To be honest, I think all dolls look pretty much the same.
That is, I don’t have the aesthetic sense to tell if they were made by different artisans or not.
I can tell if the hair color or skin tone is a bit different, but in the end, they’re all made according to a certain style, so I didn’t think it was easy to clearly distinguish them.
“Really.”
But it seems like Ayla thought a little differently.
“These are beautiful dolls.”
“Right?”
With her chin held high, Seila was exactly like a lovely girl of her age.
I quietly looked at the doll that Seila called ‘Jenna.’
It had bright blonde hair, porcelain-white skin that looked like it was made from fine china, and green eyes.
In fact, the faces of porcelain dolls are somewhat exaggerated to depict a child, so the cheeks are often plump and exaggerated.
To be honest, I don’t really understand why the doll is considered as beautiful as real children.
“Looks like Luna doesn’t understand, huh?”
As soon as Ayla saw my gap, she attacked.
“No, I do think it’s beautiful.”
“Of course.”
Seila said.
“Luna has already attended this tea time several times. Unlike the lady she’s seeing for the first time today.”
At Seila’s words, Ayla smiled slyly.
“Does that mean you’ve had tea here together?”
“Yes. Luna came here herself every single day. And I don’t bother Luna. Right, Luna?”
Is she trying to win in every aspect? Seila asked me like that.
“Yes. Seila doesn’t bother me.”
“I feel like you’re saying it like I do bother you.”
“…That’s not true.”
“Well, there’s no need to force a lie. It’s true that I bother you.”
In a way, it could seem that way. When Ayla orders me to do something, I could really feel suffocated.
Also, Ayla has a habit of making me do things I find difficult. These days, every time we take a bath, she forces me to wear just a thin dress in front of her.
It might be natural, but Ayla definitely enjoys seeing my face turn red as if I’m embarrassed.
It’s not really a problem that I’m undressing. The real problem is that Ayla is undressing too. And with me undressing, it somehow intensifies the stimulation.
If I were a woman in my heart, it would truly be tormenting, but the truth is, I still love Ayla as she is.
If I take away the shame, I honestly don’t mind.
“Indeed…”
Seila’s misunderstanding deepened.
But at the same time, the wall that Seila felt toward Ayla was slowly crumbling.
Seila’s feelings hadn’t yet developed into full animosity. Was she not really fully believing what she saw in those fairy tales?
She’s still cautious and a bit hostile, but as long as I’m here, Ayla is not someone Seila is afraid to approach.
“Looks like you want to save Luna, huh?”
Ayla said with a bit of amusement.
Ayla, too, was the same.
She didn’t know how to deal with the situation, and in the end, she had tried to forcefully teach something she hadn’t fully understood, making it worse.
Ayla, too, was afraid of Seila.
The kind of fear was different though. While Seila felt a sense of crisis, Ayla’s fear was pure, untainted fear.
The fear of being hated.
Is that it?
Ayla could tolerate someone not being interested in her. But she disliked being outright hated.
Had something happened between them in the meantime?
“Well, that’s difficult. For now, unless Luna refuses, she’ll be my maid.”
“…….”
Seila glared at Ayla.
“…Both of you, please calm down. Elizabeth is feeling embarrassed.”
In fact, just a moment ago, Elizabeth had remained silent. Despite her appearance, Elizabeth didn’t normally make much noise, and she seemed not to want to get involved in their argument.
Elizabeth opened her mouth and looked at me.
…If she has no vocal cords, then wouldn’t she also not be able to hear? She wouldn’t be able to see either since she has no eyesight. Then how is she understanding what I say?
“This is a pleasant tea time, so shouldn’t we share pleasant stories? The other young ladies are also feeling awkward.”
“That’s true.”
Seila lifted her teacup as if I had taken her side.
“It’s difficult to talk about politics in a place like this, huh?”
Ayla almost laughed but slightly bowed her head.
Seila is, after all, still a child.
That’s not a bad thing. A child should be a child, after all.
Both Ayla and I… didn’t we learn about the world at too young an age?
…Soon enough, even the Empress might come looking for us.
It was just a guess with no solid basis, but I somehow felt like that would happen.
“Ayla-nim.”
“Yes, Luna.”
I waited for Ayla to hide her smile before speaking.
“If you were to make a doll, may I ask what form you would choose to create?”
“Ah, I see. I’d want to make it beautifully, so I can’t just ask for it to be made carelessly.”
Ayla paused for a moment, then suddenly looked at me.
“Hmm.”
She made that sound and then smiled softly.
“I see. I prefer having someone under me, so it would be nice to add another maid.”
“A maid, you mean?”
“Yes. Even if they’re beautiful, they don’t need to be more beautiful than me. If they’re in my room, it’s better if that existence serves me, don’t you think?”
Having somewhat grasped the conversation with Seila, Ayla spoke and laughed briefly.
Seila doesn’t completely fail to understand indirect speech like this. Though she’s a child, she isn’t one who has never read books from a young age.
What Ayla said meant, “Ayla’s maid will be more beautiful than Seila’s doll.” And that this beautiful being would be under her.
It’s a childish remark, but after all, villainous lines in fairy tales should be a bit childish to be fun.
“……”
Seila glared at Ayla, but for some reason, Ayla seemed more excited and elegantly raised her teacup, speaking.
“Black hair, a neat bob cut would be nice. It’s less of a hassle when working. But it should also look neat. Of course, the face should be tidy, and the figure should be appropriately beautiful. As for the eyes… How about using amethyst? Emerald or sapphire eyes are common, right?”
“That appearance…!”
Yes. That’s my appearance.
I don’t know if she’ll actually create it, but Ayla is saying that if she were to make a doll, she would make it based on me.
That must be unpleasant for Seila, who follows me so much.
If she were to make a doll exactly like a person and torment it, that would be childish… well, there’s no need to explain further now.
Ayla could torment me without such a doll, but for now, it seems to have worked well on Seila.
“……”
But soon Seila calmed down.
She didn’t give a perfectly serene expression like Ayla, but she did follow Ayla’s example to some extent.
This is a good sign. It means Seila is somewhat imitating Ayla.
“……It seems like you really like your personal maid.”
When Seila asked this, Ayla’s hand stopped, frozen in midair. The teapot, which was heading toward her mouth, drifted aimlessly.
“You want to keep the maid by your side so much that you would make her into a doll?”
Seeing Ayla’s attitude, Seila seemed to think she had hit a nerve, and she smiled while speaking.
“Or is it that you don’t trust anyone in this world and can only trust the maid by your side?”
Ayla’s eyes blinked rapidly, one after another.
“I…”
“I don’t mind being Ayla-nim’s.”
“Yes!?”
“Wha… What do you…?”
At my words, Seila was horrified, and Ayla blurted out something that didn’t quite make sense for a moment.
I haven’t seen that reaction in a long time. I think it’s the first time since I said I would take off my clothes.
But unlike that time, she didn’t scream in shock. Instead, Ayla took a deep breath and then exhaled, drinking a sip of tea.
“Luna, what do you mean by that?”
Ayla said, smiling leisurely as she spoke.
“Luna is already mine, after all. You didn’t forget the thing around your neck, did you? The one you personally gave me?”
“I remember. That item connects me and Ayla-nim.”
Ayla’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
She seemed a little annoyed.
Of course, since she was acting in front of Seila, Ayla didn’t reveal her true feelings until tea time was over.
I leisurely watched Ayla while enjoying the rest of the tea time.