The Doll and The Prince - v3 Chapter 35, v3 Chapter 36, v3 Chapter 37

Rikimaru (4)
Maybe the way goods were bought and sold is different between the Empire and the Royal Kingdom. Perhaps they don't even use the word "shopping."
I pondered this while watching Naruhito arranging puzzles, but then I wonder, how do they live without it?
I headed straight to Sai’s room.
When in doubt, it's best to ask.
Naruhito came along, carried in my arms. He was told not to go down the stairs alone, so he obediently let me carry them.
I set him down before knocking on the door.
Naruhito walked in cheerfully. Sai was sitting on the sofa, while Hirosue placed a pudding on the table.

"Sorry for barging in without notice."

When I apologized,

"No, it's fine. I'm glad you came while I was awake."

Sai responded. Was he always this soft-spoken?

"Perfect timing. I'll bring Naru-boy's snack too. You can eat together here."
"Me too."

I hurriedly raised my hand and ordered my share. Hirosue smirked.

"Did we have your share too, Lord Rikimaru? Did you mention you’d come today?"
"… I didn't say today, but I come almost every day. You should keep some for me. Actually, I want to live here, but the Demon King won't give permission!"
"Alright, alright. Just wait."

Sai listened to our conversation with a slight smile. His posture on the sofa was very good; he seemed to be recovering well. Dr. Ikumatsu, sitting beside him, watched attentively. He began eating the pudding with a spoon in his left hand, leaving the bowl on the table. Wasn't he right-handed?

He tried to use his right hand to steady the bowl but struggled, his hand shaking. It seemed his right hand wasn't working well. He did have brain surgery, so I guess there are various issues.

"Sai, do you like pudding?"
"Yes. It's my first time eating it, but it's sweet and delicious."
"I see. Is there not much sweet stuff in the Empire?"
"… The war made us lose many things. Sweet things were a luxury. The common people struggled just to find food to survive each day."
"I see… So, are there stores? Can you shop?"
"Well, toward the end, everything, including food, was confiscated by the military. Stores had nothing to sell, so it was all rationed."
"Rationed?"
"Yes. The state managed everything and distributed it. Everyone had to give up their possessions to the state, and the military would distribute the leftovers to the people. Food, clothes, everything. That was the official stance."
"So, Naruhito has never shopped? Because the stores weren't open?"
"No, relying solely on rations would lead to starvation, so there were black markets where people secretly traded goods. But as for Naruhito…"
"He doesn’t seem to understand the idea of 'buying' things.”

Sai closed his eyes in thought.

"Lord Rikimaru, what do you think of when you hear the word 'Combat Doll'?"

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Rikimaru (5)
“Insult to use against Naruhito.”

When I think of Combat Dolls, that's all that comes to mind.
Sai’s mouth curled into a slight smile, amused.
Hirosue came in, placing a pudding without caramel in front of Naruhito and a larger one in front of me.
So they did have mine!

"Thanks, Hirosue!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Thank you."
"Sure."

As we eagerly began eating, Sai turned to Dr. Ikumatsu.

"Dr. Ikumatsu, what comes to mind when you hear 'Combat Doll'?"
"A terrifying weapon."

Huh? I looked at Dr. Ikumatsu.

"That's my understanding too. Among guns, tanks, and similar things, it’s the most formidable weapon."
"......"
"And Naruhito was that very Combat Doll."
"I witnessed how terrifying Combat Dolls were on the battlefield. Many people were killed by this weapon. When His Highness brought back a broken Combat Doll and started treating it, everyone was simply terrified. Being of low rank and forced to take care of it, I touched it trembling with fear. It was utterly terrifying."

Dr. Ikumatsu spoke matter-of-factly.
I looked at the Naruhito, who was eating the pudding little by little, almost licking it.

"I'm sorry."

Naruhito said. The pudding that was not scooped properly fell back into the dish. Soft, very soft pudding. For Naruhito, who was clumsy with the spoon, it was difficult to scoop up.
He had no hand to lift the dish closer to his mouth.

A broken Combat Doll.
Was that perhaps referring to the injured Naruhito?

“Being able to use weapons that don’t use much fuel is much more efficient. Hence, a small body that moves with minimal fuel. Time is of the essence in war, so they were probably chosen because they could be replenished quickly. Adjusted to exert power despite their size, trained for quick movements. Made obedient, with minimal education to endure the battlefield, equipped with devices for receiving orders, and body hair and fluid secretion minimized for easy maintenance."
"That's enough!"

I shouted without thinking.
That's enough.
I understand. I get it.

"Combat Dolls don't shop. They don't play. They don't sleep in beds."

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Rikimaru (6)
I covered my ears. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it.
Naruhito turned towards me and said something. Reluctantly, I removed my hands from my ears.

"Rikimaru. I sleep in a bed."

The one open eye squinted, forming a smile.
Why did Sai and Dr. Ikumatsu teach me this in front of Naruhito?
Hirosue stood there in a daze.

"You sleep in a bed?"

When I spoke, tears started to flow. Embarrassing.

"I play with Rikimaru."

Is he trying to say he's doing things Combat Dolls don't do?

"I'm sorry."

I don't understand what he's apologizing for. Isn't he just raised—or rather, made—that way? No, I hate thinking like that. Sai leaned back heavily on the sofa, looking exhausted. The half-eaten pudding was now a marbled mix with caramel.

"I should apologize. For being powerless to stop the war. I'm sorry. Truly, I'm sorry."

What could a lowly official like Sai have done?
Wasn't he brought back by His Highness because he was handling all the procedures to end the war? I don't get it.

"If only someone would harshly condemn me. Why, why do you try to keep me alive so kindly?"

Sai covered his face with his left hand. His trembling voice spoke.

"I'm willing to bear the Empire's sins and die."
"Th-that's cowardly."

Hirosue's voice echoed in the room.

"Dying is an escape. Murakano's dad died in the war, and her mom left because of it as well. It was tough, but even if I found my dad's killer, them dying wouldn't change anything. It's better if they lived, worked, and paid reparations. That would be much more helpful."
"Hirosue..."
"Call me greedy if you want. You can't do anything once you're dead. Living is tough, but dying to escape it is wrong. If you've committed sins and regret them, you have to live all the more."

Hirosue paused to take a deep breath.

"You can only atone by living!"

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