BGDBP 30

Chapter 30

“You’re already in the wrong—and it’s a sin—just for bringing him in front of me because you asked.”
Jojo broke out in a cold sweat under Chris’s blade-sharp gaze, but he didn’t back down.

“And the heir to the throne of Ceres is just a low-ranking knight? Does that make any sense?”
Chris sneered mockingly.

“In this place, I am neither royalty nor the heir. I am just the ordinary Jojo.”

“Hah.”

“Your Grace. I understand this situation may not be to your liking. But if you give me the chance, I will not become a nuisance.”

“No need—…”

Fu, unable to stand seeing Chris continually reject Jojo, shouted through tears.

“What’s wrong with my son?!”

The sudden loudness made Piani jump in fright.
‘Oh, this man! He’s giving people quite the scare!’
If Piani had heard him, Fu would certainly have apologized, but for now, she hadn’t.

Fu continued, voice full of grievance:
“Our son is only eighteen, and he’s praised as the strongest swordsman in Ceres! The generals have said he’s probably the greatest genius in history, over and over again!”

“Oh, Father…”
Jojo pressed his hands to his forehead in awkwardness.

Chris looked at Fu with cold eyes that clearly said, “So what?”
Frightened by that gaze, Fu stammered:
“W-we’ll pay whatever price if you accept our son!”

Price? Johannes thought quietly:
‘Ceres has abundant food. And it’s close enough that importing provisions wouldn’t be difficult.’
If they could receive food from the 8th House, there’d be no need to negotiate with the southern nobles.

“Who do you take me for…? Get out immediately—”

Just as Chris was about to issue the order to expel them, Johannes urgently intervened:
“Oh, Chris! Don’t do that—please accept him!”

“Why are you acting crazy again? Enough. Get out, all of you—”

“If you speak so harshly, the doll will hate it!”
Johannes shouted as if fire were coming from his throat.

“…”
Chris sealed his lips. Johannes smiled slyly.
It works!

Earlier, when Dyan had called him “Your Doll,” Johannes had been flabbergasted.
Even if Chris had searched endlessly for the doll, calling a mere doll “sir”—?
Chris won’t possibly order me to call that worthless doll “sir.” I can’t do it.
That had been Johannes’s thought just moments ago.

But now it was different. If it could stop Chris, then what’s a doll! He could even lick its tiny doll feet. Slurp!

[What’s this? I suddenly feel goosebumps!]
Piani frowned. Jojo tilted his head in confusion.

“Hmm?”
Jojo studied Piani carefully, his expression the same subtle smile as when they first met.

Feeling Jojo’s unwavering gaze, Piani asked blankly:
[Why are you staring at me like that? Do you also find me adorable? Huh. This beauty really is a problem. Even the Grand Duke is head over heels, completely lost in me. What a mess.]

Piani spoke as if nothing were wrong, though she wasn’t troubled at all.

Suddenly, Jojo blinked rapidly.
‘What’s wrong with him? Did something get in his eyes?’
Well, it’s none of my business, she thought, yawning. Even if her doll mouth didn’t open, her soul yawned wide.

Then Jojo spoke with an awkward smile:
“Um… what a lovely doll. One that would make the Grand Duke fall completely for her.”

Piani’s mouth remained agape.
‘What is he saying right now?’

She wasn’t surprised that Jojo called her lovely.
‘Of course I’m lovely.’

What shocked Piani was that Jojo’s words seemed to respond directly to her own voice.
‘M-must be my imagination…’

It wasn’t impossible in context. Chris held the doll carefully in both hands, and educated people did call it “sir.”
Johannes even tried to warn Chris that the doll might get scared, so it was easy enough to deduce.

But Chris didn’t seem to perceive it that way.

“How did you know I was completely enamored with my baby?”
Chris’s gaze was as cold and sharp as a well-honed blade.

Jojo shrugged awkwardly, forcing a smile:
“Well, such a cute doll is bound to make one fall completely.”

