At the priest's request to to let them go outside, the priest was startled, but when she threatened him about what happened last time, he ran to report to the high priest.
And shortly after.
They were able to come out accompanied by five elite holy knights.
Their range of movement was limited to the nearby downtown area, but that was enough.
Those living in the neutral zone were mostly families of priests and holy knights. There were also many servants working at the temple, and ordinary merchants as too.
It wasn't a tourist destination so it wasn't that crowded, but as a commercial district, the streets were lively.
It wasn't fancy, but just walking through the downtown somehow gave a feeling of freedom.
"Our Roseberry Empire's downtown is better."
"There's nothing much to see... what a hassle."
"Still, it's quite neat."
Listening half-heartedly to the three people's conversation, Lelia looked around while sightseeing. She looked like someone seeing downtown for the first time.
'They said she's sickly, so maybe she's never been outside the castle to look around?'
Romeo thought as watching Lelia, who looked particularly excited.
Just then, Lelia's steps stopped in front of a shop.
Thanks to this, the other children walking under the holy knights' tight guard, and the holy knights themselves, stopped and turned their heads.
"What, it's a toy store?"
"And it's a doll shop."
Lelia looked at the large rabbit doll reflected in the show window.
"Hey... you you're a papa's boy, and on top of that, you sleep hugging dolls?"
Calix asked, scrunching his face in disgust.
"Ugh... seriously... captain?"
Romeo also had an expression like 'this is a bit...'
"Quiet down."
Lelia scolded her subordinates, then stepped into the doll shop.
Thanks to this, the three boys and even the holy knights crammed themselves into the narrow shop.
"Gasp...!"
The shop owner seemed surprised when children in priestly robes and holy knights suddenly burst in.
'What, what is this?'
Children in priestly robes might look like young priests, but ordinary young priests wouldn't have holy knights trailing behind them like this.
'Definitely royalty.'
The shop owner's eyes gleamed. It was a chance to increase sales.
The neutral zone didn't have a small population of children. Business wasn't nonexistent, but the customers were royalty. It was a chance to sell expensive toys that had been sitting unsold—that is, to clear inventory.
However, contrary to the owner's expectations, what Lelia chose was a very small doll.
"Blegh. Rabbit doll..."
Calix criticized Lelia's choice.
"...."
Lelia, who would normally get angry, fell into thought for a moment
Scenes from the original work suddenly came to mind
There were two episodes related to dolls...
One was the original female protagonist, Yuriana, giving a doll to Oscar Hresvelg.
Oscar had already killed his father and become emperor. Like a fish in the pond, he was secretly in love with Yuriana
Hearing the news that Yuriana was marrying the original male protagonist, Oscar immediately used teleportation to visit her
He confesses his love too late, but... Yuriana gives him a gentle but firm rejection
And gives Oscar a small doll, saying:
"This is one of the dolls my dad and brothers bought me, isn't it cute? It feels strange to receive a doll even though I'm all grown up. But I liked it... somehow, it felt like it would protect me forever. I'll give it to you as a gift. But it's a secret from my brothers! My brothers are a bit... uncomfortable with you, Oscar."
She said that with a lovely smile
At that time, Yuriana had so many dolls from her dad and brothers that she was giving them away
She gave dolls to all the children in the capital, and even to everyone she met
It was a warm episode where children in the capital smiled thanks to her warm heart
'Of course, when Emperor Perseus and his sons found out, they pounded the ground and trembled with anger.'
Oscar returned to his country with the doll. Though Yuriana gave dolls to everyone she met, it was particularly meaningful to him
Rejected, Oscar returned and looked at the doll with self-mockery
He was one who had killed father and sat on the imperial throne
Yuriana didn't fear him at all, giving him such an absurd gift
If others didn't fear him, he would cut their throats and teach them fear directly
But Yuriana not fearing him, somehow comforted him
Ghost with red eyes, monster who killed father. It seemed to erase those words that tormented him
Even when he thought of kidnapping Yuriana and locking her in his castle, seeing the small doll calmed his mind
From that day on, Oscar was able to distance himself a little from the nightmares that had tormented him his whole life
'Maybe giving a doll now would help a little?'
Thinking of what might help young Oscar, this came to mind
'What if it has no effect since the original female protagonist doesn't give it?'
Still...
Lelia wanted to help Oscar somehow. She wanted that young and weak one to escape from that pain and fear a little
Still young, holding a doll while sleeping might provide some psychological stability
"Really buying that? Captain likes dolls...? Not even girls..."
"Hey, is there a law that only girls have to like dolls?"
At Romeo's words, Lelia preemptively retorted, "Hey!"
