The airship descended until it hovered just above the wide front lawn, across from the two-lane road. Adeline leapt down gracefully, her expression softening as she saw the woman before her.
"Miss, you're home early today," the maid said. Her voice carried the warmth of age, though her skin looked no older than that of a woman in her late thirties.
"I just needed some rest, Aunt Cilly. Today's been rather dull," Adeline replied gently, speaking with an almost childlike humility.
"And the staff?" the older woman asked.
"I had Yomi take care of it. Don't worry about a thing." Adeline took her hand, leading her through the gate and into the front yard.
"Mm~ shall I prepare something for dinner, then?"
"Not right now. I don't really have an appetite… Maybe later this evening."
They crossed the emerald lawn toward the steps leading to the front entrance. A slanted roof provided shade above them, and the door ahead resembled the steel vault of a bank. Adeline's gloved hand reached out and traced glowing letters across the metal: 'Adeline Callaghan'. The massive door sank smoothly into the ground, revealing a luxurious sitting room bathed in a soft amber glow. A deep red sofa waited in the center. Adeline sank into it with a tired sigh.
"I'll go water the plants, dear," Aunt Cilly said as she disappeared through the back corridor.
The room carried the charm of a forgotten age—ornate Victorian moldings, a chandelier that spun slowly in midair, suspended from a domed ceiling higher than most homes would ever allow. A frameless television gleamed on the wall. Beside the long sofa stood a single armchair, and between them rested a lion-footed glass coffee table. To the right, an open arch led into a hall lined with display cabinets filled with antiques and old paintings.
Adeline placed her documents on the table and rose, making her way to the kitchen. The corridor between the rooms was long and lined with photographs of landscapes from around the world—silent witnesses to all the places she had once seen.
Beyond the hallway lay a gleaming kitchen: long dining table, polished counters, and every utensil perfectly in place. Three doors lined the wall beyond—one most likely the bathroom. To the right, a staircase led upstairs, and beneath it, a small locked room that no one ever entered. At the far end, glass doors engraved with Tudor roses opened to the back garden, where the light shimmered over a small dome-shaped greenhouse.
"What should I snack on…" she mused aloud, pacing the white-tiled kitchen. Opening the fridge, she found a few slices of toast from that morning.
"Oh, this from breakfast," she smiled, taking one piece in her left hand. Beneath her white glove, the frozen bread began to soften and warm as if the heat came from her touch alone.
"Mmm~ still warm, still good." She took a bite and smiled to herself like a fourteen-year-old girl sneaking a treat. From an overhead cabinet, she took down a teacup, tore open a brown packet, and poured hot water over it. A fragrant sweetness filled the air.
"Black tea. Perfect."
Carrying her cup and toast back to the living room, Adeline set them gently on the glass table. Sunlight poured through the windows, touching the left side of her face in gold.
"Foolish Things," she said softly. Immediately, piano notes floated through the speakers on the wall. Adeline lifted her hands and began to mime the melody in the air, her fingers dancing across invisible keys.
From behind her, a shadow joined in—her own reflection, now alive, mimicking her gestures as if playing a duet.
"Mmm~ the lipstick traces on my cup… the plane ticket in my hand, taking me somewhere beautiful… my heart still flutters—these foolish things remind me of you~"
Her voice was light, almost birdlike. The shadow rose, spinning gracefully like a ballerina, then reached out to embrace her. Adeline blinked, and the illusion was gone. She sat alone, fingers hovering midair.
"Whoops~" She brushed a hand across her face, chuckling softly. Then she picked up her teacup by the handle with one finger and took a slow sip, savoring the sweet warmth before setting it down again.
She reached for the file on the table—Brian Dixon's résumé.
"Brian Dixon… What's so special about you?" she murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly.
She thought for a long while, barely blinking. Finally, she took a breath, grabbed the red seal from the drawer, and stamped it firmly onto the top page:
ACCEPTED
It was done.
Raising her gold watch, she opened the holo-screen and began typing a message to send directly to his mail:
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Dear Mr. Brian William Dixon,
The CMI review board has completed its evaluation of your documents. Following your interview, we are pleased to inform you that you have met our company's employment standards.
Your first day of training will begin tomorrow at 7:00 a.m., concluding at 3:30 p.m. We are delighted to welcome a candidate of your caliber to Callaghan's Motor Industry.
Should you have any questions, please contact [email protected]
Best Regards, Adeline Callaghan
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