It was spring too at that time. The sun was up in all her glory. There was not much cloud drifting across the heavenly sea. Maya’s Sorrow is just one of many villages in the country. It sits amidst a mountainous terrain at the north-eastern corner of the state. Winds constantly breeze through the settlement. They are just enough to outmatch the heat from the sun. Even the hottest day there is only seventeen-degree Celsius.

The orchard was blooming with carnations, acacia, peons, and chrysanthemums. They were her mother’s favorite flowers. They were gifts from her husband who had passed away years before Caitlyn was there. Apart from the flowers were producer trees and plants that her family usually harvest for revenue.

“And so, though the world ended, their love lives on. Eternal. Everlasting. Outmatching time itself.”

The woman had been reading the story to a group of eleven children in a gazebo. She was meticulous with every word so that the children grasp them. It was the gentlest voice that Caitlyn ever heard. And her intonation was just perfect for telling the tale. Caitlyn were sweeping the lawn around the crowd. She found the story to be a decent company for her. She was listening to it as she repeatedly brushing her broom-stick from right to left.

“Grauwelle Caitlyn!”

Caitlyn gasped and tensed up as she heard her name mentioned at the top of someone’s lungs. She found a young woman in a similar housemaid uniform as hers marching toward her when she turned around. Her steps were heavy but their pace was extraordinary. Her fulminating face said it all.

The woman on the gazebo gestured to one of the children, the oldest one. The girl responsively herded the others away from the place and into the mansion.

“What in the world have you been doing!?” The young woman asked. Caitlyn shriveled and stepped back as she did so.

“Sister Gloria.” The woman said as she approached them both. “Where’s your manner?” She asked.

“Where’s my manner!? She has been here for an hour and not even a third of the lawn is swept!” She blurted.

Caitlyn tightened her shoulder as Gloria pointed at her. As if she is ready to hit her anytime soon.

The woman sighed. “Sister Caitlyn, please hand her the broom.”

Caitlyn reluctantly conceded. Gloria snatched it from her with force. She proceeded to sweep the lawn. The broom was harshly brushed against the it.

“Primus…I thought Androids are meant to ease works.” Gloria grouched.

Caitlyn looked at the woman. “W-what should I do…Sister Gvozdika?”

Gvozdika is taller than her. In fact, she is the tallest and the oldest of her sisters. Her tortilla hair stretches down to her waist. They are decorated with a magnificent pink carnation pin on the right side and a black ribbon that tied some of them up on the back. Her beautiful amber eyes always looked down on Caitlyn in downcast. It looked as if she was tired of her condition, but didn’t know how to get over it. So, she just let it be.

Gvozdika grabbed her hand. “Come here.”

Caitlyn followed in silence. Her sister’s apparent sadness leaped to her. It was always disheartening to see her troubled.

Gvozdika took her into the mansion. The interior was dominated with a delicate beige of the walls. The floor had an authentic wooden texture. Its light hue fit the walls nicely. The hallway is used to be filled by paintings on both sides. Caitlyn remembered seeing them a while ago. There were not much of them left now. She caught a glimpse of the living room. Once there was a soft ruffle carpet covering the floor. Antique shelves, chandeliers, coat stands, and frilly lampshade had once given the room flavor. They were not there anymore, swapped in favor of cheaper furniture that lacks aesthetics but still do the job.

“Mother could use her tea right now. Please brew one for her.” Gvozdika said.

“W-will do, Sister Gvozdika.”

Caitlyn nimbly headed into the kitchen and prepared the essentials. She placed a saucer and a cup on a table. She used one of the kettles in the shelves hanging above to boil water. She picked up a pack of chrysanthemum crystals and pour its content into the cup. She followed it up with the water that she had boiled. The tea has a distinct scent, a fresh one reminiscent of the flower. It tasted somewhere between sweet and sour. Caitlyn never tried it. She only heard testimonies from Gvozdika.

The mansion is two stories tall. She climbed the stairs that had a smooth wooden handrail held by twisting metallic poles. She walked to her mother’s room with a particular care as to not spill the tea. She knocked the door once she was there. The door opened but it’s not her mother that was there.

“Sister Galicia.” Caitlyn greeted her.

“That’s mother’s tea I suppose?”

“Yes, it is.”

Galicia gave her hand. “Hand it over.”

“B-but…” Caitlyn stuttered. She wanted to see her mother too.

“Hand it over.” Galicia said slower.

Caitlyn reluctantly agreed. With the tea on her hand, Galicia then shut the door. Caitlyn sighed. She fidgeted with her hands as she walked away stooped. Gvozdika is in another room repurposed for children’s dining. Her other sister was accompanying her, Gostinitsa.

