Chapter 17

Chapter 17

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor and Her Highness the Princess.”

Duke Otien and the nobles who were with him bowed their heads according to the etiquette.

“I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Saying so, Declan raised the corners of his lips wryly.

“It was a nice day, so I was walking around the garden for a while. There is no place more beautiful than the Imperial Palace garden.”

Duke Otien smiled softly.

“Today, you are with Her Highness the Princess.”

“We were always together, what’s the point?”

At his question, Declan answered bluntly, cutting out the interest in me. All of a sudden, Duke Otien began to scan me in Declan’s arms with a cold gaze like a snake.

“Now that you are the Emperor, you should go with the Empress, not the Princess.”

“It doesn’t matter whom I go with.”

“There is only one Imperial family, Your Majesty, so how can we not be worried?”

Declan’s eyebrows rose slightly at the words. However, he didn’t show any agitation.

“I’m not the only one who’s worried because there are rumors circulating that His Majesty’s has been obscured by Her Highness the Princess.”

It’s only been a year since he ascended the throne, so I thought it might be enough to fix it up. ‘Would it be a big deal if rumors had already spread like that?’

Still, he just shrugged his shoulders as if he was used to Duke Otien’s behavior.

“The Duke seems to have a lot of time. Seeing you care about such nonsense?”

“When it comes to your Majesty’s safety, I can’t help but care about every little thing.”

“You look at the people’s feelings so much, you’re a loyal subject.”

The smile of Duke Otien, who had been relaxed in a sarcastic tone, was slightly distorted.

“Chloe, let’s go for a walk next time. I want to show you only beautiful things, but today doesn’t seem like the day.”

Declan smiled sweetly at me as if to show it to the duke and turned around.

Duke of Otien, who had his head bowed, straightened his posture only after Declan moved away.

“…Cheeky bastard.”

The smiling Duke Otien’s face contorted in an instant.

“Don’t worry too much about the kid who is still addicted to playing with dolls.” Count Nolan approached him and looked into his countenance.

“If only His Majesty Maxion had been alive, I would not have suffered such humiliation.”

The sound of grinding teeth slowly spread through the garden.

“In that case, your Excellency would have become the Emperor’s right hand by now and put the empire under your feet.”

“I should have dealt with him right after I killed the Princess.”

The Duke of Otien briefly clicked his tongue. He had an opportunity when he was shocked by the death of the princess, but he foolishly missed it.

Who would have known that he would live on the battlefield he was sent to die?

“Truly, one lifeline is tough.”

“That’s right. I’m sick of him surviving every time.”

Even Count Nolan shook his head in disapproval.

“If either side has to die anyway, there’s no need to drag it out.”

“Isn’t the Emperor already giving you a cause? Who would welcome a tyrant crazy about dolls?”

Finishing his words, Duke Otien made a terrifying face. Because the Emperor was mainly on the battlefield, there were quite a few knights who followed him.

Among the people, he was even praised for making the empire prosperous through victory.

So a powerful event was needed to instill the perception that the empire would be compromised by the Emperor.

“We need an event that will shake the public’s heart.”

Surprised by his words, Count Nolan thought for a moment and then smiled wildly.

“I happen to have a good way. I want to get some revenge on my neck right now.”

The wound on the nape of Count Nolan’s neck had healed, though there were still traces of it.

“Then, let’s go to the Duke’s house.”

“All right.”

The eyes of Count Nolan, who smiled, shone coolly.

As the Duke of Otien took the lead, the aristocrats followed.

“I’ll tell you the way and structure inside the garden later.”

Finishing his words, Declan narrowed his brow and walked briskly.

“It’s okay because I’ve learned the way from the room to the garden.”

I didn’t have any regrets because I didn’t like Duke Otien either.

“Don’t go alone. Just in case something happens.”

Well, how do I even get around like this? A doll is a doll, no matter how much it can move. Besides, a porcelain doll that breaks easily.

“If I can’t be with you, stay with Noah.”

“All right.”

When I entered the office, the documents he needed to see today were neatly stacked on the desk. Moments after, the servant who followed, quickly put down the cushion on the desk and walked away.

Declan sat me on it.

“Noah, put the book here.”

Noah, who had been carrying the history book from the bedroom, placed it on the desk.

“Ah, that’s the book that Miss Erica was looking at.”

“Yes.”

Noah stood next to me and opened the book.

“It must be uncomfortable to turn the pages, so can I stand by and serve you?”

It’s nice not to interfere with Declan’s work, but can I really ask him for that…? Glancing at Declan, he raised his eyebrows.

