I’m A Doll, But The Tyrant Is Obsessed With Me - Chapter 132
Chloe And Erica’s First Meeting
“Uung.”
A small white hand rubbed the eyes, and fresh green eyes resembling new sprouts appeared.
“Chloe, are you awake?”
The slowly blinking eyelids fluttered open at the sound of a friendly voice.
“Brother!”
Declan jumped up and quickly picked up Chloe, who held out her arms.
“Did you sleep well?”
As he asked while patting her back, she hugged his neck and nodded.
“Brother, why did you come so early today?”
“Because it’s Chloe’s birthday. I came because I wanted to be the first to congratulate you.”
“That’s right, today is my birthday, right?”
As Chloe nuzzled her face into Declan’s arms, he laughed at the tickling sensation.
“Let’s play together all day today.”
“Really? Aren’t you busy?”
“I’m fine today.”
“Wow, I’m excited. So, what should we play?”
“You should think about it slowly and open your present first.”
“A present? Wow!”
Declan’s eyes curled gently, looking at how cute she was shaking her hips. He carefully set his sister down on the sofa and then took the large box from the table. Then, he got down on one knee, stayed at eye level with Chloe, and handed her the box.
“Happy seventh birthday.”
“Wow, what’s in there that’s so big?
Her eyes widened when she saw the size of the box containing the present.
“Open it.”
Her mouth opened wide as she excitedly opened the lid. Inside was a ball-jointed bisque doll that was elaborately made to resemble a human being.
“It’s really pretty.”
Declan smiled happily at Chloe, who couldn’t take her eyes off the doll.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes. I really, really like it. Thank you, Brother.”
Chloe nodded her head vigorously and hugged Declan’s neck before kissing his cheek. When she moved away from him, she took out the doll with a careful hand, fearing it might break.
“It looks like me.”
“Right?”
“Yes. We have the same hair color.”
She grinned while playing with the doll’s sparkling blonde hair.
“Now this doll is yours, so Chloe, you can name it.”
“Name?”
“Wouldn’t this doll be disappointed if she became your friend but was called ‘doll’ without a name?”
“Hmm.”
Chloe pursed her cute lips and frowned.
It was so cute and lovely that Declan laughed.
“Are you thinking about a name?”
Nodding her head, she raised her index finger and placed it on her lips, telling him not to speak to her. In the meanwhile, Declan sat quietly next to his sister.
“I decided.”
“I’m really curious about what name Chloe chose.”
“Erica.”
“Erica?”
Chloe added, seeing him muttering softly as he thought about the meaning of the name.
“This child will be the ruler of this world. So she will protect us.”
With her explanation, his green eyes, which were darker than hers, shook for a moment.
Erica meant king or ruler.
Declan’s heart ached as he thought he knew why she said that. Still, he didn’t want to show those feelings in front of his younger sister, so he deliberately raised his mouth even more.
“I see. That’s a cool name.”
Chloe laughed at Declan’s compliment.
She got off the sofa and placed her doll in the right posture on the sofa before she lifted her nightgown and greeted her according to etiquette.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Erica. I’m Chloe Staufen. I turned seven today.”
Declan covered his mouth and smiled as he saw her bowing her little head and greeting proudly. She was so cute that he wanted to hug her and kiss her cheek right away, but he didn’t want to interrupt the greeting.
“Let’s get along well from now on. By the way, I haven’t introduced you to my brother yet.”
Chloe approached Declan and tugged on his sleeve. He barely suppressed his coming laughter and stood up obediently, led by Chloe’s hand.
“This is my precious brother, the only one in the world. I’m only introducing him to Lady.”
Declan’s heart was touched by the words ‘precious brother,’ and he strengthened his eyes which were about to break down for a moment.
“Brother, this is Lady Erica, who has become my close friend from today.”
After completing the introduction, she winked at him, telling him to hurry up and greet.
“Thank you, Lady Erica, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Declan Staufen.”
As he bowed his head politely, as was the custom done to a lady, Chloe nodded in satisfaction.
“Chloe is the sister I love the most in the world, so I ask that you be a good friend to her.”
“My brother is a bit worried.”
When she squinted as she covered her mouth with her hand and whispered to Erica, Declan laughed and stroked her head.
“Yes, now that we’ve said our greetings, let’s take a shower and have a birthday party.”
Chloe jumped up with excitement at the mention of her birthday party and ran to the bathroom with the maid.
At the same time, Declan looked down at Erica.
“…Please take good care of Chloe. Erica.”
She was a poor child who lost her mother when she was young and had to live only in the imperial palace, which was like a sheet of thin ice.
‘Please help that child not be lonely and let her have fun.’
Declan stroked the doll’s head with all the wishes in his heart.
* * *
While Chloe briefly washed and dressed, the living room connected to the bedroom was decorated with flowers and ribbons.
A birthday cake was placed on the long table, along with plenty of food.
