There is a bitter taste in Gene's mouth. They have only been in this carriage for about five minutes, but she is ready to throw up already.
Siv's parents' pleas fell on deaf ears last night. Prince Brandt did not care how inappropriate it is to bring his fiancée to the royal palace without being accompanied by a chaperone. They eventually had to agree to let her go, since the prince looked very determined.
'Why did he insist on me coming with him, anyway?' Her eyes travel to Brandt who is currently sitting across from her, taking a nap. 'Does he really care about Siv?'
The carriage hits a bump on the road and Gene feels her stomach turn. She lets out a loud groan and closes her eyes to try to keep her breakfast down.
"Are you alright?" the prince asks.
"No," she answers with her eyes still closed. "I am not."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
'Get a car. Fix the roads.'
"I doubt it." She finally opens her eyes and moves closer to the window for some fresh air.
"We will be at the portal in about an hour and from there we will be using a royal carriage. It is way more comfortable."
"The portal?"
'They didn't have anything like that in the game.'
"Have you forgotten about that too?" he asks.
"I guess." Gene feels embarrassed even though she has no reason to be.
"It is basically a gate that shortens the distance," he explains. "You enter from one side and you arrive at a different portal. The distance that takes days on horse, takes but a few seconds."
"How?"
"The sorcerers never share their secrets," he answers with a shrug.
'I don't remember the game having sorcerers, or magic for that matter. What is going on?'
"Are sorcerers the only ones who can use magic?"
"Yes. Thankfully, they are loyal to the royal family, they have been for hundreds of years."
"I see."
Gene feels uneasy with the new information. Anxiety is starting to build in her core. She stood a better chance when she thought she knew everything there is to know about this place. But how can such a big difference exist?
"Do you not remember any of this?" Brandt inquires curiously. "Surely, you have learned about this from your tutors."
"I am sorry." She looks down.
"It is alright, you will just have to learn it all again."
Gene looks at his cute smile and mirrors it. It somehow calms her anxiety a bit.
"We have arrived, Your Highness." The guard's voice wakes Gene from her short nap.
'At least I don't feel like throwing up anymore.'
The prince leaves the carriage first and extends a hand to her, which she grabs. She curses in her head as she comes to the conclusion that long dresses and small carriage steps should not exist together.
When she steps out, she finds herself standing in front of a gigantic wooden gate. She notices the many symbols and designs carved all around the edges on the gate, but she can't recognize any of them.
"My lady, how are you feeling?" Veda asks from behind her.
"I'm alright, glad that I am out of that thing." The maid chuckles.
Seeing Veda's face makes Gene feel at ease. She is just happy she didn't have to travel to the capital without her. In the short time they have spent together, she has started considering her as a friend. Gene believes that for a friendless thirty six year-old bum, it was a miracle.
'Trust me, don't let this twenty one year-old hot body fool you.'
"Let's go through first, they will take care of moving the luggage and help the horses cross," the prince announces.
One of the guards slides a green crystal in the opening on the right side of the gate, which suddenly opens. A bright light radiates from it, hiding whatever is on the other side.
"Shall we?" Brandt gives Gene his hand but she hesitates. She looks at the light again. "It will be fine, I promise," he reassures her.
His words do nothing to calm her heart. A chill runs from her neck down her back. She puts her trembling hand in the prince's. He squeezes it, giving her a sweet smile.
They take a few steps up to reach the gate, then they slowly walk into the light. It gets so bright that she has to turn her face away. Gene tries to bury it against the prince's arm, but there is no one to her left.
"Prince Brandt?" She opens her eyes and finds herself alone.
The light seems to be enveloping her from every side as she floats. It is almost like the feeling she had when she was on her apartment building's rooftop.
'Oh my God, am I going back home?' A sliver of hope appears in her heart.
"Gene," a commanding female voice calls. It almost gives her a heart attack. She turns around, but there is nobody.
"Hello?"
"Yes, I am here."
She turns again, but still no one. Her heart is beating so fast she can hear it in her ears.
"Who are you?"
"Who I am is not important. Who you are is." The voice seems to echo from all corners.
'Am I dreaming?'
"It might be a dream but it might not be."
'What the… did she just read my mind? And what's with the Yoda-type-answers?'
"What do you want?"
"Gene, you will not return to your world."
Her body shivers at her words. "What? Why?"
"This is your destiny."
"My destiny is to die here?" Gene asks, frustrated.
"Your destiny is to be queen of this land."
'This has to be a dream. A nightmare probably.'
"How am I supposed to do that if I am going to be executed?"
"You have the ability to change that path."
Gene is almost inclined to laugh. 'Is this a joke?'
"Why me, though?"
"It is your destiny."
"You said that already." Gene's body is shaking at this point.
"Every queen of this land is brought from a different world, to utilize the unique wisdom the queens bring with them. It has been this way for hundreds of years. You can ask the current queen for assistance. She will help."
All of a sudden, the light gets even brighter and Gene feels like she is suffocating in it. She struggles to breathe.
"Wait," she calls the woman but her voice comes out small and choked.
"Siv, Siv."
Gene feels someone shaking her. Her eyes fly open and she finds herself in the prince's arms, still struggling to breathe.
"It's alright, it's all over now." He caresses her face.
'Was that really a dream?'
*********
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