The Doll Princess Rose

第1話 Awakening

"Rose! The train has arrived! Hurry up!"

"Okay, okay, I'm coming!"

Wait, whose bag is that? Rose noticed a bag under the chair next to her. The station was crowded, everyone wrapped up in their own routines. But the bag stood out. Did someone forget it? The sounds around her faded as she stared at it. Maybe the man who had been sitting there left it behind. The thought made her uneasy. It was just a bag, but it didn’t belong. She hesitated, heart pounding, unsure what to do. She took a deep breath, stepped closer, and called out. Suddenly, a loud explosion shook the air, and everything went dark.

That day, news broke of a terrorist explosion killing many people across the country. In the aftermath, time seemed to blur for Rose.

Time passed. Rose felt lost, drifting somewhere between worlds. The air shimmered softly, and faint whispers and laughter came and went, blending with gentle sounds that surrounded her. The scent of roses mixed with fresh rain lingered, reminding her of life. Even with the calm around her, she felt a quiet unease, unsure if this peace was real or just a dream. Her thoughts moved between confusion and comfort. Still, in this strange place, a small sense of peace encouraged her to rest, as if she were safe for now.

"Oh! She's awake!"

She awoke, her head heavy. Opening her eyes, she saw a ceiling she didn't recognize. Nearby, a woman and a young man watched as she tried to move.

"Good morning, Bara."

She sees a young man speaking to her in a gentle voice.

But Bara? She has no clue who Bara is. She stares at the man, blinking.

He looks unusual. His eyes are bright green against his oat brown skin. His long hair is tied back, and a white shirt hangs loosely on him. Green lights float around his head and shoulders, softly glowing with magic. Rose senses there are secrets here she doesn’t understand. As she watches, a gentle hum stirs her curiosity, making her wonder about this magical world.

"Where am I?"

She asked in a worried voice.

"Here is your home, Bara."

The man answered with a smile.

"Bara?"

She asked again, unable to comprehend the situation.

"It is your name. Your name is Bara, my young sister. My name is Yanagi. Do you understand?" 

Yanagi said, his gaze steady at her.

"No, I'm not Bara, I'm Rose..."

What was the family name? She suddenly realized, but could remember nothing more than her name.

She doesn't understand the situation. Why was she here and being called Bara? In the first place, she was at the station, planning to take a train to go shopping with her friend in the town next to hers. However, it was the only thing she remembered.

"Mother, Bara seems confused."

The man introduced himself as Yanagi and called out to the woman behind him. Then a woman called Mother approached her.

She is a beautiful woman, but something about her seems different. She looks gentle, and like Yanagi, her eyes are green. She has blonde hair, pale skin, and green glowing lights around her head and shoulders. Her long hair shines.

"Are you okay? Does your head hurt?"

The woman spoke softly.

"No. But, are you Mother?"

"Yes, I'm your mother, Bara."

"But it's strange... And I'm not Bara. My name is Rose. First of all, where is this place? A hospital? Was I caught in an explosion? What about my friend? Is she okay?"

Rose suddenly felt desperate and asked the woman who was supposed to be her mother. The woman closed her eyes, took a breath, then opened them and smiled.

"Well, it would be best for your father to explain those to you."

Then, Mother took her hands and lifted her from her bed. But Rose had just woken up from a long sleep, and her body was too weak.

"It looks like she hasn't recovered yet. Yanagi, please carry your sister to her father." 

Mother instructed Yanagi, and he nodded in response. Yanagi smiled and lifted her.

"Huh?"

"Relax, Bara. Your thorns are prickly."

Yanagi is holding her as she complains.

Thorns? What did it mean?

Yanagi carried Rose out of the room and into a hallway that felt like a porch. A gentle breeze brought the earthy smell of the garden, cool against their skin. She heard leaves rustling and birds chirping. After a short walk, they reached a courtyard garden. The air was sweet with blooming flowers, and the sound of water from a small pond was calming. Rose felt a sense of wonder, as if she had stepped into a painting. The flowers were bright and colorful, and the sunlight was warm. By the pond, several dolls with flowers on their heads looked as if they were playing. A tall tree with red leaves stood nearby, even though the air felt like spring. Rose breathed in the many scents and, for a moment, almost forgot her confusion and fear. She wondered if it was autumn, but knew it was not.

It was winter, Rose remembered, when she went out to catch the train. Even so, the grass was lush and green, and the flowers and trees looked like a midsummer landscape. She tilted her head again, unable to understand this situation.

Rose was cradled in Yanagi's hands and entered the mansion, led by someone called her mother. After walking down a long hallway for a few minutes, they stopped in front of a large door. Two men stood in front of the door, holding something resembling long sticks and guarding the entrance.

"Do you mind if I come in?"

"Come in."

When Mother called out to the door, someone replied from inside. It is a heavy male voice. Then, the two men opened the door, politely bowed their heads, and extended their hands to signal for them to come inside.

When they entered, Rose saw a man sitting behind a large desk. As Mother bowed her head, the man rose from his chair.

The man looks dignified. Big, and his mouth and chin are hidden by a beard. His skin is dark brown, and he has a muscular and well-built physique. She felt that he seemed like a strong man.

"Oh, you are awake!"

