I’m A Doll, But The Tyrant Is Obsessed With Me - Chapter 118
Stella (2)
Stella leaned against the cold stone walls of the prison, her eyes still closed. Even though the disgusting smell stung her nose, she felt nothing, as if her sense of smell had been numbed.
‘Is this the end?’
Tears burst, and she buried her face in her hands. She could see death as she faced the Emperor’s sword in his bedchamber. Even so, she had no choice but to hang on because she might really die if she returned to Ielro like this.
That wouldn’t do… she had to live until she fulfilled her mother’s will.
At that moment, she remembered what the chancellor had said. He said that as long as she didn’t touch the Princess, she would be fine. She had faced the Emperor a few times, so that seemed to be right.
The Emperor did not draw his sword against those who prostrated themselves in front of him.
It wasn’t because she was merciful, he just didn’t care.
The Emperor looking into the air and talking to himself seemed crazy, but that didn’t matter. It was because he had the power to protect her from Ielro.
Fortunately, she survived the sharp blade though this only delayed her death by a few days.
“Mother, what should I do now?”
She didn’t want to die. She didn’t want to be more miserable than this.
‘It’s difficult… I want to stop.’
As her slender shoulders trembled slightly, she could hear footsteps of people heading here the next moment.
‘…Could it be that they’re going to send me to Ielro already?’
Stella, hastily wiping away her tears with her hand, leaned her body against the wall.
Griit.
With the sound of the iron door opening, the surroundings lit up. The sight of the face in the light made her weep again.
“Leave it here and step back.”
With Mason’s low command, those who had come with him left the chairs and table and went outside. He slowly approached her, getting down on one knee and bringing himself to her eye level. Then, with a careful touch, he draped a blanket over her shoulders.
The warmth that wrapped around her shoulders made tears fall from her large eyes.
Mason stared at the blanket that was starting to get wet and carefully put something in her hand. Moving her hand unknowingly, Stella lowered her gaze, feeling the softness in her hand. What he gave her was a white handkerchief with a lily pattern on it.
“Can you get up?”
There was concern in his careful questioning tone.
‘Why are you always worried about me?’
Even though they did not know each other that well, it didn’t matter, she couldn’t bear to say it out of her mouth, so she just looked at it.
His blue eyes darkened with worry.
“Pardon me.”
Asking for her understanding, he lifted her.
In fright, she grabbed Mason’s collar.
“The floor is too much.”
Setting her down on a chair, he wrapped her in a blanket more carefully.
Mason sat across from her and was silent for a long time. It wasn’t until Stella’s tears died down that he spoke.
“I came here because I need to inform King Ielro of the incident.”
“:…Yes. Ask anything. I’ll tell you everything.”
“All the circumstances have already been revealed, so you just have to confirm.”
It was the first time she heard such a subdued voice from his mouth, so her shoulders shrunk more. It was the first time he had such a hard face.
‘He must have been disappointed.’
Mason didn’t say anything, but she could guess what he would think of a woman who walked into the Emperor’s bedchamber. When she realized that, she couldn’t bear to meet his eyes. She shrugged her shoulders even more and lowered her head, narrowing Mason’s brow.
“Princess Este, do you admit to trespassing on His Majesty’s bedroom?”
“…Yes.”
“Are you admitting to an assassination attempt?”
“No! Absolutely not!”
Stella shook her head desperately.
“His Majesty is well aware that I had no weapons.”
That day, the ladies-in-waiting did not give her anything to wear, as if they had made up their minds. She wasn’t even wearing her mother’s necklace.
“Then, why did you break into the bedroom?”
“I, in order to beg him to accept me…”
“Is it true that Prince Andrew told you to?”
In an instant, a resentment came over her and Stella’s big eyes started to spill tears again. Angry at her own helplessness for just doing as she was told.
‘…When this investigation is over, I will be sent to Yielo. It’d be my last chance.’
Stella hastily grabbed Mason’s hand.
“Help… I-I might die if I go back to Ielro. Please help me.”
Mason’s eyes twisted at her desperate plea.
Normally, she would have been frightened by the twisted eyes and apologized right away, but now, nothing caught her eye. Only the thought that she had to live filled her head.
“Die, what do you mean?”
“The peace treaty was ruined because of me… so I have to take responsibility for it.”