Caitlyn sat on the stairs at the terrace with her legs close. She rested her right elbow on her knee before placing her head on her right hand.

Caitlyn wasn’t there when her father passed away. Yet taking care of the children remains imperative to them. It was the dream of her father once he retired. Her mother insisted to keep it that way to honor him. But their spending eventually overweighed their income. Her family had been in debt not long after. They had to disband the housemaid personnel and are forced to take on the responsibility in addition to their current job. Gvozdika had to quit hers because someone had to organize the endeavor. It eventually exhausted the four sisters. Their mother couldn’t help since she had gotten too old and often developed sickness. They decided to have one more housemaid to help them.

Caitlyn was that housemaid. She is an Android that came out of the manufacture branch meant to produce civilian products. They managed to acquire her by selling a couple furniture. Gvozdika told her that she was the cheapest Android at that time, and the only one that they could get their hands on. Hence there she was. Except that she hadn’t been satisfying. She wanted to be one. But so far, even a sloth worked faster. She couldn’t stop her mind from wandering off which always mess with her work pace. For that reason, her sisters always looked down on her thinking that they had wasted their money. At least they didn’t have to feed her, or maintenance her so far.

“Boo!” A loud voice startled her.

Caitlyn looked over her shoulder and found the girl who had herded the children inside.

“Ilya?”

Ilya giggled as she sat down beside her. Caitlyn recalled that she was ten years old.

“You’re cute, Caitlyn.”

“A-am I?” Caitlyn said flustered.

“Cute and funny I say.” Ilya giggled again.

“T-thanks…” Caitlyn rubbed her right temple. “I guess.”

Ilya has a light-brown hair which are bundled up on the back of her head. Her side hair extended past her face. She wore a white headband with a bunny pin attached to it.

“You sure daydream a lot.”

“Well…what can I do about it?”

“What were you thinking this time?” Ilya asked. But she followed it up before Caitlyn could answer. “Oh wait, don’t tell me. You must be dreaming of being carried by a handsome prince, didn’t you?”

“Where did that come from?”

“I saw you were listening when you were supposed to sweep the lawn.”

Caitlyn looked to the orchard and found Gloria there, still sweeping the lawn. She was the most combustive of the others. Caitlyn felt guilty for making her do her part. But she wasn’t brave enough to talk it out with her.

“I think it’s a good story.”

Ilya leaned closer as she let out a small laugh. “Then you did dream you were one.”

Caitlyn blushed and leered away. Surely no women can resist a good-looking man with an ocean of privileges.

“Don’t worry, I hope you’ll find one sometime later.”

It would be lovely. But it was highly unlikely. Even when there happened to be one who is on to her, Caitlyn had nothing to offer in return. Her conscience would oblige her to step back. It was just common sense. One didn’t have the right to expect much if one couldn't offer much. She herself was the cheapest Android after all.

“And I hope you’ll find one too.” Caitlyn replied.

“Promise me we’ll meet again once we snatched a prince.” Ilya gave her little finger.

“Pinky promise.” Caitlyn locked hers.

“Sister Caitlyn.”

Caitlyn turned around and found Gvozdika towering over her. She immediately stood up and met her gaze.

“Y-yes, Sister Gvozdika?”

“You didn’t forget about the tea, did you?”

“Yes, Sister Gvozdika. I took it to mother’s room where Sister Galicia then took it to her.”

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“Excellent.” She said indifferently. It didn’t sound as a compliment, but Caitlyn took it as one. Caitlyn was glad whenever she did the task given by her oldest sister. “Now help Sister Gostinitsa wash the dishes.”

“At once, Sister Gvozdika.” Caitlyn complied.

Caitlyn walked through the masses of children as she was making her way there. There were stacked plates and utensils waiting to be scrubbed. Gostinitsa was there doing the work. The girl noticed her presence.

“S-siste-” Caitlyn’s nervous greeting is immediately interrupted by Gostinitsa.

“You’re here to wash the dishes?”

“Y-yes, Sister Gostinitsa.”

Hearing that, she placed down the plate she was holding. She put the sponge on top of it and switched off the tap. Gostinitsa dried her hands before she headed away from the sink.

“Sister Gvozdika sai-”

“She sent you to help me, right?” Gostinitsa turned to her as she walked past. “Doing it for me helps, you know?”

Caitlyn wanted to argue but the girl had disappeared around the corner before she could say anything. It was not like she could argue with her anyway. She didn’t have the will and the wit to do so. Besides, they could just summon Gloria to the table and she would shut her for good.

