At the break of dawn the following day, orange-red sunlight spilled across the room, warming the sleeping face of the young woman. She lifted her feet from the bed, letting them sink into the plush copper-toned rug beneath. Her hair was tousled, and her limbs stretched lazily as she rose. The narrow carpet stretched out toward the bedroom door like a red runway.
The walls were lined with portraits of famous ballet dancers from different eras, and beside the bed stood a towering bookshelf. Adeline shuffled to the bathroom at the far end of the room. The mirror, framed with gold-painted flowers, reflected her face—slight freckles adding charm to her delicate features. She pressed her fingertips against a small spot on the mirror, which magnified her reflection to reveal faint blemishes.
"Maskin' time" she groaned, then pressed the mirror back to normal. She applied a clear white cream across her face and placed a thin white sheet mask over it, leaving openings for her mouth, nose, and eyes. Her finger found a red button near the sink and pressed it. Soon after, mechanical arms descended from the ceiling, holding an odd toothbrush with bristles like soft porcupine quills.
"Say ahh," the robotic voice instructed.
"Ahhh," Adeline complied, baring her teeth. The brush began its meticulous work, releasing a fine cloud of minty vapor as it scrubbed her teeth.
"All clean. Sparkling," it declared before retracting into the ceiling.
She flashed a gleaming white grin at the mirror. She peeled off her nightgown and stepped into the large orange tub—it was three times the size of a normal bathtub. The curtains around it were pulled shut. Behind them, her silhouette settled into the warm water. She ran her fingers lightly along her smooth thighs.
Knock, knock."Lady Adeline, shall I bring your breakfast up?" called a familiar elderly voice from outside.
"No need, Aunt Cill. I'll come down and eat with you," Adeline replied from the bath.
"Very well, dear~," the voice faded.
Behind the curtain, she amused herself by blowing soap bubbles and popping them with bursts of laughter.
Pop. Pop. "Hehehe!" she chirped, sounding like a carefree child. Meanwhile, downstairs, Aunt Silly was setting the table. By the time Adeline emerged, she was dressed neatly with her white gloves on. Without missing a beat, she slid down the banister from the second floor, landing gracefully in the dining room.
"Wheee—there we are!" she announced with a playful grin. Her makeup was flawless—foundation blended to perfection, freckles hidden beneath.
"Those plum lips look sweet enough to eat," Aunt Cilly teased.
"Oh, don't say that if someone's visiting. I'll die of embarrassment," Adeline giggled, poking her own cheek.
"Heh heh, such a little kitten," Aunt Cilly laughed.
"So, what's for breakfast?" Adeline scanned the table—roasted potatoes, baked sausages, and steaming chicken stew. "Blimey, that smells lovely!"
"No more turkey for a while. I could tell you were tired of it," Aunt Cilly smiled, guiding her to sit. The two chatted as they ate.
"How's ARCI stock looking?" the older woman asked.
"Mmm—" Adeline swallowed her bite. "I expect Mr. Vandran will make a statement about the crisis in Africa this week. ARCI's presence there is suffering the most, and public backlash is growing. It'll probably drop another 6.3%. I'm withholding investments for now."
"What goes up must come down. The economy has been rough these past five years. Tensions, rumors of war…" Aunt Cilly sighed.
"Just terrorists, Auntie. They barely scratch the market," Adeline dismissed lightly. "Finance isn't that flimsy."
"Everything affects everything. I've told you about the pandemic, haven't I?"
"Hm?" Adeline glanced up.
"When I was a girl, New York froze in fear over a global outbreak. Businesses shuttered, even corner stores. I ate buttered croissants and watched TV, praying for blue skies… businessmen were ruined overnight…" Aunt Cill clasped her hands together, eyes distant.
"Well, there's no cause for worry now. Arthur Vandran snaps his fingers, and problems vanish. Most diseases are gone—80% eradicated," Adeline replied with sunny optimism.
"Still, one must stay grounded. If you'd ever been a saint, you'd know." the old lady said,
"Ah, I'm not tied to that belief, even if I was once," Adeline smirked, cheeks puffing playfully before she resumed eating.