Through The Looking Glass Chapter 2, a my next life as a villainess: all routes lead to doom! fanfic

Chapter 7

Game World – Isekai Characters

"Wait, what just happened?"

It's an understandable question. One moment, the rune is glowing, a large blue circle hovering in the centre. The next, everything cuts off – rendering the rune completely inert.

Gerald looks over to Alan, who has stopped playing and is frowning at the notes. "Alan, did you make a mistake?"

"I...don't think so," the other Prince says, practically nose to paper. "That should have been the right notes. Nothing seemed off."

"I don't think it was Alan," says Maria, kneeling by the rune. "It was working. I think something must have happened on the other side."

"Miss Campbell is likely right," a researcher says, going to her side. "It was such an abrupt cut-off, it's possible that the rune was damaged on their side."

"Damaged..." Sophia whispers. "But was it accidental, or intentional?"

Both Gerald and Keith clench their fists while Nicol nods, hand on her shoulder. "It's possible that when it activated someone panicked. But...the way you've spoken about your home, it's possible that either Prince Geord or Keith is not as eager to come home as you. They could have damaged the rune on their side to keep you from making contact."

"But how would they even have been able to do that?" Gerald asks. "Surely someone would have stopped them?"

"Um, well, if you hadn't contacted us about what happened, this room would have been put in lock down," the head researcher says. "If they haven't explained on their end..."

Keith crouches down, drops his head in his hands, and gives out a long, low moan.

"I've never hated myself more!"

"W-well, it could have been Prin-"

"No. It was other-me," Keith assures. "I'd bet money on it. Trust me, he will have to be dragged back."

"Fine. What's our next step?" Gerald asks. Nobody answers, and when he looks around, everyone is avoiding his eyes.

"What?" he asks, voice low.

To his surprise, it's Keith that answers, standing up and taking a half step back.

"Prince Gerald, if the rune is damaged on their side, there's nothing we can do," he says. "The connection is severed."

"No," Gerald says. An order to the universe.

"Yes, your Highness," Keith says, eyes dark. "As of right now? We're stuck here."

Gerald stares back – before moving away, brushing past Maria's outreached hand and Alan at the piano, heading for a small table by the door, sagging under multiple tomes. He stops in front of it, and screams, grabbing the edges and tossing it to the ground. The books scatter across the ground, and Gerald ignores them, going for the door, and slamming it behind him. Keith sighs, but taking in the pale faces around him, quickly gives chase.

Isekai World – Game Characters

Katarina really doesn't know what's going on any more. She's finally getting the one thing she's been dreaming of for years, but after her initial excitement yesterday, a weird ball has formed in her stomach. It's twisting and writhing, making it impossible to concentrate. She'd tried to ignore it, going out early to farm her field, but it hadn't really helped. And then Keith had…

It's not like it's the first time he's yelled at her. She's aware of her flaws, and good natured as her brother is, even he has a limit. But he's never sounded so...angry before. And last night, that smile…

She's never seen him smile like that. And yet, the image has been in her head for years. Keith being agitated at her antics is not a reach given that they're nobility, but how would annulling the engagement give Keith reason to act like the playboy? She's gone over and over it in her head, and she just can't figure it out.

"What have you done?"

Katarina squeaks, and pulls her hair out of her mother's grip. "Done? I haven't done anything."

Her mother merely smirks, reaching over to pull her back close. They're sitting on the couch, with her father watching them from the opposite seat, in a simple waiting room.

"I highly doubt that, Katarina," her mother jokes, moving the brush through her hair. "Keith seems on edge. He should be elated. Did the two of you have a fight?"

"It wasn't really a fight," Katarina defends. "He's just worried about me...I think."

Her father frowns. "You think?"

Katarina quickly pastes on a smile, and waves her hands a little.

"Oh, it's nothing. I'm sure he's just excited about the annulment too. It's an important day."

As if summoned, the door opens, revealing both her brother and Prince Gerald. He's smiling, but the Prince has a face carved from stone. Katarina feels another chill – that's another familiar face from memory, not reality.

"Good afternoon, Prince Gerald," her mother says, as the family gets to their feet. "It's so good to see you again."

Prince Gerald nods, and pastes on a smile that Katarina knows is fake. It's funny, she always thought Gerald was constantly fake smiling, but apparently, there's a difference between fake, and fake .

"Good afternoon, Duke and Lady Claes," Gerald greets, nodding politely, and heading for an empty seat. "My father should be with us shortly, he's a little held up."

"That's no problem," Katarina's father insists. "We can go over the logistics informally for now. Best to have everything lined up before we get to the table."

Gerald nods, and Katarina bites her lip. Her soon-to-be-ex fiancé hasn't looked at her once.

Once Keith and Gerald have settled in, Katarina's parents switch from doting mother and father to shrewd nobility.

"Now, Prince Gerald," the Duke begins. "Are we to confirm that you wish to annul the engagement entirely? This isn't a request to delay for a certain period of time, or to add some additional requirements?"

"No," Gerald says, voice clipped. "I want this contract gone for good."

Katarina flinches. She doesn't think she's ever heard that tone from him. Her mother however, seems oblivious, giving him a charming smile.

"Excellent. Now, on the topic of palimony-"

"Oh, but that's not necessary!" Katarina insists. "We weren't living toge-"

She clams up when she feels Keith drop a hand on her shoulder and squeeze it tight. "Katarina, please stay quiet."

Her mother nods in approval. "Thank you Keith. This engagement was high profile, and even if it's mutual, Katarina's marriage prospects will suffer for it."

Gerald frowns. "She's the one who's been trying to break it."

"Yes, but you're the one who began the process," Duke Claes reminds him. "Every time Katarina or I approached you about it, you've refused. Which makes Katarina the wounded party in this scenario."

"We won't ask for much. Katarina was never taken for bride training so she's not lost any investment, so just a standard one time payment to apply to Katarina's dowry given that she's returning to high society with a broken engagement should suffice," her mother says. "I'm sure the two of you will remain good friends, and that will help her prospects, but we cannot ignore social etiquette."

She turns and gives Katarina a look . "No matter how much Katarina doesn't understand it."

Katarina blushes red and looks downwards.

"Fine," Gerald states, crossing his arms. "She'll probably need it anyway."

Katarina frowns, wanting to question his answer, but her father is already talking, discussing how they're going to announce the annulment to society, and she sinks back down in the seat. Keith's hand quickly slinks around her neck, pulling her close.

"Just relax, Sis," he says. "Just sit back and let your family take care of you."

Katarina bites her lip, and wonders why that doesn't sound as comforting as it should.

Game World – Isekai Characters

To Keith's relief, Gerald hasn't gone too far. The research lab looks out on a flower filled courtyard garden, and the Prince is sitting slumped on a bench, head in his hands. He comes over, making a point to keep his footsteps heavy as to not surprise him. Gerald however, doesn't look up.

"Are you okay?" Keith asks, more out of something to say than a question. Gerald makes a sound, slightly too broken to be a laugh.

"Oh, just dandy," he says. "You?"

Keith bites his lip, and sits by Gerald's side.

"...I'm scared, Keith."

He stills at those three words, and turns to stare at his friend. Gerald's body shudders before lifting back up into a seated position.

"Ever since I was a child, I've always been in control," Gerald says. "About the only thing in the world I haven't been able to twist around my finger is Katarina...I don't know how to handle a situation where there's nothing I can do to solve it."

By his side, Keith sags. "I've been spoiled," he admits. "For all that people think I'm the one supervising Katarina, she's the one that keeps me at peace. I can't process the thought that I won't see her again."

"Prince Gerald? Keith?"

The two look up to see Maria walking towards them, with Alan, Mary and the Ascart siblings close behind her. She looks worried, and stops just a few steps in front of them.

"Are you okay?"

The glance at each other for a moment, before giving her their full attention.

"Not exactly," Keith tells her. "We put a lot of hope into getting a message through."

Maria nods, and her eyes go dim.

"It's still a little hard to take in," she admits. "That Keith or Prince Geord might have sabotaged it. Is this world really so bad?"

Behind her, Alan scoffs, kicking at the ground. "Given how much these two have been pining, their world might just be that good."

Gerald's lips twitch upwards, and leans back on the bench.

"My other self doesn't know what he's giving up," he says. "At this point, it'll take a miracle to get there in time, and I'm willing to bet he hasn't spent any time with Katarina to realise it. I'm not going to have an engagement when I get home."

When. It's still when. He's not willing to consider otherwise.

"You never know, perhaps someone has noticed Prince Geord isn't acting like himself," Mary says. "The way you speak about your Katarina makes it clear how much you love her. Surely asking to break the engagement so quickly will raise some concerns?"

Gerald smiles. "I highly doubt anyone will look too closely. They'll all be too excited at the idea of her being back on the market. Our Katarina is universally loved. Even if they have suspicions, they won't dare voice them until after the annulment."

"Can't deny I'd be too excited at finally getting rid of you to look too closely," Keith agrees, and then looks at Maria.

"Although...if what you told us about him having feelings for you is true, he's in for a nasty surprise if he decides to pursue our Maria afterwards."

Immediately, Gerald perks up, glee on his face as he thinks over that idea.

"Oh, that would be hilarious ," he says. "Maria likes me well enough, but she'd push me off a bridge if it would get her Katarina's complete attention."

"We'd all push you off a bridge if it would get us that," Keith quips. Gerald just huffs.

"All I'm saying is, he's in for a nasty shock if he expects our Maria to react positively to his attention," he says. "And once he realises that, we might just get him to reactivate the rune."

Then his face falls. "But who knows how long that will take."

"Well, if you're stuck here for a while, we'll help you out," Alan mutters, before scowling and looking away. "You know, since, you need the help."

Nicol nods. "Yes. Besides, we'd like to hear more about your world."

By his side, his sister nods furiously. "Yes. The idea of falling into an alternate world is like something from my novels. All we need is an epic romance and an old magician."

Gerald looks up, and gives them a smile. He's acutely aware it's fake, but it seems to do the trick.

"Oh, if there's any epic romances happening, it's on the side that's desperately trying not to get back," he says. "Our Katarina is good at that."

"One sided, utterly devoted romances," Keith adds, the laugh just a little shaky. Gerald nods, looking over the group.

"Honestly, I don't know if I pity you for having your Katarina, or envy you for not having to chase an oblivious cupid," he says. "I can't help but wonder why there's such a difference."

Keith frowns. "I haven't spent much time with her, but that alone is strange," he admits. "What changed here?"

"Or, what changed there ," Gerald replies. "The first time I met Katarina, she was closer to this version. Spoiled, bratty, everything you'd expect of a noble daughter. But then she hit her head."

He stops, and looks up at the group. "Alan – do you know if Katarina had an accident when she visited the palace?"

Alan frowns. "Of course she did. That's how you ended up with the engagement in the first place."

Gerald sighs. "Right. For a moment I thought that might have happened through other means. Pity."

"Still seems rather strange that so much would change just because of one person," Mary says. "They almost seem like two different people."

Maria claps her hands. "Well, there's no real point in worrying about what we can't change. The two of you have been working so hard, why don't we all go have lunch? We can come back and brainstorm after we rest and fill our stomachs. I have a few sweets I was saving for the next council meeting too."

Keith and Gerald share a glance.

"She's got a point," Keith tells him. Gerald sighs, but gets to his feet.

"Yes. Katarina would no doubt be chiding both of us for going without food for so long. If she finds out we weren't eating-"

"She'll give us that worried, puppy-dog look and get the maids to cook up a banquet, and then offer us Maria's sweets," Keith finishes. "And then get all pouty and start eating it herself because we're not eating it fast enough."

Gerald hides the smile as Keith stands beside him.

"We'll see her again," Gerald says. "I promise."

With that, they let the alternate versions of their friends lead them away.

None of them noticed a brown haired girl dressed in blue and white, stepping out from behind a large bush. She watches them walk away with gritted teeth, before her eyes lock on the doors of the lab.

Isekai World – Game Characters

Katarina is barely paying any attention to the conversation happening around her. She honestly feels a little like a prop, which is somewhat ironic since this conversation is all about her.

Honestly, the game totally lied to her about how easy annulments are. It was just a one screen image, after Katarina's trial – but apparently, if the person you're breaking up with hasn't been evil to a light magic commoner, it requires discussion and negotiation and vicious back and forth about the future.

Maybe she should have just run away and let herself be exiled. It would probably have been less painful, given how her stomach is churning.

The conversation tapers off when there's a knock on the door, and everyone stands – only for a servant to enter.

"Good afternoon, Duke Claes," he greets. "His highness wishes for you and your wife to join him in private for a few minutes before you begin."

Katarina's father frowns. "Really? Very well."

He takes his wife by the arm, and heads for the door. It closes with a soft click, and Keith is immediately pushing Katarina back to her seat.

"This time tomorrow, you'll be single again, Sis," Keith says. "Before our parents go home, we'll need to talk to them about your plans for the future."

Katarina winces. "Plans?"

Her entire life plan was 'don't get killed or exiled before you turn fifteen.' Forgive her for not thinking further than that.

Keith nods and pats her head. "Don't worry. I can handle that. Just leave it in my hands and you'll be just fine."

Her stomach is twisting again. Why, oh why , do Keith's soothing words make her feel this way? What is she missing?

She shakes her head, trying to gather her thoughts. Her braincells all feel in a tizzy – as if a bunch of tiny Katarina's are running around her skull screaming incoherently at a blue screen.

"Um, Prince Gerald," she says, realising nobody is speaking, and the silence is uncomfortable. "Once the engagement is gone, will you be confessing to someone else?"

She expects Gerald to smile, or at least react to her question with a subtle comment. But instead, he continues to stare at her, with an expression that almost seems…

"Prince Geor-Gerald, are you okay?" Keith asks, the smile dropping away to something more tense. Which honestly, makes Katarina a little relieved.

Good. It's not just her picking up on it. She gives a shaky laugh, and clasps her hands together.

"I mean, you've never budged when I tried to get you to break it before," she continues. "So I thought you might have fallen for someone else?"

"Did you now?" Gerald replies, eyes narrowing. "Perhaps you were even counting on that?"

Katarina falters. "W-well, yes? I mean, you only really used me as a shield, but I always knew you'd fall in love for real eventually."

Finally, Gerald smiles. But it's something vicious, and not at all suited to his face.

"Oh? Perhaps you even have a candidate in mind?" he asks. "Care to guess?"

Katarina flushes red. Ah! So forward!

"I guess, um, the only real possibility I can think of is Maria, right?" she says. "For a while, I thought she had feelings for Keith, but I must have misread things! And Keith did say she was in love with someone, so it must be you, right?"

Gerald stares at her for several moments, before his head drops, and his shoulders start shaking. Both Claes jerk back when the Prince bursts into laughter, sounding hysterical.

"You really are the worst, Katarina Claes," Gerald says, once his laughter is under control, standing up in a smooth movement. Keith immediately matches him, as Katarina goes pale.

"Prince Gerald?"

Gerald's eyes narrow, and he steps forward, until he's practically looming over her.

"I'll admit, you had me fooled at first, that little play in the infirmary. You probably have this whole school dancing to your tune – it's almost elegant, far smarter than she could ever pull off. When exactly were you planning on pulling off my humiliation, hmm? In the next few days? Graduation?"

"I-I don't..."

"Your Highness, I'm not sure what you've heard, but perhaps you should get some air," Keith asks, stepping in front of Katarina.

"Heard? I've seen it, Keith!" Gerald snaps. "This villainess is playing everyone for fools. She smiles and supports our endeavours, all the while sabotaging us from behind the scenes. I watched Maria confessing her undying love to her just this morning!"

Keith blinks in shock. "...What?"

"What!" Katarina says, only for her jaw to drop in horror.

Oh no, Prince Gerald had completely misunderstood! Curse Maria for being so charming to absolutely everyone!

"You've got it all wrong!" Katarina insists, jumping to her feet. "That was just Maria being-"

"I won't let you manipulate her," Gerald growls, and Katarina gasps as he reaches for his sword. Keith is immediately on him, trying to pin his arms back.

"Prince Geord! What's gotten into you!"

"Unhand me Keith! She's had this coming for years!"

It happens so fast, Katarina barely registers what happens. Gerald somehow jerks out of Keith's grip and pushes him away. Keith's hands are immediately glowing, but before he can conjure anything, Gerald has unsheathed his sword and slammed the butt of the handle into the side of his head. Katarina shrieks as her brother drops to the ground, and tries to stumble away, only to bump into the sofa's armrest and trip to the floor.

"P-Prince Gerald?" she squeaks, eyes wide. What's going on?

He doesn't answer, and merely steps towards her with that dark smile.

"There's more than one way to get out of an engagement," he tells her – and Katarina panics.

"POCKET SNAKE!"

Geord isn't entirely sure what happens. One minute, he has the utter wretch of a woman dead to rights, the next, a terrifying, vicious reptile is lunging towards his face.

He yelps, the sword dropping to the ground as he back pedals, trying to shake the thing loose. It finally does – just as the back of his legs hit the sofa and trips him up. In the background, he hears the door open and slam shut, and when he sits up, he scowls when he sees Katarina's weapon of choice on the floor.

A toy. She'd attacked him with a toy.

The Prince sees red, getting to his feet and lifting his sword back up in one quick motion. He storms out the door, eyes flitting in both directions before seeing the girl flee.

Part of him – locked deep in his psych, is screaming at him to stop. His title of royalty can only give him so much leeway, especially with no actual proof of Katarina's misdeeds. He was supposed to be aiming for exile, not murder.

But he can barely hear it. The voices infecting his ears drown it out, reminding him how much misery Katarina had caused him. How much harm she had caused to Maria. It's practically his duty to take her out. He'll save everyone if her head is severed from her shoulders.

He tightens the grip on his sword, and quickly gives chase.

Keith groans as he comes to, wincing as he feels the agonising headache ripping through his skull. He vaguely hears voices above him, and when he comes to, he sees one of the King's guard leaning over him.

Suddenly, the last few events lunge to the front of his brain, and leaps up.

"Prince Geord!"

The guard immediately pushes him back down, and as Keith gains more coherence, he sees the King standing by the door, and his parents at his side. His heart sags when he sees the suspicious looks on their faces, and when he looks outside, he sees Nicol standing in the doorway.

"Pull him up," the King orders, and the guard complies, hoisting Keith to his feet, but not letting go of his arm. Then the King steps forward.

"I will ask this just once," he warns. "Where is my son, and the real Keith Claes?"

Keith freezes.

"What?"

"Do not play dumb with me," the King says. "I had my own doubts when Gerald changed his mind so suddenly, and the young Ascart has already made a compelling case. Whoever you are, you are not the Claes heir."

Keith flinches, eyes flitting over to his parents. He sees his father's arm tighten around his mother's shoulders, but their faces remain unchanged.

He sags in defeat.

"Nicol, huh?" he says.

"You were not believable in the slightest," the other teen says. Keith nods, and then starts panicking.

"Wait-forget that! You need to find Prince Geord now!" he insists. "Something...I don't know what happened, but he's gone crazy! He's going to kill Katarina!"

Almost on cue, a scream comes from the distance, and Keith freezes as he realises it sounds exactly like Katarina...

Katarina is running down the hallway, aiming for the stairs, while she processes what just happened.

"I don't understand!" she screams, vision blurred by the tears. Her brain's running overtime, trying to process what's just happened. Prince Gerald had...he had...

" Katarina, I brought you these new cuttings. You said you were looking for artichokes, yes?"

It's funny...sort of. Katarina has spent years preparing for this moment. For Gerald to turn on her, either through exile or blade. And yet…

" I have a surprise for you, Katarina! An entire table of new treats. There's three confectioners competing for one store front, and I thought you'd be the best person to choose the winner!"

For all her panic and preparation…subconsciously, she'd never truly believed he'd hurt her.

" Ah, Katarina, please never change."

She couldn't even bring herself to bring out her blade to defend herself. The idea of hurting her friend was...she couldn't...

" I don't know what I'd do if I'd never proposed to you, Katarina."

Gerald isn't just her fiancé. He's her friend . Other than Anne, the black hearted Prince has been her companion the longest. He's visited her several times a week since childhood. She's been observing every interaction with him to make absolutely sure she's not upsetting or irritating him, and coming up blank. What has she missed? How have they gone from plant cuttings and sweet tasting to that look of rage and the demand of execution? Love? Love doesn't explain this – she's willingly backing out of the engagement so he can be happy! She wants him to be happy! So that she can stay friends with him and Maria and everyone else! A threat to Maria? Maria's always been overly charming to Katarina! Gerald's seen her act like that several times now, why is this time different?

She sobs as she reaches the bottom of the stairs, makes a left and runs straight through a courtyard. Perhaps she should have run towards her parents, but she didn't want them to be threatened. What if they agree with Gerald's decision? They're far more observant than her, perhaps they'll see what she hasn't. Better to get some distance, until she can figure this out.

Her eyes widen as she crosses the courtyard, and spots a familiar figure.

"Sirius!" Katarina yells, watching the president flinch and swing round from where he's been staring at the doors that lead to the research lab. His eyes widen when he takes in Katarina's presence, along with her dishevelled appearance. She stops in front of him, panting heavily.

"Miss Katarina?" he asks. "What's wrong?"

"You need to get out of here!" Katarina begs. "Prince Gerald is...he's very angry."

After all, if he's willing to hurt Keith to get to Katarina, what might he do to someone else in his path?'

"He is?" Sirius asks, head tilting slightly. If Katarina had been any less panicked, she might have noticed the twitch in his lips, the teen trying to fight the grin. "I thought the two of you were supposed to be in your annulment meeting?"

He gasps, almost mockingly. "Did he react badly and exile you? He did seem ra-"

Katarina gives a hysterical laugh, cutting him off.

"I wish!" she wails. "He's-"

"Katarina..."

The girl freezes, and Sirius only has a few seconds to register the fireball aiming towards them, before he's grabbed her by the shoulders and flung them both to the side. Katarina screams, high and shrill, before they crash into the ground and the fireball hits the doors behind them – the force all but shaking the walls.

When they look up, Katarina is shaking, and Sirius goes pale. Gerald is walking towards them, fire in one hand, and sword in the other. The expression on his face can only be described as insane.

"Is Sirius another one of your puppets?" Gerald croons. "I'd run along, president. You'll thank me later."

"Sirius, we need to go!" Katarina insists, only for both of them to flinch as another fireball gets flung just above their heads.

"You. Stay right where you are," Gerald growls.

Katarina whimpers, but pushes Sirius away from her. He allows it, too distracted by Gerald to protest – but when he raises his sword, Sirius finds himself moving without thought.

"Katarina! Get inside that room!" he orders, and runs towards Gerald, knocking him to the ground before he can shoot off another magical attack.

"Get off me Sirius!" Gerald howls. Sirius just clings tighter, and when he hears the doors open behind him, he lets loose his magic, and shudders at what he sees.

Dear lord...he'd only cursed the False Prince with enough to make him think badly of Katarina. How had it multiplied into this? His victim is practically drowning in darkness, to the point of insanity.

