Emily exited her room to see that Anna was waiting for her outside. Anna had a look of shock as she stared at Victoria.
"Did.....you dress yourself Miss Victoria? " Anna asked.
"Yes I did. Why are you so surprised? "
"Well I've never seen Miss Victoria dress herself, it's just that, she usually summons the maids for assistance."
*Ah, so Victoria was a pampered rich girl who didn't even know how to dress herself.*
"Yes, well from now on, I will be the one to dress myself everyday, kay? I'm not a child anymore. And if you're gonna stick around, say "you" and stop addressing me as the third person." Victoria ordered.
Anna didn't seem at all bothered by Miss Victoria's sudden change in personality. In fact she was proud of it.
"As you wish, Miss Victoria!"
"Good, now, help me find a knife. "
"😐.....what? "
"A knife. I want to cut my hair."
"Oh😑 Well wouldn't it be better to use scissors Miss Victoria? I could cut your hair for you. "
"Oh yeah? But a knife will be much quicker though? "
"Hmm....😊I insist."
Anna took Victoria to the back of the house to cut her hair (with scissors). As Victoria waited patiently, questions began to flood in her head.
*Even though I'm just a background character in this book, it's still important for me to know who I am. I suppose it'll be okay to ask Anna about it.*
"Hey Anna. Do you know where my dad is?
"Yes Miss Victoria. He's in his quarters getting ready to escort you and your brothers to school. "
"Ah, I see. "
*So, I have brothers.*
"All done Miss Victoria!"
Anna then pulled out a small mirror from her pocket and lent it to Victoria.
"Wow, I love it! I feel lighter already. Thank you Anna."
"It's my pleasure Miss Victoria."
Victoria admired Anna's handiwork for a few more minutes before finally returning the pocket mirror to Anna.
"Well then Anna, let's get going to school shall we?"
"Eh? But you haven't eaten breakfast yet? "
"Oh... Right. "
Anna escorted Victoria to the dining room. As much as food was an important part in someone's health, Victoria wasn't exactly at ease with eating. Since in her past life, when she was Emily, she spent two years eating food that the doctor told her to eat. Even though she couldn't taste anything, food always made her vomit.
I wonder what I'll be eating today.
As Anna opened the door to the dining room, she quickly closed it shut.
"Ah, I suppose it would be better for you to eat in your room Miss Victoria."
"Why? I want to eat at the table? "
"Well your brothers are inside and they don't seem to be-"
"Great! I got all lot of questions to ask them."
Victoria walked past Anna and opened the door herself. As she opened the door, she now wished that she heeded Anna's advice, because on each side of the dining table were the two other male leads of the book.
Victor Everdeen and Vince Vaughn.
Victor and Vince were stepbrothers in the book. When Victor's mother died, the brothers weren't exactly in good terms with each other. Being the heir to the Everdeen household, Victor was jealous of how favorable his father is of Vince. And Vince, who used to look up on Victor, became distant and developed an inferiority complex.
They were a tiresome duo, that grew to hate each other because of their misunderstandings.
*Agh! I thought that I didn't have anything to do with the plot?! Are they really my brothers? There was no mention of a sister in the book?*
Victoria's eyes widened as she realized something!
They did have a sister. It was mentioned in Victor's backstory! The main reason why he hated Vince so much, was because he blamed Vince for not saving his twin during a carriage heist.
It was soon later revealed in the book that Vince did try to save his sister. But one of the men stabbed her when Vince wasn't looking. This made Vince kill all the people involved in the heist. The total number of people killed were 30, and they were all slayed by Vince Vaughn. It was called Victoria's Revenge. But due to Vince not telling the whole story of the event, Victor never forgave Vince for what happened.
*Tch! So not am I only a sibling to two of the male leads, I'm also gonna die in a heist?!*
*Hah, well that's not gonna happen. Fuck the plot. I'm gonna live this life till the very end!*
"Good morning Vince, good morning Victor! How y'all doing? "
Victoria tried her best to force a smile, but all she got as a response was complete silence.
*Shit, this is fucking awkward.*
"Are you alright Victoria? " Victor asked.
Victoria faced Victor to see that his expression was stunned.
"Of course I am! Why wouldn't I be? "
"Well... It's just that.... Never mind. Please take a seat next to me. "
Victor then stood up from his chair to help Victoria get comfortable. As Victoria sat down she looked over to Vince, who was clearly staring at her in shock.
