Chapter 8
I thought majestic music would play with every step I took in the Imperial Palace, but that wasn’t the case. It was more spacious than I imagined, but not as extravagant as I expected.
If I had known I would be entering the Imperial Palace, I would have added a few more fake jewels to my outfit! Even though there was no one to impress, it would have been nice to feel fancy.
Our slightly relaxed footsteps mixed with the rhythmic marching of the disciplined knights.
The young master, staring straight ahead, slowed down and whispered to me discreetly.
“You’re here as my creation, before you’re my servant. So don’t even dream of doing anything to tarnish my reputation.”
“Creation…? Then should I have worn a prettier and more glamorous outfit? Should I start dancing with flowers in my hair right now? A performance art piece, you know. Do I have a dancing function, by the way?”
“That’s exactly what I’m telling you not to do. That kind of…”
“Understood. I’m an expert at acting refined. Because I have to serve a young master who’s as prickly as a chestnut, both inside and out.”
“First, control that loose tongue of yours.”
The young master glanced at me, lowering his eyes. I pretended to zip my lips shut.
Satisfied with my response, he strode ahead of me.
The Imperial Palace was vast, with many places to explore. Couldn’t I take a walk alone? If I held my head high and maintained a serious expression, blinking only occasionally, I would look sufficiently refined.
We crossed a wide, white hallway with open sides. On both sides of the hallway, sprawling gardens stretched out. Winter was approaching, but the gardens were filled with flowers as if anticipating early summer.
‘I wish I could smell them.’
As I was admiring the gardens from the corner of my eye…
My gaze met that of a woman sitting by a fountain in the distance. I could clearly see her abundant hair, like cascading gold threads, and her melancholic eyes.
Becoming a doll had apparently enhanced my vision beyond human capabilities. I was more impressed by my own amazing eyesight than by the woman’s beauty.
She didn’t avert her gaze but continued to look at me. I wished I had a heart. It would have been pounding with nervousness.
I wanted to talk to the beautiful woman. However, I had to maintain my role as the refined creation of a noble young master. I was disappointed that I couldn’t run over to her.
As we continued walking without slowing down, the woman gradually faded from view. I had to give up my longing and focus on admiring the back of the young master’s head again.
As I resignedly looked up, I heard a low, androgynous voice, almost boyish.
“Anna.”
I heard it clearly. Anna. It was definitely a voice calling my name.
I stopped walking. Did I hear wrong? I looked back at the garden, but there was no one there.
The young master, noticing that I had stopped, gestured with his chin without looking back. I hurried to catch up to him and made a decision.
I would find a way to meet that woman again, in a very refined manner.
The Crown Prince, whom I had never met before. What kind of person was he?
Unlike me, a person of low status, the young master knew the Crown Prince.
No, it might be more accurate to say they had a bad relationship.
If the young master was a prickly hedgehog, the Crown Prince was like a fox. A foolish fox who would poke and prod at the young master, trying to provoke him, only to end up getting pricked by his thorns.
He would probably annoy the young master again today with his talk about official duties and get scolded for it. I heard they were distantly related, but I didn’t know the details.
It wasn’t a maid’s concern. I just had to listen to the young master’s complaints from afar. What did I care about the perspective of a Crown Prince I didn’t even know?
Even as a doll, my position remained the same. No matter how exquisite a creation I was, I wasn’t allowed to meet the Crown Prince.
The young master tried to bring me to the Crown Prince’s chambers, but a large knight blocked the way with his spear.
“Only Count Zepetto may enter.”
What a shame. I thought I would finally get to see the handsome Crown Prince today. The elderly herald and the two horn blowers were also left to wait outside with me.
The ornate doors to the Crown Prince’s chambers opened. Just before stepping inside, the young master grabbed me by the collar. Because he was so tall, my body was lifted into the air.
“How light I am! Our frail young master can lift me so easily!”
“Stop with the nonsense and wait quietly.”
His threatening demeanor was as rough as a street thug. Our young master was going through a late puberty.
Dangling from his grasp, I pretended to cry. I even took out a handkerchief and dabbed at my dry eyes.
“Sob, sob. He tells me to be refined, but he’s acting like the villain.”
I suddenly remembered the conversation I had with Mrs. Muriel. I had heard that the young master’s personality had become terrible (Mrs. Muriel’s phrasing was a bit more delicate), but I didn’t expect it to be this bad.
“If you can’t be well-behaved, at least pretend to be refined.”
He put me down and disappeared into the room.
To think I’m patiently serving such a person as my master, I’m truly a virtuous maid.
As I grumbled to myself, the elderly herald tapped me on the arm.
