Seeing a different face in the mirror was incredibly creepy on so many levels. That fact didn't change even with a second look.
Because, listen. Olivia does not have pale skin. She had a beautiful tan!! She's a proud Morena girl! With her brown soulful eyes and shoulder-length hair!
She just had it cut to a stylish wolf cut! No one asked her if she wanted her whole face taken away!!
Unfortunately, this was what she got. A Barbie™️ doll body, with hair reaching her waist, delicate skin and limbs, and shining green eyes.
...she doesn't look capable of assassination. More like someone who constantly needs saving!
Seriously, what was in that lunatic madwoman's head? She should have at least given her an athletic body!! You know, for chasing and stabbing??
Ugh.
Well, at least her mom would be happy with this. She always wanted Olivia's skin to lighten up, even bought her countless whitening products--
If only mom is here to see this.
...Olivia took a deep breath. Let it out.
Right. No time to lose. Plenty of time to cry later!! When there's a moon and everything's dark and no risk of anyone seeing!!
For now, uh. She should find out as much as she can about this world she's stranded in.
The books here in her room was certainly useful. She picked up one and was conveniently given a preview of this world's society.
According to the books, the king was the one overseeing this entire country. The Duke and Duchess follow after in the ranking of nobility.
Therefore, this host family Olivia was currently stuck with has incredible power only a step below the King.
And if this couple was in on the plan of that lunatic woman, then they were zealots of said king.
Olivia was stuck with zealots who are probably psychopaths.
Yippee.
Although she kind of knew it wasn't fair to whoever this Duke or Duchess were, since she hadn't met them yet.
Regardless.
What's interesting in this world is that the plants and animals here are not exactly normal.
For example, the plants used to harvest sugar here. Back on Earth, sugar canes are typically used, although beet fruits can be used as a substitute.
If she remembered it correctly, the process for making sugar involves extracting the cane juice from the canes. The juice is then filtered and crystallized into the powdered sugar modern people enjoy today.
But according to a book here, these sugars are made using hard labor via grinding the raw material after it solidifies from being boiled.
Of course, since the society's development around here is from before the Industrial Revolution, there's no machinery to aid in the process--therefore, the powder is not uniform and the molasses aren't removed.
But that's not the main point here. The point is that the raw materials for sugar are different in Ogygios. Instead of sugarcane or beets, there are dragin scales used for harvest coming from caves where ice dragons dwell.
And, apparently, extreme temperatures can rapidly increase sugar concentration at an alarming rate. Provided specific conditions, of course.
Scary.
But this does provide explanation for the new sugar crystals pillar in the kitchen that appeared with no warning. That's kind of cool. As far as Olivia knew, everyone's chipping away at it right now.
She does wonder...what if they can use this, and incorporate modern techniques to make powdered sugar? Or just sugar crystals, but make it all easier to make...
The girl closed her eyes, forcibly waving those thoughts away. She can't think about those things now! She's being kept hostage! She's being forced to be John Wick without proper training or background checks!!
And she'll be meeting her gracious hosts soon...
Ugh. Just her luck, right?
==
"Mistress", the maid that led her to her room, Klara, gestured to another door taller than the rest. "Duke and Duchess Cecil are inside. They look forward to meeting you."
Olivia nods. Better get this over with, really.
She ran through the possibilities in her head earlier. Who are these two people?
Are they evil? Ordinary people? Or like those sleazy politicians who buy your vote for money?
...needless to say, she absolutely did not expect this.
"Oh! You're here, my dear", a woman with kind pink eyes--because everyone here has strange eye color, apparently--stood up from her seat. "Come, come! Let me get a look at you."
The woman was wearing a violet and white dress fitting for a Victorian woman living in luxury, with a v-shape over her heart and white turtleneck-looking cloth covering her skin up to her neck. She had a feathered hat on matching her dress, even while indoors.
And her eyes were shining as she inspected Olivia from head to toe and held the younger girl's hands gently. "You're beautiful, dear."
"Uh", Olivia says eloquently. "Thank you."
There was a man on the table next to the woman. With a composed demeanor, his eyes held thoughtful contemplation when it fell on her. He also wore a white and blue suit that perfectly matches the woman, complete with a pocket watch on his chest pocket. There was also a short goatee on his face.
"You must be Olivia, yes?", the man then spoke up. "Our new daughter."
Not trusting herself to speak, she nods. She's doing a lot of nodding these days.
The man took one good look at her.
He promptly turns away. "We were promised a son."
"Anselm!"
"You knew what she said, Miriam!"
Olivia deliberately looked away as the couple started arguing. Really, she absolutely did not ask to be here, and they're arguing about her gender?
The Duke and Duchess of Ogygios, everybody.
She decided not to listen in to the mess that followed. She just silently noted the fact that there were no furniture or plates thrown, the maids didn't really react as if this was just normal to them, and that the two didn't touch each other at all while arguing.
Does the volume hurt her ears? Not really, since they weren't screaming--
Oh. There's a bowl of sugar crystals on the table. It didn't look like it was full.
Once the couple's voices started dying down, she raised her hand. When they looked at him, she asked. "Pardon me. Do you like the crystals?"
The couple looked at her. They both promptly glanced at each other.
The Duke cleared his throat. The servants are crazy about them, but they're too sweet for me.
The Duchess gave the man an indescribable stare, but says. "They taste just fine to me, my dear."
"Oh. Well, of course. You've always been a little...cuckoo with anything sweet.
A pause. The tone shifted a little, for some reason. "Should I reveal your obsession with spice, my love?"
The man wisely shut up.
"Okay. That's... good," Olivia practically felt gears turning in her head. "Er. Duke and Duchess Cecil. May I--say a few words?"
Her situation is pretty awful, being reduced to being a hostage in a gilded cage. But if there was a chance for reason and compromise...
The Duchess gestured her to continue with a small head tilt.
Olivia managed a small smile. She then did her best to perform a curtsy that princesses in movies do, and didn't waste any more time.
"My name is Olivia Abella", she says. She refuses to look away. "And I would like to make a business proposal."