chapter 02

Chapter 2

Mason, a friend since childhood, remained faithful to Declan even after he became a tyrant. However, Declan tried to endanger the entire continent as well as the Empire and kill Mason’s beloved female protagonist. So, he has no choice but to kill Declan…

‘Then, what happened to the doll?’

As I pondered, I was shocked. ‘After Declan died, it was cursed and burned!’ For others, this doll was like the tyrant’s alter ego. Hence, it was natural that the anger toward the tyrant led to the doll as well.

‘It’s a real twist.’

I couldn’t rub my head, so I only sighed. I can’t stay still like this. ‘I have to find a way to survive somehow.’ One year has passed since Declan became emperor, and in the next five years, he will die.

What if I can’t find a way in the meantime?

The curse will cause my soul to be trapped in fire forever and suffer terrible pain.

Or perish.

Whether I’m a doll or whatever, I have to find a way to survive first.

That way, I will be able to find a way to become a person.

‘What should I do? Is there any way? Why here in the first place! Did I open my eyes here?’

While suffering from my thoughts for a long time, I saw Declan holding me.

‘…Isn’t all I have to do is to make him survive?’

Suddenly, I shouted ‘Eureka’ in my mind. No matter how much of a tyrant he is, as long as he, who has the highest authority, is my protector, there will be no one who would harm this doll.

‘I have to save you first, for now.’ But how do I do that?

I thought about the content of the novel.

‘The fundamental cause of Declan’s death is war, right?’

It was because the war continued to ruin the country and continent.

So, what if we stop the war?

Wouldn’t Mason also remain loyal without defeating him? What’s more, it was a problem when Mason’s beloved female protagonist, Stella, was brought by Declan as a hostage, and he tried to kill her. The appearance of Jennifer, a villain who made Declan go crazy with magic in the future, was also due to war, right?

‘Uh. Anyway, we just have to stop the war.’

As I thought so, the moment I tried to exhale a breath of relief, the most crucial thing came to mind.

‘Oh right. I’m a doll.’

How do you save Declan when you can’t speak or move?

The feeling full of hope quickly fell into hell.

***

Declan arrived at the greenhouse while my mood was moving between hot and cold baths.

“Greetings, His Majesty the Emperor.”

Guards standing in front of the greenhouse entrance greeted Declan, bowing their heads.

“Greetings, Her Grace the Princess.”

Then, they politely greeted me.

‘They looked at the doll and greeted the princess.’ Asking them to do this ridiculous courtesy doesn’t mean that people will relieve their anger at the doll. Unlike me, Declan strode inward, looking satisfactorily at those who bowed their heads toward the doll.

As I went deep into the greenhouse, I saw flower beds of various flowers. In the center, there was a gorgeously decorated white tea table and chairs.

“Chloe. How are you? Isn’t it nice to come to the greenhouse?”

It hurts me to see him, who was so easy-going, burning inside. He carefully placed me on the cushion he had brought and sat on the chair opposite.

On the table were cookies, as well as cakes and sandwiches.

“Chloe, this is your favorite butter cookie. It will be delicious because it was made by a famous patissier.”

Declan put the cookies on the plate in front of me.

‘I’m a doll, how can I eat this?’ Still, I’m depressed because of the dark future, and all I could do was just stare at my favorite desserts.

“It’s really soft. It’s just the taste you’ll like. How’s it?”

Declan, who put a cookie in his mouth, looked exaggeratedly impressed.

‘Why tease me? Ha, I like cookies, too.’

I can’t feel the hunger, but I know what the butter cookie tastes like. Sadly, I couldn’t taste them.

“Now, drink this milk as well. You can’t drink tea because it’s bitter.”

I looked at the mug he had placed in front of me.

‘He treats a doll like a real younger sister.’

When reading the original story, I was sorry for the love he had for his younger sister, but when I saw it, it was rather bizarre and terrifying.

‘Crazy guy. Though his face is fine and handsome.’

By the way, how old is he now?

According to the original, Declan became emperor when he was twenty years old. So, he must be twenty one years old now…

‘What, have you been carrying a doll for seven years?’ Since Chloe’s death, he had been living with the doll, so that must have been that long.

‘It’s worth calling him a madman.’

I sighed with a tired face.

“Chloe, I think I will have to go to the battle again sooner or later. Would you like me to fit you in a suit of armor?”

His tongue struck with a truly sour sound.

“Steel can be heavy, so should I make it with leather? Whenever I put you in the barracks and leave to battle, my mind wasn’t working.”

‘Did you take the doll to the battlefield? This is really something.’

I knew he was a crazy guy, but I think this was just too much. What kind of guy would bring a doll to the battlefield?

