Juno stared at the closed door as well as John.
She was curious. “How did he disappear?”
“You’ll find out later,” John said.
“No, it’s …”
“I don’t think you can study right now, so I’ll show you around.”
“What?”
“This way, please.”
She glanced at the room behind her. “What about him?”
“Are you talking about the doll?”
“Yes.”
“It will have to stay like that for a while.”
“But…”
John started walking. “How kind of you. I’ll take you to your room first. You have to change your clothes.”
His gaze told Juno to follow him, so she did.
The appearance of that child was still on her mind. “Doesn’t it hurt?”
If the child hadn’t spoken or moved, it wouldn’t have bothered her as much.
“It doesn’t hurt.”
“Then is there another issue?”
“It must be feeling uncomfortable.”
“Because he can’t move?”
“That’s correct.”
John was indifferent as he responded to her questions. It seemed dolls don’t have emotions.
“May I ask one more question?”
“Go ahead.”
“Is it true all the servants here are…”
A torso with multiple arms appeared at the end of the hallway.
Juno grabbed John’s arm and shouted, “What is that?”
The arms on the torso, holding various cleaning supplies, swung wildly and swept the area around it.
John was unfazed as he said, “It’s a doll just like me.”
“That’s a doll? A doll for cleaning?”
“Yes,” John replied.
Juno remembered the doll in Peter’s study from earlier. “What about the one in the study?”
“It handles business affairs.”
Each doll seemed to have its own role. Juno stared at John who looked exactly like a human. What is your role? A butler? Juno couldn’t resist her curiosity. John was going to be the one to help her in the future, and even then, Juno would continue to live here; she needed to know the ins and outs of the mansion.
“And you?”
“Think of me like a handyman who does troublesome chores and occasionally has to go outside.”
It appeared John was made to look like a human so he could do tasks that required one to leave the mansion. Then why did that child look like a human?
“How about the boy?”
John stopped in his tracks and looked at her. “You’re quite interested in that doll, aren’t you?”
Rather than being interested, Juno was bothered by the child. If you see that, wouldn’t you be concerned?
“I saw him yesterday.”
“I heard.”
“Since I’ve only seen him once, I’m worried.”
“You keep treating the doll as a human.”
Juno reflected on what he said. John wasn’t wrong. But that child looks like one. Perhaps it was because of her first impression.
“Is that so?” she said.
John took another step. “It was my master’s latest work. He made it for you, my lady.”
Peter made the doll for her. She wasn’t sure what that meant.
“For me?”
“He made it before realizing you had a talent for alchemy. Now it’s useless.”
“What?”
His words unsettled her. John repeated, “It’s useless.”
“What happens when a doll is useless?” she asked cautiously.
“It gets disposed of.”
“Impossible!” Her loud voice echoed through the wide corridor. Surprised, Juno covered her mouth.
“The decision was made by my master.”
Finding his words unsettling, Juno gripped John’s arm tighter. “Aren’t I the master now? It falls to me to deal with whatever that child does.”
“Yes, my lady, you now own the doll.”
She didn’t like the use of the word “own”, but that wasn’t important right now.
“It’s weird to think of it like that. I’ll just let him do what he wants.”
John gave her a strange look. “Do you like it that much?”
Juno felt bad for the boy. Every word used to refer to the child reminded Juno of herself. If it was useless, it was abandoned. The child was “owned” by someone else like it was nothing more than an object. I’m getting too attached. Was it because the child turned his hair red when she asked for it?
“Well… You all talk, listen, and move around, right?”
“Yes.”
“I heard dolls don’t have feelings, but they still move. I can’t think of them as inanimate objects.”
“Were there no dolls in your previous home?”
Juno nodded. House Trish never had dolls, so she was unaccustomed to dealing with them. “Noble families like House Trish don’t use them.”
“Why not?”
It was almost impossible to understand. Why don’t high-ranking noble families, said to be the epitome of the aristocracy, use dolls? Dolls were more efficient and safer than people.
It’s all a matter of pride. Juno scoffed. “Because dolls are becoming more common, they think human servants are more luxurious.”
“How strange.”
His answer made her laugh. “I think so too.”
As John said, it was strange and inefficient. They lived an uncomfortable life as a means to show they were superior to others. If all the servants were dolls, Juno’s living situation at the time wouldn’t have been so bad. Dolls treat everyone the same.
“Perhaps that’s why you feel awkward around dolls.”
“Maybe.”
It must be why her common sense, when it came to dolls, was lacking compared to others and why she cared a lot about the child. Juno recalled the words said by Peter Sergien.
“I have more questions.”
“All right.”
“What are the qualities of an alchemist?”
“Exactly as you think it is. It’s the power to make what you want and what you think become reality.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you read one of the books, you’ll understand.”
Juno recalled the number of books she saw earlier. Even a month wouldn’t be enough time to finish reading everything.
“There are books handed down from generation to generation. Consider them the alchemist’s treasures.”
“Is it all right for you to show me those?”
“You are now part of this family, my lady.”
Juno murmured, “My family, huh…” Again, she wondered why Peter Sergien married her. “Why did he marry me?”
“I’m afraid I wasn’t told the reason.”
Juno bitterly smiled. She and John were in a similar situation.
John stopped in front of a door and looked at her. “We have arrived. This is the bedroom you’ll be using in the future.”
“I… see.” After John opened the door for her, she peered in and saw a room three times as large as her bedroom back in House Trish’s mansion.
“Is it not your liking?”
Juno shook her head. “Where’s his room?”
“It’s at the end of the hall.”
As with most arranged marriages, they used separate rooms. Juno was relieved.
John stepped aside. “You may rest for a while. I’ll call you when dinner is ready.”
She thought it would be wise to take a rest. The sudden influx of information made her dizzy; however, her curiosity had yet to be satiated. I told myself to have no more regrets. I’ll do my best.
Juno asked, “May I change my clothes here and then go back there again?”
“Are you referring to the study?”
“The other room.”
“You mean my master’s workshop.”
“Yes.”
“That doll must be bothering you a lot.”
“Didn’t you say he was uncomfortable earlier? I better get to work as soon as possible.” Of course, what Peter Sergien said before he left was another reason. “I also only have a month.”
John nodded. “Understood. I’ll help you change—”
“Excuse me?” Juno doubted her ears.
“I’ll help you change—”
Juno’s eyes widened. “You’re a man!”
“I’m a doll.”
“That’s not what I…” As they established earlier, Juno wasn’t used to dolls. “I’m used to changing by myself, so I’ll be quick!”
“Understood. All the clothes there are yours, so you can wear whatever you like.”
“All right.”
“I’ll be waiting outside.”
Juno nodded and closed the door. She was alone in her new room. No dolls, just her.
Juno sat down on the floor.
