Long Live the Emperor, Minus Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 39

I spent the remaining time without thinking about the Grand Duke’s proposal.

I took care to ensure the Qianlima’s condition didn’t worsen, received the dress from Lady Martina, coordinated my dress code with the Grand Duke, smiled as I asked the Empress to look forward to the gift on the day itself, and meticulously synchronized my schedule with the Empress Dowager down to the minute.

After all, for the Empress Dowager—who wished to maintain her authority without clashing with the Empress—this event was a perfectly peaceful opportunity to demonstrate her seniority, making it understandably important to her.

“What a princess should embody is the mindset that she herself is the gift. Everyone already knows how fond Liana is of the princess and how close Melchizedek is to her. Simply showing that I am overseeing the princess’s care will remind everyone that I am the elder of the imperial family.”

True to her moderate nature, the Empress Dowager didn’t seem to desire anything grand. Yet even something as simple as ensuring the imperial couple properly greeted her during the Founding Day ceremony would widely affirm her status as the elder. I, however, intended to leave an even better impression on her—after all, she had treated me exceptionally well over the past three years.

Naturally, it looked far better for the Grand Duke to have a useful playmate under the Empress Dowager’s supervision than just any ordinary playmate.

“Please don’t worry, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. I intend to fulfill my duties.”

I placed the minute-by-minute schedule before me and offered a gentle smile. The Empress Dowager seemed like she wanted to say something, but knowing I wouldn’t listen anyway, she simply sighed deeply and changed the subject.

“Have you finished preparing the gift?”

“Yes, it’s perfect.”

Though I couldn’t practice riding, the Qianlima was in peak condition—a reward for boiling millet and white rice into porridge daily for three years and converting half the garden into an open space for it to roam freely.

Although the Grand Duke would probably clutch his neck in dismay again if he discovered the entire backyard of Jasper Palace had turned into a horse playground, it wasn’t as if he’d suddenly want to visit the backyard he hadn’t stepped into for three years. Besides, if he wanted to manage the palace grounds properly, he should’ve requested the outdoor land usage chart along with the palace operations report.

While I shamelessly justified myself to an eight-year-old, the Empress Dowager examined the outfits coordinated with the Grand Duke and added a few notes.

“Tell them to use bow ties, and ensure the handkerchief matches the tie exactly in color. If they worry it might look tacky, adding gemstone embellishments will maintain cohesion while greatly reducing any cheap impression.”

I had chosen a lilac dress, and normally partners would match their main colors. But when they tried tailoring a suit in the shade I picked, it clashed awkwardly with the Grand Duke’s already intense hair color.

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