Chapter 44

The party finally ended in the evening.

I sprawled across the table, reflecting on the party that had been full of shock and confusion. The name of the party itself was far removed from common sense.

‘A social party of dolls to celebrate me making my first doll friend.’

Why would dolls hold a social party?

I didn’t want to know why everyone at the party was carrying dolls. Moreover, the splendor and scale were truly overwhelming.

‘The epitome of budget waste.’

Fatigue washed over me as I grew tired of thinking about it.

Sen approached me as I was lying there, seemingly concerned, while she cleared away the dishes and leftover food. The party had been so large that cleanup was taking time.

Sen spoke to me as I blankly watched the maids moving about diligently.

“Grand Princess, how was the party today?”

“It was surprising in many ways.”

It was so full of incomprehensible things that I didn’t know what to point out. Like the thoughts of the people who had made time to gather for this party.

‘I’d like to unsee what I’ve seen.’

Especially Lucas’s incredible appearance was painful to recall.

As I was ruminating over the numerous events at the party, Sen’s voice cut through my thoughts.

“I really enjoyed today.”

“But you were busy the whole time; it must have been hard.”

“Working for the Grand Princess brings more fulfillment than hardship.”

At those sincere words, I inadvertently met Sen’s eyes. The happy smile on her face shone so brightly it was almost blinding.

***

In truth, what I found most incomprehensible was the kindness of many people surrounding me in this life.

Even in my past life, I had never experienced a party arranged solely for me. Perhaps the unfamiliarity and awkwardness made the shock even greater.

<Grand Princess, would you become friends with my rabbit doll too?>

“Liat. Isn’t the most impressive doll here the strong bear doll I brought?”

“Why do you only call me by name at times like this?”

“Grand Princess! Please socialize with us who have become rabbits. We brought dolls too.”

Why to someone like me, who is nothing special?

What value could there be in an illegitimate imperial princess who was merely a pretext for rebellion? Having lived a life where I had to prove my worth, I couldn’t understand all the situations unfolding.

Like the maids who sincerely wished for my happiness, even if they had saved my life.

“I was happy to see everyone welcoming the Grand Princess’s first friend.”

“Why would they welcome me?”

“Because the Grand Princess is lovable, of course.”

I was momentarily stunned by those words spoken without a trace of doubt, but then I smiled. Yes. Even if I’m not great, that’s how you see me.

Seeing my faint smile, Sen’s lips twitched in response.

“This party was a huge success! Since it turned out this way, should we suggest holding it regularly?”

“No. That’s not necessary.”

If we held another one, the spirit might look at me with something close to disgust. I recalled the explicit curse that had lodged in my ear.

‘Must be a tough spirit.’

After cursing, the spirit had remained quiet without any particular movement. Thanks to that, others couldn’t discover the doll’s special nature.

No one would know that I had been watching the doll—or rather, the spirit—the entire time.

Sen recalled something and clapped her hands lightly.

“And Lucas was so cute today, trying to stay by the Grand Princess’s side.”

“I found him a bit scary.”

“Well… the outfit he was wearing did evoke that kind of emotion.”

“A bit?”

“…I wonder where he purchased such a thing.”

That’s exactly what I was thinking.

Moreover, Lucas became subtly anxious when more people started talking to me. I remembered what he had whispered as he waddled over.

“No matter how many friends you make, I’m still your first friend as Kashian’s comrade, right?”

When I reluctantly agreed, Lucas’s cheeks turned pink. He elegantly drank his tea with hands transformed into bear paws due to his costume.

“I knew it. That’s only natural.”

Looking back, it was a tiring and eventful party.

“It’s been a tough day.”

Sen wrapped a thin blanket around me as I rubbed my eyes, full of drowsiness.

“By the way, what’s the real reason you chose Mr. Daebak as your first friend? You had many dolls before, didn’t you?”

“Because he’s special.”

“In what way?”

What should I answer?

If I wanted to stay with the doll from now on, I needed to give Sen a reason she could accept.

I decided to sell my conscience and tell a small lie.

“It’s a secret. Daebak wasn’t abandoned.”

“What?”

“I’m only telling you this, so keep it to yourself.”

“Of course! You can trust only me!”

I was counting on Sen spreading my words to everyone before the day was over. I put my lips to Sen’s ear and whispered secretively.

“Actually, Daebak is a fairy. I read in a book that fairies visit children who are lonely.”

“Grand Princess…”

It wasn’t a lie that the doll was special, since there was indeed a spirit inside the magical tool in the form of a doll.

‘Meeting a spirit is a miracle.’

If I could go find traces of Juno before my life ended with the spirit’s help. The spirit was a stroke of luck that met my selfish desire to live a little longer.

“So I hope Daebak won’t leave me and will stay by my side.”

