Act 6. The New Stage’s Protagonists.

The gates of the magnificent mansion with golden beaches, which was once the emperor’s summer villa, opened wide.

The gatekeeper, who had been waiting since early morning after receiving news of the master’s arrival, adjusted his attire once more while watching the approaching carriage bathed in June sunlight.

As the carriage drew closer, its gold-plated crest gleamed blindingly.

Unlike carriages bearing emblems of apex predators like lions, leopards, or eagles, this one had toy soldiers and ballet dancer dolls carved in the center. It’s said to be the mistress’s preference.

Thinking of the mistress’s face that seemed somehow surreal, the gatekeeper thought the design suited her perfectly.

Though his memory was hazy from seeing them a year ago, he quickly bowed his head before the carriage passed as the coachman approached, waving.

Through the open window of the carriage, which moved without a rattle thanks to its premium wheels, the laughter of noble ladies and sweet flower fragrance wafted out.

He kept his head bowed until those traces faded into the distance.

Though two years had passed since the abolition of the class system, he hadn’t yet shed his old habits.

Apart from the traditionally respected ducal family and benevolent houses, all others disappeared during last year’s revolution. The gatekeeper himself came from one of those vanished houses to work at this mansion, but he still found it difficult to face his superiors.

Especially before the master, who appeared more elegant and noble than any aristocrat, and the mistress of unparalleled beauty — even without the class system, he felt someone like him could never become like them in his lifetime.

“Have you arrived?”

The butler extended his hand while opening the stopped carriage’s door.

“Thank you.”

Along with a delicate voice like wildflowers, a hand so white and transparent that veins were visible rested upon his.

Soon, the butler’s eyes, having served in great noble houses for decades, trembled slightly as a beautiful face with amethyst eyes more precious than rare gems emerged from the carriage.

Her silver hair, bright as the full moon even in daylight, dazzled like magic.

Some servants lined up at the arched entrance according to old custom for the master’s return, blushed while glancing at the carriage.

Though the master and mistress had stayed for just one month last year, not even a full season, the mansion was maintained in perfect condition year-round for the mistress who had taken a liking to it.

The servants were all well-regarded individuals from nearby houses, and they took great pride in their new master.

Nevertheless, the reason even maids of the same gender blushed at the carriage was due to the mistress’s beauty that they simply couldn’t get used to.

There was an unspoken understanding that anyone who could remain composed before the mistress, who possessed not only doll-like features but movements as graceful as a celestial goddess, would be the unusual one.

When even the butler, known as having an iron face, had trembling eyes, there was no need to examine others’ expressions.

“See, I told you to at least cover your face with a veil. Everyone loses their minds seeing Larien’s face. How will you handle Jayden’s jealousy when he finds out?”

The people standing with dazed expressions finally came to their senses at the cheerful voice coming from behind the mistress.

Following the delicate mistress, a woman carrying a toddler who had just started walking stepped down from the carriage. While trying to hide their surprised expressions, they recalled that despite her youthful and cute appearance that made it hard to believe she had given birth, she was five or six years older than the mistress.

“Clara. Don’t tease me.”

Larien’s eyes gently creased at Clara, who was smiling mischievously.

“I’m not teasing. Last time during the schedule, people were so entranced that I thought you had cast some freezing spell, Larien. Look, even our Robin, who’s usually very shy with strangers, only likes Larien.”

Chuckling, Clara set down the squirming Robin, who immediately ran to Larien with arms outstretched, asking to be held.

Despite Clara’s protests, Larien carried Robin into the mansion while kissing his healthy, chubby cheeks.

It was a time when children looked especially lovely to her.

Though it had been three years since their marriage and it was time to have children, Jayden was thoroughly preventing pregnancy after hearing about Clara’s difficult childbirth last year, which made having a child impossible even in dreams.

There were times she’d tried to hold him with her legs on particularly safe days, frustrated by how he would precisely withdraw, but he would inevitably distract her by sucking her chest or biting her ear to separate her.

Even though monthly gynecological examinations through a female doctor confirmed she was healthy enough to bear children, he remained firm.

She couldn’t force him on this matter since having children wasn’t a decision that could be made alone, so Larien tried to maintain a regular and healthy lifestyle, hoping he would change his mind.

“While waiting for the luggage to be arranged, would you like some Albas red tea that you enjoyed last time?”

The astute butler mentioned the tea leaves she had frequently drunk during her previous visit as Larien moved to the reception room where sunlight poured in moderately.

Just as when she was a doll, Larien still loved sweet things, and having often drunk the Albas region’s red tea with its sweet finish rather than bitter taste, it seemed he had remembered this preference.

“Yes, please. Thank you for remembering.”

Larien smiled brightly while creasing her eyes, grateful that he had remembered such a minor preference of hers.

“It’s only natural, ma’am.”

The butler returned a smile to the kind mistress, asked Clara for her preference as well, and left. While waiting for the tea, they continued their conversation from the carriage over the finger foods prepared beforehand.

Clara couldn’t hide her admiration as she looked around the reception room, which was decorated brightly but not excessively, and its antique furniture.

“How can Jayden be so excellent at business? It’s hard to believe he was once a doll.”

Clara whispered close to her ear, lowering her voice significantly.

Two years ago when the revolution succeeded, he declined most of the imperial assets offered to him, accepting only enough compensation to maintain a basic lifestyle with Larien.

Though it was quite a substantial amount, his reason was that he didn’t want to take what belonged to others.

People were puzzled by his decision, but soon understood why. Everyone was amazed when he quickly amassed wealth by expanding from creating a carpentry workshop that made affordable furniture for commoners into roads and ports.

