Chapter 28

Chapter 28

As the count left the room, the leader handed the doll to the young man.

“Give this to Jemina and watch them till the end. You don’t have to worry about making trails because the other kids will do it.”

The young man took the doll and glanced at him.

“Are you really going to go according to plan?”

“So? You’re not going to take the rest of the money? Don’t talk and just go.”

The chief, frowning, motioned for him to leave.

Eventually, the young man let out a long sigh, put on the robe, and hid the doll inside. He got on the horse and headed somewhere.

“I’m sorry. I wanted to protect you… I don’t have the strength to do that.”

The young man muttered sadly.

“Aren’t you on the same side with the kidnappers? You said earlier that the request cost was high.”

It didn’t make sense at all, so I sat facing him.

‘There was no such character in the original story.’

Looking at him, I tilted my head and asked the young man. “Which side are you on? No, the doll moved more than that, is it okay?”

It was a calmer reaction than Noah and Mason.

“Because that’s what Jay said. Every doll has a guardian angel who protects the children.”

His expression was not clearly visible because of the mask, but his eyes were twinkling.

“You’re not a child, you’re working as a villain, but you believe in a guardian angel?”

I was shocked and my mouth was open.

Should I call this pure or poor…?

“It must have been a revelation from the guardian angel to let me know that the guardian angel was with the doll, right, guardian angel?”

He moved his mouth non-stop, as if talking to someone invisible.

“Ah, to be able to meet and see the Guardian Angel in person! It’s such an honor. Can I meet Jay, too? I’m always looking forward to seeing the angel.”

I was at a loss for words at the exhilarating voice.

‘Here’s another crazy person.’

I took a deep breath. It was clear that there was something in this doll that attracted people.

‘Should I be glad I got help, anyway?’

My heart was complicated because it was such a unique character.

“I’m really sorry that you came to visit me like this. I’m doing something bad to the doll.”

Having said that, the young man let out a long sigh as he continued. “Forgive me. Disobeying the chief’s words could put our Jay in danger.”

He was looking up at the sky, and praying seemed desperate.

“Instead, I’ll tell you the plan. So, guardian angel, please protect this child.”

‘What is this again…?’

I looked at him in embarrassment. You can’t steal the doll, so you run away on your own?

“A little further, there will be Jemina people in the warehouse. They will shatter the doll in front of the Emperor and then commit suicide.”

I was dazed, and immediately came to my senses.

If the plan is successful, Declan may annihilate Jemina, and because of that, the Jemina people will revolt.

‘Wait. Shatter the doll?”

So, I could die before Declan? Does this make sense?

After a brief moment of bewilderment, when I glanced up at the sky, the darkness gradually receded.

‘I’m going to be trapped in the doll soon, what should I do?’

While I was struggling, the speed of the horse slowed down whether he had arrived at his destination.

“Guardian angel, did you hear me? Please save the doll.”

After the young man whispered a small whisper to the doll, he stopped his horse.

The place we arrived at was a shabby one-story building, unlike before. When I got off the horse and went inside, tools such as wooden boxes and shovels were scattered all over the place.

Inside, masked men were guarding the three men who looked haggard.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes. I’ve left some traces, so they’ll come here soon.”

One of the masked men answered the young man’s question.

“By the way… will the Emperor really step out himself? Only because of the doll…?”

At those words, another masked man, who was watching from the side, said sarcastically. “That’s why people say that the Emperor is crazy. What the hell are you listening to?”

“How do crazy people do their jobs? They even won the war.”

When the war was mentioned in the mouths of the masked people, the people of Jemina trembled.

“Don’t talk nonsense and just focus on your work. The client said that the Emperor would come directly.”

The young man strictly blocked the masked men’s words. It was completely different from talking to the doll.

‘No matter how you look at it, he seemed to have multiple personalities.

For some reason, I was reluctant to get close to him in many ways.

“What if he just sends in the knights? Then, this plan may fail…”

“Even so, you can proceed as it is. Breaking the doll in front of the Emperor was a secondary condition.”

‘What if Declan doesn’t come? The knights can’t see me…’

It was not an easy decision as it could be a trap for the Emperor’s life. Besides, Noah and Mason would stop him as well.

‘It would be a big deal if those people even die.’

At first glance, the people of Jemina were obsessed with revenge.

‘What if the doll gets hurt while fighting the knights? No, what if they see Declan not come and throw the doll away?”

Fifty thousand cases came to mind, and I felt like my head was going to explode.

“Duke Otien. I will never let him go.”

For some reason, seeing the doll at the banquet and his smiling was a bit gloomy. I’m sure Count Nolan was planning something like this. I have to somehow find a doll so that I can live and also stop Declan’s runaway.

