I’m A Doll, But The Tyrant Is Obsessed With Me - Chapter 35

‘What should they do?’

Seian pondered for a moment.

He can understand why the perpetrators did that. Because every time he sees the Emperor himself, he wants to kill him.

But now is not the time. Wasn’t the whole of Jemina in danger due to their preconceived choices?

“There’s nothing I can do about it.”

He wanted to rescue them right away, but he didn’t have the strength yet. If he made a mistake, even Jemina’s fate might be shaken.

Seian then wrote his second order on a piece of paper.

His face, as he stared at the paper, twisted painfully.

“A prince can be so helpless…”

He buried his face in his hands and sighed.

It was shameful that he could not protect his country, but now he did not have the strength to protect his people.

‘What the hell was the Emperor thinking?’

It was surprising that he didn’t cut his neck in the hall, but he’s good enough to keep criminals in custody.

He did the same when receiving gifts.

As he brought the basket of flowers, he was prepared to be scorned and humiliated by the Emperor.

However, the reception was the opposite of what was expected.

On the battlefield, he was a demon-like man covered in blood.

It’s nonsense that crazy tyrants change.

‘Did anything happen?’

He tapped the desk with his finger.

It was not easy for a normal person to follow the thoughts of a madman.

However, the Emperor always showed consistent behavior, so it was fortunate.

“I’ll have to be careful.”

As he wrote his last command, he folded the paper small.

Seian got up and stood at the window.

“I will definitely leave this place.”

His fists tightened again.

*** 

“I didn’t hear it wrong, did I?”

Mason looked at Declan with a shocked expression.

“Your Majesty, are you serious?”

I was so startled that I opened my eyes wide. Because I couldn’t believe what I’m hearing now.

“Yes, didn’t you ask for it?”

Declan answered me, ignoring Mason standing in front of me.

“You said you would think about it a few days ago.”

“So I thought hard about it. Why, don’t you like it? Should I go ahead with the original plan?”

“Oh, no!”

“No!”

Mason and I answered at the same time, and Declan grinned.

“It’s not that the war is withdrawn completely. I’m thinking of holding off for a while.”

It was a huge change when I consider how he endured and was hard-headed, saying that he could never give up on war.

‘I think Chloe’s will was a shock. Still, how can he change in a few days?’

I was happy, but somehow felt anxious.

“I will decide based on the cost of the peace treaty that will be presented by Ielro.”

“I’ll set up an audience right away. They asked for a private session, but please allow me to attend.”

Mason seemed worried that he might change his mind during a conversation with the Crown Prince.

“Your Majesty, me too. Please let me attend.”

I quickly raised my hand. Mason alone was uneasy.

“You?”

“Yes. You’re trying to make a peace treaty because of my request. You’re going to take the doll with you anyway.”

“You told me not to show me talking to you in front of other people. I’m not sure if you’re really with me.”

It was funny to see him smile softly. It must have been a plan to leave me alone.

‘Heh, you thought I wouldn’t go? My life is at stake, so I can’t just leave it to you!’

I shook my head and met Declan’s eyes.

“I won’t say anything and I’ll be quiet.”

“What if I point my sword at the Crown Prince?”

‘….What are you going to do now?

‘Are you going to have a conversation and aim your sword at the Crown Prince?’

I thought I was going to relax for a moment now, but what kind of thought is this?

Even in my view, he had had a look at the root of the problem already.

Oh my God.

“Your Majesty, you’re not really going to do that, are you?”

“I don’t know.”

He spoke slyly, and I glanced at him scornfully.

“I will follow you unconditionally. You know I can go without your Majesty’s permission, right?”

Declan let out a small laugh as I spoke with the momentum to roll up both my sleeves.

Mason looked at me with a surprised face, and I looked at him with bewilderment.

‘I think he’s getting more and more strange.’

If I didn’t make him into a normal person as soon as possible, his condition seemed it would worsen.

“Okay. I’ll let you go too. But don’t stop me from talking to you!”

He didn’t care about my awkward expression, he just smiled.

‘Yes, how can I understand the mind of a madman?’

I sighed.

“Mason, so that you attend as well. Ask for one more person to join, not just the Crown Prince. That way, they won’t say anything afterwards.”

“All right.”

Although expected to leave at once, Mason hesitated.

“Why? Anything else?”

“Why did you suddenly change your mind?”

Mason looked at Declan’s face and asked carefully.

“Erica asked for it.”

“Yes?”

Mason widened his eyes as he looked at me.

Perhaps he could only see an empty chair.

His face showed great confusion.

