Chapter: 627
After the doll was restored, the prince spent a lot of time with it.
He was busy showing her the modern world, correcting her old-fashioned speech, buying her clothes, and adorning her with jewelry, to the point where it seemed he was in love with the doll.
The duke knew that if his guess was true, it could become a big problem in the future, but he didn’t stop the prince.
Even if he didn’t intervene, the prince’s affection was bound to remain a bittersweet memory.
The problem was twofold.
One was that their understanding of magical tools was far inferior to that of the genius Erginius.
The other was that the doll was too worn out to be fully restored with their level of skill.
The doll had been accidentally activated again, but that was merely a temporary matter.
The gold engraved on the doll’s gears was only getting larger.
Every time the prince met the duke, he showed his unease about the end, but before the doll, he wore a bright smile.
Perhaps it was because of the precarious routine that could crumble at any moment.
The prince, insisting on giving her a more joyful experience, came up with a bold plan. A plan to sneak out and have fun during the festival.
Considering their statuses, it was something that should never happen, but the prince pushed for it.
“Seiji. This might be her last chance!”
The duke knew he shouldn’t indulge him, but couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
The duke had also grown fond of the doll during the restoration process.
Thus, on the festival day, the three of them gathered at the appointed time, masks on, wandering through the streets.
“If His Majesty finds out about this, I might be in a lot of trouble.”
“When I become king in the future, I’ll repay all of this!”
“I have a pile of those empty promises already.”
“…Is that so?”
“The words of Duke Kurten are true. The prince has made 46….”
“No, let’s not go into that much detail. Aren’t we just trying to have fun?”
Hiding their identities behind masks, the three mixed in with the crowd and had a delightful time.
They all knew they’d get scolded for suddenly disappearing upon return, but for this moment, they tried to ignore such concerns.
“Soldiers.”
“It doesn’t seem like they’re patrolling…”
“Knights are with them. You two.”
Their joyous time didn’t last long. The search party appeared sooner than they had expected.
They could accept hearing scoldings, but they couldn’t let the existence of the doll be discovered, so the three of them hurriedly moved.
To shake off the pursuit, they chose a shabby-looking house.
Initially, they thought they could stampede over others due to their status and reward them later, but surprisingly, the person staying in that house was a troublesome figure from their standpoint.
“Who would’ve thought I’d see esteemed guests like you here.”
The bishop of the Jushin Church Soladin branch.
“Judging by your expressions, it seems I should pretend not to notice.”
Before ascending to the papacy, even though he could have been a cardinal, the current pope residing in the Soladin capital expressed he was still inadequate and chuckled upon spotting the three of them.
“How come you’re here?”
“I typically find accommodations at the church, but even I need personal space, you know.”
As the three exchanged bewildered glances, someone knocked on the door. The pope gestured for them to enter, confirmed they were hiding, and opened the door.
“Has anyone visited here?”
“Well, I didn’t see any suspicious individuals.”
“I see! Thank you for your cooperation!”
After the soldier saluted and left, the three let out a sigh of relief, and the pope smiled with satisfaction.
“Thank you very much. Without you, I would’ve been in quite a predicament.”
“Even the elevated ones need time to rest. Let’s stay a bit longer until the soldiers outside disperse.”
“I’m once again grateful for your consideration.”
Not long after, the pope brought tea, and as he examined the faces of the three, he scrutinized the doll’s face intently.
“Just in case, may I ask if this lady is not human?”
“…How do you know that?”
It was impossible to distinguish just by looking at the doll. The prince and duke were shocked that the work of the great wizard Erginius had been exposed, but the pope just laughed lightly.
“As you get older, you come to see many things.”
“Do you know about the watcher?”
“The church in the capital is also a witness of the succession.”
“Can I check the church’s records?! I’ll compensate!”
“I’m afraid I cannot share the church’s secrets, not even with your highness.”
“Just once! Just once is enough!”