He'd wanted to use the pawn to exile Katarina, or at least shame her out of the school. Not that he would care if Katarina died, the world would be better off but- using someone else to do it? Something about that rubs him the wrong way.

' Nonsense! This kills two birds with one stone. Take out Katarina, and cripple the royal family!' a voice in his head hisses, but Sirius ignores it, and tries to pull back his magic. Clearly this guy is too unstable to use as a pawn.

But before he can really get started, Gerald throws him to the side, and is throwing the doors to the lab open.

Game world – Isekai Characters

Maria had been right. Taking a break to eat had done Keith and Gerald a world of good. Granted, they'd only been willing to sit for sandwiches, refusing to be away too long, but while they're still on edge, their bodies do feel somewhat more at ease.

"Once we get back to the lab, maybe we can discuss our options," Nicol says, as they wander back. "You may be here longer than you hoped, but we don't have to give up."

By his side, Sophia nods. "Maybe we can look at the book the rune came from. Now that we have an idea of what it does, maybe the researchers can decipher more?"

Keith immediately perks up. "You know, that's actually not a bad idea. It's in bad shape, but there could be hints we missed the first time."

Gerald is already nodding, hope blossoming at the idea. "Agreed. I'm certainly not going to just stand around and wait for someone on the other side to figure it out."

They're approaching the lab, when they start to hear yelling, and the doors burst open, allowing a figure to run out. Everyone stills, eyes widening when they take in the panicked look on Sirius's face, only for it to shift into relief.

"Prince Gerald, you have to come quick!" he says, running towards them. "It's Miss Katarina."

Everyone gasps, and Keith steps forward.

"This world's Katarina?" he asks. "She shouldn't even have entry to the lab."

Sirius nods. "I know, but she convinced someone to allow her entry. She was curious about the rune, and since it was broken, the researchers decided to humour her. But she suddenly started trying to destroy it!"

"What!" Keith and Gerald yell, and rush past the president at high speed. They hear the others giving chase, but Gerald makes it to the door first, running inside and stopping midway into the room.

It's true. While the researchers are all on the edge of the rune, unwilling to enter, Katarina has grabbed a chair and is smashing it against the design in the centre. Around the edge, he can make out cracks, no doubt where she's tried and failed to use her earth bump, and he calls out.

"Miss Katarina! You need to stop this!"

He can hear the others arriving behind him, and the outraged squawk from Keith, but he ignores them, taking a few steps forward, hand outreached.

Katarina however, doesn't comply.

"Shut up!" Katarina screams, hoisting the chair up and not even looking at Gerald. "I'm Katarina Claes! The only Katarina Claes! And I will not stand idly by and have people say I'm inferior at being myself!"

She throws the chair against the rune again, breaking off a leg and damaging the ink, and Gerald quickly runs towards her, stopping just a few steps from the rune, while the researchers step back.

"Miss Katarina, stop!" he begs. "Of course you're not inferior. This world is just different to ours."

The girl lifts the chair back up and glares at him. "I heard you! All the two of you could talk about was how much you miss her! How much you want her back!"

The chair shakes in her hands. "Do you know what I'd give, to have just one person want me that much?"

Gerald hesitates. "Miss Katarina..."

"What am I doing wrong?" Katarina yells, face contorted in anger. "I'm well bred, my etiquette is beyond reproach, my choice of company and extracurriculars are perfect! How am I not the desirable one? I'm the perfect example of nobility!"

She screams and smashes the chair down on the rune again.

"I'll make you love me!" she promises. "If this rune is broken on the other side, I'll break it on this one, and make you stay. You'll learn to love me like you loved her, I promise!"

"Yeah...that's not going to happen," Keith mutters from behind, and Gerald turns to give him a glare. Thankfully, the other teen backs off, and Gerald tentatively steps forward, just outside the rune.

"Miss Katarina, we're from two different worlds," he says. "Our history is different. Even if we can't get home, that can't be changed."

"We're both still Katarina!" Katarina argues back. "At the core, we're the same person!"

"But you're not!" Keith yells, unable to keep quiet any longer. "You're not anything like Katarina!"

"Shut up Keith! You stay out of this!" She says. Keith doesn't even pretend to hear her.

"You think you can replace my sister?" he asks. "Katarina's manners are turning mother prematurely grey, and her hobbies have done nothing but raise eyebrows. She's honest, and erratic and has never acted like a noble girl a day in her life, and we wouldn't have her any other way !"

The chair drops from Katarina's hands, and her face falls.

"What...no... No... I represent my family with every action," she says. "You can't act like that and be loved. That's not how high society works!"

She turns to Gerald, eyes pleading. But he won't lie.

"Everyone loves her, just the way she is," Gerald admits, and the girl looks away. She mumbles something, and he frowns.

"What?"

"I said, how is that fair?"

Her hands clench. "How can doing everything wrong give you success? That's not how the world works! I should be the one who lives in a world where everyone loves me. Is that so wrong? I try and try and just get kicked to the side! Why can't I be the loved one? I wish I could have that!"

"And I wish I could have Katarina back!" Gerald yells back, patience finally gone. "You're not the only one suffering here!"

Katarina's face shifts in outrage, but before she can reply, the rune suddenly lights up. Gerald pales, and looks down at the ground – where his foot is planted in the outer array.

' Wait...Katarina!'

Ignoring the sounds from behind, he runs straight into the rune.

Isekai World – Game Characters

Katarina slams the door behind her shut, and desperately looks for something she can block it with. Her panicked arrival however, brings forth the one researcher still writing observations in the corner.

"Oh, excuse me Miss," he greets. "This is an off limits area-"

"You have to help me barricade the door!" Katarina begs. "He's coming to kill me."

The researcher blinks, and Katarina looks around frantically yet again, only to shiver as the door opens.

"Prince Gerald?" the researcher greets, looking confused. Katarina bites her lip, and goes for her sword, unsheathing it and spinning on her foot to face her attacker.

Even if Prince Gerald is her friend. Even if she's done something unforgivable by accident, she won't let him kill her without at least trying to defend herself.

' If I can just get to the door or the window, I can escape the school, ' she thinks to herself. ' Then I can run away, be a farmer in some foreign land. That'll be the best outcome.'

It'll hurt, to leave her friends behind, but she's always known that was inevitable for a villainess like her.

Her eyes narrow as Gerald stops a short distance from her, that mad smile still on his face, and she prays Sirius is okay.

"A sword, Katarina?" Gerald says. "Where did you steal that?"

Katarina frowns. Steal?"

Gerald huffs and shifts into a ready stance. "You really think a lady will be able to beat a trained swordsman?"

Katarina flinches. That kind of hurts, Gerald has sparred with her before, and while she'd realised some time ago she'd never beat him in a life or death match, he's never had anything but supportive words for her skills. Has he always thought like this? That her attempts were pointless?

She frowns and gets into position, and grits her teeth as Gerald swings towards her.

A few strikes later, Gerald's smile has thinned into a frown, while Katarina has started to smile. She's making mistakes, she's never had the skill or the fluidity or the strength to fight for too long, but Gerald is struggling to knock her down. He's not registering her telltale weaknesses or techniques that he knows she has.

It's as if...as if this Prince Gerald has never seen her fight before…

She shakes her head, dismissing the crazy idea, and continues to defend. Her eyes are on the open door, yanked open when the researcher fled the second they matched blades. Gerald however, just looks frustrated.

"What is this?" Gerald growls. "How do you know how to use a sword?"

Her eyes widened. Wait, what?

The answer hits like a brick wall.

"You're not Prince Gerald," she gasps. "He-you, who are you? There's no death flag like this?"

She realises her mistake instantly, as Geord uses her shock to advance. She only just manages to hold onto her sword as she goes flying across the ground, her other hand going straight for the torn cloth on her chest. She rolls across and into the rune covering most of the room's floor, and staggers to her feet. While she'd avoided a fatal blow, the sword had cut through skin, staining the white fabric red.

"Where is Prince Gerald?" she yells in panic. "What did you do with him?"

Her opponent doesn't answer, merely stepping forward – only to freeze as the doors burst open.

"Halt! Stop right there, imposter!"

Both Katarina and Geord look towards the voice. Two of the kings guard have burst in, pointing their swords at Geord, while a frantic looking Keith and Sirius are in the doorway. They're quickly pushed past to allow the King entry.

"I've been informed of your masquerade," the King warns. "Drop the weapon."

The Prince flits his eyes between the King and the guards...and drops the blade, raising his hands. Katarina releases a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding, and sees her parents frantically running through the courtyard outside towards her.

"What's happening?" Katarina asks. "Who are you?"

"Miss Katarina, you're safe," the King says. "While we haven't had confirmation, it appears that the magical accident replaced my son and your brother with doppelgängers."

Geord sighs. "When did you figure it out?"

"Nicol Ascart," the King replies. "He informed us of your erratic behaviour. I'm rather ashamed I didn't realise it when you first came to be regarding the engagement."

"Then...it wasn't Prince Gerald?" Katarina asks, her hand gripping at her wound while an odd rush of hope flows through her body. "Or my brother? That's why...that's why everything felt strange?"

At the door, Keith looks away, and Katarina starts crying.

"What did you do with them?" she demands. "Where are they? I want them back, right now!"

"Well they're not here!" Geord snaps, and the guards grab him by the arms. Katarina shakes her head.

"Well I wish they were! I want everything back to normal!"

The rune hums, and flashes white. The last thing Katarina hears, is a loud, panicked ' no! ' in the distance.

Chapter 8

Game World – Isekai Characters

Gerald runs through the light just in time to see Katarina disintegrate in front of him, and tries to reach – before jerking his hand back.

He wants to get home, but if this Katarina is being sent to their world, then that would mean-

He waits a few moments, but the phenomenon doesn't appear to hit him, and where Katarina had been standing, another figure starts to emerge. Their eyes are closed, and Gerald rushes forward before the girl ( Katarina, oh lord it's Katarina! ), falls forward, catching her in his arms and moving her into a Princess carry as the light dims around them.

He hears something metal clatter to the ground, and as his eyes adjust back to normal, his eyes widen when he makes out the sword on the ground. Why had Katarina-

Any words die, and his heart leaps when he finally gets a good look at the girl in his arms.

"She's injured!" he yells in panic, running out of the rune and clutching the unconscious girl tightly. Her chest is stained red, and he can see the wound. It thankfully doesn't look too deep, but it has no right to be on Katarina's body.

Everyone's face goes white, and while someone in the background yells to get the healers here, Gerald makes a beeline for Maria.

"It doesn't look too deep, but can you help?" he asks. The girl is already nodding, tugging him by his arm towards several chairs against a wall.

"Please, set her down and I'll do what I can."

Gerald obeys, tentatively putting the girl down. Now that he's really looking, she looks awful – there's even fresh tear stains on her face. It takes a herculean amount of strength to back away to let the girl do her job, her hands glowing white as she takes in the injury.

His eyes are only dragged from the girl when he feels Keith move forward, kneeling and dropping the sword between Maria and the chairs.

"If she was carrying a sword, then she's probably going to panic when she wakes up," Keith says as he moves back. "Probably best if it's in grabbing range."

Gerald nods in agreement, and the rest of the council move in to block the two girls from view.

"So, that's your Katarina, huh?" Alan asks.

"If she was fighting, then something very bad must have happened," Sophia says. Nicol nods.

"Whatever is going on in the other world, hopefully she can tell us once she wakes," he concludes.

Both Keith and Gerald nod, but stand silently as Maria continues her work.

Isekai World – Game Characters

When the light dies down from the rune, both Geord and Keith have gone pale. Instead of the bleeding, sword carrying Katarina, there is now an unconscious, unblemished Katarina...and a chair, for some reason.

The guards on his arms quickly yank him into reality.

"What did you do to Miss Claes?" one of them snaps at him, and Geord glares back. How dare they be so impertinent.

"Don't talk to me that way," he growls. "While I may not be of this country's royal family, I am still a royal."

He tries to pull his arm free, and scowls when the hands only tighten.

"Katarina!"

Both the Duke and Lady Claes rush into the room, straight for the rune. Ignoring the yells warning them not to enter the rune, they rush to their daughter's side.

"She's still breathing," the Duke says, looking relieved. "I think she's just passed out."

There are now softer footsteps behind him, and he glances over to see Nicol and Sirius walking into the room. By the door, Keith is standing silent, a guard at his side. Nicol only has eyes for the three in the rune.

"Much like the others," Nicol says. "But that isn't your daughter, Duke Claes."

The Lady Claes stills, her hands centimetres from her Katarina's face, and turns to glare at the teen. "What do you mean, Nicol? Of course this is my daughter."

Sirius shakes his head, supporting Nicol's claim. "No, or rather, this is not your daughter. I think recent events prove that whatever this rune is meant to do, it's currently swapping whoever enters it and provides the right incantation with an alternate version of themselves."

He then turns to Geord, a complicated expression on his face, before risking looking at the King.

"That would explain why they can pass so well, and yet not know simple things any spy or plant would know," he says. The King nods, and turns his attention to Geord.

"Is this the case?" he asks. "Are you my son, from a world a step beyond this one?"

Geord sags in his hold. There's really no point in hiding it now. "Yes. I am Prince Geord, the Third Prince of Sorcier."

"Tell me, did you mean to come here?" the King asks. Geord shakes his head.

"No. It was as accidental on our part as I believe it was our other selves," he says. "But we saw no reason to undo it."

He gives out a harsh laugh. "I should have known. Be careful what you wish for."

Everyone frowns, only to focus on Keith, when he starts talking.

"You all heard Katarina making a wish?" he says. "The two of us did the same inside the rune. Most likely, so did your versions. This world essentially made our wishes come true."

He gives a weak smile. "Why would we want to undo that?"

His eyes then glance towards Geord, and his eyes harden, though there's no denying the hurt deep inside them.

"What happened, Prince Geord?" he asks. "You were fine last night, and then today – what was that?"

Geord turns his head as much as he can, and Keith flinches back at the anger brimming in the Prince's eyes.

"Necessity."

The King shakes his head. "Take him away," he orders. "One of the secure rooms on the first floor with the seals. He is to remain there until we find a way to return him home."

"Please, let me escort you," Sirius quickly says, walking in front of them. "I'm quite familiar with the layout."

The guards nod in agreement, and the Prince goes without a fight. The Duke gathers his 'other' daughter in his arms, and quickly walks out of the rune with his wife.

"Your Majesty, I'm going to take this Katarina to the infirmary," he says. "She'll probably be confused when she wakes up, but perhaps she can offer us some answers on what happened."

He then looks up to see Keith, still standing in the doorway.

"What will you do with him?" he asks, and Keith looks away.

"I...I know my actions haven't been fully honourable, but I swear, I never meant any harm," he says. "I might not be your son but-"

"No, you're not," the Duke says, voice clipped. "Keith would have been in that rune before either of us even realised Katarina was in danger."

The teen flinches, and the two of them walk past, heading straight for the infirmary. Keith keeps his head to the ground, hands clenched, and doesn't resist when the guard grabs his arm, to lead him away to another secure room.

Game World – Isekai Characters

The healers arrive a few minutes after Maria has already finished fixing the worst of the damage, and strongly encourage their visitors to allow them to take her to the infirmary for observation. While they understand the reasoning, neither are particularly eager to let her out of their sight.

"Maria has done an excellent job patching up the worst. It might be best to wait until Katarina has woken before we move her," Gerald says, with as much diplomacy as he can muster. "It may be worse for her to wake in transit, given the circumstances."

"I agree, but this really isn't the best place for her to rest," Keith says, gesturing to the chairs. "That can't be comfortable."

They're still debating the ethics of moving an injured woman when Katarina makes the decision for them, groaning and shifting her head, returning to consciousness. Gerald and Keith are immediately at her side, kneeling close. Both reach for her hand, and glare at each other for a moment in a battle of wills, before becoming focused on her face. Her eyes open, and she blinks a few times, clearly trying to focus. Both Gerald and Keith smile in relief.

"Katarina, you're ok-"

Katarina screams. It's a bone chilling sound, not of shock, but of genuine fear . Both lunge back almost on reflex as the girl arches awkwardly, hitting the backs of the chairs before crashing to the ground with such little grace, they actually hear a few people in the background gasp in astonishment.

Their girl however, recovers quickly. Her eyes lock on her sword, and before either can really recover, Katarina is back on her feet in a battle stance, sword in hand, and aiming it straight at Gerald, her face a mess of hatred and panic.

"Get away from me!" she yells. Gerald doesn't think he's ever heard anything crueller. Katarina...she's terrified. Of him.

Her hands are shaking, and he wants to move in, to comfort her. But his legs won't move – he's paralysed where he stands.

Thankfully, Keith isn't, and is slowly inching closer, hands up in a non-threatening manner.

"Sis...it's okay," Keith all but whispers. "It's us. I promise."

"Don't say that!" she orders, with more bile than she's ever thrown her brother's way, and Gerald keenly feels the full body flinch he sees ripple through Keith. "What did you do to them? Where's my brother and Prince Gerald?"

Keith doesn't back down, and just keeps staring at Katarina. Gerald can't see his face, but he imagines the expression is something heartbreakingly endearing.

"You came to us," Keith says. "We had an accident, and got transported to this world when we made a wish in the rune. You must have done the same. It's really us this time."

The sword drops just an inch, and Katarina's eyes have gone wide – but suspicion is still clear.

"Prove it," she half begs. "Tell me something only my brother would know."

Keith takes a deep breath.

"Not long after I was adopted into the Claes Family, I hurt you with an earth doll," he says, and Gerald's eyes widen, glancing round the room at the curious onlookers. He hadn't expected Keith to offer this story around so many strangers. "I was so terrified I was going to hurt you or someone else again, that I locked myself in my room and swore I'd never come out."

The sword drops even further.

"You wouldn't let me," Keith says, hope clear in his voice. "You...it still sounds crazy, but...you grabbed a battleaxe from a suit of armour in the hall, and cut the door down to splinters."

In the background, at least one person chokes, and there's a ripple of whispers. Gerald ignores it all, focused on Katarina.

"When you'd made a large enough hole, you walked straight through, got on your hands and knees and apologised. Then promised you'd always be there for me."

Keith steps forward. "I'm sorry I left you. I'm so, so sorry."

The sword drops to the ground, and Katarina bursts into tears. Ugly, messy, loud tears.

The whispers behind them get louder, but neither of them can care. Keith is moving before the sword even hits, wrapping Katarina in his arms, instantly staining his jacket wet. Gerald finally regains function to his legs, and moves forward just as quickly, his hand outreached.

-Only to yank it back when Katarina adjusts her head, spots him coming, and flinches. She immediately looks overwhelmingly guilty, but Gerald just smiles, shaking his head slightly to show no ill will. He moves in slower, and starts removing the cape from his suit, quickly wrapping it around her shoulders. Her hands tug it down instinctively, and when she looks down, sees the red stain and open cloth of her dress.

A normal noble girl would no doubt be blushing bright red and hyperventilating at the scandal of being undressed in such a way, but their Katarina just gasps, and adjusts the cloak appropriately."

"Thank you, Prince Gerald," she sniffles. She's still crying, but her eyes have finally lost all their fear. He smiles back, and slowly – so she can see his moments, places his hand on her shoulder.

"Katarina, what happened to you?" he asks softly.

' Or more accurately, what did our other selves do to you?' his mind growls.

Katarina just shakes her head, and hides in Keith's arms. Thankfully, after a minute more of crying, she's starting to gather herself. Keith's arms however, remain tight, and Gerald glances at the very awkward looking group encircling them, all clearly curious and desperately trying to hide it for etiquette's sake.

"Maybe we should continue this in the infirmary?" Maria says, when Katarina seems more stable, and the sound of her voice seems to bring Katarina back to reality, lifting her head up to look behind her brother. "Miss Claes should probably have some privacy."

Katarina's face is a picture, even behind the red cheeks and tears.

"Miss Claes?" she says, in a broken tone. Maria's eyes widen, a little taken aback at how hurt she sounds.

"Katarina, remember," Gerald assures her. "This is not our world. The other Katarina and Maria do not have the relationship the two of you do."

His fiancée blinks at him a few times, and starts glancing between him and Maria, before her eyes widen with sudden comprehension.

"Wait, so...if we travelled to another world, and that was a different Keith and Gerald, and this Maria calls me, and Katarina is...Ohhhh..."

Gerald isn't exactly sure what Katarina has figured out, but she's gone pale. However, she's also become compliant to Keith, who's trying to coax her to the door.

"I think the infirmary is a good idea, Sis," Keith says, refusing to take his eyes, or hands, off her. Gerald suspects the teen will literally have to be pried off in the near future, but it's keeping Katarina calm for now, so he's less frustrated than he'd normally be. "Coming through that thing was exhausting for us, and you're still hurt."

Katarina looks down at her chest, now hidden by red fabric, and nods.

"O-okay," she says. "There's no doom flags at the infirmary anyway."

The two of them still. Doom flags?

They share a glance, and Gerald steps forward, dispersing the crowd so Keith can escort her without issue. He opens the door, and Keith gives him a grateful nod as he walks the far-too-silent-girl through, followed by the healers. He follows, only to hear a voice behind him.

"She really is quite different from ours, isn't she?"

He turns to see Sirius analysing him, looking quite curious. The rest of the council have moved with him, clearly just as interested.

"I admit, I don't know Miss Katarina very well, but still, that entire incident..." Mary says. "She was truly overjoyed to see Keith, wasn't she?"

"I'm still processing 'battle axe,'" Sophia says rather weakly.

"She seemed scared of you though," Alan adds, eyes narrow. Behind his own smile, Gerald grits his teeth.

"A very new, and highly unwanted situation," he says. "One I intend to investigate the cause of quite thoroughly."

This time, Sophia pipes up.

"But...if you say she doesn't love you anyway, and now she's afraid, maybe it's better to step back?"

Gerald is shaking his head before she's even finished.

"Not an option," he states. Not even in the worst case scenario.

"Is she really that important to you?" Maria asks, eyes wide, and Gerald chuckles for a short moment before answering.

"Give her time," he says. "Once she's over her panic and back to her old self, you'll see it first hand. Just remember, we're taking her back with us, so don't fall in love."

Alan scoffs. "Come on, she can't be that charming."

Gerald's lips twitch.

"Don't say I didn't give you fair warning," he says, and quickly chases after the siblings.

Isekai World – Game Characters

It's not a normal occurrence, but Maria finds herself eating lunch with Alan, Mary and Sophia in the courtyard. When Nicol had explained his suspicions, none of them had wanted to be alone, and had joined her in the open area while the 'annulment hearing' took place.

As she picks at the last remnants of food, Sophia looks forlorn.

"Do you think Katarina is crying?"

By her side, Mary immediately tenses.

"Don't say things like that! You're going to make me want to run over and interrupt things!"

They all sigh, looking down at empty plates and containers.

"I know I'd be devastated if my brother had been replaced by someone," Sophia adds, and Maria nods.

"Even if she doesn't love Prince Gerald, she does care about him too," she says. "At least her parents are there to comfort her."

"Yeah, but they lost their son too," Alan says. "They'll probably be hurt just as much."

