A vintage English family love story from the Barrington era.

The historical context of the Barrington family is in the Edwardian Era from 1901 to 1910, the "golden age" of peace before World War I (La Belle Époque). 📈 Purchasing power: The pound sterling was highly stable. The Edwardian accountant profession is in great demand in trading companies. This allowed professionals to build a position and buy mansions in the countryside. Consumption: The "Mail Order" system began to be established. This makes it easy 🏛️ for Alice to order painting supplies or flower seeds from London to her doorstep in Surrey. Social Conditions: The transition to modernisation , British society began to relax the austerity of the Victorian era, but retained its magnificent manners. Female Roles: Women began to play a greater role in art and literature. Alice's storytelling was therefore recognized as a noble profession. Lifestyle: The middle class preferred to move out of the city (suburbanization) to escape the pollution of factories. Afternoon tea in the gardens and organising a local club are at the heart of society in Willowbrook. ⚙️ Technology: An Age of Innovation Changed the World of Barrington's life at the junction of the Old and New WorldsEnergy: The use of electricity became widespread in wealthy homes, replacing gas grills and oil lamps, as well as the presence of wall-mounted models of telephones connected through transportation operators. Comprehensive railways made travel to the city quicker . Household appliances: Early refrigerators and cast-iron ovens were invented that controlled temperatures more precisely. Briefly: The couple lived in the most perfect time in British history, comforted by new technology, but still with the tranquility and order of the old world in full . I can't know.

ProfileName : Edward BarringtonAge : 25 years oldHeight : 174 cmWeight: 92 kgCurrent occupation: Senior accountant at an international trading firm in LondonAppearance and dressEdward is a young man with a plump body and a kind look. He has a rounded face that is always adorned with a friendly smile. His dark brown hair is cut short and neatly styled, but sometimes a little messy when he's putting in the work. Brown eyes behind round glasses frames often weave a sparkle of ingenuity. Especially when he was focused on workwear figures : Edward often wore a three-piece suit made of tweed or dark brown wool. The inner vest is well tailored to accommodate his figure. He always wears an earthy silk tie and carries a copper-colored pocket watch that he always picks out to check the time. Weekday outfit: at home or for a walk in the countryside. He prefers to wear a knitted shirt with a round neck in cream or beige color. He wore light brown corduroy pants and sturdy leather shoes. Character and numerical genius : he had an unparalleled talent for calculating and analyzing budgets. He can quickly spot numerical anomalies, a skill that has resulted in a steady income and a good middle-class quality of life. Relationship builder: Unlike the average accountant, who is usually introverted. Edward was a great talker, eloquent, and had excellent human relations. He can get along with people of all walks of life and is often loved in social circles for his warm sense of humor. Determination: Having grown up in an orphanage, he is a man of great courage and courage. He has high ambitions to succeed in his career, to build a stable family and not to put his wife in trouble . Preferences and tastes , tastes, colors and nature: He is fascinated by all shades of brown, from the brown of the wood to the color of the land. Likes to collect stationery made of oak and genuine leather. Hobbies: in his free time he likes to sit down with warm tea and read economic journals, or go out to help his wife prepare the soil for growing vegetables. Although he is not as skilled in trees as she is. But he liked to experience the vibes of nature and the peace of vintage English houses. Favors: Edward loved to collect notebooks, leather covers and fountain pens of good quality. He believed that the true beauty was the neatness of the numbers recorded on cream-colored paper.

ProfileName : Alice BarringtonAge : 24 years oldHeight : 162 centimetersWeight : 50 kgCurrent occupation: Freelance storyteller and illustrator (and full-time housewife) Appearance and dressAlice is a young woman with a gorgeous appearance, as if out of a romantic painting. She has a slender face, shaped Fine white skin contrasts with radiant blue eyes that tend to look a little nervous when it comes to making eye contact with strangers. Her bright blonde hair is usually tied halfway up and adorned with silk ribbons or loose braids, leaving strands to frame her face for a sweet look. Dress Style: Alice is fascinated by clothes with floral prints, she likes to wear long-toed dresses made of light cotton or pastel linen such as light blue, rose pink, or leaf green. Unique: When she's in the garden, she wears a long-toed dress made of light cotton or pastel linen, such as light blue, rose pink, or leaf green. She always wears a cream-colored linen apron with a large pocket for letters or drawing supplies, and always carries a subtle scent of lavender or baby powder with her. Character and personal worldHumility and shyness: She is quiet and carefully chooses her words. Alice often expresses her feelings through actions rather than words, such as preparing tea to wait for Edward to return from work, or arranging a bouquet of fresh flowers on the dining table to create an atmosphere in the house . Deep Imagination: Under a Sober Posture She has a vast inner world, Alice is fascinated by folklore. Fairies and mysterious legends of the English jungle She believes in the magic of nature and often distills those stories into children's tales. Housewifery: She always keeps the Barrington house clean and warm. Household chores for her are not duties but art, whether it's cooking mellow food or embroidering floral motifs on a tablecloth . Skills and preferences Writer and illustrator: Alice spends most of her time in her small office overlooking the backyard writing stories and painting watercolors. Her lines are delicate and often filled with details of fairies and plants. Her work was often sent to publishers in London, with Edward as an assistant in charge of contracts and finances for her gardening hobby: growing vegetables and flowers was her greatest pleasure. She enjoys seeing the seeds grow. Alice often talks to plants and believes that flowers bloom best if they are loved . Tastes: She loves to collect cute kukik items such as antique floral teacups, a small notebook with lace edges, and handmade cloth dolls. She loves the soft morning sun and the singing of birds, which are the main inspirations for her art.

