影宅——那是眾多「影家人」與僕人「活人偶」們生活的地方。一名「活人偶」來到了「影家」一族的少女凱特身邊。起初拘謹的兩人，隨著一同生活逐漸拉近距離。然後凱特為「活人偶」取了「艾蜜莉可」這個名字。

艾蜜莉可習慣服侍凱特之後，便開始與其他「活人偶」們一同打掃宅邸。她被分發到蘿絲瑪莉班，與米亞、露一同努力打掃。另外還遇見了米亞服侍的影家人莎拉，但是比主人凱特先開口說話的艾蜜莉可卻被她說成是「失敗之作」。

艾蜜莉可參加了學習關於「影宅」大小事的『課程』。在蘿絲瑪莉在導覽宅邸內部時，艾蜜莉可試圖詢問有關『公開亮相』的事情，然而她並沒有獲知詳情，只得到了「活人偶對於影家人不得懷有忠誠以外的心思」的這句教誨。與此同時，掃具間裡出現了「黏著物」……。

身為「戴星者」的活人偶芭比，針對先前發生騷動的原因進行了審問。拉姆則被她單方面地當成犯人。結果頂撞芭比的艾蜜莉可、尚恩以及拉姆必須一起找出原因，三人於深夜時分開始在宅邸裡巡邏。究竟他們三人能不能查明原因為何呢？

凱特、喬恩、露薏絲、帕利克、夏麗與他們各自的「活人偶」這五組人，心中懷著各自的想法與決心，挑戰『公開亮相』。在居住於『與爺爺同住棟』的特殊「活人偶」愛德華的主導之下『公開亮相』終於要開始了——！

五組人挑戰『公開亮相』摸索著通往合格之路。考官愛德華指示活人偶們要在煤灰沙漏飄完的約兩小時之內，找出位於廣大庭園迷宮中某處的主人，兩人一同抵達出口。艾蜜莉可等人時而互相協助尋找著主人。另一方面，凱特發現「公開亮相」似乎正在什麼人的監視下進行著……。

五位「活人偶」憑藉著手上的地圖和道具，急忙前往遭到囚禁的主人身邊。然而庭園中卻設置了各式各樣的機關阻擋他們的去路。究竟他們五人能否與主人重逢，並且在時限內抵達出口，順利通過『公開亮相』呢？

陸續出現與主人重逢的「活人偶」，而艾蜜莉可與從她身上得到勇氣的拉姆，約定彼此合格後還要再見面，隨後便各自前往主人身邊。『公開亮相』中的所有人都順利邁向合格之路，儘管這對於必須踢人的愛德華來說是出乎意料，但他卻毫不動搖，沉浸於彈奏鋼琴的喜悅之中。

每個人的狀況隨時發生變化的『公開亮相』逐漸接近尾聲。艾蜜莉可在抵達的地方，看見關在鳥籠形牢籠裡的凱特。支撐著鳥籠的鎖鏈，會對煤灰起反應一根根斷開。底下還有滿是尖刺的樹林等著，究竟艾蜜莉可能否救出凱特……？

艾蜜莉可活用天生的機靈與強壯，總算是救出了凱特。沒時間沉浸在重逢的喜悅中，煤灰沙漏所顯示的『公開亮相』時間已經所剩不多。究竟兩人能否在時間限制內抵達出口，在『公開亮相』中合格呢？……隨之而來浮上檯面的影家人目的究竟是什麼？

艾蜜莉可在公開亮相會場喝下「特別的咖啡」，對影家滿懷忠心。那副模樣令凱特深受打擊，於是她利用艾蜜莉可房裡的別去想筆記本，成功緩解了艾蜜莉可的洗腦。隨後凱特讓艾蜜莉可橫躺休息，把只能存在於兩人之間的祕密都說了出來。

艾蜜莉可被某人給帶走了。凱特跟喬恩等人商量以後鎖定了犯人，她決定入侵與爺爺同住棟救出艾蜜莉可。得到突破公開亮相的大家相助，凱特朝著光榮的走廊邁出步伐。

凱特終於來到艾蜜莉可的身邊，但這一切都在愛德華的計畫之中。倘若兩人就這麼被愛德華囚禁到天亮，便無可避免會被當成叛亂份子遭到懲處。而在這可說是絕望的狀況之中，出現了兩個形跡可疑的身影……究竟凱特與艾蜜莉可能否逃離愛德華的魔爪？

Barbara and Barbie meet a robed figure at the entrance of the manor with a large number of Scorches. Later in the night, the Living Dolls are gathered and ordered to report if they know of the figure. Kate and Emilico discuss the announcement, then go to sleep.

Barbara strives to fulfill her role as a Star Bearer in spite of Barbie's concerns about her health. Troubled by the disturbances which keep occurring in the children's wing, Barbara wonders if things would have been different under the previous leader.

Meanwhile, in John's rooms, John reads a letter from Kate. Something in it sends him into a state of shock.

Kate and Emilico have resolved to become Star Bearers in order to close in on the secrets of the house, and begin to make moves in order to gather information. But just as they are about to get started in earnest, the living dolls all gather in the great hall for a rejoicing party where they are attacked by a huge mass of scorches, leading to a second incident of phantom mayhem.

The Star Bearers have determined that the soot pipes are the origin of the phantoms. For now, in order to quell the disorder in the children's wing, Barbara punishes the Belle twins, who broke the coffee carafes, by assigning them to cleaning the soot pipes. However, having been unable to ascertain the true culprit behind the incidents, the Star Bearers turn their suspicions on Kate.

While in the research team's lab, Kate and the others look for hints as to Master Robe's identity.

As Kate meets with her peers, Emilico and John reminisce under a starry sky, but the night will not end as quietly as it begins.

Each of the peers from the midnight meeting, along with their living dolls, begin their separate investigations.

Kate and the others hold another meeting in Patrick's rooms to share information, and as they hone in on the culprit behind the phantom mayhem, Emilico realizes something.

Kate and the others have deduced the identity of Master Robe, the culprit behind the phantom mayhem, who then tells them of the cruel secret of Shadows House.

No match for Maryrose, Kate and John flee the main house, but just when they feel truly cornered, they come up with a plan to turn the tables.

The culprits are captured and handed over to the Star Bearers where a brief conversation calls up the regrets of a broken promise and secrets hidden in the past.

The phantom mayhem has ended in the worst possible way, and as the house tries to settle back into its usual routine, Kate and Emilico's suspicions and fears give rise to an unshakeable determination.