Blanche’s appearance was too cute to imagine she had just made a dozen children cry.

“I’ll bring some tea with a stimulating effect if you’re tired.”

It was a very elegant way to ask if she was dozing off.

“I’m not talking nonsense.”

Melchisedek gently countered.

“The children I invited today were candidates to be my playmate. I rejected them all because I didn’t think they would get along with you. They were quite resentful because of that.”

Now Blanche understood the children’s excessive hostility.

Of course, being the playmate of a grand duke from a small country would be dissatisfying, but their reaction was like moths to a flame, fueled by past grievances.

“So you wanted me to put them in their place.”

“Yes. And you did a great job at it. ─So you deserve a reward. What do you want?”

“It’s a great honor to have been of help.”

First, she showed modesty.

True to his nature, Melchisedek didn’t seem interested in flattery.

Ideally, she should have played coy before answering.

But with someone who dislikes beating around the bush, playing coy could mean missing out on the opportunity.

“Then, may I have a horse?”

“……A horse?”

Melchisedek looked her up and down.

“Yes.”

“Can you even ride a horse……?”

It was a valid question. Blanche was too small to even ride a donkey.

“No, not for me. I thought I’d give it to my nanny.”

The response was bound to raise questions. Usually, nannies don’t possess the noble qualities to ride horses.

However, Melchisedek seemed uninterested in the truth and simply shrugged.

“Alright, a horse it is. I’ll make arrangements.”

With his real purpose seemingly accomplished, Melchisedek confidently rose from his seat. With Tula already sent away, Blanche couldn’t get up but bowed her head.

“Let’s meet again next time.”

After leaving that message, Melchisedek departed the drawing room. Blanche was left alone.

Left alone, I loosened my tightly fastened clothes. I shouldn’t be so tired from just a few hours of smiling, but maybe it’s because of my young body. I thought it best to rest.

“Is there anything you need?”

Tula entered after seeing Melchisedek leave. Unlike me, she still stood straight and alert. I opened my mouth to speak.

“Tula.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Let the children rest.”

Most of the staff in this palace were sent by the Empress. Meaning they had neither the time nor the reason to be loyal to me.

After working them hard all day, it was time to give them a break. Otherwise, problems could arise quickly.

“Yes, I understand.”

Tula bowed respectfully and left the room without turning her back. I closed my eyes, slumped in the chair.

Melchisedek being pleased with the outcome was unexpected. A party where half the guests left in tears was a disaster by any standard.

Given my specialty, I had prepared myself for Melchisedek’s potential anger. But maintaining a good relationship with the grand duke was preferable. His reaction was somewhat a relief, and it seemed I might even get a horse.

I considered teaching Tula to ride and defend herself, thinking about the future. This would lay the foundation for that.

“But does this place even have a stable…”

Surely it did, but whether it was maintained was another matter. Without horses, there definitely wouldn’t be a stableman.
While pondering whether Grand Duke Melchisedek would prepare everything or if she should ask Empress Liana for help, Blanche felt her eyelids grow heavy.

She didn’t resist and closed her eyes. For now, it seemed enough to rest and think about it tomorrow.

Returning after declaring a break for the servants, Tula saw Blanche sleeping soundly.

“Oh my…….”

A smile spread across Tula’s face, which had been stiff from maintaining a solemn expression. She carefully approached and picked up the sleeping princess.

“Under the night sky where both the moon and stars are asleep. Although regrettable, it’s time to part…….,” Tula hummed a lullaby while walking.

In the past two weeks, Princess Blanche had the servants of Jasper Palace under her thumb. Imagine the servants trembling in fear of a three-year-old with a lisp.

And today, she even made a dozen noble children cry and sent them home.

But in front of Tula, Blanche was always her baby princess. Light enough to be lifted easily. When sung a lullaby and tucked in, her stern expression softened, and she would whine.

So, setting aside the ‘dignity’ Blanche had been preaching, Tula knelt beside the bed and comforted the princess until her short nap ended.

The tea party, unsatisfactory for everyone except the host and Grand Duke, became somewhat famous. The participating families saw their children returning home in tears or locking themselves in their rooms, so it was a natural outcome.

As nobles probed into why this happened, they realized it wasn’t just their child who suffered. If one child had cried at the tea party, it could have been overlooked. If five cried, it would be the host’s issue. But when everyone cried?