Chapter 11

While he was thinking it was quite unfortunate, the item in question popped out. It was a wad of cotton in a different nature.

Kathia smiled looking at it, and then carefully took it out with her hands to sit it down on the sofa.

“So this is called a ‘doll,’ and you’re saying, you’re going to run a shop that sells these.”

“Yes.”

Hughes crouched in front of the sofa and with a curious expression and carefully examined the doll from every angle. Jean followed suit.

Although they had seen it multiple times when going back and forth to see Kathia, this was their first time examining it up close.

At first glance, it was obvious that it was based on Kathia.

Strands of pink yarn were sewn on top of the head, and two light blue buttons were sewn on the round face for the eyes.

Well… It was in the shape of a person, but it wasn’t a sculpture or a stone statue and was definitely weird as they kept looking at it. The effortlessly-placed facial features and silhouette looked funny but after all, looks decent.

Especially the fully-stuffed pudgy body, arms, and legs. It was… uh. How to explain. Weird. Strange. Peculiar. Wanted to poke at it a little too…

“Cute.”

Looking as if they were mesmerized, Hughes and Jean mumbled before flinching. It felt like they sunk their feet in some river, the action unable to be undone.

Forcefully peeling his eyes from the doll’s buttoned eyes, Hughes cleared his throat and asked.

“T-Then, from now on, are you creating these kinds of dolls, Princess?”

“Hmm, no. I do like dolls that look like people, but I want to try and make dolls of animals first. Pure love for dolls starts with teddy bears, no?”

“A teddy…. bear?”

“Ah, I mean a doll of a bear.”

A bear…? That animal that tears people apart?

At that instant, everyone thought of a stuffed brown bear roaring. Then, Kathia sternly opened her mouth, as if she knew what was going on in their mind.

“I’m telling you right now, but I’m not going to just stuff and sew up a bear hide carpet.”

“If that’s the case, then that’s a relief, but… It’s just that — I’m wondering if dolls in the shape of animals would be popular…”

“Oh my gosh, teddy bears are SO cute though~ Dolls of cats and bunnies are cute too. Why wouldn’t people like dolls the size that they could hold in their arms?”

Hughes, Jean, as well as Madam Murphy’s lips twitched while listening to the bright tone of Kathia. Just by agreeing with her, they were concerned about how it would turn out.

The Brezina Empire was unlike the Jestah Kingdom, which raised a lot of pets, and unlike the Forune Kingdom, which cared for and even gave names to its horses and hunting dogs.

Even if the animals had lives or had high intelligence, they were merely domesticated animals to the citizens of the Brezina Empire.

But then, they were concerned and careful about what to say, whether it would be easier to sell personified animals or not.

“They’ll like them.”

Deon, sitting on the arm of a chair, spoke. His tone was not like comforting a child, but rather, stating as if it would happen, like a prophecy.

With her eyes wide, Kathia smiled.

“Is that right?”

“Yes.”

Looking at the amicable brother and sister pair, the more realistic three swallowed their sighs. Ugh, well — If his imperial majesty is saying it like that, who could argue?

Also, if they were to argue about realism, they should’ve done so before Kathia told them that she was going to leave the palace to open up a store for commoners.

They all understood how much she wanted to leave the palace so they were trying their best to cooperate…

“Oh, look at the time already.”

Kathia mumbled, looking at the reddish rays of the sunset shining through the windows.

Not much was completed but the memorable first day was already coming to an end.

Madam Murphy continued as if she were waiting.

“You should head back to the palace then, gentlemen.”