Deep Sea Embers

Chapter 163 "Nilu"

Duncan quietly watched "Nilu" put in the box.

It was just a very ordinary jointed doll, and its image was in line with the "court girl" style that was popular in the city-state a century ago. It had beautiful golden curly hair and a dress full of lace. The joints of its arms were bigger than Alice's. The more obvious old-fashioned spherical structure, the face is made of ceramics, and the mouth and eyes can see the iconic seam structure of the old-fashioned doll.

In all fairness, this doll is exquisitely crafted and kept in such a well-maintained state that it's hard to believe it's been sitting in a box for a century, though it's far from being nearly life-like as Alice." "Puppet", this little guy named "Nilu" can also be described as beautiful.

100 years ago, Lucrecia bought another doll "Luni" that was paired with this little guy from this shop, and now, the "Nilu" that was left behind is quietly Lie down in the box, in front of Duncan.

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

Destiny is really a wonderful thing.

"It doesn't look like it's been around for a century," Duncan said thoughtfully. "She's just a little bit old."

"Elves have always been famous for making things durable—after all, we usually have to use them for a long time, and I can't boast of being a master in making dolls, and it should surpass many of my peers. I don't want the children I carefully crafted I can’t even accompany myself for a century or two.”

"...I understand, but this can be said to be an antique for human beings," Duncan raised his eyebrows. He quickly woke up from his emotions and realized that the well-preserved doll in front of him was not A simple item, "I don't think I can afford this."

He didn't forget that his dagger from a hundred years ago earned ordinary people's living expenses for more than a year from old Mr. Morris. The beautifully crafted and well-preserved doll in front of him... couldn't be cheaper.

"Antique? I haven't really thought about it that way," the shopkeeper smiled, with a happy expression on his chubby face, "It's not expensive, in fact, if you buy that wig and matching silver hair accessories, I can sell this doll at the cost price—the cost price of the year, 140 two sola."

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

"Maybe it's because of destiny," the shopkeeper said slowly, "Nilu has been lying quietly here for many years, and no one who is destined to take her away has never been able to take her away. This 'sister' who was left alone is actually I'm very lonely, but today there are no guests here all day, but only you, the gentleman who loves dolls, talked with me so many things, and I happened to talk about the Lu who took away 'Luni' 100 years ago Miss Cressia, I think this may be guided by fate..."

"Fate..." The corners of Duncan's mouth trembled. He usually likes to use this word to fool others, but he didn't expect that he would be fooled sometimes. Then he understood and looked at the old elf woman in front of him. The look in his eyes became weird, "So the real situation is that it can't be sold, right?"

Shopkeeper: "...It's fate."

"Because it's more or less connected with the cursed 'Ab Normar' family, so it can't be sold at all, right?"

"...It's really fate."

"Will this doll have other curses and other characteristics? For example, it will find it by itself after it is lost? Or it will go to the kitchen to find a kitchen knife while the person is sleeping..."

The old woman finally opened her eyes wide, and her voice was an octave higher: "I specially asked the priest to exorcise evil spirits! I keep all the exorcism certificates..."

Duncan chuckled, "Look, it really is because some people suspect that this doll is cursed, so it can't be sold, right?"

Old woman: "..."

"I opened an antique shop in the downtown area," Duncan exhaled, "You know the antique shops in the downtown area."

"...I don't like dealing with business people, especially you," the old woman shook her head and said with a sigh, "Well, that's the reason, Nilu hasn't been in business for a long time. If it can be sold, it will become more and more obsolete, so you can simply put it in the warehouse—if you really want it, you can take it at a discount of 75 sola, at least let me recover the cost of finding a priest to exorcise evil..."

"Deal." Duncan agreed without waiting for the other party to finish speaking.

In any case, he did have a great interest in this doll. Even if there was no evidence to prove that there was any connection between this little guy and Lucrezia, he decided to put it on the basis of the factor of "fate". Buy this doll.