Another sigh, and another round of picking at almost empty plates, before Mary drops hers to the ground, and stands up.

"All right, enough of this," she says. "We've eaten, and we're clearly not going to stop being distracted. As Katarina's friends, it's our duty to be at her side during this awful time."

"Oi, Mary, you can't just decide that!" Alan yelps, face white. "My father is handling it."

"He's handling the interlopers," Mary corrects him. "Someone needs to be there to help Katarina, so the Claes can focus on getting Keith back. Do what you want, but I'm going!"

She spins on her heel, and starts heading towards the waiting room she knows would have been used. Part of her hopes the others will stay behind, but she honestly isn't surprised when she hears loud noises and footsteps chasing after her. Maria is on her left in a matter of seconds, Sophia on the right, and Alan holding up the rear.

"If the King yells at us, I'm blaming you," Alan mutters, face slightly red. Mary just smiles.

"He won't yell," she says. "We're just concerned friends and family. Aren't you worried about your precious, dear, twin brother?"

Alan slaps a hand on his face.

"He's my brother, and I love him, but absolutely nobody in my family would buy that line, and you know it."

Maria and Sophia both giggle, but as they get closer, they get closer to the Research Lab, and the official meeting rooms on site, when they see kings guard in the halls. They quickly halt, just in time to see two guards escorting the false Gerald down the hall. They can barely see him between the uniforms, but that shock of hair is unmistakable in these halls.

"Where are they taking him?" Maria asks Alan, who doesn't look as good as he had a few moments ago. While it might not be 'Gerald,' watching someone identical to his brother being arrested is probably disconcerting.

"We've got a handful of rooms used for incidents with nobility, when you don't want them communicating with someone to cover up an incident," he says, voice low. "Or for political prisoners – students from foreign countries that can't immediately be trusted. They're not cells, but you're also not free to leave."

"Wait, is that Sirius?" Sophia asks, and they all watch as they realise the guards holding 'Gerald' down are being escorted by the red head towards a set of stairs.

For a moment, Maria wonders why the president was even involved. Shouldn't it have been a closed confrontation between the King and the Claes family? That's why they had all stepped back.

The convoy is almost out of sight, when one of the guards shifts slightly out of the way, giving Maria a perfect view of the false Gerald – and she stands stock still, the colour fleeing from her face when she registers what she's seeing.

"Maria?" Mary asks, realising the girl looks horrified. "What's wrong?"

Maria doesn't answer, too overwhelmed at the black cloud she sees practically drowning out the blond man being dragged away.

"Maria?"

The guards drag Gerald up the stairs and out of sight, and Maria sucks in a breath she hadn't realised she was holding.

"I need to talk to Nicol," she says with a shaking voice. "He needs to tell the King something's very wrong with that Gerald."

Mary pales. "What do you mean?"

Maria swallows.

"He's enveloped in dark magic."

Game World – Isekai Characters

Once Katarina has been diagnosed, treated and cleared by the school's official healers, and Gerald has a rush order of sweets brought in for her nerves, the girl is almost back to her old self. She's smiling and laughing between treats, while Gerald sits on the bed opposite, and Keith sits at her side, still holding one hand tight. He only just stopped contact for the exam, and Katarina doesn't seem interested in stopping him.

Seeing her like this is a balm for the soul...but they need to know what's happening back home.

"Katarina, how did you get here?" Gerald asks, once she's finished her last sweet. The girl pauses between licking her fingers, and her eyes dim.

"Um, well...I'm not really sure," she says, and Keith squeezes her hand.

"Start at the beginning," he says. "What happened after the rune incident, and we were swapped."

Katarina seems quite relieved that she can start there, rather than more recently, because her smile lights up.

"Well, after the accident, I went to see Keith when he woke up, and I guess I should have realised something was up, because he seemed to be shocked when I came to visit. He acted like nobody loved him, and seemed shocked about being mother's favourite, even though he shouldn't have, but I thought he was concussed or something."

Keith winces, and starts getting redder and redder as Katarina continues, talking about other Gerald ("Geord" Gerald corrects) going to see his father, and her trying to motivate other Keith into confessing to Maria.

"Then, that evening, we were all at the farm, and Geord and Keith came to visit," she continues. "And Geord said he was cancelling the engagement."

Gerald quickly drops his hands so they're out of sight before Katarina sees them forming fists.

"I sent a message to my parents, and the very next day, they arrived," Katarina says. "They were pretty excited about it."

"I see. My fake started annulment proceedings," Gerald says, panic gripping him.

Part of him wants to grab her by the shoulders and beg her to tell him that they're still engaged, that she jumped here before anything was signed, but she's nowhere near recovered to handle that. He needs to be more diplomatic.

"However, as he was not me, any contract signed would be considered void due to fraud," he says.

"Oh, we never actually got to the official annulment meeting," Katarina tells him. But before Gerald can do more than give a mental sigh of relief and thank random gods, she continues with- "because before we got to that, he tried to kill me."

Ice. He feels like he's been dipped in ice. Opposite, Keith's eyes have become the size of golf balls. Lord...it had been a sword wound, he knows that, and Katarina wasn't flinching from his presence for fun, but...he thought perhaps Katarina had found out about the switch and attacked his fake. Not that his fake had...

"He what," he growls, ready to rip the fabric of reality apart to seek his revenge. Katarina immediately hunches in on herself.

"Keith...I mean, other Keith, thought it was weird too," she says. "He tried to stop him, but Geord knocked him out, and he turned on me."

She looks up, realising how horrified both of them look, and pastes on a smile.

"B-but, you know, I've been preparing for doom flags for years," she says. "I threw a toy snake at him, and it really freaked him out. It gave me time to run away!"

"That...wait, planning for what?" Keith splutters.

"Toy snake?" Gerald says at the exact same time. "You mean that thing you torment with me every other month?"

Katarina just nods, though it's not clear if she's really heard them. "At first, I was just trying to get some distance, but then I ran into Sirius, and he tried to hold him back, and told me to hide in the Lab. I tried, but Geord followed me and attacked. I tried to fight back, and that's when I realised he definitely wasn't Prince Gerald."

"What?" Gerald says, leaning forward, looking pale.

"See, you didn't seem to know how I fought, and I know Prince Gerald has sparred with me dozens of times, so he should have had some idea-"

"Katarina!" Gerald snaps, and immediately regrets it when she immediately clams up and looks terrified. Keith looks ready to commit murder, so Gerald continues.

"Are you telling me, that before the sword fight, you truly thought that I was trying to kill you?" he asks. He knows she's fragile right now, but he has to know.

Katarina, goddammit, looks confused. "Well...yes?"

"How could you not suspect anything before that?"

If Gerald was a less together person, he'd be setting a building on fire. Instead, he grabs her spare hand, clasping it in both of his.

"Katarina, I know that no matter what I say, you will misunderstand it," he begins. "So I will speak frankly, have I ever given you any reason to suspect that I would hurt you? That I do not care for you deeply?"

"Prince Gerald-" Keith starts, and Gerald glares in his direction.

"Keith, with all due respect, please stay out of this," he warns, and returns his attention to Katarina, who looks rather faint. "Tell me, Katarina, what I did, that a doppelgänger could try to kill you, and you don't even suspect that it's not me."

"I-that's...it's," Katarina mumbles, refusing to meet his eyes, but Gerald refuses to let this one go.

"Please, Katarina," he urges. "Why did you believe that so easily?"

"I...because I thought you wanted to be with Maria!" she admits, sounding very embarrassed, and both Keith and Gerald share a glance of utter confusion.

"Maria...Katarina, when have I ever-" Gerald starts, only for Katarina to explode.

"I mean, that's how it's supposed to go!" she wails. "You met her on the first day climbing trees and you were really interested in her, and you're never interested in anyone, and Maria's so charming and the two of you would make perfect sense! And you only really use me as a shield for other women so when you said you wanted to annul the engagement and Keith...I mean, 'other Keith' told me that night that he'd been rejected by Maria because she had feelings for someone else, I figured it had to be because you were in love with Maria!"

During that spiel, Keith has dropped his head into his free hand to hide the blush, no doubt utterly horrified at his other's antics and having to face their Maria again, and Gerald doesn't know if he wants to laugh or cry. Of course Katarina would completely miss the mark entirely, oblivious to Maria's feelings, or the fact that Gerald's entire life revolves around gaining Katarina's attention.

There's a rather dark part of his brain that's a little terrified Katarina's utter belief that Maria would win Gerald's heart comes from Katarina's subconscious belief that Maria is the most desirable of her suitors, but that idea gets firmly shoved to the back of his head, because nothing good comes from thinking about it.

"Then we went to the annulment, and my parents wanted to talk about the specifics, and...and I knew something was off," Katarina defends. "You weren't...right. When my parents got called out of the room, I tried to find out what was wrong, and he just..."

Her shoulders dropped. "I mean, it makes sense now ," she says. "He went crazy, talking about how I seduced Maria away from him, and how he'd seen us talking that morning. Maybe he didn't realise that Maria's just naturally charming to everyone?"

Or Maria had done yet another confession in the wake of an annulment and a Prince completely not in the know had reacted badly. Although, given he was used to this world's Katarina, Gerald can sort of see how he might have made that conclusion.

Still…

"But to go straight to trying to kill you?" Keith says, putting it into words. "That's extreme. Not to mention illegal."

Katarina blinks.

"It is?"

"Yes!" both of them yell, astonished she even has to ask. She looks astounded, and Gerald suspects they're going to have a long talk about what nobility can and can't get away with.

"Well, like I said, he seemed crazy," Katarina admits. "Which was weird, because he was just fine the day before."

"Let's get back to the sword fight," Gerald sighs. "You were fighting, and realised he wasn't me?"

Katarina nods. "He didn't know how I fought...but he was still better than me. Especially because I wasn't trying to hurt him."

"You weren't? Sis!" Keith says, and she flounders.

"I mean, I knew it wasn't Gerald, but he looked just like him!" Katarina defends. "It's why I ran in the first place, I thought I could try to fight him off, but..."

"You couldn't," Gerald finishes, the awful feeling in his stomach finally starting to lighten. "You didn't want to hurt me."

Katarina looks embarrassed. "You're my friend. I didn't understand why you wanted to kill me, but I couldn't bring myself to seriously fight back. My sword instructor would be so mad at me..."

Keith immediately starts shaking his head. "No, no, he'll understand, Sis. That was your first real fight. Of course you panicked."

"Anyway, he managed to hit me," Katarina continues, pulling her hand from Gerald's grip to touch the bandages on her chest. "And I guess I rolled into the rune or something? But when he tried to come after me, the guards and the King came, and arrested him."

Gerald's eyes widened.

"Wait, really?" he says. "How did father know?"

Katarina brightens.

"Nicol figured it out," she says. "I'm not sure how, but he realised that you were replaced pretty early, and sent word to the King. If Geord hadn't attacked me, they would have been arrested at the annulment hearing."

Gerald's eyes tear up. He takes back every horrible thought he'd had about the dark haired teen since he was trapped here.

' Nicol, you are the best friend a Prince could have. I will never forget this... '

Katarina however, looks guilty. "I feel kind of ashamed. I thought my brother and you were acting a little odd, but I just thought you'd fallen in love, and Keith was getting tired of my antics, but he knew right away. I'm a terrible sister, and a friend."

Keith is immediately shaking his head, and grabs Katarina's shoulders.

"Sis, don't think like that," he says. "You couldn't possibly have known. It's amazing Nicol even figured it out."

"But still!" Katarina pleads. "I knew something was wrong with you when we met our parents. And Prince Gerald was just...wrong! And I just stood there and accepted it."

Gerald shakes his head. "Neither blames you one bit. It was a unique situation."

He gives her a gentle smile. "To be honest, I would have been astounded if you had realised. Reading people isn't your strong suit."

At their words, she looks somewhat relieved, and the two of them share a look, before standing up.

"You need to get some more rest," Gerald says. "We'll be back in an hour, and go over our plans."

She looks doubtful, but she yawns the second Keith convinces her to lie down. He's extremely reluctant to let go of her hand, but he finally lets it fall.

They keep their smiles up until the door closes, and then sag against the wall, the ire almost enough to peel the paint from the walls.

"That...bastard..." Gerald seethes.

"I swear, if he's ever in front of me, I'm going to knock his teeth out," Keith growls. "Every single one of them. I don't care if he's royalty, he'll be gumming food for the rest of his life."

"How optimistic of you," Gerald replies, clenching the hilt of his sword tight. "To think he'll still have a head for you to punch."

Keith smiles despite himself. "Always the competitive one, aren't you Prince Gerald."

Gerald ignores him, looking towards a window.

"The one good thing, is that this means our world is finally aware of the switch," he says. "So even if one of them did sabotage the rune, they know to start looking."

Keith nods. "And now, with our Katarina in this world, the council have a lot more incentive to figure it out."

They both share a laugh at that, and both find themselves drawn back to the locked door.

"If nothing else, at least we know Katarina is safe and with us for now," Keith says.

"Yes...Katarina, and just you to share her attention with," Gerald adds. Keith scowls, and Gerald smiles back.

"Come now, as much as you resent my attempts, don't tell me you're not slightly excited about having Katarina with no Mary or Maria shoving themselves in? No Alan being painfully oblivious and yet somehow gaining ground? No Ascart double team? Just me, and you, and Katarina."

Keith slowly starts to smile.

"Actually...yeah...I can see the appeal," he says. "There's nothing else we can do on this end, but we can at least give Katarina a good time. She deserves it, after what happened."

Although, knowing Katarina, they both suspect their plans will immediately go up in smoke once she's up and walking again.

Isekai World – Game Characters

The room they've brought Keith to is slightly less ornate than his own in the dorms, and consists of one singular room. There's a painting on a wall, depicting the school grounds that's placed to replicate a window, but other than the door, there are no other exits.

It's a cell. A beautiful one, but a cell all the same.

He sighs, making his way over to the bed before sitting down on the sheets.

How had all of this gone so wrong? One minute, everything was fine, and then-

The door opens, and Keith looks up, frowning as Nicol walks in.

"Yes?"

"I asked to be the one to check on you," he says. "I was hoping you could explain a few things so we can undo this."

Keith smiles. "Really? What makes you think I have any desire to do that?"

Nicol frowns, his eyes narrowing almost an imperceptible amount.

"This is not your world," he says. "Surely you must have some desire to return."

"Not really," Keith quips, watching Nicol take that information in.

"I guess you wouldn't, now that your Katarina is here," he says. "If we reunited the two of you, would you or she be more agreeable?"

Keith can't stop the bark of laughter that comes out at the ridiculous remark.

"Not even a little bit," Keith says, still chuckling. "If you want Katarina to cooperate, it's probably best if you keep the two of us as far away from each other as possible."

Nicol blinks. "Blackmail?"

Keith gives another harsh laugh, and the look he sends Nicol almost has him stepping back.

"Hardly. She hates my existence. She'll be happy to leave me here. I'm sure your Keith is absolutely delighted to have his Katarina back. There's definitely no love lost between the two of us."

Nicol frowns. "I don't understand," he says. "You and Katarina have always been close. How can it be so different in another world?"

Keith shrugs, tugging his knees into his chest and wrapping his arms around them.

"In one world, the Claes wanted a son," he tells him. "In mine, they just needed an heir. And I'm not going back."

"...Even though the Claes now know your inaction keeps their son from them?"

Keith smiles. It's a wicked looking thing.

"So what, they'll hate me now? That's nothing new. At least this way, we're both miserable."

He turns his head, starting at a painting on the wall. By the door, he can feel Nicol shifting his feet.

"That seems rather cruel," he says. "To deny someone happiness."

Keith smirks. "The Claes didn't raise me to be nice. And at the end of the day, your Keith wished to go to my world. Clearly, he didn't love them as much as you think."

For several moments, Nicol is silent, before-

"Someone will be back here after they've questioned your sister," he says. "Hopefully some time to reflect on your actions will help you do the right thing."

Keith doesn't reply, and after Nicol walks out, Keith drops his face into his arms, sighing heavily.

What the hell got into Geord? The crazed monster that attacked Katarina was not the man he knew. Clearly, their captors had been aware of the switch before his episode, but the Prince's actions had done nothing but paint both of them in an awful light. Perhaps if he'd come clean...if Geord had kept his head on straight just a little bit longer...he could have salvaged this.

But he can't. And now there are two sets of Claes who look at him with disdain, he's back to a Katarina that despises him, and it's a world where Maria has never looked at him twice. Really, he might as well submit. He has nothing left to lose.

And yet...he still doesn't want to go back. The idea that his other self can go back to what Keith had enjoyed not one hour ago...well, maybe he understands Geord's breakdown a little more than he wants to admit.

He still has one bargaining chip – the rune and his sabotage. They currently have no idea he touched it. How long that will last is hard to say, but it gives him time. Even if Katarina has some idea of what happened, she won't know the whole story.

An idea comes to him, and he lifts his head.

Nicol said someone would come to question him again, after he'd had 'time to reflect.' Maybe...if he acts apologetic...and gives them crumbs...they'll let him out. Let him interact with people...give him some freedom.

He knows the school grounds, and the local town. The security is designed to keep people out, not in, it wouldn't take much to get away. He could escape, flee Sorcie and head for a neighbouring country. Away from the Claes, and the risk of being forced back through that rune. This world could get back their Gerald, and their Katarina, but their Keith would have to stay behind. True, he'd have to give up his noble title...but frankly it's never done him any favours, and his magical ability will open many doors, even in exile.

He smiles, and stretches out, mentally planning how contrite he should look when the door opens again. While he's sorry for Geord, he's on his own now. Keith has to do what Keith does best, and look out for himself.

After all, nobody else is going to do it.

Chapter 9

Isekai World – Game Characters

When Katarina wakes up, she's instantly on edge, because this is not the research lab she'd been in, but the infirmary. Had someone knocked her out? Who would bring her here? None of the witnesses to her desperate tantrum would have had the inclination to help her.

"Katarina?"

She stills, and turns her head, eyes widening when she sees her parents sitting to the side.

"Mother, father?" she says, desperately pushing herself into a sitting position. "What are you doing here?"

How long has she been out? She is certain her parents were still at the mansion, so how could they be here?

Her parents look at each other, and then give Katarina a sympathetic look.

"Katarina, we're not your parents," her father says, and Katarina frowns. But before she can question it, he continues with, "there was an incident with the rune."

Never let it be said Katarina is slow on the uptake. She collapses back on the bed, with an arm on her forehead.

"Oh lord, I'm so humiliated," she says. "I apologise for displacing your daughter, but there were extenuating circumstances."

She doesn't hear a reply, and opens her eyes just in time to see her parents sharing another look, this one more of disbelief. She sits up again, breaking it up.

"Do not worry, considering what has happened with others who have been switched so far, your arrival may be a boon," her mother says. "We're hoping you might be able to help us with any breakthroughs you've had on your end. From what we've been told, there hasn't been much headway here."

Katarina nods, and isn't too surprised at that knowledge. While Prince Gerald might have been desperate to return, she doubts Prince Geord had the same motivation.

"I'm afraid I don't know much, but I will help where I can," she says diplomatically. "To be honest, I would allow Prince Geord to try and solve the issue. He rarely fails at anything he attempts."

Her mother's face instantly goes dark.

"Prince Geord is currently under guard until we can send him home," she says. "After he attempted to murder my daughter."

Katarina's breath catches in her throat. What? Prince Geord had...what?

"I-I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you correctly," she says, laughing a little. "Did you say Prince Geord-"

Her mother nods and grabs her hands.

"I don't know what your relationship with Prince Geord was like, but he's clearly not a stable individual," she says. "We were preparing to annul the marriage, at his request, when he snapped. If he will not allow you to break it, I would recommend you petition the King to annul the marriage as soon as you return."

Katarina's jaw drops.

"But...but he's my fiancé!" Katarina defends, yanking her hands free. "I haven't spent the last seven years removing every rival that came my way to give him up now!"

Her mother seems rather taken aback, and Katarina scowls, vaguely remembering what she'd been told about her other self.

"Perhaps your daughter is not suitable to enter the royal family, but my mother has done nothing but press me to maintain it," Katarina says. "She's proud of my achievement – I'd be publicly disowned if I even attempted to break the engagement."

She shakes her head. "Whatever Prince Geord did, it must have been something that this other Miss Claes did to set him off. He would never cross a line like that with me."

Her father frowns. "I take it you're quite happy with your engagement then?"

"Of course I am," Katarina says. "Are you not?"

"No...and clearly, you've heard why," her mother says. "My Katarina...I love her dearly, but she is not suited for the role of Princess Consort. Prince Gerald however, refuses to see reason and is adamant that he'll wed her or no other. We were quite elated when we heard the engagement would be annulled, and the attack came out of nowhere. Katarina was truly doing everything he wanted."

"I almost didn't believe what Nicol was telling us," her father adds. "But then, after what Keith didn't do when Katarina was in danger-"

"Keith?" she interrupts with spite in her voice. "What did that wretch do this time?"

The two of them blink in shock.

"Wretch?" her father asks. "Keith? Your brother, Keith?"

"He is not my brother!" Katarina snaps, outraged at this version of her father, and turns to her mother in disgust. "Do not tell me that he broke you! My mother has never forgiven him for bringing his bastard child into the house."

Her mother's jaw drops, and the colour fades from her face. Katarina's own anger fades, and a sinking feeling starts to emerge.

Did...did this version of her mother not know that Keith was a bastard child? Had her father been more manipulative and convinced her that Keith was just a distant family member? How could any version of her mother be that foolish?

"Katarina," her mother says, grabbing her hands one more time. "I think there's been a misunderstanding. Keith isn't-"

"No," her father says, getting to his feet. "This is not a conversation we should have here, or with just us. We're going to see Keith. The other Keith."

Katarina and her mother both frown, but Katarina starts scowling when instead of arguing, her mother nods in compliance.

"Yes dear," she says, realising something Katarina clearly isn't. "This...puts many things in context. Both of them need to hear the truth."

"What truth?" Katarina asks, only to be tugged to her feet and led to the door. "I said, what truth?"

"Please, Katarina," her mother pleads, an iron grip on her arm. "I promise we'll tell you, but Keith needs to hear it too."

Katarina grimaces, but after one more tug to test the grip, complies; allowing these alternatives to her parents to guide her away.

Game World – Isekai Characters

" Morning!"

From where she sits at her desk in the classroom, Katarina smiles and waves.

" Morning A-chan."

Her friend quickly seats herself opposite and leans over. "So, Fortune Lover comes out next week. Have you pre-ordered it?"

Katarina moans and thuds her head on the desk. "No. I don't have enough to buy it, and my parents won't forward my allowance unless my next test scores improve. And that's going to be months from now."

A-chan pouts, and pats her on the back.

" Hey, don't worry. I'll let you borrow it. At least you got to play the prequel, Time Tales All, last year, right?"

Her head jerks up. "Right. That was so good!"

A-chan shrugs. "I don't know, I thought it was a little too complicated for an otome game. I mean, the whole 'time loop' and having to capture all the targets was a little forced."

" Still a good game though!" Katarina defends, and A-chan smiles.

