Back in my room, I started with the most promising book,  the book about noble lineage, since I figured making connections within the nobility was my best chance at changing my own ending.

 The eastern territory was a Marquessate, and the son of the Marquis was Lord Arden Morgaine, whose name I knew because he was one of Lily's love interests and a Third-Class mage, but also, from what I remembered, not very friendly.

The western territory housed the Imperial palace, and the Capital city. As far as the royal family, I recalled when Lily was given a tour of the Empress's pavillion:

"Prince Orion led her along the high-arched hall, where hung Imperial portraits, and at the end, the largest; a family portrait of all four. 'The Emperor and Empress, they look perfect together,' Lily murmured romantically, her gentle fingers brushing the gilt frame, "and here next to you, this must be young Princess Casseopia.' The Prince set his admiring eyes over the piece, 'Yes, we had it painted recently, so it captures her likeness well.'"

Brows furrowed, I tapped the page with their names on it.

The harder I stared, the more the tiny handwritten words were shifting around in my vision; like the way you get an after-image when someone flashes a light in your eyes. I blinked hard, shaking the fog out of my head.

Stay focused, I thought, you can't start losing it now.

Right, the royal family. 

Well, Orion was out, since I highly doubted I could interfere enough in such an integral part of the main story. Princess Casseopia, according to the book of lineage, was a ten year old, and Empress Helia Arche Roswald I recalled was only temporarily ruling in the interim between caring for the dying Emperor and waiting for the Crown Prince's coronation.

So that left the Count all the way to the south, Ignatius de Gormarach and his son, Edward.

Since neither had been mentioned at all in the original novel, Edward was my best prospect to send the main storyline into a narrative corkscrew, assuming of course that I could meet him in the first place.

I grimaced against a painful pressure in my temples, rubbing at it with my knuckles and

closing the book. I could probably convince my family to let me into society eventually, but I didn't know exactly how much time I had to do that.

I knew there was a spring festival a few months before Lily was discovered by the Duke. It was mentioned in the first few pages of the novel.

Based on the chill in the attic, and what I could see of the newly growing foliage in the forest, winter had just ended. Which meant a festival celebrating the spring would be...soon? Soon.

Using that, I could zero in on my timeline and figure out my next steps.

A knock on my door made me flinch against the headache I'd almost gotten rid of.

"Come in." 

Margo, her face red, rushed in with a cloche-covered meal tray. 

"I'm so sorry Miss - I brought it as soon as I could! They put Louis in charge of preparing the trays tonight, he's so immature - he made me wait until the family in the dining room had been served their entire meal before preparing yours! I tried to argue, but - ugh! I'll report it to the head maid, so don't worry, and -" 

She went on as she crossed the room, and I couldn't help but smile. The knot of annoyance at the kitchen messing with me eased slightly as I realised this must be some of Margo's true nature coming to the surface. It made me feel strangely at ease. 

"It's okay, you don't have to do that," I said. "Margo, there's a festival soon, isn't there?" 

"Oh, yes Miss, the Spring Equinox festival! You must remember from last year, I'm sure you can see the fireworks from your window."

"When is it?" I asked, as she carefully set the tray down on the other end of the window seat.  

"The equinox is near the end of the month, so I suppose that's less than two weeks away."

Two weeks, that was when the novel would officially start. It didn't give me much time to make myself ready for high society.

"Now that you're speaking and - well, you know - " Margo chattered on, "- I'm sure you'll be allowed to attend! There are so many flowers - oh, and last year there was a magician! I could show you all of the -" 

Finally, she uncovered my meal. 

I took a deep breath in; the cloche hit the floor with a loud clang. 

 The only thing on the tray was a big, raw steak. And it had been served in a metal dog bowl. 

Ah. I almost forgot. 

"Oh...oh, no - how could they? Louis must have - and after making you wait so long -! Ah, where - where are you going, Miss?" 

This is that kind of novel.

"Margo, could you please bring the tray, and come with me to the kitchen?" 

My voice was quiet and I couldn't quite steady it, but I steeled myself against tears. What was the point in crying about it?

I could tell there was still the kernel of distrust in Margo as we marched iin silence to the kitchen. Maybe she was expecting me to go wild and throw things, or maybe she thought I might grab Louis and punch him so hard his head popped off. 

It was only as I reached for the handle of the kitchen door that she proved me right, and stepped in front of me with her head bowed.

"Miss, it was my fault. I should have checked your meal before bringing it to you, I...I'm the one who should be punished. So please...you can't go in there."  

Just like before, she was trying to protect the others. Pleading and taking the blame for something she hadn't done. This was the life of a servant in a fantasy novel.

I guess it's hypocritical, since I was only in this world because I enjoyed reading stories with those same power dynamics. I relaxed my clenched fists with a steadying sigh, lifting the tray out of her hands. Maybe her display of submissive inferiority would be satisfying if I were a real noble.

"It's fine," I muttered, and pushed past her through the doors.