Shadows House (シャドーハウス)

That noise we heard.

Sounded like it came from this way.

The hallway door leading to the entrance is open.

To think that there's a rulebreaker in our midst.

A rulebreaker in the children's wing, no less.

This is Star Bearer Barbara.

Is someone there?

Come quietly and reveal yourself!

A scorch?

Mistress Barbara, please stand back!

Barbie, be careful not to allow

any to get in your mouth.

What is this? There's so much of it.

-- --

Ow...

All living dolls must gather in

the great hall immediately!

Oh no. I wonder what could have happened.

Are you certain it wasn't a veiled doll?

I've never seen a doll like that before.

And with the increasing number of scorches,

I'm afraid I must inform Edward.

Why that transgressor?

Whether we like it or not, he is still the warden

of the children's wing and those are the rules.

Is there any possibility that it was Lord Edward?

He's only just received punishment

for his prior incident.

He wouldn't be foolish enough to repeat the same misdeeds.

The lord entered the children's wing unbidden

and received a stern warning.

Would be good if it made him more submissive.

I will tolerate no trespassers on my watch,

regardless of who it might be.

Edward may officially be the warden, but we're the ones

who keep watch over the children's wing.

We're the Star Bearers.

Intruders or traitors, we'll eliminate them all.

For the sake of the Shadows family.

What is all this...?

Quiet, maggots!

I've got an announcement.

A suspicious figure wearing a robe was spotted in

the great hall earlier.

You got any information, you report it.

If you fail to do so, the results won't be pretty.

Now get out.

Hey. Miss Sunshine.

Uh, yes, ma'am?

You wouldn't happen to be involved with this new incident,

--now, would you? --

If I find out you're hiding something...

...this will not end well.

Master Robe?

Yes, because according to Barbie,

the suspicious figure wore a robe.

Is that what everyone is calling it?

No, I'm the one who gave it that name.

I didn't want to be rude if it happened to be a shadow.

So I added "Master" to make it nicer.

Oh, I see.

You don't think that the robed intruder could have been Edward,

do you? I wouldn't put it past him.

Perhaps he hasn't given up yet.

No need to worry. Kate is here with you.

Ah! You're right!

Still, to wake and summon all of you

in the middle of the night...

It was quite high-handed of her.

Yes, I was surprised myself.

Especially given that you and Kate have passed the debut,

and therefore have come of age.

But... isn't it true that the Star Bearers

have authority over us, even though we're of age?

Even so...

It doesn't mean that they're allowed to do

anything they please.

Oh! And Barbie said this.

To you specifically?

Yes.

She said, "You wouldn't happen to be involved with

this new incident, now, would you?

If I find out you're hiding something,

this will not end well."

You were awoken so late,

and told such hateful words.

Hmm.

But, Mistress Kate...

...I was so happy to see you awake and waiting

for me to get back!

Well then, allow me to say...

Good night, Emilico.

And a good night to you, Mistress Kate!

Barbara's surveillance will only grow more strict

with time, and Kate has but a few allies.

Ricky and Lou are likely still overcome by

the soot coffee.

Besides Emilico, Shaun is the only one who's been

completely cured.

Kate, the ever-lovely rose.

Louise, a gerbera in full bloom.

Today marks the start of our orientation.

You shall be taught how to lead a proper life in the main house.

Yes, thank you.

Splendid!

Louise is one of Sarah's favorites.

They're unapproachable.

Ah--

Your movements are quite rigid.

Relax. There's no need to be so formal here!

That's right! Everything you children do from here forward

should be for your betterment, that you may one day be

of great service to our Lord Grandfather

and the Shadows family!

You have now come of age!

And as such, you may move freely around the house!

Mm... Ah!

Make every day brilliant!

'Tis what Maryrose prefers.

Study in the library!

Admire the plants in the conservatory!

Nurture your spirit in the music room!

And in the dance hall...

...Maryrose herself will instruct you!

To improve oneself is a child's top priority.

Embrace that.

Come, join us!

Let us bond inside the Shadows House!

Oh, well that seems lovely!

Does it not?

Is it okay to borrow the books

and read them in our rooms?

That's perfectly fine.

As per the rules, there is a notebook in each room

to catalog your time spent performing activities.

If you do not make enough entries, you'll be seen as

a worthless shadow with no intention of self-improvement.

She spoke whimsically of freedom and pastimes,

but these rules ensure that we won't have a lot of time

to ourselves.

The systems is set up so that we, the children,

can surveil each other. Kate must inform John.

-- John-- -- Have you all

finished your orientation as well?

Yes. We went over the main points.

That is just splendid!

John and Patrick are acting coldly.

Kate wonders... could they have been re-indoctrinated?

If so, a letter may compromise us and could well expose

our resistance to the enemy.

Can Kate even pass them letters?

We're surrounded by so many prying eyes.

Are they already watching us?

Kate would like to speak with the boys to get

their assessment, but being in different groups

makes that more difficult.

To avoid suspicion, our conversation must be casual.

If Kate were Emilico, she would simply ask the question.

Kate envies her at times like these.

-- Ah-- -- Kate!

About our engagement! John wants to chat.

Hmm?

What are you talking about?

Well, back at the debut, John--

Kate is grateful for this honest idiot.

You did what?! If you wanted to propose to anyone,

why wouldn't it have been Louise?

Just look at her beautiful face!

Don't be such a goon!

We hadn't even received our ranks yet, and besides,

it's not like John picked her based on her face!

"Goon"? Paltry word from a paltry boy!

Louise would have declined anyway!

That's enough! I insist you stop interrupting John!

Hmph! Essentially, Kate--

John wanted to stress that there's no rush at all.

That he plans to take his time to show you all the things

that are good about him.

So, for now, if we could, you know...

Yes. No need to say more.

Glad John is still John.

That's it! I guess everyone was just nervous!

Hah! You're all so ridiculous.

Go ahead--lose your hearts to each other!

While you do that, Patrick will become the consummate shadow!

-- -- Hmph!

Hmm?

John...

I wondered where you were hiding!

Susanna, a Star Bearer.

I have a special lesson for some of you.

Those brilliant ones who have newly come of age.

This way, please!

Just a few of us?

This might be my only chance.

You're in luck. Susanna loves this lesson!

Little Kate and John and Louise all seem like they'll

shine brilliantly, so I can't help but be excited!

"Little"?

You children are so cute!