"Mm…?"Edgar was more startled than Angela by the words that left his mouth before the thought even passed through his brain.No matter that he’d eavesdropped on what Angela said, what sense was there in actually carrying out a crazy idea like this? It was a foolish act that would make the titles of cold-blooded businessman and born strategist burst into tears.Above all, for Edgar—who had been far removed from childish fancy since boyhood—it was unbelievable that he’d done it; a dry laugh slipped out on its own.Creak, squeak.Because Angela had come down a few more steps than before, the wood’s groan sounded like a scream. It was as if the noise were sneering, You don’t actually think that ridiculous trick will work, do you?"Are you… Eddy?""...What?"However many hopeful circuits he spun in every direction, his future contained nothing but humiliation—so the answer that came back was beyond unexpected. Edgar, gifted at hiding emotion, revealed his discomfiture outright.She believes it? This insane line?For a moment the notion was so absurd he wondered if, out of embarrassment, Angela—who liked him—was merely humoring Edgar’s words.Otherwise, how could anyone take seriously the claim that a two-handspan doll had become a strapping young man?"Ah—no? Then is this just a dream…?"But if that were so, there wasn’t the slightest artifice or awkwardness in Angela’s words or actions. It was as if the possibility that the real Edgar de Grace stood before her didn’t even exist among her options.At this point Edgar wasn’t sure which way to steer the aftermath. Should he keep up the pretense of being the doll, or should he come clean now and admit he was Edgar de Grace himself?"...Yes. I’m Eddy."There wasn’t much time to deliberate. Edgar decided to push this nonsensical premise all the way.From what he’d learned, Angela had no experience socializing or engaging in any kind of public exchange. Moreover, she seemed to spend most of her time alone talking to her dolls to ease her loneliness.Maybe…If that were truly the case, might she accept a situation like something out of a fairy tale as real? And perhaps, surprisingly, this could be the only breach that would let him approach Angela, who otherwise allowed no opening at all."This shouldn’t be possible…."Her mouth said it was impossible, yet her golden eyes quivered mercilessly, laying her feelings bare—joy tangled with confusion, disbelief shot through with expectancy.Seeing that reaction, shame and worry evaporated, leaving only brazen nerve."You made me, Angela."Emboldened, Edgar shoved the real Eddy up behind his back and covered it with his shirt. Then, in a voice polished to maximal gentleness, he stepped toward Angela.Startled, her wide eyes blinked; she shuffled back a half step and murmured softly,"I only… wished for an impossible dream."With every exchange, Edgar’s certainty deepened."Right. Your desperate wish made me come alive."Incredibly, this hopelessly innocent woman truly believed his outrageous lie."My wish…."He’d abandoned conscience and guilt the moment he accepted the wager. It had been deception from the instant he made Angela the object of the bet, so now that things had come to this, he might as well exploit the chance to the fullest.Later, he would pay for the lies and trickery against her—without stint."Are you really… the Eddy I made?"Edgar had made up his mind, but Angela still seemed unable to believe the situation. The questions and answers repeated who knows how many times, and Edgar, patient and consistent, aimed to win her trust."If you can’t believe it, want to touch me yourself?"But when that cycle began to feel tedious, Edgar threw out a bolder trial."Is it really okay?""...Yes."He’d assumed she would refuse, so her ready answer surprised him a little. Edgar showed none of it, and closed the distance without hesitation."Wow…."The nearness put a thread of tension in him. Seen up close, who knew how her reaction might change.Meanwhile, the soft warmth that came to his cheek stirred a strange feeling.Her hand stroked his cheek as if touching something very precious—careful, careful."I made you, but it’s really identical. Is this what it would feel like to face the real Edgar in front of me?"Fortunately, whether because Eddy and Edgar were uncannily alike or because Angela was simply too guileless, she firmly believed that Edgar was the Eddy she had made."It looks like even the clothes you wore as a doll get bigger as they are. It’s amazing."By sheer luck, the outfit he’d worn to prepare for rough roads was very similar to what Angela had put on Eddy. That, most likely, had nailed down her belief.Indeed, if all she knew of “Edgar de Grace” came from newspapers, she couldn’t have imagined him dressed this lightly. Edgar had always kept to a compulsively neat and formal style."Angela, are you truly happy to meet me?"At his question, Angela lifted her chin; her golden eyes lit and sparkled."Truly, so much—so happy it’s hard to put into words."As if she could barely contain her feelings, a blush rose over her white skin, proving her words true. Looking at that face gave him a peculiar satisfaction.Rustle, knock, knock.Just then, along with someone’s presence outside, a small knock sounded."Ah… they’ve come again.""Who?""Well… for a while now someone’s been saying they want to meet me.""...Do you have to answer?""No. I already refused politely before, so it’s fine. If I just pretend I’m not home, they’ll give up and go back."Edgar—the one who had requested that meeting—saw the resolve in Angela’s face and became sure that winning the bet by ordinary means would be difficult. And that this opportunity, obtained by a fluke, could prove the masterstroke that decided his victory."Angela.""Yes?"The knocker was likely Timothy, who’d come because he could no longer wait for Edgar. Before he lost patience and barged in, Edgar had to wrap this up."Sorry, but I think I have to turn back into a doll for now.""Huh…?"Above all, to make good use of this rare chance, he needed thorough preparation and a coherent setup.Conditions and limits for becoming human, for example; his level of knowledge; where to stash the real Eddy while he played the part—things like that.No matter how innocent and unworldly Angela was, blurting out whatever came to mind would expose the lie at once.Even now, the real Eddy was tucked behind his back—a perilous situation that could be discovered at any moment."Mm… my body isn’t finished yet, right? In this state, the fairy’s… power fades quickly."Saying fairy’s power with his own mouth stuck in his throat. Even so, having ridden out the crisis, Edgar managed to finish the line."Ah… I see…."At his words, Angela’s face fell, unmistakably disappointed."I promise I’ll come back as soon as I can.""Truly?""Yes."How little contact must she have had with people to take a line like that at face value.Seeing the trust in her eyes as she nodded put a weight on his chest, as if a stone had been laid there."Angela, I’m sorry, but could you go back upstairs for a moment? For me to return to being a doll, no one can see me. If you could just step away «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» for about five minutes, that’s all it takes.""Okay, I will."Despite how forced the request was, Angela answered meekly. Dutifully, she turned at once and climbed two or three steps, then stopped, hesitated a little, and asked over her shoulder,"Eddy, you really will come back, right?""Of course. In fact, I want to ask you something. Would it be all right if I came here again to see you?"Edgar, who’d been troubled by entering her house without permission, welcomed the question. Granted, it wasn’t the real him receiving the answer, but if he could obtain her leave in some form, it would ease that unease."If it’s you, you can come as often as you like. No—please do come."He’d guided her to it, but the permission was warm with affection. His mind felt lighter."Good. I’ll return as quickly as I can."Only after extracting Edgar’s promise did Angela smile slightly, then hurried up the stairs again.Tap."Whew."Having succeeded in sending Angela up to the second floor, Edgar, the moment the door sounded shut, quickly pulled Eddy out from under his shirt and set it on the workbench. Then, collecting Timothy—who was fretting at the front door—he slipped out of Angela’s house at speed.

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