𝐄𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜 - Shadows House

Chapter 2

"We've waited well, It's a cute newcomer." The brown-haired girl said with a smile.

"She's Emilyko." Mia introduced. "That's the squad leader Rosemary," She pointed to the brown-haired girl. "and Lou who doesn't talk much." Mia pointed to the girl with wine-red hair.

"Us five will move as one squad. I'm the oldest so I'll be the one instructing you. But there's no need to be formal." Rosemary explained. She held out her right hand to Emilyko. "Let's get along, Emilyko."

The blonde fell to the floor staring at the ceiling in awe. Her eyes resembled a lake, you noted. The pools of blue resembled the deep shimmering waters of the lake back in your hometown... What hometown? You were created in the Shadows House.

"What's wrong, Emilyko!?"

"I'm in awe. It's so vast outside the room. There are so many living dolls..." She said, breathless.

"I understand, but relax, everyone is a good doll." Rosemary smiled.

"Well mostly everyone. Ufufu!" Mia said, helping Emilyko up from the floor before gesturing to a hallway. "The estate's vastness is amazing! That passage, for example, continues forever."

"Forever!?" Emilyko exclaimed.

"Watch out, that girl lies." Lou said.

"Emilyko, this is your cleaning box and soot coat." Rosemary held out a wooden box and a white sack.

"The soot coat isn't sed for simple cleaning like today's though." You explained as Emilyko picked up a soot mask before setting it down.

"Is this for me!? I'm happy!" She exclaimed excitedly, holding up the white coat.

"That's right! We're blessed." Rosemary smiled, putting a hand on Emilyko's shoulder. "If we clean, soot accumulates tomorrow~♩"

"If soot accumulates, we can clean again~♩" Mia joined in.

"Come! Let's work~♩" You sang, picking up a broom. "Let's be of use~♩"

"For the sake of the Shadow House!"

—

"That's it for today." Rosemary said.

"Ufufu! Today we go to use the bath to clean off." Mia said, happily.

"I've thrown away the soot." Emilyko said.

"You've worked har-" You said before looking at her appearance.

Emilyko was covered in soot from head to toe. "EH!? Emilyko, what happened to you?" Rosemary exclaimed.

"The soot we had gathered up... I fell into it." She said.

"It would have been better had you worn the soot coat." Lou said, trying to not laugh.

Mia was on the floor laughing, pounding the floor and you were trying to keep in your giggles but they escaped through your lips, your voice blending in with the others.

—

"Bring clean clothes." Rosemary said as the group waved goodbye to Emilyko.

"I think I'll head back to my room first. I need to clean Mistress S/n's room." You said.

"Ah, alright. Goodbye."

—

"Mistress S/n, I'm back." You announced, opening the door.

"Welcome back Y/n!" S/n said, removing her white nightcap.

You started to clean the room, starting with pulling open the heavy curtains. Light trickled in, casting the furniture with light. S/n rubbed at her eyes and a yawn slipped past her lips. She groggily got off her bed and trudged to the bathroom. You quickly cleaned the furniture, rubbing at the dark soot stains with a rag, and gathering the soot into bags. Replacing the dirty sheets with clean ones, bringing breakfast from the faceless dolls, were all duties of a living doll that they must perform every day.

S/n exited the bathroom, dressed in her usual outfit, sat down at the now clean table. "Thank you Y/n!"

She polished off the plate, wiping off the crumbs on her face with a handkerchief. "Let's go on a walk."

You nodded, taking the plate away before excusing yourself. You returned to your room and made sure to clean off any soot on your body. Undoing your hairdo, you brushed your hair and tied it back up again. You changed into your outfit which was called the "Portrait" which was made of the usual navy blue dress paired with a white ruffled collar and black mesh socks and gloves that covered your entire body except for the face. You nodded at your appearance with a smile before you made your way back to S/n's room.

S/n looked up from her book, marking the page with a bookmark and closing it. "Let's go!" Her voice was laced with a hint of excitement.

You nodded and followed after your Shadow Master. Walking along the stone path lined with hedges, you heard some voices. You turned to S/n who was already walking over to the source of the voices and you quickly followed after her. The both of you arrived to the sight of a shadow wearing a bright red dress standing with someone with familiar blonde hair. In front of them stood Mia and her Shadow Master who wore a yellow and green dress.

"-What's with this face?" The shadow asked, Mia copying her actions with a small smile. "It talks on its own."

"Eh..." Emilyko put her hand down which was presumably used to wave at Mia.

"Hello, Kate. Glad to make your acquaintance, I'm Sara." Sara greeted, lifting her dress up in a curtsy.

"...Glad to make your acquaintance." Kate said monotonously, Emilyko looked at her, her face pale and worried.

"My? You're awfully pale Kate, is something wrong?" Sara mocked.

"Mistress Kate is doing wonderfully." Emilyko said, gesturing to Kate.

"Puu... Ufufufu!" Sara laughed, her hands covering her mouth with Mia copying her actions. "Miss Defective Product, it would be wise to take after Sara's "face" and study hard." She said, patting Emilyko's head.

Kate grabbed Emilyko's wrist and pulled her away, stepping onto the grass to go around them. Mia stopped Kate by standing in front of her.

"What? You're trying to leave? Are you going to ignore Sara's advice?" Sara asked, Mia frowned, looking at the pair. "Listen, Miss Defective Product, what face is Sara making right now?"

Emilyko tentatively looked at Mia's face. "...An angry one." She said slowly.

"That's right. And what about Kate?" Sara spread her arms. "My? Kate, what's wrong? Is-"

"Sara!" S/n exclaimed, running over to them. You followed, stopping in front of them.

"S/n? What are you doing here?" Sara asked, turning to S/n.

"S/n was taking a walk and noticed that you were here along with Kate!" S/n said, turning to Kate and curtsying. You followed her actions with a small smile. "Hello Kate, I'm S/n. Glad to make your acquaintance."

"Glad to make your acquaintance." Kate responded.

Emilyko brightened as she saw you, raising a hand slightly and waving. "And is this your face, Kate?" S/n asked with a smile on your face. "Greetings."

"Hello." Emilyko said in a small voice.

"Sara would like to talk to you more but Sara must get going. Farewell S/n." Sara said. "Farewell Kate, be glad the one you met is Sara and S/n. I won't tell anyone of your incompetence."

Sara and Mia walked away, down the path that Kate and Emilyko came from. S/n turned to Kate and Emilyko. "Don't mind what Sara said. She may be rude but she only wants the best for you! Kate's face, you aren't a defective product! You're younger than S/n's face which means that you still have a lot to learn." S/n patted Emilyko's head and stepped back. "S/n must get going now. S/n would like to continue her walk with her face. Farewell."

The both of you walked away and S/n let out a sigh. "Sometimes S/n wishes that Sara to become kinder to others. I must say, Kate's face is rather adorable."

You let out a hum of agreement, continuing to walk down the path with S/n. "Let's return to our rooms, Y/n."