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(Ciela’s POV)
* * *
Exactly five hours before the Crown Prince appeared.
The me, who was killing time by lying comfortably on the sofa in the master’s room, did not even dream of what would happen in the afternoon.
“What are you still doing here?”
Leather asked, as he walked around carrying a pile of documents that he’d been checking since this morning.
“I don’t wanna go home, May keeps pestering me.”
Yesterday, I gave back the commission to May. All while relying in good faith that she won’t have to pay since she won as the 100th client reward of the guild.
Then, May looked at me suspiciously, pestering me with questions, asking if I really did request it or backed out, that’s why I was able to return the money.
She even asked the full details about the request.
I made a few white lies of course, but in the end I eventually came out on the pretext of having an appointment.
After hearing what happened to us, Leather giggled mischievously.
“Can’t you just reveal to her who the guild master is?”
“The fewer people who know, the better.”
Besides, even if I told her the truth, I knew for a fact that she wouldn’t believe me.
In the eyes of people, I, Ciela Labyrinth, is a fragile lady in both body and mind.
“It always surprises me whenever I hear about the master’s reputation.”
“Me too.”
“Do you know what’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard? That even when the master breaks a flower, you’ll be shedding tears and say, “Flower, I’m very sorry”. But the truth is, you’re a person who would turn those people that you don’t like into a doll and– ouch!”
I threw a pillow at Leather and sarcastically said,
“It’s not like that!”
“Then what is it!”
“A doll.”
Then I hugged the stuffed toy of the Crown Prince the size of my forearm that was lying next to me.
A few months ago.
We received a request from a toy maker to eradicate adultery.
The request was successfully completed, but the toy maker, who had no funds to pay us, said that instead of money he would make a very expensive doll that money could not buy.
It was okay because I didn’t do it for money anyway, but he was very stubborn so told him that he could pay me back later.
That led me to think of what kind of doll that he would create for me, that’s when I decided that I wanted a miniature doll of my favorite character in this novel, Crown Prince Reynos.
Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.
It was a secret that I couldn’t share with anyone, that the Crown Prince, who is only gentle to the woman he loves, was definitely my ideal type.
But since I gave up on that dream early, for me to continue with my fangirling, there’s this thing called the original (*)buff.
(T/N: In this context the word ‘Buff’ has a different meaning and that’s; being an enthusiastic fan; In fiction, it usually has the meaning of recharging energy whenever the main character or the people around him are in crisis.)
‘I didn’t even have a chance to meet him in person, so I decided to fangirl over his miniature doll.’
Reynos did not engage in any external activities as a Crown Prince. Even in the original work, due to the curse of the evil dragon, it was a mystic concept that revealed the identity of the female lead, Tyrael, and a few close friends.
‘Even in the novel cover, only the sub-male lead was shown, which brought out a lot of speculation that one of them is the Male Lead.’
Still, I remember how the author described him, his hair color, eye color, and facial features, so I asked him to create the toy based on that information.
Then, the toy maker brought me a wonderful embodiment of my imaginary Crown Prince.
And of course, I’m very satisfied with it.
However, there’s this one problem.
‘Who asked the toy maker to create it like a (*)puppet doll?!’
(T/N: puppet is any small model of a person or animal able to be moved by strings or rods.// But the one that the toy maker made doesn’t have any strings attached to it, just like plushies.)
In this world, ‘puppet doll’ is the same as a ‘voodoo doll’.
I really had no idea about it. That’s when I heard that only human dolls are the safest one to have.
Fortunately, I was informed about those things, so I was able to explain to everyone in the guild that I’m not putting any curse on that doll. It was simply an ordinary stuffed toy that resembled the Crown Prince.
Still, I couldn’t convince everyone. So whenever the guild members saw the doll, they would immediately look at me as if I was a villain. That’s when the rumor started, about me turning those people who have offended me into dolls.
This is all because of Labyrinth’s special ability. Because of that, my reputation keeps leaning toward the dark side.
‘Even if I used it a lot, it wouldn’t be unfair. And I’ve only used the special ability once.’
(T/N: I still have no idea what that ability is but I’m excited about it.)
(PR/N: i’m more excited about the prince discovering a doll of himself XD)
“Still, I wanted to know who he is….”
Leather looked at the plushy doll pitifully, saying,
“Just how did you get caught by this devil here?”
I wanted to protest and defend myself, while hugging the plushy doll.
But then, I suddenly felt unpleasant as if anger started to arise. To release my frustration, I started punching The Crown Prince doll, frowning.
“Huh?!”
Leather started to freak-out at my sudden mood change.
I either pinched the doll’s cheeks with anger or squeezed it like a laundry.
The doll, filled with soft cotton, returned to its original state in no time even if i pressed its body deep.
I’ve been beating this doll that mimics the Crown Prince since yesterday. It was a protest of its own against not having received a reply so far.
In fact, there must have been another reason why I continued hitting this doll, but unfortunately I can’t remember anything at all. Why is my memory like this?
Leather, who was looking at my actions with a pale face, stuttered.
“You’re not going to make me a doll, aren’t you?”
“I’m not going to do that even if you gave me money for it.”
I’ve successfully relieved my anger by squeezing the doll’s head like a stress ball.
