The Doll Has a Name – Chapter 24.1 – About Us

Author: Nikss

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As evening fell, Kise found herself alone.

Given permission to use any room in the western annex, Kise had chosen the largest and finest suite, which included a bedroom, a study, and a drawing room.

Knowing Monique’s fastidious nature, it was certain that if she changed her mind later and decided to move after already settling in, Monique would complain all night long until dawn.

Therefore, from the very beginning, she had to make the best choice—one she wouldn’t regret or need to change.

Sitting slumped on the soft, cushiony bed, Kise threw on a cardigan and left the bedroom. She passed through the drawing room and headed toward the study.

The thought of having all this vast space to herself was pleasant, but a chill ran through her at the realization that there was no one else in the building besides her.

Despite being left vacant, the room had been consistently maintained, as evidenced by the well-oiled study door that turned without a sound.

The study, too, had an austere atmosphere, with its furnishings appearing modest compared to what one might expect.

Placing the lamp on a shelf, Kise ran her fingertips along the books that filled the bookcase.

‘This one looks well-read. This one seems like it’s never been opened. Why are there two copies of this book? Is this even a book? Or just a manuscript?’

Unable to tell if it was a collection or simply a case of indiscriminate hoarding, she examined them a bit longer before concluding it was neither.

The books included numerous volumes that seemed too unprofitable to be considered hoarding and too themeless to be called a collection.

Kise wandered around aimlessly as if browsing, idly picking up whatever caught his attention.

Treasure Hill, Fragments of Vita, The Tedious Theory of the New World.

Some titles were familiar even to his own eyes, while many others were things he had never encountered before.

Between The Devil’s Plague and 180 Days Adrift on an Uninhabited Island, he spotted Moques’s Graham’s Self-Portrait and pulled it out.

The fact that the author Moques Quiescis was treated as a homosexual and confined to a mental institution was a scandal that shocked the entire continent.

After the religious order, which vehemently opposed homosexuality, placed his book on the index of forbidden works, reading it itself became an act of sacrilege…

And yet here it was, boldly displayed on the shelf.

Kise couldn’t help but laugh at the rebelliousness and defiance of whoever had acquired it.

‘It must be Leonhardt. I don’t even need to ask.’

Even without any distinct marks or particular characteristics, Kise felt he could easily guess who the owner of this vast collection was.

‘He’s got guts, that one.’

They say you have to know someone a long time to understand them, but for some reason, with him, it felt like he could be read at a glance.

No—rather than ‘knowing,’ it was more like they just clicked.

Kise, with matching audacity, pulled out the book that the gutsy Leonhardt owned and tucked it under his arm.

Even though she knew it was wrong to speak ill of him, since she was in no position to criticize, Kise was the type whose curiosity wouldn’t be satisfied until she unwrapped the package to see what was inside.

She was about to turn away, thinking she’d look through it another time, when she suddenly noticed that the very bottom shelf was filled with only one type of book.

What’s this? They all had the same design and the same name.

Crouching down and holding a lamp close, she read the titles aloud.

“Rikent Register of Notable Figures, Year 708… Rikent Register of Notable Figures, Year 709… Year 710…”

In that instant, Kise’s eyes widened as if something had struck her. She picked out the most recent volume.

A Register of Notable Figures—these were all directories of famous people’s names. Seeing that one was published every year, it seemed to be updated annually.

Looking for the letter ‘L’ in the table of contents on the front page, Kise quickly searched to see if Leonhardt’s name was listed.
Larsen Olivio, Lapherra Vasilema, Lea Lubido, Leonhardt Moent…

“Here it is, it’s here. I knew it.”

Kise, who had been flipping through the pages, paused for a moment before moving her hand again.

This was a perfectly legitimate and above-board investigation. She had nothing to feel guilty about for looking up information about him.

Calming her own unnecessarily cautious heart in the empty room, Kise eagerly set out to acquire the information.

“Leonhardt Mayer Amschel Moent.”

And, as luck would have it, the interruption barged in just as she had read that far.

Knock knock—

“Kise.”

As if in response to being summoned, a knock sounded at the door.

“If you’re not asleep, I was hoping I could come in for a moment.”

…Perfect timing. Really.

Kise nearly dropped the book she was holding, startled by Leonhardt’s unbelievably well-timed appearance.

How did he know, as if by magic, just when she was trying to dig a little deeper into things, and choose that moment to knock?

At the speed of light, Kise shoved everything back into place, dashed to the bedroom, rustled the blankets to create an alibi, and then ran to the door as if sounding an alarm, unlocking it.

“I’m awake, come in.”

“Sorry for the late hour,” Leonhardt said, asking for her understanding as he entered. He was carrying a stack of several sheets and blankets, held up by his arms.

It seemed he had brought them because this room only had thin ones.

As he moved them to a nearby sofa as instructed, Kise looked at him suspiciously and asked.

“But how did you know I was here?”

She had never told him she’d chosen this room, nor given him any prior notice.

Just as she was about to regard him with deep suspicion, he straightened up and answered casually.

“Didn’t I just figure out your temperament?”

“…”

“I thought you were very likely to do that. I didn’t think you’d clumsily stand on ceremony and risk upsetting Madame. Was I wrong?”

“You’re right.”

It’s eerily accurate.

“Why are you staring like that?”

“You seemed suspicious.”