Chapter 27

Chapter 27

‘Is it because I’m a soul? I can move around so freely.’

Even though I started later than the knights, I was able to catch up with the criminals quickly. Besides, I was very satisfied with the situation in which I was running without any resistance.

There were about five kidnappers, though given their agility, they seemed to be quite capable.

When they arrived at the northern gate of the Imperial Palace, where carriages loaded with ingredients and goods entered and exited, they sent a signal to the outer wall.

Then, a rope came over. In an instant, the criminals jumped over the wall.

“There were reinforcements outside. They prepared very thoroughly.”

I went through the exterior wall with my lips twisted.

Just as expected. There were about ten masked men outside. As soon as they checked the doll, they rode the horse they had prepared and started running.

“You think I can’t chase you?”

I got on one of their horses.

My vision changed drastically at how fast I was going.

“Hey, you can’t even remember the road like this!”

The masked men, who could not hear me, exchanged hand signals and speeded up. It seemed that the final stop was in front of an ordinary three-story building.

“Where are we…?”

Looking at the surroundings, I couldn’t figure out the location.

Upon following the masked men, a brown-haired man was sitting loosely.

“Mission accomplished.”

Seeing the masked people on their knees, it seemed like the boss. The man who received the report had a long scar on his left eye.

The man who was handed the doll looked around and put it on the table.

“Then, the doll will break…!”

I shouted loudly, but he didn’t hear me at all.

“Hmm, is this the famous Princess?”

The man looked at the doll with his eyes.

“Well, there’s nothing special about it, so why is the Emperor so hung up?”

Did you steal it without knowing it…? I thought he was the boss, but he’s so fake.

‘Does that means saying that there’s a real one behind the scenes?’

As he was losing interest in the doll, the man took a cigarette and looked away. At that, I quickly approached the doll and looked over the body.

“Wow, that’s good. It’s not broken yet.”

While I was relieved, the boss gave a dismissal order.

“Good job. Everyone go back and rest.”

“Understood.”

The masked men quietly retreated at his command.

“Oh, look at this. It’s very jeweled. I want it.”

The man salivated as he looked at the doll clothes and diamond necklace.

“Chief, you must not touch the items requested by the client.”

A young man with a mask covering his face put the doll away from him.

“Why? The items the client wanted didn’t include the doll’s accessories or clothes.”

The boss murmured and rubbed his mouth as if he didn’t like the answer.

“They said to bring a doll, so everything is included in the doll.”

That’s not a line a villain would say, right?

The young man’s brown eyes were surprisingly clear, and I stared blankly at him.

“Ah, that nagging.”

Eventually, the boss waved his hand in annoyance.

“Don’t spread rumors about stealing dolls while nagging. Guilds have to save face.”

“It’s the Princess. It is said that the Emperor cherishes it.”

He doesn’t look like a villain again… What the hell is it?

“Yeah, you’re good. When is the client coming? No matter how much you remove the traces, we’re still in the Imperial Capital.”

‘We’re still in the imperial capital. That’s a good thing.’

It meant that the chances of meeting Declan again increased. Thankfully, I was inside the doll all last night, so I should be able to move freely until the morning sun comes up.

‘But, can I leave the doll as it is? You don’t know what they’ll do in the meantime.’

I was not reassured by the boss because he had a tendency to mishandle dolls.

“I need to find out who the client is.”

After thinking for a while, I decided to wait for the client to come.

“Anyway, I have contacted the client. He will be there soon.”

“Then, I’ll be resting in another room, so you’re in charge here.”

“All right.”

As the boss left the room, the young man pulled the doll closer to him.

“You look really pretty… Our Jay would love these dolls.”

The young man shone brightly in his eyes, not matching his large physique.

“Wait here, and the client will come to pick you up. Until then, I’ll take good care of you, so don’t worry.”

The young man gently comforted, swept the doll’s clothes and stroked the disfigured hair. At his actions, he was considerate that it did not suit him in terms of his occupation or his appearance.

Anyway, thanks to him, I seemed to be able to catch my breath for a moment.

‘Shall we take a look around before the client arrives?’

As I went out into the hallway, there were masked men with swords. When I went down to the first floor to avoid them, security was tight around the doors and windows.

“It won’t be easy to get out.”

Even though I can try to get into the doll and run away, but no matter how fast I run, it seems that I will be caught quickly.

As I went out further, the buildings were all similar and there was nothing to be specific about.

“Is this the only way I can go back to the Imperial Castle?”

As I struggled to suppress my anxiety, an undecorated carriage was coming in front of me.

‘…Is that the client?’

The hooded man and the face-covered escorts disembarked from the carriage that went to the back of the building.

“Where is it?”

The hooded man asked the masked man standing guard.

“They’re on the third floor.”

Hearing the answer, they headed straight to the doll’s room.

