The Teddy Bear Sends the Insomniac Villain to Dreamland - Chapter 57

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Chapter 57
The Bling Bling Doll Shop was a luxury establishment catering to young nobility, offering an exquisite selection of dolls.
Display cases stretched in endless rows, brimming with everything from handcrafted dolls to enchanted ones imbued with magic.
A shop attendant standing beside Nix, who couldn’t tear her eyes away, bowed respectfully.
“Is there something particular you’re searching for?”
“…Clothing.”
“Ah, doll clothing, I see!”
The attendant’s complexion drained of color upon recognizing Blake Leblanc’s face, but she quickly composed herself.
She seemed like a remarkably professional and conscientious employee.
“Ahem, we have an extensive selection of doll garments right this way. Allow me to guide you.”
The attendant stepped backward, gesturing for Blake Leblanc to follow.
Following behind, Blake Leblanc muttered softly.
“All these sickeningly sweet aromas are overwhelming.”
“Children must be enchanted, after all. This is a place that peddles the fantasy of dolls—it’s only natural.”
Upon arriving at the destination, Blake Leblanc found himself before an enormous clothing rack laden with countless miniature garments.
“These are dresses, and those over there are everyday wear. Might I inquire about the gender of this lovely doll?”
“Female.”
“Oh my! A female bear doll, then. Would you mind if I examined her? I’d like to take measurements for proper sizing.”
Blake Leblanc, feeling burdened by the attendant’s earnest dedication, simply nodded with an already weary expression before collapsing onto a sofa.
The pink velvet sofa seemed utterly incongruous with Blake Leblanc’s presence.
Meanwhile, I found myself being turned this way and that in the attendant’s hands, gazing alternately at the ceiling and sky.
“Hmm, let’s see. The head is slightly larger than other dolls, and the belly is quite plump!”
…I know.
“The legs are also chubby… and the color is yellowish!”
I’m aware of that already!
The attendant, who had been observing quietly, broke into a broad smile.
“What an adorable bear doll. With that slightly muted yellow fur, navy or purple tones would suit her beautifully.”
Blake Leblanc, seated on the sofa, nodded awkwardly.
“Which would you prefer? Would a dress be better, or everyday clothing?”
“…She’s attending a banquet.”
“Ah! For a banquet theme, a dress would be perfect!”
Blake Leblanc nodded again.
It was amusing to see this man, who didn’t bat an eye at handling Demon Beasts, meekly nodding along as if deferring all decisions to others here.
While I did my utmost to suppress my laughter, Nix, having finished her browsing, scurried over to my side.
Blake Leblanc, apparently seizing the opportunity, pointed to Nix and said:
“Let this young lady help us choose as well.”
An hour later.
Blake Leblanc’s hands were laden with shopping bags stuffed full of doll clothing.
Observing the bags, packed so tightly they seemed ready to burst, Nix murmured:
“I think we may have purchased rather too much.”
Nestled inside Nix’s yellow bag with only my head poking out, I nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, it does seem that way.”
After climbing into the carriage and handing all the packages to the coachman, I finally unleashed the complaints I’d been holding back since we left the shop.
“Blake Leblanc! Buying clothes is one thing, but why did you buy so many?”
The carriage lurched forward with a clatter. Blake Leblanc replied in an unbothered tone.
“You said they were necessary.”
“They are necessary, but… I only needed them for the banquet.”
“I know. As you said, I have more money than I need.”
“I have plenty of money too. That doesn’t mean I spend it recklessly on everything. That was excessive.”
“I don’t really see it that way.”
“Huh?”
Blake Leblanc took me from Nix and settled me on his lap, continuing his thought.
“Everything looked good on you earlier. The purple, the navy—all of it suited you perfectly. Since it was difficult to choose, buying everything was the rational decision. A sensible purchase.”
“…Rational?”
I heard Nix mutter something skeptical, but Blake Leblanc pretended not to notice.
“That shop attendant had quite a good eye.”
A good eye for spotting suckers, more like.
I didn’t say that out loud. Besides, he’d bought me clothes, so gratitude was warranted.
“Anyway, Blake Leblanc, from now on, go shopping with me.”
“Why.”
Did he really not understand?
The memory of him being sweet-talked by the attendant at the Bling Bling Doll Shop was still vivid.
He’d been sitting quietly on the sofa, but at some point, he started standing beside me and chiming in with comments.
‘This color is so vibrant, it suits you wonderfully. The bear doll’s face looks so shiny and bright.’
