A cold-hearted smile (4)

It was lunch time, and I had missed 3 classes because of Cyrus... And I suppose another reason. Aaaah, everyone's staring me .... and whispering . I haven't made a good impression have I?

The crowds seemed to part as I made my way through the cafeteria. I took a seat at an empty table and sighed. At least the food looked nutritious . I brought the spoon up to my mouth and just as I was about take a bite a beautiful girl sat down gracefully across from me.

I lowered the spoon, and stared at her. She had long, silver hair, clear blue eyes, and a beauty spot under her left eye. Her most impactful feature, was her elegance. She was exactly what I imagined a noble young lady would look like.

She reached out her hand and I hesitantly shook it. "I am Lucina Alwen Regis, the first daughter of Duke Regis. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Ahh, I'm Olivia, I mean I'm Olivia Erem, the pleasure is... it's mine." I replied awkwardly

"You, is there something wrong with you?" Lucina stared straight at me with serious eyes.

Wrong with me?! Well sorry if I messed up my greeting, but was that really necessary ...

Lucina looked around suspiciously and then brought her hand to her face in order to muffle her voice. "Are you... a reincarnator ?"

I started to choke, eeeeeeeh what was that?

After a few seconds I calmed down. "I'm a transmigrator, I think..."

she gasped "so ,did you play the game too?"

I tilted my head to the side "game?" Then I realized. Nooooooo! This world is an otome game, she's the reincarnated villainess, and that means... am I the original heroine?!

But the heroine is always some pure-looking bitxh who thinks everything is about her, fudge that totally fits my description .

Lucina opened her mouth when a blond-haired boy slid into the seat next to her. He put his arm around her and frowned at me. "Luci, why didn't you tell me you were eating lunch here?"

He rested his head on her shoulder. Woah she's totally tamed him, as expected of a villainess.

As I stared in admiration at Lucina, the blond-haired boy glared at me. "What were you discussing with my sister?"

Ahhh, the sister-brother combo, classic.

"Admiring her, she's quite remarkable."

Lucina started to blush "huh?! That's..." Her brother continued to glare at me.

"Luci, you can't just believe everything people say! Look at her stoic expression, she clearly doesn't mean it."

What's with this guy?

"Well, I'm not admiring you, that's for sure." I glared back at him."Actually Lucinca's brother, we were in the middle of an important discussion."

Lucina nodded seriously "yeah Jamie, it would be nice if you left right now."

She pushed her brother away and he almost fell out of his chair. "But lu-ci-na, she's dangerous!"

"Jamie this is the cafeteria, there are people everywhere and I could totally take her."

Take me...what. Am I in danger? Is she going to expose me because I know she's a reincarnator ?? Did I fall for her trap? Ahh my terrible self I'm too trusting and pure, I'll have to fake my death.

"Umm, Olivia are you listening?"

"Yes...hold on what? I mean listening?"

"Well then I'll meet you there later!" Uh-oh, consequences for my actions. I can't tell her I was ignoring her, she's the nicest person I've met in a year. What if she doesn't want to talk to me anymore, what if she blackmails me, bullies me, and has me hanged for disrespect?

We spent the rest of lunch small talking, while her brother tried to have a one-on-one conversation with Lucina, despite the fact that I was still there.

Lucina looked at the magic watch on her wrist and exclaimed that class was starting soon. "Sorry I have to go, I promised the teacher I would talk with her before class. Talk to you later Olivia, Jamie please don't cause any trouble." She grabbed her bag and waived goodbye.

Jamie stood up, but I grabbed his wrist. "What are you doing commoner girl?!"

"I need to talk to you"

"What could you possibly need to talk to me about?"

"I need you to tell me where your sister said she wanted to meet and you absolutely can not tell her that I zoned out"

He stared at me with a look of confusion "what, you were there how could you not know what she said. Also if you didn't care enough then, why would you care now?"

I shrugged "I'm not in control of my actions."

He made eye contact "fine, but you owe me a favor."

"A favor? But it's such a simple request."

He rolled his eyes "still a request."

"What about a favor from Cyrus? Does that work?" He seemed like a beta, I bet he'd do a favor for me.

A shocked expression appeared on his face "are you joking?! Why would Cyrus do a favor for you?"

"Actually, Lucina's brother, he'd be doing a favor for you."

He frowned "it's Jamison, and you can address me as sir Regis. Are you serious about Cyrus or not?"

"Yeah, we're friends"

"If you are going to make up a lie, at least make up a believable one." He shook his hand out from my grasp and picked up his bag.

"Wait, I'm not lying, but if it makes you feel better then... I owe you a favor."

"How can I trust you, your word is meaningless commoner." Uuugh this conversation is going to KILL ME.

"Just tell me, you prick."

