The Doll Has a Name Chapter 2 - The Wild Doll

 

“I want to be cast out into the free, debauched world of commoners as soon as possible. Could you hurry up and abandon me already? Come on, throw me away. Faster.”

 

“You know I’m trying.”

 

“What I’m asking for is a more active, passionate effort.”

 

“Hercia.”

 

“I was naive. I trusted my father and the family, swayed by sweet lies about never going hungry and having a warm bed to sleep in, and ended up agreeing to a contract I can’t easily escape. You should know that scamming a child makes the crime even worse.”

 

The marquis silently endured the indirect accusation of being a ‘swindler.’ Then, with a sigh-like exhale, he spoke in a low voice.

 

‘Ah, fine, I get it. Don’t worry, I’ll handle this properly.’

 

He lightly waved the invitation tucked under his arm.

 

“No need to push yourself. The Dareins have no ambition for social climbing. A quiet life like this is enough.”

 

“But because of the lands you hold and your stuffy family history, plenty of people out there covet what you have. You know that.”

 

“Just fend them off cleanly and give them what they deserve. You’re good at that, aren’t you? Screen them carefully, but avoid heirs from overly prominent families. A second son, far from the line of succession, would be ideal. Just keep it moderate.”

 

“Moderate. Yes, understood.”

 

“Moderate” was just a polite way of saying, ‘You handle it.’

 

It was proof of his deep trust in me, but since this wasn’t exactly a pleasant task, I didn’t press further.

 

As if they’d just shared a heartwarming father-daughter chat, he walked out of the study with light steps. Once I heard the door click shut, I leaned against the wall and pondered my next move.

 

My mind was a mess.

 

Herciana, where is she? Where could she be?

 

‘Me, Kise Ohara.’

 

The Finest Refined Baby Doll of the Marquisate of Darein.

Yet a wild doll.

 

As sharp as the Marquis’s discerning eye may be, I remain untamed by them. 

 

Despite the systematic fences, my wildness has not died. Though my actions have changed, my nature has stubbornly survived.

 

‘Ah, right. Maybe it’s there.’

 

An unfamished belly, a plump body, a cultured mind—With these, I freely take off and put on the doll’s mask given to me as I please. 

 

It’s a little different from the contract, but just as one’s mood changes before and after using the restroom, I see no reason to be punished for it.

 

That’s just how black-haired beasts are.

 

Now, all I want is freedom second only to dignity.

 

My stagnant steps turned outward, beyond the mansion.

 

【The Wild Doll】

 

The official name of the castle in the Darein territory is ‘Natura Bonheur,’ as it stands against the lush coniferous forests of the Natura Woods.

Though the forest falls under state-owned land, nobles often have the bad habit of considering any woods behind their mansions as part of their private gardens.

And by that shameless custom, the forest bordering the castle naturally belonged to the Marquis’s domain, managed by the Marquis’s people.

 

Following a narrow, well-trodden path, Kise ventured deeper into the woods. Not far ahead lay a fairly wide clearing, unofficially used by knights as a training ground—or so she had heard.

 

‘Wow, how diligent.’

 

Spotting a lone, sweat-drenched figure training earnestly in the middle of the grounds, Kise let out a hollow exclamation.

 

“What a vigorous dance.”

 

She tossed a towel from a nearby stool to Herciana, who looked as if she had bathed in sweat. A faintly amused gaze flickered in her eyes.

 

“Perfect, isn’t it?”

 

“You could stab several people while dancing like that.”

 

“It’s a dance meant to provoke duels. That’s why.”

 

“How about we make a few adjustments there? Then you’d shine brightly at the party. Dancing, receiving cheers, picking and choosing from all the men asking you to dance, being voted the belle of the ball—doesn’t that sound fun…”

 

“Hey, Kise.”

 

Herciana, the lone rebel in this household who dared to call her ‘Kise,’ cut her off mid-sentence. With a gleaming knife sheathed at her waist, she was the type who constantly reminded Kise of her name, as if afraid she might forget it.

 

—Kise, Kise Ohara. Don’t forget your roots. Remember your name. You are not me.

 

She was thorough enough to include the surname.

 

Kise smiled brightly and said, “Hm?” 

 

Herciana got straight to the point, “I’m not going to the party.”

 

“It’s not a party. This time, it’s an opera performance. Oh, how exciting! Plenty of handsome men will be there. Aren’t you looking forward to it? New encounters, unfamiliar experiences, the burning hearts of men and women igniting there—”

 

“Are you insane? Ugh!”

 

Herciana reacted as if she’d bitten into rotten bread.

 

Honestly, how do you spew such vomit-inducing words so effortlessly? 

 

Even in the face of Herciana’s stunned expression, Kise remained unbothered.

 

“Hena, Hena, you should hurry up and meet a wolf-like husband, build a respectable family as soon as possible. Maybe even make some rabbit-like kids.”

 

“First Father, now you—why do you all treat me like some old maid who can’t get married?”

 

“Because by common standards, you are an old maid.”

 

The verbal bomb Kise dropped with a smile made Herciana shriek, “Aaaah!” 

 

Sadly, when it came to noble marriages, a little pressure was necessary to get things moving. 

