The clown's shuffled voice drew people's attention to the dolls on the high platform. The clown flashed up a black-haired male doll wearing a crown and cloak.
"The king didn't truly want to be king. He was neither wise nor brave, and he knew that better than anyone else. However, things in the world did not go the way he wanted, and in the end, the king ruled the country."
The children whispered to me that they wanted to be the most precious and wealthy person in a country, so why didn't he like that? Even though it was fake, the shiny crown and the luxurious fur cape looked cool.
'Everyone likes power.'
I looked at him with a bitter expression. The reality was that few people knew that power came with obligations.
The story of the clown continued.
"The king loved a woman. He believed that only that woman would give him a 'mediocrity' that the king couldn't have even if he worked hard for a lifetime. However, he could not bring a woman from a commoner, so the king tricked her into being a maid and brought her to the castle."
Suddenly, I rubbed my forearm, feeling a chill. Didn't Meinhardt say that spring arrived early? Even though I was in the North, it seemed like the wind was cold.
"However, the king already had a queen whom he had agreed to marry."
The clown lifted the doll with ribbons and lace hanging in his opposite hand.
"The queen had no desire to give up her place to the maid. So she was just thinking of getting rid of the maid. But how could a queen get rid of the woman he loved? All she could do was to avoid the king's eyes and torment the maid."
There was nothing she could do. She didn't want to be a queen because she loved the king, did she? But she was jealous of love.
Wait, was there such a thing as a government system in this novel as well? There are a lot of romance fantasy novels like that these days. If you make her a mistress or a concubine, you won't lose your position as queen.
Was it because the clown's acting was too realistic? Somehow, it felt like something that actually happened. I rubbed the goosebumps on my forearms and watched the clown's haunting performance. I was amazed at how such a small body could imitate so many people's voices.
"Is it just a drama?" While watching the puppet show, I muttered. The content was familiar and nothing special.
Later, the queen lied to the king because she couldn't bully the maid, causing a misunderstanding between the two, and she was insulted that the maid's child was not the king's child, and she was tragically expelled with the child and died. However, the newborn baby, who almost died with his mother in a cold alleyway, was accidentally found by a commoner and sent to the imperial palace. The baby's face looked very much like the king's.
"The king realized that he had been deceived by the queen and brought another woman to drive the wicked queen away. This time, not commoners, but nobles. But even the noblewoman, whom the king had only intended to use, was murdered as miserably as his first commoner wife."
I don't often watch dramas, but I don't know why it feels so familiar. Is it a common story? No, it wasn't. It's too stimulating. It's like a story that someone made up...
...One minute. A story made up with a plan?
"The noblewoman gave birth to a daughter, but she hid it. It was because he saw the woman's son, who had been cast out as a maid, living a miserable life. If I couldn't beat the queen anyway, I wanted to at least give my child freedom..."
Oh, boy. It was then that I realized what this story meant, and the reason for this eerie atmosphere the whole time. This story, which someone had made up and had made up, was something I had heard before... For others, it was more than just a story.
Why didn't I know? It was about the person next to me.
"Your Highness."
Kyle was standing tall watching the puppet show. There was no movement in his expression, which felt cold. That was the life of Kyle Jane Meinhardt. Kyle was born to a helpless mother who was loved but abandoned due to misunderstanding, and grew up miserable and wretched. The more he grew, the more he looked like he was of no doubt about his lineage, but that didn't save Kyle. It was the story of how Kyle had no choice but to leave everything behind and leave as if he were being chased into a frigid land. What someone made easily, someone had to go through it for the rest of their lives.
"...Your Highness."
My call didn't seem to reach him. I lowered my eyes and looked at his hands. Kyle clenched his fists. The white bones and the bluish veins seemed to tremble. It would be unpleasant and insulting. That your life and that miserable time will be turned into someone else's story... It would be tantamount to throwing all the moments you worked so hard into the realm of fantasy.
Instead of calling his name again, I reached out and clenched his trembling fist lightly. His hands were cold because the blood could not flow properly.
"Shu."
After a while, he noticed my presence and looked down at me, breathing slowly. His voice leaked out low as if he was gritting his teeth.
"You don't have to say it's okay."