Jamie brought his hand to his chest and gasped. "That is offensive and uncalled for."

He smiled wildly "you could hurt my feelings."

Aah could you not be sarcastic you brat...

"But fine, I'll tell you what Luci said. It's not like it will be useful. All she said was some nonsense it sounded something like 'mead me at gerdan addr cool '"

That sounds like English! Mead me ad gerdan addr cool...meet me at the garden after school!

"Was it 'meet me at the garden after school'?"

He stared at me in surprise "yes, that was exactly it...wha-"

"Yeah sorry Jamie, gotta go. I owe you one " I grabbed my bag and ran out of the cafeteria

I even managed to make it to class on time.

The teacher stared me down as they were lecturing "now I know that today has been very stressful for many of you, but rest assured this is a safe environment and one students lack of control is nothing to worry to about."

I stared back at him stonily.

The rest of the day passed by in the same way, fairly boring and very aggressive. As soon as school was over I booked it to the garden.

I wandered the garden for several minutes before I was pushed lightly from behind. "You came!"

Lucina smiled brightly at me then motioned for me to follow her. I followed her down a winding path till we came to a secluded area with one bench under an old tree.

Lucina plopped down on the bench happily. "So Olivia how long have you been in this world?"

"About a year."

"Huh! A year?, I've been here for 16 years."

I sat down next to her and looked at a flower that was blowing in the wind. "You said something about a game earlier, is this world an...otome game?"

"You mean you don't know?hmmmm how should I explain this?" She stroked her chin thoughtfully "well, it's a game called 'True Love of Two Sides'. The theme is two-faced characters. And you're the Heroine."

The flower swayed in the wind without stopping"Ah, as I thought. What was the plot of the game?"

"Well you start out in your first year of high school, you become familiar with the capture targets, then someone tries to kill you, the capture targets believe it's the villainess-me-so they sell her to an arranged marriage to an old guy from a foreign country."

I interrupted her "wait, so your brother is fine with that plan?"

"It was his idea! Remember two-faced, he faked being a loving brother to the villainess in order to manipulate her!"

"But why...?"

Lucina's eyes sparkled "because, he's the son of the second wife, the second wife who killed the dukes first wife then seduced the duke, but he found out. Father hates him, but he loves the villainess-me- and the villainess always saw Jamie as a younger brother. Jamie used that to avoid being kicked out and slowly accumulate power, then he kicked the villainess out!"

I grimaced, what is this a soap opera? "That's...something, you seem very exited about this."

She nodded her head enthusiastically "hehe, yeah I just think it's incredible that this is reality. I mean everything is so dramatic!"

"And you enjoy drama?"

"Well, I mean a little... I guess it's just fun to see everyone move like pawns on a chessboard~" she stretched out her arms and opened and closed her hands, like she was trying to grasp the sun.

Pawns on a chessboard...is this girl also bad news? I started to sweat nervously.

"and, do I ruin that for you, is it a problem that I'm not the heroine?"

"Oh you don't need to be scared Olivia, I've been watching these pieces for 16 years. I'd love to talk to another person."

Pieces?... uh-oh

"I mean I love watching them do their predetermined actions, it's just not the same as games. It's so much better- because they truly believe they have free will! Aaaah it just gives me such joy."

Scary...she's very scary. This is dangerous right? I should run right?

"Olivia~ I said you don't need to be scared. I've long planned on changing the ending. So all you need to do is cooperate."

Suddenly the air around me started to fluctuate, it was cold, unnaturally cold. Ice started to creep up my ankles and In a moment I had lost all movement.

"So, O l i v i a are you lying to me about not knowing anything about the game?" Lucina's eyes were just as cold as the ice restricting my movement.

"I'm really not, I promise." This is very bad,very very bad.

She laughed "don't worry I believe you, but if I ever find out that you lied to me, then..." we sat in silence for what felt like an eternity

The flower that was crystallized in ice had cracked when the harsh wind made contact. I watched as it shattered.Finally I broke the silence with a nervous sentence"Lucina, I'm really cold could you please release me?"

"What, you can't get out on your own ?Come on Olivia I know you can use fire magic, why not blast away my pathetic ice magic with a bang"

"Earlier today I caused a huge fire, I do not trust myself to light my own body on fire."

She poked my cheek "awe, you're worried about me. That's so cute."

Woah she's threatening me, and using violence. But strangely this is one of the more amiable conversations I've had lately.

The ice started to melt and in a couple of seconds I could move again. Lucina jumped up from the bench "byee, pleasure to talk with you. Let's chat again soon!"

"Wait you're not going to explain anything more about the game to me?"

"Right answer! Very convincing." She winked at me then walked off happily.

What's wrong with people?????? Maybe I really should fake my death...