Cheche peeked at Jojo with wide eyes.
‘Why is he acting like this? He always ignored my doll before.’

Johannes frowned.
‘Why the sudden flattery? If this is flattery, it’s a mistake. No matter how obsessed Chris is with dolls, he won’t fall for such obvious flattery. He might even dislike it.’

Johannes thought it would be better if Jojo stayed quiet.

But then Chris tilted his head slightly and said:
“This one… seems to have an eye for things after all.”

Johannes’ eyelids twitched.
“I don’t dislike someone with a keen eye. Fine, I’ll give him a chance.”

“That’s it?”
Fu muttered unconsciously, feeling all his struggles had been in vain.

Then Johannes barked like an angry Chihuahua:
“Don’t try to let it slide! Didn’t you say you’d pay the price?! Come here immediately and discuss that price thoroughly. If you try to weasel out, I will risk my life to stop you!”

“Whoa.”
Fu was dragged to the next room by the wide-eyed Johannes. The family glanced briefly at the pitiful father, then turned their gaze to Chris.

“Your name is Jojo.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“You’re lucky. You came secretly to another country and even got to see the world’s cutest doll.”

Chris smiled in satisfaction, patting Piani. Jojo awkwardly nodded repeatedly.

“Yes. I’m truly fortunate.”

Cheche peeked at Piani cautiously.
‘A human-shaped doll… I’ve never seen one before.’
Though it was the first human-shaped doll, the face was familiar.
‘That’s “Chubby Piyang,” right?’
Cheche recognized the protagonist from her favorite author’s debut work.

‘Wow. The terrifying Duke Hespia is a fan of cute daily-life comics.’
Even if a cruel and profound comic fan, this was shocking.
And look at Chris. He’s so confident in front of everyone.
Cheche had always hidden her fandom, embarrassed when others didn’t understand.

‘I want to enjoy my hobbies confidently like that too.’
Cheche’s sweaty fists clenched.

The Ribe family was sinking into a deep, dark swamp.

Several days had passed since Countess Ribe fainted while searching for her daughter without eating properly, and Count Ribe’s usually immaculate face was now streaked with stubble.
The Ribe family, once always smiling brightly…

“Still no witnesses have appeared?”
“Yes, we truly apologize.”

The butler bowed, and Count Ribe shook his head.
“No, no…”

Despair gripped Count Ribe’s throat, but he could not completely abandon hope that Piani was safe.
How could she be dead when there were no traces?

“Ugh—!”
Sudden nausea made Count Ribe cover his mouth.

“Count, are you alright?”
“I’m fine, fine.”
He spoke with difficulty. Living felt unbearable, like his blood was slowly evaporating.

“Count, Delis sent a letter.”

A footman quickly brought a well-sealed letter. The count read it without delay.
Surprise and hope filled his eyes.
‘He’s consulting with the Viscount to grant permission to use the royal tracking magic artifact…’

This was something the Ribe family alone could not request. Only possible because of the Duke of Emmen.

‘What a relief…!’

Until now, Count Ribe had not fully trusted Delis’s intentions.
He worried that such a great nobleman might only pursue Piani because of her looks.

‘Looking at his recent actions, I realize how foolish I was to doubt him.’

Since Piani’s disappearance, Delis had focused solely on finding her.
Who could doubt his feelings after seeing that?

Before dawn, countless people, faces hidden by long robes, gathered in the damp, dark underground.

“Eek!”
“Ah!”

They were thrown into a blood-drawn magic circle, bound tight. Some begged for mercy, others cried accepting death, some fainted.

The “Priest” of Akxia and the strongest black magician in this world stretched his hands toward the ground.

“It’s time to eat.”

Suddenly, a sinister purple aura gushed like hot spring water and surged toward the people like hungry piranhas.

“Argh!”
“Ahhh!”

Horrific screams echoed, and within moments, those who had been alive moments ago vanished completely, leaving only a trace of bone dust.