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Chapter 38
Piani cried out sharply.
[Planted? I’m telling you, this is really my hair.]
“Hm….”
In Johannes’s mind surfaced a special feature titled “The Cursed Doll” from Monthly Horror Is My Favorite, a magazine he had deliberately sought out and read recently.
“Do you know why there are no human-shaped stuffed dolls?
It’s because human-shaped dolls were once used as dolls to curse others.
A cursed doll that succeeds in killing its target will bewitch its owner and control them at will. It is said to bring ruin not only to individuals, but to entire households!
And here’s a living point! Cursed dolls’ hair can grow!
So if you have a human-shaped doll at home, examine it carefully, and if it seems like its hair is growing, burn it immediately!
Now then, a toast to your curse-free life!”
Swallowing hard, Johannes thought,
‘Of course, cursed dolls can’t possibly exist!’
Monthly Horror Is My Favorite was just a magazine made by horror enthusiasts, focused purely on entertainment.
“It’s not an authoritative article that verifies the facts. Sure, the magazine’s publisher claims that ghosts really exist, but in the end that’s nothing more than his one-sided assertion.”
Johannes rambled on without even pausing to breathe, as if trying desperately to dispel his fear.
Piani thought Johannes was acting very strangely—extremely strangely.
[What’s wrong with this guy?]
In any case, Johannes firmly believed that ghosts or cursed dolls absolutely did not exist.
He believed that—but wouldn’t it hurt to be careful? Especially when Chris seemed so completely fixated on this doll.
‘As if he’s bewitched.’
A chill ran through Johannes’s body.
‘O-of course, there’s no way Lord Chris could be bewitched by something unholy. He’s an ability user chosen by the gods themselves, after all. But still….’
“It wouldn’t hurt for me to be extra alert, right?”
Perhaps the fate of the Hespia Grand Ducal House—and even the safety of the Loroa Empire—rested in his hands.
[What on earth is this old man babbling about?]
Still lost in his long-winded musings, Johannes cautiously grabbed a single strand of Piani’s hair.
[Aah?! What are you doing?!]
‘If I keep it and compare the length later, I’ll know. Whether the hair grows or not!’
With trembling hands, Johannes put strength into his grip and pulled on the hair. But it didn’t come out.
“Ghk!”
[Ouch!]
Piani and Johannes cried out at the same time.
Johannes tried again, pulling with just enough force not to tear the fabric. But there wasn’t even a hint that the hair would come loose.
“What is this? Why is it planted so firmly?”
He pulled even harder on the hair.
[Oww! You crazy human! Why are you pulling someone else’s hair?!]
Piani, now turned into a doll, had become somewhat insensitive to pain—but even so, having hair that wouldn’t come out being yanked like this was still extremely painful. If it had just come out, that would’ve been one thing!
“W-what’s going on? Why won’t it come out?”
Is this okay? Is this really okay to do to a doll?!
Just as Johannes’s strange suspicions about Piani deepened—
“Stop right there.”
A cold voice rang out softly.
“Ghk!”
Johannes’s shoulders stiffened.
Slowly turning his head, Johannes saw Chris walking toward them, his eyes looking utterly murderous.
“Gyaaa!”
Johannes’s pitiful scream echoed loudly through the otherwise peaceful grand ducal residence.
That day, Johannes very nearly met his end.
Several days had passed since the Tahae murder incident.
The emperor’s head throbbed as he looked at the pile of petitions from southern nobles stacked on his desk.
They were written with elegant words and smooth sentence structures, but in the end, they all said the same thing:
“We cannot endure this humiliation! No matter that it’s the Hespia Grand Duke! We didn’t neglect our duties on purpose—it was just an accident! So please, punish us!”
The emperor, pressing a hand to his forehead, spoke to the noblewoman calmly sipping tea.
“What would you do about this matter, Marchioness Yuria?”
Once praised as the most beautiful woman in Loroa for her creamy coffee-colored hair and lovely, gentle features, she turned toward the emperor with an expression as cold as ice.
Marchioness Yuria was the emperor’s great-aunt—one of the few elders of the imperial family, and the only person the emperor truly trusted. If asked to name the calmest and most elegant person in the world, the emperor would undoubtedly choose her.
“Indeed, the Hespia Grand Duke’s actions were excessive. Emotional, lacking both refinement and dignity.”
The Hespia Grand Duke—an existence with immense honor passed down through generations, countless assets, and a special power bestowed by the gods—the greatest predator of the current age. Among the citizens of the Loroa Empire, who didn’t owe him their life?
