Duncan quietly stared at "Nelu" placed in the box.
It was just a very ordinary jointed doll. The image was very consistent with the "palace girl" painting style that was popular in the city-state a century ago. It had beautiful golden curly hair and a dress covered with lace. Its arm joints were better than Alice's.
The old-fashioned spherical structure is more obvious, and the face is made of ceramic. The iconic seam structure of the old-fashioned doll can be seen in the mouth and eyes.
To be fair, this doll is very exquisitely made and has been collected and maintained very well. It is even hard to believe that it has been lying in the box for a century, although it is far from being as close to a real person as Alice.
Compared with "Doll", this little guy named "Nilu" can also be described as beautiful.
A hundred years ago, Lucretia bought another doll "Luni" that was paired with this little guy from this store, and now, the "Nelu" that was left behind is quietly
Lying quietly in the box, lying in front of Duncan.
Duncan himself just walked into this shop casually today. His original purpose was just to... want to buy a wig for Alice and inquire about the maintenance of the doll.
Destiny is really a wonderful thing.
"It doesn't look like it's been preserved for a century," Duncan mused. "She's just a little bit old."
"The things made by elves have always been famous for their durability - after all, we usually use them for a long time, and I don't dare to boast about my master's skills in making dolls. It should be better than many of my peers. I don't want the children I carefully made.
You can’t even stay with yourself for a century or two.”
"...I understand, but this can be said to be an antique to humans," 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 item, "I don't think I can afford this."
He had not forgotten that a century-old dagger he had earned from Mr. Morris cost more than a year's living expenses for an ordinary person. The beautifully crafted and well-preserved doll in front of him... couldn't possibly be cheap.
"Antique? I really haven't thought about it that way," the shop owner smiled, with a happy expression on his chubby face, "It's not expensive. In fact, if you buy both the wig and the matching silver hair accessories,
I can sell this doll at the cost price - the cost price 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 shopkeeper said slowly, "Nilu has been lying quietly here for many years, and there has never been a fateful owner who can take her away. This 'sister' who was left alone is actually
It's very lonely, and there have been no guests here all day, but you, the man who loves dolls, are the only ones who have talked to me about so many things, and he also happened to talk about the person who took away 'Luni' a hundred years ago.
Miss Lucretia, I think this may be guided by fate..."
"Fate..." The corner of Duncan's mouth trembled. He usually liked to use this word to fool others, but he didn't expect that he would also be fooled. Then he understood and looked at the old elf woman in front of him.
His eyes became strange, "So the real situation is that it can't be sold, right?"
Shopkeeper: "...it's fate."
"Because it has some connection with the cursed 'Abu Nomar' family, it can't be sold at all, right?"
"...It's really fate."
"Will this doll have other characteristics such as curses? For example, it will find itself after being thrown away? Or it will go to the kitchen to look for kitchen knives while people are sleeping..."
The old woman finally opened her eyes wide and her voice rose an octave: "I specifically asked a priest to exorcise evil spirits! I keep the exorcism certificate..."
Duncan chuckled: "Look, it really is because some people suspect that this doll contains a curse, so it can't be sold, right?"
Old woman: "..."
"I opened an antique store in the downtown area," Duncan exhaled. "You know the antique stores in the downtown area."
"...I don't like dealing with business people, especially people like you." The old woman shook her head and sighed, "Well, it is indeed for this reason that Nilu has not been around for a long time.
If you can sell it, and then put it away as it gets older, you can simply put it in the warehouse - if you really want it, take it at a discount of seventy-five solas, at least let me recoup the cost of finding a priest to exorcise evil spirits..."
"Deal." Duncan agreed without waiting for the other party to finish.
In any case, he did have a huge interest in this doll. Even if there was no evidence to prove that there was any connection between this little guy and Lucretia, he decided to put it together based on the factor of "fate" alone.
Bought this doll.
