Clockwork Maiden, Literally.

Hard To Understand, Apparently

--Chronodia Household, 2031 hours--

Evening…

At this particular time, normally, I would’ve jumped unto my comfy bed back at Helmington. But in Gardia, I find it hard to do so. The bed is abnormally huge. It looks incredibly expensive. Because of that, I refrained from bashing down to bed. Or else, I might break it.

After washing my face, I go straight to bed. Aria accompanied me all the way to my bed, as if she is my personal maid. When I’m about to lie down, I carefully sit on the bed first. Aria giggles when I did it.

“W-What’s wrong, Aria?” I asked with a blush on my face.

“Fufu, you are really unique, Miss Eva,” she stated softly.

I sway my hair sideways while saying “Huh, I don’t get it.”

“Well, it’s because you are not like any noblewoman in this city,” she explained.

“Eh, am I not acting like one?” I asked in a bit of panic.

“Absolutely,” she said smilingly. “Rarely using pajamas, rarely drinks milk, and ignored many other manners that a noble should’ve had.”

“W-Well… I’m not used to such things. I can’t force myself to be one, either, Aria. Is it wrong to not act like one?”

“No, it is fine,” she replied kindly. “Behaving like what you used to be before you’re here is one trait that I like from you. You didn’t lie to yourself.”

Huh, that’s one word from her. Indeed, I dislike acting like nobles. I’m more used of a normal peasant that has little strictness, though sometimes being treated badly by some self-proclaimed important people.

“Normally, the lord of any aristocratic family would not grant such attitude. Miss Eva,” she stated. “But Master and Mistress Chronodia are different. They don’t matter it. I won’t be surprised if you acted like them.”

“Ehehehe~” I chuckled in a bit of embarrassment.

Shortly, I felt drowsy. It signifies the end of the day. I then lay my head above a pillow that has tassels. Within seconds, my eyes are closed like automatically, thus I leave the real world and gone into the ocean of dreams.

Though I don’t see her, I can feel Aria dragging my blanket upwards so that I may feel warm.

…

…

--Chronodia Household, 0530 hours--

I wake up upon noticing a familiar voice ringing in my ears. I did wake up, but my eyes remain closed yet my ears are open to hear these warm voices. I quickly notice it is my mother’s voice.

Even though not seeing her directly, I can feel her presence. I don’t know what she’s doing as of now. But she is humming softly. Her voice makes me feel incredibly comfortable. A few seconds later, I realize she was singing a song with her hum.

“Lulla-bye”

“How nostalgic,” I thought. This song reminded me of a time… long ago. I don’t know when. I don’t even remember my childhood properly. But this warmth really makes me want to sing along. It calms my nerves.

Amidst of her humming, she stroked my hair. She softly pinches my cheek. A second later, I heard a small chuckle.

“Love you, Eva,” she soothingly said, not knowing that my ears are listening closely. I hear her standing up, then a set of footstep sounds fading as they go further away and finally lost in the void of the morning light.

Somehow… it hits me hardly. I don’t know why, but my eyes are tearing up for no reason.

“Mom…”

…

…

--Chronodia Household, 0844 hours--

The lights of the capital city has turned off as the sun has risen, shining the colorful city. Helmington has little to no sign of colorfulness like Gardia, though. But the people there are fun. And talking about people…

That’s right. I’m itching on going outside.

Strangely enough, my body has recovered almost entirely. Even my father was astounded by this strange phenomenon. He said that even his magecraft that can heal people would not go as far as having instantaneous effects.

I simply reply, “Ain’t it a good thing, dad?”

And almost in the same time, my mom said the same thing, too, but with her motherly voice. “Isn’t it a good thing, dear?”

My dad rubs his forehead in utter anxiety. Ooh, I know what he’s thinking now. He must be thinking of my safety again. Of course, my health was concerning as per yesterday, but now it is suddenly like I’m back to business state once more.

“Damn…” he mumbled and spoke it out loud. Ooh, that tone of his. He really does not believe my current condition.

The living room, crowded with several maids, is rambling about the oddity within me.

“D-Dad?” I called softly. “Dear?” My mom joined the call.

He then lets out a longer breath. “Look Eva, I’m happy to see you back in your boots, bright, and beautiful like what you were used to, but if it is sudden like this, I might as well question like what the freaking hell is going on with my daughter?” he spoke rapidly.

