Chapter 88
The head butler, attempting to stand, collapsed again and was escorted away by the other servants.
“Anna, you…”
The young master, about to call me Anna, remembered the others and switched back to my doll name.
“Estella, follow me.”
He started walking towards the workshop again. I stopped when I realized where we were going.
“I’m not going.”
“Just for a moment. I’ll let you out soon.”
“What is it?”
He reluctantly approached me and gently cupped my cheeks in his hands. He seemed to think this would appease me, and he was right. Seeing his troubled face softened my anger a little.
“It was Umbram who sent the zombies. He sent assassins this time. I’ll take care of them.”
“What did the Crown Prince…?”
I didn’t need to hear it. He was probably there to demand Estella.
“Not satisfied with creating a zombie army, he wants to control magic dolls as well? Is he planning world domination?”
“Something like that.”
“They say you should dream big, but using that dream to hurt others isn’t a good idea.”
I rolled up my sleeves.
“It’s my turn.”
“I’ve been explaining all day that it’s not your fight.”
“This is something you have to handle yourself!”
I ran towards the room where the assassins were waiting. He tried to stop me with magic.
It wouldn’t be easy. He was too worried about hurting me. I could feel him hesitating, even as he tried to trip me with magic.
“Anna! Stop! Listen to me!”
“I wouldn’t have left the workshop if I was planning to listen! I’ll do as I please!”
Ultimately, it was for his sake!
I quickly reached the guest room. I had mastered the secret passages of the mansion when I was ten. Having lost me, he was far behind.
I reached the room first and flung the door open. The men sent by the Crown Prince were sitting there with grim expressions. I smoothed my clothes and greeted them casually.
“Are you the strange people sent by His Highness?”
“Estella!”
The young master grabbed me and tried to pull me behind him. But I resisted. He stumbled, surprised by my strength. He hadn’t expected me to be so strong.
“So this is the combat doll Umbram was talking about.”
The oldest-looking man stood up and approached me, examining me like a toy.
“Would you mind not staring?”
I said, lifting my chin.
“If you’re looking at a potential concubine, you should treat her with respect.”
Murmurs rippled through the group. The atmosphere grew even stranger.
“Estella.”
The young master moved closer, his expression menacing. I smiled at him.
“That smile won’t work. You’re grounded.”
“You’ll be inconvenienced if I can’t leave the room.”
“You don’t understand my feelings. How I feel about…”
Just as his face was getting closer, someone tried to pull me away from him.
I didn’t budge, and I could feel their surprise.
“Ahem. Count Lupin Zepetto might have refused, but it’s a different story if she agrees. We’ll escort you respectfully.”
It was the same man from before. He looked me up and down appraisingly, then grinned, his teeth flashing.
“Lady Estella? Please come with us.”
“Where are we going?”
“To the Imperial Palace, of course. There are preparations to be made.”
“Ah, I see.”
I shrugged. The young master’s expression was priceless. He looked just like he did when I used to prank him as a child.
I wasn’t agreeing to become a concubine because I was stupid. Crown Prince Umbram had no intention of making me one.
Look, all the people here were strangers. None of the old men who usually accompanied him on official business were here.
These strange people were just here to threaten the young master. And they didn’t even have the proper documents for a concubine selection.
It was just an excuse. The young master knew that, so he was refusing.
The Crown Prince had even unleashed zombies on our mansion to get me. If we refused now, he might flood our land with zombies.
I would handle this myself!
“Can I see the Crown Prince as soon as we arrive?”
The man frowned, trying to maintain a smile. ‘You, a mere doll, want to see the Crown Prince?’ That was the look on his face.
Seriously! I had even carried the Crown Prince! Although I hadn’t known who he was at the time…
“What are you planning? If she’s going, I’m going too.”
The young master knew he couldn’t stop me. The strangers whispered among themselves, then nodded.
They probably didn’t want to cause trouble at the mansion either. Since they had come after sending the zombies, perhaps they were here to negotiate a peace treaty?
