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This winter was particularly frigid.
Kate watched as Emilico cleaned the snow covered windows. She had told her earlier to only clean the windows from the inside until the chill let up. When she had tried to protest, Kate merely pointed out how it was too dangerous to try and climb out onto the icy ledge.
Besides, the water would just freeze to the window anyway.
Emilico had no argument for that.
Kate turned towards the fireplace that roared with life. It was the only thing keeping the room warm. Kate had been in the halls. She felt she had to wear a coat just to move around the building.
“It is supposed to be particularly cold these next few days.” Kate mused. “Will you be okay?”
“I’ll be fine Mistress Kate!” Emilico mused in her ever cheerful tone.
Still, Kate couldn’t help but worry. She knew the Dolls’ rooms weren’t as well equipped for the winter as the Shadows’ rooms.
That night, after Emilico had set up the fireplace to ensure it would keep all night, she bade good night to her mistress with her usual kiss on the cheek, and Kate dozed off to the crackling of the fire.
She woke up a few hours later. The clock said it was a little past one in the morning. The temperature had dropped sharply. Even with the fire, Kate could see her breath just slightly.
She stood to use the bathroom, before putting a few more logs on the fire just to be safe.
Before she returned to bed though, Emilico had crossed her mind. Despite the girl’s assurances, she could help but worry.
She decided she would at least check up on her, giving a cautious push to the revolving wall Emilico used.
The wave of cold that escaped the passage was like a punch to the face.
Growing more worried, Kate stepped into the passage, icy floor stinging her feet as she maneuvered down the passage, air growing colder as she moved away from the warmth of her bedroom, lantern flickering in the dark.
She pushed open the door to Kate’s room.
Immediately she could hear Emilico’s whimpers. Stumbling over to the box that served as her bed, Kate threw the lid open.
Emilico was curled up in a blanket trying desperately to gain some semblance of warmth. It was working all that well: She was shivering violently, breath coming out in icy mist and face crimson.
“Emilico! EMILICO!” Kate grabbed the girl’s shoulder and shook her. Emilico jolted awake with a gasp.
“A-ah! M-m-mistress K-Kate! Do you n-need something?” Emilico shivered, trying and failing to hide the fact that she was freezing.
Kate grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the box.
“Come! You will sleep in Kate’s room until the cold lets up!” The girl ordered as she began to drag Emilico out of the room.
“N-no! I-“
“That is not a request, it is an order!” Kate snapped, and Emilico shut up, unable to refute that. Kate dragged her back through the passageway.
“You should have told Kate how bad it was!” Kate scolded.
“I-I didn’t want to b-burden you Mistress Kate!”
“Your health and safety are never a burden!” Kate snapped.
“But Mistress, I am a living doll who-“
“Who was designed to be as human-like as possible. You can still get sick from the cold!” Kate responded a little too quickly. She pushed open the revolving wall, and Emilico gasped softly at the shift in temperature. The room still had a chill to it, but the fire ensured it was still much warmer than Emilico’s room.
“In.” Kate pointed to her bed.
“B-but that’s your bed! I’ll be fine sleeping near the fireplace.” Soot began to emit from Kate’s form. Oh no. She was getting upset. Emilico had to think of something. “Besides! The sheets are covered in soot, and Mia once talked about how she got a really bad rash because she didn’t properly clean herself of soot one night!”
The emanation of soot let up as Kate looked to the soot covered bed.
“Ah. Kate did not think about that.”
Emilico would have sighed in relief if not for the fact that Kate walked up to the bed and began pulling the sheets off.
“You will simply have to perform double laundry duty tomorrow.”
Emilico squeaked.
“Please grab a spare set.”
Utterly defeated, Emilico walked over to a set of draws holding spare sheets, helping Kate to replace the bedding. Out of arguments, she reluctantly climbed into bed with her Mistress.
Despite her hesitation at the situation, Emilico fell asleep rather quickly. The blanket was warm and much softer than her regular bed.
Kate stared at Emilico’s sleeping face as she herself dozed off. Now that she wasn’t freezing to death, she actually looked quite adorable, drooling in her sleep.
And if Kate said nothing when she woke up in the morning to find Emilico was a snuggler? That was fine.
And if Emilico continued to sleep with Kate in her bed, even after the winter faded into spring?
That was also perfectly fine to Kate.