" I admit, the secret capture target was pretty cool"

She grins back. "Yup. That was such a good twist! I can't believe Marty was the secret capture target! I mean, he dies at the start of the game!"

A-chan laughs. "I know. I was so shocked on my fifth run and I was given a chance to save him. I swore it was going to be Leon."

It really was a great twist, Katarina thinks to herself. Time Tales All is a little more complicated than most otome games, but she's always had a soft spot for it. You play a Lady in Waiting in the Sorcier Palace, who somehow finds herself living through the same month. With each capture target, you learn more about the spell, and it's only by capturing them all, that you can free the palace from it. At which point, you can choose which timeline you wish to live in – or, live through another loop and go for the secret capture target, the Royal Magician's Assistant, Marty. Which is pretty crazy considering his murder happens two days into each loop, and everyone thought he was responsible since his reactions were the only ones that changed each time. It also wasn't a popular choice, as the Princess's personal butler, Leon, was a huge fan favourite. But as it turned out, Marty was framed, and his death was used to put the loop in place. His happy ending had such beautiful CGI!

" I hear Fortune Lover is going to be a lot more traditional though," A-chan says. "It's still based in Sorcier, but a few hundred years later, and in the Magical Academy."

"So long as the characters are cute and it's fun to play, I don't mind that at all," Katarina agrees. "Besides, didn't you see the art for the main character? Isn't she just the cutest thing-"

Katarina groans, and slowly opens her eyes, blinking as she stares up at the infirmary roof.

"Huh, what am I doing here? And why was I dreaming about that old game-"

Recent events suddenly flash through her head, and she jerks up with a gasp, her dream instantly forgotten.

' Crap! Prince Gerald...I mean, Prince Geord tried to kill me, and I got transported to the actual game world! This is super bad!'

This is the worst place Katarina could possibly be. It's a world filled with doom flags, and she has none of her back up plans in place here.

"Well, at least Keith and Prince Gerald are here," she mumbles, swinging her legs over the bed. Given what had happened in her world, it would have been far too dangerous to be here without help.

She frowns at that thought. While she'd struggled with the idea that Prince Gerald was trying to kill her, he'd seemed horrified that she'd even considered it. Which is strange, because a sadistic, black hearted Prince could totally do something like that. Oh! Maybe he was upset because he didn't think Katarina was smart enough to realise he could kill her?

Then again, they both seemed quite frustrated that she thought he could kill her and get away with it, so maybe that's not quite right.

There's a knock on the door, and she pushes the thoughts out of her head. This is too complicated for her to deal with right now, she really doesn't understand, so maybe she'll just wait till she gets home to worry about it.

"Come in!"

The door opens, and she gives a hesitant smile when she sees Keith and Gerald enter.

"How are you feeling, Sis?" Keith asks, instantly rushing to her side as she stands. "Do you need some more time?"

Katarina immediately shakes her head. "No, no I'm good. I want to help, however I can."

Gerald smiles. "We'll be happy to have you. But please stay by our sides, and don't be upset if you can't contribute too much. This is a complex problem."

Katarina nods. She knows that, but still, she can't just sit still and wait for others to solve it.

"Okay, let's go."

To her frustration, the two of them shake their heads, and push her back down.

"First of all, we need to explain the situation," Gerald says. "This world is very similar to ours, but there are still significant differences. We don't want you to get upset when people don't react the way you think they should. This world's Katarina had very different friends."

"But the other versions of our friends in this world are a little curious about meeting you," Keith says. "You're very different from the Katarina here."

"That's an understatement," Gerald mutters, but keeps the smile up. "She was more a traditional noble."

Katarina nods. "Right. She was mean to Keith and wouldn't leave you alone and was very cruel to Maria all the time."

Both of them blink.

"Um...actually, yes, Sis. That covers it pretty well," Keith says. "She didn't garden, and if she liked romance books she definitely didn't read them with Sophia, and Mary and Alan seemed to disapprove of her."

Katarina just keeps nodding, and Keith starts to feel concerned. She doesn't seem horrified or upset about any of this. Maybe she's still in shock after Prince Geord tried to kill her? Or maybe just after that, nothing in this world can surprise her.

Gerald's also starting to pick up on it, because while he's smiling, his eyes are getting that glint that's been rather prevalent since they got here.

"So how did we end up here anyway?" Katarina asks, and both teens suddenly find the walls and floor very interesting.

"We believe the word 'wish' was involved," Gerald says, ever the peacemaker. "The two of us may have said something while in the rune, at the same time as our duplicates, that allowed the switch."

Katarina's eyes widened. "Oh! I did say something like that! I remember, I said something about wishing the real versions were there instead of the wrong ones...I think."

Both stand a little straighter at that, only to freeze when she looks at them with innocent eyes and says.

"What did you wish for?"

Keith makes a muffled sound in the back of his throat – it sounds like a puppy dropped from a great height, and looks at Gerald with something resembling panic.

"Well, I wished that you had feelings for me," Gerald says, shifting slightly so Keith's not immediately in view and picks up her hand, giving it a kiss. To his frustration, Katarina still looks utterly befuddled.

Honestly, her denseness is charming, but really , how much more blatant does he have to be? He fears for their wedding night.

Still, given that Keith is only a few shades from having a panic attack, he quickly follows with. "Keith replied with a joke, and unfortunately the rune took it as gospel. I wouldn't worry about it."

Katarina's eyes widen, but she smiles in understanding.

"Oh, okay. Guess that must have been unsettling."

She then pulls her hand away, and stands.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything to embarrass you," she says. "But we need to get home as soon as possible, right?"

They nod, and Katarina heads towards the door, and the healer watching them from the side for approval to leave. As Gerald stands to follow, Keith leans in.

"Thank you," he whispers, genuinely grateful. Gerald smiles.

"I hardly did it out of the goodness of my heart," he warns him. "That was a favour, and when we get home, I will be collecting. One date, uninterrupted, by anyone. "

Keith flinches, but nods in acceptance.

"Deal."

Isekai World – Game Characters

"Are you certain?"

Maria swallows, and desperately wants to drop her head, but feels Mary's hand tightly squeezing hers and maintains eye contact with the King.

"Yes, your Majesty," she says. "The Prince was surrounded by black mist. It could only be dark magic."

He sighs, the information clearly not welcome. Alan had approached the King as he left the lab, and they'd all quickly been escorted to an empty classroom on the grounds of urgent information, but from the expression the King is now making, Maria's wondering if they should have held off.

"That does complicate matters," he says. "The fact that he seemed reasonable up until today suggests he was put under in this world as well."

"But who would do that?" Sophia asks, standing to the side. "I can't actually think of anyone who wouldn't approve of the annulment."

They all can't argue with that. Between family and friends who don't think Katarina would thrive in the palace, to other families with daughters who would have been in the running, the annulment was hardly undesired.

"It might not have been about the annulment," Alan says. "As the third Prince, Gerald has access to information and areas most people would struggle to obtain. Whoever did this might have been aiming for something later. After the annulment, Geord would have been taken to the palace."

Maria however, shakes her head. "I don't think so," she says. "I think this magic was aimed at Katarina. Prince Geord was just a convenient tool."

The King frowns. "What makes you say that?"

"It's not the first time I've seen that black mist," Maria says. "Sometimes, I've seen flickers of it, around Katarina, but she's never been infected by it. I didn't realise what it was until I saw it in such large quantities, but I think somebody with dark magic has been stalking her, looking for some way to attack."

She hears Mary gasp, and judging from the pale faces around her, this was understandably not being taken well. The King however, remains rather stoic.

"I will have a light and dark user from the Ministry of Magic confirm what you've told me," he says. "If he was influenced by an outside source, it puts his actions in a different light, especially if it was someone here that did it."

He sighs. "This information does not leave this room," he orders. "Not until we have confirmation. For now, continue researching the rune. It is now imperative that we get our guests home as soon as possible."

He nods to Alan, and he coaxes the others out, before hesitating at the door.

"Father," he says. "If Geord is found innocent, we could use him in helping to decipher this. Given the circumstances, he'll probably want to get back quickly."

The King nods. "It will be considered."

Alan smiles gratefully, and starts chasing after his friends, aiming for the research lab.

After the whole earlier disaster, the lab is in a full on tizzy, with people huddled round tables and talking furiously. There are also now guards on the edge of the rune, to make sure nobody steps on it by accident. Nicol is also there, sitting at a table, and smiles as they return. As they make it over to another table, Alan grabs a passing researcher, and a few moments later, joins them with a heavy stack of papers. Mary glances up at him, before gingerly picking a set up.

"What is this?" she asks.

"This is a replica of the Grimoire chapter they copied the rune out of," Alan says, and gestures to the loose papers. "Since it's old and damaged, we can't let too many people hold the original, so they created copies to study. But most of it is still indecipherable."

"Do we know where it came from?" Nicol asks, picking up one pile. "Does the tome have a listed author?"

Alan shakes his head. "No, it appears to have been a compendium, put together by multiple magic users over the years. We believe, given the sigil on the first page-"

He taps the symbol on the front page of his copy. "-That this particular rune was invented by a magician in the Royal family's employ, but we can't narrow it down much more than that."

They all start leafing through the notes, and Maria frowns.

"I see what you mean," she says. "What language is this?"

Granted, most of the basics are in Sorcier, and are now just heavily damaged and indecipherable due to age, but there are distinct chunks of the text that are completely alien to her. Strangely enough, there are certain aspects that appear to be handwritten notes, no doubt transferred from the original version of the rune when it was placed in the book.

"It looks more like a code than any language I know," Nicol says. "The research team has looked up every known language and can't find a match, so it's likely been invented by the creator to keep their secrets."

Mary nods, and slowly taps on text at the bottom of the page, written in the strange code and underlined three times. "This might be a warning, or some kind of important instruction. If we can translate it, we might get a lead."

"We should get Sirius to have a look," Alan agrees. "He's pretty good with languages."

"He should be back here soon," Nicol says. "I'm rather surprised he's not back already, he was just meant to escort him."

He glances over, to see Sophia staring at the papers. "Sophia?"

Sophia is frowning, focused on the text, and Nicol frowns.

"Sister?"

"Sorry, it's just...I feel like I've seen this before," she says. "It looks so familiar."

"Really?" Maria asks. "Do you know where?"

Sophia shakes her head. "No. It's not coherent. It's as if I saw it in a dream or something. Like I should know it, but I don't."

"Well, if you have any breakthroughs, let us know," Alan says. "For now, lets see if we can make out more of the text that's decipherable."

Game World – Isekai Characters

Shielded between Gerald and Keith, Katarina was feeling fairly confident as they headed towards the lab...right up until they opened the door and she was faced with a sea of curious faces.

She instantly pales.

' Ah, I didn't think this through!' she wails in her head. 'What if they all hate Katarina and decide to get rid of her through me like Prince Geord?'

She kind of wants to run, but Keith is a solid presence at her back, and she takes comfort in knowing he'd never send her to certain doom - at least, not in this situation - and walks inside. The council members are all huddled around a table, and Katarina gives a shaky wave at the curious faces as they walk over.

"So, um, hi?" she greets. "I'm Katarina Claes. Or, well, another Katarina Claes. Nice to meet you."

She gives her best smile too, and she's honestly not too surprised when Maria is the first one to stand, a tentative smile on her own face.

"Hello, Miss Claes," she greets. "Are you feeling better?"

Katarina quickly nods. "Uh huh. I just needed some rest."

Her hand goes up to her hair, scratching behind her ear. "I'd like to help figure out a way back, but I'm not sure I'll be very helpful. Please bear with me."

Maria's smile becomes more genuine as she talks, and her body seems to relax. While she can't see it, Gerald and Keith are also staring at her with an almost ridiculous level of affection, which also reduces the apprehension felt by most of the others.

(Sirius, on the other hand, hides the scowl he wants to wear with a hastily fumbled yawn. Here comes one more noble filled with sunshine and rainbows).

"How much has Prince Gerald and your brother informed you?" Nicol asks, taking the control as they take a seat.

"Only how we got here, and some of the differences," Gerald says. "Explaining our progress makes more sense in a group.

"You had progress?" Katarina questions. "We didn't even know you'd been swapped!"

"We were very motivated," Keith tells her. "But Alan had the biggest breakthrough."

"You can communicate through the runes with music," Mary says, looking proud. "He had to compose a piece while missing half the notes."

"Really?" Katarina says, looking over at Alan, whose shoulders raise slightly in defence.

"Yeah. Rune has different notes on each side," he mutters. "Just had to figure out how the piece should have gone and-"

"That's amazing!" Katarina exclaims, genuine admiration on her face. "You really are incredible when it comes to music, Prince Alan."

Mary squeaks, and Alan's mouth drops open slightly.

"Huh...um, thanks?" he says, cheeks slightly flushed. His eyes flit to the side – meeting Gerald's – and feels his face getting even redder at his smug look.

' All right, fine, you warned me,' Alan hisses mentally. 'I get it, you ass!'

"Unfortunately, something happened on your side, and the link got cut off," Sirius says. "Thankfully, from what the researchers told us, our Katarina was informed of recent updates before she switched, so your world should know Prince Geord or Keith sabotaged it shortly. For now, we're trying to find additional information in the original grimoire."

Both Keith and Gerald brighten, looking at the papers on the table. "Ah, are those the copies?" Gerald asks. "What about the original?"

"The Ministry of Magic took it into custody when you revealed what happened," Alan says. "They've said we can have it back once they've double checked it against their own records, but for now we have to work with the transcripts."

Sophia and Nicol both reach and hand over additional papers to the three of them.

"Most of it is illegible, and many parts that aren't are in some kind of code," Sophia says, keeping her eyes on the table. "So we're not sure how useful it will be. It kind of looks familiar, but I can't place it."

"I don't recognise it either," Sirius says. "But I'm still cross referencing."

Katarina nods, scanning the first page – only to pause, her finger stilling on a symbol near the top of the paper.

"Wait, what is this?" she asks, voice slightly higher than she'd like.

"The sigil?" Nicol asks. "We think it's the sign of the creator, but there's no record of who it belonged to, so we're rather at a loss."

Prince Gerald is saying something about doing a more thorough search of the records, but Katarina isn't registering any of it, too focused on the papers in her hands.

Because Katarina has seen that symbol before. In fact, she saw it in a dream less than an hour ago.

That sigil, was on the title screen of the 'Time Tales All' otome game.

Even more importantly, the 'code' scribbled all over the page, is perfectly legible Japanese. And on the bottom of the page, underlined, reads:

' Like Hell I'm dying in an otome game!

I'm getting out of this world if it's the last thing I do!'

Chapter 10

Isekai World – Game Characters

"So how much truth do we hold to Miss Campbell's claim?"

The King doesn't bother to turn to the speaker, a blue haired man with glasses, and merely continues to walk up the stairs.

"Her teachers have had nothing but positive reports regarding her work ethic, and my sons hold her in high regard. I highly doubt she would lie about seeing dark magic. Your job is merely to confirm her suspicions, and to dispel any foreign magic from his body."

At the top of the stairs, he halts, spinning round to face both men. "Ideally, you will also be able to track the user. If someone is using dark magic to target any student in these halls, I want to know who, and I want them stopped ."

"Yes, your Majesty!" the shorter man says. "Whatever I can do!"

The blue haired one just smiles. "As you wish."

He nods, and continues down the hall, the two quickly falling in step. Given the threat level, he's brought in two of the most reliable agents the Ministry had on site. Considering the nature of dark magic, the Ministry doesn't have many candidates, but the blue haired Sora had been happy to volunteer, along with Tobin, a competent light user that the upper echelon had recommended. Tobin is clearly still quite green, from how straight backed and nervous he is just being in the King's presence, but Sora has no such issue, meandering the hall as if they were all mere students themselves. He manages to maintain that relaxed air until they reach the last corner, and tenses.

"I sense something."

Tobin flinches, looking at him in disbelief. "From this far away? That doesn't make sense. Unless-"

Sora pushes past both of them, heading round the corner. The King and Tobin quickly follow, only to stop in their tracks. By the door of the room that holds Prince Geord, a guard lay slumped on the ground, next to an unconscious Sirius Dieke.

"Check the room!" the King orders, and Sora runs straight for the door, while Tobin goes to the guards and the fallen student.

"All of them have been affected by dark magic," he concludes, no trace of his earlier nervousness. "Not a lot – but enough to knock them out. Doubt they'll remember who did it though."

Sora opens the door, and slumps in relief. "Prince Geord and the other guard are inside."

"That makes sense," Tobin says, hands glowing with light magic. "This wasn't an escape attempt. They just needed to cover their tracks."

"Can you still tell if he was under?" the King asks, although he admits that if someone has gone to the effort of knocking out four people with dark magic, it's essentially proof enough.

Sora smiles. "Of course. No matter how well one tries, the remnants of dark magic will always leech in."

He kneels down, his hands glowing with that ominous dark glare. His smile falters. "Well, someone certainly did a number on him. I'm sensing two different dark magic influences on him."

"Two!" the King splutters, and Sora shrugs.

"We only need to worry about one," he assures. "The second is quite old. It could only have come from his own world, and has probably been a minor influence more than an attempt at using him. But the newer influence...I doubt he was under more than a few hours, but his own opinions did most of the work."

"How could he hate Miss Claes so much?" Tobin asks. "They've only known each other a few days."

Sora shrugs. "I can only offer a hypothesis, but I suspect his anger was aimed more at his own fiancee more than our version. Perhaps Miss Claes did something that allowed his negative feelings to transfer to her, just long enough for the user to affect them."

"Can you track who?" the King asks, walking in and kneeling by the stranger wearing his son's face. It's...disconcerting, to see him like this.

Sora shakes his head. "No. They made sure to cover their tracks. If I felt the magic again, maybe I could hunt them down, but for now, it's a dead end."

That's the last thing he wanted to hear, but at least the dark magic user hadn't gone and killed his puppet. He rather wants his own son back.

"Prince Geord!"

All three of them snap towards the doorway, where a horrified Katarina Claes is staring in the doorway in shock. Her parents are behind her, looking equally horrified – and the Duke's tight grip on her shoulder is clearly the only thing keeping her pinned where she stands.

"What happened?" Katarina wails, and Tobin quickly stands, blocking the doorway.

"Why are you here?" the King asks.

"We...the three of us need to speak with the alternate Keith," the Lady Claes explains. "Is this-"

"Tobin, escort them to the room. Make sure the guards haven't seen anyone, and do not leave until the Claes do," the King orders, and returns his attention to Geord. Slowly, he moves to lift him into his arms, and moves to lie him on the bed.

"Double the guard. Sora, you are not to leave the door until he wakes," he says.

"He won't remember anything," Sora says. "And I highly doubt they'd come back."

"Regardless, this error will not be allowed to happen again."

He spins and heads for the door. "Double the guard – call in additional members from the ministry if you must. I wish to be informed the second he and the guards wake."

Sora bows in obedience.

"As you wish."

Something serious must have happened outside, because Keith can hear quite the commotion even through the thick walls of his not-a-cell. There's loud voices, angry shouting, and heavy footfalls. Either Geord tried an impressive escape attempt – which considering his current insanity is not unlikely – or there's another factor involved.

Suddenly, the door opens, and he stands automatically, eyes widening when he takes in Katarina and the Claes.

"Hello..." he says, spine tense as a springboard. He honestly hadn't expected to see either of his parents again, but to arrive with Katarina? What kind of stories has she told? How fast should he be running?

As if sensing his terror, Duke Claes immediately raises a hand.

"At ease, Keith," he says. "We only wish to talk."

They look a lot more upset than they had before, and missing the anger that had clouded the earlier meeting. Like most of these VIP rooms, Keith has access to a set of sofas and a coffee table, and his alternate parents take a seat before staring at them both. Keith glances over at Katarina, who just bristles.

"Don't look at me. I have no idea what I'm doing here either."

"Both of you, please, sit," their mother urges. Neither of them have ever been able to disobey that tone, and find themselves sitting opposite the Claes, and closer than they've ever willingly been in contact for years.

However, the story they reveal is enough to wash away that discomfort, because it's beyond ridiculous. How Lady Claes made the same assumption as their mother, that Keith was a bastard child, but unlike theirs, she had seen it as a failing on her part, because Katarina was such a failure as a noble child with her antics. That she had gone to her husband to offer him a divorce, so he could be with the woman he truly loved that had given him a superior heir. How Duke Claes had suddenly realised his wife genuinely loved him, and confessed that he had spent years under the assumption that his affections were one sided, and that he had tricked his wife into matrimony. Two people in a political marriage, completely certain that their love was one sided, only discovering the truth at the very last minute, thanks to the antics of a precocious little child.

It's the kind of thing you read in a cheap romance novel. Sophia would probably be swooning at how romantic it all is.

But this isn't a book. This is Keith's life . When they finish talking, explaining that every single, awful thing that has happened in the last seven years is because of a misunderstanding , he erupts.

"Are you telling me, that every ounce of grief I have suffered is because my parents don't know how to have a conversation with each other?" Keith snarls, standing up and looming over them. "That they were so wrapped up in how they saw the world that they let innocents suffer rather than try and fix it? Duke Claes would allow his wife and daughter to torment the child he brought in rather than speak his mind?"

Of course he'd always known what his mother believed, but his words had never reached her, and his father had done everything in his power not to rock the boat. Sure, it all makes sense now , but that it all could have been solved by the two of them being honest with each other?

By his side, Katarina starts quietly laughing, sounding exhausted.

"So, yet another crime this world wishes to lay at my feet, yes?" she says. "My adequacy as an heir hindered my parents ability to love each other?"

"Katarina, no!" their mother says. "You were a child, this was our mistake, their mistake, not yours. You did nothing wrong."

"Oh, of that I am aware," Katarina replies. "Your son made that perfectly clear. But apparently imperfection is the superior currency here."

That has Keith turning to stare at her, a smirk creeping onto his face.

"Oh, did other-me erupt at you?" he asks. "That must have been quite the moment. Wish I'd seen it."

"Bite your tongue!" Katarina hisses, before visibly composing herself to face the alternate versions of her parents – who look utterly heartbroken at their reactions.

"It's not like I wanted to believe my father would cheat on my mother," Katarina says. "But my mother was so certain, why wouldn't she have confirmed it?"

"Because she doesn't believe that her husband loves her," Lady Claes says. "In her eyes, in my eyes, him having a mistress made sense. But unlike me, your mother didn't believe she failed her duties."

Katarina just looks away, but her face is nothing but controlled rage. Keith slumps down on the sofa, dropping his head in his hands.

"I can't believe this," he says. "Actually, no, I can. It would just be the icing on the cake for how fucked up this whole situation is."

"Language, Keith!" Lady Claes chides, then looks immediately embarrassed. Keith raises his head just enough to glare back.

"You don't have any authority over me. I'm not your son."

"You're nobody's son," Katarina says under her breath, but before Keith can snark back, Duke Claes speaks up.

"You can recite the faults of your parents with our blessings when you get home, but for now you will be civil to each other, and hopefully help us with getting you there."