“We have a carriage prepared. Shall we depart for the Imperial Palace? Both of you.”
The young master put his arm around my shoulder and whispered,
“You’re going to be in trouble later.”
“I’ll think about that later.”
The Crown Prince, seemingly not busy at all, was waiting for us. This time, he was properly dressed and in his office. He looked like he had barely taken time out of his busy schedule to meet us.
“Why are you two together?”
He asked, looking at me. What should I say? I hugged the young master tightly.
“I’m not going anywhere without him.”
“Is that true, Lupin?”
The young master hesitated, then placed his hand on my shoulder. We looked like children caught doing something wrong.
“Well, that’s how it is.”
“I only need Estella. You can live freely, as you always have. Lupin, you don’t like being involved with me anyway, do you?”
“Whether I like it or not, I can’t give her away.”
“I heard a report. That Estella came to me of her own free will. So you’re the one interfering, Lupin.”
I could feel the young master’s anger rising at his provocation. Perhaps one advantage of being a doll was that I could sense his magic?
His magic was stirring. He was about to cast a spell.
As his maid, I couldn’t let that happen. I stepped on his foot and pushed him back slightly.
“Marriage is a serious matter, isn’t it? You’re my master right now, so I need your permission. Shall we try to persuade him together?”
“Good idea.”
The Crown Prince smiled and rested his chin on his hand. I felt a strange, menacing aura emanating from him.
“Estella. Why the sudden change of heart? Why do you want to become my concubine now? Bringing Lupin all the way here… you seem quite devoted to your master.”
I had a hunch about the answer he wanted.
“Because I want to become human.”
I answered without hesitation. It was the young master who was startled. I could feel his hesitation.
“I’m not sure how much of that I should believe, but fine.”
The Crown Prince smiled and then looked away.
“Do as you please. I’ll give you one chance.”
Thanks to the Crown Prince’s consideration, the young master and I were given a room together. It was more like a small mansion than a room.
As soon as we entered, he threw his coat on the floor and lifted me up.
“Are you out of your mind? What’s this about becoming a concubine? You said you loved me!”
I struggled, my feet dangling in the air.
“Let’s talk! We’ll resolve this with a conversation!”
He didn’t let go.
“Do you really want to be a concubine? Do you want to become human as Estella? I’ll try if you want. But, but, but! Anna!”
He was teary-eyed again. I wrapped my legs around his waist and wiped his tears with my sleeve.
“Why are you trying to leave me?”
“I’m literally in your arms, I can’t get any closer, Young Master. Unless you… absorb me.”
“I’m afraid of losing you again…”
I wriggled free. He didn’t let go of my hand.
“I have no choice but to reveal my great plan.”
“A plan? You have a plan?”
“Of course! I always have a plan!”
I dragged him to the window. Guards were stationed outside, watching us.
“Based on the Crown Prince’s words and actions, I’m certain he has the elixir.”
“That’s highly likely.”
“He’s using the elixir to create zombies and lying about turning me into a human, right? It’s how he’s threatening us. The elixir, you see…”
He pulled me away from the window, shaking his head.
“If you’re saying you’re going to steal the elixir, don’t even think about it.”
“Okay, then I’ll say I’m going to… intercept it.”
“…”
His face contorted. I grabbed his shoulders and shook him.
“It’s a brilliant plan! I’ll use the intercepted elixir to become human, and then you can have me all to yourself without any interference!”
“That’s not a plan, it’s a delusion. Estella, please calm down. First, withdraw your offer to become a concubine…”
“No! We have to be tough with rude people like him!”
“Can you not be tough with me?”
My plan required his cooperation. I would use him—I mean, ask for his help.
“You have a role to play too, Young Master. Can you write a letter to Miss Baba?”
“Baba? That witch? Why?”
“I’m not an idiot. To steal the elixir, we need help from someone close to the Crown Prince.”
It was a strategic move to use an intermediary. It would be suspicious to contact her directly since we weren’t close.
“You remember Knight Commander Edna, right?”
“Yes. Are you planning to ask for her help through Baba?”