A Possessed Person Lives in My Doll

I stared at the necklace in Miss Claria’s hand. The tragedy of House Esna would not have happened because I took this trouble.

“It’s an exquisite imitation,” I said, “one that looks so much like the real thing that if you lost it and Viscount Kione asked you for the price of the real thing, you wouldn’t say a word.”

“That can’t be right. Viscountess Kione is my aunt.”

The fact that they were related made it all the more egregious. I recalled Blue’s story.

The Esna family never found the stolen necklace. Because they believed with all their hearts that it was real, they had to sell it and apologize to Viscountess Kione.

It was an overwhelming repayment compared to the counterfeit value, but……

Viscount Kione took advantage of it. He bought the Esna family’s land for a paltry sum, and the family has been in decline ever since.

This did not end the bad blood between the two families. A few years later, a vein of mana stone is discovered on the land that the Kione family stole from the Esna family.

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Viscount Kione became one of the richest men in the country. Baroness Esna dies of vase poisoning in the story, and the Baron himself acquires the disease.

By the time the necklace reappeared, it was too late to recognize it as counterfeit.

Esna sued, but the papers said nothing about the necklace, only that the land had been sold cheaply. The lawsuit was dismissed.

Viscount Kione was declared to own the land, and the Esna family was left in debt to pay the legal fees.

The sensationalized story became gossip, and people talked about it.

‘The Esna tragedy.’

That was the name given to the counterfeit necklace that became more valuable than the real thing.

I shrugged and smiled dubiously. Miss Claria’s gaze was full of distrust as she looked at me.

Believe it or not, it was now a story of the future that only I and Blue would ever know.

“So it’s a contingency, and we’re really lucky that the worst case scenario didn’t happen, right?”

“Yeah.”

Miss Claria sighed deeply. Her slumped shoulders sagged. In the end, she wished she hadn’t gotten so drunk that she didn’t have to listen to this. It showed on her face.

She glanced at the necklace in my hand and frowned.

“How can it be fake when it looks so real?”

“I’ve engraved a very sophisticated mana circuit inside, making the glass shard optics look real. Since I only need to change the light color, that’s how I shrink the magic circle.”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing being possible.”

“That’s right, he’s a fantastic technician.”

What a perverse way to use all that skill to scam people.

I have two things to gain from this.

A brilliant technician who uses his abilities for nothing, and a mana stone mine dormant in House Esna’s wastelands. I will have it.

“You saved my family from falling, so this is the least I can do.”

“I heard from Viscountess Kione that House Esna has some unused land.”

“That’s right, there’s a piece of land that’s just a wasteland. It’s not easy to clear because there are so many stones, so we’re just making fun of it, but why?”

“Well, if it’s land you’re teasing, I’d like to buy it.”

Lady Esna hesitated for a moment. But then a round smile appeared on her face.

This is a golden opportunity to sell a worthless piece of land for a price, she told me with a more favorable smile than before.

“I don’t think that’s something I can decide on my own. I’ll send out an invitation.”

“I’ll wait. Oh, and please send the necklace to Viscount Kione. They’re supposed to wrap it and send it to me.”

“I’ll see to it.”

* * *

Titus received an apology from Count Rowena, but his anger was not relieved.

How could he manage his household and have a thieving liver among his servants?

He sighed and strode toward the common room where Ancestor would be.

“I think Lady Eupiter was here earlier. Did you see her?”

Titus stopped in his tracks at the familiar name.

He looked in the direction the conversation had come from and saw a group of elders talking to each other. He narrowed his eyes.

“You don’t think a Youngling who hates parties like this would be here, do you? Am I mistaken?”

“No, I saw her.”

“Where did she really turn? I wanted to talk to her.”

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“Arthur, do you think she’d give you a second glance if you did? She grew up with those Valenti people, and her eyes must be very sharp.”

“That’s right, she’s got big eyes, and she doesn’t even flinch when I’m right next to her.

Titus nodded inwardly.

“Still, with a family like ours, I’m not going anywhere. Maybe Miss Ancestor will grow quite fond of me, and I won’t have a fiancé, hopefully…….”

Titus cut him off, moving silently to his side without sound. He couldn’t listen anymore.

‘The absence of a fiancé does not mean a marriage. Oh, I’m sorry about that. I know it’s rude to cut off a conversation like that, but when you say someone’s name I recognize. I have to hold my tongue.”