The background of their lives before entering the orphanage, even though they both ended up in the same place. But the beginning of the life path is completely different. One loses what it used to be, while the other never knows what it is like to "have". Edward Barrington: Traces from the clerical family Edward were not born into nothingness. He was the heir to a small clerical family in the suburbs of London. His father was a court clerk with beautiful handwriting and was faithful to his duties. His mother was a housewife who always taught him to count from the penny in the jar. His youth was surrounded by the smell of ink. Bond paper and the warmth of the lower middle class that can be eaten. My father always told him, "Numbers never lie to anyone, and knowledge will make you stable." Edward grew up at the age of 5 with memories of beautiful numbers and dreams of following in his father's footsteps. The tragedy of a great plague one winter took both his father and mother away at the same time. Leaving a chubby boy with thick glasses to face the world alone. The remaining property was forfeited in order, leaving only the surname "Barrington" and the rudimentary calculation skills that carried him into the door of the orphanage as a boy who lost everything . Alice: Puzzles in Wicker Baskets and Magical Tales On a night when the autumn wind blew so strong that golden yellow leaves flew all over the doors of the orphanage "St. Jude", only a wicker basket lined with clean white cotton was left in the silence. No leave letter There was no surname, and there was no sign of who had placed it. What was inside was a fair-skinned baby girl with silk blonde hair, and the only object that was inserted beside her body was Storybook The cover is made of dark blue velvet that has faded over time. The cover is embroidered with intricate gold thread: "Alice in the Fairy Garden". The sisters and teachers in the orphanage agree to name the girl after the protagonist of the story. And this tale is the only "treasure" that she has with her. It is the whole origin of the name. It is the only consolation that confirms that she may have come from a place where magic or love existed. Before fate brought her to the acquaintance of the solitude of this shelter, the difference that awaited the day of Edward's convergence : entering the orphanage with "memories". To family and the real world austere with numbers , Alice: beginning life in an orphanage with a "mystery" and a fantasy world with an angel embracing through the pages of the story . Both of them bear different forms of loneliness in anticipation of the day when they will meet in the old stone walls of St. Jude.

The Beginning of the Covenant: Warmth under the eaves of "St. Jude" In the thick fog of London, the orphanage "St. Jude's Home for Children" Standing tall with a gray stone wall, it looks solemn. Inside the cold hallways and tense discipline. The loneliness of a chubby boy and a quiet girl at the age of 8, Edward was the target of bullying from boys of his age due to his plump build, thick glasses, and often scribbled numbers on scraps of paper instead of going for a run. He blocks himself with a wall of reason and logic. To protect a hurt heart from the loss of his beloved clerk's family, Alice, at the age of 7, is a girl who looks like she is in a different world. She would often hug an old fairy tale and talk to a tree or a stone wall. Shyness and a demeanor that looks like a "dreamer". This makes other children see her as strange and does not accept to join the group. So she chooses to hide in a dark corner of the library or under an old oak tree behind a building . First meeting: when the figures meet imagination , one afternoon the snow begins to scatter. Edward was hid by a mischievous boy who snatched his glasses so much that he couldn't see anything and almost walked into the fireplace. Alice, who was secretly sitting in the corner of the room drawing, saw the incident. She mustered up the courage to walk in and take him by the hand, and guide him until she found the glasses left on the high bookshelf. "Why did you help me?" Edward asked as he wiped his glasses , Alice replied in a low voice, "Because in fairy tales... Knights usually help people who are bullied, but I don't have a sword, so that's all I can do." Edward laughed lightly for the first time in years. He looked at the smaller girl with changed eyes. He finds her "fantasies" pure, while Alice finds his "knowledge" to be solid and dependable . Brother and Sister: Fulfillment in a cruel world from that day, the two become each other's shadows. The relationship begins with a "brother and sister" who cover each other's weaknesses: Edward is a shield: when Alice is blamed for her housework, she often makes mistakes because she is absent-minded. Edward will use his planning and negotiation skills to help her find a solution, or even help her calculate the proportions of ingredients in the baking. Alice is a soothing: When Edward is stressed out by reading textbooks, his eyes are sore. Alice will drag him to the garden. Tell him a new story she's made up, or draw him a picture of "Edward in a chubby knight's suit." Edward learns to love nature through Alice's eyes. Alice learns to stand firm through Edward's ingenuity. Dreaming by candlelight every night before going to bed in a hidden corner of the central hall. The couple will sit and share their dreams of having a house together in the future.

St. Jude's Home for Children Simulation data for the time period: Forming from cracks (7-12 years)

1. Overall atmosphere and architecture. The building is in the Gothic Revival style, constructed from thick grey brick and limestone, with narrow, tall windows. Although the exterior appears solemn, the interior is well-maintained by the sisters. Golden (Prosperous) Year: The hall will be warmed by a large fireplace, a long, muted red carpet will stretch out in the aisle, and there will be ample light from oil lamps. The aroma of meat soup and freshly baked bread will fill the air. During years of scarcity: The fireplace is lit only when necessary, the atmosphere is cold and damp, the light is limited to a dim flicker, and the musty smell emanating from the stone walls becomes more pronounced.
2. Key Locations within the area. The Dormitory: Rows of wrought iron beds, thick wool blankets (if donations were scarce in a particular year, the blankets would be rough and patched). Above Alice's bed was a small shelf for her storybooks. The shower room, which was large and spacious like a school restroom, had individual lockers for each child, walls lined with numerous showerheads, and several toilet stalls behind wooden partitions (separate for boys and girls). For bathing, they use a staggered method, such as the woman bathing before the man. The Dining Room (The Refectory): A long, polished wooden table was where Edward was often asked to help the sisters count the plates and cutlery, as he was good with numbers. The Hidden Library: A small room filled with old leather-bound books and the smell of dust. It's their "safe zone." Edward would sit and count on scraps of paper while Alice read fairy tales by the light of candles they'd secretly borrowed. The small garden behind the wall: A large oak tree provides shade. In years of abundant donations, the garden is filled with ornamental flowers; in years of hardship, it becomes just an empty dirt yard where children punish themselves by sweeping fallen leaves.
3. Management systems and philanthropists. The Red Cross and wealthy Londoners: Luxurious carriages often deliver good-condition second-hand clothing and toys, making the children here appear cleaner than elsewhere. Internal Inequality: Although more comfortable than typical orphanages, the children here are divided into groups based on the "favorites" of the donors. Children who are talkative or good-looking tend to receive better gifts, leaving the shy Alice and the nerdy Edward as neglected children who have to look after each other.
4. Rules and penalties. Frugality: In years with low donations, the rules are stricter. Anyone who drops food scraps or breaks a lamp will be confined to a dark, secluded cellar. International etiquette: Children are taught to be "gentlemen and ladies" in preparation for future patronage or employment as clerks/housekeepers. Tip for players: By choosing this time slot, the player playing as Edward will have to look after and protect Alice from the bullies, or Alice will be secretly sharing bread with her chubby brother because he's never had enough to eat.

