The Real Villainess Niece is Too Cute
Fortunately, my prediction was spot on.
The ducal territory had a stuffed doll shop run by a craftsman so skilled that even nobles made the trip.
The interior was decorated quite cutely for children, but from the back of the shop wafted the faint, musty yet comforting scent of cotton well-dried in the sun.
The aroma mingled with the crisp starch smell unique to freshly sized fabric, tickling the nose like the fragrance of bread just out of the oven. Liriet, standing beside me, sniffed it curiously too.
Like a puppy.
Cute. All good.
"Welcome. Are you looking for something in particular?"
"Yes. A stuffed doll as a gift for this child."
If I hadn't regained my past-life memories, I probably would've spoken casually without thinking.
But with recollections from a Confucian society era surfacing, the sight of the elderly man's white hair instinctively drew polite speech from me first.
That said, it didn't feel awkward or uncomfortable at all.
I'd always believed that people who'd devoted their lives to a single craft deserved respect and the proper demeanor.
"Uncle, isn't it that you needed a doll for yourself, not one for me?"
"...Ah."
The problem was overlooking Liriet, who'd been quietly listening to our conversation.
Right.
That was the excuse for bringing her along.
The shopkeeper's natural customer service had made my true intentions slip out unwittingly.
"Ahem! Y-yes, that's right. Truth be told, I have a fondness for dolls that's unbecoming of my age, so I came to get a recommendation from my niece on this rare outing. And while we're at it, I'll buy one for her too."
"Kehkeh, I see. Then shall I show the dolls to your niece here?"
"Please do."
The old man must have honed his instincts from years in the business.
He quickly grasped my intent, stepped out from behind the counter, and guided Liriet along.
She glanced at me with a bewildered expression but trotted after him eagerly.
"These are the most beloved ones in our shop. What do you think, young lady?"
"Th-they're cute."
"Thank you for the kind words. Please take your time looking."
The old man knew exactly when to make his exit.
Worried that hovering would make it hard for Liriet to choose, he gave just enough guidance before tactfully stepping away.
Hm, the quality is top-notch, no doubt.
Even I, clueless about dolls, could tell an enormous amount of care had gone into them.
"Aren't you going to pick one, Uncle?"
"I came today for your recommendation, so I'll leave it to you, my niece."
"Uuu..."
Feeling the weight of responsibility from my words, Liriet let out a soft groan and stared intently at the display.
Her gaze was so fierce it seemed like she could drill screw holes into the shelves herself.
"Then I think that one would be good."
"That one? You mean the white bear doll at the end?"
"Yes!"
A safe choice.
The kind of doll that immediately comes to mind when you think "stuffed animal."
But its unassuming charm would look just fine in my room too.
Nice and sizable—on days when my brain's not firing right, I could use it as a sandba... no, that's no good.
Still, it was Liriet's pick.
I'll treasure it as best I can.
"Then let's go with your recommendation—that one it is."
"Is it really okay? With my recommendation..."
"Truth be told, I'd had my eye on it too. Great minds think alike."
I nodded with a smile, and Liriet shyly beamed back.
She must not have expected me to actually buy the one she recommended.
"Then as thanks, I should get a gift for you too. Which one catches your eye?"
"I'm fine..."
"Oh dear. If my niece doesn't pick one, this friend will have to leave home all alone. Wouldn't that be too lonely?"
"Th-that won't do!"
I grabbed the doll's arm and made a pitiful expression. Startled, Liriet hurriedly scanned around.
She soon spotted her favorite.
Her eyes widened as she pointed.
"Then I'll take that one..."
"Hm?"
I checked the rabbit doll she'd indicated and blinked in surprise.
All handmade, so the craftsmanship was impeccable.
But... it was a bit muted in color for a little girl to choose.
With half-finished ash-gray fur like my hair, it even had a dusty vibe.
She likes that one?
A bit unexpected.
"You really like that one?"
"Does it not appeal to you, Uncle?"
"No, it's not that. I just thought the dull color might not suit your tastes."
"Ah, no! It's a really pretty color."
I was startled—it was the first time Liriet had spoken so loudly.
There even seemed to be a hint of urgency in her voice.
"S-sorry. I raised my voice in front of you..."
She caught my blank stare and bowed her head in a fluster.
I wasn't upset at all.
If anything, seeing this fresh side of her was delightful.
"No need. This uncle's the one at fault for saying something unnecessary. Anyway, that one it is, right?"
"Yes."
For some reason, Liriet fidgeted and twisted her body.
She had no intention of explaining why she'd chosen it, it seemed.
Well, likes don't need reasons.
If she loves it, that's enough.
We settled the bill right away. As the old man handed over the large dolls, he said,
"These are precious friends to this old man too. Please cherish them well, little lady."
"Yes!"
Liriet nodded vigorously in response, and it was so endearing.
The somewhat precocious air she'd had vanished, revealing the innocent charm of a child her age. A lovely sight.
"Nngh..."
Struggling to lift the rabbit doll nearly as big as her upper body, Liriet toddled along.
Her waddling backside looked just like a baby penguin.
Pfft— I shouldn't laugh, but I couldn't help it.
"Give the dolls here. I'll store them for you."