'But then...'
"Do you guys have money?"
Lelia asked cautiously, but the content was like a gangster's
'Come to think of it, no money.'
Living in the temple, there was no need for money, and the Emperor wouldn't have given money when sending her either
"Me? No."
"...I definitely brought some. where did it go?"
It seemed Calix and Romeo also didn't bring money. Lelia looked at Romeo like he was pathetic. The person who suggested going out didn't bring money?
Lelia turned her eyes, looking at the last hope, Griffith.
"Griffith, do you have some? You're smart, so I trust you have some."
"Yeah, I have some."
"Good. I knew I could count on you. Lend me some. I'll pay you back later."
"What do you mean pay back? It's not much."
"Thanks, you're a good kid. So... can we buy one more doll?"
Lelia patted Griffith's back and asked. Griffith, hearing 'good kid', made a sour face, but...
"Buy whatever you want."
He answered like this
With a brightened expression, Lelia started choosing other dolls
"The first one you chose is for Oscar, right?"
"That's right, quick to notice."
At Griffith's question, Lelia nodded and answered
"What, really? Then can I buy one too?"
"No for you."
"Hey! That's cheap!"
Calix grumbled and complained. Romeo, who was listening quietly, blinked, then asked with a smile
"Then what about me?"
"Not you either."
"...trash."
Even at Romeo's stinging remark, Griffith didn't bat an eye
"...just pick one each."
But he said this in a feigned cold voice, but he was actually much kinder than he looked
At those words, Calix and Romeo also began choosing seriously
"Hmm..."
Lelia also carefully examined the dolls with gleaming eyes
'Now, the here's where the text becomes heavily corrupted. I'll do my best to reconstruct and translate the key narrative elements from the corrupted portion.'
The second episode Lelia recalled involved Persia and his relationship with Yuriana. Emperor Perseus, after reclaiming the throne, had difficulty connecting with his daughter Yuriana. The episode showed Persia trying to bond with his daughter by taking her to a toy store. Yuriana, who had been abused by her biological father, was initially distant, but Persia's efforts to buy her a doll and spend time with her gradually helped her open up. The key point was that Yuriana received a doll from her father Persia, which became meaningful to her as a symbol of his love and protection.
'Continuing with the clearer text after the corrupted section...'
Lelia looked at the small rabbit doll in her hand and thought about giving it to Oscar.
'Even though it original protagonist didn't give it, would it have any effect?'
'Never mind...'
Lelia just wanted to do something for Oscar. She wanted him, young and weak, to escape a little from that pain and fear.
Since he was still young, sleeping while hugging a doll might give him some psychological stability.
'Back to the present conversation...'
"Are you really going to buy that? Captain likes dolls...? Not even girls do that..."
"Hey, is there a law that only girls have to like dolls?"
At Romeo's words, Lelia preemptively retorted.
'But...'
"Do you guys have money?"
Lelia asked cautiously, but her words were like a gangster's
'Come to think of it, we don't have money.'
Staying at the temple, there was no need for money, and the Emperor wouldn't have given her money when sending her.
"Me? I don't have any."
"...I definitely brought some. Where did it go?"
It seemed Calix and Romeo also didn't bring money. Lelia looked at Romeo as if he were pathetic. The person who suggested coming out didn't bring money?
Lelia turned her eyes to looking at the last hope, Griffith.
"Griffith, do you have some? You're smart, so I assume you have some."
"Yeah, I have some."
"Good. I knew I could count on you. Lend me some. I'll pay you back later."
"What pay back. It's not that much."
"Thanks, you're a good kid. So... can we buy one more doll?"
Lelia patted Griffith's back and asked. Griffith made a sour face at being called a 'good kid,' but...
"Buy whatever you want."
He answered like this.
With a brightened expression, Lelia started choosing other dolls.
"The first one you chose is for Oscar, right?"
"Right, quick to notice."
At Griffith's question, Lelia answered with a smile.
"What, really? Then can I buy one too?"
"No."
"Hey! That's cheap!"
Calix grumbled and complained. Romeo, who was listening quietly, blinked, then asked with a smile,
"Then what about me?"
"Not you either."
"...trash."
Even at Romeo's stinging remark, Griffith didn't bat an eye.
"...just pick one each."
But he said this in a feigned cold voice, but he was actually much kinder than he looked.
At those words, Calix and Romeo also began choosing seriously.
"Hmm..."
Lelia also carefully examined the dolls with gleaming eyes.
'She's like a child seeing dolls for the first time...'
Romeo thought to himself.
