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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Doll Shop
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The priest was aghast at the request to go outside, but when threatened with the recent incident, he scurried off to report to a high priest.
And a short while later.
They were allowed to go out, accompanied by five elite holy knights.
Their movements were restricted to the nearby commercial district, but that was more than enough.
Most of the people living in the neutral zone were the families of priests and holy knights. There were also many servants who worked at the temple, as well as ordinary merchants.
It wasn't a tourist area, so it wasn't overly crowded, but as a commercial district, the streets were lively.
Though not extravagant, just strolling through the bustling streets gave a strange sense of freedom.
"This is nothing compared to the commercial districts in our Rosebery Empire."
"There's nothing much to see... What a pain."
"Still, it's quite clean."
Half-listening to the three of them, Lellia looked around, taking everything in. She looked like someone who had never set foot in a commercial district before.
‘They said he was frail. Has he never been outside the castle walls to sightsee?’
Romeo thought, watching the unusually excited Lellia.
Just then, Lellia’s steps halted in front of a shop.
As a result, the other children and the holy knights, who had been walking under their ironclad guard, also stopped and turned their heads.
"What's this, a toy shop?"
"And a doll shop, at that."
Lellia gazed at a large rabbit doll displayed in the shop window.
"Hey... On top of being a papa's boy, you sleep with a doll too?"
Calix asked, his face scrunching up in disgust.
"Ugh... No way... Is that for real, Captain?"
Romeo also wore an expression that said, ‘This is a bit much…’
"Just be quiet."
Lellia snapped at her subordinates before entering the doll shop.
Thanks to her, the three boys and the holy knights had to squeeze themselves into the small store.
"Gasp...!"
The shop owner looked startled as children in monastic robes and holy knights suddenly flooded in.
‘What in the world?’
The children in monastic robes could be mistaken for young priests, but ordinary young priests would never be accompanied by such a procession of holy knights.
‘They must be royalty.’
The shop owner's eyes gleamed. This was a chance to boost sales.
The neutral zone didn't have a small population of children. Business wasn't exactly dead, but these were royals. This was an opportunity to get rid of his expensive, slow-moving toys—in other words, his excess stock.
However, contrary to the owner's expectations, the item Lellia chose was a very small doll.
"Ugh. A rabbit doll..."
Calix criticized Lellia's choice.
“……”
Lellia, who would have normally gotten angry, was lost in thought for a moment.
Suddenly, scenes from the original novel came to mind.
There were two episodes related to dolls…
One was a scene where the original female lead, Yuriana, gives a doll to Oscar Hresvelg.
This was after Oscar had already killed his father and become emperor. True to his role as one of her many admirers, he had a one-sided love for Yuriana.
Upon hearing the news of Yuriana's marriage to the original male lead, Oscar immediately teleported to find her.
Belatedly, Oscar confessed his love… but Yuriana gave him a gentle yet firm rejection.
Then she gave Oscar a small doll and said this.
"This is one of the dolls my dad and brothers bought for me. Isn't it cute? It feels strange to receive dolls now that I'm all grown up. But I still like it… It feels like it will protect me forever. I'll give it to you as a gift. But it's a secret from my brothers! They find you a little… uncomfortable, Sir Oscar."
As she spoke, Yuriana smiled lovingly.
At that time, Yuriana had so many dolls from her father and brothers that she was trying to get rid of them.
She didn't just give dolls to all the children in the capital; she gave them to everyone she met.
It was a heartwarming episode where, thanks to her warm heart, the faces of the capital's children bloomed with smiles.
‘Of course, when Emperor Perseus and his sons found out, they were so furious they could have punched the ground.’
Oscar returned to his country with that doll. Although it was a doll Yuriana gave to everyone she met, it held a special meaning for him.
Returning after being rejected, Oscar looked at the doll and mocked himself.
He was a man who had killed his own father and ascended to the throne.
Yuriana wasn't afraid of him at all. To the point of giving him such a ridiculous gift.
If anyone else had not feared him, he would have taught them the meaning of fear by taking their head.
But for some reason, the fact that Yuriana didn't fear him was a comfort.
It felt like it erased the words that tormented him: red-eyed demon, the monster who killed his father.
He'd considered kidnapping Yuriana and locking her in his castle, but looking at the small doll calmed his heart.
