"Master? Please wake up, it’s now seven in the morning. I have already prepared your breakfast as usual.”

Theresa lowered her body and gently patted it on her master’s shoulder, feeling the softness of her master’s white sleeping dress that she has been so used to. She knew very well that despite what she was currently saying wouldn’t affect her master, who was a fine sleepyhead. Theresa has watched her masterwork tirelessly work on their masterpiece every day with great passion, and the least she could do as a doll maiden was to bring comfort and consolation with very little disturbance. Theresa believed her master’s work has always been fantastic and magnificent. If she dared to be obnoxious in her master’s eyes, she was willing to be punished harshly. Although, the master has never had any aggression towards Theresa, in spite of the mistakes she had committed. Theresa has always wondered why her master was so benevolent and kind towards her, but not as much to others.

“Now now… Theresa. Let me sleep in a little bit more…”

Her master was a rather old lady who was still in shape and remained a youthful beauty in spite of little to no cosmetics or anything that had an effect on their skin. The master growled and acted childishly, an act which Theresa has grown fond of and found kind of adorable.

“Dear master, your breakfast will be cold by the time you get up. Please, allow me to tend you with great care.”

As a maiden, her job and also her purpose were simple at best, being beside the master when she needed it, and completing all the everyday housework tasks. Theresa smiled at her master’s sleepy cuteness then proceeded to pull away all the window fabric coverings, letting the sun rays pierce through the glass windows and enter the master bedroom. Some of them came close to Theresa’s master's eyes which made her squint her eyes bothersomely.

“Theresa… My dear, I apologise for leaving the food cold but I promise just a few more minutes.”

Master exclaimed, feeling the great urge to fall into a deep sleep again before Theresa sat down beside her on the bed. Theresa then tenderly stroked her master’s beautiful curry black hair and placed her lips near the ears of her master.

“I made your favorite breakfast meal today, creamy chicken corn chowder as you liked it.”

Theresa whispered while letting out a soft breath as a method to wake up her master from their slumber. And it worked, to an extent.

“You really know how to make me wake up, Theresa. However, I have grown resistant to your temptations. You cannot simply tempt me like that anymore.”

Her master giggled, being a teaser to Theresa as always. Old age has never been a thing that stopped There’s master from being who she really was, and it certainly did not put a barrier between her and Theresa's relationship. Theresa smiled back, it was true that Theresa has used that technique too many times that the master now anticipated it.

“Fine then, master. I will stay here until you are fully awakened, as always.”

“Mhmm… You do what you wish, my dear Theresa.”

With that note, the master's breathing sounds could be heard more clearly than before, indicating that she has fallen into deep slumber once more at a quick pace. Theresa continued to stroke the master's hair, the master was like a child to her, and Theresa was the guardian. The comparison was utterly despicable, but Theresa couldn’t help herself to think of it that way. Being with her master for several years now, Theresa knew very well what her master likings. Their deepest favorite things, their two-way expressions, and their secrecies.

“Master…”

Theresa stared thoroughly at the master’s face. The expressions her master gave while they were sleeping were gorgeous and stunning. For the longest time, Theresa has always loved her master. Not as admiration or sisterhood, but an unexplainable and unchangeable romantic love between two people. But, how can a Doll, a creation, be able to love fulfilling their master? It was not possible and feasible, Theresa would never be accepted, and the master would deem Theresa broken and completely abandon all of Theresa’s emotions. Theresa has never stopped being in fear of those days. Thus, she kept silent, being simply a caretaker of her master and a maiden that the master can rely on.

“I love you, master, I always will.”

With a great urge in her mind, Theresa couldn’t control her emotions and actions. In consequence, she placed her lips so gently on her master’s. When she realized what she had done, she jumped and backed away while contemplating her act. Many times before, Theresa managed to take hold and didn’t perform the dirty thoughts in her head. However, today, only one, she lost self-control.

“What have I done… I shouldn’t… But…”

The kiss felt magnificent, something strange that Theresa has never felt before. There were times that the master had kissed Theresa on the forehead or cheek as a sign of appreciation and gratitude. Even Theresa had done it too. But this one was too far off the hook. Of course, she would hide it from her master, it was something best to be kept in secrecy rather than reported back. Then Theresa came to a crisis that she had her lipstick on when she kissed her master. As such, the remains of her pink lipstick were still on her master’s lips.