I glanced at the doll’s head, as it slowly went back from its original form, then I changed my expression as I stroked it with the image of a saint who seemed to embrace all the evil in the world.
Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.
Why do I have to feel guilty, I didn’t do anything wrong? The bad person here is the Crown Prince, who has not yet contacted me at all.
Ugh. From today onward, I’m no longer his fan.
I got up from my seat and prepared to leave. The doll was gently placed on the spot where I was lying down.
Since my doll had a hard time getting hit earlier, I placed a soft pillow on it’s head for it to have a good rest and covered it with a blanket like a duvet.
“Where are you going?”
“Variety store.”
“If you need anything, I’ll prepare it for you.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s personal.”
As it was said that it was a personal matter, Leather did not hold onto me any longer.
I left the guild after saying goodbye.
-ˏˋ ━━━━━━ ʚɞ ━━━━━━ ˊˎ-
(Ciela’s POV)
At the variety store, I bought a map of the continent.
I also purchased booklets that describe each country and their culture, as well as essays from people who traveled to different places.
‘I’m leaving this place.’
The realization hit me, as I punched that plushy doll. That no matter what I do, the love triangle between Tyrael, Duval, and Reynos has already begun.
A genre of two men fighting over a woman. Just thinking about it made my stomach churn.
‘I can’t watch that even if I die.’
Like the saying goes, ‘If you don’t like the temple, why should the priest stay?’
I decided to leave this d*mn place, as soon as I broke my engagement with Duval.
It was when I returned home with a bunch of long-term travel supplies for my sweet escape from the Empire.
It was when I was about to tell May that, ‘I’m going to leave this empire,’ our loyal butler appeared and said that a visitor came, making all my plans put into a halt.
“For me? Who is it?”
“That is…… I was just delivering the words that were instructed to me, Milady.”
The butler wrinkled his brow not knowing what to say about the identity of this unexpected visitor.
But then, I remembered that I instructed all the members of the Ciel’s manipulation guild, that “If ever you visit me, do not ever reveal your identity, as long as you mention my name they won’t kick you out”. So it seems that they’ve followed my instructions well.
‘I wonder who it is? Is it Leather?’
However, unless it was an urgent matter, Leather never appeared in front of me whenever I portray my role as ‘Ciela Labyrinth’.
Furthermore, didn’t I just visit the guild today?
Wondering, I headed to the front door to check on the visitor.
And I was shocked.
“Hello, Lady Ciela.”
“……..!”
Golden hair that looks like melted gold. And golden eyes that shine brighter than the sun.
A gorgeous face that I would never get tired of looking at all day, even if he’s wearing a plain black robe, it did not affect his overall appearance.
From the outside, he looks like a warm and sturdy knight, but I know in all aspects who this person is.
He will show his boundless kindness to the people within the boundaries he has set, and his endless coldness to the people outside.
I inadvertently shut my mouth before I could even call him, ‘Your Highness’.
I, Ciela Labyrinth, have never met the Crown Prince.
So I had to pretend that I didn’t know him. Although he turned out to be exactly what I imagined him to be, so I just go through the motions of it.
‘Oh. Come to think of it.’
In the original story, it was the Crown Prince who sent Ciela to the guillotine, so I unknowingly looked at his waist just to check, because he may have come to kill me out of anger towards my reckless request to have an affair.
Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.
I was so vigilant that the butler intervened without notice.
“Did you two know each other?”
“Uh… Yeah.”
I was in the midst of looking at his waist with nervous eyes, to see if he came here with a sword. Then the Crown Prince said.
“Since it’s our first meeting, it’s not good to come empty-handed.”
Ack!
Thinking that he might attack me, I suddenly flinched and took a step back. That’s when I saw what the Crown Prince held out to me, then I felt so embarrassed for thinking too much.
This- Wait? Lilstein’s rose?
“Oh, thank you.”
With a surprised heart, I rushed over to receive the bouquet of flowers. I was so distracted that I didn’t even notice that the Crown Prince was strangely shy with his ears dyed in pinkish red.
“Let’s go to the drawing room first. May, please prepare some tea and refreshments. Butler-“
“Yes, Milady. Come this way, sir.”
“No, I’ll be guiding him instead.”
After giving some instructions to May and our butler, I personally guided the Crown Prince towards our drawing room. Because I can’t carelessly have the servants serve him. It’s not that I don’t trust them, but we’re talking about the Crown Prince of the empire, making a mistake is not an option.
But in the end, it was me who made a mistake.
“Please come in.”
I even forgot that I was still holding the book of, ‘A guide for a long-term travel’ due to the sudden meeting. I opened the door to the drawing room and looked back at the Crown Prince.
But he didn’t follow immediately.
As he followed me, I noticed that he kept looking at the book that I was holding full of curiosity, as he softly licked his lips that only I could hear it.
“Milady, you do know me, right?”
Dang. I should have left it to our butler!
“Please, don’t ask me how I knew.”
He narrowed his eyes and came closer enough for me to feel his breath.
The moment I held my breath, I was more surprised at what he did next, he snatched the travel guide with his gentle hand movement.
“Long-term travel? Where are you going?”
Intense aura came out of him, and fierceness fluttered on those low-sinking golden eyes that were mainly focused on me.
Then he whispered in a very low voice.
“Aren’t we supposed to have an affair?”