“Until the Emperor comes, handle it with care.”

The young man could not hide his worried expression, and after hesitating, he handed over the doll to the people of Jemina.

“To decorate dolls like this with jewels. We Jemina people are struggling in a ruined place.”

“If you want to go crazy, go crazy alone. Why do you take your anger out in the wrong place!”

“We will definitely take revenge.”

The people of Jemina grind their teeth and spit out in anger.

“If you do something wrong, we won’t be able to fulfill your promise to take care of your family.”

The young man put an oath on the people of Jemina.

“…Keep the promises to make sure our family doesn’t have any problems eating and drinking.”

“Didn’t we pay the advance already? So, do it right.”

The young man, who spoke coldly, stared at the doll once more before going out of the warehouse.

The Jemina people slumped to the floor.

One had gray hair, and two belonged to the younger generation.

“Can I have some anger on the doll before the Emperor comes?”

The gray-haired man asked the oldest.

‘What is it, when they see only myself, they can only think of anger?’

I was realizing the other side of the Emperor’s reality in real time.

…Of course, in a very bad way.

“This is a porcelain doll, so it can break if done wrong.”

“That’s right. I’m going to split the doll’s limbs one by one in front of that bastard.”

The yellow-haired young man giggled. The word breaking the limbs was so sincere that it came to me eerily.

I looked out the small window, and the dawn was shining through. If I stay like this, I will soon be forcibly trapped inside the doll.

“If it’s too late, I won’t be able to move freely. I need to meet Declan before he comes.”

I don’t know if Declan came, but I had to check first.

With that thought, I quickly got up and ran to the door.

As he was about to slash his sword at Seian, a familiar voice could be heard in Declan’s ear.

“Will you come to find me?”

He turned his head involuntarily to the vivid voice as if he was next to him, though Erica was nowhere to be seen.

Contorting his face, he let out a long breath.

‘He must be alive to bring Erica safely.’

As he recalled that fact, the boiling anger cooled coldly. Declan, who opened his eyes slowly, raised his sword and gave an order with his cold eyes.

“…Hold Seian Varenne and interrogate where he kidnapped Chloe.”

Seian did not struggle or shout as he was captured by the knights.

Instead, he stared straight at Declan until he exited the hall.

“Mason, I’ll leave this to you.”

“Don’t go. The knights are looking for her, so just a little longer…”

“If it’s done for my own sake, I’ll have to go. That way, I can save Erica.”

“Your Majesty’s safety is important to us!”

Declan remembered Chloe, who was getting cold in his arms, making it difficult for him to breathe.

The feeling of the droopy body and the warmth disappearing was still vivid. When Chloe’s eyes were closed without blood, and Erica’s image was superimposed on her face, he couldn’t stand still.

Declan took a deep breath and looked straight at Mason.

“As a friend, please. Let me go.”

Mason’s eyes fluttered as he saw Declan’s painfully distorted face.

“Please, come back safely.”

After leaving the hall, the commander of the First Knights came running to Declan, who was rushing to the north gate.

“Your Majesty, no traces of them could be found inside the Imperial Palace.”

“The First Knights should strengthen the Imperial Palace security and prepare for any possible events.”

“Understood.”

The commander of the 1st Knights saluted and disappeared quickly. Then, Declan, who came out of the north gate, called the Second Knights Commander who was searching the area.

“How is it?”

“It seems there was a party outside the North Gate.”

He immediately frowned at those words.

“Did you find out where they fled?”

“I found traces of running away on horseback. Now the knights are chasing them.”

It was already delayed a lot. If this is the case, the criminals may be missed.

“I should have followed her right away.”

Sweat welled up in his clenched fists.

“Prepare my horse. I will move myself.”

After a while, Declan, along with Liam and the Second Knights, pursued the preceding knights. As he ran frantically in order not to miss the criminals, the dawn was coming.

“The trail cut off from the alley here.”

The knights who chased the kidnappers returned and reported to Declan.

When he gazed up at the sky, it looked like the sun was going to rise completely soon. When that happens, Erica is also trapped inside the doll…

‘What will happen if the doll breaks in that state?’

Even Erica said she didn’t know much about her condition.

It was the first time this had happened to her, so there was nothing she could say for sure.

‘If we can’t save the doll…’

At the thought of that, Declan’s heart raced and his chest tightened. He has to quickly find a way, but his head is not spinning.

“I’m sorry.”

He thought he was getting stronger.

He resented himself for not getting much better than when Chloe died.

“Your Majesty, something is suspicious.”

At Liam’s words, he focused on the current situation again.

“If you look at those who have invaded the Imperial Palace, they are sophisticated and have considerable skills. But, isn’t it strange that you can track them so easily?”

Declan tightened his chin and narrowed his eyes.