Roaring 20s Royalty

Chapter 9- Freedom

The car was a bubble of excitement and disbelief, our screams of joy drowning out even the old engine. It was essentially a big black box with wheels but it was luxurious inside with leather seats and a beautiful wooden dashboard. A handle was required to start it from outside, but it was the newest model available in the Montekino Kingdom.

"Jurgelda!" I screamed, "We've done it! We're actually gone! I'm leaving, tonight!" I laughed and hugged my purse tightly to my chest.

"I'm so glad to have helped you in this, Princess. I swear on my soul I will not speak a word of this to anyone." She was driving, a rare thing for a woman to do in these times but she had said she would and she had.

"I'm not a Princess anymore, Jurgelda, call me Nova, please. I don't want to hear that word from here on out, if I can at all avoid it." I placed my hand over hers on the wheel for a moment in gesture of thanks, "Are you sure now you can handle Trident? And anything else that needed sorting out?"

She nodded as we took a right, "Yes, Nova," she laughed, "That feels really wierd but I like it. Anyway, I've been putting in the work with him, and the stablehands are still able to help me, since their understanding is that Tridemt was gifted to me while you went away to this Lord's house, which isn't entirely a lie."

I giggled, "I suppose you have a point." I opened my purse yet again, checking I had everything for what felt like the hundredth time. I knew I couldn't go back, and I hadn't forgotten anything, but I checked anyway. The stack of money from my parent's room still sat there, blood money in every way. I couldn't believe I'd narrowly escaped my mother. The only reason I got out with my skin on was that she entered the room talking to a maid who had likely done nothing wrong but was being disciplined. In her anger my mother glossed over me in the corner near the door and I manged to slip out before the door had closed behind her.

"You can stop checking, Nova, you have everything, just relax and enjoy yourself. We're nearly at the trainstation so once you're there just get on that train and you're free, for good." She was good at reassuring me but I put that down to simply knowing me inside out from her work.

I sighed and held my hat down as I looked out the open window. Of course I had worn the dress I had bought specifically for him, but I'd opted for a hat instead of the headband just to tone it down a little bit for the journey. It too handed to the free feeling I was experiencing.

The green trees whizzed past us and open plains extended for miles. Cows and sheep grazed and crop grew in most fields. This time of year was when everything was planted and grew since the rest of the year was pretty much one long snowstorm.

After only a few minutes were were passing more Dacha houses, gradually becoming more city-like. My mother preferred to live a little outside the confines of a city though of course where she went people followed. The further into the city we went, the less people noticed the car. Outside the city we would see people on the road and they get excited at simply seeing us. Now the citizens were used to the sight of automobiles. The buildings were taller here, joined together and plainer. We passed under a large sign over the road that read, "Manorgotchesk."

Tram lines weaved through the roads and people bustled about the streets, "It's always such a different atmosphere here than back home." I told Jurgelda, "I mean, I do like the cities, but some, Manorgotchesk in particular is just so dull. Compared the Missiplaton, I get the feeling we're a little behind in terms of development."

"I understand." Jurgelda replied, "Where I come from, our cities were colourful and fun. That is one thing I miss."

I nodded but said nothing. Manorgotchesk was an industrial city, though we weren't in that sector at this moment. Mostly cars and machinery were constructed here, but recently most of the factories had converted to ammunition, firearms and armored vehicles. After the Continental War, military requirements had been heightened ten-fold.

Coming down the mainstreet, the Grand Station came into sight. Still it was not a grand building, but it had more meaning than the rest of them. Jurgelda parked us in front of it by the edge of the street. I was glad to see we didn't attract much attention when we stepped out of the car. Most of my recognition came from my mother parading me rather than me being seen. We didn't come here all that much either since it's an industrial hub.

Jurgelda walked me up the steps towards the open main doors. I was excited but also my hands sweated with nerves.

Inside was more lavish, dark wood furniture and decorative stone pillars holding up parts of the large roof. Golden marble-like patterns covered the walls. From the centre of the main hall a humongous chandelier hung like a jewel. Undertaken that was a big clock. There were various boards showing times for the trains. A man in a uniform stood by one and rubbed out a time near the top. That train had already left.

We walked up to the reception just in front of the doors through onto the platforms, "Goodafternoon," Jurgelda spoke for me at the till, "Can we get one ticket for Jorki, please."

The Lady at the desk nodded and started typing something into an odd looking machine with metal buttons, "Single travel or return?"

Jurgelda turned to me for a second before determinedly saying, "Single, please." I thanked her for her loyalty with a smile.

The lady pressed a key and after a second the machine printed out a piece of card with writing on it. Jurgelda handed over a few pieces Id given her for this amd the Lady handed her the ticket, "Here you go, Ma'am, enjoy your journey."

I was thankful for my outfit, sure it wasn't inconspicuous, but it did hide who I was so for that I was thankful.
I'd never held a train ticket before. Its not really how my family travelled since we had our own drivers, but in a way it kind of felt nice, more like a novelty, a normal person's item.

Jurgelda led me out to the platforms. The sun shining through the glass roof blinded me for a moment, but when I opened my eyes there it was, a huge behemoth of metal and steam, my train. Looking around there were people everywhere, in the windows of the train cars, waiting on the platforms. A busker was playing a saxophone by the wall to my right. I waved at him.

Jurgelda brought me to the train, helping me upnthe high steps, "Now, Nova, how do you feel?"

"Nervous." I answered, "Thank you for all of this, Jurgelda. It means so very much to me."

Jurgelda's eyes teared up and unexpectedly she pulled me into a tight hug. It was woerd at first but I returned it, "I'll miss you, Nova"

We heard a Marshal shout that the train was about other depart, so she stepped back onto the platform. I too felt my eyes welling up, "Goodbye, Jurgelda."