The Abandoned Lady Lives in a Dollhouse

Juno was embarrassed to talk about Jupiter to Peter. She murmured, “Since you’ve kept an eye on me, you know who he is.”

“I’ve been watching you. I didn’t care about anyone else.”

“You know him, don’t you?”

“I’m only vaguely aware of things.”

Peter recognized who Jupiter was when he heard Jupiter’s name, and he knew about House Trish. He was probably asking about Jupiter’s relationship with Juno. Unsure of how to explain it, she said, “…He likes me a lot.”

“And you?”

“I like him.”

“You’re purposefully ignoring him, aren’t you? Do you not want to commit?”

“…I thought it would be impossible,” Juno said and smiled bitterly.

“Are you going to do anything about it?”

“What do you think I should do?”

Peter stared at her. Juno also knew it wasn’t right to ask others for an answer.

He sighed. “Is it a big deal to date someone when you’re young?”

“You believe I should date him?”

“Even if you two don’t get married, no one will say anything about it.” Peter was too nonchalant.

“What if I give him everything and he doesn’t reciprocate?”

Peter clicked his tongue. “Coward.”

Juno laughed. She knew she was a cowardly, greedy person. “You’re right. The people who I give my heart to always leave me.” Her mother, Nereus, those who cared about Juno disappeared. Technically, Peter also counts.

Peter looked at her without saying a word. The reason Juno avoided things like this was because of her childhood. She thought it’d go away eventually, but it didn’t. Her fear continued to grow.

After some time passed, Peter spoke. “…No one here will leave you because they’re all dolls. Even I will live longer than you.”

“…”

Juno couldn’t help but smile. He wasn’t wrong. Juno feared being alone more than dying.

“So, if he’s gone but you aren’t dead yet, and you feel sad about it…”

Juno was speechless before she burst into a fit of laughter. Peter was trying to avoid her gaze. She asked, “You’re embarrassed, aren’t you?”

“…”

Juno approached Peter and tightly hugged him. He gently patted her on the back.

“I understand,” she said.

“Good.”

Juno giggled and let go of him. “I must speak with John and Hebe. Especially John.”

“Why?”

“I think he overheard my conversation with Jupiter.”

“Do whatever you want.”

Juno smiled and pressed the button to call John.

***

Jupiter passed the marquis and Lilith, who stared at him since he attended the funeral, and entered the room after being greeted by several servants.

He leaned against the door and murmured, “Juno.”

It really was her. She grew up in those two years. When Jupiter heard House Sergien was to hold a funeral, he thought it was Juno’s funeral. Thankfully, it wasn’t.

Peter Sergien. He remembered what happened when he found out the alchemist died.

“Excuse me?”

“Count Peter Sergien is dead.”

For a moment, Jupiter stared blankly at the man who had told him this. Then, Jupiter covered his mouth with his hand to hide the fact that the corners of his mouth rose; however, as soon as he smiled, Jupiter scolded himself.

He still wasn’t the marquis. I have to hurry. Only then… could he protect Juno.

Swallowing his words, Jupiter sent the man away before heading to the marquis and Lilith.

“I will attend the funeral,” Jupiter had said.

“You?”

“I’d rather have myself go instead of the marquis.”

The marquis frowned when he was criticized for not being on good terms with Juno. He must have known how incredible House Sergien was, so it was a typical reaction.

Lilith said, “That’s great. You didn’t want to go anyway, right?”

“Lilith, this isn’t the time for that.”

“What? You want to go to the funeral?”

“It’s not that I want to go, but it’s that I should go…”

Lilith shrieked, “Do you mean to say you need her now? Do you want me to bow down to her too?”

Jupiter narrowed his eyes. “Would you like me to go in your place then?”

The marquis nodded as if to appease Lilith.

And at the funeral that the marquis and Lilith didn’t attend, Jupiter saw Juno for the first time in two years. Her pale face was covered by a black veil; her hair was slightly disheveled, and she had swollen eyes.

You look sad. You’re not hurt, are you?

Someone had whispered that Juno was saddened by Peter Sergien’s death. Jupiter felt a fiery fury burn inside him. It mixed with a small amount of jealousy, and at the same time, he was happy the old man died. Juno. He wished to call out to her, to express how much he missed her, unbearably so.

