Luna would never forget the first time she touched Arlecchino's face—the warmth, the smoothness, the softness she felt with her fingertips.
It was just a fleeting touch, an accidental brush of her fingers against Arlecchino's face as she wiped away the blood, but the memory lingered.
"This is the House of the Hearth," she said.
-
Inside the House of the Hearth.
Arlecchino stood beside Luna, Lyney, Lynette, and the other girls Lefèvre had purchased, calmly introducing them to their new home, the House of the Hearth.
Lyney had arrived after Arlecchino had cleared out Lefèvre Manor.
The siblings were finally reunited, and Arlecchino extended an invitation to Lyney.
"Your interests align with ours," she said. "The House of the Hearth welcomes you. Here, you will never be betrayed, and betrayal will never be tolerated."
He turned to Lynette for her opinion.
Lynette simply looked at Luna. "Luna... are you really going to join?"
"Mm-hmm," Luna replied. "See? I already have a new surname."
Luna Snezhevna.
Luna was delighted with her new surname, even after learning that all adopted girls received the surname Snezhevna, while boys were given Snezhevich.
But it didn't matter. She loved the name.
Because Arlecchino had given it to her, making it all the more precious.
After a brief hesitation, Lynette met Arlecchino's gaze and gave a soft nod. "I'll join too. Brother should come with us."
The moonlight offered no guidance.
But Luna could.
After all, they had nowhere else to belong. As long as their family remained together, they could venture into the unknown embrace of the House of the Hearth.
"From this day forward, you are family. Get along. If conflicts arise, discern right from wrong. If you cannot accept the outcome, follow the established rules."
Arlecchino spoke coldly, her expression impassive.
She had taken charge of the House of the Hearth less than two years prior. Within its walls lived children left behind by the previous Knave, like Freminet, as well as newcomers like Luna.
As Arlecchino's gaze swept over them, the children couldn't help but tense slightly. They respected her, yet also felt uneasy. They couldn't decipher her; she always seemed so detached and composed.
"Father," Luna suddenly tugged at Arlecchino's sleeve.
The other children gasped inwardly. This newcomer isn't afraid of "Father"?
"Speak," Arlecchino said.
"What rules?"
"You're asking about the rules for resolving conflicts?" Arlecchino replied softly. "It's simple—a contest."
"No matter your ideals, without power, you will never obtain what you desire."
"Remember this well, Luna, but never let power blind you."
Arlecchino's gaze swept across the children before her, finally settling on Freminet's face.
"Freminet, take them to their rooms. There are plenty of empty ones in this house."
Freminet nodded. "O-okay..."
The House of the Hearth was even larger on the inside than it appeared from the outside. Freminet led the group to the empty rooms and announced that "Father" had told them they could choose whichever they liked.
Luna selected the room at the end of the hall, and Lynette chose the one next to hers.
The first night in a new home is always difficult to sleep.
After showering, Luna sat in her brand-new room, examining the pistol in her hand.
Arlecchino had said, "It's your trophy. Keep it."
But to Luna, it held little meaning.
A weapon was merely a weapon.
She opened a drawer and placed the pistol and bullets inside. Sitting at the desk, she had a clearer view of the starlit sky and the moon.
"'Father'..." Luna tapped her fingertips against the table.
The word "father" often conjured images of cold, stern figures.
Its natural opposite was "mother," a word brimming with warmth and tenderness.
"But when you actually touched her, it was completely different."
Smooth skin, a warm body temperature, so soft... Luna lingered on that fleeting memory, lost in thought.
Knock knock. A sudden knock startled her.
"Who is it?" Luna asked.
"It's me," Lynette's voice replied.
Lynette?
Luna hopped off the table and opened the door.
"...Um, good evening," Lynette murmured, her cat ears twitching slightly as she clutched a pillow. "Can I sleep with you?"
The request caught Luna off guard. But she reasoned that Lynette, having just escaped from such a traumatic environment, was naturally feeling uneasy. "Of course," Luna nodded.
Lynette's tail swayed gently, her expression softening noticeably. "Mm."
Lynette entered Luna's room and glanced around. Like her own, Luna's new room contained only the bare essentials, giving it a somewhat empty feel.
"You finally got to see your brother. Aren't you going to spend more time with him?" Luna asked.
"He said he was relieved to know I was safe and that he'd thank you later for your help... But I don't think that's necessary."
For some reason, Lynette didn't want Luna and Lyney to talk. Is it because her brother is her only family? Or is there another reason? She couldn't quite figure it out, nor did she feel the need to dwell on it.
Luna smiled faintly. "Indeed, there's no need."
"Oh, I heard you broke the showerhead in the bathroom. Are you okay?"
Lynette hugged her pillow, lowered her head, and said with a hint of dejection, "I'm sorry... I don't know how it broke. It always happens. I always break things, and then my brother has to fix them."
Breaking something the moment I arrive... What will the other children think of me?
The new environment, the uncertain future, the narrow escape from danger, and now this trouble on her first night—the weight of it all pressed down on Lynette, so heavy it even flattened her cat ears.
Luna stared intently at the drooping ears. "I was asking if you're hurt, Lynette."
"Me? I'm fine... I was startled and soaked in cold water, but I don't think I'll catch a cold."
Luna nodded. "Then that's all that matters. If anyone bullies you, I'll stand up for you." After all, Arlecchino had said that disputes could be settled through challenges.
"Thank you, but I still don't want to cause trouble for the other children..." Lynette sighed. "Why do my hands always break machines?"
"Because they're cat hands?" Luna quipped.
"My hands are human hands, just like yours, Luna..." Lynette murmured.
As she spoke, she couldn't help but yawn.
"Tired?" Luna asked.
"A little," Lynette replied.
"Then let's go to sleep. Come to think of it, this is the first time I've ever shared a bed with someone," Luna said, switching off the light.
Back at the orphanage, she had only shared a room with three roommates.
Lynette watched Luna sit beside her and suddenly wondered, Is it really okay to share a bed with Luna? But they were both girls, so it shouldn't be a problem.
"Inside or outside?" Luna asked.
"Huh?"
Luna pointed to the bed. "Do you want to sleep on the inside or the outside?"
"...Inside," Lynette replied.
"Then you lie down first."
Lynette nodded, feeling a little nervous. She placed her pillow next to Luna's, leaving a small gap between them, but not too much.
She lay down and rested her head on the pillow.
It had no particular scent, and the comfort level was... acceptable.
"I'm ready," Lynette whispered.
"Mm-hmm."
A rustling sound followed. Lynette opened her eyes and saw Luna slip under the covers, then poke her head out and rest it on her pillow.
Luna and Lynette lay side by side, gazing into each other's eyes.
A soft, warm scent drifted from Luna's hair, though they both used the same type of shampoo—after all, it was from the House of the Hearth.
"Thank you," Lynette murmured suddenly.
"Why the sudden gratitude?" Luna asked.
Lynette buried half her face in the pillow, stealing glances at Luna. "...Luna, you saved me, in more ways than one."
"So I wanted to thank you properly..."
Understanding dawned on Luna, and she blinked rapidly.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" Lynette whispered.
"Um... actually, there's something I wanted to ask you."
"What is it?"
Luna scooted closer. "Can I touch your ears?"