Keith's eyes narrow, but before he can consider how to answer, Katarina is getting to her feet with a look of rage on her face.

"It was him," Katarina says, pointing a finger at Keith. "The researchers in our world told me all about it. They managed to activate the rune on their end, but someone on this side damaged it to keep it from working. Given that Prince Geord-"

She stops, and grits her teeth at the sour memory.

"-Was otherwise occupied trying to annul an engagement, it must have been him. The reason you can't succeed is because the rune is damaged."

They turn to face Keith, who is watching with an unreadable expression.

"Is this true?" they ask. Keith weighs his options, before slowly nodding.

"Yes. I didn't want to go home so soon. I never got to enjoy the love I was receiving here there...I was going to fix it back eventually."

A lie. The biggest he's ever told, but the Claes seem to swallow it hook, line and sinker.

"Well, we'll speak to the King and the guards, and see if we can't get you back into the lab," says Duke Claes. "Do you remember what you did?"

"Not exactly," Keith says, honest this time. "But I'm sure I can figure it out eventually if I see it again."

The two nod, and get to their feet. "We'll see what we can do. For now, please don't make waves. Katarina, please come with us."

The girl obeys, standing and walking past Keith without a second glance. But he steals a look – while she's putting effort into looking calm, her eyes are dark and vicious. The way they look whenever Keith knows he's going to have a bad day.

He laughs to himself as the door closes. If the Claes are doing what he suspects and are taking Katarina to the lab. His friends are about to endure quite the reality check when they meet 'other' Katarina...

Game World – Isekai Characters

Katarina is reeling. She's not the first person to receive her memories of another life in this world? Or at least, not the first person to receive the memories in a version of this world? There was another person? How? Why? What does it have to do with this crazy rune.

'There was nothing about travelling to different worlds in Times Tales All!' she wails in her head. 'The main character and Marty could remember different timelines, but they didn't leave their world!'

"Katarina?"

She squeaks, looking up to see the whole table frowning at her. Keith and Gerald are both looming on each side, each closer than normal. Keith is immediately frowning at her reaction.

"Is something wrong, Sis?" he asks, and Katarina looks down, face flushed.

Ah...how does she explain this? She can't just say she can read this 'mystery' language.

"Oh um...this sigil," she says, pointing at the paper. "It feels like I've seen it before?"

It's both the truth and a distraction, and she silently whimpers when everyone is suddenly leaning forward in curiosity.

"Really, Katarina?" Gerald says, eyes wide. "Where?"

"I-I don't know," she says, looking down at the table. "It just feels like I have. Maybe in a book or something?"

Everyone slumps, and she feels like the worst person on the planet.

"Maybe I just saw something similar," Katarina says, grasping for straws. "Perhaps it looks like a fictional symbol in one of my novels. Like the medals in the first Devilish Count novel?"

She looks over at Sophia. "Right, Sophia? They look kind of similar, don't they?"

The white haired girl looks up, then immediately drops her eyes again and mumbles something under her breath. Katarina frowns.

"Sorry, what was that?"

Sophia hunches down, and Nicol quickly leans in.

"She said she's never read that series," he says, and Katarina's eyes widened.

"What!"

She gets to her feet and slams her hands on the table, oblivious to the automatic wince everyone other than Keith and Gerald have at the sound.

"Oh boy…" Keith says under his breath. Katarina's face is one of unholy glee .

"You've never read the Devilish Count series?" she says in utter joy. "I get to introduce you to one of the greatest fantasy romance series of all time? This is wonderful!"

She turns to Gerald, hands clasped and eyes sparkling.

"Can I take Sophia to the library?" she asks. "Just for a little while? She absolutely can't go any longer without ever knowing about them."

"We really should be focusing on trying to translate this…" Sophia says weakly. Katarina shakes her head.

"A quick break won't hurt anyone," she immediately replies. "Maybe I can even look and see if I can find the book with a similar sigil?"

She looks so excited at the idea, Gerald deflates like a balloon.

"Only if Sophia agrees."

"I-um...I guess?" she says, when Katarina whirls back to her, clearly unsure if there's another answer she can give. Katarina's smile is utterly blinding.

"This is going to be amazing! Come on!"

She grabs Sophia by the arm and practically hauls her out. Nicol is barely halfway out of his chair before Katarina has the other girl out the door and into the corridor, and he turns to stare at Keith and Gerald in disbelief. However, it's Mary who asks the question on their minds, looking somewhat befuddled.

"Is she always like that?"

"No. That was actually fairly laid back for Sis," Keith says, looking forlornly at the door and contemplating if he can risk leaving to follow her. "Someone should go with them though, just in case."

"I'll go," Maria offers, immediately standing up. "I'm not really making any headway with the language barrier, and I think I'd like to speak more with Miss Katarina."

"Thank you, Maria," Gerald says gratefully. As she leaves, he turns his attention back to the table, looking at the still torn Nicol.

"Sophia doesn't go anywhere without me," he says, sounding far too worried. "What if your Katarina says or does something untoward to her."

"To Sophia ?" Keith says. "I think it would cause Sis physical pain to do it even by accident."

"Don't worry, between Maria and Katarina, Sophia is in the best possible hands she could be," Gerald says. "And I'm afraid we need your research skills too much to spare you. But if Sophia is about to rediscover the Devilish Count, then you have my sympathies, Nicol."

"...Why?" Nicol asks somewhat hesitantly. Keith gives a short laugh and shakes his head.

"Oh I wouldn't worry too much...pretty sure you missed the worst of it. Our Katarina and Sophia haven't made Nicol dress up in years."

Nicol blinks.

"What?"

"How about less tormenting of the overprotective older brother, and more deciphering?" Sirius asks, though his smile is good natured, and the group settle back into their studies.

Isekai World – Game Characters

Consciousness returns to Geord at a slow pace. It feels as if he's had a night of heavy drinking – not that he knows exactly what that's like, but he suspects this isn't too different.

He groans, wincing as he tries to open his eyes and fails miserably. The second try is more successful, and he pushes himself into a sitting position before he risks sunlight.

"Finally awake, are you?"

He frowns at the unfamiliar voice, and slowly opens his eyes. There's more success this time, and his eyes make out an unfamiliar room, before taking in an equally unfamiliar blue haired man sitting next to the bed. The man straightens and smiles as Geord frowns, clearly confused.

"Who are you?" he asks.

"I'll be asking the questions," the stranger said. "How much do you remember of today?"

Geord just continues to glare at him. "Excuse me, but exactly what do you-"

He trails off, as when he tries to think back, a blurry flashback of the last few hours rush into his head, and his skin goes ice white, comprehension hitting like a vice.

Good lord...what had he done? What on earth had possessed him to-

He half bolts from the bed, only halted by the stranger pushing him back down.

"Katarina!"

"Stay exactly where you are."

Geord complies, but only just.

"Please, tell me she's okay," he says, voice shaking. All of his most recent memories are fuzzy, and the latest ones are almost incomprehensible, but he knows he attacked her – and can only pray that his last memory of her being alive is true. "Tell me that Miss Katarina is safe."

The man assesses him with a long look, before letting him go and grinning.

"Well, nice to see you're back to your senses," says the blue haired man. "Do you remember the last person you spoke to before everything went 'blurry?'"

Geord tries. He truly, genuinely does, but his mind betrays him.

"No," he says, feeling shameful. "Everything from today is a blur. I don't even remember speaking to anyone before Keith collected me for the annulment hearing."

The man sighs. "Well, that's not unexpected. You took to the dark magic like a cat in a canary cage."

"Dark magic?" Geord repeats, feeling both relieved and horrified at the thought. "I was under the influence of dark magic?"

"It had been stripped from you by the time we came to confirm, but the traces were clear," the man says. "Congratulations – that might actually get you home in one piece. From the rumours I've heard, the girl you tried to kill has quite the set of guard dogs."

"Is she okay?" Geord asks, anger starting to ebb into his voice, and the man shrugs.

"Well, you didn't kill her, but considering the rune activated and swapped her with, well, your Katarina, we don't actually know."

Geord pales for a second time in as many minutes. Katarina has been switched. He's sent a version of Katarina who had fled for her life from him straight to his home, while he now has his Katarina here, and no doubt aware of his actions.

He drops his head into his hands, wondering if he can curl up into a ball and hide underneath the bed until his death. There is no coming back from this – he might as well throw himself on his sword and be done with it. The political backlash is going to be biblical ...

Sadly, his interrogator or guard isn't interested in letting him wallow.

"If that grief is genuine, then you might get home with all your limbs," the man says with far too much glee. "Now get up – you've got a meeting with the King, and depending on his decision, you might be put to work on undoing whatever it is you did with that rune."

"Yes...yes, of course," Geord says, accepting the words easily. At this point, it's the least he can do. Even before the dark magic had affected him, he knew his plans for Katarina and Maria had not been well meant. Perhaps getting back this world's true inhabitants will act as penance for his decisions.

Sirius is thanking any god that will listen that he's good at thinking on his feet. When Prince Geord was arrested, he'd been terrified his plans were going to go up in smoke. Once the guards had the hall to themselves, he'd acted, knocking both of them out and going to work on Geord. All memories of anyone he met that morning are instantly erased, and he hauls back his dark magic. It takes far longer than it should – normally it's an instantaneous act, but the Prince has accumulated a tremendous amount.

Once Geord has been stripped of anything that could trace the magic to him, Sirius walked outside and set his magic inward. This is much harder, but dark magic is all about deception – he knows how to set 'just' enough to get caught in the spell, and keep himself out of the suspect pool.

He knows it's been a success when Prince Geord is walked into the research lab with an armed guard, and immediately bows in apology to him for his earlier attack.

"Sirius Dieke, please forgive my earlier actions. Regardless of any outside influence, they were completely out of order," Geord says from his prostrated position.

"Please, raise your head Prince Geord," Sirius says. "Help us with the rune, and we can consider it water under the bridge."

He desperately needs to get this fake-Prince out of this world. With the Ministry involved, there's no telling if they'll be able to track his actions. He's good, but he's never had someone actively investigating him before. Better get the evidence as far away from his as physically possible – worlds away, in fact.

As the Prince rises, relief on his face, Sirius spots others heading towards them, and nods.

"However, I may not be the only one you need to apologise to," he says, and quickly walks away.

Geord only has a few moments to question his words, when his brother's voice rings out.

"So, you're not Gerald, you played us all for fools, and you left Katarina bleeding."

Geord winces, and turns to face Alan, who is glaring at him with his arms crossed.

"Part of me really wants to punch you," Alan says. "But for the sake of keeping peace, I'll let it go. No doubt Keith and Katarina and my actual brother will already be gloved up."

He gives him a sharp smile, and pats his shoulder a few times, before returning to the table. Geord has enough time to sigh in relief, before he feels someone tapping his side. He turns-

-Just in time for Mary to slap him straight across the cheek. He squawks, hands reaching up to feel the damage, as the girl smiles.

"I have no such compunction," she says. "Never thought I'd say these words, but I want Prince Gerald back."

She brushes past him, and Geord winces. Thankfully, Mary doesn't have much upper arm strength, so the hit didn't cause much damage. But to think his brother's wallflower of a fiancee would be so forward. He's lucky to have such a devoted woman.

In the distance, Maria is openly frowning, and the Ascart siblings look displeased, but thankfully, don't seem ready to get physical about his actions. Also, the room is abandoned with the exception of them, mostly likely to keep the knowledge of the switch as quiet as possible. When he asks, Alan also explains that many of them have taken to the library and ministry to look for additional information, allowing the council to focus on the rune directly.

Then the door opens, and Geord pastes a smile on his face when he takes in Katarina, escorted by both her parents and a guard. The Claes stay at the doorway, speaking something Geord can't make out, but Katarina barely appears to register the words, and enters the room as if she owns it, looking displeased and ired.

That, in Geord's personal experience, is a dangerous combination.

The door closes, and the guard remains at the door while Katarina scans the room, eyes instantly locking on him and lighting up – though he notices her body is more tense than usual.

"Prince Geord," she says, walking over and giving him a curtsy. "Are you okay? I heard you were...unwell."

That's certainly one way to put it. "Miss Katarina, good day. I apologise that you've been caught up in this."

"I'm sure you are," Katarina says, eyes sharp. "Though considering you were willing to murder my other self, perhaps it's more true than usual."

Geord maintains his smile, but his eyebrow twitches. But before he can answer, Mary has joined them, and is hanging off her arm.

"Are you okay, Katarina?" she asks. "I mean, I know you're not our Katarina but still, that must have been quite a shock."

A moment later, and Maria has clutched her other arm. "Yes, but don't worry, we'll make you feel welcome until you go home. Do you like-"

"Let go of me!"

Geord winces as Katarina screeches, yanking her arms back and glaring at the two. To the side, he can see Alan stiffening, the Ascart's frozen where they stand, and both Mary and Maria looking at her in shock.

"What have the standards fallen to in this world if someone like you can touch me so casually?" Katarina says, making a show off brushing invisible dust from the arm Maria had just been holding. "That other Keith mentioned my other self had some odd habits, but this is ridiculous."

Geord has never seen someone's face fall as quickly as Maria's does. Mary in turn, looks like someone knocked her over the head.

"Kata-um...Miss Katarina…" Maria says, hand slightly reaching out, only to flinch back when Katarina swings round.

"It is Lady Claes to you!" Katarina says, pointing at Maria in disgust, before pulling her hair back behind her shoulder and giving her one of her best glares.

"I don't care what your Katarina allows, but I will not sink so low as to befriend commoners," she spits out. "You have no business even being in the same room as me."

"Katarina!" Geord yells, more agitated than he'd normally allow. But he's already treading on thin ice, and given how well known Maria's affections are in this reality, Katarina's friends will not react to this well at all. Alan is already staring daggers into her skull, and Sophia looks five steps away from a panic attack.

To his immense relief, she cuts off, looking at him with some surprise – no doubt startled that he was willing to raise his voice so much. But it's Mary, stepping halfway in front of Maria and gathering her skirts as she stands guard, that takes control of the conversation.

"You cannot be Katarina," she says. "Any version of her. I refuse to believe it."

Katarina brings a hand to her mouth, though it does nothing to hide the smile on her face.

"And the Mary I know would certainly not stand here and defend the promiscuous slut that makes dew eyes at her fiance," Katarina says, clearly taking joy in the way Mary's face alters in wake of that declaration. Behind her, Maria has gone sheet white – and he doesn't dare see how Alan has taken it, given that this Maria has clearly planted her interests elsewhere.

"Oh wow, this explains so much," someone, Geord thinks Sirius, mutters under their breath. Geord ignores it.

"Perhaps you should spend less time assuming how things should be and pay attention to how things are," Mary counters. "Maria is my friend, and if she did develop feelings for Prince Alan that were returned, I would give blessings to them both!"

Maria hiccups, though Geord suspects it started as a giggle, and risks looking over at Alan. He is standing stone still, his eyes focused on Katarina, and face unreadable.

Geord hopes his face looks similar, because that's quite the exclamation for a woman engaged to royalty to make. This Mary truly is devoted to Alan, and he hopes the Prince appreciates it.

Katarina on the other hand, seems quite taken aback at the abruptness of Mary's reply. "Blessings? Do you have no pride at all? You are the fiancee of a Prince!"

"I'd rather a broken engagement and the chance to be with the one I love over hurting two good people for a legal document," Mary sniffs back. "Surely you interacted enough with Prince Gerald and Keith to know happiness is preferable to propriety."

Katarina's smile turns malicious.

"Really? Then why did they wish themselves away to my world the first chance they got! They might have been willing to play the roles in this little fantasy land, but I have too much pride to lower myself for your appeasement. I am not your equal, Marquess . And I am certainly not Miss Campbell's."

Mary smiles back. "Of course not. One such as you could never stand equal with one such as Maria."

Katarina takes the barb with some irritation, thinning her lips as she nods.

"That sounds more like the Mary I know. Good to see that beneath the smiles the same woman still lives."

Mary is now openly scowling, and Nicol has gone straight into protective brother mode, stepping directly in front of his sister to ensure she doesn't get any closer.

This is a minefield Geord needs to disarm, and now. He's dearly wishing Keith was here – he's spent more time around the group as a whole and has a far better understanding of the dynamics than him, but Katarina almost seems to be openly prodding the wasps nest.

"Maybe it would be best if Miss Katarina was given some privacy?" he asks, and is relieved when Alan – who has been almost worryingly quiet throughout this – immediately steps forward, beckoning the guard over. To his immense relief, Katarina doesn't even try to argue.

"I hardly need an escort," Katarina huffs. "I'll return to my room."

"It's not your room," Mary says with some spite, and Katarina bristles.

"Well, unless someone intends to treat me as a prisoner, where else do you suggest I go?" she says, and smirks when nobody answers. She walks out of the room with the same gravitas she walked in, the guard walking a few steps behind.

"Hmph, good riddance," Mary says, crossing her arms, only to panic when Maria drops to her knees, only just holding back the tears. "Maria!"

She drops to attend her, and Geord quickly finds himself on his knees too, making sure the girl isn't hurt. A few seconds later, and the rest of the council have circled her too.

"I'm sorry," Maria whimpers, trying to wipe wet eyes with her sleeve before Mary offers her a handkerchief. "I know it wasn't her, but – the things she said. It was just-"

"I know," Mary says sympathetically. "It was like a nightmare come to life. Any one of us would be right where you are in the same situation."

Sophia is suddenly crouched down on Geord's other side, pulling the girl into a hug, while Mary rubs soothing circles on her back, and Geord pulls himself back, utterly unnecessary to the event. The three are clearly far closer in this reality than he'd realised.

"Was that really Katarina?" Nicol asks, when Maria has become more stable. "She seemed so...different."

"I did not spend much time with your Katarina, so I cannot offer an opinion on that," Geord says. "But I'll admit I was surprised to find yours was so friendly with everyone, especially Maria. Mine has never been pleased with her presence."

"If that was the Katarina Prince Gerald was faced with, I imagine they must have been working quite furiously to get home," Mary says, helping Maria to her feet. "We should do what we can on this side."

Maria is nodding back before she's even fully upright.

"Yes, we need to get our Katarina back, right now."

Geord nods in compliance, looking towards a table filled with documents. "Indeed."

But as they all force themselves back to studying, Alan continues to stare at the door, eyes dark in thought.

Game World – Isekai Characters

"How have I gone fifteen years of life without knowing of this masterpiece?" Sophia half sobs, clutching the book tight to her chest. Considering she'd only made it through the first few chapters, Katarina counts it as a success. Just watching the emotions flood onto Sophia's face had been a delight.

' It almost makes getting thrown to another world worth it ,' she thinks to herself. Thankfully, the library in this world had been as identical as every other building, and hunting down the fictional fantasy romance series had been a cinch.

"I can see why you were so interested in introducing Sophia to this series," Maria says, flicking through her own copy. "The main character is very similar to Nicol."

"Right?" Katarina exclaims. "When we were little, we used to dress him up in an old cape and top hat and act out the scenes. Sophia always had to play the lead though, because I'd pass out whenever he gave me his devilish smile."

"I need to get Nicol a cape," Sophia says, fire in her eyes. "Do you think Geord will let me borrow his? And I'm sure father has an old top hat somewhere."

Maria actually blushes a little at Sophia's words, and Katarina finds herself giggling at the two, before falling into her own thoughts.

As much as she loves watching Sophia's reactions to reading the Devilish Count for the very first time (and she really, truly is), coming to the library gives her time to freak out and think about what she's learned. Someone, at some point, had been transmigrated to this world.

Katarina suspects it was Marty. The whole 'dying' part on the page suggests it would have been him, and as the assistant to the Royal Magician, he would have had access and the status to create something like the rune, and have it immortalised in text.

The sigil will be the key. If she remembers her otome game correctly (and it's one skill she's perfected over the years), Marty was wearing that sigil as a medallion in his very first scene, and then showed up in one of his flag events if you run his secret route. Now how does that version go again?

She wishes she had some paper, but she can't risk writing anything in front of Sophia and Maria, so she'll have to do it in her head.

So in the final route, the MC is finally given the option to stop the murder – but only if they knock down every other interest's flags in the first meeting. If she picks the right conversation options, she learns he knows about every loop, because he has dreams about future versions of himself, and knows he dies today. If you foil the murder, Marty gets accused of illegal magic. You can either help him hide, or give him up and get the bad ending. If you help him…

Wait...If you help him, he gives her the medallion, which is a family heirloom, as a thank you. That night, because she interferes, she has a dream in which she speaks to a future version of herself who helps her figure out the culprit and stop the loops.

The future version of the MC said she could speak to her because she saved Marty, but what if the MC had it wrong? What if it was the medallion? If 'Marty' could see the future, maybe that could explain how he managed to build the rune?

No, wait, Katarina is getting ahead of herself. She still doesn't even know that Marty is responsible. But how does Katarina explain how she knows that? How does she even prove it?

Her face suddenly lights up. Sophia! Sophia is great at history. She'll bet anything that Sophia might know.

"Hey, Sophia," she says. "Do you think that the rune could have been made by a Royal Magician?"

The girl looks up from her book, looking thoughtful.

"Well, it's possible," she admits. "Sigils were very popular when that position was still around, but the palace keeps a record of them, and didn't find a match."

Katarina slumps. "Oh, right."

"We could still double check?" Maria says. "There are reference books in the history section detailing all the magical vassals of Sorcier for the last 500 years. Maybe we missed someone?"

"Really? Where in the library?" Katarina asks, and Sophia taps her lip.

"Um, in the section regarding the Royal family, I think," she says. "It's maybe 3 sections over?"

"The book should list the name, title, employment dates, retirement, and even date and cause of death if they died on the job," Maria says. "The Royal Family kept a thorough record of all it's employees. And according to our history professor, deaths were common with magicians back then. Experiments weren't as safe or regulated as they are now."

She turns to Sophia. "Do you mind if I take Katarina? If it takes more than a few minutes, we can bring the book back here."

Sophia's smile falters, but when she looks down at the book in her hands, quickly recovers.

"Sure, I'll be okay. I think I could get lost in a few more chapters of The Devilish Count quite easily."

Katarina grins. "Told you you'd love it."

By the time she's stepped up and moved from the table, Sophia is engrossed again, and she's led by Maria deeper into the library – before Katarina suddenly realises this means she's alone with Maria . That's not an issue back home, but this is the game world!

"Miss Claes-"

Maria immediately clams up when Katarina flinches, and she finds herself panicking.

"No, no, no! Please, just call me Katarina," she says. "I know we don't know each other well, but it just sounds too weird to see sweet Maria calling me that."

Maria's cheeks redden slightly, and she gives a soft laugh.

"Okay, Katarina," she says, sounding very hesitant – but her eyes brighten when Katarina grins back. "To be honest, I offered to come with you to the library because I was hoping to talk to you."

"Really?" Katarina asks, and Maria nods.

"We're friends in your world, right? My relationship with Miss Katarina is...not the best. I was hoping you might be able to tell me why? Is there something my other self did to win you over?"

Katarina nearly keels over. Oh, Maria really is too pure for this world, to think she can still win over the villainess. And to refer to it as 'not the best' rather than the blatant bullying it is? Such a sweetheart!

