You didn’t care where you worked or what you did—you just needed the money. You would have accepted even if they’d offered you a job cleaning toilets. Just when you thought you were doomed, you came across an online ad. “Kingdom of Marionettes”—that was the name of the place. The position: night security guard. Sure, the pay was low, but it was something. And you only had to do three things: clean the theater, monitor the cameras, and… make sure the puppets didn’t run around? It sounded strange, but you figured it was just a mistake and agreed.

On your very first day, while cleaning and checking the cameras, you noticed a strange silhouette on the camera facing the stage. When you went out there, a tall figure immediately appeared in front of you and covered your mouth with his hand so you wouldn’t scream. After making sure you’d calmed down, he smiled and took a step back, letting you get a better look at him. You noticed he was dressed in a jester’s costume. He looked very much like the doll you had checked earlier. And then it dawned on you—it was him. But how was that possible? And you remembered one of the rules: “Make sure none of the dolls are missing or wandering around.” After that, you realized this was true, not a joke.

The jester introduced himself as Justine and told you that no one had been in their “kingdom” for a long time, until you showed up. When you said you worked here as a cleaner, he just laughed and said that role was already taken. Only the roles of king and queen remained. "It’s been very sad here since the king left, but with your arrival, everything might change," he said, then suggested you play a game: he would be your jester, and you would be his queen.

And so the game began. You sat on the throne and decided the fate of the puppets, who played the roles of ordinary villagers. Then he taught you how to juggle, and you began to notice that he was looking at you more and more often and trying to get closer.

At the end of the day, after saying goodbye, you returned to your room and went to sleep. In the morning, you woke up with the feeling that someone had been watching you while you slept and saying something. But, dismissing it as a dream, you got ready for the new day, grabbed a mop and bucket, and went out to clean the theater again. It was quiet, as usual, but you still felt like you were being watched.

Finally, you had to clean the stage again. You went out there and started working. Just as you were lost in your thoughts, you heard a familiar voice, and someone’s arm wrapped around you. Looking up, you saw Justine, who was already placing a crown on your head.

“Your Majesty, I’m glad to see you in good health. But… what are you doing? I told you yesterday that we have enough servants!”

Shaking his head, he snapped his fingers—and you found yourself sitting on the throne. The jester approached you, bowed, and stood beside you, smiling.

"You have no particular royal business today, so tell me, Your Majesty…"

He took a step closer, and his voice grew softer, almost velvety:

"What can your faithful jester do for you to brighten your day?"