From that day on, Oscar was able to distance himself a little from the nightmares that had plagued him his whole life.
‘Would giving him a doll now make him feel a little better?’
This was what she had thought of when wondering what might help the young Oscar.
‘But what if it has no effect because it’s not from the original female lead?’
Still…
Lellia wanted to help Oscar in any way she could. She wanted that small, weak child to escape his pain and fear, even just a little.
Since he was still young, sleeping with a doll might provide some psychological comfort.
"Are you really buying it? You liked dolls, Captain...? That's for girls."
"Hey, is there a law that says only girls can like dolls?"
Lellia, feeling called out, retorted sharply at Romeo's words.
‘By the way…’
"...Do you guys have any money?"
Lellia asked cautiously, though the content of her words was that of a thug.
‘Come to think of it, we don’t have any money.’
They didn't need money while living in the temple, and the emperor certainly wouldn't have given her any when he sent her away.
"Me? I don't."
"...I'm sure I brought some. Where did it go?"
It seemed Calix and Romeo hadn't brought any money either. Lellia shot Romeo a look of pity. The one who suggested coming out didn't bring any money?
Lellia turned her gaze to her last hope, Griffith.
"Griffith, you have some, right? I trust you do, since you're the smart one."
"Yes, I do."
"Thank goodness. You're the only useful subordinate I have! Lend me some. I'll... pay you back later."
"Pay me back for what? It's not that much."
"See, you're a good guy. Then... can I maybe buy one more doll?"
Lellia asked, patting Griffith on the back. Griffith scowled, as if the phrase 'good guy' displeased him.
"Do as you please."
He replied.
With a brightened expression, Lellia began to choose another doll.
"The first one is for Oscar, right?"
"That's right. You're quick on the uptake, as always."
Lellia answered Griffith's question with a smile.
"What, that's what this was about? Then can I buy one too?"
"Not you."
"Hey! No fair!"
Calix grumbled, fuming. Romeo, who had been listening quietly, blinked and asked with a smile.
"What about me? I can, right?"
"You can't either."
"...You piece of trash."
Griffith didn't even bat an eye at Romeo's harsh criticism.
"...Just pick one each."
But he said this soon after. He acted cold, but he was much softer-hearted than he looked.
At his words, Calix and Romeo began to choose dolls with serious expressions.
"Hmm…"
Lellia meticulously examined each doll with the sharp eyes of a hawk.
For some reason, her heart pounded like a child's.
If the first episode involving a doll was the reason she decided to pick one for Oscar, the reason Lellia suddenly wanted a doll for herself was because of the second doll-related episode from the original novel.
In the original story, after the true emperor of the Auraria Empire, Perseus, reclaimed his throne.
The episode occurred during the process of the famously cold Perseus opening his heart to Yuriana, who had become his daughter.
‘Hmm…’
Lellia carefully recalled what she had read in the book.
Yuriana liked her new father, Perseus, unlike her abusive biological father.
For one, he was strong enough to punish her demon-like biological father.
Plus, although he always wore a scary expression, she liked how he subtly took care of her and her mother.
When Perseus became emperor, Yuriana naturally became the sole princess of the Auraria Empire, which also felt like a dream come true.
One day, during the dreamlike days immediately after Perseus became emperor.
Wanting to get a little closer to her father, Yuriana gently tried to take his hand.
How she had envied other children who walked hand-in-hand with their fathers. Her biological father had been a bad person who abused her, but she had hope that her new father would be different.
However, Perseus, who was sensitive to physical contact, instinctively pushed the child's hand away.
Yuriana, who was only about ten years old at the time, was deeply hurt.
From that day on, she became withdrawn whenever she was in front of Perseus.
Perseus was bewildered when the child, who had always smiled brightly at him, put up a wall…
Eventually, he sought advice from the empress, who had become his companion through a contract marriage and was also the child's mother.
"She likes dolls. If Your Majesty gives her a doll as a gift, her anger will quickly subside, and she'll be happy."
At those words, the emperor took Yuriana to the largest toy store in the commercial district to soothe her feelings.
After buying her a doll (in truth, he had the entire store's ownership transferred to her name), he carefully took his daughter's small hand.
Only then did Yuriana give a small smile, and that cute smile completely melted Perseus's heart.