"I'm not sure there's anything I can offer," Katarina eventually says. "I admit I was a little intimidated by Maria to start with, but the more time I spent with her, the easier it became to be friends."

"Intimidated?" Maria says in shock. "Why would you have been intimidated?"

Katarina blushes red. Ah, how does she explain that?

"Oh well, you know, you were so pretty, and you just seemed to be an unstoppable genius at first," she rambles. "But when I got to know you, I learned how much you work to achieve that. It wasn't just talent, but hard work, and that's amazing. I'm so happy we became such good friends."

Maria doesn't answer, and when Katarina looks over, the girl looks stunned, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"I...you really mean that?" she says, and Katarina grins.

"Of course I do! I mean, I've known Mary and Sophia and Nicol and Gerald and Alan since we were children, but Maria fits in with all of us so easily! You're really incredible Maria. And don't let my other self tell you otherwise."

She finishes her rant with a finger pointing straight at Maria and a grin, only faltering when she realises Maria looks about ready to cry.

"Um, sorry, I-"

Maria starts shaking her head.

"No- it's...don't worry about it. I'm just...I guess I'm just really happy to hear that at least one version of me got to have that."

That dims Katarina right down. Because unless Maria goes for the friendship ending, she won't get that here. In the bad endings she gets left alone, and in the good endings, she doesn't have female friends and the other capture targets back away. Unless she goes for the harem ending…

"Oh, this is the section we need-"

They walk into the section, passing a few researchers and students digging through books, and Maria quickly locates the necessary shelf, and the several heavy books with the records.

"If we assume the rune was made not that long before the grimoire it was copied from, the possible royal magicians who could have made it will be listed...here!"

She pulls out a large volume, and quickly hands it over to Katarina. It's a little heavier than she expected, but she's not willing to wait to get to a table. Instead, she balances it against a shelf, and starts flicking through.

Granted, she doesn't remember exactly when Time Tales All happened, but she's pretty sure the promo material for Fortune Lover said it was set around 200 years after, so that's a good start.

"It's strange though," Maria says, watching her flick through the book. "I wonder why the worlds are so different. Did something happen during childhood? Or maybe even earlier. I think the changes to Prince Gerald and Keith are because of you, but there must be an unknown factor, for Miss Claes to be so different."

There is, but Katarina can't really explain exactly what , so she just hums non-committally, wondering if she can change the subject.

Then an idea gives her pause. Wait. Maybe she can finally have real 'girl talk' with this Maria?

"So, Maria, is there anyone you like?" She asks, while she flits through the book - no familiar names so far. Maria immediately goes red.

"L-like? I mean, um...that is-"

Katarina giggles. "From what happened in my world, I know Prince Geord and Keith both like you, but maybe you like Alan or Nicol?"

Maria just goes even redder, and Katarina's smile deepens.

"Or do you like all of them? And can't choose?"

"It's not like that!" Maria says, looking utterly horrified. "I mean...I do like all of them, but absolutely nothing's happened! I wouldn't do that."

Katarina looks up from the book long enough to give her a sympathetic smile.

"Don't worry! I know love can be complicated. And I can't really blame you for liking all of them at least a little bit – they're all so handsome and charming after all."

Apparently realising that Katarina is more teasing than judging, Maria relaxes slightly.

"They all do have their good and bad points," she admits. "Part of me feels sorry for Miss Claes, since Prince Geord doesn't treat her like he should a fiancee, especially when it was his idea. I'm pretty sure it's why Miss Claes dislikes me so much."

"Maybe, but that's still no reason to be a bully," Katarina says. "How could Geord and Keith not come to your rescue if you were in trouble. It just makes her look worse."

Maria frowns slightly.

"You really don't mind?" she asks. "Someone catching your fiance's eye?"

"Of course not," Katarina explains. "Prince Gerald only proposed to me because he felt guilty. I'm fully expecting him to break that engagement once he falls for you or someone else and no longer needs a shield to protect him from other women. We're just friends, and I want him to be happy."

Maria stares at Katarina for a few moments, looking torn, before seemingly coming to a decision.

"You do realise he came here because he wished you had feelings for him, don't you?" Maria asks, and Katarina smiles.

"Yeah, he told me, and did kind of confuse me for a bit," she explains. "But then he said Keith made a joke wish, so Prince Gerald probably did the same."

Maria gives a sheepish laugh. "You don't think for a moment that it might have been genuine?"

"No, no, that's not possible," Katarina insists, then hesitates. A hesitation Maria quickly latches onto.

"But?" she presses.

"Well...I guess he could have wished it honestly, if he didn't have anyone he liked yet," Katarina says. "I've always been very honest about how I'm happy to break the engagement, so maybe I've not been the best shield lately. If I had feelings for him, then I'd stop telling people that."

She huffs in annoyance. "Honestly, you'd think a Prince as smart as him wouldn't be so foolish. What would happen if I did develop feelings for him before he falls in love with his future wife? I wouldn't let him break the engagement and he'd be trapped in a marriage with someone he doesn't love! He deserves to be with the person he truly loves, and I'm sure this whole thing has just proven that to him."

Maria's eyes widened, and she lifts a hand to her mouth, trying to hide her smile.

"Oh, I see now. That must be frustrating."

Katarina looks up in confusion. "Huh, frustrating?"

"Oh, just something Prince Gerald and Keith said suddenly having a lot more context," Maria replies, waving it off. "But I guess I can be honest with you about my feelings then."

Katarina grins. Yes! Romantic girl talk for the win!

Maria's face goes slightly red. "Don't get me wrong, I can understand why Miss Claes is upset, and I don't mean to cause trouble, but Prince Geord comes to me, not the other way around. And he can really be quite charming – it's hard not to fall for him."

Katarina nods in agreement, though she's more distracted by the list in front of her. "Right, I definitely don't blame you. After he chased off those bullies and ate all the muffins that fell on the ground, anyone would fall for him."

Maria's eyes widened. "Oh, he did that in your world too?"

"Oh well, technically I did," Katarina laughs. "But well, he would have if he'd been there earlier, I'm sure. What about Keith? He saved you with one of his dirt dolls right? Made you see the gentleman behind the playboy?"

Maria slowly nods. "He told you about that? Your Keith didn't really seem the playboy type."

Still focused on the book, Katarina doesn't even hear the question.

"Don't let Katarina get in your way with him, okay?" she says. "If you do fall for him, I promise he'll absolutely never betray you. He's more loyal than he thinks – my brother has that in common with him."

"I'll keep that in mind," Maria says. "And it would be better to get closer to Keith, since Prince Geord is engaged. Prince Alan is the same, and what's worse is Mary is a good person. I don't want to hurt her, but Prince Alan keeps hunting me down."

"After you got better scores than him, right?" she says. Maria blinks.

"Yes. We're better, but he's still a little sore on that. Same with you?"

"Oh no, we solved that problem years ago. Our Prince Alan knows he doesn't have to prove anything to anyone any more. Just hang in there, you'll get to him, and if you do truly fall in love, Mary will give you her blessing," Katarina cheers. "Oh, but since she's also my friend, I'm rooting for Mary, so I can't approve of you as a couple."

"O...kay?"

"So what about Nicol?" Katarina continues. "That devilish smile of his is quite-"

She stills, her finger paused midway down a page as a name is printed clear as day.

There he is.

"Maria, I might have found something!" she squeals, pulling the girl closer to read the entry.

Martin (Marty, her brain corrects) Cress, Royal Magician, Assistant. No sigil though, of course it couldn't be that easy. Date of Employ, date of retir-

Her face falls.

There's no date of retirement – because he's listed as deceased. About a year after starting employment.

Which is right on track for the Time Tales All plot line.

The book drops from her hands, and she covers her mouth to keep from screaming.

' He died?' she wails internally. ' Even though he knew it was coming and went to all that effort to avoid it? Are avoiding doom endings impossible?'

"Katarina!" Maria says, reaching over and hesitating at the last second. "Are you okay?"

"Katarina!"

"Sis!"

The two of them look up in shock, to see both Gerald and Keith walking towards them, looking concerned. Nicol and Sophia are behind them, with Sophia clutching The Devilish Count tightly in her arms.

"We wanted to see how you were doing," Keith says, quickly making it to Katarina's side and grabbing her shoulders, looking panicked when he sees red eyes. "What's wrong?"

Katarina splutters. "I-um, I just got upset because I thought I found a lead, but it looks like I didn't."

Maria is already leaning down, picking up the book, and pointing to Martin Cress's name as Gerald leans in.

"Hm...Martin Cress?" he says. "I don't know the name, but he would have been in service around the time that rune was created."

Katarina frowns. "But he died, and look, there's no sigil."

Gerald frowns, and looks at the book, flicking through several other pages before coming back to it.

"Actually...that's more suspicious than you might think," Gerald offers. "After a year of service, even an assistant would have had one. There's very few vassals in this book who don't have one detailed. The absence is odd."

"But, he's still listed as deceased," Katarina said.

"Ah, but look underneath – under cause of death, it's been left empty," Gerald explains. "Which means while he was declared dead, they never found a body."

Katarina stops sniffling, hope starting to brim.

No...body?

"You think this Martin Cress created this array?" Keith asks. "And used it to jump to another world?"

"And his death would no doubt have been written off as a magical experiment gone wrong and swept under the rug," Gerald sums up. "It did happen around the correct dates. Granted, it's all conjecture, but I'll request the more detailed records of the incident. I'm certain the palace archives will still have copies. It won't hurt to check."

He's grinning, and looking at the entry as if it holds every answer he seeks, and offers his arm to Katarina.

"Since we've found this, and you've introduced Sophia to her new 'favourite,' shall we return to the lab?" he asks. "I would rather not have you out of sight. It's been too long as is."

"It's not even been an hour," Katarina tells him, but accepts the arm, with Keith shadowing her other side. "I don't remember you being this clingy."

"Well I wasn't aware of how lucky I was before," Gerald replies, escorting Katarina past the other members, and allowing Maria to reach the Ascart siblings as they walk back towards the exit.

"That was a good find, good work" Sophia says. Nicol nods in agreement, as the three of them trail after their three guests.

"I'm impressed she knew to look here," Nicol says. "Researchers had gone through the books, but nobody thought to look for magicians with no sigil. How long did it take you to go through the book to find that name?"

He frowns when, rather than looking pleased, Maria looks torn.

"Actually, not that long," she says. "Katarina nearly skipped half the book before she started reading."

Nicol frowns. "Really?"

Maria nods. "I know we sort of knew when the rune was created, but she went looking away midway through our timeline guess, and she reacted really badly to that one name – it was like she knew what to look for but didn't expect him to be listed as deceased. Plus, we were looking for a sigil she'd seen before, but Martin Cress doesn't have one."

"That is a little odd," Sophia says. "Why would she have thought that was a lead without the sigil?"

Maria nods. "Also, some of the things she said earlier..."

She bites her lip, clearly wrestling with something, and with a glance over at his sister (who rolls her eyes at his hesitance), Nicol places a hand on her shoulder.

"Maria?"

She jolts to life, forcing on a smile and waving her hands in the air.

"Oh, nothing, it's nothing," she says. Nicol just keeps frowning.

"She wasn't cruel to you, was she?"

"Oh no! Nothing like that!" Maria insists. "She couldn't have been kinder."

She pulls away from his hand and smiles. "Don't worry, I'm probably just reading too much into it."

Isekai World – Game Characters

When she reaches the door to her room, Katarina is quick to dismiss her guard and storm in. She dearly needs some time alone to calm down and process current events. What she really wants is tea, and perhaps some refreshments. If only-

"Good day, Miss."

Katarina pauses, looking at the maid standing at attention to the side of the room. "Anne?"

The maid nods, a placid expression on his face. "I have been informed of the incident, but regardless of the world, I will continue to serve Miss Katarina."

Katarina will never admit it, but something inside her lightens at Anne's reaction. It's exactly the same as her own Anne – and given how much people seem happier in this world, she half expected the maid to not be here at all.

"Good," she says instead. "I do not have the time to get used to a different maid. Your attendance is accepted."

Anne neither flinches or smiles, merely bows the way an experienced maid would.

"Shall I prepare the Miss, tea and snacks?" she asks. "I imagine it has been a difficult morning."

Katarina nods, and waves her away. "That would be excellent. Please do."

The maid quickly leaves, and relieved that her relationship with the maid seems fairly similar in this world, looks for any other differences.

On the surface, the room looks identical to her own. It's only when you get to the details that it becomes off. Her bookshelf has study books and etiquette volumes, with the top shelf dedicated to her jewellery boxes, finding the vanity lacking. Here, it's packed to the brim, and while she can see the same study books, they're squeezed next to books on agriculture, books on nearby countries, a book on reptiles (what?) and a significant number of romance books – the kind Katarina wouldn't be caught dead reading in public, and a few sheets of piano music. On the top shelf, there's odd trinkets too, none of which she recognises. A pair of beautifully elaborate scissors, a cheap looking cloth – the kind she's seen Maria wrap her ridiculous sweets in before, a surprisingly realistic toy snake (again, why?), and a pot of dirt, a tiny stem of green just starting to poke out. There's also a training sword leaning against the shelf, and Katarina rolls her eyes. That had better have been left here by other-Keith or Prince Gerald – surely her alternate cannot be so savage as to study a blade on top of all her other faults?

When she checks the wardrobe and dresser, her lips curl up when she takes in the meagre takings. Granted, it's still well within the expectations of a Duke's daughter, but there's less than half what resides in her own. Most of what's missing is her more intricate and expensive gowns. A quick glance at the vanity shows the jewellery collection is in even worse shape. There's next to nothing, and the few rings, necklaces and bracelets she finds are unfamiliar to her. She can't even see the handful of pieces Prince Geord gifted her over the years – or for that matter, anything of an equal quality, which is odd considering a version that is in love with her would surely gift even more expensive items.

She wonders if her other self has a secret box or safe to hide her truly special pieces, and that finds her digging under the bed, which is a lot cleaner than her own, and grins when she comes across a locked box. She drags it out, placing it on her lap and looking at the quality of the very heavy duty padlock on the front. Jackpot.

But before she can go looking for the key, she hears Anne knock on the door, and quickly shoves it back under the bed before getting to her feet.

"Enter."

Anne opens the door, carrying a tray. However, when she enters, she's not alone – a guest follows, carrying a book in her arms, and Katarina knows that white hair and red eyes anywhere.

"What are you doing here, you freak?" Katarina hisses, standing up straight and glaring daggers. Anne immediately flinches, which is enraging if not unexpected, but frustratingly, unlike the pathetic little wallflower she's seen hiding behind her handsome brother, this Sophia matches her glare with a political smile that could give her father pause.

"I'm here to talk to you," Sophia says. "You're clearly upset, and I know if it was the real Katarina, I'd hope my other self would make her welcome."

"Yes, yes, I've heard all about your great and glorious Saint Katarina," Katarina says with a hiss. Sophie doesn't even flinch.

"She's not a saint. Katarina is just a person, and that's why we love her," she says. "Unlike most of high society, she figured out from a young age that being yourself is more important than being proper. Society was drowning all of us, and she reached out and gave us a lifeline."

Katarina laughs. "You mean you were all weak. The life of a noble is not supposed to be easy."

Sophia shakes her head. "That doesn't mean you can't be happy. And it's pretty clear you aren't."

" Excuse me ? How dare you-"

"Alan saw it," Sophia explains, cutting her off. "During your outburst in the lab, he saw everything..."

Earlier...

The council, shaking off the arrival of such a different Katarina, quickly try to get back to work. However, when they reach the table, it's clear Alan hasn't followed them. Instead, he's staring at the door, his eyebrows furrowed.

"What is it, Alan?"

Slowly, the other Prince turns to face them.

"Didn't you see it?"

"See what? Our literal worst nightmare dressed up in a Katarina suit?" Mary asks, and then flushes red and looks away when the group turns to stare at her.

Apparently frustrated that his friends have missed something, Alan huffs slightly.

"Angry, agitated, looking for a fight and desperate for any reason to put herself above everyone else," he says.

"I'm not sure anyone understands the point you're making," Sirius says congenially. Alan sighs.

"She reminds me of me ," he says. "Before I met Katarina."

Mary frowns, glancing between him and the door, and Alan shrugs.

"You never saw me at my worst," he explains. "I tried to hide it from you, but I'm sure this version of my brother can tell you, I was a mess of issues when I was a kid."

"Was is a bit misleading," Geord replies. "Mine still very much is."

Alan nods, clearly not surprised.

"It never felt like my efforts were good enough. Even when I succeeded, Gerald was always better. I took it out on everyone around me, frustrated that I couldn't get the acceptance I wanted. There was always something in the way."

He turns back to the door.

"That Katarina, I saw it in her eyes. She's angry, and upset, and nursing a serious inferiority complex. Our Katarina is a trigger point, clearly, but from what I gleaned from that outburst, she's been raised far more traditionally. Appearance and etiquette are everything, but all she's got to show for it is an engagement to a man who clearly wants nothing to do with her-"

He side-eyes Geord for a moment, and Geord looks away. "And like most nobility, allies that like what she can offer them, rather than liking her as a person. What else is she going to do but lash out? What do you do when your best isn't good enough and it feels like one wrong move will cost you everything?"

"She's hardly blameless in all of this!" Geord desperately tries to defend. "She doesn't have to be so cruel, or so egotistical. Do you know what she put her brother through growing up?"

"Given that Keith apparently didn't want to go home, I suspect their parents all but supported whatever she did," Alan counters, and Geord falls silent. "Look, I'm not saying that she's not at fault, but very few people at this table can say that they would have been the same person they are now without Katarina's influence. That girl never had a Katarina to reach out to her."

Geord is now openly frowning.

"I don't understand. Is your Katarina truly all that different?"

"Yes," Alan simply replies. "And maybe now it's our turn to reach out."

"She didn't seem all that interested in our help," Mary says, and Alan smiles.

"Neither was I, once upon a time."

They all pause, mulling over the options. Sophia however, is the first to stand.

"What did you have in mind?"

Present...

"I don't understand," Katarina says, genuinely confused and not liking the feeling. "Is that story meant to be uplifting?"

Sophia smiles.

"Alan reminded us that when we needed someone, Katarina was there," she says. "You never had that. So maybe now we can return that favour. Perhaps give you some hope, because if you continue as you are, you might end up miserable."

She walks into the room and places the book on the table, next to the tea set. "This is 'Sophia and the Emerald Princess.' It's the first book Katarina and I bonded over. You don't have to read it, but I thought you might like something to do while you wait for a way home."

"I am not her," Katarina says with a growl. "Her hobbies are not mine. I'd never read lowbrow trash like this."

Sophia – unlike her counterpart – doesn't shy away. Merely shrugs the words away like a duck with water.

"At your core, you're the same person. You love your family, you're passionate about the things you care about, and your talents lie in things other than magic. I have to believe that deep down, the things we love about Katarina are in you too. Who's to say you don't enjoy the same things, if you never consider trying them?"

"I'd be a laughing stock," Katarina quickly counters. "Women of my standing don't indulge in such fantasy."

"Nobody ever needs to know," Sophia says. "Everyone in this world already knows Katarina enjoys reading them, and you'll never see anyone here again when you go home. There is nothing you can do here that will affect your reputation."

Katarina's scowl fades as the ramifications of Sophia's words sink in, settling into something more dumstruct. Sophia then smiles, and curtsies as a farewell.

"Read it, don't read it. But we're here if you ever want to talk, one of us will always be willing to listen. Prince Geord and Keith saw this as a place to live out a fantasy, perhaps you can temporarily do the same."

Katarina scoffs as Sophia leaves, walking over to the table and shoving the book to the far side before taking a seat. Anne is instantly next to her, pouring a cup from the pot, and Katarina glances at the sweets provided. All of them are her favourites, if provided in a much higher volume than she'd ever allow someone to see her eat in one sitting.

Clearly, other Katarina had never cared about that.

"Anne, you know your Mistress well, yes?"

The maid doesn't look up from her job.

"As well as a maid can know their Mistress," is Anne's reply, and Katarina picks up the cup.

"Good. Tell me everything you know about her."

She is going to figure out why this other Katarina is so different. Because they are not the same.

They can't be.

Chapter 11

Isekai World – Game Characters

Given that he hasn't actively tried to kill anyone, Keith is escorted from his room to the lab with only one guard, and a warning to fix whatever he had earlier damaged as quickly as possible. He happily agrees with the king's demands, knowing full well that even if his willingness to help was genuine, it would take time. As he walks down the hall, he takes in as much as possible, looking for any exits or windows he's not used to, hoping to find any possible escape that could help him.

The doors to the lab are opened for him, and when he walks in, he's surprised to find the room is fairly quiet, with only the student council wrapped around a table, and a few researchers kneeling around the rune.

To his relief, Katarina doesn't appear to be in the room. However, Geord is, and seems utterly engrossed in a discussion he's having with Alan. His eyes are almost unnaturally wide.

"-owing snakes at your brother on a regular basis?"

"Yup. They keep getting more and more realistic too. I'm just waiting for the day she throws a live one at him."

"And nobody stops her?"

"Why would we? It's hilarious ."

"Does your brother think that?"

"Are you kidding? He loves it. It's the one thing Katarina only does to him. It's their 'special thing.'"

"I...did someone drop him when he was-"

He cuts off when he sees Keith walking towards him, standing up and drawing the table's attention.

"Keith," he greets. "Are you okay? I know you took quite the hit."

Keith frowns, but nods appropriately. "I'm fine. I see your madness appears to have calmed down as well."

It's a genuine surprise when he sees the Prince flinch. Normally he'd never dare let someone see him so raw. "Yes. It appears I fell afoul of some dark magic. I am free of it now, but I do apologise for my actions."

Dark magic?

Perhaps this world isn't as rosy as he first thought.

Keith eyebrows raise, looking over at the other members, watching him with some suspicion. Sirius is the first to stand, his usual placid smile pasted on his face.

"We've been informed that when the rune activated this morning, you sabotaged it," he says. "I don't suppose you can tell us what you did?"

Keith quickly offers his most disarming smile with a dose of puppy dogs eyes.

"I'm afraid I panicked somewhat at the time, so I'm not entirely sure what I erased," he says, with the same silky honesty he offers ladies on his hook. "But I'm sure with some research, I can figure it out."

The reaction is very telling. The girl's all double take, gawking in his direction, while Nicol's eyes widen further than he's ever seen them – granted, that's not a significant amount, but still strange to see. Alan and Sirius both glance between each other – and Geord…

Well, he's looking over at Keith with an expression that doesn't bode well for him. But it's hardly the first time, and Geord will keep his thoughts to himself until he can use them to his best advantage.

"Well, if I had any doubts before, they're gone now," Mary says, shaking her head and looking back at the table. "You really are nothing like our Keith."

"Really?" Keith asks, walking up to the table and taking a seat. Ideally, he'd prefer next to Maria, but she's currently penned in by Mary and Alan, so instead he goes to Sirius, who is the only one looking at him with the same expression as his own. Given that the president hasn't joined them for the handful of group meetings, their relationship is probably fairly similar – distant and polite, and nothing more.

