BGDBP 35

Chapter 35

Piani jumped in place, startled.
[You’re going to teach me magic?!]
[Yes. But honestly, learning it won’t be easy.]
Honestly, Piani’s condition wasn’t ordinary.
[But since your body has mana, shouldn’t you at least try the challenge?]
Hesil said with a small grin.
Piani’s small chest fluttered with excitement. A magician!
‘Isn’t that just amazing?!’
Excited, Piani clenched her fists, burning with determination.
[What should I start with?]
[First…]
Just as Hesil was about to say something, Ope spoke urgently.
[First, return to your original spot.]
[Huh? Suddenly?]
[My fairy instincts tell me. Hurry!]
Startled, Piani hurriedly lay down in her original place. At that moment, as if waiting for this, the door opened.
“I’m here.”
Naturally, it was Chris who had returned to the room.
Even after washing with cold water for a long while, Chris still felt dazed.
‘That was a dream that was amazing and terrifying in many ways.’
Chris carefully lifted Piani.
“Did you sleep well?”
The man who had been smiling suddenly narrowed his eyes.
“Oh, did I wake you while you were sleeping?”
[No, you didn’t.]
“If that’s the case, I’m sorry.”
Chris smiled at Piani. Her eyes ached at it.
‘A handsome man’s beautiful smile is always nice to see! But today… does his smile seem a bit weak? Am I imagining it?’
No. Piani saw correctly. Chris wasn’t fully in his right mind.
‘Why do I keep dreaming about a woman who’s cute, lovable, soft, small, precious, and beautiful—just like our baby?’
It would already be strange for her to appear, but in the dream, she was always in his arms.
‘How could I have such a shameless dream? My chest is tingling. Ah, could this feeling be guilt?’
Chris, who usually distributed harsh words and violence evenly without a hint of guilt, had now learned guilt just from a single dream.
‘As expected of our baby. Teaching me something new.’
Chris felt grateful to Piani. But aside from that, he thought this sense of guilt would last only for today.
‘From tonight, I will never have such a dream. I will live as a trustworthy protector.’
At this moment, Chris had no idea that he would frequently dream of a girl resembling a doll.
Chris let out a low chuckle and cradled Piani, speaking softly.
“Now, which ones shall we go watch rolling around today? The training grounds, maybe?”
Piani’s eyes sparkled as she said:
[Your Highness. I want to go to the training grounds! I want to enjoy the feast of muscles!]
[A feast of muscles?!]
The three dolls were startled by Piani’s words.
Among them, Ope was most shocked. If his face could turn red, it would have been as red as a ripe apple.
[That girl doesn’t even know what embarrassment is!]
No matter what Ope said, Piani ignored him and begged earnestly.
[Please, please!]
She hoped Chris would understand her innocent, if slightly corrupted, feelings!
‘Hmm. Today, our baby’s face really seems to sparkle.’
Chris frowned as he recalled the unpleasant events from yesterday at the training grounds, looking at this doll who was pretty and lovable from every angle—above, below, side, and top.
“The training grounds won’t do after all.”
[Ah! Why not!]
“Over there, they often take their shirts off. I can’t let our baby’s eyes be sullied by such grotesque bodies.”
[That’s a good thing, it’s good! Shiny bodies! Muscles!]
Piani shouted desperately.
Ope’s small voice trembled.
[The world’s gone mad. Back in my day, if you made perverted remarks like that, the Fairy King would sew your mouth shut.]
Piani snorted and replied.
[Hmph! I’m not looking at them with perverted thoughts, you know?]
[Then what kind of thoughts are you looking with?!]
[It’s like admiring noble works of art or magnificent natural scenery.]
Though Piani had never wanted to see any great art or special natural landscape, she said so.
[If I must insist, it’s just scholarly curiosity about something new!]
Ope was dumbfounded.
[Where in the world is there scholarly curiosity like that?!]
[Here it is, why!]
Piani pleaded earnestly with Chris again.
[Your Highness. Let’s go outside. The weather’s nice, isn’t it?]
“Hm, outside is dusty; this clean body might get dirty.”
As if hearing Piani’s voice, Chris spoke.
Piani shouted desperately.
[Then Your Highness can wash me thoroughly from head to toe! I can even enjoy Your Highness’ touch now!]
Ope seemed to tremble as if his fur could shake.
[She’s definitely not normal. If she’s crazy, she’s really crazy.]
[Meow, meow.]
Yaongi expressed agreement.
At that moment, Chris suddenly widened his eyes as if remembering something.
“Come to think of it, Johannes said he’s having a meeting with the vassals today. Good. I should attend so they don’t get careless and feel tense.”
[What? Is there a handsome man there too? But even if there is, he won’t suddenly take his shirt off in a meeting! I still prefer the training grounds.]
Piani said in an innocent voice.
Ope was speechless.
[Look at her! And she calls it scholarly curiosity!]
[Calm down, Ope. She’s at the age where she’s very interested in the opposite sex.]
Hesil defended Piani.
Yaongi just stared at Piani as if she were a pervert.
Then, Chris, having decided on a destination, started walking.
“Now, shall we go?”
[To the training grounds?!]
“To the conference room.”
Chris said brightly.
[Uwaaah!]
Piani felt an extraordinary sense of disappointment.
‘Why can’t Your Highness hear my voice?!’
But soon she reconsidered.
‘If he could hear my voice, only troublesome things would happen.’
From now on, Piani must choose her words carefully to avoid revealing that she’s a strange doll and not the doll Chris was looking for.
‘This situation seems much better after all.’

