Northern Starlight – Coast of Leiden

Tap tap tap

The knock on the door was polite, but enough to snap her attention from the book. She quickly set it down on the cabinet, threw on an over-cloak and opened the door to answer her mysterious visitor.

The young man standing at the door looked surprised to see her answer, as though somehow he expected this beautiful doll does not do things like answer doors on her own. He stammered but tried to explain himself quickly, "S-sorry to disturb you, M-ms,"

She answered, knowing he needed the help, "Ms Evergarden. How can I help you?"

The Young Man extended a piece of paper, stamped with the Liner's official letterhead, "T-the Bosun sent me to bring you this right away. An urgent telegram from the Capital"

She took the paper without thinking, but the Young Man suddenly drew back and yelped aloud, "What?! Why do you have metal hands?!"

She looked down for a moment and realized she wasn't wearing her gloves as usual. Most of her friends were used to the sight. And her newest friend had a metal foot to match her hands. But sometimes, she forgot that some people weren't used to such things, and the shocked reaction should be something she should expect.

"My apologies if I startled you," She said to the Young Man, offering a polite bow, "I was injured in the war and lost my hands and arms. These are the replacements"

The Young Man's eyes were in shock, and not just at her metal hands, "Y-you were in the War?! But you're so beautiful?! How could you have fought in the War?!"

She offered a smile to the Young Man, something that her friends told her she should do more often. It was a hard thing to do, but she wanted to practice as much as she could, "I thank you for complimenting me, but I was a soldier in the war, nonetheless."

She reached into her case behind the door and passed the Young Man a few bits of coin, "I understand that it is custom to tip Stewards like yourself. I hope that is a sufficient amount for your task today"

The Young Man counted out eight bits, almost twice what he made on a normal day. He smiled back and replied, "That's very generous of you! Thank you so much, Ms Evergarden!"

The Young Man left quickly to celebrate his windfall, and She closed the door and sat down on her cot to read the urgent telegram.

Violet,

I hope you are enjoying your cruise. I have good news and bad news.

Good News first. Hans Publishing House called today, and they said that the first volume of your book has completely sold out the first printing, and they've nearly filled orders for the second printing. It seems like your friend Felix's story is proving to be very popular. The first half of your royalties came in today as well, I'll keep it safe in my office here until you return.

The Bad News next. I'll have to cut your cruise a bit short. A new client called today as well and asked for you by name. I understand that your ship will be docking at Ostport this evening. When you arrive, please get off there. The Client will be sending a car to pick you up from the docks. The car will be blue and it should be the only one around, just so you aren't stuck waiting at the docks.

Don't worry about Isis, I'll pick her up when she gets to the Capital. Besides, I think she likes the sandwiches you mentioned.

-Hodgins

Violet neatly folded the telegram and placed it in her case. Work assignments were like Orders. Orders could not be ignored, even if they interfered with personal time. But something was amiss to her mind.

Typically, a Client who called for an Auto-Memories Doll did not choose a particular Doll. The Client would describe their story and purpose for composing a letter, and CH Postal Company would match a Doll to their needs. To ask for a specific Doll was highly unusual.

One thought entered her mind. This new Client had read Felix's story and perhaps wanted to know more about her new friend. It was a year ago to the day that Violet met her new friend Felix in the military prison in the Capital. He was a soldier once like she had been. But unlike her, Felix had been convicted of a crime that he was not guilty of and had been executed to prevent such sad business from dampening the spirit of the Princess's 16th Birthday Celebrations.

Not that it mattered at the end of the course. It had rained all day on the Friday that her birthday was supposed to take place. The public party that was supposed to take place in the Palace Gardens was cancelled, and the Princess was said to be furious at the weather. Violet instead spent her day at Hans Publishing House, negotiating a deal with the largest publisher in the Kingdom of Leiden.

All Letters deserved to be sent, and all stories deserved to be told. Violet promised to honour her new friend Felix and to make sure his story was told. The Publisher agreed to her terms, and copies of A Soldier's Tale were sold in book stores across the kingdom, and even on the little shop aboard Northern Starlight, a cruise liner built by a company that was owned by someone Felix had known in his past.

She took one last look out the porthole of her cabin. Felix had told Violet that the ocean was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen. The sun was gently dipping down on the horizon, and the blue sea was tinted orange with the setting sun, making the world seem like a dream to her eyes. Violet wasn't sure if she understood beauty yet, but a part of her felt at peace watching the setting sun come down on the gentle waves of the ocean.

And a single tear dropped from her eye, dripping down onto her own copy of the book.

I wish you could have seen the ocean again, Felix.