A Game of Schemes & Fortune

2: First Things First

"But why?" I continue to probe Chen with my questions.

"This is your last answer for a while," Chen glares at me before looking out the window again, she even reaches for a nearby plant in the front yard. She strokes the leaf, and inspects. "I told you if luxury is what you need, then becoming an Empress is what you should aim for. They can do whatever they want, and they always have the most money and power."

I exhaled slowly. Freedom, money, and power? That sounded amazing. 'Am I being too selfish, and too greedy?' I wonder. 'Maybe the reason why we look so alike is because me and Daiyu are actually similar,' I think bitterly.

Daiyu Jin wasn't even the main protagonist in the series I read: When the Lanterns Rise. Okay I know I called it cliche, but I actually cried when the two main leads got together. Daiyu Jin was a minor antagonist, who I felt a little sorry for. She was the alternative love interest for the male lead, but she got cast away when the male lead met the main character. Great. So that was going to happen to me. The male lead just so happens to be the Emperor's son, so there goes that plan.

'It's hopeless,' I sigh.

"What's got you so down?" Chen is now looking through my closet, probably looking for an outfit way better than these stunning garments I'm wearing. I mean come on, how are you going to find anything better than this?

'You're doing it again, Dahlia- I mean, Daiyu. Stop thinking so negatively.' I scold myself. 'And answer your assistant!'

I look up, trying to act confident and failing miserably. "I, uh- I just," I stare at the ceiling, willing it to help me out. " I just don't know how I'm going to become the Empress. Your world is a novel in my world, and I've read it. So, if the time is what I think it is, then I know exactly what happens to Daiyu Jin, and it isn't pretty." This is when I'm confident, when it's about books, except- "But uh, it would be worth noting that I only read the first book, and not the other two." I mutter.

Chen turns around momentarily to look at me. She scrunches her nose, and narrows her green eyes. "Nah, you look pretty, but white wouldn't suit you."

"What's that got to do with anything?!"

"You've read the novel, genius. You know that the Emperor's holding an event later today, and you picked the wrong time to spawn into my life." Chen turns around again, "The Emperor's son's a jerk." She grumbles, then she resumes her rifling through the different robes hanging from the wooden hangers. They have hangers here? Okay.

"Oh. Oh yeah," I realize what Chen means, though I already knew what would happen before she spoke. "The Emperor's son approached Daiyu because he was interested in her, and was drawn to her. But then assassins come to kill the heir, and Daiyu gets seriously injured in the process." I groan, and fall back onto my mattress.

"Is that so?" Chen asks absentmindedly. I nod, even though her back is turned to face me.

"The main character, Mei Guan, didn't even get injured," I mutter bitterly, "she started out as a social pariah, because she was a simple gardener's daughter, so the heir didn't even think to approach her that day." I glumly resume staring at the ceiling. "Daiyu got approached because she was known as one of the smartest girls in this village, and she was well on her way to publishing her first poem book," I recall, before rolling my eyes. "Who would have known that being interesting would get you in danger?" I paused. "Oh yeah, I would. I was interesting, and I got pushed off the top floor of my high school."

"Right," Chen pulls out a hanger and glances at me, "you died." We sit there in silence for an awkward moment. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'll do what I can to give you a second chance." Chen smiles. "And you can count on me, I've helped out several people before and they got their wish. I'll do the same for you, Daiyu Jin. " Something tells me she's actually genuine.