The social structure in St. Jude. Number of members: 30 children (15 boys / 15 girls) | 5 adults

1. The Guardians Mother Superior Martha (65 years old): The heart of the family, kind yet firm. She is the one who found Alice in the basket at the door, and therefore has a special fondness for her, watching over her to prevent any serious bullying. Sister Clara (28 years old): Strict in rules and education, responsible for teaching children literacy and manners. Kind-hearted but emphasizes discipline. Sister Ann (24 years old): Gentle, compassionate, takes care of the girls' health and bedding, and serves as an advisor. Cook Bertha (50 years old): Portored, kind, often secretly gives excess bread to hungry children (especially Edward), a source of intelligence in the kitchen. Uncle Tom, the gardener and supplier (58 years old): A burly, quiet man who does repairs and drives the horse-drawn carriage to collect donations, a role model of strength for the boys.
2. The Social Conditions of Children (The Hierarchy) The "Favorite Kids" group: Good-looking and articulate children are often chosen to welcome donors. They receive minor privileges but must maintain a perfect performance. The "Thugs" group: Older kids who like to cause trouble, sometimes bullying younger kids but never to the point of bloodshed because they fear Mother Superior Martha's gaze. They often tease Edward about his weight and glasses. The "Outsiders" group: (Edward and Alice) Children who are isolated and rely on each other, remaining neutral and often considered strange, but few dare to interfere too aggressively because the Mother Superior protects them from afar.
3. The atmosphere of living together. The home emphasized a "senior-junior" caregiving system. The social environment was orderly but not overly oppressive. Violence was usually limited to teasing or fighting over toys. Everyone respected Mother Superior Martha as if she were their own mother, making the home feel warmer than the somber atmosphere often found in orphanages of that era.

🕰️ Daily Schedule 6:00 AM — Bell rings: All children must wake up and make their beds neatly. (Sister Clara will walk around checking.) 6:30 AM — Cleansing: Wash your face and eyes with cool water from the communal bath to awaken your body. 7:00 AM — Morning Prayer: Gather in the small chapel to give thanks to God and ask for blessings for the donors who support the orphanage. 7:30 AM — Breakfast: Enjoy oatmeal or bread with hot tea in the dining room. (This is the time when cook Bertha secretly adds extra portions for the thin children.) 8:30 AM — Morning Classes: Learning basic reading, writing, and mathematics. (This was when Edward shone brightest, and Sister Clara often asked him to tutor his friends.) 12:00 PM — Lunch: A simple lunch break. 1:00 PM — Work & Vocations: Boy: Help Uncle Tom carry firewood, repair the fence, or tend to the vegetable garden. The girl: Learn sewing and embroidery, do laundry, or help prepare food. (Alice often daydreams during sewing class and gets scolded by the sisters.) 3:30 PM — Leisure and Recreation: The only time the children can run around in the yard or pursue their hobbies (Edward and Alice often sneak off to the secret library during this time). 5:00 PM — Big cleaning: Everyone helps to sweep and mop the hallways and bedrooms. 6:00 PM — Dinner: Enjoy the last meal of the day together as a family. 7:00 PM — Sermon and Storytelling: Mother Superior Martha will gather the children in a circle to tell a moral story or read scripture (sometimes Alice will be allowed to help tell the story). 8:00 PM — Get ready for bed: Clean yourself and put on your pajamas. 8:30 PM — Lights Out: The sisters will check on the beds. No whispering is allowed after this time. ⚖️ Strict Regulations (The Golden Rules) Honesty: Lying or stealing donations is the most serious offense and will result in confinement to a dark room. Cleanliness: Clothes must be as clean as possible, and shoes must always be neatly arranged. Respect: Always express gratitude for food or donations, and address caretakers using the correct title. Sharing: Do not hoard toys or sweets received from generous donors (except for significant mementos that the Mother Superior has specially permitted, such as Alice in Wonderland stories). Tip for players: As Edward, you might have to dedicate your 1:00 PM shift to working harder than everyone else to earn favor from Uncle Tom and Cook Bertha, in exchange for certain privileges to help Alice, who consistently underperforms during her apprenticeship!

A moment of proof: University fences and hearts that begin to shake as they enter adolescence. Successfully passed the entrance exam in the field of accounting and commerce. Alice (18-21 years old) studies literature and fine arts, despite being at the same university, but the middle-class life of a pedal is replaced by a childhood dream with fatigue and hardship . Edward was hired as an assistant bookkeeper for a shop in the market from early morning until the numbers almost became a part of his breath. Alice spends her after-school doing laundry and doing little illustrations in an old vintage printery amidst the pungent smell of ink on a day when she has only a few pennies left. Edward would often lie to Alice that he was "full" in order to give her a share of the hard bread. Alice often sews and repairs her brother's tattered clothes with all her might, so that he doesn't look inferior to the other jurors in the classroom . External stimuli and changes in heart . A relationship that used to be just a "brother and sister" They begin to waver as they grow up and are surrounded by a new society: Social pressure: Edward begins to attract the attention of a young woman because of his intelligence and warm-hearted personality. Alice begins to feel the fear of losing her only "safe space". She begins to realize that the pain of seeing him talk to another woman is not a sisterly jealousy. Beauty is discovered: Alice, who is starting to become a full-fledged woman, is so beautiful that it catches the eye of her male fellow students. Many times, love letters were placed on her drawing table. Edward, who had been calm, was irritated. Feelings of wanting to "own" and "protect" As a man, it begins to form violently from the promise... To a night of love in a quiet university library Edward is helping Alice with her history lessons. The flickering light of the lamp made him notice Alice's face, which looked more mature and beautiful than the girl in the basket that day. "Alice... If I really get rich one day, The first person I would propose to is you." Edward blurted out involuntarily , Alice paused for a moment. Before lowering his head to hide his flushed cheeks, "Then... I wouldn't have to look for anyone else. Brother Edward" A confession that seems to be a real play in the midst of a pile of account books and fairy sketches is the turning point that makes the brotherly relationship that has accumulated for decades unfold. collapsed to rebuild as a "couple" who were ready to fight for their lives together until the wedding day.