The second he's seated, copies of the rune and the tome's description is shoved under his nose by Geord, who is still watching him with a smile and sharp eyes. Keith matches it with a grin of equal validity.

"So, dark magic?"

"Dark magic," Geord confirms. Keith shakes his head.

"What a day...so, have you learned anything new?"

"Well, Sophia seems to be having some luck figuring out the strange code," Sirius tells him.

"That's being generous," Sophia is quick to add. "I think I'm understanding some of it, but just enough not to get the context."

"You still don't remember how you know it?" Nicol asks, and she shakes her head.

"No...but I think this word means 'transmigration?' And there's something about escaping...but if this rune is about transporting between worlds, that's hardly something new. I could just be imagining that I understand it."

"Still, you should keep at it Sophia," Maria says. "We believe in you."

Sophia smiles back, only for it to falter when she sees Alan staring at the sigil with a frown.

"Alan, what is it?"

The Prince sighs, leaning back and crossing his arms.

"I don't know," he admits. "There's something about this sigil. The more I look at it, the more I'm positive I've seen it before, but I don't know where. I thought I must have seen it at the castle or in the records, but there's no trace of it. Geord, look familiar to you?"

Geord glances over – and immediately shakes his head.

"No," he answers honestly. "If you do recognise it, it's not from somewhere I would have seen it."

Alan huffs and pushes the paper aside. "So much for that then"

"Maybe you've just been staring at the pages too long?" Sirius says, and Alan shrugs.

"Yeah...maybe..."

" Tree climbing ?"

Anne nods.

"As in, climbing up actual trees? Like a squirrel?"

"Miss Katarina refers to it like a monkey, but yes."

"And mother...just allows that?"

"Given that words and grounding don't seem to have much of an effect, she doesn't have much choice," Anne says, her lips twitching upwards the tiniest increment. Katarina can only shake her head, leaning back in disbelief.

It's utterly ridiculous. No manners, only the bare minimum of etiquette, blatant disregard for acceptable hobbies, instead choosing to dig around in the dirt and clamber in the trees like an animal. Forcing royalty to clamber up there with her?

And farming? Flowers Katarina could just about understand, but growing vegetables? While wearing overalls of the servant class? On school grounds no less?

"It's ludicrous," Katarina says, plucking up a delicate looking cake and nibbling it slightly. She's already had four, but Anne's stories have suggested it's nowhere close to her others limit. "It wouldn't have even been acceptable as a child, but to continue to do it after entering high society? The scandal would have sent any other child to a nunnery."

Anne doesn't even argue it, merely dipping her head slightly. "Miss Katarina's antics are quite widely known, but with Prince Gerald, Prince Alan and the Ascart siblings supporting her, there are few who would risk the social backlash of attacking her for it. It also helps that none of her actions do in fact damage the family on an influential level."

"Prince Geord's...I mean, Prince Gerald's standing has to have taken some hits!" Katarina argues.

"Admittedly yes, but given that Katarina has made it very clear that she is not enthused at the idea of becoming a Princess, I believe Prince Gerald is happy to renounce any claim to the throne if it means he can keep her, so doesn't see it as a bad thing."

And doesn't that just upend every single thing Katarina has ever learned about high society. The idea that Prince Geord – or any version of him – wouldn't desire the most powerful position that life can afford him doesn't equate. He should have been biting and fighting for the position amongst his brothers, especially considering the 'perfect' Prince has always been a strong favourite for the title.

Still, if Geord doesn't actually want the title, no wonder he doesn't care about the shame Katarina has to shoulder whenever he goes gallivanting off with that accursed Campbell. All of her attempts to be worthy of the title of Princess, or even Queen, would have meant nothing to him.

She brushes off the irritation that comes from that thought, and instead stares over at Anne, who barely even reacts at her unintentional glare. It's one of the things she loves about her maid.

"Yes?" Anna asks, after Katarina stays quiet a little too long.

"Just contemplating a few things," she says. "I must say, considering how much else has changed, that you're still by my side."

Anne cocks her head slightly. "Where else would I be, Miss Katarina?"

"You didn't marry," Katarina says, watching as the mirth bleeds out of the maids face. "It was clear you didn't want to in my world, so I refused to allow father to take you away. Your Katarina didn't try to help you find true love?"

Anne blinks. "You refused?"

Katarina's eyes narrowed.

"You were mine," she says. "One of the few people I can trust wholeheartedly. To be frank, I probably would have refused to let you go even if you wanted to."

That actually gets an honest smile from the maid.

"I'm sure the Anne of your world is happy to have a mistress who guards them so fiercely," she says. "Miss Katarina protested to my father's face, refusing to let me go unless it was of my own will. Her parents happily supported her decision, and I've remained in her employ since."

She then breaks eye contact to refill Katarina's cup, and Katarina allows it. It is something of a relief to find at least one thing she and her other self have in common – Anne has been such an important part of her life for so long, it's good to know that even this warped version of Katarina understands her value too.

"So, is there anything else I need to know?" Katarina asks, lifting up the cup to sip. "Exactly how did she manage to capture Prince Gerald's attention? Never mind keeping it."

Anne chuckles. "I believe he was quite fascinated when he came to propose, and she was digging in the ground, dressed in a pair of overalls. That certainly caught his attention."

Katarina scoffs. "Something tells me my window for that has passed. Anything else that seems to work?"

She takes a sip while Anne looks thoughtful.

"In my personal experience? Katarina has had great success by throwing toy snakes at him."

Katarina spits out her tea.

"...I'm sorry...she WHAT?"

After almost an hour of incomprehensible words falling from her maid's mouth, Katarina dismisses her and falls back on the bed, covering her face with her hands.

If she'd had any doubts before, they're gone now. This Katarina and her absolutely cannot be the same person. The Katarina of this world runs on a completely different plane of reality – as if incapable of understanding high society and the expectations placed upon her as the daughter of a Duke. And even more ironically, unable to understand that the reason she can get away with even half of what she does is due to having – from how Anne explains it – the most influential heirs of her generation literally wrapped around her finger. If Prince Gerald disapproved of her choices, Katarina would be facing a far more dangerous future.

...Which in turn, says a lot about how much Prince Geord has cared for the work Katarina has done to maintain her own reputation and status over the years. But that is still a line of thought Katarina is not prepared to go down just yet.

She sighs, and forces herself back up, and then under the bed, digging out the box.

"Now, let's check out your secrets, Saint Katarina," she says. What would she choose to keep locked away? Necklaces? Rings? Gemstones? Perhaps even a royal heirloom? After all this, she might even be able to steal one away back home – it's not as if her other self seems to appreciate her good fortune.

The lock is fairly solid, but after a few minutes, she digs the key out from a desk drawer, and grins as she unlocks the box, excited for the first time since she fell through that accursed rune.

But when she lifts open the lid, it is not precious jewellery or priceless stones that greet her, but a very worn book – with 'Katarina's Secrets' crudely scribbled on the front in a childish scrawl.

She scoffs, not even trying to hide the disappointment. Really? All this to hide a diary? Typical, the one acceptable hobby of a noble daughter the woman chooses to follow is the one she goes out of the way to hide. Did her mother drop her on her head as a child?

And where are all the fancy jewels then? Was she wearing them when she jumped through? Or is there another hiding place?

Still...Saint Katarina's precious diary. What secrets might lurk in here? It must be juicy, if she went to such lengths to hide it. With a grin – she settles onto the bed, and opens to the book to the first page…

...Only for the smile to fall, while she frantically flicks through the pages, looking for something, anything, that she can read.

But she can't. The entire thing is written in a language she doesn't know. Some kind of code, too complex to be Katarina's own invention, but unlike any tongue spoken or taught by Sorcier tutors. About the only thing she can decipher is names – which are worthless without context – and dates, but that makes things even stranger – because the diary has clearly been in use since it's owner was around 8 years old. Katarina hadn't even begun learning a second language until she was ten, so when had her other self found the opportunity?

Regardless, Katarina won't find anything useful here. She tosses the book back in the box and slams the lock shut with more force than necessary. The worst part of it all is knowing that Saint Katarina probably has some gloriously juicy secrets in there – possibly the secret to having amassed so much power and devotion, given the lengths she's gone to keep it secret – and not being able to touch them at all. It's enough to make a woman scream.

With that outlet gone, she glances round the room again, looking for something to do. There's no point in touching her homework, since someone else will get the credit. None of the dresses or jewellery superior to hers, so not worth trying on, and she's already eaten far more sweets than she would normally allow herself.

Perhaps insisting on hiding away in this room was a mistake. She hadn't expected her other self to be so lacking in acceptable distractions.

Almost against her will, her eyes glance back to the table, where the book Sophia had brought still lies. She scoffs, getting to her feet.

No. She is Lady Katarina Claes, and she will not lower herself to following the suggestions of Miss Ascart. There has to be something else she can entertain herself with.

Instead, she starts digging through the drawers, hoping to find another jewellery box or perhaps some correspondence. Her hands eventually come across a collection of letters, clearly from her parents, and she grabs one to read.

A few minutes later, she's shoving the letters back in a drawer and making a beeline for the table, grabbing the book as she returns to the bed. Reading letters from her mother begging her 'to not be an embarrassment' actually cuts too close to home. Even a low brow romance novel would be better than that.

"Sophia and the Emerald Princess," she says, lying back on the blankets, and opening to the first page. "What a pretentious title..."

Well, if nothing else, it'll give her something to mock her own Miss Ascart should 'Saint Katarina' have encouraged her to approach when she gets home.

Game World – Isekai Characters

"I can't believe you garden, Miss Katarina."

"Oh please, Miss Mary, please just call me Katarina! It just doesn't sound right being so formal. And it's not really gardening – not like you do. I just have a farm."

While Katarina and the group had been brought back to the lab after their discovery in the library, and Gerald goes to request access to anything regarding Martin Cress, it becomes clear within an hour that Katarina isn't going to be of much help. Her attention seems to be diverted to the strangers wearing her friends faces far too much to concentrate, and eventually, even Keith has to admit defeat. Instead, the topic keeps returning to their world, now that they have the beacon of change to interrogate.

Mary chuckles. "I've never tried to grow vegetables, but if they're anything like flowers, you shouldn't put yourself down. It takes a lot of effort to grow anything."

"What made you choose to start?" Maria asks, equally curious. "Vegetables aren't a typical choice for Nobles to try their hand at."

"Oh, it's kind of a funny story. See, I was trying to figure out a way to increase my earth magic-"

Keith lets Katarina's words wash over him, still just so relieved to have his sister here and happy to see him. And watching the looks on the faces of people as she talks about her farm is honestly the most entertainment he's had since arriving here.

Katarina however, cuts off mid-way through a conversation and starts waving when a familiar blond figure enters the room and makes a beeline towards them.

"Ah, Prince Gerald! Did you get the records?"

She sounds so desperately eager, and Keith quickly shuffles closer, so that Gerald can't monopolise her. The Prince doesn't even give him a passing glance – his eyes are focused completely on Katarina as he tries to circle to her other side.

"Yes. My...well, the King has servants going through the records," he says. "They'll be couriered over as soon as they're located. I've requested they notify me the second they arrive, even if it's the middle of the night."

Katarina's eyes light up.

"Great! Can you wake me up too?" she asks. "I really want to see what they find."

Gerald eyes light up.

"Ah, a valid excuse to see my fiancee after dark?" he says, gently lifting her hand and kissing it lightly. "However can I resist?"

Keith quickly leans over and plucks her hand back. "I do hope you'll wake me too."

"Oh don't worry Keith, we can wake you too," Katarina says, and winks over at Maria and Mary, who are watching the whole scenario with bemusement.

"Keith doesn't like being left out of things."

Both Gerald and Keith glance at each other, and then over at the rest of the group. They're all wearing looks of dawning comprehension – except for Maria, who just looks amused.

"So, what is the current battle plan?" Gerald asks, glancing at the rest of the group. Katarina immediately claps her hands, drawing their attention.

"Well, since I was having trouble concentrating, so I thought I'd maybe go to my room, rather than keep bothering anyone from researching."

"You weren't bothering anyone!"

"It's not an issue."

"We can still keep you company if you want."

Keith sighs as the group starts talking at once. While he loathes letting Katarina out of his sight, the last hour or so does prove that she has a point. Studying has never been her strong suit, and she really isn't able to help much.

Besides, he suspects her reasons are a little more emotional than that.

Gerald looks as elated about the idea as he is, but Katarina is already getting to her feet.

"Thank you everyone, but I'll really only be in the way. Maybe I can come help in the morning if you have a breakthrough?"

"Allow me to escort you, Katarina," Gerald says, immediately getting up and offering his arm, and Keith quickly stands.

"We're staying in the rooms of our other selves, but we can arrange a spare room if-"

"No, no, no, that'll be fine," Katarina insists. "I don't want to be a bother."

She does, however, accept Gerald's arm, and Keith makes a point to shadow her other side as they escort her out. He can feel their eyes on his back, and suspects they'll be having a pretty lively gossiping session while they're gone.

"You really do seem to have made an impression, Katarina," Gerald says jovially, as they walk down the hall. "Not that I'm surprised."

"Well, everyone here is just so nice," Katarina defends. "I'm actually rather surprised that they've been so friendly since their Katarina...isn't."

"For what it's worth, I've spoken about my adorable big sister so much, your arrival wasn't that much of a shock," Keith says with a smile. Katarina giggles, and then frowns.

"I hope things are okay back home," she says. "And that this world's Katarina isn't upsetting Maria and the others too much."

Gerald immediately shifts closer, leaving barely any room between their linked arms and bodies.

"Think of her presence as an additional incentive to get us all home. After all, much like them, I'm far happier with our Katarina."

On her other side, Keith smiles. ""Agreed. Mary is going to be having a stroke the second that Katarina opens her mouth. Wouldn't be surprised if she somehow finds a way to get transported here herself."

Katarina frowns.

"Why?" she says. "I'm sure she'll be upset that I'm displaced, but-"

"Don't worry about it," Gerald quickly says, smiling down at their intimate grasp. Keith however, notices – and his arm is immediately slung around her shoulders, forcing her to slip out of Gerald's grasp.

"Wait, Katarina wasn't cruel to you here, was she?" Katarina asks, eyes wide. "You know I'd never do anything to hurt you!"

"No, no, not...really," Keith offers, with a strained smile. "It was clear she didn't see me as a brother, so we didn't spend much time together. She was more interested in spending time with Prince Gerald."

Katarina nods, tapping her fist in her palm. "Ah, that makes sense," she says, and Gerald frowns.

"It does?"

"Of course. This Katarina is head over heels for Prince Geord, right?"

"Right. She was very much the polar opposite of you, and not just in that aspect," Keith agrees with a grin.

"Although I wish it was a little less opposite in that regard…" Gerald mumbles under his breath.

As soon as the door to her room closes, Katarina sags against it and sighs in relief. It had been very clear that both of them hadn't wanted to leave her alone, but she'd somehow convinced them to keep looking in the library and that she wouldn't leave the room. Should she need to leave? She'll send a message for one of them to come escort her.

(Keith did not look convinced at her words, but had complied and dragged Gerald after him. When did her darling brother become so suspicious?)

"Good day, Miss."

"Aiyee!"

Katarina jumps back to her feet – only to see Anne standing there impassively.

"Oh, right, Anne. Other Anne," Katarina says. "Sorry, I'm a little on edge."

Anne nods. "I've been informed of the circumstances. Would the Miss like me to prepare tea and refreshments?"

Katarina lights up.

"Ah, you're still the same old Anne!" she says. "Yes please! Thank you so much."

Anne blinks one too many times, but nods and leaves, leaving Katarina to glance around the room.

"Huh, really doesn't look much different from mine," she muses. "Maybe a little less cluttered?"

The bookcase only has student textbooks, and a few books she vaguely remembers seeing her mother trying to convince her to read instead, and given from the lack of cracked spines were mostly on the shelf for appearances. Otherwise, it's clear of any trinkets or items of importance – save a large jewellery box sitting pride of place. Katarina can't help but sneak a peek, and nearly gets blinded when light hits the multitude of giant, shiny rocks.

"Wha-how does she even wear these without breaking her neck?" Katarina says to herself, picking up one of the necklaces, adorned with a blue gemstone as big as her palm. "Even mother wouldn't be caught dead with something this large."

She idly wonders if this is one of the necklaces Prince Geord gifted her. If so, good thing she shut that down early...although if she got exiled, they'd certainly give her a substantial cash injection.

Huffing slightly, she closes the box, and heads for her desk, looking through the drawers. Now that she's alone, she can focus and try to dig up anything she can. Thankfully, it appears her other self keeps additional notebooks here as well, and she digs out one that is mostly empty, clearly having only just started being used for notes.

' I'm sure she won't mind too much if I start using it ,' she thinks. ' It is a bit of an emergency.'

Pen in hand, she starts jotting down everything she can remember about Time Tales All. The capture targets (the visiting Prince, the Captain of the Knights, the illegitimate Prince, and the son of the King's advisor), the main character, the setting, and most importantly, the time loops and the secret target. Most of it is probably pointless, but she's not stupid enough to leave anything out.

She starts chewing on the tip of the pen. Rationally, the trick to all of this must be the dreams Marty had regarding his future self. If Marty was in fact a transmigrator in this world, the person he saw from the future might not be the same person game-Marty saw, but a version of him that escaped. The biggest question is how Marty could have made the rune on both sides, and found a way to activate it. Given that Time Tales All created multiple timelines, it's possible that he merely spoke to another version of himself, and the two of them conspired to create the rune – and thus Marty forced himself into another timeline without worrying about the loops.

"Ah, if he could pull that off, he wouldn't have to worry about his death flag at all!" Katarina says to herself.

"Death flag, Miss?"

Katarina squeaks as Anne returns. "Shall I set this at the table? Or would you prefer it at the desk?"

"Oh, um, desk please," Katarina says, nervously smiling as Anne complies. "So, um...how do you like serving your Katarina?"

Because Anne doesn't exist in the game. Or if she did, she was a faceless maid in the background that Katarina didn't remember. She's actually a little surprised to find her here. Wouldn't Katarina have let her go once her father came with the arranged marriage?

Anne hums, setting out a few cakes – far less than Katarina normally gets – and pouring the tea. "I do. Miss Katarina is a perfectly adequate Mistress. I have no complaints."

"Really?" Katarina presses. "You're really happy serving her?"

Anne sets the teapot down, but hesitates before stepping back.

"I am," she says, with a tone that suggests she's never stopped to think about it before. "There are far worse nobles one could serve, and far worse fates for women. Right now, there's nowhere else I'd rather be."

A knot Katarina hadn't realised was in her stomach suddenly unties, and she grins.

"That's so good to hear," she says. "I hope mine feels the same way."

Anne smiles, and excuses herself, leaving Katarina with tea, notes and her own thoughts.

' So Anne is here too, ' she thinks to herself. 'I wonder what will happen to her if Katarina is killed or exiled?'

Then she stills. If Katarina meets a bad fate, will Anne be forced to marry? Surely mother would take her back into her employ...but the Claes family isn't exactly happy here…

' Okay, note to self, maybe see if we can't fix that before we leave,' she thinks. While there's not much she can do to change Katarina's actions considering she's had to spend years preparing for her own fate, she can maybe help her mother and father connect properly, and make sure Anne is taken care of, no matter what happens.

She needs to get her hands on the reports that Gerald is digging up, to see if there was anything about a time loop incident back then. If Marty found a way to escape before the loop started, he might have stopped it from happening at all, since killing Marty is how the real villain – the King's mistress and mother of the illegitimate Prince and only male heir – started the loops. Without that death, the game might not have started, but if there are records, then he must have jumped, or been stopped from jumping, once the game plot was over.

But until then, she has to get as much information onto paper as she can. It'll be a sequel to her book back home on Fortune Lover! A survival guide to getting out of Time Tales All!

Then she hesitates, and scribbles out what she's written. If Anne sees it, Katarina might have to answer some awkward questions, and she can't hide it the way she can her own secret book. And that one has two part security anyway.

She nods in realisation, and starts rewriting it in Japanese. Best to keep it secret until she sees the information Gerald has.

"Keith-"

"No, your Highness."

The aggravated sigh is not unexpected. "Don't act like you're any more happy about letting her out of your sight. It would not have been impossible to come up with an excuse to stay with her. We're certainly not going to make any headway until we get the records here."

"We still don't know for sure if Martin Cress has anything to do with this," Keith reminds him. "And let's be honest here, if Katarina of all people is wanting some alone time, we probably need to give it to her."

Gerald frowns, but before he can reply, Keith quickly continues.

"Think about it, your Highness," he says. "She was transported here after being attacked, and learned we'd been replaced without her knowing. Now she's here, surrounded by people who aren't her friends, with no guarantee we can get back."

To his relief, Gerald seems to get the point he's trying to make.

"You think she's five minutes from a full on Katarina meltdown and trying to hide it?"

"Sis hates being alone," Keith reminds him. "If she's asking for space, then us crowding her is the last thing she probably needs."

Gerald glances back down the hall, face torn, but Keith quickly grabs his shoulder and coaxes him along.

"Trust me on this, she always bounces back, but we need to let her hit a few walls first."

"...I cannot wait for this whole incident to be over ."

And that, is a comment Keith wholeheartedly agrees with.

However, they might be the only ones, as when they make it back to the lab, everyone is out in the courtyard rather than working, and the topic is clearly Katarina.

"-eally is the friendliest person I've ever met," they catch Mary finishing.

"She's very thoughtful too. And supportive," Maria adds.

"I have to wonder what caused the difference," Sirius replies. "There must be something substantial."

"Huh, think we can replicate it?" Alan jokes, and Sophia says, clutching her book tightly with a smile.

"Other Sophia is so lucky . I would have given anything for a reading buddy when I was little. If our Katarina was half as nice as theirs, I'd have tried to set her up with my brother."

Mary starts to say something, but as the two of them approach, Nicol turns his head, and their attention is drawn as he walks over.

"I see it's our favourite topic of conversation," Gerald quips as they reach him. Nicol nods.

"Apologies, but we all wanted some fresh air, and the conversation inevitably led here."

Keith smiles back. "No need for that. You'd be surprised how often we end up discussing my sister back home."

"She does make quite the impression," Nicol says. "I've never seen Sophia so animated – she's never come out of her shell this much."

"And that was just with one meeting," Keith jokes. "You should see what she can do with a few years."

Nicol's lip twitches upwards, and looks back at Sophia, who is now showing 'The Devilish Count' to a curious Mary.

"If we get the rune functioning, I don't suppose you would consider sharing custody…?"

Gerald huffs slightly. "Do not take this personally, Nicol. But I think I speak for both Keith and Katarina when I say we dearly hope never to see any of you again once that rune is up and running."

"We may very well take this whole incident to our graves," Keith adds. "When we get home, I'm hoping to forget it ever happened."

Nicol, similar to their own, doesn't take it personally. Merely nods, and accompanies them back to the group. Their heads turn to greet them, and Sirius smiles.

