Chapter 162 "Niru"

Duncan quietly gazed at "Niru," placed inside the box.

It was just a very ordinary ball-jointed doll, its appearance conforming to the "court maiden" style that was popular in the city-states a century ago. It had beautiful golden curly hair and a lace-covered dress. Its arm joints had the old-fashioned spherical structure that was even more obvious than Alice's, and its face was made of porcelain, with the signature seams of old dolls visible at the mouth and eyes.

Frankly speaking, the doll was exquisitely made and had been preserved and maintained very well. It was hard to believe that it had been lying in the box for a century. Although it was far from being comparable to Alice's "doll," which was almost like a real person, this little one named "Niru" could be described as pretty.

A hundred years ago, Lucretia had bought another doll, "Runi," that was a pair with this little one from this shop. And now, "Niru," who had been left behind, was quietly lying in the box, lying in front of Duncan.

And Duncan himself had only casually walked into this shop today. His initial purpose was just to force... to buy Alice a wig, and by the way, to inquire about the maintenance and care of dolls.

Fate is truly a wonderful thing.

"This doesn't look like it's been preserved for a century," Duncan said thoughtfully. "It's only a little old."

"Elves have always been known for making things that are durable—after all, we usually use them for a very, very long time. And I dare not boast that my doll-making skills are those of a master, but they should exceed many of my peers. I don't want the children I meticulously create to be unable to accompany me for even a century or two."

"...I understand, but for humans, this can be considered an antique," Duncan raised his eyebrows. He quickly woke up from his emotion and realized that the well-preserved doll in front of him was not a simple commodity. "I don't think I can afford this."

He had not forgotten that a hundred-year-old dagger had earned him more than a year's living expenses from old Mr. Morris. This exquisitely made and well-preserved doll in front of him... couldn't be cheap. "Antique? I haven't really thought of it that way," the shop owner smiled, a happy expression on her chubby face. "Selling at cost—the cost price from back then, one hundred and forty-two Solas."

This time it was Duncan's turn to be surprised: "Why?"

"Maybe it's just fate," the shop owner said slowly. "Niru has been lying here quietly for many years, and there has never been a destined owner to take her away. This 'sister' who was left alone is actually very lonely. And today, there haven't been many customers all day, but only you, sir, who loves dolls, has talked to me about so many things, and you happened to mention that Miss Lucretia who took Runi away' a hundred years ago. I think there may be guidance from fate..."

"Fate..." Duncan's mouth twitched. He usually liked to use this word to fool others, but he didn't expect to be fooled himself. Then he realized and looked at the old elven woman in front of him with a strange look. "So the real situation is that you can't sell it, right?"

Shop owner: "...It's fate."

"Because it's more or less related to that cursed Abnomar family, so you can't sell it at all, right?"

"...It really is fate."

"Does this doll have any other cursed characteristics? Like, will it come back on its own after you throw it away? Or will it go to the kitchen to find a kitchen knife while people are sleeping..."

The old woman finally widened her eyes, her voice raised by eight degrees: "I specifically found a priest to exorcise it! I still have the exorcism certificate..."

Duncan chuckled: "See, it really is because someone suspects that this doll is cursed, so you can't sell it, right?"

Old woman: "..."

"I opened an antique shop in the lower district," Duncan took a breath, "an antique shop in the lower district, you know."

"I just don't like dealing with business people, especially someone like you," the old woman shook her head and sighed. "Okay, that's really the reason. Niru couldn't be sold for a long time, and then it got older and older, so I simply put it in storage—if you really want it, take it away at a discounted price of seventy-five Solas, at least let me recover the cost of finding a priest to exorcise it back then..."

"Deal." Duncan agreed before the other party finished speaking.

In any case, he was indeed very interested in this doll. Even if there was no evidence to prove that there was any connection between this little one and Lucretia, he decided to buy this doll just because of the "fate" factor.

This was his subconscious reaction after suddenly learning that "he" had a pair of "children": maybe those two siblings would pop up someday, and who knew what trouble would happen at that time. And now he had seen something related to Lucretia—regardless of whether it was useful or not, he would get it first and then slowly study it.