Soon, the door to the bedroom opened and Chloe, wearing a bright yellow dress resembling a chick, appeared.
“Princess, congratulations on your birthday.”
As the servants and ladies-in-waiting gathered in the living room clapped and congratulated her, Chloe smiled brightly.
“Thank you everyone for your congratulations.”
She made eye contact with each of the employees and expressed her gratitude before running up to Declan and hugging him. Declan, naturally, held her and approached the birthday cake.
“Let’s make a wish and blow out the candles.”
“Ung.”
Chloe, who put her hands together and made a wish, took a deep breath into her cheeks and exhaled. Seven candles were blown out one after another, and those present clapped and cheered. The employees gave gifts and shared food, but after a while, they all left.
Not long, only the two of them and Erica were left in the living room.
“Erica, this is my favorite cake. Try it.”
She whined, trying to move the little hands to scoop up some of the strawberry cake.
“I will do it.”
Declan quickly took Chloe’s cake and placed it in front of Erica.
“Have you become more comfortable speaking to Erica?”
Just a moment ago, she was treating her with a formality, as if she was with a noble lady.
“We said hello to each other and decided to become friends. Then, we can talk comfortably.”
He let out a small laugh as he saw her coolly answering back, like asking what was the problem.
“Then, are you close friends now?”
“Yes. Erica said she would, too.”
“When?”
“When we said hello earlier, right, Erica?”
She nodded her head with a satisfied face as if she had heard Erica’s answer.
“Erica, please understand. I don’t think Brother can hear you.”
“Then, do you understand?
“Of course. Erica is my close friend.”
He chuckled as Chloe puffed out her chest and responded triumphantly.
“Erica, Brother may not be able to listen to you, but he is a very good person.”
Declan, paused eating and rested his chin, wondering what on earth she was going to say.
“First of all, his appearance. It can be said to be the best in the empire.”
She chuckled and reached her hand under Declan’s chin.
“Also, his swordsmanship. He has only learned it for a few years, but the teacher said he might become the youngest sword master.”
Chloe took Declan’s hand and showed Erica the hard calluses.
“The head, um.”
She glanced at him. The look in her eyes was suspicious, so his eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“I don’t think he’s as smart as Lord Buccleuch, but I think he’s smart.”
“You’re being too much. How can you compare me to Mason? I’m smarter than he is.”
Declan, who was dazed by the shocking evaluation, lowered his eyes and made an aggrieved expression.
“That’s not true. I love Brother, but I must tell you the truth. Lord Buccleuch is better at studying.”
Although he wanted to retort, he honestly had nothing to say because it was true.
“Still, I’m better at swordsmanship.”
“I know. That’s why I told you about swordsmanship first.”
Chloe’s small hand patted his arm to comfort him. The behavior was ridiculous yet cute, so he couldn’t help but laugh.
“His personality is actually the most important thing.”
Declan swallowed a gulp without realizing it, looking at her with her arms crossed in thought.
“I have never seen someone as kind and sweet as Brother.”
With her positive review, Declan secretly swept his chest. However, his face, which had been smiling happily, quickly became ambiguous, unable to laugh or cry.
“Though he’s a bit less sociable. He doesn’t know much about ladies.”
It was because of the words quietly whispered in Erica’s ear.
“Can’t you tell by looking at the fact that there isn’t a single lady he’s friendly with?
“Chloe, that’s because I’m not interested. This brother is so popular.”
She glanced at Declan and nodded roughly, and he drooped his eyebrows again.
“But Erica, that might actually be an advantage. I can’t forgive a womanizer.”
He asked curiously, looking at Chloe, who suddenly clenched her fists.
“Where on earth did you hear the term ‘womanizer’?”
“From a fairy tale book.”
“Fairy tale book? I’ve never read anything like that.”
“Khhm, from the storybook Karin read to me.”
Karin would be Chloe’s dedicated lady-in-waiting.
‘What kind of book did you read to her?’
She averted her eyes and pretended not to notice Declan’s suspicious gaze.
“Anyway, Erica, you know what a great person my brother is, right?”
“Oh, and…!”
She said, hitting her hand.
“The fairy tales my brother reads are the most fun in the world. If you listen to it once, you’ll fall in love with it.”
The next moment, she took out one of the fairy tale books that she had received as a gift from the ladies-in-waiting.
“Brother, please read this.”
“Now?”
“Yes. Let Erica hear it.”
Chloe walked up to Declan, who was opening the book with a confused face.
“I bragged a lot to Erica, so you should read it carefully. Erica will fall in love with you at first sight.”
‘Erica will fall in love with me? Do I have to look good to the doll now?’
He laughed at the absurd request. Then, when Chloe urged him to start quickly, he calmed his voice and started reading the book.
“Erica, Brother will teach you well. So give it a good look to my Brother.”
She whispered in Erica’s ear without Declan’s knowledge and smiled brightly.
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