X
Wouldn’t it be convenient if she had a limb that could copy her appearance?
If she could, she might gain many advantages in living a double life.
Lucy, who was tempted by that fact, asked the priest for the girl’s ownership.
Since all the children protected by the temple were orphans, there shouldn’t be any major problems with the process.
Furthermore, she thought that life in the palace would be better for the girl who couldn’t even eat properly.
On the other hand, the priest didn’t seem too pleased.
Although he was smiling awkwardly, his stiff face clearly showed his intention to refuse.
“This child has never received a proper education.
She is too lacking to be by Lucy’s side.”
He expressed his refusal in the most polite manner possible so as not to hurt Lucy’s feelings.
However, if he was going to change his mind because of that one word, he wouldn’t have brought it up in the first place.
Lucy began to negotiate while resting her chin on the terrace.
“If it’s money, I’ll pay according to the ransom.”
The financial issue could be resolved by the royal family.
Even if you only look at the jewels that were given as luxuries, the price of one child was a joke.
However, the important thing was not the money, as the priest still had an unpleasant expression on his face.
“How could I dare accept money from the princess?
It’s just that this child is not suitable for the princess.
If you need a servant, we can send you a well-educated child.”
He stroked his thick beard and tried to persuade her somehow.
Lucy felt puzzled by his desperate appearance.
It would be understandable if he was a key member of the temple, but it was strange that he would not give up an orphan that he was temporarily protecting.
Furthermore, considering the current situation of the temple, there was no reason not to send him to the palace, so his intentions deepened.
“I think we can do the education ourselves.”
“But I might still be rude, haha…”
Lucy said it was okay, and the priest was sweating profusely as he tried to stop her.
The red-haired girl between them looked back and forth between the two with bewildered eyes.
‘It won’t be easy.’
I thought she would just hand it over, but the result was the opposite.
If I used my authority as the princess here, I could easily transfer the rights, but then I would be no different from a tyrant.
‘There’s no need to go that far… There’s no guarantee that she can imitate me.’
Lucy, who soon gave up, let out a deep sigh along with the words ‘I understand.’
A look of regret clearly appeared on her face.
A slightly sly look.
The priest’s face hardened in an instant at that sight, an expression of nervousness as if she had offended him.
At that moment, a believer who couldn’t stand to watch quietly began to whisper in the priest’s ear.
…….
The priest nodded once after hearing the advice of the believer and changed his opinion.
“After thinking about it, I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to leave this child in the palace.
If you wish, I can give this child to you as your maid.”
“Really?”
“Of course, but I have some advice for you about living here, so please give me a little time to educate this child.”
“Go ahead.”
For some reason, the priest changed his mind and handed the child over.
Then, he said he had something to educate separately and disappeared with the girl for a while.
A few minutes had passed since then.
After finishing all the necessary education, the priest brought the girl back to Lucy.
“Introduce yourself.”
When the priest gestured, the girl who had been shyly standing behind her gently lifted the hem of her skirt and politely said,
“My name is Perry. Thank you for taking me in.”
She was around the same age as Lucy.
Her characteristics were red hair and red eyes, and her transparent skin.
“Please take care of me, and thank you, priest.”
“No way, it’s already this late, so we’ll head back now. Please take good care of Perry.”
“Please take care of Perry.”
The priest walked away from the congregation.
Perry and Lucy were the only ones left on the terrace.
In the meantime, Rubia, who had finished her business, was returning from the imperial side.
“You’ve been waiting for a long time… Who is that child?”
Rubia tilted her head at Perry, who was standing alone and embarrassed.
Lucy briefly explained what had just happened.
At first, Rubia was having a headache, but soon she silently agreed with Lucy’s lie that she needed a friend.
‘Our princess, you must have been lonely because you didn’t have any friends…’
When it was dinnertime, Rubia, who had taken Perry with her to finish the necessary formalities, returned to the room.
Perry, who had returned with her, had changed his appearance quite a bit.
He had changed into a maid’s outfit, and his disheveled hair was neatly tied up in a bun.
Perhaps because he was not used to such an outfit, he was carefully examining the hem of his skirt.