*Do I have something on my face? Why are they so tense?*
"I'm so glad that you finally came to join us for breakfast! If only mom and dad were here, we'd be a complete family! " Victor exclaimed.
"Hmm, Yeah that sounds nice. By the way, I think we should take a different route on our way to school. " Victoria suggested.
"Why? The Dark Forest is the quickest way to head to school? " Vince said, finally uttering a sentence.
*Idiot! In what way do you think that the dark forest would be better?! It's literally called Dark Forest!*
"I am aware that it may be the quickest route to school, but it certainly isn't the safest, I suggest we use the main road, there's more people and if anything were to happen, we can ask for help. " Victoria replied.
"But the main road always gets caught up in traffic during this time." Victor joined in.
"Then we'll just have to wake up a little earlier. " Victoria replied.
"Then can you at least tell us why? " Victor asked, his deep purple eyes staring right at her.
"Yes. There's been some rumors in town that there are some bandits on the loose in the dark forest. They say that they've been looting innocent passers who take that route." Victoria explained.
"Really? " Vince asked, still in shock.
"Yes. "
"Hmm.... Well if what you say is true. " Victor nodded in response.
Though the relationship between Victor, Victoria and Vince was never really brought up in the book, the way they blamed themselves for her death, showed that they cared for her deeply. Victoria had confidence that the two boys would agree with her.
"Sigh, okay. What Victoria said is right. It'd be much safer to take the main road than the dark forest, and seeing as the situation of those bandits, all the routes we'll take from now on will be through main road." Victor ordered.
Great! As long as we don't go through the dark forest, I don't have to worry about dying in a stupid heist anymore.
Victoria finally satisfied, she looked over at Vince, who, on the other hand, seemed to be totally pissed at what Victor just said.
"Vince, are you alri-"
"SLAM!!!"
As Victoria was about to ask Vince if he was alright, he slammed the table and glared at Victor.
"I'm sick of this! Tell dad that I'm leaving for school."
Vince hurriedly walked towards the exit and slammed the door behind him.
"What was that all about?! " Victoria asked, clearly baffled by the sudden change in Vince's behavior.
"You don't need to concern yourself of him, it's just clear that none of his ideas are working." Victor replied as he sipped his cup of tea.
"What idea? "
"Well, using the dark forest as an advantage, we were going to use that route in order to deliver our products to the neighboring kingdom. But seeing as what you reported this morning, his idea was just a waste."
"What?! You should've at least told me about that! I would've been more considerate of my words if I knew! "
"It's just business Victoria, you don't need to feel burdened, father and I will find another route for delivery. Plus, Vince is always like that. He'll get over it soon."
"Tch! How could you say that? You practically just fucking embarrassed the guy! How much of an asshole do ya have to be to each other?! "
Victors eyes widened in shock! He's never heard a woman speak such foul words, let alone his own sister!
*Shit! I lost control of my temper.*
"Argh! Never mind. I'm going after him."
Victoria hurriedly walked out the door to chase after Vince. As she was about to leave the house, she realized something.
Fuck! I don't know where he stormed off to.
Victoria looked over to her left and saw one of the servants in the stable. She walked over to him as quickly as she could.
"Excuse me Sir?"
"Ah! My Lady! How can I help you? "
"My brother, Vince? Have you seen him? "
"Why yes My Lady! He just took off a moment ago, says he's headed to school."
"Which way did he go? "
"Why the dark forest of course."
Shit!
"Thank you so much Sir. Do you mind if I take this horse?"
"Of course not my lady! Take her! "
"Thanks. "
Victoria helped herself up the horse. Back when she was Emily, her father's would take her to Equestrian school every summer to learn how to ride a horse. Before Emily became good at fencing, she was also good at horse riding and jousting! A lot of the things she was good at in the modern day, that seemed useless, finally came into play in this old fantasy world, it was as if she was meant to be here!
"Ah wait My Lady! The young master Vince forgot to bring this with him! " The stable man held a sword and gave it to Victoria.
"Thanks, I'll be back. "
"HIYA"
Victoria headed towards the woods and into the dark forest. With Vince's sword in hand and a determined gaze, she rode her horse like there was no tomorrow.
She was ready for a warm up.