“Of course.”

Berken smiled broadly, though his expression didn’t inspire much trust.

“I’ll just drop a hint to Riana. That should be enough, right?”

It wasn’t perfect, but better than nothing. Riana wouldn’t rush to pressure Blanche before a conclusion was reached.

“Alright, then let’s do it that way.”

After coming to an agreement, Melchizedek would talk to Blanche, and Berken to Riana. The brothers moved accordingly.

Melchizedek had originally planned to visit Blanche himself. But after thinking it over, since he hadn’t come around for a month, Blanche probably assumed he wouldn’t visit anytime soon and would have made plans accordingly. She could be meeting someone now.

So he sent a message to Jasper Palace, asking her to come see him when she was free. Unlike what he expected — maybe the next day — Blanche came immediately. The sun was already setting.

“Long time no see, Your Highness.”

Not much had changed in a month; Blanche looked exactly the same as he remembered — small, doll-like, pretty, and still with that emotionless expression. Melchizedek had worried she might be upset, but it seemed she wasn’t.

“Yes, it has been a while. Have you been well?”

“Thanks to your concern, I have.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Just as he had felt speaking to Berken, explaining his strange feelings out loud made his mouth dry. But since he had left her alone without a word for a month, some explanation was the least he owed her. He cleared his throat and began.

“Do you remember our last conversation a month ago?”

“I remember any conversation I have with Your Highness.”

Blanche answered immediately, and Melchizedek couldn’t help but smile. If she’d said it slyly, he might have let it pass, but her serious expression made it amusing.

“Yes. At that time, I was vague with my words, but now that it’s taken longer than I thought to sort out my feelings, I thought I should explain properly — that’s why I called you.”

Blanche continued to listen quietly with a serious expression. Melchizedek licked his lips once and spoke frankly.

“I don’t like that you rely on my sister-in-law.”