Chapter 30

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Chapter 30

“Erica.”

I stopped struggling unknowingly at the familiar voice above her head.

“Your Majesty?”

“Yes, it’s okay now.”

I looked up and saw Declan with a smoke-free vision. As soon as I saw him, my pulse loosened and I buried my face in his chest without realizing it. Of course, my arms were too short to be hugged, but rather clinging to his arms.

“It’s… it’s all over now.”

I don’t know if I was mistaken, though it was as though his voice seemed to tremble.

After being in his arms for a while, my heart calmed down.

“Ah, Your Majesty, what happened to the Jemina people?”

Declan frowned as if he didn’t like my question. “Don’t worry. Liam would have handled it well.”

“Are they alive?”

I mumbled my words in case he might be angry.

“Your Majesty, we have captured all our kidnappers.”

When I turned my head, the smoke had already subsided, and the people of Jemina had passed out on the floor. They were bound and gagged. It seemed to be intended to prevent suicide.

“Thank God…”

I rested my head on Declan, reassured.

“You did a great job. For now, put these people and those caught outside in prison and return to the Imperial Palace.”

“Understood.”

Liam signaled at the knights, and they took Jemina and the men outside.

Suddenly, a young man who had a pure heart came to mind when I heard the word ‘caught from outside.’

“Your Majesty, there is a man out there who has a younger sibling named Jay. Don’t kill him.”

Declan raised his eyebrows in disapproval.

“He told me all the plans. And, if it weren’t for him, what might have happened with Count Nolan.”

“Count Nolan…?”

Immediately, his face suddenly turned cold, and even the air around him became cold.

“Yes. He came to see me. He tried to put a knife on me.”

“What?”

I stopped talking when I saw Declan’s face, which became fierce in an instant. Seeing Liam, who was nearby, trembled slightly, it seemed that Declan was pouring out murderous energy.

“Your Majesty.”

Unsurprisingly, Liam called him quietly.

Declan frowned and tried to suppress it, but he didn’t get it completely. He opened his mouth towards me again.

“Are you okay?”

His green eyes looked closely at me, mixed with anger and concern.

“It’s fine. I hit him before that.”

I think his cheeks will probably tingle even now because he got hit by my fiery fist. Declan’s expression darkened when he saw me in high spirits.

Still, he didn’t respond.

‘Hey, is the tyrant temperament coming out again? What if he says that he has to kill them unconditionally?’

He is a person who has no mercy when it comes to the Chloe doll, so it could be.

“…Where did you hit him?”

While thinking about what to do to convince him, Declan asked a random question.

“Yes?”

“Where did you hit the Count?”

“Oh, the cheeks.”

“…Fortunately, there were no injuries on you. Be careful in the future.” He said, observing the doll’s hands carefully and was relieved.

“It was the only way to stop it. I was so angry.”

“You must go and wash your hands.”

“Why?”

“You have touched such rubbish. Of course, you should wash it. Don’t touch him again. You’re only getting dirty for nothing.”

…Obviously, Count Nolan is a bad guy, but isn’t it a bit harsh?

“Your hand is on the fierce side, so the Count must have come to his senses.”

“Of course, he must have come to his senses, right?”

As I was about to speak back to Declan, he meekly agreed to the acknowledgment of my fiery fist. Then, he grinned.

“Now, I really feel that you are back.”

He hugged me tightly.

“I was so afraid of losing you again. I’m glad it wasn’t too late.”

There was a fear that he could not shake off in the voice whispering in my ear.

My heart sank at the thought that this event would have reminded him of Chloe’s death again. I’m sorry for reminding him of painful memories, and I want to say that I’m okay now, but my mouth didn’t come off easily.

I couldn’t help but gently pat his chest and convey my heart.

And so, I returned to the Imperial Palace in Declan’s arms.

He gave instructions to Liam as soon as he got off his horse.

“Free those in the Great Hall. Tell Mason to come to the office.”

“Understood.”

Liam bowed his head and headed for the Great Hall.

Declan hurried into the office, put me on the desk, and sat down in front of me.

“Tell me why you asked me to save the Jemina people.”

He wondered about it so much that as soon as he sat down, he asked about it. “Because they were only taken advantage of by Count Nolan. And, Duke Otien was almost ready to use their deaths to bring down His Majesty.”

Declan stared at me with unfamiliar eyes.

“I didn’t want to give excuses to those who tried to stand up to His Majesty. I also didn’t want innocent sacrifices.”

“…How did you know that Duke Otien would do that?”

Declan leaned against the chair and crossed his legs.

“I’ve seen and heard something with your Majesty, but don’t you even know that much?”

“You mean you’ve taken all that into account when you’re kidnapped?”

Declan gave me an interested look.

To be honest, it was possible because I knew the contents of the original story.

