Right. There was an Empress Dowager here. She was in charge of the household instead of the Empress. Considering the ages of the Emperor and Duke, she would be in her forties or fifties.

In other words, an active matriarch in the social world, still vigorously participating.

“Well, you are the first friend the young Duke has chosen. How could she not be interested?”

That made sense. Our interactions might be transactional, but from an outsider’s perspective, we are friends.

“She’ll call you soon. Go, experience it, talk with your worried nanny, and then decide. Figure out which side will be more beneficial for you to be close to.”

“Am I allowed to decide that? Shouldn’t Your Highness be the one to decide?”

The Duke smirked and rubbed his forehead.

“There are pros and cons… You’ll understand what I mean after you meet the Empress Dowager.”

His words filled me with unease. I felt like I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight, gazing at my now-cold tea.

Originally, I had planned to lay low for a while, quietly attending court movements and tea parties, rejoining the social circle of hostages, which lately referred to themselves as the external social world.

But if the Empress Dowager is taking notice of me, that changes things.

Is the Empress fond of me? That’s exactly the support I want. The Duke’s playmate? That only shines later in life; right now, it’s just children’s play. So far, I could manage to gloss over these.

But now, if the Empress Dowager shows interest too?

No matter how harmless, dumb, and incompetent I pretend to be, it might seem more suspicious. At this point, perhaps I should embrace the image of a promising young genius.

However, that means there are people I can’t associate with. Those who, despite feeling lonely, don’t want to get tangled in political struggles. Those who wish to live on the fringes of the mainstream, almost invisibly.

The kind of life I truly desired but couldn’t live.

“I’m happy that you want to meet me.”

I need to establish contact with such people right now, before rumors spread about how deeply I’m entangled with the royal family.
“Oh dear, people who find politics bothersome tend to be weak-hearted. Most of them avoid the political scene altogether because they dislike the idea of discarding and using people based on profit and loss.

It means if you just form an emotional connection, they might protest, but they’ll eventually be drawn in.

“I’ve been really busy lately. Couldn’t spare much time, that’s why.”

Among them, the scholarly types, like Princess Dylaira, who are engrossed in their study of herbs and dragged here without a prepared excuse, are the ones I need to secure right now.

“Among them, it’s Tkki, Her Highness, who’s been like that.”

Contrary to popular belief, talent can be replaced. It means that using ten people instead of one can generally solve the issue. A once-in-a-lifetime genius? Good to have, but not a problem if absent.

What’s truly valuable isn’t a genius, but those with knowledge. Scholars who can advise me with knowledge I haven’t learned and thus don’t know, are the talents I must secure.

“How can you be so adorable?”

Maybe it’s because of my deliberate lisp, but Princess Dylaira melted easily. It must also be the effect of meeting a child who usually moves in groups, one-on-one. Like most scholars, she doesn’t assert herself strongly in crowded situations.

“I heard you created a nursery.”

“Yes, I’ll be staying here for a while. I want to continue with my research.”

Princess Dylaira’s eyes glazed over. Scholars always do this when their field of expertise comes up. I clasped my hands and exaggeratedly twinkled my eyes.

“Wow! Amazing! I really want to see it.”

“Well, would you like to come and see? It’s still not fully equipped and a bit embarrassing but…”

“Yes! I really want to see.”

“Then this way… Would it be alright if I carry the princess?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

I happily stretched out my arms and nestled into Princess Dylaira’s embrace.

“A child is heavier than a doll…”

I decided to pretend not to hear Princess Dylaira treating her obvious realization as something profound.