‘And the hat next to it too.’
‘Oh my, this hat is brand new. You certainly have excellent taste!’
‘Do you have a necklace that would match a navy dress?’
‘Of course!’
Blake Leblanc’s shopping frenzy only ended when Nix, noticing we’d accumulated four shopping bags, nervously tried to stop him.
Who would have known? Blake Leblanc was a shopping addict.
“Just… whenever you need to buy something, do it with me.”
“Fine.”
Back at the Leblanc Mansion, Ronald greeted us and introduced the carriage he’d prepared for the banquet.
It was jet-black with an equally dark horse, and a silver wolf was painted across the middle of the carriage.
When I praised it as truly magnificent, Ronald’s pride swelled and he continued boasting.
“This carriage was actually prepared long ago, but I never thought the day would come to use it like this. It was specially made to be used only for trips to the Royal Palace banquets.”
Watching him take such care with a carriage for the Imperial Court after so long, I nudged Blake Leblanc’s shoulder and whispered.
“Make sure to praise the mustachioed butler often.”
His eyes answered without words—he understood.
Just then, a Gardener passing through the entrance spotted us and hesitantly approached.
In his hand, he held an armful of grapefruit-hued roses he’d recently harvested while absorbed in gardening.
“Um, Young Master.”
When his sharply honed gaze turned swiftly toward the Gardener, the man flinched, his shoulders trembling.
Yet admirably, he stepped forward once more and thrust the roses he’d been holding toward Blake.
“Th-the flowers have bloomed beautifully! I picked them myself for you, Young Master.”
Blake’s eyes blinked slowly—he had never imagined receiving flowers from a man, much less from the Mansion’s Gardener.
From the roses he’d accepted almost reflexively, a sweet and subtle fragrance wafted forth.
The Gardener continued speaking rapidly.
“Thanks to you allowing me to tend the Garden, I’ve been able to continue doing work I love. Thank you! I’ll keep it beautiful going forward!”
“…Yes, of course.”
“Then please enjoy the Banquet Hall!”
With that, he turned and departed with a joyful expression.
So he must have been cautiously approaching from the Garden earlier, waiting for the right moment to give me these.
I waved my hand toward the departing Gardener with a satisfied smile.
Of course, I made sure to wave quickly so he wouldn’t notice.
“Blake, the flowers are absolutely stunning! It seems we made the right choice cultivating the Garden.”
“…Yes.”
Holding roses in one hand and the bear doll—myself—in the other, Blake stood there bewildered for quite some time.
Chirp, chirp. Chirp, chirp.
On the day when cicadas began their song.
The Leblanc Mansion too was finally welcoming summer, with flowers in full bloom.
***
And finally, the day of the banquet arrived.
The western wing of the Royal Palace, where the banquet was to be held, bustled with activity from early morning.
Since it was a banquet at the Royal Palace after such a long time, it appeared that not only noble families from the Capital but also those from the remote territories had come in great numbers.
“What an enormous scale. They said it was a birthday banquet for Prince Ian, but this seems to be something quite different.”
“Ophelia said that this would be the auspicious occasion of welcoming another leader of the Empire.”
“I heard His Majesty the Emperor devoted great care to the preparations?”
The Banquet Hall was already in a state of commotion.
Edwin sat at the seat of honor, smiling as he gazed down at the Banquet Hall.
People speculated about what might be in his heart, but it was impossible to discern Edwin’s true feelings from a face that never changed expression.
As time passed, a resonant voice rang out among the people exchanging greetings to the elegant waltz beneath the chandelier.
“Presenting His Highness Prince Ian Serres Cardenas and Lady Lea Everett, daughter of Count Everett!”
Everyone stopped what they were doing at the Prince’s entrance.
Under the cascade of gazes, Lea opened her fan to cover her mouth and laughed.
“Your Highness, I wish you a happy birthday. I am from the Marquis House of Rominos….”
“Good evening to you.”
Ian offered a formal smile and delivered his prepared response.
It was an endless succession of uncomfortable and tedious moments. Lea beside him was barely suppressing a yawn that threatened to escape.
“Lord Blake Leblanc and… uh…, *cough*.”
The Doorkeeper, who had been introducing the arriving guests at the entrance, faltered.
The Doorkeeper, who had stumbled over his words and even let out a cough, finally managed to speak after a long pause, and what he said was nothing short of shocking.
“A, a bear doll is entering!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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