He wished to kiss her soft, white neck. Suppressing his desire to leave a mark on it, Jupiter waited for the funeral to end. When everyone else left, Jupiter called out to Juno. She was astonished, but more importantly, he saw the emotions that bloomed within her heart: surprise, joy, and longing. Juno was alive, and for the first time, she openly expressed her feelings for him. Jupiter struggled to hold back his desire. I want to embrace you. He tried to calm down his racing heart; he didn’t want to hurt her. He continued their conversation, pretending nothing happened.

You were happy. It was better to be happy than to be in despair. Regrettably, Jupiter wasn’t part of those happy memories, but her longing for him soothed his heart. Juno missed him, but not to the extent that he missed her. Juno tried to distance herself from him; however, he was satisfied with the result.

Juno wouldn’t be able to push him away anymore.

The corners of Jupiter’s mouth rose, recalling the moment. Yet the smile disappeared from his face. “Only one thing is bothering me.”

The good-looking servant he saw at the funeral. As soon as Juno saw that man, she put some space between herself and Jupiter. At a glance, it looked like she was guilty.

“What’s your relationship with him?”

She said nothing happened with Peter Sergien, but there could’ve been someone else, especially if she’s only been with that family for two years.

“It’s all right.” It was fine. She had to stay alive. All she had to do was stay alive. He felt a spark of jealousy, but Jupiter decided to focus on thanking Juno for being alive.

He looked at the wine in the display case. After he drank, Juno usually appeared in his dreams, so he didn’t typically like alcohol. However, he wanted to drink today. Jupiter took out a bottle and drank some wine without pouring the liquid into a glass; it was a while since he last had liquor. It was bitter. Perhaps the wine was also strong since he started to feel dizzy.

Jupiter was about to take another swig when he heard a tapping sound from the window behind him. Jupiter took out a dagger from the display case, but he paused as he looked at the window again.

“A bird?”

Specifically, it was a sparrow. The sparrow made eye contact with him before tapping the window again with its beak.

Jupiter glanced at the bottle in his hand. Am I already drunk?

Or the marquis was trying something. Jupiter frowned, and the sparrow continued to tap the window. The bird looked annoyed. How could a sparrow have an annoyed expression?

As I thought, it… Jupiter slowly opened the window.

The sparrow flew past him and landed on the desk. It then pecked the desk. The bird looked cute yet ill-tempered.

Chuckling to himself, Jupiter said, “I truly am drunk.”

“What are you saying?”

Jupiter’s eyes widened.

The sparrow talked. Indifferent to Jupiter’s surprise, it said, “I have a message from my lady.”

“Excuse me…”

The bird flapped its wings and shouted, “Why does she want to see such an idiot?”

Jupiter walked to the desk. “You’re not an actual sparrow.”

“I’m a doll!”

A doll made by an alchemist. Jupiter began to somewhat understand the situation. “Did Juno send you?”

“Who else?”

Jupiter touched the sparrow’s head. He could only believe this was real if he touched it himself. Even if this was a dream, Jupiter never had anything like this happen before when he was drunk.

The sparrow immediately backed away. “Hey! No touching! Only Master and my lady are allowed to pet me!” The bird ruffled its feathers as it puffed out its chest. “My lady said she’ll see you tomorrow at noon.”

“Are you referring to Juno?”

“You have time, right? Don’t you dare be late!”

The sparrow was arrogant, but if it really was sent by her, Jupiter can’t ignore it.

“Where should I go?” Jupiter asked.

“I’ll lead you there since you have to sneak in.”

“Why?”

“The door to House Sergien’s mansion will be closed for a while.”

“…”

She’s shutting herself away from the world again? …Why? It was difficult to think because Jupiter drank earlier.

The sparrow flapped its wings. “The only good thing about you is your face, huh? I’ll be back tomorrow, so you better show up!” Instantly, it flew out of the room.

Jupiter stared at the window before glancing at the bottle again. “I’m very drunk…” Then he noticed the dirt on the desk. It was rough between his fingertips. “Did that actually just happen?”

Jupiter put away the bottle of wine. “I suppose I’ll find out tomorrow.”

If this wasn’t his imagination or a dream, but reality, he’d see Juno again. Feeling his heart race, Jupiter closed the window.