Chapter 10
Recent investigations had revealed that all zombies possessed a “core.”
It was a kind of heart. Zombies moved using the energy emitted from the core located in the center of their bodies. It was red, a bumpy or smooth sphere about the size of a child’s head.
The smoother the sphere, the more aggressive the zombie and the more human-like its appearance.
“All members of the search party were knights who couldn’t use magic. We need the help of a magician, but the Magic Society is a hassle.”
“Aren’t you a magician yourself, Your Highness Umbram? And you have a good relationship with the Head of the Magic Society.”
“Umbram may be a magician, but the Crown Prince cannot be one. You know this, Lupin. Officially, the Imperial Palace suppresses magic.”
“So you’re taking advantage of my neutrality.”
The Crown Prince laughed heartily.
“Collect the zombie cores and deliver them to Knight Commander Raguel. She’s in charge of the zombie investigation and search team.”
“Knight Commander Raguel, you say…”
Raguel was a distant relative of the Imperial family, from a lineage that had produced generations of clergymen.
When you think of clergymen, you might imagine devout individuals who are fond of magic, but that wasn’t the case at all. It was widely rumored that the Raguel family, who had the Emperor’s trust, were obsessed with science.
The young master was a magician through and through. Perhaps that’s why he found it uncomfortable to meet with a scientist. His expression had soured considerably since Knight Commander Raguel’s name was mentioned.
“When should I submit the report?”
“Hmm…”
“She’s someone I’d rather avoid meeting if possible.”
The young master licked his lips. It was a habit he had whenever he was stressed and thirsty.
“Young master, here.”
I quickly snatched the teapot from the servant and filled the young master’s cup.
“Thank you, An…”
The young master, who had habitually started to thank me, stopped short.
“Estella.”
“Yes, you’re welcome.”
He took a sip of tea, looking a bit melancholic.
If I were human, if I were Anna, could I have comforted him?
“Alright, Friday would be good. About a hundred zombie cores?”
“What?”
It was already Tuesday. As the young master was taken aback, the Crown Prince smiled mischievously.
“Surely the great Count Lupin Zepetto wouldn’t back out, would he? Five years ago, you suddenly abandoned everything and went into seclusion. You even refused numerous marriage proposals. The Emperor himself was furious and wanted to punish you, but I managed to persuade him otherwise.”
“Your Highness Umbram!”
“Lupin, I trust you won’t refuse a request from an old friend.”
“Friday is too soon. And a hundred cores, no less.”
Zombies weren’t common, and now we had to collect a hundred cores!
“So you’re suggesting I ask Knight Commander Raguel to receive the report on the weekend? Have you no conscience? She’s a member of the Imperial family, even if she’s stationed in the borderlands. Are you disrespecting Raguel?”
“But…!”
As the young master tried to protest, the nearby knights adjusted their weapons. It was a clear threat not to argue.
“Well, I can assign you additional personnel if it’s too difficult. But in exchange…”
The Crown Prince’s finger pointed directly at me.
“Give Estella to me.”
He was still obsessed with me! Was a talking doll that fascinating to him?
The Crown Prince continued to insist on taking me. What if the young master just handed me over? He already seemed annoyed with me.
I hadn’t fully proven my usefulness yet. Feeling anxious, I overfilled the young master’s teacup, spilling a little water.
“Oops!”
What if he really fired me because of this! Thankfully, as a doll, my expressionless face didn’t betray my nervousness.
Should I pretend it wasn’t a mistake and say, “It’s trendy among young people these days to overfill teacups”?
As I was racking my brain for excuses, the young master’s fingertips gently touched my wrist.
“Don’t worry.”
He didn’t seem angry or excited about the prospect of selling me off.
He was surprisingly kind. So much so that I was surprised.
“May I ask why you want Estella?”
“The source of white magic is the divine power of the Goddess Ennares and the spirits scattered like shards of a mirror. The spirits accompanying me seem to be strangely interested in that doll.”
“That’s… odd.”
“Just as you, who dabbles in dark magic, are interested in zombies, it’s natural for me, a wielder of white magic, to listen to the voices of the spirits. So, what do you say? Won’t you give her to me? I’ll pay you handsomely.”
“You just said you couldn’t be a magician.”
“Let’s just say it’s Umbram’s personal interest.”
“…”
The young master silently took another sip of tea. The spilled tea had stained his gloves. As I was about to offer him a spare pair, he took off his gloves and handed them to me.
We exchanged gloves without making eye contact.
“Hmm.” The Crown Prince’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.
“Your Highness Umbram.”
“Yes, Count Lupin Zepetto.”
“Although I am a Count, you are aware that I have royal blood from my mother’s side.”