‘Hah, yes. It’s because of me. Do you know how hard I tried to convince Declan?’

I cried as I recalled the days when I was swinging a stick and a carrot.

Only inside, of course.

‘Then please look at me well.’

The words won’t come, but I sincerely prayed.

“Is there anything else you want to ask?”

“Oh, no. Then, I will tell the news to Ielro.”

“Okay.”

Mason spoke politely and left.

“Did you really put the war on hold because of my request?”

He had already said so, but I wanted confirmation.

“Yes.”

It felt a little strange to see him answering the question so nonchalantly like, “What’s so difficult?”

I was happy enough to shout but also puzzled.

Of course, the decisive reason must be Chloe’s will.

Still, I was grateful and proud to say that it was because of my request.

“Thank you for making this difficult decision.”

“I haven’t made a decision yet.”

“You’ve already decided!”

I quickly put a wedge in it, lest he might change his mind.

“How do you know that?”

“I know. I’m a soul. The soul’s eyes see everything.”

“Lies.”

It was a lie, but hearing him say it aloud left me somewhat heartbroken.

“It’s true. Hey, I even recognized poison that no one has ever known!”

“No matter how unusual you are, you shouldn’t claim skills you don’t have!”

Oh, you shouldn’t have said that.

“You don’t believe me?”

Declan smirked and patted my hair as I asked.

“I trust you. If I don’t trust you, who could I trust?”

I was embarrassed, and I slowly turned my gaze away.

Two months had passed since I joined him.

All day long I was with Declan, so I couldn’t be ignorant of his character, taste, and habits.

As a result, I gradually approached him three-dimensionally.

Now, he addressed me like a living person rather than a character portrayed in print.

“… .·Not everyone does that just because you’re in a relationship.”

There was a bitter feeling on his face as he said that.

“So, don’t go anywhere, just stick with me.”

“Ah, where am I going? In this state!”

My heart skipped, and I touched my chest, not meeting Declan’s gaze.

*** 

The next day, the four gathered in the Emperor’s audience room. To be precise, there were five of us.

We sat facing each other around a square table.

To Declan’s right was Mason, and to the left sat myself and the doll.

Across from us, Crown Prince Andre of Ielro and Duke Heather, the deputy head of the delegation, were seated.

“The number has increased, but it’s fair to both sides, so there’s no problem, right?”

Declan did not apologize for threatening them and locking them in the hall.

Nevertheless, Andre did not comment on the matter.

“Yes. Thank you very much for listening to our request.”

He just seemed happy that Declan had allowed him the audience.

“Yes, why did you ask for a private session?”

With a tense expression, Andre exchanged glances with the Duke sitting next to him.

“We, Ielro Kingdom, want to make a peace agreement with the Burgundy Empire.”

“A peace treaty? Why do you need it? Did I even invade your country?”

Declan leaned against the armrest of his chair and pressed his chin.

“It’s not like that, we’re proposing this because we want to maintain friendly relations with the Empire.”

There was already precedent for the empire to conquer the Jemina kingdom.

Moreover, there is no country that does not know that he is preparing for another war.

They just don’t know who’s next in line.

Ielro seemed to think that the next turn would be them. So, they must have asked for a private audience even when he brought the royal treasures.

“Ielro is neither rich in resources nor strong in military power. There’s nothing useful about it.”

There was a slight crack in Andre’s face due to the demeaning words about his motherland, but it was quickly rectified.

“As Your Majesty said, we are just a weak and small country.

Andre’s expression was perfectly controlled, but his voice trembled slightly.

“So, there is no need to go to war with us.”

“Ha, that’s funny! Do you think we conquered the Jemina Kingdom because it was a country that could threaten the empire?”

Declan crossed his legs and smiled bitterly.

“The empire is the strongest country on the continent. So, becoming the master of the continent is a natural progression.”

He acted arrogantly without any interest in things like becoming the masters of the continent.

‘Excuse me, Mister? What are you doing?’

Is this the attitude of a person who wants to postpone a war?

I sighed at the sight of him messing with Ielro’s heart.

“…even without a war, we will serve the Empire as the master of the continent.”

Andre, who said there was no need for unnecessary blood, continued speaking politely after swallowing audibly.

I was anxiously watching for the need when I should appear.

“If we make a peace treaty, your country will have a lot to gain. But what about us?”

“Ielro has the best dyeing technology on the continent. We will deliver that technology only to the Empire.”

“That’s not very appealing. It can be developed with the power of the Empire.”

He patted his feet as if he was tired. Seeing this, Mason sighed a little and lowered his head.