“What could be inside this big royal box?”

As I was just glancing at the gift box, Jeff encouraged me to open it quickly.

“Shall our daughter open it?”

Why is he making his eyes sparkle unnecessarily again? I grumbled inwardly.

“Remember how you asked earlier why the alchemist came to the imperial palace? What’s inside that box was made through alchemy.”

After finishing his words, Jeff put me down on the floor and placed the gift box in front of me.

“It’s something I commissioned long ago, and it’s finally complete.”

He gently pushed my back, seemingly eager for me to check the contents.

‘To think of using alchemy to create objects. As expected of the talent I’ve nurtured.’

I walked briskly towards the box and without hesitation, loosened the ribbon and opened the lid.

What appeared was an adorable duck doll.

It was a soft, cuddly doll with an overall round shape that gave a gentle impression.

‘What is this?’

I had expected something extraordinary. I was dumbfounded that it turned out to be just a doll.

I couldn’t understand why something like this was considered so great that it took so long to make, and my head was filled with question marks.

“Isn’t it cute? It’s a duck friend that will stick close to our daughter from today on.”

Jeff, with his trademark doting father smile, continued:

“It may look like an ordinary duck doll on the outside, but this friend has…”

Jeff, who had been explaining with a gentle smile, suddenly put strength into his eyes.

“Actually, a very special ability!”

A special ability, huh. I muttered while staring intently at the duck doll.

‘I had high expectations since it was made by an alchemist. But isn’t this just a toy?’

No matter how I looked at it, it didn’t seem extraordinary.

“It would be nice if daddy could always be by our daughter’s side~”

As I kept staring at the doll without moving, Jeff spoke, pretending to be sad.

“But there are many times when I can’t because there’s so~ much official work~”

Jeff, who had clasped both hands tightly, soon had an earnest look on his face.

“Just in case our daughter gets hurt when daddy’s not around, from now on you must always go around with this reliable duck friend. Understand?”

Jeff, his eyes suddenly twinkling innocently again, urged earnestly.

‘So it’s not a toy, but for protection.’

Seeing Jeff like this, I suddenly wondered if I really needed to care about my safety.

Because even if I were to die right now, life would start again anyway.

“Now, if you sprinkle this powder and give it a name, you’ll become its owner.”

Just as I was having these gloomy thoughts, Jeff had already brought out a cute little pouch.

The pouch containing the powder was embroidered with leaf and flower patterns, and tightly bound with a gold string and red ribbon.

‘Since it’s made with alchemy, I guess the procedure is complicated.’

I did as I was told without much thought. I swallowed hard as I watched the powder, which emitted a golden light, being absorbed into the doll’s body. For some reason, I felt nervous.

“…Poppy?”

After some deliberation, I uttered the two syllables I had finally come up with, and a change came over the duck doll.

Flash!

Suddenly, a magical pattern unfolded behind the duck doll, and a rainbow-colored light enveloped the space before disappearing.

“Quack!”

Poppy, who had been just a simple doll until moments ago, had thus become a living, breathing doll.

Quaaack-

‘Ugh, how noisy. Is it an alarm clock?’

I was irritated because it cried so loudly that my eardrums felt like they would burst.

Poof.

‘Ooh~?’

In the midst of this, I absentmindedly stroked its body and was surprised.

‘What’s this? It feels nice?’

It felt like touching moist, thin flower petals.

‘This thing would make a good pillow.’

I continued to fiddle with Poppy.

“Haha, my daughter~ do you like it?”

Jeff laughed out loud and seemed satisfied.

“Ah, I forgot to tell you this.”

Jeff, who had risen to his feet, added with a gentle smile.

“When you’re in danger, if you press its belly, a beam will come out of its beak with a zap.”

I looked back at Poppy as Jeff spoke proudly, holding up his index finger.

“…”

“Quack?”

No matter where I looked, it didn’t seem capable of such an attack.

‘That’s so cool.’

But having heard the explanation, I couldn’t help but imagine the beam coming out of Poppy’s small beak electrocuting enemies.

“It’s dangerous to use it as a toy, so only use it in emergencies.”

“Yes.”

This thing, I liked it. Very much so.

“I originally wanted to include my voice too, but… this doll couldn’t capture my true feelings, so I gave up on that.”

When I gave a short reply, Jeff placed his hand on his chest and spoke in an emotional state.

“But if our Darjeeling wants to hear it, just press daddy’s cheek anytime.”

Then he winked one eye, pointed at his cheek with his index finger, and puckered his lips like a carp.

‘I don’t want to press it!’

It’s creepy. I was taken aback and broke out in a cold sweat.

“Daddy loves our daughter very much. Grow up safely like you are now.”

While I was at a loss for what to do with the goosebumps, Jeff reached out and patted my head.

“Doesn’t Darjeeling have anything to say to daddy?”

Soon after, he came closer with an expectant face.

“…”

What am I supposed to do? I stared at Jeff with a blank expression.

“You’re so happy that you’re at a loss for words!”

