Ending the conversation without being dismissed might be rude, but I couldn’t endure any longer in this body, so I politely bowed my head.

Fortunately, the Empress Dowager didn’t seem to take offense.

“Ha ha, yes. It’s bedtime for a child. I’ll order someone to escort you back to the palace.”

“I appreciate your consideration.”

After expressing my gratitude, I stood up. This meant I wouldn’t need to meet new people for a while, thankfully.

After the child left, Lachia sat alone in the room, slowly reflecting on today’s conversation. She thought about the child’s clear black eyes, calm voice, round cheeks, and more.

And then she chuckled.

“Now I see why Melchi chose that child as a friend.”

Princess Blanche was indeed a child worth watching.

I truly thought this settled everything for now. The schedule set for three years meant not just buying time; it allowed me to plan based on a three-year framework.

Ever since arriving in the empire, I had been anxious, not knowing what might happen the next day.

Knowing I had three years of reprieve meant I could focus not only on Tula’s education but also on my growth. I could be more cautious not to reveal my identity as a reincarnate.

“Sorry about last time.”

But just as I was content with this, an unexpected guest arrived.
The guest’s name was Faniya Sein Martina, a young lady from the Martina Ducal House. She was the one who had caused a fuss at the last tea party about the absence of citrus fruits, leading to a conflict with Duke Argon’s son.

“Upon returning home, I gave it a thought and realized I was too rude. It seemed only right to apologize in person, so I came like this.”

I rubbed my forehead in frustration.

“Don’t you think this is even more impolite?”

Martina’s visit was fraught with problems. First, she had not notified me a week in advance of her visit. Not only a week, she came unannounced and barged in. Moreover, the time was 10 AM.

“You must have woken up quite early to come here at this hour.”

Of course, I was already awake. I usually wake up at 6 AM.

But if I were a normal child, it could have been a time when I was still sleeping. Barging in to apologize at this hour, where did she learn such manners? The kids these days, really.

“Ah… …sorry about that too. I just couldn’t wait to apologize to you…”

I sighed deeply, covering my face with my hands. How old was Martina? The kids at the tea party were all around the Grand Duke’s age or a year or two older. So, at most, she would be seven.

“I really can’t get seriously angry with a seven-year-old…”

Besides, she could actually be just five. Really just a tot.

At the tea party, I made her cry on purpose because I had an agenda, but now it wasn’t like that, and I couldn’t discipline her for her.

Feeling frustrated, I just sighed deeply, rubbing my face.

“Should I… just leave then…?”

The girl who had thrown a tantrum over fruits just moments ago seemed to have disappeared.

Martina asked hesitantly, shrinking back. Ah, had I done well, I might actually have had a granddaughter her age… With that thought, I couldn’t be too harsh. I suppressed my irritation and forced out some kindness.

“Have a meal before you go. It’s not polite to send a guest away without offering food.”

My voice came out reasonably soft, and Martina’s face brightened significantly.

Faniya nibbled on a piece of cod, stealing glances at Blanche seated opposite her. Blanche was elegantly spearing small-cut asparagus with a fork and bringing it to her mouth.

“…You came here alone, right?”

“I had an entourage. If you mean family, then I came alone.”

The child’s face was calm as she spoke, but Faniya didn’t truly believe it. How sad she must be, coming to such a distant place without family.

Faniya initially had no intention of apologizing. Apologize? If anyone, the other party should. They had insulted Faniya in front of others.

But Faniya’s sister persuaded her after hearing about the tea party disaster.

“Faniya, I heard Princess Blanche came here alone. She’s only three. Imagine how sad and scared she must be, all alone with no one on her side in this place. Think about it, if you were alone without our parents or me, surrounded by hostile people, how fearful would you be? It’s natural for her to act defensively.”

Faniya hadn’t thought of that until her sister pointed it out. To her, Blanche was just an annoying girl who had taken the place she desperately wanted.

Melchi-Sedec George Pendleton, the Grand Duke Randolph. How many noble children coveted the seat next to the future emperor? Rather, it’d be quicker to find nobles who didn’t.

Among them, the Grand Duke, who hadn’t made a single friend and remained aloof, chose his first playmate. She was bound to be the target of everyone’s animosity.
So, Faniya intended to tease Blanche. But she didn’t plan to completely trample her, she just wanted to see a crestfallen face. Probably, all the children who picked on Blanche at the tea party had the same mindset.

However, after hearing her sister’s words, Faniya realized that from Blanche’s perspective, it might have felt different. Already alone, she might have thought the imperial nobles were colluding to mock her. That’s why she might have reacted so strongly.

With that realization, the urge to apologize surged in Faniya. She didn’t even care about the time.

“If you feel lonely being by yourself, you’re always welcome to visit our house.”

“Really?”

Blanche, who was just about to take a bite of cod, looked up with wide eyes. At the tea party, she had seemed so intimidating, but now, she just looked like a young child, even younger than Faniya, the youngest of the Martina Ducal family.

Seeing Blanche this way, she suddenly appeared somewhat adorable to Faniya, who lifted her chin proudly.

“Why, the Grand Duke can be a bit cold, right? If you need a friend to play with, come over anytime. Since I came today without notice, you can too.”

Blanche, who had paused with her cod fork in mid-air, suddenly burst into laughter.

“I’ll gladly accept that kindness.”

Her laughter was clear and lofty, like the autumn sky.