Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Chapter 38
“When you enter the audience room, I won’t look at you, I won’t even talk to you. I have to make sure the puppet master can see you.”
“It’s fine. We’ve already said we’re going to do that. I’ll be quiet.”
“Yes. I don’t know what might happen, so just stay by my side.”
I nodded my head slightly.
“Well then, let’s go.”
Declan took the doll in one of his arms and headed to the audience room.
As he opened the door and entered, the old white-haired gentleman who had been sitting in the chair stood up.
“Is that person a puppet master?”
I was more nervous than expected when I met him in person.
“Greetings Sun of Burgundy, Your Majesty the Emperor. How have you been?”
“Get up. Theodore, you are still the same.”
“What do you mean, the same? The wrinkles on my forehead have increased several times.”
The puppet master Theodore smiled broadly.
“It was difficult to contact you.”
“Is that so? Is there any problem with the doll…”
Theodore looked at the doll anxiously.
“Sit down for now. I think we’ll have a long talk.”
When Declan was seated, Theodore sat across from him.
I carefully looked at Theodore, who sat quietly next to Declan.
‘It’s very different from what I imagined.’
Because of the dolls, I imagined his skinny face and appearance, but Theodore had a good complexion and gave the impression of a kind grandfather.
The sight calmed me down a bit, but I wasn’t completely relieved.
‘Is it possible that you can’t see me?’
I struggled to calm my restless mind and make eye contact with him.
‘Look at me! I’m here!’
I prayed and prayed earnestly without taking my eyes off Theodore, but his focus was only on Declan.
“Your Majesty, may I look at the doll for a moment?”
“There is nothing wrong with the doll.”
At Theodore’s question, Declan refused, holding the doll more tightly.
Nevertheless, Theodore smiled kindly and carefully looked at the doll from the distance.
“As you said, there doesn’t seem to be a major problem with the doll. If that’s the case, why did you seek me?”
Declan straightened his spine and met Theodore’s eyes head on.
“Are you just a puppet master?”
“I don’t know what you mean, but I only have a talent for making dolls.”
“Is it possible that you can use magic?”
Declan narrowed his eyes, watching Theodore’s reaction.
‘Even black magic is fine. As long as you can see it, I don’t care.’
I was afraid of witchcraft, but I hoped that Theodore wasn’t an ordinary puppet master at this moment.
“Hahaha, if I knew how to use magic, would I be doing this? I must have already made a lot of money.”
“What about sorcery?”
“Your Majesty, do you feel a foreign energy from me?”
“… I don’t know again. It might be hidden.”
Their sharp eyes met, but Theodore responded with a smile on his face.
“Your Majesty, I only make dolls because I love clay. You are welcome to bring a wizard or a shaman and check it out.”
As soon as I heard that answer, I lost all strength in my body.
‘Still, I don’t know yet. You didn’t say you didn’t see me.’
I struggled to push away the negative thoughts and managed to contain my mind that was drifting far afield.
Declan watched Theodore piercingly to see if it was true.
“Is this doll one you made yourself?”
“Isn’t that the child that Your Majesty had entrusted me with the production of? I remember it clearly because it was the most painstaking work.”
Theodore looked at the doll with delight.
“But why are you asking me such questions? Have I in any way disrespected your Majesty…”
“Theodore.”
Declan looked straight at Theodore.
“Is there no one else here that you can see, but you and me?”
‘Please, please find out!’
I begged and begged in my heart, staring intently at Theodore’s lips.
Theodore smiled deeply and tilted his head slightly.
“Is there anyone else here besides Your Majesty and me? I can’t see it.”
My hand, which had been clenched in tension, dropped.
He had no idea. He was just blind.
‘No, I must have heard it wrong. I’m so nervous… ‘
My head denied this situation, citing fifty thousand reasons against my will.
“…do you really see nothing?”
“You seem a bit strange today. I can only see your Majesty and the doll I made.”
Theodore gave a slightly perplexed expression.
Tuk.
At that moment, it felt like something broke inside of me.
There was no sound anymore.
It felt like my head was spinning and being sucked to the floor.
In the end, I couldn’t stand it and spit it out.
“This isn’t it! Don’t do this to me!”
I murmured helplessly and covered my face with my trembling hands.
The anger and fear that I had endured for so long burst out in a rush.
I thought that if I met the puppet master, I would be able to understand the reason for my possession in this place.
Maybe he’ll get me out of the doll. Maybe he knows how to be human.
