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upscalerat
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The car passed through the gates, and passed by mansion after mansion on the hills. This must be where I'm to stay, Adaline thought. Aozora's Training Houses, they were called. It was a sort of secluded community that had been pushed to the side of civilization to ignore rich misfits who needed to learn social values.
I don't belong here. It wasn't the first time the thought had passed through her head; sure, Adaline was probably not as knowledgeable about how to live on her own as she should have been. But that didn't mean that she belonged here, of all places. Her father had told her that she would be put in a special house: it wasn't for correction, but for refinement. And her mother had said that it was for the best. And then they had sobbed and sent their daughter on her way.
Now Adaline sat in the back of a rented car that had been hired to bring her here. Her things were packed in two suitcases in the trunk, and a tote bag with her in the backseat. The car was divided so she didn't have to make small talk with the driver but, on her own, Adaline had nothing to do, so she stared out the window.
Refinement, was it? The pale girl closed her dark blue eyes and leaned back into the seat. Fine, then; she'd stay for the rest of the year, learn what she needed to learn, and then leave. Easy enough. Satisfied, she opened her eyes and pushed her long, straight, behind her shoulders, and looked back outside impatiently. They were, somehow, still driving on the gravel driveway to the many mansions, but Adaline could see no more houses. Where were they? The girl frowned and- oh, there it was. The car finally stopped in front of this last mansion, and a moment later the driver opened the door for her.
"Thank you," Adaline murmured as she stepped out of the car. She grabbed her white and green stripped tote bag and flattened out her ruffled white dress. It had straps around her shoulders, and a bow where the straps met the bodice on one side. It was shorter than Adaline might have liked, so she held her bag in front of her exposed legs. The white sandals on her feet were secured with a grey ribbon that wound around her lower calf, and the slim girl looked at the mansion while the driver took her suitcases from the trunk.
The building was stone and brick, and beautiful. An exquisite door opened and out hobbled an older woman, who Adaline presumed to be the maid. A pair of young, nondescript butlers followed her. The driver shut the door and took the car away, leaving Adaline there.
"Welcome, Miss Cisneros," the woman greeted. "Welcome to Aozora Training Homes. I trust that you understand that we'll be keeping you here for a time, and preparing you for your life ahead." She paused to cough into a handkerchief. "We have simple rules: you may not leave without expressed permission or an escort. I am told that you are a fine young lady, and that other house rules may be assumed."
The girl nodded. The butlers went and took her things, and the maid continued to speak. "These men will take your things to your room, and I will take you around the mansion." Adaline remained quiet and followed the three inside. The butlers, each with a suitcase, climbed a grand staircase, while the maid took Adaline around the house. Here is the kitchen; always accessible, always stoked. Here is the dining room; breakfast, lunch, and dinner would be held there daily. Attendence would be required for the first week, and only advised after that. Here is the library, here are the many studies, here are several living rooms. Some constituted more as game rooms, thought Adaline. Bathrooms were shown, and then the girl was taken upstairs. Bedroom, bedroom, bedroom; bathroom, bathroom; more studies, another library.
Finally, the girl was taken to a final living room on the ground floor. "There is a butler in or near every room, except for bedrooms, bathrooms, and rooms they are asked to leave. They can help you with anything you need," the maid explained. "And here is a final living room. Two of your housemates has already arrived; they're in here. There are two more coming, they will be here by the end of the week. I leave you, now- go introduce yourself," the maid instructed, and opened the door.
Adaline walked in. She had left her tote bag in her bedroom, and now was conscious of her legs. There was a boys about her age sitting in the room; Adaline guessed that he had been told to wait there for her. "Hello," she greeted, in a murmur, as the door clicked shut behind her. She couldn't see her other housemate, but assumed he was just behind the furniture.
I don't belong here. It wasn't the first time the thought had passed through her head; sure, Adaline was probably not as knowledgeable about how to live on her own as she should have been. But that didn't mean that she belonged here, of all places. Her father had told her that she would be put in a special house: it wasn't for correction, but for refinement. And her mother had said that it was for the best. And then they had sobbed and sent their daughter on her way.
Now Adaline sat in the back of a rented car that had been hired to bring her here. Her things were packed in two suitcases in the trunk, and a tote bag with her in the backseat. The car was divided so she didn't have to make small talk with the driver but, on her own, Adaline had nothing to do, so she stared out the window.
Refinement, was it? The pale girl closed her dark blue eyes and leaned back into the seat. Fine, then; she'd stay for the rest of the year, learn what she needed to learn, and then leave. Easy enough. Satisfied, she opened her eyes and pushed her long, straight, behind her shoulders, and looked back outside impatiently. They were, somehow, still driving on the gravel driveway to the many mansions, but Adaline could see no more houses. Where were they? The girl frowned and- oh, there it was. The car finally stopped in front of this last mansion, and a moment later the driver opened the door for her.
"Thank you," Adaline murmured as she stepped out of the car. She grabbed her white and green stripped tote bag and flattened out her ruffled white dress. It had straps around her shoulders, and a bow where the straps met the bodice on one side. It was shorter than Adaline might have liked, so she held her bag in front of her exposed legs. The white sandals on her feet were secured with a grey ribbon that wound around her lower calf, and the slim girl looked at the mansion while the driver took her suitcases from the trunk.
The building was stone and brick, and beautiful. An exquisite door opened and out hobbled an older woman, who Adaline presumed to be the maid. A pair of young, nondescript butlers followed her. The driver shut the door and took the car away, leaving Adaline there.
"Welcome, Miss Cisneros," the woman greeted. "Welcome to Aozora Training Homes. I trust that you understand that we'll be keeping you here for a time, and preparing you for your life ahead." She paused to cough into a handkerchief. "We have simple rules: you may not leave without expressed permission or an escort. I am told that you are a fine young lady, and that other house rules may be assumed."
The girl nodded. The butlers went and took her things, and the maid continued to speak. "These men will take your things to your room, and I will take you around the mansion." Adaline remained quiet and followed the three inside. The butlers, each with a suitcase, climbed a grand staircase, while the maid took Adaline around the house. Here is the kitchen; always accessible, always stoked. Here is the dining room; breakfast, lunch, and dinner would be held there daily. Attendence would be required for the first week, and only advised after that. Here is the library, here are the many studies, here are several living rooms. Some constituted more as game rooms, thought Adaline. Bathrooms were shown, and then the girl was taken upstairs. Bedroom, bedroom, bedroom; bathroom, bathroom; more studies, another library.
Finally, the girl was taken to a final living room on the ground floor. "There is a butler in or near every room, except for bedrooms, bathrooms, and rooms they are asked to leave. They can help you with anything you need," the maid explained. "And here is a final living room. Two of your housemates has already arrived; they're in here. There are two more coming, they will be here by the end of the week. I leave you, now- go introduce yourself," the maid instructed, and opened the door.
Adaline walked in. She had left her tote bag in her bedroom, and now was conscious of her legs. There was a boys about her age sitting in the room; Adaline guessed that he had been told to wait there for her. "Hello," she greeted, in a murmur, as the door clicked shut behind her. She couldn't see her other housemate, but assumed he was just behind the furniture.
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