That’s not it. Jeff placed one hand on his forehead and shed tears of emotion.

He’s taking the posture of dramatically falling over, and I think, here we go again.

‘Why is he like that, again.’

This is ridiculous. I ignored him in front of me and stroked Poppy.

‘A protective doll… If I had known something like this existed, life would have been much easier.’

I pulled Poppy’s beak and pressed its cheeks firmly.

“I’m glad I could take time to give you this gift. I have a busy schedule ahead.”

Jeff, who had been gazing at me with a fond expression, said he had to go back to work due to his busy schedule.

‘You work so hard. Since I’ve received something, I should do this much.’

I don’t have anything specific to give, so take this at least.

Since I had received something quite useful, I decided to give Jeff the work I had just completed as a sort of reward.

“Daddy. I have something to give you too.”

I asked the lady-in-waiting standing behind me to bring the drawing.

‘Should I tell him to hang it in the reception room? Everyone will be delighted.’

I proudly handed my masterpiece, which I had put all my effort into, to Jeff.

“Is this a drawing of daddy?”

The moment Jeff received the drawing, he covered his mouth with the hand not holding the paper.

“Yes. It will become very expensive in the future.”

“I’ll designate it as a national treasure right away!”

Jeff smiled broadly and acted as if he had discovered a precious treasure.

“I’m truly moved.”

“I can’t breathe.”

Then he suddenly hugged me tightly, and I thought I was going to die. I pushed Jeff’s face away with all my might.

“Tonight, I’ll have them bring out lots of our Darjeeling’s favorites for dinner.”

Jeff, who had finally let go, said we should have dinner together later.

“Your Majesty, I will come to see you shortly.”

Jeff said he would come back quickly, burning with passion, and Asian, who had been quietly observing the whole situation, bowed politely.

Click-

“Phew~”

A moment later. Only after Jeff had disappeared did I feel like I could breathe again.

“I need to rest. Let’s go back too.”

“As you wish, Your Highness. I will escort you to your bedroom.”

Feeling fatigue suddenly rush over me, I quickly headed to my bedroom. As soon as we arrived in the room, my dedicated lady-in-waiting immediately helped me bathe and change into my nightgown.

Flop-

Shortly after, I threw myself onto the bed, clutching Poppy tightly.

‘This body gets tired strangely easily.’

I kneaded Poppy here and there while lying face down.

‘Is the body of a princess naturally weak?’

As I was thinking about various things, I suddenly remembered the moment I had confronted an assassin in my previous life.

‘Being royalty, there will be assassination risks in the future. It was the same in my previous life.’

At that time, I had been lightly dozing, so even though I felt the approaching presence, I pretended to be sleeping, snoring.

Because of this, the assassin wearing a black mask drew his sword to quickly dispose of me, but my movement was faster.

‘Where did she disappear to…’

‘What are you looking for? If it’s your life…’

When I suddenly appeared behind him after vanishing, the startled assassin’s fate was sealed. I beat him soundly with a satisfying thud.

‘I’ll have to use this doll to protect myself until I become an adult.’

I snapped out of my past recollection and thought about Poppy’s attack function.

‘I’m not sure how useful it will be, but it should be enough to protect this weak body at least.’

I laughed hollowly at the fact that both emperors and princesses have equally precarious lifelines.

‘I wonder how long I’ll live this time?’

The danger I had forgotten for a while suddenly hits home.

‘No. Will I be able to find peace in this life?’

I grabbed Poppy’s cheeks and stretched them, then released my grip. Poppy, seemingly afraid of being grabbed, ran to the corner of the bed.

Weeeeng-

‘That’s… a mosquito, isn’t it?’

Perhaps it was because I had left the window open for a short while earlier, an unwelcome guest had appeared. I frowned as I looked at the mosquito.

“Quack!!!”

Perhaps because I had shown strong aversion. Poppy, who had run away to the corner, approached again and made a sound while standing in front of me.

* * *

Several hours later, the rustling sound still filled the Emperor’s office.

“Just a little more and I’ll be done.”

Perhaps because His Majesty wanted to meet with the Princess as soon as possible, he was focusing his best on official duties.

“Your Majesty, it’s almost time for the meal. Shall I bring the Princess?”

After checking the time once, I asked how I should proceed.

“Is it that time already? Prepare the Princess’s meal first. I will be there soon.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

As expected, our Emperor cherishes his only Princess too much. As soon as I received approval, I bowed and set out. Perhaps because I was on my way to see the lovely Princess, my steps naturally quickened.

After passing through the long corridor where black and white intersected, I finally arrived at Bowellian Castle where the Princess was staying.

“His Majesty is looking for the Princess…”

Just as I was about to relay the Emperor’s message after exchanging smiles with the lady-in-waiting I met in front of the Princess’s bedroom door.

Crack!

A thunderous sound came from inside the room.

“Huh?”

I stopped in my tracks, puzzled by the sound of an electric current.

Zap-zap-!!

Not long after, a massive explosion sound shook the air.