ILTV - Steam Punk Loop

Chapter 1 - Two Worlds, Two Hearts

*** Based on the original I'm in Love With the Villainess novel

*** Some content is similar to the original so can be considered as SPOILERS

*** This is purely FANFICTION. I do not own any rights to I'm in Love With the Villainess

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** Rae Taylor POV

"Ahhhh... I really hate riding the cable carts*, they are way too slow for my liking."

I slouched on one of the benches in the cable cart. It's one of the easier ways to get to the upper area in the kingdom, however it's just so slow.

"If only the items today weren't so fragile, I would've just taken the shortcut route. Siiiggghhhh..."

Before I forget, my name is Rae Taylor, seventeen years of age. Here in Bauer Kingdom, the citizens and their residence are divided into Classes and location. I'm part of the Middle Class. Where I am headed is the upper area of the kingdom where the Upper Class and Aristocrats reside.

"MOMMY!! LOOK IT'S THE CASTLE!!"

"Don't jump dear you'll shake the cable cart."

A child excitingly points towards the top of the highest area.

"The castle huh..."

I placed an elbow on the window and rested my chin on my fist. I stared outside to look at the castle where the Royal Family lives.

The Bauer Kingdom is ruled by King l'Ausseil Bauer along with his two wives, Lulu Bauer and Riche Bauer. His children with Lulu are Princes Rod and Thane Bauer. With Riche he had one child named Yu Bauer. Many questioned and scorned his marriage to two women. However, for political reasons and security, he was advised to take both women with powerful family backgrounds as his wives.

"Mommy, will we ever get to enter the castle one day?"

"No dear, we are only in the Middle Class. Only those of the Upper Class and the Aristocrats can enter the castle."

"So if I become an Aristocat, I can enter the castle?!"

"It's Aristo- no nevermind. I will tell you more later. So for now be a good boy for me okay?"

"Yes Mommy!"

The mother pats her son's head ending the conversation.

"This ranking system is dumb."

I frowned while still looking out the window and the surroundings.

For centuries, the Aptitude Ranking System has been the basis for almost everything here in the kingdom. Like for political positions, who handles certain trades, etc. However, when it comes to systems that's based on ranks, there is always a lowest rank. The Lower Class are those with no Magic aptitude and are located at the bottom of the kingdom. Despite this, they started developing machines using Steam power which improved their livelihood and for everyone else within the kingdom.

Take this cable cart for example, it's powered by Steam and can bring a number of people from the lowest area to the very top instead of having to climb hundreds of stairs or riding an expensive carriage. There are also machines that can wash clothes without the use of hands. I haven't seen it myself, but there's also someone developing a bicycle that moves on its own. I want to see that one so badly.

However, things are more complicated than it seems. The highest rank below the Royals, the Aristocrats, were against the use of technology over magic and even to this day are still against the machines being used around the kingdom. Tensions have been brewing for years between the Aristocrats and Lower Class, but recently there have been physical altercations. Security has been stricter around the area.