Chapter Text
“War is over! The Allied powers won!” a young man shouted in the streets, running with newspapers in hand. Some fluttered out which passing civilians caught from the breeze. Celebration began to spread around as more people recognized what was happening. Whoops and hollers erupted from all, which alerted those inside their homes. Windows were thrown open and the news was repeated. The soldiers would be returning! What heroes!
All the commotion outside also brought a certain princess Evelyn of the United States Faction III to her window as well. She smiled down at her people who joyously shouted to her. She waved and even let a celebratory hurrah out herself. She ducked back inside, pleased that the news she had been aware of for the past few days had finally reached the public.
Evelyn was American royalty, belonging to the long standing Gelow bloodline. Her father, King Albert IV of the United States, had recently called an armistice with Germany, ending the Great War. This international war had been a shock to America, but the King handled it well with minimal casualties.
Evelyn was heir to the throne before her younger brother, Albert V, was born. She didn’t mind and was almost relieved at that. She had seen the stress it put on her father, especially during wartime. It made the fifty five year old king look nearly seventy with all the grey hairs he had accumulated. Evelyn was much more akin to a free life with choices rather than the already written out life that her eight year old brother had in front of him. It was the same with their other male cousins as they would inherit the throne when the time comes. For now though, Evelyn just enjoys being royalty.
“Princess! Your father and mother are requesting your presence on the master balcony to greet the people,” a maid said, peeking her head into Evelyn’s bedroom. Evelyn descended the grand staircase to the second level to meet with her family, seeing her younger brother there as well. The doors were opened and the four stepped out, met with applause and chanting. The royal family was well loved by the general public, however like any monarch, had its fair share of naysayers. Evelyn’s father spoke through a crackling microphone to the people after the noise died down.
“The news is true! The Great War has come to the end with the Allied Powers victorious! Myself, and my family, want to thank everyone for their support and efforts in the war. Life will return to what it once was before the war. To celebrate our wondrous win, the royal family will be holding a festival this upcoming weekend! Information to come. Thank you, once more, for the sacrifices I’m sure you’ve all made!” Again, applause echoed through the town centre. Evelyn beamed and waved the most delicate wave she could muster.
Among the positive remarks, there were some grumbles in the crowd. One was that of Peter Walter I, an older gentleman who, though in the upper middle class, still had his grievances with the King. He used to be one of the lower, lower middle class and knows their struggles. His rise to money is only thanks to his successful Steam Man Band. He muttered a comment about the lack of sacrifices the royal family had made and left, retreating to his home, Walter Manor.
-
Evelyn was buzzing with excitement. She loved an excuse to get dressed up and mingle with the elites of society. Right away Evelyn flew to her closet and rang up her dearest friend and personal maid, Doris, to come to her room. A weekend long festival which was sure to end in a fantastical party was almost too good of an event to be true.
“Of course, you’ll need day wear so let’s look at that first before we see what you’ll wear for the party!” Doris exclaimed with a big grin on her face. Doris was Evelyn’s most trusted, and only, friend. She was Evelyn’s glimpse into the real world, telling her what it’s like beyond the mansion walls. As Doris raked through the generous clothing collection of the princess’s, Evelyn asked all the questions she had been saving since she last saw Doris.
“So, what did you do last night?” Evelyn asked, bouncing on her bed. Doris held out a a longer, green dress to which Evelyn shook her head.
“I went to a music joint last night with some friends and heard the most amazing band.”
“Do tell! And no, I wore that one a few months ago. Why do I even have it?” Evelyn responded to another dress Doris pulled out. Doris shrugged and threw it to the ground.
“Well, their name was the Steam Man Band. Y’know, I think you should really wear that green one, it brings out your eyes. Plus, with the right accessories, it won’t look too bad.” Doris mentioned, holding up a dark brown Cloche hat and matching heels.
“Alright, why not. Go on about this Steam Man Band.” Evelyn demanded.
“Right, well, there were three members and they were all automatons! They were independently moving and thinking, it was incredible! They were very vaudeville but still seemed pretty up with the rag scene. The robots were named The Jon, Rabbit, and The Spine!” Doris talked as she picked out more outfit options.
“Independently moving and thinking? I’d love to see that, it sounds splendid! Oh, but father and mother would never let me leave.”
“Not even with me?” Evelyn shook her head.
“Not even with you. And the last time I snuck out didn’t exactly end well for either of us. If only they weren’t such bluenoses. Bluenoses? Am I using that right?” Evelyn asked a bit naively. Since she never got out much, Doris fed her as much slang and culture from the streets as she could. Doris nodded, approving her usage of the word.
“Well, why don’t you bring them here?” Doris suggested nonchalantly.
“Bring… bring them here? Do you suppose I could do that?” Evelyn froze in shock of such an idea. She never thought of that.
“Why not? You are the princess,” Doris said with a shrug. Evelyn sat on this a moment, quiet in her own thoughts. Could she really just, request to have them play here? They could headline the end of the festival party. “Either way,” Doris continued, “I think you should get a new party dress tailored, something fun and young. All your dresses make you look so old.”
“I’m a princess, I’m supposed to look mature and sophisticated.” Evelyn frowned. Doris draped dazzling pearls around Evelyn’s neck.
“I guess so but you dress like you’re forty. No other twenty year old dresses the way you do. I would know.” Evelyn sighed. It’s not like she knew what people were wearing besides through a window. Her father has been very protective of the whole family after an attempted assassination of King James last year. Evelyn hadn’t left the mansion without her family and intense security in months.
“So, I’m just supposed to ask my parents for a robot band to come play and a new dress?” Evelyn asked incredulously.
“Yes. That’s exactly what you’re going to do. I’ll be talking to the seamstress about ideas. Toodeloo!” Doris waggled her fingers as she left and closed the door. Evelyn slumped her shoulders in defeat. She glanced at the window for a moment. Was she really that out of fashion? Her insecurity got the best of her and she got up.
“At the very least, they’ll give me a dress,’ Evelyn mumbled, more reassuring herself than anything.
At family dinner later that evening, it was rather quiet after such a happy day. It was a content silence, the clanking of silverware willing the dining hall. After a few breaths of preparation, Evelyn began her pitch.
“Mother, father, I have two requests to ask of you,” she said properly.
“What would that be, deary?” her mother, Queen Margaret, asked. She and King Albert IV looked at their only daughter. A small steam powered platform floated across the table, offering more food to Evelyn which she declined
“One is a new dress for the party. I’ve worn most of mine and it would be a major faux-pas.”
“I don’t see a problem with that. You may get fitted for one after dinner,” her father granted permission. One done.
“The other is a request for specific entertainment at the Festival End Party.” Evelyn wrung her hands under the table. She’d never asked for anything like this before.
“Which is?”
“They’re called the Steam Man Band, Doris told me about them. They’re a group of automatons with independent thought and movement that play music. She said they were very popular and great at what they do.”
“Doris, eh? Has she given up her floozie ways?” her father asked.
“Oh yes, she is much more orderly now,” Evelyn lied. She wouldn’t consider her friend floozie either but she sure wasn’t straight laced.
“Well, we hadn’t booked music yet but we would probably want a proper orchestra for options but,” Queen Margaret looked to her husband who gave a small nod, “we could hire that band as well for maybe a quick set in the middle. Give the orchestra a break?”
“Oh, that’d be wonderful! Thank you so much!” Evelyn exclaimed, dropping the formality of the conversation. They smiled at her, happy to make her happy. Wait till Doris hears about this!