Long Live the Emperor, Minus Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 24

“……You. You didn’t believe what my sister-in-law said—that she took a liking to you?”

Feeling oddly interrogated, I hastily defended myself.

“No, I do believe it. I just couldn’t understand what connection there is between Her Majesty the Empress favoring me and His Grace the Grand Duke paying attention to me.”

The Grand Duke looked displeased, but it was still better than getting caught in an unnecessary lie. I widened my eyes as innocently as possible. After all, this body’s appearance wasn’t bad, and it usually worked somewhat—even if not perfectly—on adults.

“That’s exactly it. Why would she dote on a child like you? If it were me, I wouldn’t.”

I hesitated for a moment. Should I shrink my shoulders as if hurt? Or admit it honestly? After weighing my options, I decided honesty would work better with the Grand Duke. For a five-year-old, he was sharp, perceptive, and disliked pretense. So I spoke plainly.

“I was just as confused about that myself.”

I understood that my appearance was pleasant and harmless enough—but fondness for a living being isn’t the same as affection for a porcelain doll, is it?

If all it takes is being harmless and cute, then it’d be far simpler to buy a doll and dote on that instead of me, who’s neither truly three years old nor genuinely innocent or endearing.

I know how to flatter, but since I’ve never properly done so, that can’t be why she favors me either.

“I thought perhaps Her Majesty wanted me to be a playmate for Your Grace, so she’s been kind to me.”

Given that I can’t yet reveal my full abilities, that’s the only advantage I can think of: being unusually bright for a three-year-old—just mature enough to suit a precocious five-year-old Grand Duke.

That’s my one strength—something even genuinely sweet and innocent children from the Empire’s most distinguished noble families couldn’t imitate.

It’s reason enough for the Emperor to take special notice of me.

“But Your Grace is saying that Her Majesty holds a personal fondness for me?”

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