Thirteen year old Charlotte Morningstar sat alone in her bedroom, playing with the mechanical theater that her godfather had given her last year. It had become one of her most favorite toys and she would spend hours playing with it. Making up stories to act out with her dolls.
"Once upon a time there was a beautiful young lady who lived in a big castle with only servants as companions. This was because the girl's parents had died and she was raised by an aunt who was old and ugly, and jealous of her niece's beauty. She never wanted anyone to see how beautiful the girl was, so she never let her leave the castle."
As Charlotte narrated her story, she moved two dolls on the stage, one resembling a crone and one resembling a maiden.
"But then one day a handsome prince lost his way in the wood and went to seek shelter at the castle. When he knocked on the door, no one answered so he climbed over the wall and that's when he saw the girl dancing in the gardens. He had never seen anyone so beautiful."
She made the maiden doll dance and moved a doll that resembled a gentleman.
"The prince was so captivated by her beauty and grace, he had to know more about her. He went to the old aunt and asked her permission to court her niece. But this only made the aunt more jealous, she told the prince to go away and never return. But the prince just had to see her again, everyday he would sneak off to the castle and watch the girl dance in the garden. As the days passed, he fell in love with her and one day he could not keep his feelings a secret any longer."
She turned the dolls to face each other.
"My lady." She voiced the gentleman doll. "I have seen you dancing many times and I love you, desperately."
She made the lady doll move shyly.
"But I do not know you good sir." She voiced. "And you should not be here, you will make my aunt angry."
She made the gentleman doll move closer to her.
"I do not fear the old witch. I only wish to know you, and for you to know me. Because if you know me, then you may love me as I love you. Won't you please dance with me?"
Charlotte then turned a key on the theater and music played. Charlotte first made the dolls dance together, then she became swept up in the music, doing plies, releves, and pirouttes around the room. She loved the ballet. Ever since she first saw Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty at the opera with her mother and godmother, she had dreamed of one day dancing on that same stage with perfect grace like the ballerinas she had seen that night.
"Charlotte are you still not ready?" She heard her mother call from downstairs."Please hurry up. Our guests will be here any minute."
"Yes Mother!"
Charlotte quickly touched up her hair and smoothed out her dress. It was a blue, silken dress adorned with colorful ribbons, an expensive garment that had been picked out by her mother and paid for by her father. Both her parents had said that the dress made her look so grown up. So very much like a proper young lady, and they couldn't wait to show her off at their annual Christmas party.
Being wealthy socialites, it was only natural that Dr. Lucifer Morningstar and his wife Lilith would host magnificent Christmas parties at their manor house. Only the most lovely decorations, the most sumptuous food, and the most expensive and sought after gifts. Each party was more splendid than the last and the crown jewel of the gathering was always their tree. It was tall Fir tree that stood in the middle of the room, covered with gold and silver apples, while sugar almonds, comfits, lemon drops, and every kind of confectionery, hung like buds and blossoms upon all its branches. Many little lights sparkled amid it's dark boughs, which like stars illuminated its treasures, or like friendly eyes that seemed to invite the guests to partake of it's blossoms and fruit.
Normally when Charlotte looked upon the tree she felt a great happiness. But this year, the sight of the tree made her feel very sad and melancholic, for this would be the last Christmas she would ever see such a tree. Now that she had reached her thirteenth year, her father had felt the need to mature her and the best way to do so was to send her to a boarding school in France. Charlotte's mother was originally from Paris, France and when she turned thirteen, she was sent to that school where she learned to become a mature and practical woman.
But Charlotte loved it here in Nuremberg, Germany. This was her home, this was where she could visit the toy and sweet shops. This was where she could play in the streets and parks with the other children. This was where she could play with her toys and dream about dancing in the ballet. How could she just leave all that behind?
"Charlotte you look beautiful." Lilith remarked, she was dressed in a silken gown that was emerald green with gold trim.
"Thank you Mother."
"Do you like your dress?"
"Yes Mother."
"I'm glad. You're growing up so fast, before I know it you'll have gone from thirteen to twenty-one in mere seconds."
Charlotte shuddered at the thought.
Suddenly Lucifer entered the room looking awfully anxious, as usual he was reminding himself to make sure that everything was in place and that nothing was out of order. That they had just enough decorations, gifts, and food. That nothing was too much or too little.
"Candles!" He said. "We need more candles, don't we?"
"We have plenty of candles dear." Lilith said. "Light anymore and you'll burn down the house."
"What about the food? Did the servants lay everything out? Do we have enough of everything? Punch? Hour de vours?"
