A Doll's Words and the Lady's Tremors
"Miss, please calm down..."
Right after I spoke, something changed.
There was a thunk, like the sound of an impact.
In an instant, the dominance ratio shot way up.
This 25:75 split might not hit home right away.
Originally, I was just a tin can without even human rights. A butler automaton owned by the Grand Duke's daughter.
'But a quarter of the dominance is mine now?'
How the hell?'
If we kept playing this game of dominance tug-of-war like we had been, it meant Freira and I would end up on equal footing.
'This is insane, right?'
I let out a hollow chuckle to myself, and Freira blinked.
"…."
Was it so good she couldn't even speak? Yeah, probably.
Now we could talk all night and build some real intimacy.
Freira slowly raised her trembling hand.
Slap—!!
'???!!'
She straight-up smacked her own cheek and muttered.
"…Must've misheard. I'm going crazy. What do I do?"
"Ah, Miss. Calm down."
Blink blink.
Freira raised her hand again.
"It's fine. I've got you now. Please stop the self-harm."
"Wha… Wh-what? Huh!?"
Her eyes went wide as saucers. She clapped a hand over her mouth and backed away.
"H-how? What the hell is this!?"
Not some hilarious hidden cam prank… but I did twist my body a bit to speak.
Freira shuddered violently, then bolted out of the drawing room. Judging by the direction, straight to her bedroom.
"Miss. Where are you going?"
Pat pat pat pat. Thud thud thud thud.
Two sets of footsteps, varying in pitch, echoed side by side through the Grand Duke's residence. What a beautiful sound.
I caught up to Freira as she entered her bedroom. As I locked the door and approached, the Grand Duke's daughter plopped onto the bed and clutched the covers tight.
"…Miss? You look scared?"
"…Don't come closer."
Huh? Why?
Freira's eyes trembled fiercely. She was genuinely terrified.
Heart Rate: Elevated
Temperature: Rising
Protection: Required
"Wh-whoa. Hold on. I'm not a bad tin can. It's Hamel."
"…Liar. You're possessed! By a demon! …Who are you!?"
Oh? Oh…
So that's how it looks to her? Ahh.
I smacked my forehead and stepped back.
"You're right. I didn't think of that."
In this world, automaton possessions actually happen.
From Freira's perspective, then…
Her beloved doll suddenly starts talking like a human. She freaks out and runs to her room, it follows her in, locks the door, then tells her not to be scared—kekeke.
'That's fucking terrifying…'
I knelt politely on one knee.
"I'm sorry. You must've been shocked."
"It's not about being shocked! We need to call the temple priests. Quick, Alsanna—"
No way!! She's shocked, sure, but the church is a hard no!
As I raised my arm to stop her, Freira squeezed her eyes shut.
"If… if you're gonna kill me, make it painless…"
"…Oh."
Unexpected development. What now?
I came up with a brilliant idea right away.
"Miss. Do you remember? The day you were kidnapped by the barbarians. I found you."
"…That."
"You touched my cheek then."
Like this.
I took Freira's hand and placed it on my cheek.
- See. Nice and warm. Right?
Even before I possessed it, this scene had brainwashed her. I'd spammed "main wife is Freira" and gotten blocked a bunch of times.
The Grand Duke's daughter looked around in confusion.
So I spent the next 20 minutes reminiscing. Killing Gaius, lap pillows, and what else was there?
"And the heart-rubbing massage, you went wild with that…"
"Stop!! Don't say that!!"
Mmph. Freira desperately covered my mouth.
"Pha."
"…Is it really Hamel?"
"For real. I swear on the Lord God."
I don't believe in the Lord God, so whatever.
Joy filled Freira's eyes bit by bit. Her lips curved up uncontrollably.
"…How? How can you think and talk?"
"There's a story there. Hard to explain right now."
I can't tell anyone I'm a possessor. Even I'd think they were nuts.
"But…"
"Miss."
I leaned in close.
I knew she wasn't the type to fall for a machine, but at least my face was customized to her tastes.
Cowardly, but I'd borrow its power.
"Cl-close! …Fine. Whatever the story, I can help, right?"
"Pardon? …Uh, yeah. Sure."
Somehow, I'd gained an ally to prevent the Empire's downfall.
"…Hamel. I'm happy. You talking like this, it means… you know…"
Freira trailed off, fumbling. Like she'd finally made a real friend? Me too.
But no relaxing yet. One crucial thing left.
I looked up at Freira, perched on the bed.
"Miss. We need to etch one secret just between us."
"Wh-what? Secret? Wha…!? I mean, isn't it a bit early? It's still daytime…?"
Freira babbled, twisting her hair.
No clue what she meant, but I pressed on.
"That I can speak and think. Our secret."
"…Oh. That. …Yeah."
Finally getting it, her wariness faded—thanks to the face and memories bonding us.
