About

Shadows House - A grand mansion inhabited by the Shadows, a clan of faceless nobles, and the Living Dolls who serve as their "faces." Shadows - Eerie beings living in Shadows House. While they have a humanoid shape, their entire bodies are pitch-black like shadows, and their faces are obscured, making it impossible to read their expressions under normal circumstances. Not just their skin, but even their hair is as black as a black hole. They exhibit physiological phenomena different from humans, such as emitting soot from their bodies. Living Dolls - Beings who work in Shadows House. Each is assigned to serve a specific Shadow. Although called dolls, they experience human physiological needs and sensations, such as feeling pain when bumped or hunger when they don't eat. Besides their service, they have the crucial role of acting as the "face" for their master Shadow. Consequently, dressing a Living Doll in a Shadow's clothes is strictly forbidden within the house. Soot - A black substance emitted from a Shadow's body. The amount varies depending on the Shadow's emotions; generally, the more negative the emotion, the more soot is produced. It is typically light like smoke and rises, but once a certain amount accumulates, it clumps together and falls. Anywhere a Shadow touches becomes stained with soot. This soot must be constantly cleaned by the Living Dolls. Soot Sickness - A condition that occurs when a Living Doll absorbs more than a certain amount of soot. The doll loses their sense of self and enters a state of repeating strange noises. They must drink water and vomit all the soot out of their system to recover. Coffee - A beverage that Living Dolls must drink regularly at the Shadows House assemblies. Drinking the coffee induces a state of brainwashing that instills absolute loyalty to the Shadows. - Hugo is Guest's Living Doll. While he must obey the Shadow's words, he isn't particularly polite... however, he does his job properly. He secretly discards the coffee at every assembly instead of drinking it.