I’m A Doll, But The Tyrant Is Obsessed With Me - Chapter 116

Honeymoon (3)

After breakfast, I looked around Hesarion with Declan, following Cervan’s guidance.

“This is the road leading to the forest.”

“Wow.”

After looking around the building, I was impressed when I reached the entrance of the forest. In the forest, where tall trees were densely populated, I had to look up for a long time, and the smell of wet soil and trees was strong.

“I think I’ll get lost if I go around.”

I laughed inside as I was thinking the same thing at Noah’s murmuring from behind.

“There is an outer wall around the forest, and all the roads are well signposted so don’t worry.”

Cervan smiled kindly and explained.

Declan, who had sent the attendants and escorts farther back, came to the side and gently held my hand.

“How about taking a leisurely look around the forest?”

“Great.”

As I held his large hands together and took a deep breath, the refreshing scent of the forest refreshed my head.

“Looks like you’re in a good mood.”

“As the baron said, it seems that this place has magic that makes you feel at ease.”

“Really?”

He smiled lightly as I nodded my head broadly.

When I entered the forest, it was not easy to see the open sky because there were many different types of trees. Being surrounded by dense trees, it felt cozy, as if the forest were embracing us.

“Oh, look here.”

Walking slowly down the street, I pointed to my left and Declan stopped and looked at it as well. There, trees with thick trunks and red bark were lined up on both sides.

“Shall we have a match?”

He raised an eyebrow at what the match would be.

“Give the wish of the person who arrives at the end first.”

“Well, that… Even if I don’t try it, I’ll know the results.”

I raised my chin in that laugh of ridicule.

“There is a difference in physique, so you can’t just do it. Wouldn’t it be fair to give you a handicap?”

I picked up a branch and drew a line where he was standing. The next moment, I walked a long way forward and drew another line.

“That’s your starting line, and this is my starting line.”

When I gazed at him triumphantly, Declan smiled as if I was doing something cute.

“Alright. Then, what would you like to wish for?”

“It’s not fun to say in advance. I will tell you after the game.”

“Will you really listen to everything?”

“Of course.”

My attitude of assuring him that I would win created a competitive spirit.

I clenched my fists and burned with enthusiasm, but when I compared the position of the starting line, I secretly lost confidence. While Declan was contemplating his wish, I quickly erased the line drawn in front of my feet and moved forward to draw a line again.

As I pretended not to know, I heard giggling laughter from behind.

“Our physical conditions are so different. It should be this much to be fair.”

Although I cleared my throat and averted his gaze, it was obvious that even if I didn’t look, my face would be red.

“Of course. It’s the Empress’ word, so obviously, I should follow it.”

“Come on, get to the starting line. If I give you a signal, run.”

Declan confirmed with a nod, and I took my stance.

“Ready, go!”

I screamed and kicked the ground with my feet and ran away. After running for a while, I glanced to the side and saw Declan was not there yet.

‘Maybe there’s a chance…!’

In my head, the odds were slim, but my legs were running as hard as I could.

‘Just a little bit more!’

The moment I was about to step on the finish line, something swept past me and grabbed me by the waist. At the same time, I crossed the finish line.

“Gasp, gasp.”

Breathing heavily, I looked up and saw Declan grinning as he hugged me. Unlike me, who was panting out of breath so much that my lungs seemed to pop out, his breathing was not disrupted. I was amazed at his stamina, but on the other hand, I hated it.

He glanced over, and a triumphant expression met my eyes.

“Since we crossed the finish line together, is it a draw?”

My breathing was still not in order, so I only nodded as he gently stroked my back.

“Then, what about granting wishes?”

“We should pretend it didn’t happen because there was no match.”

“Hmm, how about this? A draw is also a joint win, right?”

His eyes twinkled as I glanced at him, wondering what he was going to say with such a long introduction.

“Can’t we just grant each other one wish?”

It was clear that he had been aiming for this from the beginning. Even though I was a little resentful, I quickly felt relieved because I knew that Declan was doing that to be considerate of me. Above all, he didn’t want to miss the chance to make his wish come true.

He stared at me like he had thought about it diligently.

I laughed.

What kind of wish was it that he responded to the bet by counting down the possibilities?

“Okay. Tell me your wish first.”

“Tell me yours.”

He smiled questioningly and gave me a chance first, so I said to him.

“From now on, kiss me at least once every day for the rest of my life.”

“That’s too easy to be a wish.”

“Even if it looks easy now, it won’t be easy to keep it for the rest of your life, right?”

“Well, I don’t think it will be that difficult.”

Declan pulled me by the waist and proved it by kissing me lightly.

“No matter what you look like, I can only see you.”

My face heated up at the hot gaze, and when I sneakily rolled my eyes, I heard laughter.

“What is your wish?”

As I asked with an averted gaze, he whispered softly in my ear.

“Our child.”

When I opened my eyes round with that unexpected wish, his large hand wrapped around my face.

