Chapter 3
“You’re out, my lord. But… are you really going to the Imperial Palace dressed like that?”
The butler looked Kerris up and down with obvious disapproval.
Kerris was dressed for going out, but he wasn’t wearing the formal uniform he always wore to the Imperial Palace.
The butler’s hostile gaze was fixed on him.
Without answering, Kerris simply looked away expressionlessly.
In a low, sharp voice, the butler said,
“I believe it would be best to change into your proper attire for the sake of House Layton’s dignity.”
Despite the butler’s disrespectful attitude, Kerris showed no reaction.
He was already used to it.
Instead of getting angry, he answered in his usual cold tone.
“I’ll be going to the palace a little later today.”
“…”
For a brief moment, surprise crossed the butler’s face.
Even if a natural disaster occurred, Kerris always arrived at the Imperial Palace exactly on time.
People even joked that he was nothing more than a puppet who lived only to work.
In fact, he had never once missed a day at the palace.
So it was only natural that the butler was shocked.
Ignoring the butler’s reaction completely, Kerris asked,
“Is the mansion’s security reliable?”
The butler frowned.
He disliked such an unnecessary question, but since his master had asked, he had no choice but to answer.
“Of course. You know very well that the guards of House Layton patrol day and night without rest.”
The butler hated having long conversations with Kerris.
If not for what had happened in the past, he wouldn’t have had to speak to him at all.
After hearing the answer, Kerris thought quietly for a moment before speaking again.
“Bring me the records of every woman who has entered the territory recently. Also, inspect the mansion’s security once more to make sure there are no weaknesses. As quickly as possible. I’m sure someone as capable as you can handle it.”
The butler still looked displeased, but he bowed.
Although the contempt in his eyes remained, Kerris’s overwhelming presence forced him to obey.
“Understood.”
Not long after, the butler returned with everything Kerris had requested.
Kerris carefully examined the records.
In truth, it didn’t take long.
Very few outsiders had entered the territory recently.
According to the reports, the only unfamiliar visitors were a few nobles who had come sightseeing several months earlier.
Kerris recalled the woman who had suddenly appeared in his bedroom.
She was far too beautiful to forget after seeing her only once.
If anyone else had seen her, there was no way she wouldn’t have appeared in the records.
The inspection of the mansion’s security had also found nothing unusual.
There was simply no explanation except that she had appeared inside his room out of nowhere.
If she were a highly skilled martial artist or assassin, she might have entered my room without anyone noticing. But someone with that level of ability would already be famous enough for the Imperial Palace to be watching them.
The possibility seemed extremely unlikely.
Even so, it was worth confirming.
Having worked at the Imperial Palace for years and met countless people, Kerris could tell just by looking at someone’s hands whether they were trained in combat—and if they were, exactly how skilled they were.
Setting the documents aside, he headed back to his bedroom.
Meanwhile, I sat inside the storage room, staring blankly at the tightly shut door.
It was locked, and there was no way I could open it.
Even if I shouted, it would probably only make my situation worse.
What if Kerris really misunderstands me? What if everything goes wrong from here?
Is this how my romance fantasy transmigration ends—with the bad ending?
Just then—
The door suddenly swung open.
Thinking this was my chance, I shouted the moment it opened.
“I really didn’t come here to do anything bad!”
“I haven’t said a word.”
Kerris frowned at me.
At least he hadn’t come back to throw me into prison.
Then why did he return?
While I cautiously watched him, Kerris suddenly reached out and grabbed my hand.
He lifted it in front of his eyes without warning.
My face instantly grew hot.
“W-What are you doing?”
“Hands this soft couldn’t possibly wield a weapon. Then perhaps you really are…”
What on earth was he talking about?
If I looked in a mirror right now, my face was probably making the strangest expression imaginable.
Just as I was about to say something, Kerris let go of my hand and asked,
“You said you became human from the doll in this room.”
“That’s right.”
“Then were you conscious even when you were a doll?”
Strictly speaking, I had only become the doll not long ago, so I hadn’t been conscious for very long.
But if I explained all that, it would probably only confuse him more.
So I simply answered,
“Yes.”
“Then you remember everything I ever said to the doll.”
Cold sweat ran down my back.
I’d answered without thinking.
What if he asks me about something he said before I possessed the doll?
Fortunately, Kerris asked something I could answer.
“Then tell me. What kind of relationship do His Majesty and I have?”
Thank goodness.
The novel had described the relationship between Emperor Schmidt, the male lead, and Kerris in great detail.
Although Kerris himself had never talked much about it while I was a doll, I already knew the answer.
“Your Majesty the Emperor and you became friends after meeting by chance in the territory when you were children. Back then, you exchanged letters often… but not anymore.”
Kerris didn’t react immediately.
He asked the question himself. Why isn’t he saying anything?
Just as I was beginning to feel uneasy, he finally spoke again.
“So you really are… Sarina?”
“Yes! It’s really me! Go ahead and look for the doll that used to be in this room. You won’t find it, because I’m that doll.”
Kerris pressed a hand against his forehead and muttered,
“A doll becoming human…”
I couldn’t blame him for being confused.
But I no longer had the energy to reassure him.
As a doll, I’d never felt hungry.
Now that I was human, I realised just how long it had been since I’d eaten anything.
When I slowly sank down onto the floor, Kerris looked startled.
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“…I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten anything.”
“…Ah.”
Without another word, Kerris led me over to a table in the corner of the room.
Somehow, bread and tea had already been placed there.
“Eat this for now. I’ll arrange a proper meal later.”
I nodded and carefully began eating the bread.
I was far too hungry to be picky.
Maybe because it had been so long since I’d tasted food, even plain bread felt wonderful.
As I quietly chewed, I looked over at Kerris.
Watching me hurriedly eat, he looked away and said,
“Now that I look closely… you’re wearing the exact same clothes the doll wore. You really are Sarina.”
“Honestly… I still can’t believe it myself.”
“So you don’t know why you suddenly became human?”
I shook my head.
“In any case, you can’t stay like this forever. You’re human now, so you’ll need food, clothes, and a place to live.”
He was right.
Life as a doll had been simple.
I could spend every day sitting quietly in the room.
But now that I was human, I couldn’t keep living that way.
So what should I do?
Is this the part where I leave the mansion and become independent like every romance fantasy heroine?
“You’re right. I can’t stay here forever. Could I ask you for one favour? Could you introduce me to a job? I don’t care what kind.”
“What do you mean?”
“…Huh?”
Surprised by his response, I blinked.
Kerris looked at me as though the answer were obvious.
“You may have been a doll before, but you’ve always lived in this mansion. Naturally, you should continue living here.”
It was the best news I could have heard.
I’d been worrying about how I was supposed to survive from now on.
If I could stay here…
That solved everything.
After thinking for a moment, Kerris continued,
“However, the clothes you’re wearing stand out too much. You’ll need proper clothing if you’re going to stay here. Wait in this room for now. I’ll order the servants not to come inside.”
“Okay.”
With those words, Kerris walked to the door.
He looked back at me one last time, his eyes still filled with caution.
He had accepted that I was the doll.
But he clearly hadn’t lowered his guard completely.
I thought everything was fine because he was talking to me the same way he did when I was a doll…
Feeling awkward, I pretended not to notice his gaze and stared into empty space.
A moment later, I heard the click of the door locking.
I immediately turned toward it.
He had probably locked it so the servants wouldn’t accidentally discover me.
Still…
Having just been locked up once already, I couldn’t help wondering if Kerris had imprisoned me all over again.
…No.
Surely not.
Trying to calm myself, I quietly finished the tea Kerris had brought me.