He exclaimed with great joy. Rose saw the white teeth hidden behind her beard, and for a moment, her breath stopped. Because... his eyes are red.

"Bara, he is your father. Please say hello."

Mother spoke to her kindly, but she didn't know what to do. Because that person was not someone she knew.

To begin with, Rose doesn't know where this place is. This is the scariest thing in her life. If it was a dream, she wanted to wake up soon, and she couldn't help but cry because she was so scared and anxious.

"What's wrong, Bara? Suddenly started crying..."

Yanagi looked at her with a troubled look on his face. Then, the big man approached Yanagi, laughing.

"Okay, okay. Come on."

The man called Father gently stroked her, took her from Yanagi, and held her in his arms.

"Okay, okay, don't cry anymore. It's okay. Are you surprised? Hahaha."

Rose suddenly stopped crying and felt embarrassed, perhaps because she had heard a line that sounded like something he would say to a small child. The big man sat on the big sofa in the room. Mother ordered Yanagi to leave the room. Yanagi bowed his head and left the room. After he left, the door was closed again.

Mother was sitting next to the man, smiling and looking at her. These two looked like a couple, she thought. So, is this strong-looking man her father?

"May I ask something?"

"What?"

The person called Father answered. He took her off his arm and sat her in the chair.

"Where am I now? Is this a hospital?"

"This is your home."

"Um, what do you mean? I was at the station a little while ago, planning to go out with my friend. But then I heard an explosion, and the next thing I knew, I was here..."

She thought to herself, making sure to say what she remembered.

"Is that so? That was what you remember from before you came here?"

After sighing, the man adjusted her seat and spoke to her in that heavy voice.

"Wait, did I die?"

"It looks like, yes, you died once."

He answered immediately.

"Bara, it is your name now. My name is Dalgodas, the owner of this mansion. I am also your father. Next to me is Frey, my wife, who created your body, and she is your mother. Do you understand?”

"I'm not sure."

Rose thought in anxiety again.

"Well, to tell you the truth, a year ago, the light of your soul was floating in this garden. I found it and captured it. I had no clue where it came from."

He said as he tried to remember a little.

"But I think you came here because of Dragon God's guidance."

"Ummh.."

“Your soul was small, weak, and on the verge of breaking. I thought that if I did not put it in a container soon, it would just disappear. However, the only container I had was a doll that Frey had made for the garden. I put your soul in it, purified it with the divine water I received from the Dragon God, and the soul and vessel mixed, and you were reborn as a living creature."

As Rose heard these words, she felt a whirl of emotions crashing over her, like waves in a storm. Fear crept into her heart; the idea of her soul being a fragile entity, saved from the brink of obliteration, was terrifying. Confusion followed closely, leaving her mind spinning at the thought of being reborn in a new, unfamiliar world. Yet, beneath the tumult of fear and uncertainty, a flicker of awe sparked in her chest. To have been chosen, saved by forces beyond her understanding, filled her with a strange sense of wonder. Fragmented memories of her past life began to surface, snippets of laughter with friends, the aroma of her mother's favorite coffee, and the warmth of sunlight on her face. Each memory was a reminder of a life lost, intensifying her struggle to accept this new reality. The sound of distant chimes brought her back, anchoring her to the here and now. She felt caught between two worlds, the pull of the familiar and the awe of endless possibilities. Yet, amidst the confusion, there was a glimmer of hope, a delicate thread connecting her past to a future yet to be written.

The man, called Father, said while patting her head lovingly.

"Therefore, you are now our third daughter, whom I have named Bara."

It was hard to believe, she thought.

"So, I did... die?"

Rose asked again.

"If you consider that you have become a soul, you must have died at least once."

"..."

"However, if I think you have been born here again, I think it is the Dragon God's guidance."

I see, Rose thought. She was caught in the explosion at that station and died. She became a soul and somehow drifted here.

But where exactly is this place?

"Um, what country is this? Is this Earth?"

"Earth? Is that the country you were from? Then the answer is no."

Not Earth!, she was surprised.

"This world is called Gaia. The country is Alhatross, the land of the Dragon God. This village is called Aotake Village and lies north of Alhatross. I am the Lord of this area."

"Oh God," Rose blinked. This place isn't even Earth. She was reborn in a completely different world.

"I understand, Lord Dalgodas..."

Rose said in a nervous voice.

"Call me Father. You are my daughter. My sweet little girl. Do you understand, Bara?"

"My name is Rose, not Bara..."

"Is that your old name?"

Dalgodas asked.

"I'm not sure. Maybe it was. I do not remember anything else."

Rose shook her head and insisted on the name "Rose".

"Fine. You can usually use the name Rose. However, your official name is Bara Dalgodas. Just remember that."

"Yes, Father. Thank you."

"Hahaha, cute girl. Hey, Frey."

Dalgodas said to Frey. Frey is also smiling and looking at her.

"I'm looking forward to seeing her future, darling."

"Indeed, hahaha."

However, Rose just blinked. She was not able to accept this situation. She has to deal with them as her father and mother.

"Well then."

He stood up, took Rose, and hugged her again.

“..tonight is a party!”

Those were the last words she heard. She was again overcome with an overwhelming sense of drowsiness and fell asleep.