“Is the tea’s aroma okay?”
“Yes, it’s nice.”
“Here, try a macaron too. Is there anything you can’t eat?”
“No, not really……”
“Oh my, that’s quite impressive.”
Although Blanche missed something, her intentions worked out splendidly. Empress Liana, who loved children and animals but inadvertently made them cry or faint upon approach, never got to adore a child to her heart’s content.
There were only two ‘children’ who didn’t cry upon making eye contact with her: Liana’s spouse Berken, who had the demeanor of an emperor from birth, and Melchizedek, who shook rattles with world-weary eyes since his birth.
But since Berken was her peer, Melchizedek was essentially the only child Liana could genuinely adore.
So, when Blanche, a pretty girl who was gentle, well-behaved, and didn’t cry, appeared before Liana, it was no wonder Liana was captivated.
“The garden is beautiful. Thank you for inviting me.”
So captivated was Liana that she immediately got up to pick a flower upon hearing such a ceremonial compliment.
“Oh my. This cockscomb suits your silvery hair beautifully.”
Blanche, or rather Yibaekryeon, was naturally flustered. In Jin Empire, flowers bestowed by the emperor or empress were considered royal gifts, typically reserved for significant achievements.
Having received carved jade flowers but never fresh ones in her previous life, Yibaekryeon was bewildered by this unexpected gift.
And Yibaekryeon, who usually became more eloquent when flustered, responded:
“Your Highness’s beauty shames both the flowers and the moon. They would hide their faces in comparison.”
Had she been around ten years old, this might have raised suspicion. But Blanche was three, and even the maid pouring tea next to her could barely understand her words, except that it was a compliment. Liana was utterly charmed by the cute girl who shyly smiled and spoke sweetly.
There was no trouble, and the sight of the untouchable empress blushing and laughing added awe to the gazes directed at Blanche.
In just three minutes of meeting the emperor, Blanche had now become a sensation in the social scene after a few hours at the tea party – a feat not even achieved by Yibaekryeon in her previous life.
It was well-known in the Lertaille Empire that the imperial couple adored their much younger brother, the Grand Duke. Typically, the emperor, empress, and Grand Duke dined together unless otherwise engaged. That day, Empress Liana joined the dinner with a particularly good mood.
The Grand Duke, puzzled about what could have pleased his sister-in-law during her day mostly spent managing the hostages, remained silent. The emperor spoke up instead.
“Did something good happen?”
In a setting where the palace attendants had been dismissed to facilitate a private family moment, Liana responded to Berken’s casual tone with equal ease.
“Yes! Today at the tea party, I found an incredibly cute child.”
It seems she found a conversational match. Perhaps someone with exceptional knightly skills…
Liana, aware of her brothers’ similar thoughts, proudly declared:
“Blanche Loa Vandaluin from the Kingdom of Lamore, an adorable and lovely child, you know?”
Both were surprised, but Berken’s astonishment was greater than Melchizedek’s, who didn’t know who Blanche was. Berken thought, a mere 3-year-old caught Liana’s eye the day after he noticed her?
Considering a possibly more competent talent than he thought, Berken listened as Liana delivered a second shock.
“She’s only 3, but incredibly precocious and intelligent. Maybe she could be a good friend for Melchizedek?”
The exact thought Berken had in mind.
“……3 years old?”
Melchizedek, a 5-year-old gentleman of dignity and intellect, knew well how much Liana lamented her nature of scaring away animals and children.
He resisted the urge to ask if a 3-year-old really conversed with his sister-in-law without crying.
“Haha, as intelligent as a 3-year-old can be. What am I supposed to do with a child nearly half my age?”
An innovative way to describe a 2-year age gap. It would have been plausible if the person didn’t know Melchizedek was 5.
Unfortunately for him, Liana knew his age.
“Her face is so pretty! Silvery hair like the moon and dark eyes like obsidian, she looks like a precious doll crafted by an artisan.”
Melchizedek would have preferred playing with an expensive doll-looking 3-year-old than actually interacting with one.
At least a doll wouldn’t cause trouble if left alone.
However, Blanche, holding Liana’s fingers tenderly, had said something like, “It would be an honor to be invited again,” promising future interactions. Liana was too delighted to think otherwise.
Not wanting to dampen his sister-in-law’s first joyful interaction with a young girl, Melchizedek just nodded along while Berken enthusiastically supported the conversation.
“Really? She said that? She must have really liked you.”
“That’s what I thought. Oh, how about inviting her to dinner next time? Show Melchizedek her face too!”
Melchizedek was about to say something, but Berken was quicker. Berken silenced him with a glance and smiled affectionately.
“Of course, it’s fine. But, dinner might be too intimidating. Let’s do lunch.”
“Lunch? That might delay the schedule too much.”
Liana’s lunch plans were filled for the next month, unlike her usually open dinner schedule.
Berken reassured the slightly disappointed Liana.
“It’ll take a while, but we can have lunch in the greenhouse. Inviting her to the main palace on the second meeting might be too overwhelming, in many ways.”
“Right.”
Melchizedek quickly agreed with Berken’s suggestion.
Melchizedek felt a sense of unease, worrying that if not careful, a 3-year-old toddler might be sitting at the family dinner table the very next day.
“Aha, that makes sense. Now that you mention it, Liana did seem to really enjoy the greenhouse today─”
Thankfully, Liana changed her mind. With the meeting with Blanche postponed for a month, Melchizedek, relieved, waited until Liana left after complaining about not getting any paperwork done due to the unexpectedly long tea party. Then, he said,
“I don’t like it.”
Berken smiled gently.
“Why are you telling me that?”
“Because you instigated it!”
“What do you mean I instigated it? I just changed dinner to lunch.”
It was a classic case of denial, especially coming from Berken, who wouldn’t permit an almost stranger child to join a family meal.
To Melchizedek, it seemed evident that not only Liana but also Berken had taken a liking to Princess Blanche.
“Anyway, I don’t like it. Whether it’s lunch or anything else, just count me out.”
He didn’t really expect Berken to agree. As anticipated, Berken didn’t seem to consider his opinion seriously, though he appeared somewhat intrigued.
“Why?”
“What do you mean why?”
“Why do you dislike it without even seeing Princess Blanche? Just because I introduced her?”
“Well, that’s because none of the girls you introduced were decent!”
If Melchizedek had been just 10 years older, this statement would have been quite complicated. But the reality was that Melchizedek was only 5, and the only girl Berken had introduced to him was his nanny.
“Where on earth do you pick up such phrases?”
It was hard to take the statement seriously, considering Melchizedek was only a 5-year-old.
Thus, Berken burst into laughter, affectionately ruffling his cute younger brother’s hair.
“Ahh, I really need to tell everyone to watch their words. Our esteemed Grand Duke here is talking like some street urchin.”
“Ah, brother! I’m not joking─”
Well, around the age of 5, boys usually find it more fun to play with other boys than with girls. Maybe that’s why he was reacting this way. Surely, after meeting her, his opinion would change.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
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