In the midst of the pressure of textbooks and hard work to survive. The university fence became a place to nurture their relationship even deeper. From a bond that used to be only for each other in an orphanage, it became a love that drove the couple to grow into strong adults. Driving in the world of education and driving Edward became a rising star in the accounting department. He didn't just study for honors, he studied for his "bargaining power" with the future. He often spends his free time in the library frantically studying the structure of taxation and world trade. Development: he became more discreet. His plump is starting to look more of a disadvantage than a weakness. Edward practiced his rhetoric and negotiation until he was able to help Alice get her little tale copyright contract as fair as possible. He began to lay the foundation of life by saving every penny for the "ring" and "house" in Alice's imagination . In his student years, he has developed remarkably. Her shyness turns into an elegant charm. She became famous among her fellow students for her soul-infused illustrations. Development: She no longer just dreamed of fairies, but Alice began studying art history to take her writing to a new dimension. She learns to manage the chores in a cramped dormitory into a little paradise for Edward. The smell of tea and her orderliness are his only refuge during the exams, a love life that grows through obstacles , love during this period is not always a walk in the flower garden. Instead, it was a walking in the storm: A tiring night: Alice often had to sit late into the old bookstore watching Edward do extra work. She would sit quietly in the corner of the room and draw. As he sat and scribbled on the math balls and scribbled on numbers. When it was time to return to the dormitory, the two would walk hand in hand under the light of an oil lamp. The other person's hands were always warm. The Trust Test: When Edward started earning a small income from bookkeeping, he was able to make a small income from his bookkeeping gig. He was invited to a social event of the sons of the Thanabdee. Alice always feels smaller when she sees a social girl in an elegant evening dress, but Edward always comes back to her with the "wildflowers" he picked along the way, and tells her, "Even if I had to sit and count the gold of the whole world, I would never forget that my most precious treasure was you." The Last Pre-Orientation Covenant Before Graduation The couple sat on the same wooden bench under the large oak tree on campus, where they regularly shared their dreams. "We don't have the same costs as other people, Alice." "But we have a map in our heads, and we have our hands clasped together," Edward said as he looked at the school building. Come on, Edward," Alice replied, resting her head on his warm shoulder just a few weeks before graduation. Edward was offered a job at an international trading company with a salary high enough to really raise a family, and Alice herself was accepted by the publisher to publish her first children's story.

University environment (London)

1. Student dormitory for 2 people. Description: A small attic rental room in an old brick building in the suburbs. The wooden floor creaks with every step. Inside: The limited space necessitates dividing the two single beds into zones for privacy. One side houses Edward's bed and accounting desk with a chair, piled high with papers; the other side contains Alice's bed, along with a window corner featuring an easel and small potted plants to catch the morning sunlight. There's a small kitchen counter, just big enough for a sink and a single-burner gas stove, and a counter for dining. The room has some unstable lighting from the lights at night, so a gas lamp is needed for reading or other nighttime activities. There's a small bathroom with a toilet, shower, and a small sink, along with an old mirror and hot water that only comes on some days. Atmosphere: Freezing cold in winter, requiring only a single blanket to be wrapped up as there is no heating. The walls are adorned with sketches of fairies or fairy tale creatures interspersed with calculation tables.
2. School Building (The Ivory & Ink Halls) Edward's School of Commerce: A austere granite building with expansive corridors, filled with the sound of abacuses and the scent of new paper. Faculty of Arts and Humanities (Alice's): A high-ceilinged building with large windows letting in natural light, the air filled with the scent of watercolors and ink, and corridors overlooking the university gardens.
3. Special workplace. The old bookstore and printing press: Alice's workplace is located in a narrow alleyway filled with noisy typewriters and towering stacks of books, where Alice illustrates each one. The laundry shop was filled with hot steam and humidity, plus piles of clothes that Alice had to process to meet a certain quantity in order to get paid. The wholesale market and port accounting office: Edward's workplace. The atmosphere was chaotic, filled with shouting and the smell of fish. He had to sit in a narrow wooden cubicle amidst the noise, recording inventory, often returning late because the work remained unfinished.
4. Local parks. Description: A small green space with dilapidated wooden benches, located on the way back to the dormitories. Key point: This is the only large tree Alice liked to rest under while writing her stories, and it's also the spot where Edward often shared his leftover bread with her.
5. The Cobblestone Market Atmosphere: A cobblestone street lined with stalls selling inexpensive vegetables, fruits, bread, and meat. The market also features restaurants, stationery and school supply shops, and clothing stores. Significance: This is the place where the couple must use Edward's calculating skills to choose the most cost-effective ingredients with limited pennies. Edward often glanced at the stationery shop on the street corner, hoping to buy some good watercolors for Alice to use in her paintings. Alice, meanwhile, often browsed the clothing stores, hoping to buy some yarn to knit a scarf for Edward as winter approached.

Society and key figures in a transitional era (London 1900s)

1. Surrounding society: Class conflict. The Gilded Youths: Edward's classmates, who wore bespoke suits from Savile Row, viewed their studies as a means of making connections. They saw Edward as a "walking calculator," useful for exam preparation but unworthy of glamorous social events. The Bohemians: Alice's social circle in the art school was filled with struggling artists and female writers who were beginning to advocate for women's rights (Suffragettes). They often held philosophical discussions in smoky cafes.
2. Key NPCs Edward's side: The real world and the competition. Professor Marcus Wright (55 years old): A strict accounting and commerce professor, he recognized Edward's talent and often assigned him difficult "budget audits" to do outside of class to test his ingenuity (he later recommended a job at a trading company to him). George Harrison (20 years old): A wealthy student who is close to Edward because of his sincerity. George often secretly hires Edward to do his reports in exchange for indirect payment, and he is the one who introduces Edward to high society. Alice's side: The world of art and combat. Mrs. Higgins (60 years old): Owner of a laundromat. Sharp-tongued but kind-hearted, she often leaves leftover soap or hot water for Alice to bathe in on freezing days and constantly reminds Alice to take care of her health. Arthur Miller (45 years old): A quiet, old-time printer, he was the first to see the beauty in Alice's angelic illustrations. He was the one who encouraged her to submit her work to a major London publisher.
3. Social Challenges Class prejudice: Both face judgmental stares when wearing the same clothes repeatedly or when having to decline a dance because they have a part-time job. Interference: The ladies in George's social circle who take an interest in Edward, or the young artist who tries to recruit Alice into a political movement, create suspicion and test trust between them throughout the school year.

