The lady-in-waiting called Marshal nodded while leaning toward the display case.

With glossy silver hair and distinct features, the small and delicate doll seemed sufficient to capture the heart of Lady Elizabeth. And the princess’s heart as well.

“She has everything she could want, but they wouldn’t sell this one? Said it was for display only, and they’d sell when they could make more. I heard rumors all the way to the palace about how she cried and threw a fit.”

As the princess’s interested gaze fell on him, the owner lowered his head even more.

Though he didn’t know who Elizabeth was that they were talking about, he remembered a small child who had come and caused a scene recently. A child who had begged for the ballet doll on display. When he was troubled and at a loss, a stern-faced woman had taken the tantruming child away.

He had no idea she was a duke’s daughter.

If they had mentioned she was a duke’s daughter earlier, he would have given it right away. Why didn’t they say anything?

The owner added excuses while sweating nervously.

“The craftsman who made the dolls has passed away so we can’t get more. However, fortunately we found a workshop that can make similar ones, so we planned to start making them again next year.”

“Oh? Then will they become common after that?”

The princess’s eyes showed slightly diminished interest at the owner’s answer.

“Not at all. That doll was made with the craftsman’s utmost dedication, so an identical doll cannot be made.”

“Really?”

The fading interest in her eyes sparkled again.

“Then sell it to me.”

“Pardon?”

“You said it’s one of a kind? Shouldn’t such a precious thing be offered to the empire’s only princess?”

Though she said with a cute face, the owner noticed from her arrogant gaze that his life depended on his answer.

“O-of course. It should rightfully go to Your Highness.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Since it’s been on display for quite a while, I’ll clean it up properly and send it to the palace tomorrow morning.”

“Good. We’ll have new clothes made at the palace, so send it as is with the current outfit. Marshal?”

At the princess’s eye signal, the lady-in-waiting took out several bills from her chest and held them out to him.

A th-thousand florins!

The toy store owner’s small eyes grew bigger than ever before.

Though he desperately wanted to snatch it up right away, how could he readily accept such a large sum? He shook his head and refused the money.

“Your Highness taking our toy is more than enough honor. We seek no compensation.”

Seeing his trembling eyes fixed on the money, the princess snorted and added.

“Just take it. In exchange, never make another doll like this one. This must be the only one in the world. I’m paying for this doll’s uniqueness. If this promise is broken, you’ll have to pay back several times the amount.”

“H-how could I dare?”

The owner, bowing almost to the ground as he accepted the money, kept his eyes fixed on the floor until the princess left.

With the neigh of horses and the sound of the carriage fading away, the owner got up and dumped out his toolbox, taking out all the cleaning tools for wax dolls.

Since it required quite delicate work, the task continued for hours even after sunset.

Skipping dinner while focusing intently, the owner only stopped when Larien was so polished that his hands were slipping on her surface.

Though they said the clothes were fine, he still felt uneasy and changed her into new clothes he had kept in storage, even adding a pretty ribbon around her neck.

Worried that thieves might break in overnight, the owner was about to take Larien to his room in a different box but changed his mind at the last moment.

‘Doing something unusual often leads to trouble.’

Not wanting to invite bad luck, he put Larien back in her original position.

It’s just one night, what could happen?

The owner’s bedroom light finally went out at ten o’clock.

“Larien!”

“What’s going on?”

“Are you leaving tomorrow? To the imperial palace!”

“Is this why you gave us gifts in advance?”

Friends rushed to Larien, who was standing dazed despite being able to move, shocked by the events.

Since everyone had witnessed the commotion during the day, they all knew Larien had to leave for the palace tomorrow.

Some friends were envious that she would go to the palace where none of them had been, and Jayden’s followers even gave inappropriate farewell greetings, saying it was for the best.

“Larien, want to hide now? There must be somewhere in the store where the owner can’t find you. If we hide for a few days, even the princess might give up.”