“Just because I’m stuck in a doll doesn’t mean I’m really a doll.”

Declan grinned as I crossed my arms and raised my chin proudly.

“I’m going to admit this.”

“See. I told you I was going to protect Your Majesty. Now, would you believe me?”

“Yes. I have some faith.”

I don’t think it’s perfect, but I’ve made some progress, so I decided to be generous with it.

“I think I know what Duke Otien was aiming for… Still, I can’t let those who have expressed their dislike for me alone.”

“These are people who have lost their country. Who wouldn’t be angry in such a situation?”

His face hardened at my words.

“I don’t mean to criticize Your Majesty. It’s just a pity. We hate each other and have no choice but to point our swords at each other.”

“…Jemina is already a vassal of the Empire. If you start caring about these things, we will soon fall into chaos.”

‘As expected, it’s not easy to rehabilitate a tyrant.’

Swallowing a sigh that was about to come out, I got up from my seat and walked closer to Declan.

“Anyway, since you promised me, please spare the Gemina people. Think carefully about the punishment you will inflict on them.”

He gazed at me with a complicated mind.

“The more important thing is to catch the real culprit. First, if you investigate the guild that kidnapped me, there might be evidence.”

If it was Duke Otien, he wouldn’t have left any evidence, though if it was Count Nolan, there was a possibility. It was because he’s like a person who was swayed by emotions when you meet him in person.

“The guild is holding the families of the Jemina people hostage. If you use them, you might be able to convince the Jemina people.”

I used the word ‘use’ to persuade Declan, but I really wanted him to save them.

Knowing that this had failed, Duke Otien would not have left them alive.

“Oh, there’s someone I was talking about.”

“Who?”

“A man who has a sibling named Jay.”

With his eyebrows bent as if dissatisfied, I spoke quickly. “Maybe he can testify that Count Nolan is a client.”

“Do you believe that he will betray his comrades?”

Declan gave him an absurd look.

“I might be able to persuade him well. So, leave it to me.”

I smiled as I recalled the young man who called the doll a guardian angel.

“Will he not see you?”

“I have to go inside the doll and show it to him like now. Your Majesty will deliver the words for me.”

“Are you telling me to convince the sinner now?”

The moment I was about to hit his chest because I was frustrated because of Declan in responding bluntly.

“Erica, please remember that you were inside the doll.”

“It’s because Your Majesty keeps making it frustrating.”

“What am I?”

“Your Majesty, just think about this. You catch Count Nolan this time. Then, you can do damage to Duke Otien.”

Declan made a terrifying expression on his face, but didn’t respond.

Knock, knock.

“Your Majesty, this is Mason.”

“Come in.”

Mason sighed in relief as he saw me on the desk.

“I’m glad. Your Majesty and the doll are safe. Is Erica safe?”

“Yes. The hall?”

“I organized it as you said.

“What about the Crown Prince Jemina?”

“Locked up in the Imperial Palace Prison.”

When I heard that Seian was imprisoned, my eyes widened.

‘No, what else did he do while I’m away?’

I grabbed the back of his neck and asked Declan. “Your Majesty, have you imprisoned the Crown Prince? Why?”

“The kidnappers dropped the Jemina flag on the Imperial Palace and ran away.”

“That’s on purpose! To make Jemina the culprits.”

Declan also shut up as if he could not deny that fact.

“Hurry up, release the Crown Prince. I told you who the real culprit is.”

Even at my words, he stayed still with his eyes closed.

‘Oh my, it’s the Crown Prince this time? He’s like a minefield.’

Now that I’ve done enough to persuade him logically, I had to do something different. I grabbed Declan’s sleeve, waved it, and lowered the corners of my eyes.

“Your Majesty.”

Declan took a deep breath.

‘Did it work? Does it seem to work?’

As he turned his head with a grin inwardly, Mason was startled, then regained his composure.

“Release the Crown Prince.”

“Really?”

At that, Mason questioned with a look of disbelief.

“Yes. The real culprit is Count Nolan.”

“How did you know that?”

“…The Count came to see the kidnappers, to check the doll.”

“Ha. Now, you’re doing everything…”

Mason’s face grew cold as he let out a smirk.

“You don’t have to give them an excuse. Think of the appropriate punishment for the Jemina people caught today.”

“…Aren’t you going to kill them ?”

Hearing Declan, Mason asked with a puzzled face.

“It’s okay to tear them apart and kill them right now, but I made a promise to Erica. I’ll spare them.”

Mason, looking at the doll with a strange expression, seemed to have mixed emotions.

“Find evidence about Count Nolan. Moreover, find out that they also held the families of the Jemina people.”

“Did he threaten them with hostages?”

Mason’s face wrinkled at the words about the hostage.

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