“Let’s match a thick coat and a marten coat. Would you like to wear a knightly uniform? Chloe, you said the knights were cool.”

At that moment, his eyes turned sad for a very moment, but he returned to his original state quickly.

Perhaps it was a memory of Chloe in the past.

***

[ “Brother, I want to be a knight. I want to become a knight and protect brother.” ]

The reason the princess, Chloe, tried to become a knight was to protect Declan and herself.

According to the original story, in the Burgundy Empire, both the emperor and the empress had the right to choose who to succeed the throne, and no successor to the throne was determined between the prince and princess.

Eventually, one of the princes wanted to become the crown prince and began to kill all the princes and princesses who were born from the other empresses.

[ “Ke, Keugh. Declan, please be Chloe’s strong brother…” ]

Declan’s mother was killed shortly after Chloe was born.

Also, his father, the emperor, did not bother with his children’s struggles for power.

No, to be precise, it was on purpose.

Because he doesn’t need a weak successor.

All he was interested in, was who was the last survivor.

***

The only family left to Declan was Chloe.

However, she couldn’t achieve her dream and she was killed by the prince. That’s why Declan always wore sad expressions when referring to Chloe.

“This time, let’s wear the same uniform and hold the ceremony. Would you like to stand as a knight? It was your wish.”

He wanted to make her dreams come true even as a doll.

I think I could understand how deep the longing for his younger sister was, so I felt a little bit sorry for him, who just looked like a madman.

“Your Majesty.”

Shortly after, I heard the sound of footsteps coming this way, and Mason appeared.

“Your Majesty.”

When Declan didn’t look back or answer him, Mason eagerly called him again. Only then did Declan turn his head away from me and look at him.

“If you’re here to nag, get out.”

“It was too much to threaten Count Nolan.”

“That again. Do you have to talk about this every time?”

“Even if you don’t want to hear it, you should listen. In other words, do you know how many men have died while you have ruled for only one year?”

As I listened to Mason’s story, a sigh came out.

How to revive such a tyrant who wanted war.

“There are many nobles and men who will fill the vacancy.”

“Isn’t it the position of the emperor you wanted so much? But why do you keep trying to buy the people’s resentment?”

While I was listening to Mason’s constant dissatisfaction, Declan suddenly became serious. Seeing so, Mason just glanced at him with a slightly nervous face. I also held my breath.

“Yeah, it was the place I was hoping for. I have to punish those who killed Chloe.”

The fire in his eyes, which burned quietly as if everything else was meaningless, disappeared as soon as he quietly shut his eyes and opened it again.

Mason, who was watching him with a stubborn expression, looked at him with a sad glance.

“Will Chloe do the same? Chloe was a gentle and kind child.”

“Chloe.”

Declan’s face collapsed for an instant but soon turned stiff.

“She would have told me to do whatever I want. Because she’s a child who thinks everything her brother does is right.”

He stroked my hair and gave me a sorrowful look. As I faced his eyes, my heart shook strangely. Mason gently closed his eyes and glanced up with a serious expression.

“I can’t stand to see your Majesty do this anymore. I want to proudly say if I meet Chloe later, that I’ve protected her brother.”

Declan glanced at him with a complicated look.

“So, what are you trying to say?”

“Please recall your order of war,”

“Did you not say enough at the meeting? War is necessary for our empire to become stronger.”

At Declan’s words, Mason replied with his eyes lit up for a moment.

“…That’s just an excuse, isn’t it?”

Declan glanced at him.

‘Huh? Are there any other reasons for having a war? Wasn’t he just doing it out of resentment?’ I was confused by the atmosphere that seemed to have a deeper meaning.

“The Imperial Palace reminds you of Chloe, so you wanted to go to the battlefield to escape?”

Surprised by Mason’s words, I looked at Declan.

In the original story, Mason was the main character, so the story was narrated around him. For this reason, the real reasons for why Declan was waging war were not given in detail. It was only emphasized that he was a tyrant and was portrayed as an epic villain that Mason had no choice but to kill him.

‘He wasn’t just going crazy.’

When I knew what was going on inside of his mind, I was heartbroken.

“Declan. Stop feeling guilty now. You’ve done enough.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. If you’re going to say something useless, get out right now.”

Despite his yelling, Mason didn’t leave.

“Since then, you haven’t been to the hunting grounds. You haven’t been holding a hunting competition even though you were crowned the emperor.”

Declan looked at him with a bitter glance at Mason’s soft words.

‘What is the connection between the hunting ground and Declan’s guilt?’

In the mysterious mind, I thought about the contents of the original work and opened my eyes wide.

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