‘That was the beginning of his doting-father phase.’
After that, there was no doting father quite like him.
Yuriana loved that doll so much she carried it with her every day. Her new older brothers found this so adorable that they also started showering her with dolls.
From then on, a new doll storeroom was created for Yuriana.
‘And I’m pretty sure I ran into the female lead after that…’
Around that time, Lellia had returned to the imperial castle and was living a life similar to before.
The emperor and crown prince who had sent her to the neutral zone disguised as a boy were dead, and a new emperor had ascended the throne.
It was also a time when the vassals were debating what to do with Lellia.
"I hear the traitor who dared to occupy the throne cherished that child! He even brought her to the main castle and served her lavish meals...! She must be killed to quell the seeds of rebellion!"
"That's right, Your Majesty! She must be killed!"
But there were opposing opinions as well. Not that they were any better for her.
"But she is just a child, not yet ten years old. Moreover, she is the daughter of Your Majesty's late sister, the princess. Would it not be better to use her for a political marriage…?"
"Or perhaps she could be bestowed upon a meritorious subject who rendered great service this time? How about marrying her to Marquis Teveli when she comes of age!"
In many ways, Lellia's existence was a nuisance.
Killing her felt unsettling, but not killing her was even more so.
Perseus's teeth ground together whenever he thought of Lellia.
His half-sister from a different mother had picked fights with and tormented his wife whenever she saw her.
She had made his wife's life so miserable behind the scenes; his wife had been hurt more times than he could count.
So it was only natural that he disliked his sister's daughter.
Whenever he saw Lellia, guilt over his late wife and resentment toward his sister would surge. It felt like a covered wound had been torn open, spewing blood and pus.
Perseus didn't even want to hear Lellia's name, so he decided to postpone her fate.
Lellia was living a life no different from before, in the remote tower where she had spent her childhood.
A life plagued by hunger.
It was during this period that the episode where she encountered Yuriana occurred.
‘I made a mistake out of jealousy for Yuriana.’
Unlike Lellia, who was a nuisance to everyone, that child monopolized all the love.
But Yuriana was a child who fully deserved to be loved. A child who absorbed sunlight with her whole body and radiated it as love.
Lellia, on the other hand, was always a sullen, skinny child.
The Lellia from the original novel felt miserable seeing Yuriana, who was so different from her.
However, she wasn't the type of character who would be disgraced for hitting and bullying Yuriana.
Unfortunately, she was so starved that she lacked the strength to hit anyone, making her a pathetic being who could only attempt petty theft.
Simply put, Lellia was merely a plot device created for the sake of an episode happening to the protagonist.
The first of these devices was to show just how overprotective Yuriana's brothers were. The story of that day came back to her in full detail.
Yuriana had been taking a walk in a small forest behind the main castle and had fallen asleep under a large tree.
On the picnic blanket lay Yuriana's most cherished doll, the first one she had received from her new father, along with pretty snacks and a book.
The maid in charge of Yuriana smiled fondly at the sleeping girl and briefly headed back to the main castle to get a blanket.
The surroundings were quiet, but in reality, dozens of elite soldiers were secretly guarding Yuriana.
Even though the imperial castle should have been safe, Emperor Perseus was so overprotective that he assigned an elite unit from his high command to her.
The elite soldiers, watching the sleeping Yuriana from their hiding spots, clutched their hearts at her cuteness.
That was when Lellia appeared.
She had been wandering the forest in search of berries when she saw the sweet desserts on the picnic blanket and approached in surprise.
Then she discovered the sleeping Yuriana and the doll lying beside her.
The doll was a white teddy bear, just the right size to hug, and it was truly cute.
Without realizing it, Lellia popped a dessert into her mouth and then hugged the doll. The soft texture felt wonderful.
Overcome by an unwitting desire, Lellia hugged the doll and tried to take it with her.
It was then.
"Hey! Wait, who are you!"
"To think there was a thief in the imperial castle."
Appearing with chilling words were Emperor Perseus's twin sons, Cedric and Damian.
"This is her, right? The daughter of the aunt who tormented our mother."
"That's right."
The commotion from the two woke Yuriana from her sleep.
"...Huh? My doll!"
Yuriana was startled to see her most precious doll in Lellia's arms and approached them.
