Chapter 39

Cursed Doll
Calmly, my father spoke, voicing his emotions.

However, His Majesty was thrashing about wildly, as if he believed that surrendering here would spell his utter ruin. His desperate, frantic struggling was so disgraceful that it was impossible to see him as the ruler of a nation.

“Hey, you damn wench! How long have you been fooling around with Runken!? You filthy whore! You’ll spread your legs for any—!”

At that point, I could no longer endure it.

Why should I have to be subjected to such slander?

People are free to speculate and imagine things. They can think whatever they want in their heads.

But—when they start believing those delusions are truth and use them to attack others, that’s unacceptable.

And really, how dare he talk like that? Who was it who cheated, who ignored me, and lavished affection on a mistress? For the past three years, I had no close relationships with any man. Certainly, being the Queen was a major reason, but even more simply, I had been far too busy to spare a moment for romance. I had no time to indulge in love. And the fact that he didn’t even know that infuriated me.

(Give me a break…!)

To shut him up, I pulled out the dagger tucked into my garter belt and, without unsheathing it, hurled it.

Like a shot-put thrower, I took proper form and launched it straight at his stomach—with impressive force, it struck him cleanly in the side.

“Gweh!”

With a pitiful sound like a squashed frog, His Majesty’s body went limp. Now was my chance. Returning to a neutral stance, I addressed the knights.

“Take him away.”

Though they appeared flustered, the knights nodded, grabbed His Majesty, and dragged him from the room.

It seemed my dagger had landed cleanly in his solar plexus—His Majesty writhed and could no longer speak.

Following him, the shrieking Count Belnett was also dragged out.

Silence returned to the chamber, though I immediately noticed the stares directed at me. Clearing my throat with a small cough, I straightened my posture and declared,

“I judged that the proceedings would drag on unnecessarily, so I took decisive action.”

It was crucial to present this as a justified decision; otherwise, I would simply be a woman who resorted to violence.

As I spoke flatly, I caught a glimpse of Lord Runken hiding a laugh behind his hand.

“……”

I felt… well, quite embarrassed. Clearing my throat once more, I sat down as though nothing had happened. The Chancellor looked at me, wearing a wry smile.

The proceedings then turned to the issue of Veronica.

(Even if we’ve dealt with His Majesty, there’s still so much left to handle…)

My head throbbed at the thought.

The Chancellor looked at Lord Runken and spoke.

“From here, Lord Runken, the next king, will preside.”

Lord Runken stood without surprise, taking his place at the royal dais where His Majesty had just been sitting.

The murmurs ceased, and the room fell silent.

(Just… when had it all been decided…?)

Apparently, Lord Runken had already resolved to depose His Majesty and ascend the throne.

Though I had heard of the Nympée incident, it still stung to realize how little I’d known.

Calm and composed, Lord Runken immediately addressed the next issue.

“First, regarding the whereabouts of Veronica Belnett…”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“Among the national treasures she took was a certain infamous doll. Many of you may have heard of it… the ‘Soul-Sucking Doll’.”

The room buzzed with agitation.

(Well, of course…)

I too had been astonished when I first heard about it from Lord Runken. Seeing the others’ bewilderment and shock, Lord Runken nodded, confirming that many were indeed aware of the doll, and began explaining.

“As the name suggests, this doll drains the soul of its owner… it is a cursed artifact.”

The murmurs grew louder. Some seemed shocked that such a doll had been stored among the royal treasures at all.

“The doll was created several centuries ago by a wealthy individual who spent an exorbitant sum commissioning it. However, servants began disappearing one after another, drawn to the doll, and eventually, the owner himself vanished. Since then, the doll passed through many hands, each meeting a similar fate, until it ultimately came into the care of the royal family.”

Lord Runken paused, raising one hand. A servant responded by opening the door and bringing in a box covered in black cloth.

Realizing what it was, several people gasped.

“The doll does not steal souls merely by being seen. Physical contact appears to be the key.”

With that, Lord Runken uncovered the box.

I had seen it before, during a routine inspection of the treasure vault.

It was a beautiful doll.

Its hair, made of blue diamonds, and porcelain skin gleamed among the many gems adorning its form, giving it a dangerous allure. At the same time, it radiated an eerie, unsettling presence. I had left the vault quickly back then, unnerved by its aura.

It had sky-blue diamond hair, porcelain skin, and crimson eyes set with red diamonds.

And now, seeing it displayed once again, I caught my breath.

“…… Impossible…”

I murmured too softly for anyone else to hear.

Lord Runken, after confirming everyone had seen the doll, promptly covered it again, as though sealing away something dangerous.

“When I checked before, the doll’s hair was sky blue, and its eyes were red. But now—”

Its hair, adorned with yellow diamonds, was golden.

Its eyes, set with blue diamonds, were now blue.

In other words—

(Veronica’s colors…)

I recalled Lord Runken’s words from Nympée, echoing in my mind once more.

(She may no longer be in this world.)

What do you think about this chapter?