In this world where supernatural powers and various strange things existed, things with this kind of "connection" could often play a role in mysticism.

"Then 'Niru' is entrusted to you," the old shopkeeper was a little dazed by Duncan's quick response, probably regretting why she hadn't reported a higher price just now, but she quickly shook her head and pushed the box containing the doll forward. However, before Duncan reached out, she couldn't help but open her mouth, "You have to take good care of this child... Although I can see that you are a gentleman who truly loves dolls, I still want to remind you, don't regard Niru as a cheap commodity."

"Of course," Duncan took the wooden box, closed the lid, and then looked at the wig and hair accessories he had just picked out, "How much are these two items together?"

"425 Solas, one price." Duncan immediately showed a somewhat pained expression.

In the lower district, this was the living expenses of a family for two months! But in the upper district... it was only enough to buy two "accessories" for a rich person's luxury goods.

He even hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should just not buy them, but he quickly put away this stinginess.

This was a gift he had promised Alice (although Alice's mood might be a little subtle when she received the gift).

On the other hand, considering what he had gained in this doll shop today, this price seemed not unacceptable.

After comforting himself a little in his heart, Duncan took a light breath and prepared to pay obediently.

But when paying, he suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but ask, "By the way, why did Lucretia only buy Runi back then, but not take 'Niru,' the younger sister?"

"...Do you really want to know?" The shop owner showed a slightly profound expression when she heard this. "This matter... is another secret related to the Abnomar family."

Duncan leaned closer subconsciously: "That makes me even more curious."

"Then please settle the bill first."

Duncan was stunned and paid the bill with a wry smile: "Can you tell me now?"

"Oh, it's nothing, really," the old shopkeeper said casually while collecting the money. "The two children didn't bring enough money back then—Lucretia left with tears in her eyes, and at the time, she also said that she would definitely take Niru away when she had money in the future, but now it looks like she forgot..."

Duncan: "..."

Was it because the old woman in front of him had a strange style, or was there something wrong with the elves in this world?

On the *Vanished*, which swayed slightly with the waves of the sea, Alice returned to the upper deck after transporting the last batch of things to the cabin, and then saw the captain standing quietly near the ship's rail, seemingly lost in thought.

"Captain~" the doll lady approached happily, "I've sent everything to the cabin! The ingredients and kitchen utensils have been sent to the kitchen, and the other things have been sent to the captain's room!"

"Yeah," Duncan came back to his senses. He took a light breath, and his gaze focused on Alice. "Thank you for your hard work."

"Captain, are you okay now?" Alice looked Duncan up and down, hesitating and asking, "Your face suddenly became very strange before, are you really okay?"

Duncan shook his head: "Don't worry, it's a small problem."

His mood was actually still a little confused now, his mind was full of the names Tirian and Lucretia, which had suddenly popped up, and the possible troubles behind them. And looking at the cursed doll in front of him, which definitely had a connection with the Frost Queen, it was even more difficult for him to calm down, but in the end, he still suppressed many words.

Regardless of whether there was a connection with the Frost Queen or not, Alice was just a doll who didn't know anything. It was better to discuss some things with Sherry, the illiterate, than with her.

At least there was a more cultured dog by Sherry's side.

He turned his head and looked at the pigeon staying on the deck. The latter's figure flickered in the air, and then disappeared into the sky above the deck in a burst of fire.

Alice looked curiously at the place where the ball of fire disappeared: "Did A-Yi go to 'deliver goods' again?"

"Yeah, there aren't many things this time," Duncan nodded lightly, then looked at Alice with a smile, "A-Yi brought you a gift."

Alice's eyes lit up: "A gift? Really a gift for me?! Captain, you really..."

Before the doll lady could finish her sentence, a vortex of faint green flames suddenly appeared in the air above the deck next to her—A-Yi completed the teleportation from the Pland city-state to the *Vanished* in the blink of an eye, and a new batch of supplies appeared in Alice's eyes amidst the rising flames.

The second half of the doll's sentence suddenly became unspeakable. The first thing that came into her eyes was a wig.