“Master, I am… so sorry. Let me just, wipe it clean.”

Theresa took out a fragrant handkerchief and proceeded to slowly, sneakily wipe her master’s lips. She was careful at best, not wanting in her best interest to accidentally wake up her master. It was certainly a dangerous move, but she was left with no choice. Being so up close again with her master made Theresa all blushed and embarrassed, but it was only the tip of the iceberg.

“Theresa? What are you doing?”

“M-M-Master…!!!”

Her master spoke up suddenly, their eyes were slightly opened in a sleepy manner to witness what Theresa was doing. Theresa was startled and pulled herself away quickly. She was blushing utterly hard, being that her face was red as a tomato and trying to cover it up using her hands.

“Was there something on my face?”

Her master has not probably figured it out yet which made Theresa become much more hopeful. She thought of an excuse to avoid the unnecessary consequences of the terrible scenario that she put herself in.

“Y-yes, master. You were drooling in your sleep so I decided to wipe it.”

“Strange, I have never drooled in my life before. Oh well, it’s a small matter. Thank you, Theresa.”

Lying to her master wasn’t something Theresa was proud to do, but then again, it was an urgent matter and she couldn’t be straightforward about it. Or else, the master would no longer accept her. Although, this happened to be the first time Theresa made a false statement. She only spoke her mind truthfully about the circumstances. She knew that the master wasn’t intended to let their creations lie. So… Was Theresa having errors? Nevertheless, Theresa didn’t want her time with her master to end so abruptly because of some misunderstanding in her thoughts and actions. She tried to push away any thinking about doing or saying inappropriate things to her master.

“I’m awakened now. I keep my words, right, my dear Theresa?

“Yes, master. I’m very grateful and happy that you did.”

Theresa put up a wide smile on her lips. She helped her master sit up on the bed and then stand on the cold wooden floor. It was spring at that time, but the chilliness of the winter still remained. Theresa could feel it too, however, being a doll meant that she could not feel everything a human could. Her master once said that she tried to make Theresa as “human” as possible, and what her master counted to be a human trait, of course, including emotions and feelings. Theresa did wonder if…falling in love was a thing that her master indeed put into Theresa. Perhaps yes, perhaps not. Either way, she didn’t want to shake it all away. Theresa endorsed the feeling of loving her master despite being unbecoming. But the control over it was loose, like a few minutes back when Theresa did an unspeakable act.

“Is there something that bothers you? You look thoughtful.”

With the voice of Theresa’s master calling out to her, Theresa snapped out of her thoughts and back to reality. She was assisting her master in getting downstairs to the dining room.

“O-oh, I was just thinking about how wonderful you are, master.”

A white lie, maybe? Theresa realized that it didn’t hurt to say false things. These false things didn’t contribute to any bad results, as such, Theresa believed that it was okay to lie, as long as the master seemed fine with it.

“If you feel unwell, you can rest for the day, my dear Theresa. You have worked hard for me, and you truly deserve a rest.”

“I’m all well, master. Please, it’s my purpose and responsibility that master should always be in my best care. Now, do you wish to let me make your food warm again?”

“Not really needed, I enjoy your food, all the same, cold or hot.”

Theresa cheerfully smiled, knowing that her master loved her cooking. But she still took the food that had already been laid on the dining table and used a fire elemental crystal to make the dishes warm from the outside.

“It’s best to enjoy your favorite soup in the best condition, master. Although I would say it’s your sleepy fault that it got cold.”

“Right, right, I apologize for sleeping in too late. But you have to be sympathetic for me, my dear Theresa. Don’t you forgive your adorable master?”

Theresa’s master would make a puppy face while staring at Theresa, acting all innocent and piteous. Theresa, who was joking around in the first place, was quickly defeated by what her master was doing. She couldn’t handle that expression but attempted her best to keep a cool head.

“Master, you are making me feel guilty now.”

“Well, you should be well-deserved to be guilty of bickering me.”

Theresa’s master chuckled, she found that teasing Theresa and looking at her expressions was something amusing and joyful to look at. Theresa also liked being teased by her master, she thought it was an act that the master liked being around her.