I wouldn’t be able to stop the spirit if it were determined to leave.

I buried my face in the doll’s fluffy belly and closed my eyes. The doll’s round arm lifted slightly and then fell back down.

‘The spirit moved!’

I had suspected it since finding the precious magical tool abandoned in such an odd place. This spirit probably escaped from some laboratory and came here.

If so, I intended to wait until the spirit lowered its guard on its own.

***

Stupid kid.

Tristan pressed the sleeping child’s soft cheek. She looked foolish, opening her mouth and mumbling without any wariness.

‘A fairy, she says?’

The stupid child had fallen head over heels without even knowing what she had picked up. The situation was flowing exactly as he wanted, yet he felt uncomfortable.

‘It’s good that the kid is stupid.’

He had thought she was a weakling who could manipulate his father and brother from behind. He was going to expose the true nature of this child pretending to be innocent.

That’s what he had decided.

But the child he actually met seemed lonely despite monopolizing his father’s and brother’s attention.

‘What does she have to be lonely about?’

A splendid party was held just to please one little girl. The Grand Duke’s vassals, knights, and his own brother had made fools of themselves.

Especially his brother’s muscular bear… outfit was horrifying.

‘I don’t like any of this.’

Tristan remembered his brother’s reaction when he had begged for attention long ago.

“I don’t have time to play with you. Instead of living so pathetically, why don’t you train?”

“Am I a bother to you?”

“Yes. Unlike you, a genius, I don’t have the luxury of spending time idly.”

Even apart from his brother, there was no one in the mansion who welcomed him.

‘Consider me a nuisance then.’

He didn’t need family members who found him bothersome, either. He could enjoy himself perfectly well alone without such things.

“Pathetic and weak.”

He was different from the child who made a mere doll her friend just because she had no friends.

“Would you like me to massage your shoulders, Mr. Daebak?”

“Promise you won’t leave me.”

“It’s a secret. Daebak wasn’t abandoned.”

A face cowed by the fear of being disliked. The child seemed to truly believe he was a fairy.

As if fairies existed.

His mind was confused because of the child who tried to please him without knowing the truth that anyone should know. Though she called him a fairy who came to her like a miracle, she, too, would soon leave to find another doll friend.

“You’re just the same.”

Tristan didn’t believe in something like eternal affection.

“Goodbye, kid.”

He decided to stop collecting information about the child through the doll’s body. After glaring at the child, he jumped off the bed where he had been lying with her.

After landing lightly on the floor, he slipped through the open door without hesitation. Unfortunately, maids were gathered in the hallway, chatting.

“Today’s party was quite successful, wasn’t it?”

“Of course! Seeing the Grand Princess fall asleep so early, she must have been very tired.”

“The Grand Duke instructed us to take good care of the Grand Princess’s emotional wounds.”

Emotional wounds for that child?

Hidden behind a wall, he watched the backs of the maids. Now was his chance to escape the hallway while the maids were absorbed in conversation.

‘It might be the child’s weakness.’

Setting aside his urge to run away, he leaned against the wall and eavesdropped on the maids’ conversation. Just then, one maid answered his question.

“After all, the Grand Princess was imprisoned in a tower as a slave to a dark magician.”

A lie. The child Father adopted was supposed to be of common birth.

He had thought she was a child who had grown up without any worries or concerns.

“I heard that even eating was difficult there. It brings tears to my eyes thinking about that young person living in a cage.”

“And we neglected and mistreated her for no reason at first.”

“But now she has a precious friend in Mr. Daebak, so she’ll be fine.”

Why am I remembering the child’s smiling face looking at me at this moment? Tristan felt his chest sink heavily and dropped his hand.

‘What’s so special about that past?’

There were plenty of people in this world more pitiful than the child. Above all, that child would now live in luxury as the Grand Princess in the Grand Duke’s residence.

But had the child wanted that?

“I read in a book that fairies visit children who are lonely.”

Damn it.

Tristan abandoned his plan to leave the room and turned around. If he watched the child a bit more, he might find clues to expel her from the mansion.

‘I’m definitely not sympathizing with her!’

He just wanted to stay by the child’s side a little longer. As he was about to return to the room, he looked up at droplets falling on his head.

“Woof!”

A dog as big as a house appeared from somewhere and wagged its tail at him. Before he could escape, the dog grabbed his head in its mouth and lifted him into the air.

“Let go! You stupid dog!”

“Huff huff.”

“I said let go!”

The dog that had him in its mouth dashed across the hallway. Watching the scenery change rapidly, Tristan despaired.

‘It can’t get damaged.’

This doll was his masterpiece, created after months of research. He struggled with his body, unable to cut off the consciousness connected to the doll.

The maids, absorbed in their conversation, didn’t notice the Grand Princess’s precious friend being kidnapped.