"So, Prince Gerald, Keith," he begins. "Do you have any idea why Katarina is so different between our worlds?"

"I admit, I've been pondering it myself," Gerald says. "But I'm at something of a loss."

"She was already every ounce my sister the second we met, so I'm no help either," Keith adds.

"My best guess is when she hit her head as a child," Gerald continues. "Her personality did seem to shift after that, but given that I used that incident to get engaged to Katarina, I think it's safe to say it also happened in this world."

He glances over at Alan, who nods in agreement.

"Yeah. Scarred her forehead, and since you were getting pressured to find a fiancee anyway, figured a Duke's daughter would be as good as any."

"Maybe she fell differently in your world?" Mary asks, and looks curious. "So...if Katarina fell down the stairs or something-"

"So anyway!" Maria says, no doubt hoping to avoid being involved in a legitimate scandal regarding Katarina. "Your Katarina, has she always been so dense to your feelings? I tried to help you out, and told her what you said in order to get transported here-"

"...And?" Gerald asks, already knowing the answer.

"To be honest, I didn't know it was even possible to miss the point that badly," Maria chuckles, looking nervous. "It's almost as if she's incapable of thinking anyone has feelings for her."

Gerald gives a long suffering sigh. "Yes. When it comes to that particular topic, her blinders are pretty much glued on. Fortunately, it means nobody else can gain any ground with her either, and I have the engagement as my trump card."

"That is not the end all conclusion you think it is," Keith warns. "Don't forget, I have mother on my side."

Gerald smirks. "Yes, and we all know how much Katarina just hates disobeying her mother..."

Keith starts to glare, but gets distracted when Maria starts talking again.

"Although, that reminds me, the conversation afterwards was a little odd. She asked me about my romantic interests, and she seemed...really informed."

Out of the corner of their eyes, both Keith and Gerald see Mary and Sophia's smiles becoming stiff, but they keep their focus on Maria.

"What do you mean?" Keith asks.

"Well, to start with, when she was asking me about who I liked, and Prince Geord was mentioned, she mentioned him defending me from bullies, and eating all my sweets, even though they fell on the ground. It was a really special moment for me."

Gerald frowns.

"I remember that," he says, thinking back to the day. He'd been a little apprehensive, given his fiancee's frustrating talent to attract suitors – and stumbling upon her clasping Maria's hands with flushed cheeks behind the bushes of all things had been a giant red flag. "But Katarina was the one who defended you and ate them. Maria was quite taken with the whole situation."

Maria nods. "It surprised me. If it didn't happen that way with you, how did she know Prince Geord ate them?"

Gerald understands the confusion, it is a little odd. He's fairly certain he wouldn't have done the same, given how much he's chided Katarina for eating off the floor. Defended her, certainly, but he'd have drawn the line there.

"It could just have been a guess," he says, and Maria nods.

"That's what I thought, but then she kept doing it," she says. "She also knew about when Keith saved me with one of his earth dolls, and how he reacted afterwards."

She turns to him. "Did you ever do anything like that?"

Now it's Keith's turn to frown.

"No...in fact, I'm not sure I've even used an earth doll around our Maria," he says.

"And you don't act anything like our Keith," Maria agrees, apparently encouraged. "I thought perhaps she was thinking of something that happened in your world, but if you've never saved your Maria, then how did she know?"

Both Keith and Gerald share a glance. The muffin incident isn't too far a reach, but Keith has notoriously avoided being alone with Maria whenever possible ever since Katarina's reaction to his first meeting with her. In fact, when it comes to being Maria's white knight, Katarina has always filled the role.

"Then, she even mentioned how Prince Alan started to pester me regarding our grades, and how upset he was that I got higher marks than him, but that her Alan didn't have that problem, because he 'solved that problem years ago.'"

Alan immediately goes red and shuffles slightly to the side, while Mary's stiff smile becomes even more strained. Maria however, taps a finger on her chin and continues to look quite confused.

"It's as if your Katarina knows exactly what happened in this world, but no matter how hard I try, I can't think how she could . From what she's told us, Prince Geord and Keith were trying to be you, so wouldn't bring up stories like that, and she was transported here immediately after they were discovered, where she's not been unaccompanied for any length of time. At least, not with anyone who could, or would, tell her these stories."

Gerald shakes his head, trying to make sense of the information and failing miserably. "That doesn't make any sense. This world might be similar, but when it comes to the majority of our relationships, it's very different. Even if she guessed, how would she be so accurate?"

"Why don't you just ask her?"

Everyone pauses, and turns to look at Sophia, who immediately blushes and hides her face behind her book.

"I mean, you're her brother and fiancee, and she obviously cares for you. Why discuss it when you can ask her how she knew? There's probably a simple explanation, right?"

Both Keith and Gerald stare at her for a few moments, and then find themselves laughing.

Lord, it's so obvious.

"Our apologies," Gerald offers. "I think we've gotten so caught up in the mystery of the rune we're overthinking everything."

"Yes, we'll ask Katarina this evening," Keith agrees. "There's probably a perfectly normal explanation, and we'll feel like idiots for even worrying about it."

Chapter 12

Isekai World – Game Characters

Katarina has just hit chapter eight of Sophia and the Emerald Princess, when she hears a knock at the door. She jerks upwards and frantically shoves the book under her pillow, before quickly smoothing out her dress and facing the door.

"Enter."

Anne walks in, bowing slightly.

"Sorry to disturb you Miss Katarina, but you have visitors."

She sighs. "I don't suppose I can hope it's Miss Sienna or anyone outside of the council?"

Anne merely blinks. "No Miss. As far as I'm aware, Katarina doesn't associate with any noble by that name."

Katarina sighs, but won't deny she quite likes the thrill that comes from knowing she has at least one good friend that her 'other' had failed to seduce. She rolls her eyes and gestures for Anne to let them in. Given Sophia's earlier statement, there are only so many people it can be, and she's not surprised to see Mary Hunt enter – even if she's followed by that accursed Maria Campbell as well. She is surprised to see Mary Hunt carrying a plant.

"Greetings, Lady Claes," Mary greets, dumping the pot on the table with some flourish. "I hope your stay has been tolerable."

"It would be, if not for the constant interruptions," Katarina is quick to reply, glancing over the plant. As far as gifts go, it's fairly underwhelming – it's nothing but leaves, without a single flower bud. "What exactly is that?"

"A tomato plant," Mary explains. "One of Katarina's seedlings that she hasn't planted. It needs someone to take care of it."

Katarina's eyebrows raise. "Then give it to a servant. Don't you forget, I am an unwilling guest, not your entertainment."

"I'm aware," Mary answers. "But after some conversation with Prince Geord and Keith, we realised your preferred entertainment isn't acceptable here, so we thought we'd introduce you to one of Katarina's hobbies."

The barb is barely hidden, but Katarina doesn't rise to the challenge. "I see Keith has been putting that silver tongue to good use. Regardless, take it away with you."

Mary smiles. "Come now, I'm sure you can't be too busy to consider the idea. You can't have much to entertain yourself with at the moment."

"Enough to not lower myself to the duties of a servant," Katarina replies, and Maria gives a nervous smile.

"Maybe we can discuss it?" she says. "You must be bored-"

"Do not finish that sentence Miss Campbell," Katarina warns. "If it wasn't for the rules of society, which you are blatantly abusing, I would not have you in this room at all."

"Right, better to be alone and above it all, rather than stepping off your high horse to have a conversation," Mary interjects. "Very well, but the offer will stand, from all of us, until you return. Come Maria, let's not stay where we're not wanted."

Mary starts to move from the door, and Katarina scowls.

"Don't forget the plant," she says, and Mary pauses, before turning round with a pleasant expression.

"No. From what I've heard from Prince Geord and Keith, I think being responsible for the well being of something other than yourself would do you the world of good," Mary explains. "After all, if our Katarina can do it, I'm sure the well educated 'Lady Claes' will have no trouble."

She quickly moves for the door, but Maria doesn't follow her, instead choosing to stare at Katarina with a sad expression.

"...What?" she asks, after enduring the gaze for an uncomfortable length of time.

"I'm just confused," Maria says. "How can the happiest, most confident person I know have ever become you? I kind of feel sorry for you."

Katarina gawks, shoulders arching like a distressed cat.

"Sorry for me?" she hisses. "How dare you! I am the daughter of a Duke! There is nothing I have ever wanted that was not within my grasp! I was born better than you, and no amount of luck or magical ability will ever make up for that, Miss Campbell!"

Her Maria would have teared up and bowed her head at her harsh and biting words. This Maria however, stands firm and smiles back.

"You're right. By the rules of our country, I will always be less than you. But tell me, Lady Claes," she asks. "Has being superior to me ever made you happy?"

Katarina bristles, but Maria continues.

"To be honest, I don't care if it has," she says. "Because the one person that matters has never cared about it. She loves her friends and their accomplishments, and never sees them as threats to her own."

She then pulls out a small, cutely decorated bag, and presents it to Katarina.

"Here, some sweets I made this morning. I was going to give them to Katarina after the annulment went through, but, well-"

Katarina scoffs, and Maria gently places the bag on the table by the plant.

"I think you'll you like them," Maria says. "They were for my Katarina. She says my sweets are the best, because I fill them with my feelings. These are filled with my feelings for her."

"Then why give them to me? She'll be back soon enough?" Katarina snaps back. Maria shrugs.

"So you can understand why we love her."

And then she leaves, clearly uninterested in how befuddled Katarina feels right now. She stays silent, until the door closes behind them, and then pulls out a seat by the table and sags into it as Anne walks back in.

"I don't understand. What are they doing?"

"If I may offer an explanation, Miss?" Anne asks, approaching her Mistress. "You wished to know why Miss Katarina's friends love her so much. This is why. What they're trying to do for you now, is what she did for them. Reaching out, even when you didn't ask for it, sharing their lives, and offering a hand, should you be willing to take it."

Katarina frowns, glaring up at the Maid, before turning away.

"Prepare me some more tea."

"Right away, Miss."

Anne nods and moves away, while Katarina stands, grabbing the tomato plant and dumping it on the bookcase, before returning to the table, grabbing the bag of cookies, intending to toss it. Her rough handling loosens the ribbon, and pauses when the cookie's scent hits her nostrils.

Her stomach immediately starts growling, and with a quick glance to make sure Anne is no longer in the room, picks one up and quickly bites into it. Her body instantly sags from the taste.

"Dammit…" she says. "Of course they're perfectly delicious."

"That is a very unhappy Katarina," Mary announces when she returns to the lab. "And sorry, but I didn't see your book, Sophia."

The girl's shoulders drop, but her face doesn't. "Well, baby steps."

"I think your cause is hopeless," Keith mutters, scribbling into his notes. "Katarina isn't going to magically become a decent human being with a few smiles, a book and some cookies."

"As much as I'd like to go home with a less 'Katarina' Katarina, I have to agree with Keith," Geord says. "She has never had any desire to reconsider her actions."

"Well why would she?" Alan asks. "If people have told her those actions are perfectly acceptable her whole life. Have you ever even tried to challenge her regarding them?"

The two of them frown, and avert their eyes.

"I was the unwanted child brought in out of necessity," Keith mutters into his papers. "Even as the heir apparent, speaking out against Katarina wasn't an option for me. Mother makes her look like a rank amateur at punishment, and Father certainly never raised a hand to help me."

"I made it clear from the start that my proposal was made out of duty rather than emotions," Geord adds. "She kept other candidates away, and stopped my family from pressing me regarding my future. Why would I try to corral someone I preferred to avoid?"

"Then you can stay quiet regarding our plans, Prince Geord," Mary says. "Keith at least has a valid excuse, but you could have stepped in at any time."

"That was hardly my place," Geord argues, looking offended. "A noblewoman's training is the responsibility of their parents."

"And yet, you would have married her should you not have found Maria," Keith says. Mary nods.

"Right. You were perfectly happy with how Katarina acted until it directly affected someone you cared about. Perhaps you even encouraged it, hoping that her antics could convince your father to break the engagement? Your opinion at least matters quite a bit to her."

Geord's eyes darken, and he stands up, walking up to obtain more materials. Keith watches him leave with a smile. Acceptably cowed, the Prince has managed to keep most of the ill attention on him.

Which is exactly what he needs.

"So Keith, have you found anything familiar to fix what was broken?"

Almost.

He turns and gives a shameful smile to Sophia. "I'm sorry Sophia, but I'm still not certain. Maybe it's because I'm looking at the small patterns, but I'm still not sure what's different."

She sighs. "It is an intricate rune. I just wish I could figure out why this language looks familiar."

"I wish I knew why this sigil looks familiar," Alan sympathises. "I swear I've seen it before, but I can't figure out where."

"Perhaps in the Royal Archives?" Keith asks, quick to push the subject off what he's supposed to be translating. Alan merely shakes his head.

"We've gone through it twice, and there's nothing. Plus, if I knew it, you'd assume Geord would recognise it as well."

"The worlds could be different, but given that the sigil exists in both worlds, I have to agree," Nicol says. "Wherever you've seen it has to be somewhere your brother would not. Prince Geord has no recollection of it, and while he could be faking his regret, I don't believe he is."

Alan nods. "Unfortunately, that doesn't really help me."

Keith just pastes on the most enthusiastic smile he can.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out, Prince Alan."

That night, when everyone is forced to retire, with Keith being as apologetic as he can be at his 'inability' to remember what he'd altered. He'd thrown a few false herrings in there, as well as a few genuine parts – it helps that he doesn't actually remember exactly what he ripped apart, but it's bought him some time.

Also, with Geord acting genuinely contrite but still the one who attacked their precious Katarina, people really aren't paying much attention to him. Which is why once the lights go out, and he cracks the door open, he smiles to find not even one guard waiting outside, having spread out to watch the floor, rather than specific doorways.

He doesn't dare go near the stairwell, which will no doubt be watched, but if his observations of the area were accurate, there's a small window at the other end of the hallway. If he's clever about it, he can slip through, and use his magic to get to the roof – after which he can jump across to another building, and then possibly get off the grounds before anyone realises he's gone.

Another glance down the hall, to ensure there's no gung-ho guard coming his way, and he slips out the door, watching his steps as he walks away from the main stairwell and around the corner-

-Where he stops dead in his tracks, as Prince Geord looks up from where he's leaning against Keith's escape route. He smiles.

"I'm impressed. I've been waiting nearly 40 minutes. You were a lot more apprehensive than I expected."

"Prince Geord," he says with gritted teeth. "Out to stretch your legs?"

"Out to flee the country?" Geord counters, and Keith flushes red. How had he-

Geord sighs at his blush. "I've known you since we were children Keith, you think I don't know how your mind works? My guard was up the second you started cooperating. You never had any intention of going back through that rune."

"Well why would I?" Keith snaps back. "Unlike you, I have nothing waiting for me back there."

"Giving up on Maria so easily?" Geord asks, and Keith runs a hand through his hair.

"She now knows we left our world, and probably knows one of us sabotaged the rune to stay here. Even if I did go back, she knows I was willing to leave her behind. My chances with her are gone."

"While I do enjoy this newfound defeatist nature of yours regarding Maria, you know I can't go home without you," Geord replies. "We've caused too much damage here."

"Don't start, this is all your fault!" Keith says. "You're the one who went crazy and made it so they couldn't trust us! If I'd had enough time, I-"

"We were made within a few hours," Geord interrupts. "The only reason we got away with it as long as we did, was because the only one willing to call us on it was Nicol. And regardless, look at how they're reacting compared to how we acted. They want their versions back."

"Their versions made the same decision we did," Keith counters. "Even though this world is so much better than ours, they had the audacity to wish for more? What would either of us have done, to have their version of Katarina in our lives?"

Geord nods. "I won't disagree, I hate the fact that this world is so much brighter, because they got their Katarina, but our mere presence here immediately made this world worse. Even before I fell under the influence, my intentions towards Katarina and Maria were not pure, and I doubt your plans were much better. If we have any honour at all, we need to undo this."

Keith however, crosses his arms, and his eyes narrow. It doesn't take much to realise that he's contemplating whether or not he can take Geord quickly enough to flee – and while Geord is fairly certain he can take him, Keith's cooperation with the rune is far more essential than putting him in his place.

Thankfully, he's fairly certain he knows exactly what to say.

"Look, Claes. Cooperate, and once we're back, I'll use my influence to free you from the Claes, if that's what you truly want."

It's clear it's not what Keith expects to hear, considering how his eyes widen to an impossible size.

"What? You don't have that authority!"

Geord shakes his head and smiles. "Ah, but even if I don't get the title of Crown Prince, I will still be in a position of power, and in need of reliable men beneath me. That can easily trump the influence of the Claes name, and allow them to give it back to Katarina. It can all be put behind you."

Keith starts glaring again.

"Why offer the helping hand now? You could easily go back on it once we're home."

Geord nods. "I could, yes. But if nothing else, the Council here do have a point. I could have reeled Katarina in a lot sooner. But I saw no merit in bothering, and now it both directly affects me as well as you. If I'd stepped up, perhaps we could have had this world."

"So you're expecting me to believe you're going on a 'better late than never' approach?" Keith asks, and Geord shrugs.

"Believe what you want, but I swear on my honour and title as the Third Prince that what I offer is genuine. So, what will it be?"

Keith takes one more glance at the window at the end of the hall. Directly in front, he can feel Geord tense, and he weighs his options.

Finally, he sighs, sagging and turning to glare at Geord.

"I'll hold you to that," Keith says. Geord nods.

"As you should."

Keith turns and heads back, but isn't surprised that Geord stays put. While he has Keith's assurance, the Prince probably isn't willing to risk him changing his mind later.

But to go home, knowing he doesn't have to go back to warped, broken relationship with his parents, and Prince Geord actively interfering with Katarina? Well, that's not a perfect world, but it's a damn step up.

Game World – Isekai Characters

While both Gerald and Keith are always eager for any excuse to see Katarina, they both decide to wait until the files Gerald has requested arrive in his room. She had requested that they wake her once they arrived, so they have a valid reason to visit.

However, the records don't appear until the sun has set and they've both retired to their rooms – hiding out in Gerald's since neither trusts the other not to slip out without them – and Gerald eagerly starts digging through, looking to see if he can find anything useful.

"Should we go get Katarina?" Keith asks, kneeling down and looking through another.

"Eventually," Gerald agrees. "But first, I want to see if there was anything to her theory. It would be nice to go with good news if we're waking her up."

Keith chuckles. "True, she is a deep sleeper."

He pulls into the box, frowning at the papers. There's nothing really jumping out at him – generic magical research, some odd doodles, incident reports…wait.

There's a wooden box shoved in here, small and basic. Slowly, he pulls it out, opening the latch – and freezes at the small, bronze trinket inside. It's a medallion, embossed with the sigil they'd been looking for.

"Is this-"

"Aha!"

His hand snaps the box shut at Gerald's triumphant cry. The prince is looking at a small, leather bound book, and looks unbearably smug.

"Your highness?"

Gerald looks up, and twists the book in his hand, revealing a very familiar code.

"It's Martin Cress's journal," he says. "This language is identical to the one found written in the book."

Keith smiles, and shows his own prize. "And this bears that mystery symbol."

Gerald drops the journal back down and walks over, examining the box.

"It's an old family crest," he says. "I don't recognise the family, but it's probably a family heirloom. Given that Cress disappeared and there's no record, he was probably low nobility and his disappearance spelled the end of their line."

"Family crest, not a royal sigil," Keith surmises. "That might explain why it wasn't recorded in the book."

"Some low nobility did use the same brand for both," Gerald agrees. "But with this, I think it's safe to say that we have a strong lead. Let's go tell Katarina the good news."

It sounded like a good idea at the time, but when they knock on the door and find a very sour faced Anne woken from sleep, both suddenly start to wonder if they should have waited until dawn.

"Prince Geord, Mr Claes," she greets. "While I have been informed of the situation, I do not think it appropriate for the two of you to be here at this hour."

' It's hardly the first time ,' is on the tip of Keith's tongue, but given the relationship between the other Claes siblings, Anne probably never interacts with him or Prince Geord."

"It's Prince Gerald, Miss Anne," Gerald soothes. "And I assure you, Katarina requested that we wake her if we made any significant breakthroughs."

Anne stares at him suspiciously, but both he and Keith maintain eye contact until she relents, widening the door.

"Very well, but should she react badly, I will expect both of you to take responsibility,"

Keith is nodding before he's even through the door, quickly brushing past Gerald to get into the room before him, slipping into the main room.

Even in the dark, he can see the differences within the rooms is minimal, and Katarina is nothing but a shadow hidden under blankets. Slowly, he walks over, brushing her hair away from her face, smiling at the peaceful face.

"At least you're taking all this in stride," he whispers. Considering how his sister had made it to this world, he's glad her natural denseness allows her to shake off just about anything.

A moment later, Gerald is at his side, making a tutting noise.

"Sneaking into a girls room and touching her in such a manner? How bold of you Claes."

"I'm her brother, I'm allowed," Keith defends, before sending a dark grin Gerald's way. "What about you? Visiting a maidens room after dark, even if it is your fiance, is very not done."

Gerald smiles, and looks away – frowning when he makes out the documents that are littered over the desk.

"What is all this?" he says, moving over to lift up some of the papers. "Was Katarina researching on her own?"

Keith frowns and joins him. "That doesn't make much sense. If she was still doing this, she could have joined us in the lab."

He moves the papers and lifts up a small notebook. It's some kind of journal, and the scribbles are desperate...had the light been off instead of just dim, he might have missed the significance entirely, but his eyes make out familiar symbols, and his hands freeze.

"Prince Gerald...look."

Much like Keith, the Prince stills as he glances over. Written on several pages, with a messy but coherent scrawl, is the same language hand written on the rune. Granted, most of it is alien, but after hours of memorisation, he recognises some of these symbols – it can't be anything but.

Keith swallows heavily, and glances back at his sister, her head leaning to the side as she sleeps in peace.

His precious, beloved sister. Who had stared at the same pages he had and said nothing .

"Keith," Gerald whispers. "What is this?"

"I don't know," he says, genuinely shaken. "Maybe...maybe she's just memorising what she saw?"

"This is more than memorisation," Gerald argues. "This looks...fluent."

He takes the book from Keith's hands and flicks through, looking at the constant stream of text. "Be honest, Claes. Do you truly not know this language?"

Keith shakes his head, trying to swallow the lump in his throat. "No. I've never seen it before. I have no idea how Katarina could know it. Or why she'd keep quiet."

Gerald's face grows impassive, and his hands drop to the side.

"We need to wake her up," he says. "Sophia was right, guessing gets us nowhere. As much as a hate to admit it, Katarina is keeping something from us, and we're not in a position to let her keep her secrets."

"But why would she keep something like this secret?" Keith asks, a significant chunk of his world view utterly shaken. Katarina doesn't keep secrets – he didn't even think she knew how to keep secrets.

"Only one way to find out," Gerald replies, and walks over to the bed. His hand reaches out for Katarina's shoulder, and hesitates for a brief moment, before shaking the girl lightly.

"Katarina," he utters. "Katarina, wake up...