“The fact that such peace continues even while Akxia remains active is certainly thanks to him. However, that does not grant him the privilege to wield violence at will.”
Chris had to act according to the law.
“Acting according to one’s temper is the same as insulting the imperial family.”
At those words, the emperor forced an awkward smile.
‘Even if he insults us, it doesn’t really feel like much. He openly ignores me all the time anyway.’
The emperor was convinced that there was no one in this world whom the Hespia Grand Duke did not disregard.
“Moreover, the Grand Duke’s disregard for the law undermines the order of the Loroa Empire. Ordinarily, he would have to be punished, but….”
‘No. That’s impossible, isn’t it?’
The emperor swallowed dryly. At that moment, Marchioness Yuria continued, as if sighing.
“However, it cannot be said that the Grand Duke punished those who were entirely without fault.”
Setting down her teacup, Marchioness Yuria stared straight at the emperor. Her features looked gentle, but her gaze was like that of a fierce eagle hunting its prey.
“The knights of the Hespia Grand Ducal House are ordinary people who reached that level through training. If the southern knights had been properly trained, they would not have displayed such a pathetic state. In other words, it was the nobles who submitted those petitions who left their knightly orders in that condition.”
And yet they dared to claim they were wronged over a mere accident. How utterly impudent.
“Then….”
“Strip the five southern houses of their right to govern Tahae.”
Marchioness Yuria spoke smoothly, like flowing water—yet with icy decisiveness.
The emperor’s eyes wavered.
“Isn’t that too harsh a punishment?”
“Not at all. Tahae is a precious territory where the citizens of the Loroa Empire live. It’s an important place that even sees an increasing number of foreign visitors each year. Failing to properly protect such valuable land would normally warrant an even heavier punishment.”
Had Chris not stepped in, Marchioness Yuria would have made those five nobles think they were better off being beaten instead.
“After dealing with the five nobles, speak to the Hespia Grand Duke. Tell him his actions were excessive, and that he should be more careful in the future.”
“……Whether he’ll listen is another matter.”
The emperor said with a shrug and a voice lacking confidence. Marchioness Yuria sighed softly.
“Even so, you must state your position. There is a great difference between Your Majesty not saying anything and that side not obeying.”
‘That side….’
It wasn’t an especially harsh expression, but how many people could refer to that Hespia Grand Duke that way?
Aloof and noble, as though no blade could draw even a drop of blood from her—only Marchioness Yuria could manage it.
Within the Loroa Empire, there were five houses regarded as great noble families.
The House of Yuria was one of them. Its power was already immense, and when the young Marquis Yuria married Princess Sherry—the famed genius—there was nothing left to hinder the family’s growth.
By the time people began to say that House Yuria had surpassed even House Emen, which it had always been ranked just below, a miracle occurred for the physically frail Marchioness Yuria.
‘Pregnant? Me? Really?’
The marchioness, who had spent days and nights seated at her desk holding meetings with her husband, immediately entered seclusion. She was terrified of losing the child who had come to her with such difficulty.
Several months later, the daughter born amid the marquis couple’s worry and love was strikingly beautiful and lovable—just like the marchioness herself.
—What do we do with… this tiny child…?
—Let’s always show her only good things. Love her, cherish her….
To the marquis couple, their daughter was their entire world. She was the legitimate heir of the House of Yuria, where children were rare, and she would surely grow into one of the most precious young ladies in the empire.
—I’ll give you all the fortune of my life. I bless you, again and again.
When the child—so precious it wouldn’t hurt even if you put her in your eye—turned three, the marquis couple set out on a long-awaited trip with her.
—Mm-mm, pretty flowers, Mama?
—That’s right! We’re going to a place full of the flowers our baby loves.
—Yay!
—You like it? Mommy and Daddy love it too.
The marquis couple believed that their daughter, who smiled brightly whenever she saw pretty flowers, would smile just as brightly at their destination.
How beautiful that sight would be. They were certain it would become the most unforgettable journey of their lives.
How much time had passed since they entered a quiet forest rarely traveled by people? Suddenly, the outside grew noisy.
—Bandits!
Even now, Marchioness Yuria remembered it vividly—the moment that strange, dark red light forced open the carriage door.
—Well met.
Grinning broadly and revealing yellowed teeth, the bandit plunged a blood-dripping blade deep into the leg of the marquis, who was standing in front of her to block the way.