The prince rushed at the pope, thinking he might be able to confirm the records that had been completely lost to the royal family, but the pope’s answer remained the same.
Despite the prince’s tenacity, the pope inquired about his circumstances, and while the prince struggled in front of the doll, he eventually spoke the truth.
“I figured it was that way.”
“You knew?!”
“It’s something that has happened to me. Not knowing would be strange.”
The doll reacted indifferently. The prince sobbed at the thought of the doll never seeing him become king, making their positions seem completely opposite.
“In such a case, I might be able to help.”
“Help…?”
“It’s just a possibility. As you know, Erginius is a great man who fused magic and divinity. If the great wizard put his heart into creating the doll, divine magic might prove effective.”
At that time, the prince and duke were in a state where they wanted to grasp even the slightest possibility.
Thus, the three of them nodded in agreement, and the miracle the pope initiated touched the doll’s body.
*
“Even now, I can’t forget the scene. The moment the soul entered the doll’s body was as if a tale from the scriptures was manifested in reality, beautifully.”
Is such a thing possible with divine magic? Frowning, I reviewed all divine magic, but the only conclusion was the word impossible.
[If a deceased person were resurrected, it might be realistic. If the soul hasn’t strayed too far, it could be possible. But breathing life into a soulless existence? That’s impossible.]
‘Did Duke Kurten misunderstand something?’
[Not that he’s lying, but it must be so. Such a thing isn’t something a mere clergy borrowing God’s authority could do.]
Even my grandpa, who lived in the times with God, says it’s impossible, leaving no room for doubt.
He must have made some sort of mistake. Duke Kurten, despite being an excellent knight and wizard, wouldn’t be familiar with divine magic.
[What kind of trickery could deceive even Erginius himself?]
‘We’re just talking among ourselves, but isn’t Erginius a bit incompetent? He always messes up during critical moments!’
Is it that capable mages inevitably become slack?
Does the title of genius come with a penalty for making mistakes at crucial times?!
Why does Erginius always mess up when it matters?
[Like master, like pupil.]
‘Even before they met, they were both the same.’
<…It’s true that Erginius had many mistakes.>
While I shared a lively gossip about Erginius with my grandpa, Duke Kurten continued with a satisfied smile.
“Since the doll has become more than just a doll, there’s no reason to hide it. We’ve given her the chance to face the world on her own. Even if it looks like we’re just a prince and a duke, creating a human identity for her was no small task.”
The doll, having gained the status of nobility, entered the academy and began living as a human.
Born from Erginius’s magic, she fairly showcased her excellence to the world, and with the strong support of the prince’s wishes and the duke’s aid, she succeeded in ascending to the position of the queen.
“If you’d been insisting, I would have firmly cut it off. But you weren’t. The prince’s dedication melted even the doll’s heart.”
…Wait a minute. The First Queen loved the king?! Really?!
A woman obsessed with the prosperity of the kingdom had a human heart?!
While I couldn’t hide my shock, those around nodded as if it were natural.
“They had a good relationship.”
“She was the only one who showed personal feelings.”
“They were always holding hands in public.”
“Well, there’s no doubt about that.”
Is Karia nodding too!?
This can’t be true.
Realizing that what I had only seen as a monster had feelings was truly a huge shock.
“If everything you guys said is true, then why did the First Queen preserve her love?”
The Sloppy Fox seemed equally confused, furrowing her brows as Duke Kurten stood up.
“We’re aiming to resurrect.”
“You’re going to resurrect her?”
“Yes. That’s right. For the doll, there’s only one perfect king. She’s trying to resurrect her one and only king under the pretext of serving the kingdom.”
*
Like any other day, the First Queen entered the bedroom and cautiously held the withered hand of the king.
“It seems our reunion is approaching sooner than expected. Oh, great king.”
The reflection of the king in the doll’s eyes bore the vibrant form of the king who once shone on the throne, not a mummy barely holding shape.
“For the sake of Soladin.”
And for you, who will rule this land forever.
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