Especially Leo and Clara, who knew he had been a doll, sometimes wondered if his past as a doll had been a dream, given his decisiveness and business acumen rivaling even experienced nobles.

Of course, they quickly abandoned such thoughts upon seeing how he valued Larien more than his own life.

“What does it matter? When he’s so busy like now, we can’t even be together.”

Larien pouted her beautiful lips, thinking of him coming tomorrow after some urgent business matters.

When they were dolls, they were together all day except when they couldn’t move, but ironically after becoming human, he became busier. She was full of complaints about how many people sought him out, only able to have dinner with him about every other day.

She had never asked him to become rich or wished to live in such a house. Just being together would have been enough.

Thinking of him who didn’t understand her feelings, she resolved to stay by his side all day tomorrow.

“True, that’s right. In the Land of Dolls, Leo was with me all day too. Sometimes I wonder if it was worth becoming human when we can’t even spend half that time together here.”

“Right?”

Larien felt somewhat relieved seeing Clara nodding in agreement, feeling she had found another comrade.

While the two were excitedly criticizing their husbands, there was a knock at the door.

“Madam, where should we put these dolls? Should we put them in the end room like last time?”

A maid organizing the luggage asked while showing a bag containing dolls.

“Yes. Please put them in the room where night comes earliest in this mansion. There’s some dedicated furniture too, but please just place that on the floor — I’ll organize it myself.”

“Oh, no, Madam. I’ll do it.”

“No, it’s fine. I know their prefe… I mean, I’d prefer to do it myself according to my taste.”

“Understood.”

After the maid left, Clara giggled and pointed to the doorway.

“Did you bring your friends too?”

“Yes. They were so upset when I left them behind last time. This time I packed my friends before anything else.”

Larien shuddered remembering Anne, who wouldn’t even make eye contact with her for two days, asking if she had gone to the beach alone.

From a human’s height, Anne’s angry posture with hands on her hips looked so adorable that she almost burst out laughing, but she held it back knowing it would only prolong her cold treatment. She was only able to appease Anne by promising to definitely bring her next time.

“You did well. We should clear the path so they can go to the beach at night.”

“I think we should.”

Clara gently patted Larien’s shoulder as she nodded.

“Beautiful and kind Larien. Have a baby soon. If the child takes after you, I’ll definitely make them my daughter-in-law. Robin will follow them around.”

Sunlight sparkled like fairy stardust above the two women smiling as they imagined the distant future.

* * *

The year the revolution occurred, the Grand Temple also collapsed. Though the revolutionaries had planned to leave the goddess’s temple untouched, flames erupted from within instead.

Many witnessed the Cardinal, who had colluded with the imperial family, setting fire to the temple himself and fleeing to hide his misdeeds. The Pope, who hadn’t even been enthroned for a year, lost his life in those flames.

Jayden’s shadow stretched long behind him as he finished his overnight negotiations at the social club that now stood in that place.

Judging by the sunset not having fallen yet, if he hurried, he could arrive at the villa late at night. After giving some instructions to the waiting coachman nearby, he took out his pocket watch while waiting.

With a click, the watch opened, and his lips softened as he looked at the small portrait drawn on the cover after checking the time again.

His long fingertips traced over Larien’s face for a moment.

The portrait was so similar to the real Larien that it had been worth waiting several weeks for it, but it’s making him miss her even more.

Since becoming human, he had run non-stop for three years — one year preparing for the revolution, and two years expanding his business after its success. His heart ached from having less time to spend with Larien.

Jayden organized his schedule, deciding to take some rest after this deal, remembering her lovely pouting face telling him to come early tomorrow.

Thump, a familiar hand lightly hit his back as he stood still.

“Looking at it again?”

Leo teased him, despite having just been looking at Clara and Robin’s photos himself.

Even with a child now, Leo was still playful and cheerful like Clara. Perhaps that’s why he felt more comfortable with them.

“Are you going like this? Or will you change clothes first?”

“I’ll go straight there.”

Though he wasn’t in the best state after pulling an all-nighter for this tricky deal, there would be clothes at the villa anyway. Jayden chose to depart immediately.

“Did you call for a carriage separately?”

With commercial carriages being prevalent these days, one could travel anywhere, anytime for the right price.

Though he had hired a carriage for Larien, he mainly used commercial ones himself. He believed it wasn’t right to flaunt wealth excessively during times like these.

And like now, when he’s in a hurry, even a carriage was unnecessary.

“I didn’t call for a carriage.”

“Then? Don’t tell me… again?”

Leo’s shoulders slumped as he guessed what was left unsaid, even without hearing a response.

Leo’s face turned pale as he saw the coachman approaching from afar, leading two horses with saddles instead of a carriage.

“Would it kill you to travel by carriage instead of a horse? The time difference isn’t even that much.”

“I’ll tell Clara exactly what you just said.”

Jayden quietly retorted to Leo’s grumbling.

“Ah, no. Please don’t. I want to see her quickly too. I’m just worried about riding horses at night.”

Jayden smirked at Leo, who was waving his hands while making excuses.

Just before mounting the horse, an old paper flew to his feet on a sudden breeze.

His eyes, which were about to ignore the nearly destroyed paper with faded letters, curved happily upon seeing its contents.

[Urgently looking for a ballerina doll and a nutcracker doll. If found, please inform Johnson’s Toy Shop. Will provide ample reward.]

The date showed it was from three years ago. It seemed like a paper that had been stored in someone’s house before being discarded. Jayden unhesitatingly stepped on it with his boot and tore it up.

How could anyone find toys that had vanished forever?

As he leaped onto the horse, his face shone more nobly than any other person’s.

<The Nutcracker — End>