Mason could guess from the desperate voice that the responsibility would be to risk her life.
“…How can I help you?”
Stella’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.
“I’ll help. Anything I can.”
Tears dripped from her golden eyelashes along her slowly blinking eyelids.
“Really, will you help me?”
“Yes.”
The blue eyes that answered firmly did not contain any disappointment or contempt for her. There was only a will that was as firm as a rock.
Her heart skipped a beat at that moment.
Stella cooled her head, trying to calm her mind.
‘This is my last chance. What should I do?’
The owner of the necklace was here, so she had to stay somehow.
‘…Every time the necklace reacted, there was always the Emperor.’
Even if she couldn’t confirm it, she might think otherwise if she told her circumstances.
“Please allow me to meet with His Majesty alone.”
“His Majesty will never change a decision once made.”
“Still, I can’t give up like this. There’s no other way for me.”
The golden eyes, which had been weeping endlessly, sank deeply. Mason’s head moved at the look of sorrowful yet resolute eyes.
“…I will ask His Majesty.”
“Thank you.”
He gazed at her blankly at that faint smile.
* * *
She was able to get out of prison only after the Emperor obtained Epist. Leaving the parlor after talking with the Emperor, she stopped when she saw a person waiting at the door.
“I was waiting to show you where to stay.”
“He, hello.”
Stella, not expecting Mason’s presence, greeted him immediately, unable to hide her embarrassment.
“I’m glad you’re staying in the Empire.”
The sound of relief in his voice made her heart ache for some reason.
“Thank you. It’s thanks to the Chancellor for helping me.”
“I just gave the word to the Emperor though you accomplished everything.”
His calm words were a great comfort to her.
It was as if he was telling her that she was worked hard and that her efforts weren’t in vain. Stella smiled softly, hiding her bitter eyes. She didn’t want to show tears anymore, because she had cried a lot when she was with him.
For a moment, Mason’s blue eyes shook but then softened.
“I will take you to the annex where you will be staying from now on.”
As he said while stepping aside from her, she lightly walked.
“I thought you would like a quiet place, so I chose an annex located inside the inner palace. If you don’t like it, please tell me. I’ll look elsewhere.”
She barely survived by the grace of the Emperor. Moreover, externally, she was a hostage. Even though she was not in a position to want this and that, he tried to be considerate of her.
“That’s okay. I think a quiet place would be comfortable.”
How could Mason have known when they had never had such a deep conversation? He was a very thoughtful and meticulous person, as she felt every time she met him.
“There is something I need to ask for your understanding about protection.”
Stella turned her head at the carefully spoken words.
“I plan to deploy twice as many people as is normally set.”
“It’s all right.”
“It’s not for monitoring. It’s for safety, so please understand even if it’s inconvenient.”
“I’m just grateful.”
The Chancellor’s words, ‘for safety,’ must have been sincere.
‘Ielro must be grinding their teeth.’
It was clear that they would blame her for the failure of the peace treaty. However, since there was no one to be held responsible for the failure and no one to vent their anger on, the heat was bound to rise.
Perhaps they would kill her, pass the responsibility on to the Empire, and then plan to lead the negotiations in their favor.
It was because she was just a tool to them.
They must be thinking about how to use a tool that wasn’t yet worth it.
“All the ladies-in-waiting who came with you from Ielro have been sent back. I think you’ll be uncomfortable.”
“Thank you… Actually, I don’t want to run into the people of Ielro.”
Mason’s eyes froze at the small but firm words.
“Don’t worry, the people who will attend you have been chosen as reliable people with tight mouths.”
With a small nod, he added.
“Nothing is going to happen, but just in case. If the knights or servants make you uncomfortable, please let us know.”
He even explained the location of his office in detail.
‘Is he originally a meticulous and attentive person?’
…Or was it because she was a princess by name?
Stella’s head tilted.
The annex where the Chancellor guided her was a small and secluded place. Although she didn’t expect much, the cute front yard and the ivy that climbed the outer wall tickled her heart.
“Do you like it?”
Mason, who kindly guided her to the inside of the palace, asked as he looked at her.
“I like it so much.”
Stella, who glanced around her, finally realized that she was free of Ielro. She realized that she could live a daily life.
A neat smile spread across her white face like smeared paint.
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