Caitlyn scrubbed the dishes lethargically. Based on the current calendar, her first birthday would come in a week; the first anniversary of her activation. She hadn’t done anything so far. She hadn’t made anyone proud. Nor did she held off her tendency to fly into the other world, a world of her own making. She wanted to be useful for the family at least once before that day arrived.

Thanks to Ilya’s help, Caitlyn was able to finish the task earlier than she had expected. She expressed her gratitude before heading to other activities.

Caitlyn was restless that night. No one could afford her battery tins so she was stuck to calibration as an option to recharge herself. She had to do it at least once per three days. The day was one of those. But she couldn’t bring herself to calibrate. The clock showed that it’s two in the morning. Everyone was asleep but her. She decided to sneak downstairs to find some tasks to exhaust her.

She walked down the hallway with careful steps. She didn’t want anyone to catch her this late. Small lightings filled the hallway, enough to not left it entirely dark. She headed into the kitchen. The door to the living room creaked open just as she had walked passed it.

“Sister Caitlyn?” Her sister caught her.

Caitlyn turned around.

“S-sister Gvozdika…”

The woman, who is still in her maid suit, looked on her indifferently.

“What are you doing?”

Caitlyn tapped her indexes repeatedly. “I…uh…” She tried to make an excuse. She stopped once she realized that it won’t matter. There was just no benefit lying to Gvozdika. “I can’t sleep.”

Gvozdika looked over her shoulder before patting her head. “Do Androids have nightmares?” She said, placing her hand on Caitlyn’s cheek.

“I just feel a bit uneasy tonight, sister.” Caitlyn said. She locked her hands and stretched her arms down. “For some reason.”

“Perhaps a bedtime story would do?”

Caitlyn gasped hearing that. Her eyes shone brighter. She clasped her locked hands close to her chest and wanted to nod as passionately as possible. But that spirit died down immediately once she thought of the task that is occupying Gvozdika at the moment. The fact that she stayed up this late is a flag. She was not the person that would let herself be occupied by unnecessary affairs. It was unlikely that she had been lounging on the couch searching for a male partner on a dating site.

“What have you been doing, sister?” Caitlyn asked in dismay.

Gvozdika grabbed her shoulders and draw her face closer. “It doesn’t matter.” She said. “Do you want a bedtime story or not?”

“Yes, sister. I do.”

“Wait here.”

Gvozdika entered the living room and came out with a book on her hand. The same book that she read to the children this morning.

“Let’s go.” She said.

“Aren’t you just…going to do it here?”

“Isn’t it better to do it in your room?”

“Wouldn’t it be more convenient for you to do it here though? At the living room?”

Gvozdika reached for her face. “Wouldn’t it be more convenient for you to fall asleep once the story is over?”

“Um…”

Caitlyn would like to argue further. There had to be a lot of important work she still had to deal with inside there. She didn’t want to burden her sister. But she didn’t have the chance to say it as Gvozdika grabbed her hand. Gvozdika took her back to her room once she closed the living room door.

Caitlyn walked heavy-heartedly. An Android like her should be capable for any tasks from the get-go. Yet there she was being treated on equal footing with the children. Even her room was previously Gvozdika’s. Her sister slept on the living room’s couch ever since. It was her decision. Caitlyn felt sick this time. Gvozdika clearly harmed herself for her. But no one in the house gave Caitlyn humane treatment other than her. She radiated a pleasant warmth that kept her going. It’s a dilemma she couldn’t resolve.

Caitlyn and Gvozdika sits side by side on the bed. The book is the size of Gvozdika’s forearm. The hardcover has a delicate pattern on its front side. Caitlyn could only wonder where did they get it.

Gvozdika placed the book on her lap and opened it. She wrapped her arm around Caitlyn’s shoulders.

“Now listen carefully, Sister Caitlyn…”

Caitlyn didn’t say anything. She just pressed herself against her and let her head falls to Gvozdika’s shoulder.

“No one in the Kingdom of Halytske was as blessed as Princess Catherine…”

“Her kingdom was rich. Her family saw no equal. There was not a single soul in Halytske who is not attached to her. Her dark brown eyes enchanted whoever they were looking at. Her sweet lips were irresistible. Her long hair looked like it’s made out of copper, but still they jiggled like silk. Her soft pale ivory skin drove wild fantasies among the males. Even the gals on the street were more than happy to take her arms in the kingdom-held seasonal ball.”

Caitlyn didn’t find those words on the pages. Gvozdika flowed with her own. Her voice gave a sense that something is brewing. Something was waiting for her on the next pages and she was eager to hear it from her sister.