 

Kise pressed on with her persuasion, “Being a strong woman is your dream, right? Madame Varias once told me this, ‘Woman, if you wish to wield power, then marry.’“

 

Madame Varias was the tutor responsible for the upbringing of the two. She was a first-class etiquette teacher whom noble families in the kingdom had vied to hire. 

 

Most of what she said was correct. Not all, but most.

 

“So get married, Hena. You want to become stronger, don’t you?”

“That’s creepy, honestly. How can you even quote that?”

“After marriage comes childbirth. That’s usually how it goes. You gain power through marriage and solidify it through childbirth.”

 

In card terms, one might say it was like a joker, a wildcard. 

 

A child could become such a presence for a noblewoman.

 

Kise naturally held out the opera invitation from the Crown Princess’s palace.

Of course, she had no intention of giving it away. This time, she planned to go herself. Judging by Herciana’s reaction, it seemed like another lost cause to send her.

 

Still, the reason she deliberately flashed the invitation in front of her was to instill a sense of urgency.

“Hena, I can’t be by your side every winter. Right now, it might feel fine because we’re together, but no one can promise forever. Especially not me… You know that, right? So you need to start preparing for winters when you’ll be alone.”

 

Winter is loneliness. 

 

A season so cold and biting that it leaves one trembling in solitude.

The fact that we met in the frozen mountain ranges during that harsh winter and formed a bond was nothing short of a miracle. But miracles aren’t like the first snowfall that arrives right on time. 

 

They don’t appear just because you wait.

 

“Let’s part ways before it gets too cold.”

Kise gently placed a hand on Herciana’s shoulder, which was slightly higher than hers. She truly hoped they wouldn’t miss their chance and end up separating in regret. She wished for someone more dependable to take her place by Herciana’s side soon. 

 

And for herself to be let go, too. That was what she sincerely wanted.

 

For a moment, it seemed like Herciana’s face, which she had been watching, was about to crumple with emotion—but then her shoulders simply slumped in resignation.

“I can’t do it.”

 

“If Hena doesn’t leave, I can’t leave either. We’re a community bound by fate.”

“…Can’t you stay and live here with your real name? Not as a baby doll, but as my friend. Or even… as sisters,” Her voice, growing smaller, sounded pitiful.

“Sisters?”

A troubled yet apologetic and slightly grateful smile appeared.

A sisterly bond between the real and the fake? The real and the fake caring for each other’s hearts?

What should I do about this?

 

It was an unnecessary, pointless emotion. I never asked for this. But I can’t deny it. If you listen, we too have a very long story.

A person so kind it’s worrying. So pitiful it hurts. Kise patted her hand lightly.

“Hena, I’m leaving.”

“Why?”

“Because I have to. There’s no other reason.”

Faced with Herciana’s utterly un-noble expression, Kise maintained impeccably noble manners.

If I don’t leave, I’ll never reach anywhere. I’m sick and tired of this suffocating feeling. I haven’t achieved anything in life yet—it’d be too unfair to just live and die like this. She thought seriously.

I was born with arms and legs—I can’t spend my whole life trapped in a noble’s castle and die like that. That would be too insulting to my life.

Kise lightly gripped the longsword leaning against the chair and tapped the metal at Herciana’s waist with a clink.

“It’s improper to wear a gown and wield a sword, but since the real Hena is right in front of me, I suppose it’s fine to break etiquette for a bit?”

Practicing alone must be getting boring—let me be your sparring partner. Saying so, Kise moved as if warming up.

But Herciana didn’t raise her sword, as if she weren’t in the mood at all.

“You’re weaker than me.”

 

“It’s because of the difference in practice time. Hena is so obsessed with swordsmanship that it’s excessive. I wish she’d spare some of that time for dancing. Or anything else, like makeup or clothes—anything to dress up a little.”

 

“I don’t want to neglect my duties as a noble.”

 

“You’re so old-fashioned. Who even lives by those rules these days? The word ‘war’ has long faded from people’s minds.”

 

“What does it matter what others think? That’s just how I am.”

 

“Alright, then I’ll be the same way.”

 

“And why would you?”

 

“Why? Because I’m Hena’s babydoll, aren’t I? We should be on the same page. And if that day really comes, I’ll be the one heading to the battlefield. Because that’s my place to go instead of yours.”

 

That was the promise—the contract—of a babydoll. Kise said it casually.

 

But the moment those words were spoken, Herciana’s expression darkened. More than just being upset, she drew the revolver holstered at her thigh and began wildly firing at the target.

 

The deafening blasts from each trigger pull were bad enough, but the pungent smell of gunpowder mixed with smoke was even worse. She’s mad, really mad. 

 

Once she gets like this, it lasts a while. What a headache.

 

Kise pressed her fingers to her temples as if nursing a headache. She wanted to join in the shooting spree, but her accuracy wasn’t great.

 

Out of ten shots, she’d hit about six. Not terrible, but not exactly good either. In contrast, Herciana was a sniper.

 

Fine, fine, do whatever you want. Smash everything or don’t.

 

Kise dragged over a simple chair, plopped down, tucked her long sword under her folded arms, and leaned back as far as she could.

 

Maybe she should just drop everything right now and run away. Her wishful thinking expanded.

 

Just as the perfectly clear, cloudless weather was starting to annoy her, loud footsteps quickly approached.

 

“Miss! Miss!”