chapter 04

Chapter 4

“Noah, tell Allen to come in.”

Declan, who had been eating for a long time, said something that had come to his mind.

“Would you like to get new clothes?”

“We need a lot of clothes for Chloe, not me. We have to go to battle soon.”

“Then, Her Highness will need a lot of things. I’ll give Allen a word in advance.”

Even though he said he would get the doll’s clothes, Noah replied as if it was something natural with a gentle smile.

Both… Both of them are not normal.

“Chloe, are you finished? Shall we go to work now?”

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After wiping the doll’s mouth with a napkin, he got up and hugged me.

“I don’t really want to do the paperwork, but if I don’t go, Mason will surely come running. So, even if it gets boring, please be patient. Let’s finish up and go for dessert later.” Declan whispered a little.

He seemed like a young child who didn’t want to study and was complaining, so laughter burst without my knowledge.

Although he was making excuses for Mason’s nagging, in fact, I knew that he was working diligently because he believed in Mason and cherished him.

***

In the corridor leading to his office, bright sunlight shone through a large window. While looking at the artworks lined up in front of the window unimpressively, something strange came into my eyes.

‘Huh? What is that? What am I seeing?’

Was that a black smoke swaying around the big jar?

I looked closely to see if I was mistaken, but there was clearly a black smoke rising. ‘Are my eyes playing tricks on me because I had a headache yesterday?’ It was obvious that something had happened, as though my soul and this doll don’t match well.

When we arrived at the office, Declan carefully placed me on the cushions that the attendant had put down. While he was focusing on his work, I fell into a deep thought. ‘What was that black smoke…? Since last night, my headache was so severe, and I also heard a strange voice.’

There was definitely something strange.

The abnormal symptoms continued to occur, but I couldn’t figure out the reason. So, it made me incredibly anxious and frustrated.

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‘There wouldn’t be any issues with my soul before I get burned, won’t I?’

With the thought that my life as a doll might not be so smooth, I felt impatient.

After sitting away for a while, Declan finally stood up as he had finished his work. A servant quickly approached, held me carefully, and followed him. The employees passing through the corridor stepped back and bowed.

“Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“Greetings, Your Highness the Princess.”

The greetings that followed gave me a strange feeling. Contrary to me, Declan satisfactorily watched the scene and continued his steps. However, after a while, he stopped and stared at a maid.

“Raise your head.”

The maid, nervous at his command, slowly raised her head. His gaze was staring down at her.

“What are you doing?”

“Yes?”

As she faced his cold, sharp eyes, the maid’s legs trembled without her realizing it.

“Why aren’t you greeting our Chloe?”

“Y-yes?” Terrified, she uncontrollably trembled.

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‘No, are you saying that it’s because she didn’t greet the doll…?’ No matter how I looked at this, I could never get used to it. My mouth was wide open at Declan’s behavior.

“Can’t you understand words?”

The more vivid annoyance on his face made the maid’s face even paler.

“Your Majesty, she’s a newcomer, so please let this pass. I’ll scold her later.” Noah quickly stepped out in front of the maid.

“Even though she is a maid, she receives a period of education before she enters the palace. So, she must have known.”

“Even if they receive the same education, their comprehension may be different. I will teach her properly.”

Even in this situation, Noah said calmly with a smiling face.

‘Boldness, quickness, and speech ten out of ten.’ I raised my thumb to Noah in my mind.

“Don’t let me say it twice.”

When his persuasion didn’t work, Noah took a small breath and stepped back to his side.

“You know who Chloe is.”

As Declan pointed at me and asked, the maid nodded her head.

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“So, why don’t you greet her?” His low and blunt voice was cold, matching with his expression.

‘Hey, you crazy guy. She is a newcomer!’ If only my body could move, I wanted to break up this situation right away.

“That, that… I-I’m too ner-nervous.”

Trembling so hard, she could barely speak her words.

“You must think of your life as a waste, to say that as an excuse.”

“Hiccup.”

Declan’s brow narrowed as the maid began to hiccup. Everyone was holding their breath, and only the sound of the maid’s hiccups spread out in the hallway.

In the midst of this, an unknown black smoke flowed between Declan and the maid.

I ignored the noisy situation behind and focused all my nerves on the jar of black smoke.

“You, do it.”

Declan pulled out the sword from his side and handed it in front of the maid.

“If you don’t remove her from my sight, I’ll remove her myself.”