“Hence, she was caressed. As if a gardener carved an entire garden just for a single strand of flower that bloomed once every year. Lavish meals weren’t the only things she dined upon. Knowledges of all sorts are also served in a silver-platter. Philosophy, statesmanship, geopolitics, speech, manner, even military affairs and martial arts made it into the menu. And she munched on them the way she did her dishes. Thoroughly, and gracefully. She made sure to hit every corner as best as she could.

“But not once she was allowed a step out of her grand castle. As much as her people loved her, no one other than her family actually knew her. She was all the way up her spire while everyone else was far below. She never heard any voices other than those close to her. One day, she was tired of the treatment. She longed to fly out and see the world. So, she snuck out of her castle and made her way upriver. No eyes noticed her that day.

“She was elated to hear the birds close to her ears. The soft grasses on her feet prompted her to take another step further. As a tender gust swept down the plains, she plucked off the ties that bound her hair. She opened her arms wide and let the burst of air mess it up. She was as free as the river stream she had followed all the way there.

“When the river turned into a creek, she found a boy of her age sitting beside it. His skin looked dark. It was soot upon closer inspection. His clothes looked like it’s changed once per three days, unlike her who had to change three times per day. Sweat covered his face. His palms were dirty and rough.

“On normal occasions, people who got a chance to visit her would present immense courtesy. The boy didn’t follow the trend. He just smiled and waved at her like she was just a normal person. Catherine returned his gentleness. She then decided to sit beside him and break the ice. The boy told her that he was always there at the third day of the week where his labor is at its worst. The delicate ambience of the creek gave him clarity.”

“Sister Gvozdika…”

Gvozdika paused. “Yes, Sister Caitlyn?”

“Princess Catherine had everything. Why did she become tired of it?”

Gvozdika momentarily turned a blank stare away. She looked like she’s trying to string a proper answer.

“It is…in our nature as a living being to move.”

“Was she not satisfied with what had been given to her? Why did she look for something more?”

Gvozdika brought her face closer and pat Caitlyn’s head. “It’s more like…she wanted to change her condition. Not because she was ungrateful, but she didn’t feel like she was heading anywhere.”

Caitlyn curiously looked her in the eyes. “I don’t understand.”

“Have your other sisters ever treated you nicely?”

Caitlyn shook her head.

“Have they ever said something nice to you?”

Caitlyn shook her head.

“Or at least smile to you?”

Caitlyn shook her head.

“Aren’t you tired of it?”

“B-but Princess Catherine was treated pleasantly.”

“But she was confined and lonely, Sister Caitlyn.” Gvozdika said. “She couldn’t bear that, and that is the point. It was a harmful status quo. We always seek to move away from it. It’s natural. Princess Catherine was young and energetic too anyway. You must be more than willing to alter your sisters’ view about you, right?”

Caitlyn took a deep breath. “They always seem to be in pain. I don’t like it.”

“And you want to change that.”

“But I don’t know how.”

Gvozdika gently stroked her hair. “It’s okay. Your chance will eventually come.”

“Then…” Caitlyn reached for Gvozdika’s left hand and enclosed it with both of hers. “How about you, Sister Gvozdika?”

“Hmm?”

Caitlyn looked at her face closely. Her sight scanned every curves and corners of it.

“If we move away from things that harm us, then why don’t you?”

“What do you mean I’m harme-”

“I never lied to you, Sister Gvozdika.” Caityn gripped her hands tighter as she frowned. “Please don’t lie to me.”

Gvozdika sighed. “I’m sorry, Sister Caitlyn. It’s a more complicated scenario.” She said. “It had been unpleasant for us for the past couple of years. We are all harmed here, even the children. I had to take the responsibility because I am the oldest youth around. The best I can do, is to make things a bit more pleasant for all of you.”

“But…do you really had to give your bed away for me who only sleep occasionally? Didn’t that harm you in some way?”

“Aren’t you glad to have your own place?”

“I am…”

“Then fret not, I won’t feel harmed. And hence I don’t need to move anywhere.”

“But why, Sister Gvozdika? Why are you doing this?”

Gvozdika kissed her forehead. “Because I love you, Sister Caitlyn.”

Caitlyn met her gaze. Her eyes glimmer like the stars. Caitlyn could see herself on them. She too could feel her own eyes turning into a mirror. She recognized what the phrase meant given the context. But within a year of her existence, none had ever said that to her. She never thought that anyone would say it thanks to her poor performance.

She was so flustered that she didn’t know what to say. She decided to wrap her arms around Gvozdika’s stomach.

“C-could you please continue the story?”

Gvozdika chuckled. “With pleasure. But you’ll calibrate once I’m done, okay?”

“I promise.”