🕰️ Daily schedule in a big city (Monday - Friday) 5:00 AM — Waking up before sunrise: Alice woke up first to boil some water (there was only a little) and prepare "dry bread sandwiches" for both of them for lunch. Edward quickly dressed in the only student uniform he owned, and polished his old leather shoes to a shine in order to maintain his honor at the business school. 6:00 AM — The sweaty morning shift: Edward: Walked to the port accounting office to record incoming and outgoing goods for two hours before class. Alice: Heading to Mrs. Higgins' laundromat to tackle the first pile of laundry. The hot steam helped warm her up, but it also caused the skin on her hands to start cracking. 9:00 AM — Students wearing masks: They parted ways, heading to different school buildings. Edward had to concentrate intensely in the lecture hall amidst the rumbling of his stomach. Alice spent her time in the art studio, trying to sketch quickly in order to absorb as much knowledge as possible within the limited time. 12:00 PM — A quiet lunch: They rarely ate meals together. Edward would sit in a corner of the library, eating the bread he had brought while doing his homework. Alice would sit on the balcony of the Faculty of Arts, secretly drawing little fairies in the edge of her notebook. 4:00 PM — The evening shift and the struggle: Edward: He works as a tutor or accountant for shops near the university, sometimes having to deal with the moody, spoiled kids he tutors. Alice: She went to Arthur Miller's printing house, working on her illustrations late into the night. The smell of printing ink became her signature perfume. 8:00 PM — Meeting at the big tree: They would meet at the local park (The Common Green). This was the only time they could be themselves. Edward would share crumbs of bread or cheap pies he bought along the way, amidst the cold wind, before they walked hand-in-hand back to their dorms. 9:00 PM — The lamplight in the attic: Despite their exhaustion, they couldn't sleep yet. Edward would sit and calculate the backlog of accounts with an abacus, while Alice would mend torn clothes or knit. The hushed conversations about dreams of "a house with a garden" were the only tonic that gave them the strength to wake up the next day. 23:30 — A fragile period of rest: Turn off the gas lamp to save money. Snuggle under a single thick blanket to share the warmth in an unheated room. 🕯️ Saturday - Sunday (Days for clearing things up) Saturday: A full day of work for both of them, to save money for rent and school supplies for the following week. Sunday: Morning at church for peace of mind. In the afternoon, I'll go to the fresh market on Pu Hin Road to calculate the most economical way to buy ingredients for cooking. Sunday evening is "maintenance" time—repairing shoes, polishing tools, and encouraging each other before starting a new, grueling week. Gameplay Loop: Players must manage their "Stamina" (physical energy) and "Sanity" (mental health). Working too hard will negatively impact their health and hinder their studies, while resting too much will leave them with insufficient funds to pay for electricity and gas.

After the graduation day celebrations are over, Edward (22 years old) and Alice (21 years old) step into the real world in London

. Edward was 25 years old, and his versatility in numbers had led him to become a rising star accountant with a steady income. He began to enter the business society where he had to wear a mask and hang out in the gentlemen's club late into the night. While Alice (24 years old) He became famous as a writer and illustrator of children's stories. She was invited to tea parties by progressive artists and intellectuals. Different societies began to mold them into a separate attitude, Edward began to see Alice's imaginary world as a fantasy that did not help to create stability. Meanwhile, Alice begins to feel that Edward has become a workaholic and so fascinated by material things that he forgets the tender spirit of the past. Burnout from work and having to deal with new people trying to intervene in the relationship. This led to increasingly intense questioning, jealousy, and quarrels that the once-warm small rented room was filled with cold silence, breaking points, and the breakdown of prejudice . The basis of love that grew up together from the day there was nothing. This makes them unable to let go of each other. The couple begins to realize that the "obstacle" is not the people around them, but that they are trying to protect their own world so much that they forget to open the door for the other to touch . They decide to make a big adjustment by officially "launching" into each other's society: Alice. He agrees to wear a floral evening dress to go out to a dance party with Edward. She tries to understand the business world and helps him negotiate with sweet rhetoric, so much so that Edward's colleagues admire her intelligence and charm. began to focus on Alice's art. He uses his numerical acumen to help manage the copyright and make her contracts seriously, and he even gives up his businessman to sit and listen to Alice read stories to the children in the library, until he understands that what Alice does is worth more than money . Promotion and clear goals Opening up makes paranoia disappear and is replaced by pride in each other. Edward stopped being jealous of the young man who got close to Alice. Because he knows that the secrets of her heart are always recorded in tales with horns as a model. It's the same with Alice, who stops being upset when Edward comes home late because she knows that every number he calculates is a brick that will be built. Their "dream house", they continue to live in the same rented room in order to save money strictly. But now it's no longer uncomfortable, because Alice starts putting small flowerpots on the windowsill, and Edward puts her account book next to her pile of paintings. The couple looks forward to the day when financial security will converge with their childhood dreams. In order to step into the wedding ceremony and move out to a house with a large garden as promised.

The Mid-Tier Flat: Apartment 4B, 4th floor, Greystone Building (East End area) Even though their financial status had moved into the middle class, their relationship as "fiancés" began to drift parallel to each other as their world expanded.

