Chapter 54

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Chapter 54

Did I…?

Of course, Stella was a vigilant target, though not to that extent.

‘…Isn’t it?’

What if Declan was unwittingly attracted to Stella like in the original story? I felt like I had been hit in the back of the head as I thought about it.

In the original story, the two met during a war, and that was when he was extremely devastated. However, Declan’s condition and the relationship between the Empire and Ielro had now changed. Then, he might feel and express rational emotions.

‘Was that why the two of them had to meet?’

Unpleasant emotions rushed through my chest as I suddenly felt a surge of anxiety.

“Erica?”

As I glanced up slowly and looked at him, my mind became more complicated.

‘What if Declan really feels some rational feelings towards Stella…?’

It felt like the ground I was firmly on was suddenly collapsing. No… If Declan and Stella fall in love with each other, the ending would be different from the original, but there was nothing wrong with that. In addition, there was nothing harmful to the doll.

‘But, why was my heart so empty?’

I gazed at Declan without hesitation since I did not understand myself.

“Erica, you can tell me anything. Did anything upset you? Or where is it really bad?”

I felt like crying as I watched him gently comfort me. His warm green eyes flickered slightly.

‘…I wish I was the only one in those eyes.’

Those warm gazes, worries and considerations… I hope that they would be directed only to me.

The greed, once awakened, gradually increased in size. As I went through the fake Chloe case, I was happy to know that he saw me as myself. It was true that we got closer to him while talking about his past life.

Not so long ago, I thought I wanted him to meet a good person and be happy…

My confusion arose, and I buried my face in my hands.

“Erica…?”

Even the low, friendly low-pitched voice that called me nervously made me greedy.

‘When did my heart feel this deeply?’

Now, this was not the heart that I felt when I had no choice but to rely on him to live.

‘This is what I like.’

Heat rose on my face as I gave the name to a heart I had not been aware of. I couldn’t raise my head, not knowing how to look at him.

All of a sudden, I remembered a fact I had forgotten.

‘…Can I be greedy with this appearance?’

When I remembered my state of being a soul, I suddenly became depressed.

“Look at me. Huh?”

My heart was weakened by the anxious voice, and I slowly lifted my head.

“…Your Majesty, what do you think of the Princess?”

Declan furrowed his eyebrows as if he had remembered something when he was puzzled by the sudden question.

“As expected, is this because of that woman?”

Even though I had to answer no, my mouth did not open easily.

“I just want to know… Your Majesty’s heart.”

I didn’t know what was wrong with me.

‘It’s a very important issue to me.’

As I stared at him earnestly, asking him to tell me, he let out a short sigh.

“The Princess of Ielro.”

I waited for the next word, although there was no further answer. Looking at him curiously, I tilted my head.

“That’s all.”

It felt like an idiot to worry about the too bland answer.

“Whether it’s that she’s pretty or that you want to protect her… Well, don’t you think like this?”

“Should I be thinking about that?”

Declan crossed his arms and gave an absurd look, still, I continued.

“That’s what the delegation said. The most beautiful woman in the kingdom.”

“Erica.”

Suddenly, he called my name with a serious expression on his face.

“Yes.”

“I think Ielro did something strange.”

“Wait, are you not feeling well?”

Surprised, I quickly looked around when I could hear the sound of smirking laughter next to me.

“Are you laughing now? Say it properly. What did Ielro do?”

As I rolled my feet, Declan smiled deeply.

“Not to me, but to you.”

“What?”

A shrill sound came out of nowhere.

“You’re talking nonsense unlike usual, so I can’t help but doubt you.”

What, he scared me…!

I wiped my surprised chest and looked at him, “It’s nonsense. Didn’t you see it at dinner today, what was the Crown Prince’s intention?”

“I know. If I don’t know, I’m stupid.”

Declan scoffed.

“So, wouldn’t I be curious about Your Majesty’s heart?”

“What if I said that I had a different heart?”

“That…”

I didn’t respond properly. At that moment, my heart sank.

Meanwhile, Declan’s lips, who had been quietly looking at me, rose slowly.

“I can’t even remember what she looked like. I’m always looking at you.”

It was as if I was trapped in a gap in time. If not, there was no way that those words could repeatedly ring in my ears.

“Was it because of that?… Was it because when you looked at the Princess, she didn’t look good?”

He clenched his chin with a satisfied expression on his face like a full-fledged beast.

“Really, don’t you feel anything when you see the Princess?”

“It just makes me feel uncomfortable.” Uttering so, Declan straightened his posture and stood close in front of me.

“You’re just uselessly worried. I’m just too busy to look after you.”

His big hand brushed my cheek.

‘I want to be a person… No, I will definitely be a person.’

…I want to share the future with this person.

The desire to be with him was greater than the anxiety about the future.

So, I decided.

I will no longer be anxious and just look ahead and run, because somehow I want to live by his side and with him.

“Why do you care more about your surroundings than me?”

The corners of his lips rose at the strangely sullen tone. Honestly, this was why I couldn’t help but be shaken.

“Your Majesty is always number one for me, forever and ever.”

After realizing the truth, these words came out without hesitation.

“Truly.”

Although he exhaled bluntly, he looked happy inside.

‘I will make him happy.’

I made a promise that I couldn’t convey in words.

In the darkened bedroom, only Declan’s regular breathing quietly spread. I sat in the doll’s room in the moonlight.

‘I should practice writing while Declan sleeps.’

As soon as I entered the doll and tried to turn on the magic light, I felt a buzz from the other side of the door.

“.…!”

I immediately got out of the doll and stood by the bed, alerted. The door quietly opened, and a black figure appeared through the gap.

‘…How did he get in the door? The knights must be guarding it.’

Don’t assassins usually break in through windows…?

First, I had to wake up Declan.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Get up now.”

He was already awake, holding the sword he had left under his pillow. However, the height and build of the person who entered the room were absurdly small to be called an assassin. He was wearing a black robe with a deep hood, although it was strange in many ways.

“There is only one person… It’s a little different from other assassins.”

Declan, who was still in the canopy, became more vigilant.

‘If only one person came, it would mean that his skills were quite considerable.’

The intruder cautiously stepped towards the bed, step by step.

‘You’re dead now!’

With fierce eyes wide open, I was staring at the intruder, and Declan came out quickly.

“Kyaak—!”

As a scream resounded throughout the room, I blinked my eyes silently. Could the scene I see now be an illusion…?

The intruder sat on the floor, revealing the sky-blue hair.

“This person is…”

Did this world intend to screw with me?

When I clear one mine, I see another mine popping up.

“Haa, how surprising.”

Declan’s voice alone made the atmosphere very cold.

“Save, save me.”

Saying so, Stella shook her head and clasped her hands tightly, bowing her head.

“Do you want to die?”

“Ple, please save me.”

Begging with her face down, the sword pointed at her neck and she couldn’t do anything.

“How did you get here?”

With Declan’s gaze staring at the door, I quickly went outside.

“Gasp…!”

As expected, the two knights guarding the door were lying on the floor.

‘Stella couldn’t have suppressed it by force, so she must have used something else.’

“Your Majesty, the knights are down.”

When the situation was announced, Declan’s eyes became very ferocious.

“How dare you hit the back of my head.”

This must have been Andre’s work… What kind of nonsense is this coming here to make a peace treaty.

I clasped my forehead and took a deep breath.

But, it was strange.

‘Why did he send Stella?’

What could this timid and small person do…?

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