Flush Dolls

"Yes." Carroll let go of my chin, and his answer seemed casual.  "More beautiful than Euna?" I asked. "Yes." This response was perfunctory. I didn't give up. "Prettier than Odette?" "Yes." With a faint smile, Carroll was patient for my questions. I thought for a moment and then asked, "Well, more beautiful than your ex-girlfriends, those celebrities?" "Much more. You are the most beautiful animal I have ever seen." "Really?" I turned my head, looked at my reflection in the car window, and moved my face to enjoy my peerless beauty from all angles. The car drove past a shopping mall, and there were claw machines behind those French windows of it. A row of crimson machines stood there neatly, and there were all kinds of plush toys. Against the dreamy light, that place seemed like a fairyland to me. Never had I seen this wonder, so my eyes lit up.  "Like it?" Carroll leaned over and pushed me to a corner in the backseat.  The claw machines got all my attention, so I didn't notice the light in Carroll's eyes. "Yes." " Jason, clear out." It was dark in the car, so I couldn't see the expression on Carroll's face clearly. However, his cold voice was pleasant to the ear. Soon, the car turned around and stopped in the underground parking lot of the mall. Carroll got out of the car. Then, he grabbed my wrist and got into the VIP elevator. It seemed Carroll knew this place well.  "Have you been here?" I asked curiously. "This shopping mall is mine." Carroll took my hand and played with it seriously. There was no change in his expression. "You eat a lot but don't put on weight." "Well, you've raised me for only two days." How could one put on weight in two days? Moreover, I didn't eat my fill at the Smith's place today! "That's true. I will have to go on." Carroll nodded and continued, "I'll take you to catch a doll." "Wait, do you mean that this shopping mall is yours?" I asked this question when Carroll pulled me forward. "Yes." I couldn't help but think that Mr. Carroll was superb rich. When the elevator door opened, there were no clients in the spacious play area. One staff member came over with a large box of silver coins. Jason stopped him and took the box from him. "Leave it to me. Thanks." "It's late. We will leave soon." Carroll sat on a sofa in the middle, put on a pair of white leather gloves, and played with his shiny black bangle. I stood in front of Carroll and looked around. "Don't you want to play?" "Madam, I'll play with you," Jason volunteered before Carroll opened his mouth. Then, he whispered to me, "Mr. Carroll doesn't like noisy places." I stuck out my tongue and said, "I'll go by myself." This was the district about video games.  Let alone me, my cousin hadn't been to such a place.  There were so many games that I was at a loss. I wasn't interested in competitive games, so I took photos with my phone.  My attention would be attracted by Carroll no matter where I went.  Carroll sat there, playing with his bangle. His eyes were fixed on the data on the big screen. "Mr. Carroll is so good to you, Madam. It's the first time I saw Mr. Carroll appear in such a place." Jason put the coins into the doll machine for me. I carefully moved the stick and responded carelessly, "He must have been to a place like this when he was a child." "No." Jason said firmly, "I grew up with Mr. Carroll and have never seen him play games. Geniuses are different from us." Speaking, Jason was lost in his old memory.  It seemed Carroll was interested in nothing but books.  "Indeed, geniuses are different from us." Bang! A pink rabbit fell down. I happily held the rabbit above my head and shouted to Carroll, "Mr. Carroll, Mr. Carroll, look, look, look! The rabbit!" "I see." Carroll sounded as indifferent as usual, but there was a smile in his eyes and a faint smile on his face.  "As expected, Madam, you are special to Mr. Carroll." Looking at me with surprise, Jason took the rabbit from my hand. Then, he led me to another claw machine. One hour had passed.  I yawned. It was past two o'clock in the morning, and I was exhausted. With my head down, I walked to Carroll. Only then did I find that the large sofa, where Carroll was sitting, was full of the dolls I won. The noble and reserved king sat among a pile of flush dolls. What a sharp contrast... Smiling awkwardly, I took a large caterpillar doll. Then, I sat beside Carroll like a kitten. "I'm so sleepy." "Children are troublesome." Then, Carroll carried me in his arms. Well, not bad. I didn't need to walk. I meekly leaned my head against Carroll's chest and said, "Mr. Carroll, you're a good man, the most handsome one." "Did you eat honey?" Carroll tittered. "Sleep, and don't talk." "Okay." I shut up sensibly. I didn't know how I got in the car and back to my bedroom. When I opened my eyes, it was close to noon the next day.  "Madam, are you awake?" Rose stood by my bed with a bright smile. "Go downstairs. Mr. Carroll has a gift for you." "What gift?" I rubbed my sleepy eyes and found all over my bed flush toys, more than I had won yesterday. "Oh, you'll know when you get there." Rose pulled me up from the bed and pushed me into the bathroom. "Hurry up, hurry up." "Okay." I was still in a daze, so I washed up mechanically. Then, I followed Rose downstairs. The mourning hall looked blissful. There was a wedding dress on the hanger next to the coffin. I perked up instantly. "Is this the gift from Mr. Carroll?"