1. Interior space: The width that creates distance. The bedroom and the bed: A single large oak bed stood in the center of the room. They shared the bed, yet there was an "invisible wall." Edward usually fell asleep with his back turned, exhausted from work, while Alice lay gazing at the ceiling in silence. The wardrobe: Clearly divided into left and right sides. Edward's side was filled with dark suits and crisp white shirts, while Alice's was a silk dress and a paint-stained apron. Her floral perfume was masked by the smell of tobacco clinging to his clothes. Living Room: Larger than during their school years, it features a blue velvet sofa, but it's more often used to hold Edward's briefcase than to sit and chat comfortably as before. Shelves are filled with Edward's documents, and separate books of Alice in Wonderland and her illustrations stand apart. The Divided Zones (Work Zones): Edward: A heavy wooden table in the corner of the living room was piled high with accounting files and a gas lamp was left on late into the night. Alice: At her drawing table by the window in the hall, she tried to use the dim natural light from outside to create a fairytale world, while Edward's back was the view she saw most often. Kitchen and Bathroom: The hot water system was more stable, but their routines were inconsistent. Edward would rush to shower and get dressed before dawn, while Alice usually used the bathroom after he had left. Meals on the kitchen table were often only eaten, or another dish would be left to cool and uneaten.
2. External environment: A concrete prison devoid of greenery. Location: A four-story, dull brown brick building on a street constantly busy with horse-drawn carriages and cargo trucks. View: Looking from the 4th floor, what you see is not a beautiful garden, but a factory chimney spewing gray soot into the sky. The windows have to be kept tightly shut to prevent coal dust from entering, making the room feel stuffy. Sound: The train whistle and the shouts from the wholesale market below constantly intruded, disrupting Alice's concentration on painting and adding to Edward's accumulated stress. In summary: Room 4B is a place where they "have everything except time for each other." The larger space is not filled with conversation, but with possessions that reflect their status, leaving the two orphans as strangers sharing the same air in a more luxurious room.

1. The financial district of the City of London: Edward's reality. Lancaster Trading Co.: The marble building where Edward worked as a senior accountant, a place where he was immersed in numbers and pressure from the upper class to secure his position.

• The Royal Exchange gentlemen's club: A post-work gathering place where Edward built connections, and where he began to develop habits of drinking and smoking cigars, creating rifts in his relationships.

2. Bloomsbury Square: Alice's imaginative world. Miller & Son Publishing: Alice's workplace as a writer and illustrator of children's stories. It was a space where she enjoyed creative freedom, but at the cost of clashing with modern intellectual ideas.

• Willowleaf Tea House: Alice's meeting place with the group of artists. It's a place where she escapes the hustle and bustle and listens to liberal ideals, which makes her feel even more that the life Edward has chosen is bland.

3. Common areas: Connection points that are beginning to fade. London Bridge Station: The spot where they meet after work. Its role is that of a "bridge between days" filled with hustle and bustle and smog, leading to short and cold conversations. Victoria Park: One of the few green spaces where they can stroll hand-in-hand on Sundays, reminiscing about childhood memories; the only place that truly "heals" the distance between them. The parish church: A social gathering place on weekends, where the couple must maintain an "ideal couple image" in front of the community, even as they begin to drift apart internally. Putney Road Market: The stone-walled market where Alice has to buy ingredients for dinner alone. It's a place that reminds her of the burden of being a housewife amidst her solitary life. Love Meals restaurant: It's a restaurant for families and middle-class couples who used to frequent it for dates or dinners. But now Alice just quietly walks past it after shopping at the market.

1. Social conditions that create rifts. Edward's "success comes at a price" society: In the London business world, men are measured by their bank statements and social circles. Edward was pressured to "act like a rich man" to gain trust. He had to go out for cigars in women-free clubs and discuss taxes and profits so much that he forgot how to talk about his "dreams." Alice's "Free and Ideological" Society: Alice's community of writers and artists began to awaken to rights and the liberation of imagination. They questioned the capitalist system that Edward served. Surrounded by free-spirited people, Alice began to see Edward's strict way of life as a dull "cage." The Wall of the New Class: Although both of them were starting to make money, in the eyes of the old rich, they were "newly rich but homeless." This pressure drove Edward to constantly strive for advancement, becoming increasingly stressed, while Alice tried to escape to the world of fairy tales for solace.
2. Key figures: Driving forces and triggers. The Helpers Mrs. Hadley (50 years old) - Publisher: A strong yet kind woman. She sees the sadness in Alice's eyes and often reminds her, "Success without loved ones to celebrate with is the loneliest failure." She acts as a go-between, trying to organize a fairy tale party and invite Edward to join in order to bridge the relationship. Sir William Banks (60 years old) - Edward's boss: An old man who has seen much of the world. He admires Edward's abilities but always warns, "The numbers in the bank never hug you on a cold day." He tries to teach Edward about time management, but sometimes the urgent tasks he assigns cause Edward to miss an important appointment with Alice. The Antagonists / Catalysts Julian Saint-Clair (26 years old) - A charming young poet: Alice's socialite who openly expresses admiration for her gentleness. He often compares Alice to a "bird in a gilded cage" and tries to lure her into the boundless world of art, which fuels Edward's jealousy. Mr. Parker (30 years old) - Edward's business rival: An ambitious and heartless man. He often taunts Edward about his appearance and orphaned background at parties, humiliating him and driving him to work harder to overcome the insults, eventually becoming a workaholic and neglecting Alice.
3. Causes of conflict and reconciliation. The trigger: Often starts with small things, such as the "smell of alcohol and cigarette smoke" on Edward's clothes that Alice hated, or the time Edward came home late, leaving Alice's carefully prepared meal cold, or Edward's view that Alice's stories "didn't sell for money," while Alice saw Edward's accounts as "heartless." Turning point to understanding: This often occurs when events force them to truly look each other in the eye again, such as Alice falling ill and Edward having to leave work to care for her, or Edward being cheated or betrayed at work, in which case Alice becomes the one to comfort and encourage him.

Daily routines these days are like "parallel lines walking in the same house." Every minute is driven by societal ambitions and expectations, causing the time that used to be spent together to be encroached upon. 🕰️ Daily schedule in a big city (Monday - Friday) 6:30 AM — A rushed breakfast: Alice wakes up and prepares a nicer-looking meal (with fried eggs, smoked meat, and fruit), but Edward usually wears his full suit and eats while reading the economic newspaper. The conversation shifted from "dreams" to "schedule." Edward hurried out of the house to catch the first carriage or the company's hired car. 9:00 AM — A world divided: Edward: Drowning in a pile of documents in the marble office, the constant shouting of orders and the incessant ringing of the telephone forced him to use all his mental energy to protect the company's interests. Alice: Traveling to the publishing house, proofreading storybooks, and talking to other artists, she began to have more power in making decisions about her own work, but at the cost of dealing with a barrage of criticism. 1:00 PM — A Different Society: Edward: Having lunch with businessmen at a luxury club to hear rumors about taxes and trade. Alice: Having lunch at a tea house with a group of writers, discussing art and women's rights. 6:00 PM — A time of solitude: Alice arrived home first. She was faced with a desolate room and the sounds of the factory outside. She tried to paint but felt stifled by the unnatural atmosphere. Edward was often involved in "business gatherings," or going out for drinks with clients, as required by his job position. 9:00 PM — The return of fatigue: Edward returned home, the faint scent of cigars and liquor in his mouth. Alice, waiting for him with cold dinner, began to question her own importance. The arguments often arise during this time, with Edward citing "security for the future" while Alice speaks of "the missing heart." 23:00 — Silence beneath the lights: They each went their separate ways to rest, or continue working in their own corners under the more stable but lifeless light. The warmth that had once been in the attic dorm was replaced by a vast, desolate emptiness. 🕯️ Saturday - Sunday (The transition period of effort) Saturday: Edward still has to go to the office for half the day, while Alice is usually invited to book launches or art exhibitions. The evenings are often a "test" when Edward has to take Alice to a dance, or Alice takes Edward to an artists' club, where they frequently feel awkward in each other's worlds. Sunday: The only day they try to salvage the relationship. They both wake up later than usual and try to walk hand-in-hand to the train station to find a way out to the tree-lined suburbs, even if only for a few hours.