Several hours passed.
“The Eighth House acted like such fools? How delicious. I’ll exploit this as much as possible.”
“The planned city project started last quarter is progressing very well. They emphasize that the beginning is important, so the lords try to hire experts even at great cost. Keeping talents with money was the right choice. They’re like geese that lay golden eggs. Heh heh.”
“Ah, and I’ve heard about the incident in the outer regions. If southern nobles protest without knowing the situation, I’ll strike back elegantly, with the law. Heh heh.”
“Heh heh, we’ll have lots of interesting stories to discuss today. Don’t even think about going home.”
Piani looked at the servants who were smiling grimly over their glasses and Johannes, who smiled more wickedly than anyone, and desperately wished:
‘Even if conversation isn’t possible, I wish Your Highness could at least understand my mood!’
Piani found this time boring and dreadful.

Meanwhile, Jojo was walking through the shopping district—not alone, but with family.
During the family’s vacation, the Ducal family allowed them to enjoy the trip as planned.
Then, Jojo, who had been walking well, stopped and scratched his ear.
‘Huh? I think someone’s looking for me.’
Chèche, who witnessed this from behind Jojo, frowned.
“What are you doing in the street? Disgusting! Absolutely filthy! Revolting!”
“Isn’t it too much to scold me just for scratching my ear?”
“Scratching in public? Do you think anyone would see that nicely? You’re making a disgrace for the country.”
“Really, that’s too much.”
Tears welled in Jojo’s eyes. Chèche, who cruelly wounded her brother’s heart, seemed unbothered.
“Look over there, Chèche!”
Pu, who had been leading and looking at various stores, snorted and pointed at a display window.
“There’s a pretty dress that suits you perfectly!”
“What did you say?!”
Chèche couldn’t agree. That frilly, long dress with a large ribbon… and the color—pink! A very deep pink!
‘A dress fit for a princess… and you expect me to wear it?!’
Of course, Chèche was a princess. She was a royal daughter.
“It’s for our daughter! I won’t let other girls take it!”
“Let’s go try it on quickly!”
Pu and Dici clasped hands and jumped excitedly.
Chèche wanted to refuse. Normally, she would have shouted, “No! Absolutely not!”
But she couldn’t now. She had agreed to cooperate with the trip in exchange for staying at the center.
“Damn… fine.”
Chèche swallowed her tears. Looking at her miserable expression, she resembled a general defeated in battle.
Pu and Dici, excited, held onto Chèche and led her into the dress shop.
Jojo watched his sister being dragged along as if arrested, her arms held firmly, and smiled contentedly.
‘Hmm, our harmonious family.’
Quite a sight!