I’m A Doll, But The Tyrant Is Obsessed With Me - Chapter 128
Big Discovery (2)
“I’ll have to go directly to Marquis Cayton’s territory.”
“No.”
I was at a loss as to how to persuade Declan with his resolute answer.
Currently, with the help of priests dispatched from the Great Temple, there were no more critically ill and dead, but that was because the priests would treat even the slightest abnormality. Though right now, the incidence rate had rather increased. Even in another territory, patients with the same symptoms were occurring.
“If left as it is, it might spread to other places.”
“There are already priests, so there is no reason for you to go.”
Declan hardened his face, showing that he would never allow that.
“I know what you’re worried about, but God blesses me. I won’t get any disease.”
“Aren’t the investigators and doctors already investigating?”
“However, the name of the disease, let alone the cause, has not been identified so far.”
“Nothing would change just because you go.”
“I have divine eyes. I can see things other people can’t see.”
At my words, Declan’s lips were tightly closed. He couldn’t refute that.
“I am the Savior, and I am the Empress of the Empire. I have the duty and responsibility to protect the people.”
“Ha…”
He let out a long sigh and touched his forehead. As I approached him and sat on his lap, his green eyes widened slightly.
“We have a responsibility and an obligation to protect the people of the Empire.”
“…I know.”
“It’s best if I go, not you.”
Listening to my words, Declan sighed and embraced me, burying his face in my arms. While I quietly stroked his hair and soothed him, he raised his head after a while.
“Don’t overdo it, just go to Marquis Cayton’s territory.”
“I will. Please take good care of Ray.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
He grabbed my head and pulled me to him. I watched him approaching closer and closer, then quietly closed my eyes before his hot lips touched mine.
* * *
“Your Majesty!”
Seeing Stella approaching at a brisk pace with her skirt slightly raised and Mason following restlessly, I smiled naturally.
“Why are you in such a hurry? We just met a few days ago?”
“It’s nice to see you though.”
Stella responded with a shy smile, like a flower soaked in water, neat and girlish.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
When Stella stopped, Mason, who was relieved only then, bowed to me.
“Duke Buccleuch, thank you for allowing the Duchess to accompany me.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to assist Your Majesty.”
As always, I was smiling happily at Mason’s classic answer when I heard a clicking sound from the side. Turning my head, Declan uttered just one thing with a somewhat sneering look.
“You failed.”
“What can I do about it? Your Majesty can’t do it either.”
Mason, who understood the meaning of the words, replied with a humble expression.
“I’ll be back safely. Don’t skip meals, get a good night’s sleep and don’t work too hard.”
“Am I a child?”
“I’m still worried.”
“Don’t worry about me and Ray. Take care of yourself.”
Declan hugged me tightly and kissed my forehead.
“Did you bring the communication tool?”
“Of course. I brought it first.”
The communication tool was a magic tool that he created while threatening wizards a few years ago. The round communication tool, the size of which fits in his hand, was easy to carry.
“Yes, always carry it with you.”
I nodded and lowered myself towards Rachel, who was standing with the nanny.
“Ray, listen to Dad and eat well.”
“Hng, Mom, don’t go.”
My heart felt heavy as I watched Rachel cry as she burrowed into my arms. It was not easy for me to make the child understand since I was leaving her for the first time since Rachel was born. I thought she accepted it because she didn’t cry like before.
“Ray, how many nights did Mom say I would come back?”
As I comforted Rachel, the child poked her head out and spread her hands out wide.
“If you fold it twice like this.”
Rachel, who answered by lifting her short fingers one by one, showed me her two curled hands.
“I’ll be back by then, so get along well with Dad. Mom is going to take care of the sick.”
In the end, Rachel reluctantly nodded her head.
“If you miss Mom, tell Dad. Then, you’ll be able to talk to Mom with the communication tool you saw last time, okay?”
Since I had talked directly with Rachel through the communication tool before, she understood what was being said. Thankfully, the child’s face softened a bit.
“Ray, the sick people can only be cured when Mom goes.”
As Declan hugged Rachel and patted her little back, the child rubbed her face in his arms.
“Ray, Mom will be back.”
With my greeting, Rachel turned her head.
“Ray, you should say goodbye to Mom.”
“Mom, bye-bye.”
Rachel reluctantly raised her hand and waved it when Declan urged her. Seeing the child drooping, I couldn’t move my feet though I waved my hand at the child and climbed into the carriage.
Meanwhile, Stella greeted Mason and rode on the opposite side.
The escort for this trip was handled by Wenzel, who had recently been promoted to vice commander of the knights. Hans was also there. He was my exclusive attendant, and he also escorted me, so Declan trusted him and sent him.
After the carriage moved, I waved until Declan and Rachel were out of sight.
Although it was tiring because it was a long journey by carriage, the journey to the Marquis’ territory was smooth.
“Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress, the Moon of the Empire.”
Upon arriving at Marquis Cayton’s residence, the Marquis and his family, including the dispatched investigators, were greeting me.
“Everyone had a hard time.”
“It’s an honor to have you come here.”
