I wish I had been pulled into a video game. 

If it were a game, I would have some idea of the win conditions. Some kind of path I could follow. Maybe some useful glowing popups that hinted at the correct choices. I would know, at least, what goals I was supposed to have. 

But, as I made my way through the halls of the house towards the Duke's study, I realised that was my biggest problem.

I had absolutely no clue what I was supposed to do now.

True, I could just stay in the Duke's house. If he hadn't kicked me out yet, I couldn't imagine him doing so now that I was able to hold a conversation. But if I did stay, I would just be enabling the novel's main storyline to continue without issue, which I absolutely couldn't let happen.

Besides, I knew from experience what living with a broken family was like. 

So it seemed like my only option was to leave. But where exactly was I meant to go? 

The novel had described the geography of the world a bit. The continent as a whole was an Empire split into four main territories, with a powerful nobleman ruling over each of the territories, and the royal family presiding over the Capital city where the palace was located. 

I think they kept it simple because the point of the story was romance. From what I'd read there weren't any current territorial disputes or wars, which is why I was able to recall it even as I wandered lost in the many hallways of the manor.

I was currently in the north, which was my father Duke Alonso Rune's territory. It ended just shy of the forest that lined the hills near the manor. 

I knew the most about the Capital city, Ardegonne. Apart from being where the royal family presided, there was also the school of the arcane arts Hadyn attended called The Lyceum. Otherwise, it was your standard pseudo-medieval fantasy affair; carriages, clothes shops, cafes, that sort of thing - mostly catering to the expensive tastes and wide variety of nobility who lived in and around the area. 

I think one of Lily's potential suitors was described as coming from the Eastern territory. And I knew next to nothing about the West or the South. 

Besides, knowing where I could go didn't make knowing where I should go any easier. 

What I needed was more information; someone who I could get answers from.

"Evra." 

A voice startled me out of my thoughts, and I came to an ungraceful halt. 

Evra's subconscious memories recognised the fine marble walls and the sturdy, carved wooden doors as the hallway just outside of the Duke's study, but I only had a brief moment to appreciate the accomplishment of actually finding my way there. 

Because the person who'd called my name was Kenric Rune, my oldest brother, and he was advancing on me with purpose. 

Oh, great.

He looked exactly as he was described in the book: 'Like his father, his hair was navy, his jaw was square, and his violet eyes were terribly stern. In a handsomely fitted uniform of black and gold, he was always seen wearing a frown and a jewelled coat-of-arms collar pin - a gift from the Duke, he had said, as the named heir.'

He stopped a few feet away from me, folded his arms behind his back, and gazed down his nose with a stoic frown. I presented him with a rushed, messy curtsy as a greeting. 

Kenric was the golden child of the family, the perfect nobleman. Cold and calm, skilled with a sword, highly intelligent, and handsome enough to be a good catch in any political marriage. He never had much to do with Evra, only made the occasional comment about her while he was acting master of the house when the Duke was away.

"I hear you've found a voice," he said.

That's all you have to say? 

Not that I expected him to behave like a loving older brother.

"I always had one." 

"Hm. There was a ruckus in the attic this morning." 

Kenric was a much harder read than Haydn, whose every emotion was painted on his face like a picture. I couldn't tell if he was being purposefully obtuse just to irritate me, or if he was testing the waters to gauge exactly what kind of person his half sister actually was. 

It's too late to meet her now, Kenric. I'm the best you'll get.

"Yeah, there was," I agreed cooly, "isn't there one every morning?" 

I thought maybe I saw the corner of his mouth twitch.

"It seems you've washed. Did you dress yourself?" He asked

I'd managed to throw on the simplest dress in Evra's wardrobe, though all of her outfits were incredibly plain, it's true that it would have been easier if I'd had help doing it. And a couple of the buttons were missing on the sleeves of the dress I had picked. But I had gotten a brush through most of the knots in my thick blue hair, and cleaned up the best I could.

"Not bad for my first try, right?"

He seemed unimpressed. 

"You must have a maid to look after you," he insisted. 

"What a coincidence, that's exactly what I'm here to talk to Father about, so -"

"- Father is away until this evening. As a Rune, you cannot go out improperly dressed. A blanket threat to all of the maids in the manor doesn't change that." 

"Oh, am I going somewhere? So soon? Five years pass quickly." 

"Evra," he sighed, "you must have a maid. I'll hear no arguments." 

I'll hear no arguments...

It bubbled up as one as a memory, and struck me again, like a bolt of lightning right between the eyes. 

Standing in the middle of a dark and beautiful study, more grand than any room I'd ever been in before. My dirty bare feet on the plush crimson carpet. Both of my brothers yelled at their father, pointing accusatory fingers at me. But it was Kenric whose words cut deepest: "How could you allow something so disgusting in the house, father? How are we possibly meant to stomach that at the dinner table?" And the Duke's answer, an icy cold: "That's enough, Kenric. I'll hear no arguments." 

I staggered a bit as the memory faded, squinting through a throbbing pain at what I thought was Kenric's outstretched hand retreating behind his back again. I looked up at him; his brows were furrowed. 

"Are you sick?" 

"I'm fine." 

"...And your maid?"

"I'll - I'll pick one myself."  

There was no expression on his face as he turned sharply on his heel, and led me back down the hallway towards the servants quarters.