It was because there was such hope that I could not go crazy even though I was locked in a doll.
‘…everything is over.’
The patience that had barely endured while waiting for the puppet master was shattered.
“What did I do so wrong? What did I do so wrong!”
I couldn’t help myself with resentment and anger at someone I didn’t know.
“Erica.”
No. I hate it all. Now it’s over.
“Erica. Please look at me.”
Declan’s solemn voice continued.
Why are you calling me that? Why would you?
There’s no reason to feel sorry for the puppet master for not recognizing me.
Didn’t you just need the doll to be safe?
When I thought of that, the resentment I had suppressed until now flooded through me.
“…it’s your Majesty’s fault!”
I raised my head and looked at Declan resentfully. He looked bewildered at my sudden remark.
Had he not been a tyrant, my future would not have been so bleak.
I wouldn’t have to struggle to survive like this.
Thinking like that, it seemed that it was all his fault that I possessed this place.
“It’s all Your Majesty’s fault! The sins are all Your Majesty’s fault!”
As I lost my temper and shouted at Declan, his face froze.
Normally, I would have recognized that he was hurt, but I couldn’t see anything.
“I hate you! Why did you do that? It’s your Majesty’s fault, why do I have to accept it?”
No. I mean, I want to get out of here.
I cried out like a madman.
“Haha. I can’t even cry! I’m human, so why can’t I cry…”
Am I a person? Am I a monster? Why did you make me like this? Why!
Declan was pale, not knowing what to do.
“I don’t want to be here! I miss Mom and Dad. I want to go back!”
The emotions that had been suppressed for so long exploded all at once, and I just shouted as I remembered.
After screaming like that for a while, I got scared.
‘Am I going to live here forever as a doll?’
I don’t want to die. I hate curses, I hate pain!
“I want to get out of here. I’m not a doll. I want to get out of the doll.”
I desperately grabbed Declan’s collar, lest he ever forsake me, but my hands were only around the clothes.
I kept holding on to him..
“The Emperor can do anything. …Get me out of here. I want to live!”
Declan’s face fell in an instant.
He couldn’t even breathe properly with his painfully contorted face.
“…I will do anything for you. So stop crying.”
Many emotions were mixed in his green eyes as he looked at me.
He approached me cautiously.
“As you said, I am the Emperor. There is nothing I cannot do.”
“Your Majesty, what should I do now? I don’t know what to do!”
“You don’t have to do anything. Just trust me.”
Declan continued repeating those words and wiped around my eyes that he couldn’t even touch.
After that, I got angry with Declan again, poured out my resentment and cried out for my life.
Declan continued talking to me tirelessly.
He said he would do it for me. I don’t have to worry.
I was only able to come to my senses after purging all my emotions.
And I realized what I had done.
‘Crazy.’
That was the only thought I had.
I turned my head to look for the puppet master, but I did not see the old man who should be sitting in front of him.
“Your condition didn’t seem right, so Theodore was sent out immediately.”
Declan, noticing my intentions, spoke softly.
I couldn’t afford to face him.
‘What have I done?’
It wasn’t his fault, but I hurt him.
“Are you okay now?”
I didn’t know what to say, so I just kept my head down.
“Theodore’s still waiting. I have something to ask him, are you okay?”
I didn’t want to see him anymore because I had lost all hope.
“You can go to the bedroom if you don’t want to join me.”
‘Why didn’t you ask me why I blamed you, all the strange things I said?’
Among my frantic shouts, there were many things that would sound outlandish.
I hesitated, then slowly lifted my head, and a painfully distorted face caught my eye.
‘Why are you so sad?’
You should be angry as the Emperor for what rudeness I did. You must be upset.
‘And you should be suspicious. My identity.’
But you’re looking at me so pitifully? Why are you in so much pain?
Even though I was upset and angry, I was sorry.
“Your Majesty.”
I opened my mouth with difficulty.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to explain. Later. If you want to talk… then tell me.”
The moment I heard that, I wanted to cry again.
I looked at Declan without a word.
He made eye contact without avoiding my gaze.
‘This is the only place I will be now. The place where you are.’
My mind, which had been spinning endlessly under his worried gaze, gradually regained stability.
It felt like the ground that had collapsed was firmly supporting me again.
“Can I stay here?”
It may have sounded as if asking if I could stay in this audience room, but it doesn’t matter.
I just felt like I had to ask this right now.
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