“Well… there’s nothing bad happening, though…” I said while twirling my hair strokes. “I guess I will be fine, hehehe…”

…

It turned not really well.

My dad still not willing to let me out of the house, but at least he allowed me to walk around the yard, which is great! Aria is tasked to handle me again, by the way. She was happy to undergo the job.

Fifteen minutes later, dad leaves the house with his steam car. Aboard the car, he passed by the gate, guarded by Sir Champs.

Curiosity dangling all over me, I walk to his car followed by Aria.

“Hey, dad!” I greeted.

“Yo!” he replied and his hand waved.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“Well, duh. Find seven dragon balls and make a wish!” he oddly said with a funny face.

“Hah?” I failed to understand.

“Of course, GO TO WORK, my dear. Ever heard of that catchphrase of you can’t eat if you don’t work? Well here I am going straight to office, babe,” he rapidly stated.

“Aha! I see. Please take care of yourself, dad,”

“Uhm. You too, Eva. I don’t want to see you dangle around the bed again. Be a strong woman, like what you used to be!” he stated seriously.

A short pause…

“Well, then!” he changed expression almost instantly into offhandedness. “I’ll be driving off. See you later, my daughter.”

--And with that, he left the gate and drives off to work. Shortly, I turned my attention around, seeing Aria visibly holding her giggle.

“What… are you laughing at?” I jokingly asked.

“P-Pardon me, Miss Eva, your interactions with Master Edward is unbearably comedic. Hee-hee~”

“Huh, I’m not a comedian, though. I have a bad taste of humor,” I said frowningly.

“Well, I do have a bad taste of humor, too, you know? Tee-hee~”

“Argh, enough already, Aria, let’s go elsewhere!” I pouted. Her chuckle sometimes gave me an odd sense of fear.

…

…

--Edward Chronodia, 0934 hours—

Edward Chronodia, a man who wears official suit of the government. His crimson red short hair with his iconic French mustache along with a monocle and a badge presents him as the head of the Chronodia Family.

As an official of the government, he wears usual gloves that have the symbol of compass with eight pointers. That compass is the symbol of Augzeria, the country that spans widely and is the current dominating nation.

Edward drives his car routinely to his work place, alone. Sometimes he brought breakfast to work if he was bound to lateness. And right now, he is going to be late for work.

“Gerominous shrimpy piece of a cardboard!” he said rapidly. “I can’t focus at all, dammit! Moreover…”

He checks his watch and proceeds to rapidly lamenting whilst driving speedily.

“Gah, priceless piece of shrimp! What kind of magical phenomenon is happening to my daughter? Can’t the mother-nature be kinder towards her? She’s just an ordinary kid! She suddenly got healthy and fresh as if nothing’s ever happened to her. That runic gear bevel is still within her body, but it doesn’t seem to be the case! If there’s anyone that could heal her, I believe I could, but I will need massive magical energy to do it. If she’s suddenly healthy like that, I suspect myself for unconsciously pulling some deus-ex-machina skill out of nowhere and healed her in an instant! Because of that, I can’t think clearly because I suspect myself for doing something unconsciously. GRRRRR!”

As he grunts, he drives crazily and nearly collided with a car from another lane. The driver of that car shouts at him.

“Watch where you’re going you half-assed retard!”

Edward angrily retorts, “YOU’RE THE RETARD!”

Slowly, he returns back to normal as he calmed himself down. He drives much slower and relaxed this time.

“…Argh…” he groaned. “I just wanted her to be happy. Is it wrong for me to do so? Obviously it’s not false, because I’m her father, but still… seeing her in pain yet I have little to no lead of what happened to her body makes me want to jump off into the nearest river and let myself drown in its unforgiving flow. I feel useless. I just want her to live happily ever after. That’s all I want. Was it that hard to achieve?”

He continued driving silently for the next several minutes before finally taking a left turn. He then drives into a walled structure past the gate. The security guard confirmed his ID card and let him through. He then parks his car somewhere. With a solemn face he enters the building through the main entrance and welcomed by mediocre guards.

Just beside the main entrance, there is a sign written:

DEFENSE & INVESTIGATIONS BUREAU OF GARDIA

…

“Today, I must investigate thoroughly. No matter what, I must find a lead that can answer that Runic Gear within her!”