Chapter 18

Chapter 18

“Are you talking about the Crown Prince of Jemina?”

“Isn’t it natural? To him, I am the enemy who ruined the country.”

Declan gazed out his window with dry eyes.

“Nonetheless, it doesn’t seem like he’s the one who’s going to work behind the scenes.”

“You don’t know what kind of seat this is?”

“….”

“I met the Duke of Otien while I was out in the garden. He was leading the nobles.” Saying that, he looked at Mason’s heavy expression and turned away.

“Still, it went quietly this time.”

“He wouldn’t do that. They say Chloe got my eyes obscured.”

“Well, there are rumors of that.”

As far as Mason knew, it was quite widespread.

‘But, as Duke Otien said, getting an empress is the solution…’

In the original work, Declan only brought in the Empress, who was also in the hands of Duke Otien. Therefore, marriage itself should be blocked at the source. He can’t give Duke Otien a small excuse.

“Well. Rumors are just rumors, anyway.”

“But…”

Mason looked carefully and opened his mouth. “The Duke’s words are not entirely wrong. When His Majesty welcomes the Empress, such rumors will diminish.”

At that, Declan raised his eyebrows at once.

“I don’t need any marriage.”

“If you welcome the Empress, she will be able to consolidate your power as an Emperor and give you peace of mind…”

“Peace of mind? Consolidate Imperial power?”

He snapped back and snorted. Declan continued, “It will only hurt my head. They will probably try to kill me after giving birth to an heir.”

“Your Majesty, that is too much of a thought.”

Mason kept his mouth shut with a hardened face.

“Each one is the same. No one you can trust.”

He then let out a small sigh at Declan’s resolute words.

‘It may be difficult right now, but maybe it will be possible after twisting the original story.’ He needed someone he could trust. That way, Declan will be someone who can learn to love and share.

“…This time, it is said that delegations from the Kingdom of Ielro and the Kingdom of Tierra will be sent to the Princess’s birthday banquet.”

Mason continued his report as if he didn’t want to talk about marriage anymore.

‘A delegation?’

I reflexively grabbed my head that was about to turn.

‘Is he sure Stella or Jennifer isn’t coming? Even in the original, it has nothing to do with the delegation…’

No—

Jennifer was involved.

‘It’s okay. It wasn’t the birthday banquet back then. Besides, Jennifer appears after Stella appears.’ I managed to calm my frightened heart.

“They’re probably trying to look good in case I’ll invade them. Well, it’s all right to lower the tension.”

“Yes,” Mason answered with a dark face.

“Aren’t you going to dance at this banquet too? The young girls must be looking forward to it.”

“I don’t dance. I like someone. It’s just our Chl—”

Pausing the hand that was stroking my hair, Declan tried to spit out the name Chloe.

“I understand what you mean. However, please don’t dance with Her Highness the Princess at this banquet.”

Mason frowned slightly.

‘What? He danced with the doll?’

I got chills when I imagined Declan dancing in the middle of the ballroom holding a doll.

“…Go out when you’re done reporting.”

As soon as Mason left, I gazed at Declan and said firmly. “I’m not going to dance with your Majesty.”

“Why?”

He replied, furrowed his eyebrows at my words.

‘He’s crazy, no, he’s doing it again. Hahaha—Emperor dancing with dolls? He wouldn’t look dignified or prestigious.’ I wanted to curse right away, though I thought he would literally shatter if I did, so I quickly changed my mind.

“What if the main character doesn’t dance?”

“…I’m not Her Highness the Princess. So, there’s no reason to dance at a place that is not my birthday banquet.”

Declan’s face darkened in an instant.

Something came up in my chest at that sight, but I can’t go easy right now. If I get pushed here, I will have to put flowers on my hair along with Declan.

“I know how much your Majesty misses Her Highness the Princess…”

I lowered my eyebrows and gave a sad expression while I finished my sentence.

“…But, please don’t identify me with the Princess.”

Hearing that, he stared at me, revealing his complicated feelings.

After a while, his mouth finally opened and his voice trembled slightly.

“I don’t think of you as Chloe. You know I can’t.”

Declan lowered his gaze. “Though because there are things I’ve been doing… I can’t change it all at once.”

Closing his eyes quietly, he then took a deep breath.

‘It makes me feel like a bad person…’

I walked back and forth before placing my hand on the back of his hand.

“I’m not asking you not to hold the Princess’s birthday banquet. I’m just asking you not to put me in the place where Her Majesty should be.”

“You can’t have a birthday banquet without the main character.”

