"My lords and ladies, please follow me to the dining hall," the butler announces. "Dinner is served."
'Oh thank you, baby Jesus.'
Gene feels like she was standing there, dumbfounded, for hours. It was probably about fifteen seconds or so. But now that everyone is heading to the dining hall, she finds herself retreating to the corner. She is supposed to have a man escort her and sit next to her for dinner, however, nobody has approached her.
The room slowly empties, until the only people left beside her are Siv's stepmother and a man who she guesses is her father. The petite woman whispers something in his ear and, with a clenched jaw, he also leaves the room. The duchess slowly shimmies until she is but a few inches away from Gene.
"What do you think you're doing here?"
"I came down for dinner," Gene answers with a smile.
'It is not rocket science, lady.'
The woman glares at her for a moment. "Since you have been sick, we didn't think you were joining us tonight. It would be inappropriate to add a chair for you at the table now."
'I guess they don't want Siv here. I wish they had told me that before spending hours on hair and make-up.'
"Indeed, it would be inappropriate." Gene smiles at her, which takes her stepmother by surprise, to say the least. "Next time," she adds before walking back to my room.
If Gene is to survive this place, she can't make any enemies. She has to make sure to play her lost memory card right and just befriend everyone around her.
As soon as she makes it to her room, Veda barges in with teary eyes.
"My lady, please forgive me. It was all my fault, I should have checked that they had a seat for you." She is bowing so low, it looks painful.
"It's fine, Veda. I would rather have dinner here alone than with a room full of snobby strangers." Veda looks up at her with surprise. "Would you get me some dinner though, I am famished."
"Of course, my lady."
***
THE NEXT MORNING, Gene wakes up all refreshed and ready for the exciting day she has ahead of her. She is finally going to go outside to check out the town.
It has already been a week since she arrived and she feels like this whole time was wasted on staying home when she could have discovered how to leave this world.
'Better late than never, though.'
After breakfast, Veda helps her change, and off they go. She is so excited, she is almost skipping. But as they walk through the garden to get to the back gate, they find Siv's stepmother and stepsister having tea in the gazebo.
"Good day, Mother." Gene curtsies as gracefully as her back muscles allow her to. "Sister."
Both women are so shocked, they can't even utter a word.
'Good.'
She continues on her way, followed by her loyal maid. As soon as they are far enough to be out of earshot, Veda leans in closer to her.
"You have never called the duchess 'mother' before, my lady."
"I think I should from now on. I don't even remember that we didn't get along, maybe I should make an effort to be closer to my family," Gene answers with a sweet smile.
"You are too good for this family, my lady," Veda mumbles.
'I am not good. I just need to avoid making unnecessary enemies and stay alive.'
At the gate, there is a grand carriage waiting for them. The footman greets Gene and opens the door for them.
"Thank you."
The inside is even more luxurious and intricately decorated. The velvet seats are soft and comfortable, and the windows are large enough to display the passing landscape. But as soon as the carriage starts moving, Gene feels like her whole breakfast is about to be displayed on the carpeted floor.
'Oh Lord. This is worse than a roller coaster.'
She opens the window in an attempt to calm her upset stomach. Thankfully, the fresh breeze does the trick.
They make it to the town of Kemi in about half an hour. It is very pretty and lively. Veda and Gene leave the carriage and walk around the market. There are so many shops selling different things, and a lot of people shopping and looking around.
'Did the developers create every single one of these characters?'
Gene finds herself stopping in front of a shop selling jewelry. They have such beautiful hairpins.
"I think this one would go perfectly with your beautiful eyes, young lady," the shopkeeper stated as she handed her an exquisite sapphire hairpin.
Gene takes it from her and studies it for a moment. It is embellished with small white stones, truly beautiful.
"I agree, my lady, It would look great on you," her companion says cheerfully.
"But I have no money."
"Of course you do." Veda frowns at her. "How much is it?" She turned to the woman in the shop.
"10 Topaz," the shopkeeper answers.
Veda takes out a beautiful topaz from her pouch and hands it to the shopkeeper. Gene watches in amazement as the woman places it in some kind of a bracelet on her arm and, after it radiates for a moment, she takes it off and gives it back to Veda. Gene reckons that the stone works like a credit card.
"Where do you get your items from?" Gene asks the shopkeeper.
"My husband makes them, but we get the jewels from merchants from different places," she answers as she puts the hairpin in a box and hands it to her.
"Thank you."
"Please visit again, we always have new things." She smiles at her.
"I will."
As she walks away from the shop, Gene feels an uneasiness get hold of her. A crazy thought is nagging in the back of her mind and just thinking about it makes the blood freeze in her veins.
Her eyes fall on a teenage boy selling flowers a block away. She walks to him immediately.
"Hello, my lady, would you like to purchase some fresh Asters?"
"Yes, please." She looks at Veda who immediately understands and gets the topaz out to pay. "Do you grow them in the area?" Gene asks the boy.
"Yes, my sister and her husband grow them near the town of Kala. They also have a shop there if you ever visit."
"Nice. What's your name?" she asks.
"Soini, my lady."
"Thank you, Soini."
For the next hour or so, Gene visits a dozen more shops and stalls, asking them similar questions. To her surprise, or maybe her dismay, they all give very detailed answers about their lives and their families.
She sits in the carriage on the way back feeling nauseous, not only from the ride, but also from the realization she has come to.
It is impossible for the game developers to go into so much detail when making NPC characters. The people she met today all had names and families, they had a story and connections. It is not just a backstory that is part of the game, they have nothing to do with the game.
'How is that possible? Was I wrong about this world? But all the characters match with the game I played.'
She groans in frustration.
"My lady, we have arrived." Veda brings her back from the chaos in her head.
"Yes, thank you." They walk to her room silently.
"I will bring a vase for the flowers, my lady." Veda leaves before Gene lets her body crash on one of the chairs.
"Well, this sucks. If this is not the world from Love Game, then where the hell am I?"
"My lady, my lady." Veda comes back running with a vase in her hands. "My lady, I heard something when I was in the kitchen." She is out of breath.
"Calm down, Veda."
'Oh my God, was I already framed?' Gene feels a chill run down her back.
"The prince," she starts, taking a deep breath. "The prince is coming to visit."
Gene's body automatically pushes off the chair. "What? Prince Brandt?" Veda nods. "Here?" She nods again. "Why?"
"He was in the south for a diplomatic visit and he heard about your injury," the maid explains, "And since Lohja is on the way, he is stopping by on his way back to the capital."
Gene eyes her with shock for a moment. "When?" she finally asks.
"He will be arriving tomorrow morning."
Gene's knees give in and she falls back into the chair. She does not want to meet the prince at all. He is the one who ordered Siv's execution in the game.
'Shit.'
*********
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