"Darling we have enough to feed Napoleon's army. Calm yourself."
"I just want everything to be perfect."
"Everything is perfect."
"Now Charlotte you know what to do when the guests arrive?" He asked his daughter. "You know how to greet them?"
"Yes Father." The girl replied.
At the moment the door bell rang. Lucifer sent a servant to answer the door and the family put on their best smiles. Much to Lucifer's disappointment, the first guests to arrive was Husk Nikolaev and his wife Rosie, Charlotte's godparents. Rosie and Lilith had attended the same boarding school together and they were close enough to be sisters, so when Charlotte was born, she was asked to be godmother, which she happily accepted.
Rosie was elegant and refined but at the same time bold and high-spirited. After proper schooling, she studied and trained to become a stage actress, wowing audiences with her emotions and passion. She could play the ingenue and she could play the femme fatale, acting was second nature to her and she adored it. Her skills were so stunning that she acted in theaters all over. Paris, Nuremberg, London, Venice, even Moscow and that was where she met her husband.
She had just arrived in Moscow and after the show she was to go to London for sister's birthday, she was searching the shops for a suitable gift. Her search led her to a clock shop which was run by a man who was not very handsome but sophisticated with a certain charm to him. Husk Nikolaev was very ingenious, he understood all about clocks and watches, and could even make them. He could make clocks, music boxes, toys, magic tricks, he was a magnificent clock-maker and magician who had amazed Rosie in a way that no one else could.
Charlotte adored Rosie and Husk, and they loved her as if she was their own flesh in blood. Rosie would fill her head with wonder as she told the most entertaining and beguiling stories, taking her to see many ballet and theater productions. Husk would build her the most lovely and charming toys or perform magic tricks that made her believe that magic truly was something that existed in this world. A visit from them was the best thing in the world to Charlotte. There never were any tears from her when they were present.
"Aunt Rosie! Uncle Husk!"
Charlotte almost ran to them, but her father placed his arm out to her, meaning that she was about to do something very childish and immature. Charlotte quickly calmed herself and stepped back.
"Hello Charlotte." Rosie greeted with a warm and adoring smile. "My heavens, you've grown so much."
The three joined together in a group hug, holding one another close.
"How are you doll?" Husk asked Charlotte with a smile that expressed the same emotions as his wife. "Still running around and being a little hellion?"
"Not a lot." Charlotte said trying to look innocent.
"I'm so glad that you were able to make it Rosie." Lilith said as she moved to embrace her oldest friend. "I thought that you weren't coming this year."
"And miss a chance to see you and my favorite girl, while vexing your husband?" Rosie teased.
"Already you're conspiring against me." Lucifer said rolling his eyes.
Lucifer had never been particularly fond of Rosie or Husk. He found them too unpredictable and impractical and frivolous for his liking. Nevertheless, he respected their friendship with Lilith and their love for Charlotte.
"Don't worry, we'll be sure to wait until the party is over before we perform any mischief." Rosie giggled.
Lucifer was not amused.
"I hope you don't mind Lucifer, but I brought a very special surprise for you all." Husk said. "Something I'm sure Charlotte here will appreciate greatly."
"It's not another rabbit trick is it?" Lucifer asked.
"No. Something much more original and impressive. Wait right here."
Husk briefly left the drawing room and stepped into the corridor. He came back pushing in a wheeled table. Next he produced a tarp which he draped over the table and with few flicks of his wrist, he pulled off the tarp and his newest creation appeared on the table like magic.
It was a green meadow, spangled with flowers and a noble castle stood upon the medow, with clear glass windows and golden turrets. A musical clock began to play, when the doors and windows flew open, and little men and women, with feathers in their hats, and long flowing trains, were seen sauntering about in the rooms. In the middle hall, which seemed as if it were all on fire, so many little tapers were burning in silver chandeliers, there were children in white frocks and green jackets, dancing to the sound of the music. Charlotte was wonderstruck. She thought it was the most beautiful thing her godfather had ever made.
"Oh Uncle Husk it's lovely." Charlotte cheered, clapping her hands.
"It is a fine piece of work." Lucifer admitted. "But we can admire it later, the other guests will be here any minute and we must be ready to greet them. Husk would you mind putting that contraption aside?"
"As you wish."
"Father can't I look at it just a little bit longer?" Charlotte pleaded. "It's the prettiest castle I've ever seen."
"You'll have all the time in the world to look at it when the party is over. Enough daydreaming now, a mature young lady is always a considerate and punctual hostess."
"Yes Father." She sighed, disappointed.