LLTEEFM 57

#057. It’s a Small Gesture, but From the Heart

“I’m glad to hear it suits your taste…”

When the meal, prepared right on time, was brought in, Lady Martina’s eyes sparkled as she unfolded the napkin over her lap.

“Ah, eating lunch outside like this makes me feel like such an adult. I’m so excited!”

Children always tried to imitate what adults did. Telling them to just act their age rarely worked, so instead of pushing back, I decided to play along.

“Then should I use that as an excuse to invite you more often?”

Coming up with convincing reasons was my specialty. After all, war was all about justifying actions, and I was good at making flimsy excuses sound legitimate.

“Really?”

Lady Martina’s eyes twinkled.

“Yes. Because you’re special, Lady Martina.”

Except when I had to, I didn’t particularly enjoy acting in ways that didn’t match my age. Living like everyone else was usually the best policy.

But Martina was truly just a child—unlike me—and she’d been a great help to me. Playing along with her little adult game wasn’t difficult.

“Oh! Then next time, can I invite Blanche over too?”

But that I couldn’t allow, so I quickly but gently refused in a way that didn’t come across as cold.

“For that, you’d need to get permission from His Grace the Duke, not me.”

With that, the duke and duchess would surely take care of blocking it on their end.

“Oh, I see.”

As expected, Lady Martina accepted it without protest. She didn’t seem to catch my real meaning, but I didn’t mind. As long as I didn’t receive a lunch invitation from her, all was well.

Me inviting Lady Martina for lunch could be dismissed because I was foreign-born and still young enough not to know any better. But if she invited me, it could be seen as carrying the will of House Martina.

I already had limited freedom—no need to take unnecessary risks. I smiled my best smile to keep her from misunderstanding and picked up my fork and knife.

Lunch passed much like tea time. After all, there wasn’t much political discussion to be had between us.

We chatted casually about this season’s dress trends, popular fads among noble children, and Martina’s hobbies. Soon, the meal was over, and the attendants brought out dessert—a jelly made using whole mandarins.

“Wow, what’s this? A dessert from the Kingdom of Lamore? It looks so unique!”

This was something I’d created based on desserts I used to enjoy in my past life. Here, if fruit wasn’t being used as decoration, it was usually processed until unrecognizable.

“Oh, not really. But if you like it, let me know. I can serve it again sometime. Actually, more importantly…”

As Lady Martina curiously poked at the jelly, I cleared my throat to get her attention.

“Hmm? What is it?”

I brought out a box the attendant had secretly passed to me earlier and set it on the table. Her eyes widened.

“I just wanted to thank you for that day. It’s a small gift, but from the heart.”

Inside was a charm for a bracelet.

When I first decided to thank her, the biggest concern wasn’t when to invite her—but how to show my appreciation.

Just saying “thank you” felt inadequate. It would be better to give a small gift. But what kind?

“Tula, what kind of things do nine-year-olds usually like?”

“Your Grace is eight, so this is about Lady Martina?”

As expected of my nanny. With just one word, Tula grasped exactly what was on my mind.

“Regardless of age, it’s best to give something they like. Didn’t she say once that she loves jewelry and accessories?”

She was right. The first gift I’d given Martina was a hair ornament.

“She does like those things—but that’s the problem. I’m not confident I can choose something she’d actually like.”

Even that hair ornament I’d given before—thankfully, she liked it, but judging purely by taste, it had been quite terrible.

Even I, the one who picked it out, could tell that much. So giving her another accessory this time made me hesitate.

“Hm… Come to think of it, you’ve never really prepared a gift before, have you?”

That was true. I had occasionally picked up something while out or passed on things that others could make better use of—but that was more impulse than intention.

Even the heavenly horse I gave to Liana had been because I happened to find it first.

“When it’s hard to find something the recipient likes, people often give something they know well themselves.”

That made it even more difficult. ‘Blanche’ didn’t know much of anything, and what I, Lee Baekryeon, was good at wasn’t something Blanche could acquire.

In my past life, I usually expressed gratitude with value—monetary value.

Like golden calves or lotus-shaped water droppers carved from jade. I never knew whether the recipient liked them or not, but they were undeniably valuable, and that alone expressed sincerity.

But now, money was limited. As Blanche, acquiring something of that value was impossible. And more importantly, what kind of six-year-old gives such extravagant gifts to a nine-year-old? The Martina family would be put in a very awkward position.

They couldn’t return it, and they couldn’t accept it outright either.

“I still can’t think of anything,” I sighed. How absurd—someone who once ran a nation now struggling to choose a gift for a child not even ten.

My past self would’ve scoffed at the idea.

“Then… if Your Grace allows, may I help you choose?”

“You?”

I blinked in surprise.

“It might not be to Lady Martina’s exact tastes, but I’ve picked out plenty of accessories before.”

Ah, right. Tula usually chose my clothes unless there was a special occasion. And though I didn’t wear accessories much because of my age, things like headpieces or shoes might make good gifts.

A weight lifted from my chest. My eyes lit up.

“I’d appreciate that. I’ll ask His Grace to summon an accessory merchant to the palace for the next tea day.”

“If it helps Your Grace, that alone brings me joy.”

Tula smiled softly, gently tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear.

And so, after much deliberation, Tula and I chose a charm.

At first, we thought of a simple headpiece, but that would’ve required checking Martina’s existing dresses. Same with shoes.

But a charm was perfect. We had matching bracelets, so it would be easy to see if it matched, and she could pair it with other accessories she owned. Plus, it didn’t take up much space.

After choosing charms as the item, we even called in other children for second opinions. So, as far as my choices went, this one was probably okay.

Martina had happily accepted that gaudy hair ornament before. Surely, she’d smile and accept this too?

With that small hope, I slid the gift box across the table.

“Ah…”

But instead of joyfully unwrapping it, Lady Martina looked… distressed.

Oh no… Was she just pretending to be happy about the last gift out of politeness? Maybe she really hated it, and now she’s stuck with another unwanted present.

But I got Tula’s input this time… and it’s more versatile!

Should I open it myself and show her it’s better than last time? Or pretend I brought it by mistake and take it back? Maybe just ask her directly what she wants?

While I panicked, Martina hesitantly spoke.

“You mean that day—are you talking about the tea party?”

“Yes…”

Maybe I should’ve just served lunch and nothing more. As I fretted, Lady Martina opened and closed her mouth several times before finally murmuring,

“…It was all thanks to His Grace the Duke.”

“Pardon?”

“The guest list that day—His Grace recommended it.”

Her face twisted with frustration.

“He said you were interested in the academy, and that building connections with those people would help your future… He even wrote a separate list for me. All I did was pick the ones who seemed most likely to accept.”

Her expression drooped.

“…So I think this gift should go to His Grace, not me.”

Ah. At least I was relieved to know she didn’t dislike my gift.

“Oh my, I see. Thank you for telling me. I’ll make sure to prepare something separately for His Grace, then.”

And right after, a new thought struck me: What a hassle.