2 Siv

"It seems that the fall caused more damage than I thought. I am afraid I can't tell if the memory loss is only temporary or permanent, though," the doctor tells the woman standing by the door as he plays with his long curled mustache.

Pretending to lose her memory is definitely better than Gene telling them that she is from the real world, and that this was a game.

'Ha!'

They would definitely lock her away for insanity. For now, she is Siv Holmen who was injured in a horse accident and lost all her memories. She just needs to find a way back to... earth? 

'Is this considered a different planet? I just need to go back to the real world… Let's just say 'My World'. I need to find a way to go back to my world.'

"Lady Siv, would you like me to make some late breakfast for you?" Veda asks her, bringing her back from her scrambled thoughts.

When she looks up, both the doctor and the lady are gone. She recognized the woman's voice when she spoke. She is the one who told her that she wished she was dead earlier.

"Please do Veda, I am starving." The maid smiles and turns to leave right away. "Before you go. Who was the woman standing by the door?" 

Veda's eyes darken and she takes a few steps back to Gene's bed.

"That's the duchess, your father's second wife," she whispers. "You don't really get along, my lady. She doesn't like you much." 

Gene figured as much.

'Now I wish I hadn't skipped through the cut-scenes that gave more information about Siv.'

She sighs.

"Do I have any siblings?" Gene asks.

"Yes, my lady. One stepsister, Lady Tyra and a half brother, Lord Leif. He is the heir to House Holmen."

"Do we get along?" 

Veda looks down and shakes her head. "They follow everything the duchess tells them to do," she explains.

"I see. I am guessing my father is the same way." 

Veda averts her eyes again. 

'I guess that's a yes.' 

"Thank you for all the information, Veda."

"Of course, my lady. I will do anything I can to help you regain your memory." She smiles sweetly before disappearing to go to the kitchen.

Gene flops back onto the bed and stares at the white sheer fabric hanging down decoratively.

"Let's think about the situation:

1. I am inside an online game."

'Damn, saying that out loud makes it sound even more ridiculous.'

"2. I am a side character who will be executed for treason in the near future.

3. I have no idea how I got here and hence how to go back."

The possibilities that she can think of are: she is dreaming, she is dead, she was somehow pulled into or teleported inside Love Game. 

Sadly, after more pinches and slaps, she still does not wake up. She speculates that the last possibility is the accurate one, however crazy it is. Gene decides to make sure she survives long enough to figure out how to go back home.

'What did Siv even do to be executed?'

Veda comes back a while later with the late breakfast she talked about. It is more of a luxurious breakfast. When she finishes putting everything on the table, it is so full you would think five people were eating.

"I am not going to eat all of this."

"I didn't know what you were craving, my lady, so I brought different things for you." 

It is the first time that someone has been this considerate of Gene. She knows this is not even a real person, but her words warm her heart.

"Thank you," she mumbles.

She eats to her heart's content. She feels like she hasn't eaten a proper meal like this in years. Her mother did her best to provide for them, but it was mostly junk and unhealthy food. Healthy and organic produce is too expensive, they can't afford it.

***

THE NEXT FEW DAYS are spent the same way. Gene has not been allowed to leave her room because of the accident. And even though she is supposedly injured, the only person who comes to visit and spend time with her is Veda. Not even Siv's father came to check on her. She feels bad for the side character.

Finally, Gene gets permission to go outside. The doctor said she could slowly go back to her normal activities. She has no idea what those were for the real Siv, but one of them is going to be investigating this world from now on.

After eating breakfast, which was more of a brunch since it is served so late in the morning here, Veda helps her change. 

No pants for women in this world. The whole wardrobe is full of dresses of different colors. Fancy dresses, sundresses, winter dresses, horse riding dresses.

'What is wrong with these people? There is no creativity when it comes to clothes.' 

Veda chooses a light blue sundress for her, then she guides her out to the garden.

'The Holmens are loaded.' Gene thinks to herself.

The house is basically a palace and the garden is so vast that she can't even see where it ended. 

'The game developers really took their time working on this place, even though Siv is only a side character. That's real dedication right there.'

They walk around for a while and Gene enjoys the afternoon sun on her skin. The scent of flowers fills the air, making her body relax.

"How would you describe my personality, Veda?" she asks, "Before the accident I mean," she adds when she sees the maid struggle with the question.

"You are a very pleasant person to be around, my lady. Kind and giving, loving and forgiving, but I think…" She quickly catches herself as her cheeks flush red.

"Please, be honest and express yourself freely," Gene encourages her.

"I always thought that people take advantage of your kindness," Veda says while fidgeting with her apron. "You don't stand up for yourself, so people mistreat you. You are also too naïve and trusting."

"Hmm."

"I'm sorry, my lady, I didn't mean to offend you." Color leaves Veda's face.

"Not at all, I really appreciate your honesty." Gene smiles back at her.

'So maybe, just maybe, Siv didn't really commit treason. From how Veda described her, I don't think she is capable of doing something dangerous. Maybe she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or maybe she was framed. One could only hope, right?'

"We should go back, my lady. There are guests invited for dinner tonight. You should start getting ready."

"Alright."

The next few hours are spent on beauty rituals that Gene hasn't practiced since she lost her job. A little different from home, but the basics are the same. 

Veda also gives her a crash course on dinner etiquette. Luckily, she remembers those since her character was a princess before, and etiquette is one of the most important parts in the Love Game competition.

For some reason, Gene feels nervous, which is really odd considering that this character is not even real. This is her first time meeting Siv's family, a family that basically treats her like crap. She wonders if they were openly hostile toward her.

'Well not 'her' but 'me' now, I guess.'

After Veda finishes her last touches, Gene looks at her reflection. She gasps.

'Damn, this girl is hot. Those sapphire eyes could kill just by one look.' 

She winks at the mirror a few times as if she is flirting with someone across the room.

Veda chuckles.  "You're acting strange again, my lady," she says as her shoulders shake. 

Gene bursts into laughter herself when she realizes how absurd she must look.

'I know, I'm weird.'

The maid escorts her to the sitting room where everyone is to wait for dinner to be ready. When she walks in, all heads turn to her. She is the last one to arrive. 

What she didn't expect was to see so many people. Her anxiety shoots through the roof as her eyes sweep over the room.

'This is not dinner, this is a freaking party.'

*********

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