"Hmph. As if tormenting our mother wasn't enough, her daughter now steals from Yuriana?"
"To dare to steal within the imperial castle."
The two brothers walked slowly toward Lellia, who trembled in fear, clutching the doll in her arms.
Yuriana clutched her head, thinking, ‘Ugh, it’s happening again!’ and pushed them away.
"Stop it, brothers!"
“……”
"But Yuriana…"
"If she was really trying to steal it, she would have run away by now! But she's still here."
Yuriana approached Lellia and held out her hand.
"Hi? I'm Yuriana. But that doll is my most precious possession, so... I'd like it back. Can you do that?"
Seeing Yuriana smile at her despite having stolen the doll, Lellia cautiously handed it over.
"Thank you. This is like my treasure."
"Tch, and yet you've got the ones we gave you stuffed away on your bed."
"It's not fair that you only carry around the one father gave you."
"But this is the first doll I ever received! The ones you gave me, I hug them tightly when I sleep, so it's not unfair."
"Hmph. If that's the case..."
"You really hug them to sleep?"
"Of course!"
Lellia quietly watched them before turning to leave. She felt that if she stayed any longer, they would bring up the crime of theft again.
"Wait. Stop right there."
Just then, Cedric called out to Lellia. As Lellia slowly turned her head, he spoke.
"Come here and apologize properly. You dare try to just run away after stealing something from the imperial princess?"
"Brother!"
"Yuriana, I know you're kind, but you can't just let things like this slide. You're so kind to the maids, and now this... You're the princess of the empire now."
"...Umm."
"Besides, that girl is the daughter of the woman who tormented our mother, or perhaps, even caused her death."
“……”
As Yuriana mumbled, unable to object, Cedric flicked his finger at Lellia.
"I said, come here. Daughter of a murderer."
Lellia slowly approached them.
Lellia couldn't even remember her mother's face, so she didn't know if she was a murderer or not. So even though the words were unpleasant, she endured them.
In any case, Cedric and Damian were skilled swordsmen who were also blessed with magical power. There was no way she could escape.
"Apologize."
"I-I'm sorry..."
"To whom? You should be saying that to her."
Damian said, standing behind Yuriana and placing his hands on her shoulders.
"S-Sorry."
"Hey. Do you think you can take her for a fool because she's being nice? Don't you know how to apologize to the imperial princess? It seems you want to treat Yuriana the same way your mother did. Not while we're here."
Oops. Realizing her mistake, Lellia slowly bowed her head toward Yuriana.
"I-I'm sorry, Your Highness the Princess."
"I'm really okay…"
Yuriana fiddled with her fingers, uncomfortable with the situation, but accepted Lellia's apology.
"It's not okay! Get on your knees and apologize properly."
Yuriana looked troubled, but it seemed Cedric and Damian had no intention of letting this opportunity slide.
In the end, that day, Lellia was only freed after kneeling before Yuriana and repeating "I'm sorry, Your Highness the Princess" 100 times.
By the time the apology was over, Emperor Perseus had arrived. He announced that it was time for dinner, then swept Yuriana up in his arms and left.
"Ah, Father, that's cheating! I was going to give Yuriana a piggyback ride!"
"Damn it, it's always Father!"
The two brothers chased after Perseus and Yuriana.
Finishing her thoughts, Lellia returned to the present. She remembered the scene in detail because of how ridiculously overprotective they had been.
Lellia picked up a small doll from the display shelf.
‘Unlike in the original story, I have no intention of meeting Yuriana or stealing her doll.’
But one never knew. She might see that doll by chance and unconsciously reach for it.
But what if she had a doll of her own starting now? She felt that if she did, she wouldn't care about that child's doll.
"I'll just take this one."
However, the one she chose was a rabbit doll, identical to the one she had picked out for Oscar.
"Ugh... A rabbit..."
Calix scoffed as if her choice was terrible.
"Then I'll get this one too."
"...Hmm. Should I buy one too?"
When Romeo and Griffith subsequently chose the same doll, Calix's face twisted into a deep scowl.
"Then I will too, I guess."
So, reluctantly, Calix also picked up a palm-sized rabbit doll.
Contrary to his expectations, the owner stared blankly at the five small rabbit dolls chosen by his high-profile customers.