“I’ll do it.”

“Your Majesty?”

Noah’s eyes widened in surprise. Like him, I looked back at Declan with a surprised face as well.

‘Who? You, you?’

Could it be that another spirit had possessed Declan’s body like mine…?

“Someone who will kill anyone that touches them while working, would do something that bothers you?”

Noah continued to stare at him with disbelieving eyes.

While Declan, who looked at Noah and me alternately, furrowed his eyebrows.

‘Hey Noah, that’s an insult to Declan’s face…’

“It’s annoying when you’re next to me.”

Noah, with a shaky expression on his face, ignored Declan and bowed down to me. “If His Majesty does not turn over the pages, please ring this bell.”

As he whispered quietly, he also held a little bell in front of me.

The silver bell was quite cute.

“What are you doing?”

Seeing that, Declan tilted his head sternly.

“Now, I have to attend Miss Erica, so I’m just showing her how to call me.”

At that, Declan chuckled but didn’t say anything about the bell.

“Hurry up and get some tea.”

“Yes.”

Noah bowed his head and whispered to me quickly.

“His Majesty is sensitive when he looks at the documents, so be careful.”

“Thank you.”

Although he could not hear it, I was grateful for his consideration for me. Noah gave Declan a small wave of his hand and quickly left.

“You don’t have to call Noah to turn the pages.”

After Noah had left, he stared at the bell and spoke to me.

“I can turn the pages by myself.”

Declan’s eyebrows twitched as I raised my hand and spoke.

“I’d do it faster.”

“Yes?”

I could feel the slight pressure in the gaze staring at me as I asked back confusingly.

“Are you trying to interfere with my work?”

“…No.”

“Then, don’t talk anymore.”

Yes, yes. What power do I have against the Emperor like that?

‘Why are you suddenly turning the pages? Is this fun?’ Declan’s taste, which I found occasionally, was a real mystery.

“Aren’t you going to read it?”

Opening the page I had read the last time, he asked and stared at me.

“I was just about to read.”

I immediately focused on the book.

[ “The scattered humans regretted the barren land and the ever-changing climate. They tried to return to Perseum, but could not find their way. In the end, humans had to cultivate the land to survive and help each other. This is the beginning of the country and…” ]

As soon as I read the entire page, Declan turned over the pages.

Next, next, next.

I was gazing at him in amazement, and as he was about to turn the page, he stopped.

“What?”

“Huh? How did you know I was watching Your Majesty?”

“Because I can feel your stare.”

“Still…”

“You said you don’t want to interfere with my work.”

Not having anything to say, I lowered my head. Declan suddenly placed his hand lightly over my head.

“Hurry up and read.”

A moment to say thank you for his kind behavior.

Knock, knock.

At the same time, the sound of a knock coming from outside the door drew attention.

“Your Majesty, the Chancellor has come.”

“Tell him to come in.”

Mason, who was diligently entering the room, stopped and looked down at me. Looking at him, Declan opened his mouth and asked.

“What is it?”

“There is a book open in front of Her Highness the Princess…”

Asking that, he wore a face as if he had seen something bizarre.

“Sometimes I read a book for her. What are you talking about?”

“You didn’t open the book so that she could read it alone?”

Mason drew closer and glanced at the book.

“…Is that a history book, too?”

“Since Chloe has grown up, she should study the basics.”

Still maintaining his cool, Declan shrugged his shoulders lightly.

‘How can he make excuses like that all the time?’

However, he seemed to make the situation more twisted each time rather than smoothing it out.

“Don’t say nonsense and just report.”

“Ah, yes.”

Mason, who was about to read the papers, shook his head and smiled. “But, Your Majesty, why did you put the chair next to you?”

“Mason. Report.”

At the brief call, Mason took his gaze from his chair.

“I did research first, though I couldn’t figure out what poison was used in the soup.”

“So, this meant that you wouldn’t have been able to find the person behind it.”

“We have interrogated people who may have come into contact with food, though have not found anything that could be a symptom. I apologize.”

“A person who wants to poison the Emperor of a country cannot be lax…”

Declan narrowed his brow and swallowed a smirk. Because of that, Mason wrinkled his face as though he was perplexed.

‘They must have prepared thoroughly.’

We should know who the culprit, in this case, is so we can be vigilant or deal with it. It was an incident that did not happen in the original story, so I already had a headache.

“First, look at the likely suspects.”

“When you say the suspect… Are you talking about the Duke of Otien?”

“Of course. There is one more dangerous person in the Imperial Palace.”

‘Is there another one…?’

I was so startled I almost turned my head toward Declan.