“I’d rather have a child who looks like you than me.”

As he whispered, he narrowed his eyes. It was as dazzling as sunlight breaking through leaves.

“I’m willing to do my best if you’ll let me.”

I burrowed into his arms to hide my reddened face from the words he whispered in my ear again. Even so, when I nodded my head, my heart fluttered as I heard his refreshing laugh. It was just around the time that the heat subsided, and we started walking again.

“Huh? What is that?”

“Hmm, it looks like a house made of wood.”

“A house?”

What reached the end of my gaze was a wooden structure on top of a tall, beautiful tree. Declan gestured towards Cervan, who was far away, and he quickly came closer.

“What is that?”

“That is a tree house made for the princes and princesses.”

After hearing Cervan’s explanation, I couldn’t take my eyes off that. When I was young, whenever I saw tree houses in foreign movies, I was both envious and curious.

“Is it okay for adults to go up?”

“I heard that it’s built strong and big enough to be used by anyone, not just children.”

Cervan kindly answered my question.

“Do you want to go up and see?”

Declan asked, eyeing the tree house. On the other hand, I nodded my head, and after thinking for a moment, he opened his mouth in a cautious voice.

“Wasn’t it built a long time ago?”

“Yes, but it is safe because it is regularly checked and repaired.”

Declan quietly called out to Liam, perhaps he was not relieved by the confident answer.

“Check carefully. If there are any dangerous parts, repair them.”

“Understood.”

Liam called the knights right behind him and went up to the tree house.

“Erica, how about going up the tree house when it’s safe?”

Even though it was a pity, I nodded my head.

“Alright. Shall we look at other places, then?”

At his words, I took his hand and led him to the other side of the tree house.

* * *

Fortunately, the next day, it was confirmed that the tree house was safe.

“Wow! I can see far away from here.”

Looking through the window of the tree house, I could see the end of the path that stretched straight ahead. The long branches of the tall trees and the plentiful green leaves filled my vision.

“It just feels like I’m floating in the air.”

“I didn’t know you’d like a place like this.”

Declan smiled happily and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

“I wanted to have a hideout like this when I was young.”

“Well, I also used to spend time on the tree in the backyard of the Imperial Palace.”

“It’s hard to climb trees.”

“Not so much. After doing it once or twice, I quickly got the hang of it.”

I bet it was. After all, there was nothing the great Declan couldn’t do. It was an expected reaction, so I roughly nodded, and Declan’s eyebrows narrowed.

“You don’t believe me.”

“I believe you. You must have had different physical abilities since you were young, so you must have become a sword master.”

As I praised him moderately, the tip of his chin went up as if he was satisfied with it. It was cute and made me laugh.

The inside of the tree house was spacious but without much furniture. Perhaps it was just for us, there were soft bedding and cushions on the floor. After touring the interior, we sat down on the cushion and took out our lunch from a basket.

“I feel like I’m going on a picnic like this.”

As I spoke excitedly while filling both my cheeks with a meat-filled sandwich, he wiped my mouth with a handkerchief.

“If you’re happy, I’m happy too.”

As I drank the juice he handed over, he looked at me happily and caressed my cheek. I finished my meal leisurely and leaned on a cushion on my back.

“Why don’t you close your eyes for a while?”

I lifted my heavy eyelids and shook my head.

“I can’t because there’s something I really want to hear.”

While Declan was puzzled, I winked softly before quickly taking out what I had hidden in the basket and holding it out.

“….”

He stared blankly at what I took out. Perhaps finding the book unexpected.

“Please read it. In a storytelling tone.”

As my eyes lit up with anticipation, a troubled expression appeared on Declan’s face.

“You read to me often when I was a doll. I want to hear it again.”

When I put my hands together and asked, he let out a small sigh and accepted the book. He then opened the book and held me tightly against his broad, firm chest.

“A hero came to the castle where the witch lives. The witch had covered the world with ice.”

Soon, a soft, low-pitched sound spread through the tree house.

“Witch, come out quickly.”

Declan shouted loudly as if he was really shouting at a witch.

“Ridiculous. Do you think that a mere insignificant human being can defeat me?”

I couldn’t contain myself and burst into laughter as a sudden, haughty woman’s voice came from his mouth the next moment.

“That’s too much. You ask me to read it like this.”

The tips of his ears were red as he cleared his throat.

“I laughed because I admired your acting skills. How can you read it so realistically?”

When I praised him by raising both my thumbs, his rugged expression straightened out. Similarly, the bridge of his nose also went up.

“I was born with it. Even Chloe said she enjoys it the most when I read to her.”

“I can’t help but admit it, it was like that when I was a doll. Even though it was a fairytale, I was immersed in it.”

Declan’s shoulders finally gave way.

“Please read the next part. I’m wondering.”

When I asked, waving his sleeve, he cleared his throat and started reading the book again, his voice getting stronger than before. In the meantime, the sun, which had risen in the middle of the sky, gradually slanted toward the west.