Anne hugged Larien with a tearful face.

“What are you saying? What about us if she disappears? If the owner stays up all night looking with burning eyes, we won’t be able to move at all.”

Other dolls who weren’t close friends shouted at Anne’s words.

“So what? We’ll just have to endure for a few days.”

“How can you say that?”

The atmosphere became chaotic as it seemed a fight might break out at any moment. Someone pulled Larien from between the dolls and held her in their arms.

Even without looking, she knew it was Jayden from his calming scent.

“Let’s go upstairs.”

Jayden carefully carried Larien, who didn’t even have the strength to nod, toward the second floor.

Just before climbing the stairs, Alexander blocked their path and demanded with threatening eyes.

“You’re not planning to run away secretly, are you?”

Though they were indeed leaving tomorrow, it wasn’t now, so Larien waved her hand at him, telling him to stop being annoying.

“Get lost.”

This time even Jayden seemed to lack patience as he glared at Alexander with fierce eyes.

“What if I can’t?”

“Really? Then I have no choice.”

After putting Larien down, he drew the sword from his scabbard. It happened so quickly that when Alexander belatedly reached for his side, Jayden’s blade was already at his neck.

“W-what?”

Alexander gasped at the blade that seemed ready to pierce his throat at any moment. Looking down at the frightened Alexander, Jayden warned darkly.

“If you block our way one more time, I won’t be as lenient as now. Get lost right now.”

“Y-you’ll regret this!”

Alexander backed away step by step before making his final outburst and running away.

Meanwhile, the wall clock’s hands kept diligently drawing circles.

Jayden, who hurriedly went up to the attic, shook the dazed Larien and urged her.

“Larien, we’re leaving for the Grand Temple right now. Just pack what’s necessary.”

“What? We should wait until your friend comes. How can we go there by ourselves?”

Though she knew from people that the Grand Temple wasn’t too far away, she was daunted by the thought of just the two of them going there.

No matter how brave Jayden was, shouldn’t his human friend be with them?

It was already nearly eleven o’clock, with barely eight hours left until dawn at seven.

It might be fine for a human to walk, but for a doll’s steps, it would take quite a while.

Feeling extremely frightened after the princess’s appearance, negative thoughts kept filling her mind despite trying to resist them.

Looking between Larien and the clock, he spoke firmly.

“Leo won’t arrive until tomorrow afternoon. You’ll be sent to the palace before we can meet him. We have no choice now.”

“B-but—”

“Where’s the bold Larien who said she’d go alone if I wouldn’t go?”

He deliberately smiled softly and stroked her worried head several times. Her anxious stomach settled a little.

Knowing why Jayden, who valued safety above all else, was rushing, she hesitated but soon nodded and moved only the important things from her packed luggage into a small bag.

Without Jayden’s friend around, there was nowhere they could properly leave their belongings, so they could only take what they could carry.

“We won’t need these anyway once we become human. I’ll buy you better things.”

“Okay.”

She couldn’t show any more regret in front of him.

Larien took off her cumbersome ballet dress and changed into plain pants and a shirt like men wear. She tucked her tightly tied long hair well into a fur hat and wrapped herself in a thick coat. Unable to find shoes that fit her small feet, she had to wear her usual shoes. Just in case, she packed spare pointe shoes in her luggage.

Jayden kissed the bridge of her nose as he looked at her, now appearing like a small boy unless one looked closely at her face.

“Shall we go now?”

Jayden too had only his sword at his waist and lightly packed belongings. After putting Larien’s things in his front-worn bag, he threw the rope he had prepared to the window.

Fortunately, it came in handy, having been made assuming they might not be able to get down if the bottom was blocked.

“Get on my back. Don’t look down.”

“Okay.”

She tightly wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed her eyes shut.

Soon she felt a light movement like she was floating in the air, and Jayden, like an acrobat, quickly grabbed the rope and descended to the ground.