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Chapter 31
“Just in case of unexpected events. I’ll interrogate the guy who has a younger brother named Jay himself, so set up a seat.”
“Is he the leader of this gang?”
“No, he helped Erica.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll explain later. First, attach a shadow to Count Nolan.”
The Shadow is a secret organization that only the Emperor can operate, and they are excellent at stealth, so they collected information through surveillance and spying.
Although it was mentioned occasionally in the original story, it did not function properly after Declan was seduced by magic.
“Understood.”
Mason went out with a more relaxed face than when he came in. Perhaps, because today’s event was an incident, many people thought that they would die.
“Your Majesty, thank you for keeping your promise.”
As Declan, who made a huge concession, so I gave a cool thank you.
Just pushing on anything can backfire, so you need rewards in between. I got up from my seat, bowed politely, smiled brightly, and Declan grinned and patted my head.
“If you didn’t come back safely like this, it wouldn’t have happened. So, from now on, don’t leave my side.”
“I want to do that too, but I don’t think it will be easy because of this incident.”
I wish I could be human.
Looking at the doll’s body, I let out a sigh.
As I felt a warm gaze, I gazed up and saw Declan’s green eyes, which were distinctly different. He tilted his head and thought it would be no big deal, and I said the things I couldn’t finish.
“By the way, the Princess birthday banquet has been messed up.”
“It’s okay. You did your best.”
He smiled faintly and stroked my hair.
“I put out the urgent fire, take a break. Eat.”
Come to think of it, Declan and I had stayed up all night.
When I answered, he picked me up and headed to his bedroom.
As I entered the bedroom, something in front of the window caught my attention. Covered in white cloth, it was as high as a table and as wide as the length of a sofa.
“Your Majesty, what is that?”
I raised my hand and pointed at it.
“Ah.”
It seemed as though he had forgotten as well, though moments later, he recalled what it was.
“Did you bring in new furniture? But, why did you cover the fabric?”
“This is not for me to use. It’s a present I prepared for you.”
“My present?”
It’s not even my birthday, but I got a present.
“Yes, because at the banquet, everything will be given in Chloe’s name… I’m sorry, and thank you.”
I just blinked, not knowing what to say.
“I hope you like it.”
When he took off the white cloth, there were pieces of furniture that were just the right size for the doll.
Tables and sofas, dressing tables with mirrors, desks and even reading tables. It just looked expensive. In addition, it was covered with splendid and elaborate golden decorations.
The doll’s room was surrounded on all sides by walls that were high enough to prevent the doll from falling. The walls were lined with soft cushions, and the floors were all lined with soft carpets.
“Wow.”
Apart from the gorgeous and pretty furniture, I was amazed at the meticulousness of protecting the dolls.
“You have to climb stairs to get to the pedestal, but this will be safe.”
Declan said, pointing to the stairway that held firmly to the handrail. “If you put it on the floor, it could be dangerous, so I raised it on purpose.”
The unexpected gift put a smile on my face.
“Thank you! It was just what I needed.”
“Didn’t you ask me to make a room before?”
It was just a passing word.
Surprisingly, my heart fluttered at his attentiveness and kindness. It wasn’t for Chloe, it was a gift for me and Erica, so it was even more meaningful.
“Please drop me off. I want to take a look.”
As I shook my back with anticipation, he smiled a little and lowered me down to where the furniture was.
I hand-swept the furniture one by one.
I sat on a chair, looked at myself, and glanced in the mirror of the dressing table, and then I lay flat on the sofa.
“Your Majesty, can I use this as a bed?”
Declan smiled slightly as I rolled around on the couch.
“Even when you are outside the doll, it seems like you are often lying on the sofa, so I asked them to make it a little wider.”
“I like it.”
I laughed happily.
“Oh, and this one.”
I got up and walked towards the reading desk.
The first thing that caught my eye when the white cloth was rolled up was this reading table.
Seeing this, I could see how much thought he put into preparing the gift. The reading table was large enough to support and view an actual book.
“Now, I think I can read a book by myself more comfortably. Thank you.”
I felt a sense of embarrassment as I approached Declan and grabbed his arm.
He patted my back lightly as I smirked and rested my head on my arm.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever given a present to anyone other than Chloe. It’s nice to hear that you’re happy.”
It sounded as if he had no room or anyone to share his heart with, and my hand that held his arm grew stronger.
Even if it was a doll that only felt cold, I thought it might be able to soothe his loneliness a little.
I was inside the doll and held in Declan’s arms, and headed to the Imperial Palace Prison.
The dungeon with torches lit everywhere was quite dark.
As I got used to the darkness, Declan stopped his steps. In front were prisons made of iron bars and knights guarding them.
“Are you really going to interrogate yourself?”