After interrupting him to say something, I laughed.
"Shall we go for a change of mood?"
"..."
"Let's live with the food that His Highness likes, not the food I like. There are many markets, so there are many kinds of food. Or do you want to buy something?"
I trembled nervously and pulled at his arm. I didn't get one or two, so I didn't even have to wipe my mouth. He doesn't even look good, but that's about it.
"If you want something, let me know. I'll buy you everything."
Kyle's voice softened slightly as I spoke confidently.
"What kind of money do you have?"
I proudly took out a heavy pocket.
"Why are you doing this? I have a lot of money, right? A certain duke gave me a lot of pocket money."
Kyle frowned and looked at the pouch I had held.
"You spent very little money."
It's not a joke. Do you know how much money you spent just by seeing how you were holding it?
"I wouldn't have come by horse-drawn carriage, and even if I had rented a horse, I would have needed a lot of money."
"I got it!" I quickly made an excuse.
"I met good people, saved money, and talked to them so that I wouldn't feel lonely. It's precious money, but you have to spend it sparingly."
Don't try to know too much. People can come to a few days in one day without spending a penny.
"It's precious money, can I spend it?" I casually asked.
"Why do you spare money for His Highness Kyle?"
I'm not conscientious enough to be mean to the person who gave me money, man. As if not to pry any more, I quickly grabbed his hand and led him through the busy shop.
"We don't have much time left, but let's talk while watching. Wow, look over there. Is it a headdress? It's shiny. That one is a cloth seller, and that one is a blacksmith... The street over there looks similar to the North. Are all places where people live similar?"
Well, Hongdae, Itaewon, Apgujeong, all foreigners would think that's what it is. Before I knew it, he was walking side by side with me. Sometimes, when I pointed my finger at the stall or touched something, he would shake his head or add a few words.
I insisted that it was okay and put a small stuffed hamster in his hand.
"You like hamsters. Now, leave it by your bedside and pet it once in a while when you're depressed."
"I'm not a hamster, I like Cashew."
"Cashews are hamsters."
"It's different. Cashew nuts are magical beasts."
He said stubbornly. At the same time, he put a hamster doll the size of his palm in his pocket. Your words and actions don't match.
"Cashews are special."
The words sounded so serious that I suddenly stopped and looked up at him. He seemed to think so. Cashew nuts are different from other demons. I like Cashews because they're Cashews.
'...Oh, I laughed.'
Kyle's face became quite soft, and there was a gentle and warm atmosphere, as if spring had fallen on him. I looked up at him with a fascinated expression. It's a foul to laugh like that.
"Sometimes, when I see him, he looks like a human..."
"Let's go! We don't have much time left!"
I quickly grabbed his hand.
"What else is there? If I give you just one souvenir, I won't buy it. Do you have any accessories? That's what Your Highness bought for me... Ah, the Lucky Magic Bracelet or something. Won't it sell?"
Kyle pointed into the air.
"Did you find it? It's over there."
"Yes?"
What's there? I jerked my head away. There really was, bracelets. It was a simple piece of blue jewelry attached to a leather strap, and it looked very similar to the one Kyle gave me. These days, I also sell germanium bracelets at the branch.
Even this was the same.
"...Can I buy you this?"
I lifted my bracelet slightly, and Kyle frowned.
"Why do you buy something that is of no use?"
"I don't know. It may release magic that is good for the body."
The white-haired man who was standing next to him looking at the jewel said in a joyful voice.
"It really has magical power."
His voice was sweet and somewhat chilling. Is it a wizard? It looked like he could tell if he really had magical power.
"It doesn't have anything to do with me, so what?"
I put the bracelet lightly on Kyle's arm.
"I don't know how many people you have, just have one as a talisman. It's similar to my bracelet, isn't it?"
"The only thing similar is jewelry..."
Of course, overall, my bracelet seemed more expensive. After all! You can't guess that right now.
"It's okay because it's similar to a jewel. It looks like a set. What do you think?"
Is it too poetic to be put away? But I don't know what else to buy.
"You may fall for the trick."
"Just for today, on a whim."
"Good."
A faint smile appeared on Kyle's face.
"I'll do this." He looked down at the bracelet for a long time, as if he liked it very much.