“Barr, Lord Valenti.”

“And what brings you here?”

The conversing group’s faces grew white, as if caught in a conspiracy.

The Titus’s pace was ferocious. Inch by inch, his mouth corners turned upward, fierce. His eyes were blazing blue, though his mouth smiled.

“As you all know, I and House Eupiter are very close. Count Eupiter is like a father to me, and Ancestor you mentioned, was raised like a brother to me.”

He patted the shoulder of the young man who had just spoken of marrying Anseer friendly. The young man’s body jerked.

Titus opened his mouth as if it were a given.

“So I’m just as interested in Ancestor’s hand in marriage, or at least someone better than me.”

“Well, there are only a few men in the Empire better than you.”

“So you’ll have to be at least that talented to win Ancestor’s hand, do you understand?”

Titus lowered the hand on his shoulder. He turned away as if he had nothing more to say. The more he walked, the more his smile faded into a frown.

When he was far enough away from the group that had been talking, he spoke in a low voice.

“Well, you’re an unworthy bitch.”

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Struggling to keep the weirdo away, the one without a drinking hole. Unaware of the subject.

‘I thought it was an excellent thing that Ancestor was always in the lab, working on her research. However, why was she out at a party tonight and getting noticed?’

There must be someone watching her, just like he did now. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about it.

They know that if the Northwest socialite placenta wants to stand next to Ancestor Eupiter, she’ll have to surpass Titus Valenti.

But a fearless one might be able to sneak up on her when she wasn’t looking.

Now that she was old enough to marry, she couldn’t stay like this forever.

How long can she keep sabotaging the men who love her? And will she ever learn to like him while at it?

His stomach clenched at the thought that followed.

Titus had just approached the break room where Ancie would be, when the door opened.

Ancestor stepped out of the room and saw Titus standing in front of her.

“Titus, why are you still so angry? Did Count Rowena try to get away with something?”

Blue eyes looking up at her, cheeks that would be bodacious if she cupped them in her hands, black hair so fine it looked like it was studded with stars. In her delicate gestures, she demonstrated strength of mind to accomplish what she set out to accomplish.

There is nothing about her that is not lovely.

You don’t even give me a chance, and yet you’re so lovely.

Ancestor Titus was always a loser. He mulled over the harsh words with a deep sense of helplessness.

“Damn it.”

* * *

Why are you so angry?

I frowned, looking at Titus, who seemed to be losing his temper. When had I ever understood this guy? What a weird guy.

“I’m going inside now.”

“Good idea. It’s better to go in early and rest when surprised.”

“I’m planning to do that anyway, so you better get in there too.”

I turned to leave. Titus and Crouch’s footsteps trailed behind me.

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I wonder if Titus is heading back, too, because our paths could overlap.

Without another thought, I headed for the wagon. Inside the wagon, Blue will wait for me, his eyes glazed over.

I opened the wagon door with a flourish, and a heavy dog followed behind me.

” ……What are you, and why are you following me?”

I snapped my head around to see Titus climbing into the wagon. I rolled my eyes; he took his seat nonchalantly.

“My heart was racing after what had happened earlier, and I thought it would be relief to see you get home safely.”

The way he laid it out, I knew he wouldn’t leave the wagon easily. And with his help, it was difficult to kick him out.

Blue caught on and stiffened up like a normal doll.

I was planning to tell Blue about the day’s events, but I think I’ll have to go back and tell him. I breathed through my nose.

“Whatever.”

He raised one eyebrow, as if he disliked the answer.

We remained silent, and the carriage sped off toward home.

Titus rested his chin on the window sill and stared at me, his gaze uncomfortable.

If you have something to say, say it quickly. As if he’d heard my thoughts, Titus opened his mouth.

“So why are you in the ballroom? You don’t like places like this.”

“It’s my father’s fault. He wants me to get out and find a suitable husband, don’t you think?”

He slowly straightened up from his leaning position. His gaze, which I felt uncomfortable with, boiled with fear.

“So you’ll marry him when he comes in?”

“If the right one comes along, maybe.”

The problem was that I didn’t know when the right person would show up.

Marriage was a word far away from me. It was so far away that I couldn’t imagine a future without it.

But here I am, marrying Titus……?

I gulped and sobbed.

Then I heard Titus’s hushed voice cut through my thoughts.

“Ancestor, don’t marry.”