The boss, who was out in the hallway, looked at the man and crouched down.

“Oh, Sir. Welcome.”

“How did things go?”

The one wearing the hood didn’t even look at him properly.

‘I can’t see the face…’

In addition, I couldn’t see the face properly because of the hood in a dark hallway like this.

“Come this way.”

When the boss opened the door, the young man who was guarding the doll jumped up, bowed, and withdrew from the table.

“Is this what you want?”

A hooded man walked over to the table and took off his hood.

“….!”

The fully exposed face was someone I knew.

It was the Duke of Otien’s vassal.

It was Count Nolan.

“Hmm, it looks like it’s her birthday, so it’s decorated very fancily. He’s crazy… A birthday banquet for dolls?”

The surprised Count twisted his lips.

“Now, what?”

The boss stared at the Count’s expression and spoke to him. “You have to do what you planned. Did you prepare it?”

The Count responded with a condescending tone.

“Yes. As you said, we have prepared some Gemina Kingdom people.”

Why is Gemina here? Wasn’t this just kidnapping…?

I suddenly had an ominous feeling.

“Will my identity be revealed?”

Count Nolan looked at the leader with sharp eyes.

“Don’t worry about that. When I told the Emperor that it was revenge, I left without saying a word.”

“The more he rushes forward without thinking, the easier it is to make him rush away to death. He must be a pathetic guy.”

“Don’t worry. We’re with his family. I’ll use it as a hostage.”

“Hey. At least, there was a guy who could use his head… Yes.”

Saying so, Count Nolan looked up and down at the boss with satisfaction.

As I listened to their conversation, I wrinkled my face.

“You bastards!”

They were total garbage.

Judging from the fact that they took advantage of the revenge of the Jeminas, their intentions were obvious.

The confrontation between Declan and his vassal state Jemina.

It was an event that could spread from a small Gemina rebellion to a large continental war. Now, it would depend on how far Declan’s eyes turn because of the doll.

“I will finish it well so that you can be satisfied.”

Ignoring the boss who nodded his head, Count Nolan held the doll.

“By now, the Emperor must be riding on a tight line. How dare you cut my neck and let it slide?”

Count Nolan rubbed the nape of his neck roughly.

“Your sister is short-lived, too. Sooner or later, I plan to make you beg at my feet.”

Surprised by what he had imagined, the Count giggled and laughed.

‘I’ll make you fall down at your feet and pray, not Declan.’

With that thought, I stared at the Count as if to chew him.

“Hmm, where should I touch for the emperor to go wild?”

Suddenly a thought occurred to him, and he pulled the dagger out of his arms with a twisted smile.

“Can I draw here? Or, the face? The face is probably the best.”

When I realized what he was going to do, my anger went up sharply.

“Hey, you crazy…!”

Without a second thought, I went inside the doll, clenched my fists tightly and waved my arms wide.

Hit!

His hand holding the dagger froze in the air.

“Try it again. I’ll really slap you on both sides.”

I clenched my fists fiercely and glared at the Count.

“This, this—”

At that moment, Count Nolan blinked his eyes in disbelief, then touched his left cheek where I had touched him.

“The doll moved…”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

The boss quickly shoved his money bag and tilted his head as if he was talking nonsense.

‘I guess he didn’t see it.’

It was a dangerous situation, so I did it once, but I was happy.

“The, the doll just slapped me on the cheek!”

“The doll slapped you on the cheek…? Sir, how does the doll move?”

The boss smiled as though it was absurd.

“No, I’m sure I got it right!”

“It must have been that the SIr was moving the doll and just touched it.”

Nonetheless, Count Nolan stared at the doll with a piercing gaze, then turned his gaze to the young man standing opposite him.

‘Oh, there was that person.’

When I got out of the doll and looked back, I saw a young man with his eyes wide open.

“He saw it… He saw it, didn’t he? Now what…”

If the young man makes a strange noise to the Count, I will not be able to get away. Now, even if it got into Duke Otien’s ear, it would have been difficult for Declan.

I waited nervously for the young man’s reaction with an anxious heart.

“You, did you see it? It was right in front of you.”

The young man with a pale face blinked his eyes slowly shook his head.

“How will the doll move? Sir is so… Ha. Haha.”

Even though the laughter was awkward, fortunately, Count Nolan was in a state of embarrassment and didn’t seem to notice it.

“You must have been sensitive because of this. Give me the doll and go in and rest. I will contact you as soon as I finish work.”

The boss calmed Count Nolan, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the doll even though his eyes were shaking.

‘Should I give you one more hit?’

The young man was staring at the doll with unknown eyes.

“The emperor would have freed the people, so shouldn’t we get ready for this, too?”

“…That, yes. So, let’s finish it without mistakes.”

In the end, Count Nolan could not take his eyes off the doll easily even as he handed the doll to the boss.