This was his subconscious reaction after he suddenly learned that a pair of "sons and daughters" appeared in "myself": maybe when the brother and sister will appear, God knows what troubles will happen at that time, but now he sees I came across something related to Lucrecia—whether it's useful or not, I'll get it to my side first and then study it slowly.

In this world of extraordinary power and all kinds of weird things, such "connected" things can often play some role in occultism.

"Then 'Nilu' will be handed over to you." The old lady of the store was a little dazed at Duncan's quick response, probably regretting why she didn't report a little price just now, but she soon shook her head and put the doll in it. She pushed the box forward, but before Duncan reached out, she couldn't help but say, "You have to take good care of this child... Although it can be seen that you are a gentleman who really loves dolls, I still want to A word of caution, don't think of Nilu 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 selected, "How much do these two pieces add up to?"

"425 Sola, buy it now."

Duncan suddenly showed a toothache expression.

In Xiacheng District, this is the living expenses of a resident's whole family for two months!But in Uptown...it's only enough to buy two "accessories" for rich man's luxuries.

He was even a little shaken at this moment, wondering if he should just give up, but he quickly put away his thoughts.

This is the gift he promised to Alice (although Alice may be in a delicate mood when receiving the gift), on the other hand, considering the harvest in this doll shop today, this price does not seem unacceptable .

After comforting himself a little in his heart, Duncan let out a soft breath and prepared to pay the money obediently.

It's just that when he was paying the money, he suddenly remembered something, and couldn't help asking: "By the way, why did Lucrezia only buy Luni back then, but didn't take away the 'Nilu' who was her younger sister?" ?”

"...Do you really want to know?" The shopkeeper showed a slightly inscrutable expression when he heard it, "This matter... is another secret related to the Abu Normar family."

Duncan subconsciously moved closer: "I'm even more curious about this."

"Then you settle the bill first."

Duncan was startled, and settled the bill dumbfounded: "Can you tell me now?"

"Oh, it's really nothing," the old lady of the shop owner said casually as she collected the money, "The two children didn't bring enough money back then—Lucrezia was tearful when she left, and she said at the time that she must pay for it when she has money in the future." Take Nilu away too, but now it looks like I forgot..."

Duncan: "..."

Is it because the old lady in front of me has a strange painting style or is there something serious wrong with the elves in this world?
……

On the Lost Home, which swayed slightly with the undulating sea waves, Alice returned to the upper deck after transporting the last batch of things to the cabin, and then immediately saw the captain standing quietly near the side of the ship, who seemed to be lost in thought.

"Captain~~" The puppet lady happily moved over, "I sent everything to the cabin! The ingredients and kitchen utensils were sent to the kitchen, and other things were sent to the captain's cabin!"

"Well," Duncan came back to his senses, he breathed a sigh of relief, and then his eyes focused on Alice, "Thank you for your hard work."

"Captain...are you alright now?" Alice looked Duncan up and down, and asked hesitantly, "You suddenly looked strange before, are you really alright?"

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

In fact, his mind is still a bit confused now, his mind is full of the two names that popped up suddenly, Tirian and Lucrecia, and the possible troubles behind them, but looking at the curse that is definitely connected with the Queen of Frost Doll, his thoughts were more difficult to calm down, but in the end, he still suppressed many words.

Regardless of whether there is any connection with the Frost Queen, Alice is just a puppet who doesn't know anything. To discuss some things with her... it's better to go to that illiterate Shirley.

Anyway, Shirley has a more educated dog beside her.

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

Alice looked curiously at the place where the flame disappeared: "Is Ai going to 'delivery' again?"

"Well, there aren't many things this time," Duncan nodded slightly, and then looked at Alice with a smile, "It's a gift for you."

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

Before Miss Puppet finished speaking, a dark green flame vortex suddenly appeared in the sky above the deck next to it——Ai completed the transmission from the city-state of Purand to the Lost Country in the blink of an eye. A batch of new supplies appeared in Alice's eyes.

The puppet was immediately unable to speak the second half of the sentence.

The first thing that caught her eyes was a wig...

(End of this chapter)