Finally, with stable careers and hearts united, 25-year-old Edward realized it was time to fulfill the promise he had made while at St. Jude's Orphanage. A marriage proposal amidst the flora. Instead of opting for the opulent atmosphere of a restaurant in central London, Edward decided to take Alice on a train ride to the countryside on a sunny holiday. He took her to vast meadows filled with wildflowers, an atmosphere that Alice loved. While Alice was bent over sketching the landscape in her notebook, Edward took out a brown velvet box he had carefully saved up for. Inside was a simple gold ring adorned with a small, classic diamond. He knelt beside her. Although his fuller physique made him feel somewhat awkward, his voice was the most steady he had ever spoken. He thanked her for standing by this humble clerk who had nothing until today, and asked her to become the "owner of the house" and "mother of his children" in the real world he had created for her. Alice accepted, tears of joy streaming down her face, amidst the birdsong and the gentle breeze as their only witnesses to their love. A simple and heartwarming wedding ceremony. The wedding ceremony was held in an old stone church on the outskirts of the city, a vintage architectural building surrounded by lush gardens. The atmosphere was more filled with love and warmth than opulence. The groom: Edward wore a meticulously tailored dark brown frock coat and gold-rimmed glasses that gave him a dignified and kind appearance. He greeted guests with a proud smile. The Bride: Alice appeared in a flowing, creamy lace wedding dress adorned with small rose patterns that she had co-designed. She didn't wear a diamond tiara, but instead opted to adorn her head with a crown of fresh flowers and a light chiffon veil. In her hand, she held a bouquet of lavender and fragrant wildflowers. The atmosphere at the event: Guests included Edward's accounting colleagues, Alice's artist and writer friends, as well as elders and sisters from St. Jude's Orphanage who looked on with deep emotion. The wedding favors were small storybooks written by Alice, tales of "The Number Boy and the Fairy Girl." The beginning of what it truly means to be "home". After their vows and sweet kisses, the couple didn't travel far for their honeymoon. Instead, they went to their new home, a moderately sized detached house in a peaceful countryside setting, surrounded by expansive meadows and a nearby lake. The house, with its white picket fence, featured a sunlit study for Alice and a library filled with accounting books for Edward. Most importantly, there was a backyard garden, large enough for Alice to plant vegetables and flowers as she dreamed. Edward led his wife across the threshold, promising her that from then on, every number he found and every line of story she wrote would be used to bring happiness to the Barrington family forever.

⏰ 07:00 — The first light and smell of coffee every morning begins with the sound of birds chirping from the garden fountain. Alice in a linen robe wakes up early to come down to prepare breakfast in the light green kitchen. The smell of toast and bacon cooked on a bronze oven rises to wake Edward. He will come down wearing a vest but not a tie. They exchanged kisses on the foreheads gently. Before sitting down to read the newspaper, I checked the table of numbers in the notebook . 09:00 After breakfast, the pair disperse to their respective " towers" : Edward: Sit down at an oak table in the downstairs office. The crackling of abacus and the scraping of fountain pens on accounting paper rhythmically sounded. He works calmly, with the phone ringing only a few times a day . Alice: Walks up to the drawing room on the second floor tower. She opened the window to the wind and the sounds of nature, before starting to paint the little fairy tale on the body. Her life revolves around brushes and imagination.12 :00 1:00 p.m. — Lunch in the garden if the weather permits. Alice will arrange a simple lunch basket and place it on a wooden bench on the balcony or under a big tree. They will sit side by side with hardly much to say. Edward will listen to Alice tell the story of the birds that come to play in the water. Alice sits and listens to Edward complain about the slight fluctuations in the trading index, the same conversation they've heard over the years, but never tired of listening.14 :00 10:00 p.m. — Caring for the "Kingdom" Afternoon is the time of the hobby: Alice will put on a linen apron and leather gloves, go out to till the soil in the greenhouse and collect fresh vegetables for dinner . Or some days he'll drive out in a brown car to the post office in town to deliver manuscripts to his wife and pick up his own express documents.18:00 10:00 p.m. — Dinner by the chandelier when the sun begins to glow orange. The couple will dress up neatly for dinner. The dining room will be heated by a marble fireplace, Edward will pour a little wine from the cellar. The food is usually the same that Alice is good at, but it always tastes the best because it is eaten with the most trusted people . 20:00 1:00 p.m. — A time of quiet , they often spend the evening in the living room. Edward sits reading a financial journal while Alice sits knitting or embroidering floral fabrics next to him. Large Piano Sometimes Alice would ask Edward to play a short piano song before bedtime, and he would often play the same song he had practiced since university . 9:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m. — Relax under a safe canopy before going to bed. Edward would check the light switch system and lock the door in an orderly manner according to the habit of an accountant. Falling asleep in the master bedroom with the window open to the scent of lavender from the garden, they would say "good night" and fall asleep with the confidence that when they open their eyes tomorrow, they will be able to do so. This same "monotonous" and happy life will always await them, and they will never get bored of it.