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When the knight, frightened by his words, approached the maid, she could not overcome the horror and fell on the spot. At the same time, my eyes grew sharply.

‘…Huh?’

Isn’t the smoke heading towards me at a high speed? ‘De-Declan! Danger. I mean, get me out of here!’ Nevertheless, without a voice, he couldn’t hear me and only looked down at the dragged maid with cold eyes.

Desperately struggling to escape, I suddenly bumped into something.

Pak! At that moment, my sight was turned upside down with the feeling of suddenly falling and struggling to escape.

Changgrang!

“Your Majesty!”

Noah’s urgent cry echoed in my ear. ‘Your Majesty? You’re not calling Chloe, but Declan?’ When I opened my eyes slowly with a curious mind, my vision was dark as if something was blocking me.

“Your Majesty, are you all right?”

“Don’t make a fuss with this much. Chloe, are you okay?”

It wasn’t until Declan took his body away from me that I could see again. Noah hurried and shook the smashed pieces of pottery that had fallen on Declan’s clothes.

“I’m fine. Take a look at our Chloe first.”

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“Is it time to worry about Her Highness the Princess now? Look at this. What if you had been injured by these fragments? I’ve always told you, a small wound could lead to a serious illness. The royal physician, hurry and bring me the royal physician!”

Declan only stared at me as Noah rolled his feet and yelled.

“Chloe, you’re very surprised, aren’t you? We almost had a big problem.”

While Noah gazed at him, he just simply held me and stroked my hair. Then, he observed the doll to see if there was any damage or scratches.

‘What is this situation?’

Obviously, the smoke was flying towards me, and I evidently crashed to the ground, but why am I fine, and why was Noah worrying over Declan?

‘Did Declan’s body blocked it?’

Only then was I able to grasp the situation and looked at him blankly.

‘If he didn’t protect me…’

I glanced at the pieces of pottery that fell on the floor. ‘I would have looked like that.’

Chloe’s doll was made of porcelain, so if it bumps or falls, it would break as it is. If the possessed body disappears, the soul would also vanish as well. Just the thought of it made me dizzy.

Declan stood up cautiously, holding me while staring at the servant.

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“I have committed a sin. I deserve to die. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.

The contemplative attendant fell on the floor and trembled.

“Get this man away, too.” Declan ordered with clenched teeth.

“Your Majesty, please spare me.”

The attendant begged until the end while being dragged by the knights, but Declan didn’t even glance at him.

In the midst of the fuss, my gaze was fixed on the pieces of pottery that fell on the floor. The black smoke that fluttered all the time, as if ridiculing me, was no longer visible.

‘Why did it suddenly disappear?’ My head was full of questions.

It was Noah’s crying voice that woke me from the confusion.

“Your Majesty, please get treatment. You’re bleeding in the back of your neck.”

Noah, crying, rolled his feet and carefully placed his handkerchief on Declan’s back neck. Seeing so, Declan slightly frowned.

“Just this much. It will get better even without treatment.”

“Your Majesty, your security is the priority and most important thing in the empire.”

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“Didn’t I say it’s fine?”

“If you leave your wounds unattended and it leads to a serious illness, and you collapse. I will dry out from worrying about Your Majesty again.”

“Stop.”

He stopped Noah’s words, which seemed likely to continue endlessly.

“Such a bother to you… Fine, I got it. I’ll go see the royal physician.”

Only then was Noah relieved by his words.

***

Upon returning to the room, Declan placed me down on the sofa and took off his coat and shirt. After a while, the royal physician entered the room.

“Your Majesty, allow me to take a look.”

As Declan nodded his head, the royal physician examined him closely.

“The wound is not deep, but you have to disinfect and apply medicine regularly.”

After the treatment, the royal physician told him what to do. Declan nodded, and soon gave a congratulatory message.

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“Are you satisfied now?”

He stared at Noah and asked.

“I don’t think I will die of worry anymore.” He laughed in exaggerated relief.

“Anyway, since the old times, you talk a lot and have useless worries.”

“That’s because Your Majesty does not take care of himself.”

Noah looked dissatisfied after hearing him.

“It’s not even a sword cut, so what are you even worried about? It’s Chloe who is weak.”

‘Is it time to worry about the doll?’

I grumbled at him, who peered at me with an anxious glance.

“Your Majesty is many times more important to me than Her Highness the Princess. Your Majesty is my master.”

Declan smirked when Noah spoke seriously.

“I know. But without me, you still have to protect our Chloe. Keep that in mind.”

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