“Hmm, as expected of Count Zepetto. I’ve never seen a doll that looks so human.”
Should I take this opportunity to pretend to be a completely unresponsive doll and go look for that woman?
“Danger detected ahead. Initiating search.”
I stared into space and spoke in a monotone.
“Wh-what is this doll saying?”
The flustered old man looked at the surrounding knights and the two horn blowers. Of course, none of them, having never seen a magic doll before, were of any help.
Despite their stares, I continued my act nonchalantly.
“Estimated search time is 30 minutes and 25 seconds. Setting return point. Return after search complete?”
No one could answer.
“Danger detected. 5, 4, 3, 2… until elimination cancellation.”
There was no better way to make people anxious than counting down.
“Return! Return!”
One of the horn blowers, who had been silent, shouted urgently.
“What if it disappears if we don’t tell it to return? It must be an expensive toy, being a magic doll!”
Yes, that’s what I was aiming for!
“Return command received. Returning after search complete.”
With those words, I walked away with the stiff posture of a wind-up doll. No one stopped my awkward gait.
Only murmurs of “Magic is truly amazing…” followed me.
Retracing my steps wasn’t difficult. If I went straight ahead, I would eventually reach the garden from before.
It didn’t take long for me to find the fountain where the woman had been sitting. She was no longer there.
“I’m too late!”
Disappointed, I snapped my fingers and looked around. Phew, thankfully no one had seen my unrefined gesture.
“Should I go back, or search a bit more? I’m curious, but if the young master catches me, he might grab me by the hair this time, not just the collar.”
Rustle, rustle! A faint sound of rustling came from the bushes behind me. Was it a rabbit? Then I’ll just take a peek at the rabbit and go back.
Holding my skirt, I walked towards the bushes. Various flower stems brushed against my black stockings, which reached up to my calves.
It must have been a soft and pleasant sensation. I was deeply disappointed that I couldn’t feel it properly with my doll body.
Approaching the rustling bushes, I reached out and parted the foliage.
“Bunny, bunny, bunny… Oh!”
It wasn’t a rabbit waiting for me. It was the woman, with eyes as gentle as a rabbit’s.
Unlike her youthful face, she seemed much taller than me. Her delicate and beautiful features seemed somewhat mismatched with her large frame. Was she an elf or a giant?
The mysterious woman was kneeling, picking flowers.
“You came?”
It was the same voice I had heard before. It wasn’t my imagination.
I wasn’t sure if it was because my hearing was exceptionally keen or if she possessed telepathic abilities.
But one thing was certain: she called me “Anna.”
As if to prove it, she called me again.
“Anna, I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Hello, I’m Estella.”
“So that’s your new name.”
“How did you know I was Anna?”
I approached her and sat down, spreading my legs to the side. Now that we were at eye level, I felt like I would be completely captivated by her beauty.
I thought no one in the capital could match our young master’s beauty, but there was someone who came close. I wondered if the rumored Crown Prince was this beautiful.
“I heard the whispers of the spirits. The story of one who was once human but is no longer.”
“Aha, you must be the Saint!”
As soon as I realized her identity, I grabbed her hand. I remembered praying to the Goddess every day before I died, wishing for happiness.
The Saint was the Goddess’s messenger. In a way, she was in the same line of work as me, a maid!
“Saint, please take care of me!”
“Saint… Yes.”
The woman offered me the bouquet she had carefully arranged.
“This is for you.”
“Thank you, but…”
Ah, my maid instincts were kicking in!
“We have more urgent matters to attend to.”
I handed the bouquet back to her. Then, I swiftly lifted her into my arms.
“My lady, you’re barefoot. I’m worried your delicate feet might get hurt by the thorns. Let’s continue our conversation at your chambers. Where shall I take you?”
Even I thought it was a very refined statement. She seemed flustered for a moment, then smiled brightly.
Hmm, she seemed to appreciate my kindness.
“Hahaha. Anna, thank you. To think you’re worried about me…”
Her surprisingly strong arms wrapped around my neck.
“Can you take me to the Crown Prince’s chambers like this? If you don’t feel awkward, that is.”
“Of course! To the Crown Prince’s chambers!”
Huh?
I tilted my head and repeated the words.
“The Crown Prince’s chambers?”
“Yes.”
The bouquet swayed under my nose.
“My name is Umbram Ritvara.”
“Ri-Ritvara…”
Ritvara was the name of this empire and a noble name passed down through generations of the Imperial family.
“Do you need to know my title as well?”
“N-no… I already know…”
The person I had proudly lifted into my arms… was the Crown Prince.