“Has he come out? But that outfit… Are you really going to the palace dressed like that?”

The steward peered out at Keris and asked with visible distaste.

Keris’s clothes were suitable for going out, but they weren’t the formal uniform he always wore to the palace. The steward’s hostile gaze drilled into Keris. He said nothing and turned his expression blankly away.

In a low, sharp voice the steward said.

“For the sake of the Layton family’s dignity, I think you should change before you go.”

Keris showed no particular reaction to the steward’s insolent attitude. It was something he’d grown used to.

Instead of exploding at the steward, Keris answered in a cold voice. 

“I will be a little late to the palace.”

“……”

The steward’s face tightened in surprise at that. Even if some natural disaster occurred, Keris always appeared at the palace like clockwork. People mocked that he stamped his face there every day like a puppet. In all his life, Keris had never once failed to go to the palace. So the steward’s surprise was understandable.

Keris, as if indifferent to the steward’s reaction, asked. 

“Are the estate guards secure?”

The steward’s eyebrows rose. He resented Keris’s sudden question, but since his lord had asked, he had to answer. 

“Of course. You know as well as anyone that the house guards are taking shifts to keep watch without a moment’s rest.”

The steward detested having this prolonged conversation with Keris. If circumstances had been different, he wouldn’t have had to. After the steward’s reply, Keris thought for a moment and then spoke again. 

“Bring me the records that list the recent women who have entered the domain. Also—just in case—see if there are any blind spots in the estate’s security. As soon as possible. I expect you can manage it.”

Though still sour-faced, the steward bowed and answered. His expression of dislike remained, but he yielded to Keris’s authority as if overwhelmed by it. 

“Very well.”

Not long afterward, the steward returned with everything Keris had requested. Keris examined the documents carefully. In truth, there wasn’t much to check, there hadn’t been many newcomers to the domain lately. From what people said, the only strangers who had come through in recent months were a few nobles traveling through the region.

Keris thought about the woman who had suddenly appeared in his room. She was not the sort of face one would forget after a single glance. If anyone else had seen her, she would have shown up in the records. Moreover, the estate’s security proved flawless. The only explanation was that she had appeared from thin air inside the room.

‘If she were a martial artist or an assassin of exceptional skill, she might have entered my room without being detected. But someone that skilled would already be known, someone the palace would be watching closely.’

The possibility that she was such a person seemed unlikely, but it was worth checking. From his time at the palace and meeting countless people, Keris could tell a warrior’s level of training merely by looking at their hands. He set down the papers and returned to his room.

***

Locked inside the room, I stared at the firmly shut door in a daze. I couldn’t open the locked door, and shouting would only make my situation worse.

‘What if Keris misunderstands me in a bad way and everything gets tangled forever?’ 

I wondered, fearing the bad ending of a transmigration romance.

At that moment, the door burst open. I cried out as it swung wide, heart racing. 

“I didn’t come here to do anything wrong!”

“I did not say anything.”

Keris replied with one eye narrowed. At least he hadn’t returned to throw me in a cell.

‘Then why did he come back?’ 

Keris suddenly reached out, grabbed my hand, and brought it up to his eyes. Heat flooded my face at the suddenness of his action.

“What, what are you doing?” 

“There’s no way a hand this soft could hold a weapon. Then truly—”

What was he even saying? If I looked in the mirror now, my face must have looked utterly ridiculous. Before I could reply, Keris let go of my hand and asked.

“You said you were a doll in this room and became a person, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then did you have consciousness when you were a doll?”

Strictly speaking, I’d only just been possessed into the doll recently, so I hadn’t had consciousness for long. Explaining all of that would only invite more misunderstanding, so I answered bluntly.

“Yes.”

“Then you remember everything I said to the doll as well.”

Keris’s words sent a cold sweat down my spine. I’d blurted out that I’d had consciousness. What if he asked about the things I’d heard before I possessed the doll?

But contrary to my worry, Keris asked a question I could actually answer.

“So—what were His Majesty and I to each other originally?”

Thank heavens. The relationship between the emperor Schmidt and Keris was described in detail in the novel. While Keris hadn’t explained it much while I’d been inhabiting the doll, I knew enough.

“You and His Majesty met by chance in the domain when you were children and grew close. You used to exchange letters a lot back then, but you don’t anymore.”

Keris made no particular reply.

‘He asked and then didn’t react—why?’ 

Irritation prickled, but before I could dwell on it, Keris spoke again.

“So you really are…that Sarina?”

“Yes, it’s true. Check the room for the doll right now, you won’t find it. I am the doll.”

Keris touched his forehead in disbelief and muttered. 

“A doll became a person.” 

I understood his confusion perfectly, but I had no energy left to argue. As a doll I hadn’t felt hunger at all; now that I was human, the fact I hadn’t eaten hit me like a wall.

I sank down where I was, and Keris asked, alarmed. 

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

“…I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten anything.”

“Oh.” 

He led me to a small table in the corner and set bread and tea on it, where he’d gotten them, I had no idea.

“Eat this for now. I’ll get you a proper meal later.”

I nodded and nibbled the bread. I was too hungry to be picky. Even the bread felt new after so long without food. As I chewed, I watched Keris. He averted his eyes and said. 

“Now that I look, you’re wearing the exact same clothes the doll used to wear. You really are Sarina.”

“To be honest, I don’t really believe it myself.”

“You don’t know why you suddenly became human? In any case, you can’t stay like this. You’re human now, you’ll need food, clothing, shelter.”

He was right. 

As a doll I’d done nothing but stay in the room; it had been easy. Now that I was a person I couldn’t keep living like that. What should I do? Did I have to step out and learn to support myself, like the heroines in those transmigration romcoms?

“Right. I can’t stay here forever. May I ask a favor? Could you introduce me to a job—anywhere—so I can work?”

“What do you mean?”

“Huh?” 

His surprised reply made me repeat myself. He answered as if it were obvious. 

“Even if you were a doll, you used to live in this house. Of course you should stay.”

Relief flooded me. I’d been at a loss how to live, and now I could stay here. Keris hesitated, as if something bothered him, then added.

“But that outfit is too conspicuous. You’ll need proper clothes if you’re going to stay, so wait in this room. I’ll order the staff not to enter.”

“All right.” 

With that, Keris looked at me with guarded eyes and opened the door. He’d accepted that I’d been his doll, but he hadn’t let his guard down completely.

‘I thought speaking the same way I did as a doll would make him more comfortable.’ 

I thought, feeling awkward. I stared into the air to pretend I hadn’t noticed him.

Then came the sound of the door being locked. He must have locked it to keep others from finding me. Because I’d been trapped earlier, a foolish worry flitted through my mind: had he locked me in again?

‘Nah… he wouldn’t…’ 

I forced myself to calm down and finished the tea Keris had brought.