The middle-aged marquis with good looks bowed respectfully.
“The people are suffering, so of course I have to come and see them.”
“You must have been tired from coming a long way. How about taking a break today and looking around tomorrow?”
“It’s okay. Let me hear the report first.”
When I glanced at him to guide me, the Marquis hesitated for a moment and then led me to the meeting room.
“Is the number of patients still increasing?”
“Yes, and the relapse rate is high.”
Marquis Beryl, the representative of the investigation team, replied with a dark face.
“You still haven’t figured out the cause?”
“It is not poison or witchcraft. There is no sign of magic.”
“As Your Majesty commanded, although we looked at the food, clothes and living environment, we couldn’t find anything unusual.”
Count Kamir, who belonged to the investigation team, replied after Marquis Beryl.
“What do the patients have in common?”
“The lifestyle of the common people is monotonous and has so many things in common.”
Even though they talked in a roundabout way, the conclusion was that they couldn’t even find a clue. Just as I was immersed in my thoughts while compiling the report, I abruptly raised my head and saw Marquis Cayton.
Come to think of it, there were no reports of him being ill. His family, too.
“Marquis, are you all right?”
“Yes. My family and I are fortunately safe.”
“Are there any among the servants of the Marquis’ residence who are ill?”
“Although there were a few of them, with the priest’s treatment, they were completely healed.”
Despite the fact that they were living in the same space, no family members got sick yet there were patients among the employees.
…What was the difference?
“Then, did any of the employees have a recurrence?”
“There were, but very few.”
Most of those who had been ill were relapsing, for here, only a few have relapsed. Perhaps, this was a clue.
“Marquis Beryl.”
“Yes, please.”
“Investigate and report about Marquis Cayton’s family and the servants who fell ill.”
When asked to reveal the similarities and differences between them and the common, the Marquis replied in cooperation.
“Tomorrow, let’s start with the Kenta River, the water source here.”
“I will prepare for that.
Hearing Marquis Beryl’s answer, I stood up.
“Marquis Cayton, show me and Duchess Buccleuch’s room.”
“Please come this way.”
The Marquis gave an entire annex for me and my party. He led me to the largest and most well-lit room among the many rooms in the annex.
“While I said that I would prepare as much as possible, there must be a lot of insufficient parts. If there is any inconvenience, please feel free to tell me.”
“You put a lot of thought into it. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Have a good rest.”
After the Marquis left, the Kefiena and Hans searched my room. At the same time, the knights who came with Wenzel inspected the entire annex.
“Everything’s clear.”
After the final report, I leaned back comfortably on the sofa.
“Are you tired?”
Stella was sitting across from me, brewing tea.
“You don’t have to.”
It was because the ladies-in-waiting came with me, and there were also maids from the Marquis’ residence.
“It’s because I want to do it.”
Stella, who smiled lightly, checked the temperature and color of the tea, then poured it into a teacup and placed it in front of me. Soon, I felt at ease when I smelled the familiar scent. The lady-in-waiting also prepared and sent the tea leaves, which I enjoyed drinking, so I found stability through tea throughout the journey.
“I’m worried because we couldn’t seem to find the cause.”
“I know. Even the doctors say they had never seen this disease before.”
As I lifted my teacup and drank the tea, my body grew languid.
“More than that, Julian must miss his Mom a lot. He’s younger than Ray.”
“I get calls several times a day.”
“Still, I don’t think he’s crying. Seeing your expression is comfortable.”
“I think he resembles my husband more than me. As you know, I cry a lot.”
A soft smile appeared on her lips as she remembered Mason and Julian.
“Julian is certainly the copy of the Chancellor.”
“He looks exactly like my husband’s childhood portrait.”
As we were talking about the children, the communication tool rang. Together with it, Stella’s communication tool also rang.
“Looks like they’re done with work.”
It wasn’t once or twice that the two men called at the same time, so we looked at each other and laughed. In the meanwhile, Stella went back to her own room for a private conversation with her family.
[ Did you arrive safely? ]
“Yes. I arrived safely, and I am in my room now.”
[ You must have had a meeting as soon as you arrived. I didn’t hear from you. ]
As I stayed still, I heard a clicking sound from the other side of the communication device.
[ I told you not to overdo it. ]
“I didn’t.”
[ What do you mean no? Is the room comfortable? ]
“Yes. The Marquis paid a lot of attention.”
[ That’s a relief. Don’t work anymore today and rest. ]
I smiled at the stern command as if he would follow me right away.
“I will. I miss you.”
[ Me, too. Your empty space is too big. ]
The deep breathing was clearly representing his feelings. Seeing him like that, I put my lips together and made a ‘chu’ sound like I was kissing him.
“Did you hear that?”
[ Yes. ]
“It is my gift. It’s not enough, but bear with it.”
[ Do it one more time. ]
After that, I had to deliver a few more kisses before I could finish the conversation.
I had a strange dream that night.
A dream where I found myself amidst an immense expanse, encircled by undulating waves of white and green. The perpetually stretching blue wave transformed into a radiant gold, only to eventually darken into black, ensnaring and suffocating me.
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