The Doll Knight/Chapter 14


 * -|English= Chapter 14 - The Cost of Deceit

The next morning when Pedro opened his eyes, he found himself in his room at the doll workshop.

Safe on his familiar, firm bed, he felt a rush of relief. It had all been a dream.

Capri called out from the workshop.

'Ohhh, how are you feeling?'

Pedro craned his neck.

On the workbench in the back he glimpsed disassembled blue parts spread out across the wood.

He leaped up, panicked.

'It...wasn't a dream...'

It seemed Capri had used the Black Priest to bring Pedro and the broken form of the Blue Knight back from the castle.

'It's my fault...'

Pedro's eyes trailed over his former masterpiece, now reduced to junk.

His memory then trailed back over cool, turquoise-blue eyes, a warm smile like a ray of sunlight, and fine fingers pouring black tea.

Pedro ground his lip between his teeth.

'The Blue Knight wasn't good enough. If I had any talent as a puppeteer, I would've been able to protect Princess Tia...!'

'It seems you still don't understand,' Capri muttered.

His face took on a rare expression of severity.

'What you lack is here!'

In a forceful motion, he jabbed his finger against Pedro's chest. Pedro could only blink in shock.
 * -|Japanese= 第１４話　欺瞞の代償

翌朝、ペドロが目を醒ますと そこは人形工房の自室でした.

使い慣れた、ほどよい硬さのベッドに 夢だったのかと安堵するペドロ. 『おお、身体の調子はどうじゃ？』 工房からカプリが声をかけてきました.

奥にある工作台の上には バラバラになった青い部品が載っています. ペドロは、あわてて飛び起きました. 『夢じゃ、なかったんだ……』 どうやらカプリが《黒法師》を使って ペドロ達を王宮から運んでくれたようです.

『僕のせいだ……』 残骸と化した蒼騎士を眺めながら ペドロは乾いた口調で呟きました.

ターコイズブルーの涼しげな瞳. 陽だまりのような暖かい微笑み. 紅茶を淹れてくれた、しなやかな指先. ペドロは、ぎりりと唇を噛みしめました. 『蒼騎士じゃ駄目だったんだ. 僕に、人形師としての才能があったらティーア様を守ることができたのに……！』

『まだ、判っとらんようじゃな』 カプリは、あきれたように呟いて いつになく厳しい表情を浮かべました.

『お前に足りぬのは、ここじゃ！』 ぴしりと、ペドロの胸を指差します. ペドロは目をぱちくりさせました.