Chapter 1

「Prologue. Opening Remarks.」

Jingle.

As the pretty pink wooden door opened, a cheerful bell resonated. That signal began to gather the employees, who were scattered throughout the store, in an orderly fashion.

“You have returned. How is the doll you purchased before? If you need any repairs, please don’t hesitate to leave that to us. And as I mentioned before, o-our store owner is d-definitely not the p-p-princess!”

“Jenin. It sounds like you’re going to get caught, so it may be better off for you to shut your mouth. Welcome, customer. You may look at any dolls on display. However, if those eyes lay on our owner for more than three seconds, I’ll destroy you in the name of the Imperial Command, so please do be cautious.”

“Oh dear, Harper! Watch your language! My apologies, dear customer. Pay no attention, and please do look around. Anyhow, your outfit looks great, what brand is it? Is it perhaps by that bastard Joseph? He seems to be doing better nowadays, well, it’s like when the cat’s away, the mice will play*. Hmph hmph. I’m now working as an employee of this doll shop, but if I were to speak for myself…”

*T/N: direct translation of the Korean idiom = in the absence of the tiger, a fox comes in and acts like the king of the cave

“Ugh, stop it, all of you! At this rate, we’ll lose all of the customers. Owner, owner! Come out!”

In response to the urgent call, a young lady rushed downstairs from the second floor.

Prettier than any other doll in the shop, the doll-like lady’s pale cheeks became flushed.

Additionally, on the second floor, where no one should have been, there was the presence of a person.

Hah. All the employees furrowed their eyebrows as if they knew. There was nothing new since this already happened yesterday, and the day before yesterday, and even two days before yesterday.

A tousled pink-haired lady laughed awkwardly and spoke as she combed through her hair with her fingers.

“Welcome to this establishment, where customers’ happiness may be resting here.”

This lax, off-the-wall, rambunctious, mysterious doll shop will open its mysterious doors again, as it is open today as well.

***

「Act 1. Again After Winter」

Episode 1

“You said I’m a witch?”

Hughes and Jean halted at the unexpected comment.

Kathia, who made such a remark, was expressionless.

Kathia almost seemed pleased after bringing up this subject while the guest was occupied for a while during tea time.

Ahem. After clearing his throat, he replied while raising his monocle.

“That’s just a rumor, same as all the other ones spreading throughout the rural village.”

“Ah hah, such a rumor really does exist then.”

“…Princess.”

She got him.

Hughes, suddenly fooled by her, let out a groan.

Kathia, who tricked the emperor’s top aide, stuck her tongue out and smiled. Jean, observing the entire situation, also broke out in laughter.

In any case, Kathia Milo del Brezina has changed.

Whether she became shameless, or unctuous, or perhaps, her malice out of desperation subsided.

Whatever it was, something certainly was different about her.

While contemplating whether the change was completely good or not, Jean barged in.

“Undoubtedly, all those rumors are considered to be defamation of the Imperial family, so, if they offend you, please give the order to cut off all the mouths of the blabbermouths. I’ll release the Order of Knights immediately.”

“Ugh.”

Kathia immediately got sickened by the remark. She couldn’t even stand thinking about that. It wasn’t too long ago when blood was spilled from a purging, so she couldn’t imagine seeing another purging…

“It’s fine. They’re simply rumors…”

Kathia continued in a joking manner after sipping on some black tea.

“In any case, maybe I really am a witch.”

A clear, low-toned voice suddenly interrupted. If the voice were compared to a musical instrument, it was like the lowest note of a perfectly-tuned harp.

“Deon, you came?”

Kathia greeted a man who was approaching her. The man with pitch-black hair and eyes as if sunlight couldn’t shine through them and a beautifully cold face nodded and sat down across Kathia.

As soon as her eyes met with his, Kathia took the initiative.

“Have you accompanied his Royal Highness Cesar well?”

Today is the day for the broad-minded King of Forune, who insists on being half-naked even in bitter-cold winds, to return to his country.

Per his status and our relations, we should’ve held a grand farewell party for him, but Cesar was so adamant against it, we had to scale down the party as much as possible to see him off.

What private greetings did he give to Kathia last night?

He mentioned something along the lines of when he looked at all those stuck-up aristocrats dressed in gaudy clothes in crowds, he couldn’t stand the sight of them and felt suffocated, sick to his stomach.

Although she was trying to be discrete, Kathia agreed wholeheartedly.

In any case, Deon, who had to respect Cesar’s wishes and sent him off as so, continued speaking while nodding slowly.

“Yes. What were you talking about, a witch?”

Crap, there’s no point in BSing. With her eyes slanting downward and frowning, Kathia finally spoke the truth.

“…They say I’m a witch. I heard such a rumor is going around.”

“…From where.”

Unlike his endlessly-kind image, his voice hardened. As the furrow of his eyebrow deepened, Hughes and Jean at Kathia’s side started to slowly back away. They looked as if they were going to run away.

“It’s just that, mouths and ears are always open everywhere.”

“And then there are stupid people spreading the rumors around.”

The black eyes shot towards and pierced Hughes and Jean. Damn it. Our Spiritus, please have mercy.

That was the moment for their prayer when they lost the will to run away.

“Good grief, it’s a sin being pretty!”

What?

All three men’s attention flew towards Kathia.

After garnering their attention, Kathia put her hand to her cheek and continued without changing her expression.

“It’s just that, there’s a rumor going around because I look so beautiful unlike any other human; I must be a witch then. Even the dress I wore became so trendy in the southern area. They even call it the ‘mesmerizing, enchanted dress.’ Isn’t that right, Hughes?”

“T-The truth, it is indeed…”

But to speak out loud about that is a little… excessive.

What was more unbelievable than Kathia’s self-praise was Deon’s reaction. He was so furious, he was ready to skin Jean and Hughes alive, but he calmly raised his cup of tea.

I agree, it’s that kind of mood.