“Of course. We’re cousins, aren’t we?”
“I’ve lived a life of privilege. I’ve never had anything taken from me, never had to compromise.”
His expression was cold, almost chilling.
He pointed at me and said,
“She’s mine.”
I was being completely treated as an object.
“Um, Young Master? My opinion…”
“I created her, and she’s mine. She will always be mine. Even if I have to break her myself, I won’t give her to anyone else.”
“Um, it’s not like I’m willingly going with him… And break me? You’re not going to break me, right? You’re not going to break me, right?”
“Estella. Shh, the adults are having an important conversation.”
Now I was being treated like a child!
“If that’s Lupin’s will, then I can’t do anything about it.”
Wait, what about my opinion?!
I wanted to protest, but as a servant, before I was a doll, I couldn’t speak out of turn. Even the elderly herald seemed to be holding back his words, his beard twitching.
“Lupin Zepetto, you will deliver a hundred zombie cores to Knight Commander Raguel by Friday. That is the choice you’ve made.”
“Understood.”
The young master added, his words clipped as if picking a fight.
“I. Will. Not. Disappoint. You.”
“You’re both dismissed.”
The audience with the Crown Prince ended like that. We used an ordinary carriage on the way back. Apparently, the Spectro Carriage’s battery had run out.
The horse and coachman borrowed from the Imperial Palace skillfully headed towards the Count’s mansion.
As we were traveling, the young master, who had been silent with a sullen expression, suddenly spoke.
“Estella.”
“Yes!”
“Answer honestly.”
“Yes!”
“Why did His Highness Umbram want to take you?”
“That’s…”
I answered honestly, as he had commanded.
“I don’t know!”
“…”
“He didn’t tell me. Should I try to ask him? It won’t be easy, but…”
The Crown Prince wasn’t someone you could just meet with casually. To contact him, I would have to submit a petition to the Imperial administration.
And for a commoner to submit a petition, they needed a recommendation letter from a noble. Assuming I could get a letter from the young master, proving that I was a commoner was another problem.
Do dolls count as citizens? I considered myself alive, and I could talk.
But since I didn’t eat or breathe, it might be difficult to convince the higher-ups.
As I was lost in thought, the young master continued to look away. He didn’t press me for an answer or even look at me. He just stared blankly out the window.
“Forget it.”
He gave up easily.
“I don’t need an answer.”
“Yes!”
“If I were to give you to the Crown Prince, would you go?”
“Yes!”
The young master glared at me.
I flinched and decided to be a little more honest.
“I have to obey your orders, Young Master. But honestly, I wouldn’t want to go at all.”
“Why?”
“Because I like you.”
Unlike when he was facing the Crown Prince, his eyes looked a bit empty as he looked at me.
“Say it again.”
“It’s true that I have to obey your orders, but…”
“Repeat only the last sentence.”
“Because I like you. I like you, Young Master. You’re the person I like most in the world! Ah, this body, Estella, was born to serve you!”
Haha, the young master laughed out loud. It was the first time I had ever seen him so cheerful.
“You’re pleased with my loyalty! As expected, I’m a loyal servant!”
“Do you think Anna felt the same way?”
His cheerful voice dropped slightly.
“I’m asking because you seem to know. Did Anna… did Anna like me too?”
“…”
Anna liked you too.
It was clear what he wanted to hear. But for some reason, I didn’t want to tell him.
He was constantly searching for the Anna of the past, while ignoring the me right in front of him. I felt a mix of resentment and emptiness.
I placed my hand on my chest. My heart wasn’t beating, but why were my emotions so clear? If I were a true doll, devoid of even emotions, I wouldn’t be hurting like this.
But it was my choice to stay by his side, even if it meant enduring this pain.
“I don’t know.”
I pouted one last time.
Glancing at the young master, I saw that he didn’t seem upset. He was just indifferent.
‘What? Was he really just curious?’
It was puzzling. In the end, I raised my hands in surrender.
“Anna must have liked you too. How could she not like the master she served her whole life?”
The young master’s expression suddenly hardened.
“I don’t need that.”
That was harsh!
“If you’re going to imitate Anna, do it properly. Never forget that your master is me.”
“Yes, sir!”
Still, I replied cheerfully.
“You’re my doll, even if it means you’ll break.”
“Of course!”
The young master still looked displeased, but I was fine. I had secured lifelong employment.
Just then…
Clatter! Neigh! The horse went wild. The coachman screamed like an opera singer.
“What’s happening!”
I asked the coachman through the small window of the carriage. His face pale, he stammered,
“In front, in front, in front!”
“Hmm?”
“Zombies!”