His voice was calm. Despite feeling ignored, he maintained his composure, a sign of a child destined for greatness. Blanche shifted her gaze from the flowers to the boy, thinking so.
“No, I heard.”
“Oh? So you ignored the Grand Duke’s words? That’s bold.”
Blanche grinned. Her lips curled unnaturally high, and her chubby cheeks pushed up against her smile.
“I thought you didn’t want to be disturbed.”
If she had been in her previous life as Bai Lian, that smile would have struck fear in everyone. But now, she was in the body of a three-year-old, so the boy wasn’t scared.
“Is that so? I clearly asked you to take a walk.”
His voice was gentle, his expression kind. Blanche reassessed her opinion of the Grand Duke.
Maybe this child is more difficult to deal with than the Emperor.
“People often say different things than what they feel.”
“So you ignored me because of that? What if I accused you of disrespect?”
“I would gladly risk my life rather than offend someone of your stature. Isn’t that the duty of a loyal friend?”
Such words would astound any linguist, as that’s not what a friend is supposed to be.
But the boy is not a linguist; he’s royalty. So, he must realize that Blanche’s words are sincere. She’s pinpointing the qualities required of a prince’s friend.
A normal friend should be an equal. A normal subject should obey orders.
But a prince’s, a ruler’s friend, must watch over their master’s mood and act accordingly, even if it means suffering the consequences alone.
Blanche is saying that’s what she did. She could face serious trouble for disrespect, but it wasn’t out of rudeness or a bad mood. It was her observing and accommodating his feelings.
“Ah, you’re really like a brother.”
It might have been a bit difficult for a five-year-old to understand, but the boy seemed to grasp her words correctly.
“Alright, since we seem to understand each other, let’s talk openly.”
Pleased with Blanche’s attitude, the boy climbed back onto his chair.
“You probably know this already, but my brother thinks I need a friend my age.”
Blanche agreed with this. She expressed her admiration honestly.
“He’s a good brother.”
“But I’m not interested in playing friends.”
The boy, with longer but still child-like arms, propped his chin up. It was an unusual pose for a five-year-old, but his expression was quite natural.
“So, let’s do this. Let’s pretend to be close only in front of my brother and sister-in-law.”
Blanche hesitated for a moment. …Is this really what a five-year-old child is saying?
“Only in front of them, and not actually?”
The boy smiled with narrowed eyes.
“It’s beneficial for both of us. You get the title of the Grand Duke’s playmate, and I get to avoid the hassle.”
Like father, like son, or should it be like brother, like brother?
As she was momentarily speechless, the boy, thinking she was hesitating, added in a more subtle voice.
“Being the Grand Duke’s playmate is a prestigious position, almost like a junior royal. Isn’t it great to be treated like that without doing anything?”
What do you think? Blanche, looking at the boy asking with his eyes, lowered her gaze slightly.
“I will follow Your Highness’s wishes.”
If it’s just a nominal friendship, this might be better. Once the Emperor gets what he wants, he won’t pay her any more attention, and the Grand Duke doesn’t seem interested in the first place.
“Good. Let’s celebrate the start of our deal by giving you something. What do you want?”
Perhaps because he got what he wanted, the Grand Duke showed a more benevolent attitude.
“It’s okay.”
“As the Grand Duke’s playmate, you should receive something appropriate.”
Blanche, not interested in material benefits, tried to refuse, but the Grand Duke wouldn’t back down.
Realizing he was not someone who would retreat easily from a display of modesty, Blanche looked around and then said briefly.
“Then, a flower.”
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