This was his subconscious reaction after he suddenly learned that "he" had a pair of "sons and daughters": Who knows when the brother and sister will appear, and God knows what trouble will happen, and now he sees
I got something related to Lucretia - no matter whether it is useful or not, get it around first and then study it slowly.
In this world where extraordinary powers and all kinds of strange things exist, such "connected" things can often play some role in mysticism.
"Then I'll leave 'Nelu' to you," the old lady of the shop owner was a little dazed by Duncan's cheerful response. She was probably regretting why she didn't report the price just now, but she soon shook her head and put the doll in her hand.
The box was pushed forward, but before Duncan reached out, she couldn't help but say, "You have to take good care of this child... Although I can see that you are a gentleman who really loves dolls, I still have to
A word of caution, don’t think of Nelu as a cheap commodity.”
"Of course," Duncan took the wooden box, closed the lid, and then looked at the wig and hair accessories he just selected, "How much do these two pieces add up to?"
"425 Solas, fixed price."
Duncan suddenly showed a toothache expression.
In Xiacheng District, this is the living expenses of one household for two months! But in Uptown District... it is only enough to buy two "accessories" for luxury goods for the rich.
He was even a little shaken at this moment, wondering if he should just give up, but he quickly put away this thought.
This is the gift he promised to Alice (although Alice may have a subtle mood when receiving the gift). On the other hand, considering what he has gained in this doll shop today, this price does not seem to be unacceptable.
.
After comforting himself for a while, Duncan breathed out softly and prepared to pay the money obediently.
But when he was paying the money, he suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but ask one more question: "By the way, why did Lucretia only buy Luni, but not take away her younger sister 'Nelu'?
?”
"...Do you really want to know?" When the shop owner heard this, he showed a slightly enigmatic expression, "This matter... is another secret related to the Abu Nomar family."
Duncan subconsciously moved closer: "I'm even more curious about this."
"Then you settle the bill first."
Duncan was startled, and then he paid the bill in a state of confusion: "Can you tell me now?"
"Oh, it's nothing actually," the old lady of the store said casually while collecting the money. "The two children didn't bring enough money back then - Lucretia was in tears when she left. At that time, she also said that she would have money when she got rich in the future.
I took Nilu away too, but now I think I forgot..."
Duncan: "..."
Is this because the old lady in front of me has a wonderful painting style, or is it because the elves in this world have some serious illness?
…
On the Lost Home, which was swaying slightly with the waves, Alice returned to the upper deck after transporting the last batch of things to the cabin. Then she immediately saw the captain standing quietly near the side of the ship, seemingly lost in thought.
"Captain~~" Miss Doll came over happily, "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 focused his eyes on Alice, "Thank you for your hard work."
"Captain... are you okay now?" Alice looked at Duncan up and down and asked hesitantly, "Your face suddenly became very strange before. Are you really okay?"
Duncan shook his head: "Don't worry, it's a small problem."
His mind is actually still a little confused now. His mind is filled with the two names that suddenly popped up, Tirian and Lucretia, and the possible troubles behind them. And looking at the curse in front of him that is definitely connected to the Frost Queen
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 doll who knows nothing. To discuss some things with her... it is better to go to the illiterate Shirley.
At least there is a relatively educated dog beside Shirley.
He turned his head and looked at the pigeon staying on the deck. The latter's figure flickered in the air for a moment, and then disappeared above the deck in a burst of fire.
Alice looked curiously at the place where the flame disappeared: "Did Ai go to 'deliver goods' again?"
"Well, there aren't many things this time," Duncan nodded slightly, then looked at Alice with a smile, "It's a gift for you."
Alice's eyes lit up: "A gift? Is it really a gift for me?! Captain, you are really..."
Before Miss Doll finished speaking, a whirlpool of green flames suddenly appeared above the deck next to her - Ai completed the transmission from Pland City to the Lost Home in the blink of an eye. As the flames rose, a
A new batch of supplies appeared in Alice's eyes.
The doll was immediately unable to speak the second half of his sentence.