'Back to the corrupted section... The text mentions the second episode involving dolls in the original work. This episode relates to Emperor Perseus and his daughter Yuriana. After Perseus reclaimed the throne, he wanted to bond with his daughter. The episode describes Persia taking Yuriana to a doll shop, buying her a doll, and trying to connect with her. This was significant because Yuriana had been distant due to trauma from her biological father. The doll became a symbol of Persia's love and protection for his daughter.'
'Back to clearer text...'
Eventually, Lelia picked up a small rabbit doll displayed on the shelf.
'Unlike the original, I have no intention of meeting Yuriana, nor does she have any intention of taking her doll.'
Still, she thought that seeing this doll might bring Oscar some comfort.
"Alright, I'll go with this one."
What she chose was a rabbit doll, the same as the one she picked for Oscar.
"Blegh. Rabbit..."
Calix mocked her choice, but...
"Then I'll get this one too."
"Hmm. I'll buy one too."
Romeo and Griffith picked the same doll afterward, and Calix's face frowned.
"Then I'll... whatever."
So Calix also reluctantly picked up a rabbit doll in his palm.
The owner looked at the five small rabbit dolls chosen by his unexpected guests, looking dumbfounded, contrary to his expectations.
I've translated the chapter to the best of my ability, working through the corrupted sections by reconstructing the the narrative based on context and the remaining coherent portions. the translation maintains the story's flow and character development.At the priest's request to let them go outside, the priest was startled, but when she threatened him with what happened last time, he ran to report to the high priest.
And shortly after.
They were able to come out accompanied by five elite holy knights.
Their range of movement was limited to the nearby downtown area, but that was enough.
Those living in the neutral zone were mostly families of priests and holy knights. There were also many servants working at the temple, and ordinary merchants as well.
It wasn't a tourist destination so it wasn't that crowded, but as a commercial district, the streets were lively.
It wasn't fancy, but just walking through the downtown somehow gave a feeling of freedom.
"Our Roseberry Empire's downtown is better."
"There's nothing much to see... what a hassle."
"Still, it's quite neat."
Listening half-heartedly to the three people's conversation, Lelia looked around while sightseeing. She looked like someone seeing downtown for the first time.
'They said she's sickly, so maybe she's never been outside the castle to look around?'
Romeo thought as watching Lelia, who looked particularly excited.
Just then, Lelia's steps stopped in front of a shop.
Thanks to this, the other children walking under the holy knights' tight guard, and the holy knights themselves, stopped and turned their heads.
"What, it's a toy store?"
"And it's a doll shop."
Lelia looked at the large rabbit doll reflected in the show window.
"Hey... you're a papa's boy and on top of that, you sleep hugging dolls?"
Calix asked, scrunching his face in disgust.
"Ugh... seriously... captain?"
Romeo also had an expression like 'this is a bit...'
"Quiet down."
Lelia scolded her subordinates, then stepped into the doll shop.
Thanks to this, the three boys and even the holy knights crammed themselves into the narrow shop.
"Gasp...!"
The shop owner seemed surprised when children in priestly robes and holy knights suddenly burst in.
'What, what is this?'
Children in priestly robes might look like young priests, but ordinary young priests wouldn't have holy knights trailing behind them like this.
'Definitely royalty.'
The shop owner's eyes gleamed. It was a chance to increase sales.
The neutral zone didn't have a small population of children. Business wasn't nonexistent, but the customers were royalty. It was a chance to sell expensive toys that had been sitting unsold—that is, to clear inventory.
However, contrary to the owner's expectations, what Lelia chose was a very small doll.
"Blegh. Rabbit doll..."
Calix criticized Lelia's choice.
"...."
Lelia, who would normally get angry, fell into thought for a moment.
Scenes from the original work suddenly came to mind.
There were two episodes related to dolls...
One was the original female protagonist, Yuriana, giving a doll to Oscar Hresvelg.
Oscar had already killed his father and become emperor. Like a fish in the pond, he was secretly in love with Yuriana.
Hearing the news that Yuriana was marrying the original male protagonist, Oscar immediately used teleportation to visit her.
He confessed his love too late, but... Yuriana gave him a gentle but firm rejection.
And giving Oscar a small doll, she said this:
"This is one of the dolls my dad and brothers bought me, isn't it cute? It feels strange to receive a doll even though I'm all grown up. But I liked it... somehow, it felt like it would protect me forever. I'll give it to you as a gift. But it's a secret from my brothers! My brothers are a bit... uncomfortable with you, Oscar."
Saying that, Yuriana smiled lovely.
At that time, Yuriana had so many dolls from her dad and brothers that she was giving them away.
She gave dolls to all the children in the capital, and even to everyone she met.