It was a pity that he kept making excuses that were unlike himself.

“How about holding a banquet to commemorate the Princess? People who remember the Princess will gather together to eat the food that Her Majesty liked and share memories.”

Every time Declan blinked his eyes, his silver eyelashes fluttered slightly.

“Then, you won’t forget Her Highness the Princess. People will truly honor you.”

As I tried to grab Declan’s hand with both hands, he slowly took my hand.

“I’ll be by your side.”

“…Erica.”

A shrill voice resounded softly.

I reached out toward his sadly contorted eyes and gently wiped the corners of his eyes. He quickly denied. “I’m not crying.”

“You can cry in front of me.”

He did not shed a single tear, even though his face was distorted as if he was about to cry.

How many tears are there inside him?

I continued to wipe his eyes with my hand without saying a word. It was a pity that I couldn’t convey the warmth of a human hand, but for now, this was the best.

How much time has passed?

He gently wrapped his hand around me.

“It’s all right.”

I gently put my hand away.

“This year, the preparations for the banquet have already been completed, so it is difficult to change it. So, can’t you just be patient this time? Next year…”

He stroked my hand with an apologetic expression.

“I’ll think about what you said.”

Well, that alone was enough.

“Thank you for understanding what I mean.”

As I nodded my head, Declan silently stroked my hair.

“You’ll feel cramped to be trapped inside a doll, but I don’t think you’re in a bad state right now.”

As a soul, you always seem to disappear. Declan’s eyes twitched as I said that. “Still, even if I persist as a spirit, I will not leave your side.”

Declan grinned as I clenched my fists.

“Isn’t this really why I can’t leave the doll? I really want to get out.”

At that moment, I felt like I was being sucked into something.

“Huh…? Your Majesty, I’m back!”

“Right.”

Declan looked surprised, too.

“How did this happen?”

Is it something unstable? If so, this could happen more often in the future.

“What the hell is the reason?”

“Well, I’m a little sadder than that.”

Saying so, Declan looked at the doll and me in turn.

“Why?”

“It was so cute seeing the doll toddle around.”

He needs to get a smack in the back before he can come to his senses. Thinking so, I glanced at Declan once and then turned my head away.

Ah! Now’s not the time to quarrel like this.

“I’ll be out for a while.”

Declan’s eyebrows rose at the word of going outside. “Where? You don’t even know the way.”

“I know the entrance to the garden. I’ll have to check if I remember correctly.”

“Then, let’s go out together.”

As I jumped out of my chair, I stopped Declan with my arms wide open. He staggered back as if startled by my sudden action.

“There is something I want to check.”

“What?”

Declan furrowed his eyebrows.

“How far apart can I be from the doll? If you go together, the doll must move with you.”

As I finished my words, he gazed at the doll and glanced back at me again. I’ve been thinking about what to do, but in this case, pushing is the best way.

“I’ll go up to the entrance to the garden and come right away.”

“Your words and actions are different.”

As he tilted his head to get what I mean, he mumbled a little, narrowing his brow even more. “You said that you would protect me, and you want to leave as soon as you can move.”

What, is he arguing now? Is he really saying we’re not together?

The unfamiliar appearance was embarrassing, although I didn’t hate it. When I looked at Declan, it was cute to see his mouth protruding slightly.

“Your Majesty will only be in the office. And nothing dangerous will happen today.”

I didn’t have a headache yesterday.

“How are you sure?”

Nonetheless, he still looked dissatisfied.

“Anyway, there is something like that. Then I’ll go!”

Leaving Declan, I left the office with a smile.

I walked slowly, remembering the path I had taken with Declan.

“Now, I know for sure the way to the garden.”

Looking around the foreground, neatly trimmed shrubs formed a geometric pattern. As I moved my gaze along the middle road, I saw a colorful fountain and tall trees lined up on either side.

“…There’s nothing wrong with my body so far, so should I go and look around for a little bit?”

Declan’s expression didn’t look good when I left the room, but I didn’t want to go right in.

And so, I roamed my feet in freedom and found pink hair.

“Who is it…?”

Behind a young man with pink hair was a servant and four knights.

“Is he a low-ranking aristocrat?”

As I got closer, I saw a very pretty face, enough to be called a woman at first glance.

“Wow, it’s really pretty.”

Unknowingly, I exclaimed in admiration. He was a handsome man, who differed from Declan. His contemplation full of excellence evoked a neat feeling.

“Was there pink hair in the novel…?”

Thinking back at the original story, I couldn’t help but be astonished.