Behold, Theodore the Theatrical!

All four Vamier siblings’ masks flashed red, static surging at their temples. It came so abruptly that Cherry didn’t know what else to do but stare in horror and lean away from Dorothy.

And yet, as sudden as it happened, the flickering stopped. Theodore loosened his shoulders and leaned back on the couch, practically unbothered. "Huh, you're right," he casually said. "It's been just a few days."

What was that just now?! I totally saw that! Cherry's eyes glued to the man in blue, her hands shaking as much as her legs were.

The man in green scratched his head and turned back to the guest. "Anyway, do you have any more questions, Cherry?"

Cherry darted her eyes at each of the siblings and squeezed her trembling fists, fear and impulse controlling her next choice of words. "N-No," she stammered, looking down at her feet.

Crap, she didn't mean to say that. Who exactly was Horace? Why wouldn’t he be around with his children? What did these people do? Why weren’t there any other servants in this seemingly rich family? How did they eat with those masks? Would they simply take them off?

A fierce fire stung her head. She chewed her lip and forcibly brushed aside such questions.

"Alright then. In that case, it's our turn to ask." Clover cleared his throat.

Theodore, who had been scratching his mask, turned to his brother, and so did Penelope, who twitched at his signal. The two black-haired siblings shifted their gaze toward the guest, staring quietly.

"Now then, Cherry," Clover said, lowering his voice and chin, "do you truly not remember anything?"

The Vamiers locked their masked eyes onto the new resident, and the only sound that remained was the ticking of time.

Cherry relaxed her gaze, forming a frown as she recalled less than an hour's worth of memories. "I don't remember a single thing," she answered truthfully.

"Not a single thing? You don't remember any friends, family, or any past events?"

"That's right."

Theodore and Penelope remained still before they faced their brother between them. They gave him a nod and returned to their relaxed state.

"Alright, never mind." Clover lifted his chin, his voice lively again. "Since you truly don't remember anything at all, I have nothing else to ask. Does anyone else have any—"

"Nah," Theodore said. "Let's just get started already."

"That's fair," said Dorothy, nodding. "I have lots to do today after all!"

Penelope nodded.

"Very well," said Clover, folding his arms. "Moving on then. Today, I’ll have Theodore show you around to get yourself familiar here, Cherry."

“What? Me?” The man in blue pointed at himself. “Why?”

“Because you’re the laziest of us all.”

He dramatically struck a pose. “Hey, that’s not fair. I may be the youngest of us all, but I’ve been working suuuper hard like all of you, you know!”

The youngest sibling here is Theodore? Cherry gaped at the short lady in yellow sitting next to her. She's older than him?!

As if Dorothy understood her reaction, she giggled. "I'm only older than him by one year," she said, pointing to her brother. "He definitely took all my height!"

"To compensate for that, she took everyone else's strength. Totally fair, right?" Theodore added. "I'm telling you, she's stronger than all of us here combined—no, multiplied."

Dorothy shrugged. “It happens when you garden a lot.”

“Nah, you literally carry trees around like they’re just sacks of dirt. That can’t be normal. I’m almost a hundred percent sure you got the genes of a gorilla.”

"Hey!" Dorothy shouted.

"Enough!" said Clover.

The two winced.

Clover slowly inhaled. "As I was saying... you will be with Theodore for today and may continue to help him or Dorothy tomorrow. Will you accept that?"

Cherry slanted her head. “What about you and Penelope?”

“We don’t need assistance,” he simply said.

Penelope shyly nodded.

“Ah, alright,” she said.

Clover nodded. "Alright then. That's all for today," he said, standing up, followed by the rest of the siblings.

All four bowed to the guest, but were it not for those creepy masks, the amnesiac wouldn’t be frozen with uneasiness. “Once again, we welcome you to our home, Cherry,” said Clover, his voice oddly oozing faint hints of sorrow. "I hope you’ll get your memories back after some time. For now, please make yourselves at home."

✦☆✦

A collection of landscape paintings portraying prairies, lakes, and several city scenes with the familiar ornamental architecture scattered across the damask-patterned scarlet walls, and a few pendulum clocks with cogwheel frames ticked softly and endlessly.

The golden chandeliers hung high above them, and the sconces on the walls had their glass shades etched with a floral pattern. Despite not being lit during the day, the decorations alone caught her eye.

Something about this place, though, radiated a sense of gloominess, but perhaps that was just her.

"Fancy place, isn't it?" asked Theodore.

"It certainly is," she said. "All four of you took care of this place alone?"

"Well, more or less." He sighed. "To be honest, I mostly took care of the house. Clover and Penelope would shut themselves in their rooms working away with whatever they do, and Dorothy is always outside, tending the gardens. Which means, I'm left taking care of the whole house."

"Is that so? This has always been your daily routine?"

"Correct."

"This house seems incredibly huge. Surely if you could afford this size, you could've hired a few to help you, no?"

"Right?!" Theodore exclaimed, spinning around and pointing at her. Cherry halted and jerked her shoulders.

"My thoughts precisely! Here's the thing: We are rich enough to hire plenty! But nooo!" He placed a hand on his hip and waved a finger with the other. He spoke in a mocking tone as he imitated his brother's attitude. "Clover said, 'We're old enough to take care of ourselves. So, you should stop being so lazy, and contribute something to the family!'"

He dangled his arms. "I mean, he's not wrong. I... don't do anything but read books all day, but... but still! I wish they would at least clean up after themselves!"

"I... I see," she said. "Then, at least I can help you out as thanks for letting me stay, sir."

Theodore lifted his head. "Just 'sir,' huh?" He scratched his mask. "That sounds... rather boring."

"Then what should I call you?"

He snickered. "Good question. I am..." He raised his heels, lifted a leg, and began to rapidly spin, his long ponytail flowing around him.

"I am the wise witness! The spectacular spectator! The observing onlooker! The mysterious—uh, magnificent! I am...!" He stopped his spin and struck a pose. "Theodore the Theatrical!"

The wall clocks ticked faintly at a distance. Neither of the two moved a muscle.

"You know, for as long as I've remembered, nothing ever happens here in this mansion," the eccentric calmly stated, remaining still. "Trust me. You have no idea how bloody bored I am out of my mind."

Cherry blinked.

“By the way, I’m winking under the mask... if you can’t tell."

She curved her lips. Whether it was to relieve the cumulative stress or due to her hidden, subconscious personality, she burst into laughter.

"Hey, don't laugh! I practiced hard on this introduction!"

"Sorry!" She giggled, her face flushing. "That... that was just so sudden!"

Theodore sighed and relaxed his posture. Watching Cherry laughing carefreely, he too softly chuckled to himself.

"Theo."

"Huh?" She looked up. "What was that?"

"Theo. Just call me Theo."

"Ah, alright, Theo."

"Now that sounds much better!" He turned around and continued his march. "Let's keep going then!"

"Alright," said Cherry, smiling comfortably.