Mason, who was with him, asked anxiously.
“Erica says she wants to talk, so I can’t help it. Everyone else but you should go.”
Mason’s face grew serious as Declan whispered softly.
As I entered the iron gate, I saw a man sitting on the floor, bound.
His appearance was unfamiliar, though looking at his clear brown eyes, it must have been the young man.
‘Hmm. I’m sorry, but he’s still far from a child’s innocence.’
Not only did he have a large physique, but he also had a rough impression. He was a little, no, a lot different from the way his eyes were shining while shouting at the guardian angel.
The young man looked at Declan and quickly bowed his head.
“The Sun of Burgundy, greetings, Your Majesty.”
“It’s funny to be greeted by a guy who tried to harm me.”
Declan sat on the chair opposite him and crossed his legs.
“To try and harm Your Majesty! I never meant to… we are just thieves.”
“You didn’t mean to harm me by stealing from and threatening me?” Declan smirked, saying it was surprising.
The young man peered at me in Declan’s arms and bit his lip.
“I didn’t want to do it. Especially hurting dolls. However, I have no choice but to make a living…”
The young man was feeling more guilty about the fact that he almost injured the doll than he did for threatening the Emperor.
“Look. Am I right? That person regards dolls as sacred.”
As I spoke triumphantly, Declan came out and looked at the young man with a curious expression.
“Is Her Highness all right?”
The young man couldn’t come close to me, so he pulled his head out and checked the condition of the doll.
Seeing that, Declan then turned his body slightly to block his gaze.
“Your Majesty, I can’t see him.”
I grumbled because I couldn’t see the young man, and Declan furrowed his brow in disapproval. Nevertheless, he was still blocking my view.
“Your Majesty, how do I talk like this? Hold me right away.”
“Tsk.”
In the end, he kicked his tongue and turned his body reluctantly.
The young man withdrew his body when he realized that Declan had seen him. No matter how much he stole things, it was an unexpected reaction for someone belonging to a guild that committed all kinds of illegality.
‘Actually, it was unique since it looked like he could easily beat even a bear, and yet he called me a guardian angel.’
Anyway, I’m glad I was able to try this method.
“Your Majesty, what are you doing?”
I lightly touched Declan, who was looking at the young man with his eyes looking down on trivial things.
“What’s your name?”
“Oh, my name is Hans.”
“Why don’t you ask me to save you? Do you not know how serious the crime of kidnapping and trying to harm the Princess is?”
The young man was afraid of Declan, although he did not cling to him like a man who had given up on everything.
“I did it to make a living, but it was right that I did something wrong.”
Hans bowed his head.
“I know that you have a younger brother… The only one in your family.”
The corners of Hans’ eyes, who raised his head, were painfully distorted. “When I think of Jay, I want to beg His Majesty for life. Still… that doesn’t make the sins go away.”
It was hard to see the sad face.
“Since Her Highness the Princess is safe, the guardian angel will protect our Jay.”
As Hans said that, the corners of his eyes got wet.
This is enough for him to decide what to do.
“Your Majesty, now tell him what I said.”
I tapped Declan, and he gazed down at me.
“Do I have to say it as it is?”
“Yeah. There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s the same.”
Declan sighed and frowned.
“You haven’t forgotten the promise you made with me?”
Before coming here, I told him what he was going to say to Hans, but he was disgusted and refused. After a long time of persuasion, Declan demanded a price, and I agreed to grant what I was forced to do.
When I remembered the price Declan mentioned, I let out a sigh.
Then, I saw Hans, who opened his eyes wide and took a deep breath.
“Are, are you having a conversation with Her Highness the Princess right now?”
“Yes.”
Declan replied sarcastically as if he had expected his reaction.
“So. Do, do you believe that Her Majesty also has a guardian angel?”
“I believe. I can hear the voices of Heaven…”
Declan barely spoke the words with a face of skepticism. I remembered the look of him who was disgusted with that line, and I barely resisted the burst of laughter.
Mason, who was standing next to him, stared at Declan’s condition with a strange expression on his face.
Perhaps, he was checking to see if he was sane.
“Re, really?”
Hans looked at Declan in disbelief.
“Then…”
Declan nodded his head broadly.
“Hello, Hans.”
Just in time, I waved my hand at Hans, and he bowed his head.
“Guardian angel…?”
He continued, barely holding back the desire to scratch his entire body when he heard the word ‘guardian angel.’;
“You told me your plan, so I was able to save the doll. Thanks.”
Declan, who needed to deliver the message, was still quiet. When I turned around, I saw a lot of wrinkled faces.
‘He really doesn’t want to do it…’
Though I couldn’t give up.
“Your Majesty, hurry up.”
“Haa, really.”
Declan sighed deeply at my prompting.
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