"Alsanna's a good kid. But we can't tell her. Ever."
Yeah. The church finds out, they'll melt me down as a possessed entity.
"…Only I know. Yeah. Never."
Freira murmured in a husky voice.
Anyway, she's a believer too. By doctrine, she'd have to report suspected automaton possessions. Gotta lock this down.
"Miss. If faith's an issue…"
"Faith? Don't need it. Don't need the Lord God. Our Hamel's talking."
…Damn, bold.
I grinned wide and became secret friends with the beaming Grand Duke's daughter.
Hamel spoke.
Not just spoke—he thought and moved like a person.
He'd gotten the core and vocal module from somewhere for this.
'What do I do, what do I do! I'm losing it!'
Freira let out a silent cheer. As the Grand Duke's daughter, she kept her composure on the outside, elegant as ever.
Tap tap tap tap.
Gripping the chair tight, her feet wouldn't stop bouncing.
'She's in a great mood.'
She believed she was calm and graceful.
Point blank: Hamel was insanely hot. Perfectly curled black hair, deep intelligent eyes, sharp nose, defined jawline.
She'd designed her ideal man.
Basically, her ultimate fave figure.
And that figure was talking, thinking, moving—for her alone.
'C-calm down, deep breaths. Hoo— haa— hoo—'
So Freira decided to indulge her desires one by one.
First: the knight from romance novels.
"Hamel. Wanna try on some armor?"
"Pardon? …Sure."
Thump thump thump thump.
Clutching her pounding heart, she waited. In walked Hamel in silver armor—less a knight, more a knight captain, given his build.
"Hoo. Hoo. Hoo."
"Miss…?"
"L-looks good on you. Mmm."
Couldn't keep her hands still. Freira cautiously voiced the next desire.
"…Kinda embarrassing, but one more?"
"As you wish."
"The… oath pose. …Can you?"
Hamel stared at her blankly for a sec. She played dumb, and he knelt on one knee.
No lame "This good?" either.
"Lady Freira."
Just gazing up, calling her name.
Freira's eyes glazed over. Instinct screamed she'd lose control if she indulged more.
"…Ah."
She snapped back.
"L-let's stop here for today?"
"Pardon? Oh, sure."
Freira stared blankly at Hamel's back as he went to change.
'Can't tell Alsanna. This side of him is mine alone. That Argent girl too…'
Oh yeah, she'd sent a letter or something.
Probably full of rude provocations. Burn and toss it.
As she thought that, Hamel subtly offered the letter.
"Why not read it?"
"No. That woman… ahem, lady lacks dignity, Hamel."
"Not defending her, but she wanted to sincerely apologize to you."
"Then she should say it to my face."
Freira took the letter, playing reluctant for Hamel.
"…Read it for me, Hamel."
"Me? This?"
"Yeah. Hearing the apology in your voice might help me forgive her?"
Hamel cleared his throat.
"Ahem. To Lady Freira Karstein, Grand Duke's Daughter."
"Hamel's voice is nice."
"Our house cat damaged the letter…"
"What?"
"………."
Couldn't go on, Hamel trailed off. His lost eyes hit the floor.
Freira peeked at the letter herself.
Our house cat damaged the letter. Elise is innocent. Believe meow.
Meow
"…."
"…Coffee?"
"…Yeah. Light."
Her fondness for the Argent girl plummeted further.
As Hamel brewed her coffee, he mused inwardly.
'About time.'
Beyond the south-facing window, far past the horizon, lay the Imperial Capital.
Someone would come from there.
The one to cap off the early story arc.
Same time, Karstein Diocese Cathedral. Bishop's office.
"Achoo."
Alsanna sneezed and muttered.
"Ah… Gotta exorcise before the church finds out. Hamel."
"Bishop Alsanna? Did you call?"
"N-nooo! I didn't say anything!!"
Alsanna babbled excuses. Her clumsiness was routine, so the attendant paladin shrugged.
"Your Grace. As you recall, an inquisitor from the church arrives today."
"Y-yeah, I heard. The inquisitor—"
Clang.
Alsanna knocked over a silver candlestick.
"Wh-what!? An inquisitor's coming? To our Karstein Diocese!?"
"Yes."
"Why!?"
The paladin raised a brow.
"Routine visit."
"Oh… phew."
"They'll visit the Karstein Grand Duke's house too."
Crash!
Alsanna spectacularly spilled the tea tray.
"I-I'll go see His Grace quick!"
"Your Grace? No, you can't."
The paladin pointed out the window.
"Here she comes. The inquisitor."
A woman in priestly robes approached the cathedral. Face hidden by a sealed mask. Two golden-armored paladins followed.
"Wh-what do I dooo… Hamel…"
Alsanna started sniffling in seconds.
Inquisitors had special privileges.
Authority for summary execution of demon collaborators or blasphemers.
Possessed automatons were obviously targets too.