Long Live the Emperor, Minus Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 43

It was Berken who suggested moving the conversation to the Empress’s quarters, saying it might take a while.

“Then I’ll leave you two to talk comfortably. I’ll go for a stroll or something and come back later, so feel free to chat freely.”

Melchizedek had a hunch Berken’s walking route would somehow pass by Jasper Palace, but he didn’t bother saying anything—after all, Liana seemed to think of Berken as a man whose exterior matched his interior perfectly.

“Blanche will soon start appearing in society, so it’d be good for the children to keep interacting. But holding every gathering at the Imperial Palace isn’t practical; they’ll have to meet outside. Unfortunately, the Kaibruhhan family has no children, so they can’t take the lead on this.”

Given the actual usage status of Jasper Palace, even a single party—let alone regular ones—seemed impossible. The Grand Duke’s residence couldn’t be opened to the public, so that was out of the question entirely. Yet using the banquet palace reserved for imperial parties felt far too grand.

“The Dowager Empress’s family has no children either, so the Halaim family won’t be able to help. Would it be safe to ask Lady Martina instead?”

“Oh, didn’t you say you’d become close with Blanche? That’s fine—the House of Duke Martina holds considerable influence and remains politically neutral. I know the young Duke Martina personally; shall I ask him?”

“No, Sister-in-law, you should ask the Kaibruhhan family yourself. I’ll handle requesting it from the Dowager Empress.”

Melchizedek quickly cut off Liana before she could calmly make a statement that would surely horrify Lachia.

He’d gone to such lengths to successfully introduce Blanche at his own carefully arranged party, and now Liana was not only entangling the Kaibruhhan family but also personally linking the Martina family into the mix—Lachia would collapse in bed right away if she heard this.

“Is that so? Then I’ll leave it to you. Sorry for piling so many tasks onto you.”

“No, it’s I who should apologize for insisting. I ought to do something in return.”

Indeed, she really needed to do something—if she wanted to prevent the power balance between the Empress Dowager and the Empress, which Blanche had meticulously arranged over three years, from dissolving into nothingness.

Still, Liana willingly left power in Lachia’s hands precisely because she herself held no real interest in authority. Knowing this, Melchizedek simply hoped Liana would remain disinterested in power for at least the next ten years.

“—Then shall we consider this matter settled? Shall we head off to bed now?”

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