“The formalities are finished. You will need to be gradually educated on palace etiquette, but you won’t have any difficulties in your daily life right away.”
“Yes, thank you for your hard work. Then, can you step aside for a moment? I’m going to take some time to introduce myself.”
“Yes~ Then have a good time.”
Why is it worth it?
Rubia, who had been smiling, leaves with a refreshing smile.
That’s how only Lucy and Perry were left in the room.
“Hello.”
“… Yes, Princess.”
Perry’s reaction was extremely stiff.
His gaze was lowered, and his voice was stiff as if he was talking to a wall.
In a way, it was a natural reaction.
If you brought an ordinary child in front of a princess of a country overnight, ten out of ten would have the same reaction.
In this case, it helps to build a smooth relationship if the superior approaches first.
Lucy sat down lightly on the bed.
Perry lowered his gaze in case they made eye contact.
“You don’t have to be so stiff, I’m not authoritarian.”
“You have the ability to imitate others, right?”
“?”
Perry’s eyes, which had been closed the whole time, shook violently, and his face, which slowly raised its head, had the words ‘How did you know that?’ written on it.
Perhaps because it was a rare ability, he seemed to have kept it a secret.
“How did you…?”
“I met someone similar to you before, but you kept your ability a secret?”
“… Yes, the director said that mutants can easily be subject to vivisection if not careful….”
Perry’s face gradually darkened after his identity was revealed, and then he began to earnestly beg with his hands clasped together with a half-sobbing face.
“Please, Princess! Please keep it a secret!”
“Yes.”
“Huh?”
Perry’s eyes widened at Lucy’s easy acceptance of his request.
“I took you in because of your ability; I never intended to tell anyone in the first place.”
“Thank you, huh…”
“Then, will you show me your ability?”
“Right now?”
“No, no?”
“No, but in what form?”
“Of course, in my form.”
“… Yes, I understand.”
Perry, who had no other choice, nodded without saying anything.
After looking around a few times, he observed Lucy closely with his round eyes.
Perry’s eyes, seen up close, were a two-toned mix of orange and red.
After finishing the scan, he slightly distanced himself from Lucy and quietly murmured,
“Original Skill. Duplicate.”
With a short chant, Perry’s body turned red, and as the sloppy liquid flowed out from various parts of his body, his body began to change little by little.
As if he were making clay crafts with squishy jelly, his form gradually became exactly like Lucy’s.
Ash-colored hair.
Cat-like eyes.
And even a pure white dress.
Soon, as if he was looking at a mirror, he transformed into his own exact appearance.
“It’s like this.”
“It’s perfect, even his voice is the same.”
“Um… but why does the princess need that ability?”
His face was slightly anxious.
From her perspective, she couldn’t fathom why someone as big as the princess of a country would need her.
Lucy, who noticed her anxious expression, decided to reassure her and tell her the truth.
“Actually…..”
A request to pretend to be him while he was out without permission.
Perry was startled when he heard this and waved his hands.
“It’s impossible! How can I act like the princess!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll only ask you to act when I’m alone most of the time, and if there’s any problem, you can just say it was my order.”
“Still…”
Perry couldn’t shake off his anxious expression.
In times like this, offering a sweet reward is the best.
‘If that doesn’t work, I’ll have to brainwash you… but no matter what, I don’t like doing that to a child.’
“Then let’s do this. If you cooperate with me, I’ll give you what you want as a reward.”
“What do you want…?”
Perry’s sharp eyes narrowed at the words that he’d grant her what she wanted.
It seemed like she wanted something else.
Perry fidgeted.
He hesitated for a moment, wiggling his fingers, before finally opening his mouth with difficulty.
“There’s someone I want to meet.”
“Someone you want to meet?”
“It’s my younger sibling that I lost a long time ago…”
“My younger sibling… Do you know where he is?”
“If it’s the house we lived in together before we lost him, I know.”
“Then let’s go right now.”
“Yes?”
Lucy took out a robe from her inventory and put it on, then prepared to go out.
Perry was dumbfounded at the sudden mention of going to see his younger brother.
What was even more embarrassing was the route Lucy was taking to go out.
Clank-!
Lucy confidently opened the window.
“Umm… This is the 7th floor?”
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Tftc!