"No. You're busy too, Uncle."
I offered my hands readily, but Liriet was Liriet, through and through.
Hating to trouble others, she stubbornly insisted on carrying them herself.
But there was one thing Liriet hadn't considered.
That I was a mage.
A 7th Circle mage, one of fewer than ten in the entire empire, no less.
"Wha—?!"
The doll she'd clutched tight floated up lightly, and Liriet's eyes went wide like a rabbit shot by an arrow.
Savoring the pierrot-like thrill of the performance,
I swiftly tucked both her doll and mine into my subspace.
"Wow...!"
Clap clap!
An exclamation burst from Liriet's lips, matched by hearty applause from her hands.
If every magician's audience were like this, how happy they'd be.
Unfiltered reactions born of pure innocence always had that uplifting magic.
"See? Now you won't trouble me at all."
"Yes. As expected of you, Uncle. But what was that just now? The dolls looked like they got sucked in."
Uncharacteristically, questions poured from Liriet like a rapid-fire barrage.
Just like kids pestering for a magician's secrets—she was no different.
"It's like an invisible warehouse."
"Amazing. How much can it hold?"
"Depends on the mage's level. In my case... well, the whole doll shop we just saw would fit."
"Really!? Wow...!"
Honestly, it's modest for a 7th Circle, but whatever.
I'm no specialist in spatial magic, after all.
My master could store an entire mansion.
Back when I wandered training, he'd even kept a whole cabin in there for emergencies.
But I wasn't fool enough to tell her that and undermine my own mystique.
A little awe from my niece? An uncle deserves that much.
Nothing grand.
"Uncle, are we heading back now that we're done?"
Liriet asked, heels together then apart, bouncing in place.
Her words assumed return, but her flushed face betrayed her true hopes.
She wants to play more.
Of course.
For Liriet, forbidden even from outings, a village stroll wasn't something to take for granted.
"Sorry. I still have places to check. If it's okay, would you keep this uncle company a bit longer?"
I offered my hand with a pleading tone on purpose. She alternated glances between my face and palm, eyes wide.
"...Yes!"
She placed her hand gently atop mine with a soft smile.
Whether she'd read my mind or not, I didn't know.
But Liriet smiling was victory enough.
After our stroll, we returned to the mansion.
The whole way back, Liriet's eyes sparkled as she chattered about the day's sights.
"Uncle, how does that trick work? Fire just poured from his mouth. Was it magic?"
"Not magic. In some ways, more impressive than magic."
"Right! It was incredible. Especially the one juggling five pouches at once—his hands were so fast...!"
We'd luckily caught a circus-like show in the village.
Good call.
Juggling, fire-breathing, contortionists folding into tiny boxes.
Even shadow puppetry kids would love.
Liriet tried mimicking it—even after reaching the mansion, she squatted, fumbling her hands with grunts.
Aigoo, so cute.
"Next chance, I'll show you other performances. Look forward to it."
"Really? Thank y— Ah."
Her excited bow faltered into an "oh no" face.
The high energy vanished.
She drooped, hugging her new doll tight.
"What's wrong?"
"N-nothing."
Yeah, right.
She's thinking of her stepmother, obviously.
Today she got out thanks to me.
But no guarantee of luck next time.
Maybe not distant future—perhaps worrying about facing her the moment we return.
"Worried your mother will scold you?"
"Eh? H-how...?"
"Obvious. This uncle has eyes that see everything about his niece."
"Really!?"
How pure do you have to be to buy that?
Yet she won't believe she's pretty. Funny.
"Don't worry. I'll smooth things over with her. A short outing won't get you in trouble."
"My mother's quite strict. Will it be okay? This doll too..."
Clutching it like she'd lose it, she looked so fragile—one touch and she'd shatter.
To give her faith,
And plant a small safeguard,
I reached out and gently took the doll from her arms.
"Niece, take a look at this."
"Yes."
Hummm.
Right before her eyes, I placed my hand on the doll's belly and channeled mana.
She tilted her head curiously.
I smiled, handed it back, and patted the doll's head instead of hers.
"There. This friend will protect you in my stead."
"Huh? The doll?"
"Yes."
She probably wanted to say "just a doll."
Her dubious gaze examined it from every angle.
For a split second, maybe "Has this uncle finally lost it?"
But I wasn't mad or drunk.
"So think of this doll as me and cherish it. Got it?"
"Yes! I'll treasure it more than my life."
"No need to go that far..."
Too much love—don't know where to put myself.
But glad she loves it that much.
"Then let's head in... Hm?"
As I took her prepared hand to enter the mansion,
"Liriet."
"...Mother."
Arms crossed like she'd been waiting, a woman stood at the entrance.
We faced Liriet's stepmother—my second sister-in-law, Kasdia Argent.
"I need to speak with you. Come with me."
Her eyes swept over her own daughter with blatant displeasure, then fixed on Liriet like she was dragging off a criminal. My brow twitched.
"Understood. Uncle, sorry, but I'll go with Mother for a bit..."
But Liriet offered no resistance, following despite knowing what awaited.
Grab.
"What kind of talk is this? Something you can't say in front of me?"
I seized Liriet's retreating right hand, halting her, and shot back at Kasdia with a sneer.