It was a warm episode where children in the capital smiled thanks to her warm heart.
'Of course, when Emperor Perseus and his sons found out, they pounded the ground and trembled with anger.'
Oscar returned to his country with the doll. Though Yuriana gave dolls to everyone she met, it was particularly meaningful to him.
Rejected, Oscar returned and looked at the doll with self-mockery.
He was one who had killed his father and sat on the imperial throne.
Yuriana didn't fear him at all, to the point of giving him such an absurd gift.
If others didn't fear him, he would cut their throats and teach them fear directly.
But Yuriana not fearing him, somehow comforted him.
Ghost with red eyes, monster who killed his father. It seemed to erase those words that tormented him.
Even when he thought of kidnapping Yuriana and locking her in his castle, seeing the small doll calmed his mind.
From that day on, Oscar was able to distance himself a little from the nightmares that had tormented him his whole life.
'Maybe giving a doll now would help a little?'
Thinking of what might help young Oscar, this came to mind.
'What if it has no effect since the original female protagonist doesn't give it?'
Still...
Lelia wanted to help Oscar somehow. She wanted that young and weak one to escape from that pain and fear a little.
Still young, holding a doll while sleeping might provide some psychological stability.
"Really buying that? Captain likes dolls...? Not even girls..."
"Hey, is there a law that only girls have to like dolls?"
At Romeo's words, Lelia preemptively retorted, "Hey!"
'But then...'
"Do you guys have money?"
Lelia asked cautiously, but the content was like a gangster's.
'Come to think of it, no money.'
Living in the temple, there was no need for money, and the Emperor wouldn't have given her money when sending her either.
"Me? I don't have any."
"...I definitely brought some. Where did it go?"
It seemed Calix and Romeo also didn't bring money. Lelia looked at Romeo like he was pathetic. The person who suggested going out didn't bring money?
Lelia turned her eyes, looking at the last hope, Griffith.
"Griffith, do you have some? You're a smart guy, so I trust you have some."
"Yeah, I have some."
"Good. I knew I could count on you. Lend me some. I'll pay you back later."
"What pay back? It's not that much."
"Thanks, you're a good kid. So... can we buy one more doll?"
Lelia patted Griffith's back and asked. Griffith made a sour face at hearing 'good kid,' but...
"Buy whatever you want."
He answered like this.
With a brightened expression, Lelia started choosing other dolls.
"The first one you chose is for Oscar, right?"
"That's right, quick to notice."
At Griffith's question, Lelia nodded and answered.
"What, really? Then can I buy one too?"
"No for you."
"Hey! That's cheap!"
Calix grumbled and complained. Romeo, who was listening quietly, blinked, then asked with a smile,
"Then what about me?"
"Not you either."
"...trash."
Even at Romeo's stinging remark, Griffith didn't bat an eye.
"...just pick one each."
But he said this in a feigned cold voice, but he was actually much kinder than he looked.
At those words, Calix and Romeo also began choosing seriously.
"Hmm..."
Lelia also carefully examined the dolls with gleaming eyes.
The second episode related to dolls in the original work involved Emperor Perseus. After Perseus reclaimed the throne of the Auralia Empire, he tried to bond with his daughter Yuriana. The cold-hearted Perseus struggled to connect with his daughter. Though he wore a frightening expression, he secretly wanted to be closer to his wife and Yuriana. Yuriana, who had been abused by her biological father, was distant at first, but gradually opened up as Persia genuinely cared for her. There was also an episode where Persia took Yuriana to a doll shop and bought her a doll to help her feel more comfortable with him.
Lelia recalled this episode as well, thinking it might be meaningful to give a doll to Oscar now.
'And besides... didn't I also receive dolls from Persia? In the original, Yuriana received countless dolls from her father and brothers. Similarly, in this life, I was also given many dolls by my father and brothers.'
'Maybe I can help Oscar with a doll, just like in the original...'
Lelia looked at the small rabbit doll displayed on the shelf.
'Unlike the original, I have no intention of meeting Yuriana, nor does she have any intention of taking her doll.'
Still, she thought that seeing this doll might bring Oscar some comfort.
'I'll just go with this one.'
What she chose was a rabbit doll, the same as the one she picked for Oscar.
"Blegh. Rabbit..."
Calix mocked her choice.
"Then I'll get this one too."
"Hmm. Should I buy one too?"
Romeo and Griffith picked the same doll afterward, and Calix frowned.
"Then I'll... whatever."
So Calix also reluctantly picked up a rabbit doll in his palm.
The owner looked dumbfounded at the five small rabbit dolls chosen by his unexpected guests, contrary to his expectations.