Chapter 16

While looking at the child, Juno felt Count Sergien’s eyes on her.

The old man with white hair and a white beard was observing her. Juno met his gaze, turning her attention away from the disassembled body of the child.

I know that look.

A fire sprang to life in her heart. That was the look of someone trying to evaluate her, to see if she was worthy. The anxiety she felt when first entering the mansion dissipated.

I’m sick and tired of it. She stared back at him with a defiant gaze. Just as the old man was sizing her up, she was sizing up the old man. You look younger than I thought.

She heard he was eighty years old, but he appeared barely over sixty. Contrary to the rumors, he had aged like fine wine. His piercing gaze stood out the most. He almost looked like an older version of the doll who had escorted her here earlier. Will the doll look like him when he gets older?

“It’s quite a thing,” the old man said.

Juno eyed him. “…Have you finished your assessment?”

“Yes. Are you also done?”

“I am.”

The old man turned back to the disassembled doll. “Hm.”

Looking at the doll, Juno still felt disgusted. It was unbelievable the only thing intact was the face.

“What was wrong with him?” Juno asked.

“I was piecing together the truth.”

“What does that even mean…” Was this a punishment for the visit? Juno continued to stare at the doll.

“Say it again,” the old man ordered.

The child’s eyes blinked, and Juno felt goosebumps. Did he just move?

The child said, “I prefer red hair.” He could speak and look around.

He’s truly not a human. Juno felt the old man’s gaze on her again. “What?”

“Try it.”

“Huh?”

The old man’s habit of not explaining anything was frustrating.

“Do what you did yesterday.”

“What I did yesterday…” She remembered the red hair she felt between her fingers. Is he talking about that? It wasn’t anything special. Didn’t the child just do it? She glanced at the old man before saying, “…Make your hair red.”

As soon as she finished talking, the child’s blond hair turned red.

“…”

Did it change because she said so? No, perhaps it’s another ability of the doll. It was no surprise that these dolls, smarter than humans and possessing superhuman strength, could do other things. It must be easy to change the color of your hair.

The old man approached her and said, “You’re lucky.”

“Huh?”

The old man, who had looked composed and aloof, had a twisted smile on his face. “You’re unexpectedly talented.”

“What do you mean?”

“You have the qualities of an alchemist.”

The alchemist was a mysterious existence. Aside from Count Sergien, there has never been an alchemist. They were like mythical creatures.

Nonsense. How do I have the qualities of an alchemist? The previous person who held the title of alchemist was Peter Sergien’s father. But suddenly Juno could be one? Ridiculous.

Laughing, she said, “You must be joking.”

“I don’t play tricks.”

“What are you even talking about then?” Juno then realized he was telling the truth without elaborating. He’s not lying. Juno turned her attention to the child. His eyes blinked beautifully.

“You’re quite bold for someone who’s been abandoned by a mistress.”

Juno glared at the old man, but he only laughed.

“Do you know what people think of you as?”

She gritted her teeth. She knew. She heard it from the servants the past week, and she could tell based on the letters she received from acquaintances. A woman who was kicked out by a mistress and her child and sold off.

That was what she was known as. Everyone made fun of her while pretending to be worried. Even the man in front of her mocked her. The old man chuckled; her first impression of him disappeared instantly.

With a grin, he held out his hand to her. “I will change everyone’s opinion of you. You shall be the object of envy.”

Juno stared at his large, calloused hand. He wasn’t the kind of husband I was expecting. When she met his gaze, he was looking at her like she was interesting.

I’m not sure what’s going on, but… She was certain it was time to make a decision. The opportunity her mother mentioned. Juno didn’t know if she was lucky or unlucky. She didn’t know if the right choice was to hold this hand; however, Juno no longer wanted to live in complacency. I’ll stop having regrets. I don’t plan to keep hiding.

As the old man implied, Juno didn’t want to be remembered as someone who was kicked out by her father’s mistress. She remembered how she didn’t escape while also cursing the reality of her living situation. I’m going to change.

She recalled how she left the mansion alone and the shadow that could be seen from her bedroom window. She will not miss this opportunity in front of her. After Juno grabbed the old man’s hand, he laughed.

“Nice to meet you, Juno Sergien. Welcome to my home. I’m Peter Sergien.”

***

Looking at the child who had been disassembled into a mess of doll parts, she asked, “Are you going to leave him like this?”

Peter glanced at the child before turning around and saying, “You fix it.”

What was he talking about? Peter began to walk to the door.

“How?”

“On your own.”

Juno followed after him. “Even when you haven’t taught me anything?”

Peter stopped at the door and looked at the bookcase.

“Do you want me to read all these books?”

“Yes. I don’t have time,” he said.

“Wait!”

She just arrived here and already he wanted her to fix that doll. She raced after him; when Peter suddenly stopped, she bumped into him.

Peter glanced at her and said, “If you fix it within a month, I’ll accept you.”

“Didn’t you already accept me?”

“Yes, but if you fix the doll, I’ll teach you better.”

“…Huh?”

The corners of Peter’s mouth rose. “Try your best to get it done in time. If you want some advice, envision it, lay out the foundation, and then imagine it.”

Juno frowned. Peter pointed to the brown-haired doll standing in front of him. “This fellow will help you with your day-to-day life.”

She was surprised to see Peter take a coat from the doll. You’re leaving now?

“Where are you going?”

“I’m a busy man.”

Juno watched as he opened the door.

The brown-haired doll said, “Have a nice trip, Master.”

“I will.”

The door closed.

Did he actually leave? Shaking her head, Juno ran to the door and threw it open. No one was in the corridor. Peter just walked out, but he was nowhere to be found.

Juno felt like she was seeing things. Was the person she talked to really Peter Sergien? Can that even be considered a conversation? Did Juno have a knack for alchemy? He was her husband. Did her husband just accept her as his apprentice? It was absurd, ridiculous, and put Juno at a loss for words. What the hell is going on? He said she had the qualities of an alchemist and that he would make her an object of envy, then just left. He literally just disappeared, leaving her alone with the dolls. What even…

She stared at the door until she felt a presence standing next to her. Juno looked at the brown-haired doll.

“My name is John. I will be serving you from now on. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Juno nodded. “Nice to meet you, John.”

“I suggest you start studying.”

A doll who tells his master’s new wife to study as soon as she walked into the mansion. She heard a voice from behind.

“My lady, please fix me as soon as possible!”

Juno looked in the direction of the voice, then back at the brown-haired doll. No, she looked at John. It seemed she was the only one who didn’t understand the situation.