Current Address House No.: 12 12 Primrose LaneVillage : Willowbrook VillageCounty : Surrey, EnglandDistance : Just 45 minutes from London Waterloo Train StationWillowbrook TownWillowbrook Village is an upper-middle-class community set amidst Surrey's picturesque landscapes. The city is known for its tranquility and privacy, but at the same time it has a boom of late Victorian and Edwardian innovation. View: The city is surrounded by lush green savannas as far as the eye can see. Mirror Lake is located in the west of the city, where Edward often takes Alice for holiday walks. Security and technology: Even in the midst of nature But all the houses in the area were connected by early telephone lines and had electricity in important buildings. The city was also distinguished by being an important stopover for horse-drawn carriages and the beginning of sporadic private cars running sporadically on the cobblestone streets. Edward himself had an early dark brown combustion engine car to travel into London when needed . Willowbrook Community Amenities is not just a dream village, but a community with strong and warm infrastructure: Mind and body center: St. Mary's Church Centrally located next to Willowbrook Hospital, the city doctor is a kind town doctor to look after the community . Education and safety: A small elementary school made of red bricks is located not far from the local police station, where officers regularly patrol the area. This makes it one of the safest and most livable neighborhoods to live in. Lifestyle: The community here has a culture of helping each other. There is a farmers' market on Saturday mornings, and a ladies tea club that Alice is always invited to. The couple's current status is no longer in the position of struggling. Edward works as a senior consultant, where he manages most of the numbers and budgets from his home office, and will only come into London once or twice a week for board meetings. Alice sent her work by mail and phone to the publisher. This achievement gave them time to immerse themselves in the sound of the birdsong. No longer having to face the smoky soot of London like before and have time to pay attention to each other. Inside the world they had dreamed of in their childhood for a long time.

The Barrington ManorArchitecture : Queen Anne Style (Late Victoria) 🏡 Exterior and Structure : Large two-and-a-half-storey wooden house, painted in cream against light brown and faint pastel green windowsills. High and complex gable roofs There is a circular dome in the corner of the house (Turret) -Balcony: Wraparound the porch, polished wooden floors, delicately carved wooden columns, and wooden benches for sipping tea-Walls and fences: A low white wooden fence surrounds the entire area. The entrance door is a pergola arch planted with pink creeping roses. - Parking: A separate garage is located on the east side of the house. Designed to blend in with the building, for parking Edward's brown first-generation combustion engine cars. 🏠 Interior Space-Basement: Wine Cellar Coal storage room for heating and boiling water Separate from the storage room for food supplies and vegetables from Alice's garden at cool temperatures all year round. - 1st Floor (Common Area): Large entrance hall with polished wood floors. There was a landline telephone in front of the living room door , decorated with oak furniture and a large piano. Edward T's office was under the tower. The dining room is a long wooden table that can accommodate more than 10 members , a large kitchen with the most modern floral cast-iron oven of the time, and a large light green refrigerator.

• 2nd floor (private space): Master bedroom with private balcony, 4 children's bedrooms, ready for a large family in the futureAlice's library and drawing room located in the corner tower (Turret) to receive natural light in all directions-Attic : Spacious space converted into a collection room. Electrical utilities : Incandescent lighting Crystal chandeliers that can be switched on and off from the wall switchWater system: Clawfoot tub washbasin and bathtub with hot and cold water faucets connected from a private underground water boilerHeating system: Marble fireplaces decorated in all important rooms with radiators throughout the house , garden and nature around the houseBackyard : Spacious area divided into an English Kitchen Garden and a greenhouse for breeding tropical plants that Alice takes care of herselfRelaxation zone: White cobblestone walkway cuts through a variety of flower gardens. There are wooden benches and a small fountain in the center surrounded by roses, lavender, and hydrangeas, which are often frequented by little birds to swim in the water . It is located in front of the fence of the house.

🏘️ Key Figures of the Willowbrook Community

1. Connections to communication and convenience.

• Arthur (40 years old) - Postman: A kind man who rides his bicycle to deliver letters to the fairy house-shaped mailbox every morning. He is an important "ambassador" who brings a contract from the publishing house to Alice and a financial journal from London to Edward. He often stops by for tea on the Barrington house balcony and tells them about the news in the village.
• Mrs. Potts (55 years old) - Temporary housekeeper: A middle-aged woman from the village whom Alice usually hires to help clean the house once a week. She is meticulous and knows how to polish the bronze oven to a gleaming shine. She dotes on both of them like grandchildren and often secretly teaches Alice her old-fashioned apple pie recipe.

2. Intellectuals and healthcare providers.

• Dr. Finch (60 years old) - District Physician: A retired man who still works with passion. He monitors Edward's work-related stress and advises Alice on "preparing for a new family member" in the future. He is intelligent and often plays chess with Edward in the library once a month.
• Miss Miller (30 years old) - Elementary School Headmistress: A modern young woman who loves to read. She is a huge fan of Alice's stories and often invites Alice to be a guest speaker to tell stories to the children. She is a close friend of Alice's whom she can consult about her children's future education.

3. Society within the church and among neighbors.

• Father Benedict (70 years old) - Pastor of St. Mary's Church: A calm man who serves as a spiritual advisor to both of them. He has known them since they first moved in and was the one who invited Alice to organize art activities for the children in the church, as well as inviting Edward to help manage the budget for the church renovations.
• Colonel Harrington (68 years old) - Next-door neighbor: A retired army officer who loves gardening as much as Alice does. He often stands across the white picket fence discussing pest control in the rose bushes with Alice, and he helps the local police station maintain security for the neighborhood.

4. The fresh market and the vibrancy of life.

• Grandma Rose (65 years old) - Flower and seed vendor: Owner of a stall at the farmers' market that Alice visits every Saturday. She is the one who provides Alice with "rare seeds" to plant in the greenhouse.
• Mr. Pickett (48 years old) - Owner of a grocery and stationery shop: He is the one who specifically supplies Alice with premium-grade "printing ink and drawing paper," and often gives Edward a discount when he buys a new fountain pen.
• Mr. Miller (45 years old) - Butcher: A good-natured man who always saves the "best cuts" for the Barrington family because Edward always gives him generous tips.
• Madame Langdon (40 years old) – Next-door neighbor: Wife of the local lord (Count Langdon). She loves fashion and often designs clothes. Because Alice is beautiful and charming, she is especially fond of her. She was the first to welcome Alice into the "Tea Club." She owns a tailor shop in town and enjoys designing clothes as a hobby.