Chapter II: The Party

Anastasia is now certain on three things. First she is currently inside a book entitled 'Book of Murder'. Second she is now looking straight at her favorite character Detective Alice Potter and lastly she is currently breathing as Doreen Garcia, and its not very amusing at all.

"Lady Doreen are you alright? You look pale." Señorita Laura was the first one who notice her mental break down.

"I-i,..yes im fine. Just feeling...a little dizzy." She said earning a concerned look from the married elders.

"Do you want to rest? We have a guests room." Señior Victor offer but she just shook her head and thanked them.

"Thank you but I think im fine." She declined politely.

"Maybe she just lack sleep or probably hungry. That usually happened to me." Alice suggest and Anastasia stop herself from idolizing the woman. She cant believe that her idol is actually in front of her.

"Maybe you're right, Lady Doreen must be hungry. We will head to the buffet then, if you'll excuse us." Lord Gilbert said then bowed before they take their leave.

"This is not the right time to feel unwell Doreen. We still have a plan." The old man whispered at her.

'The plan? Oh right the plan. The plan on killing someone.' Anastasia tried not to roll her eyes.

Now that she knows the plan that Lord Gilbert is talking about. Now what? She doesn't even know what to do. And certainly doesn't have a plan to be a murderer even if she's inside a book.

But Lord Gilbert will surely suspect her if she suddenly suspends the plan. Anastasia thinks she must construct another plan.

"Shut up old man. I know what im doing." Anastasia whispered back instead.

They arrive at the buffet but Anastasia just grab a glass of wine. She doesn't have any appetite specially in this kind of situation in which there's a possibilty of being a murderer.

"Get this..." Anastasia look at Lord Gilbert when the old man is trying to give her something secretly. She grab it and notice that it is indeed, a pack of powder that she conclude a poison.

Anastasia tried not to freak out because of the substance that she is currently holding. She immediately hide it in her gown and act as if nothing happened.

"You know what to do..." Lord Gilbert whispers again then go somewhere, leaving Anastasia alone.

'Oh my god. I dont know what to do.' Anastasia thinks and prayed desperately to immediately think of something she must do.

'Maybe remembering the characters is the first thing to do.'

So she tried to remember the characters from the book.

First is Señorita Laura and Señior Victor. Now she knows why their names felt so familiar to her earlier, because she already read them from a book. Next is Lord Gilbert, Doreen Garcia's uncle. That old man must be the one who push Doreen to do something unforgivable.

Anastasia scan the room and notice a couple in their mid 30's. If she remember it right, the couple is an actor and an actress. They must be Mister Charles Granger and Miss Louise Laurent, if she will going to match the description from the book and now.

Then she look at the left and notice the four elders that are currently having a chat. Based on the description from the book, all of them are into business. Like the married couple Madame Irene and Lord Jeremy Marseille. They own a trading company that is very known in some neighbor countries. Next is Madame Leticia Halter who owns a diamond business and lastly, Señior Philip Woodley who owns a baverages business company.

If Anastasia remembered it again correctly, the one who will going to die in her hands base on the book is Lord Jeremy Marseille. And the motive? That's the one should Anastasia find out because the book doesn't elaborate the real motive.

Anastasia then look to the right and found Scholar Francis. Yes, she finally remember him. The one who got invited from the palace.

Then the last character is Detective Alice Potter. The detective that Señorita Laura trust the most when their son got murdered and the detective found the culprit for them. Apparently they become a good friends that's why she's invited here.

But there are only twelve characters in the book. And if she counted it correctly, they are currently thirteen inside the room.

Yes. Prince Alistair is not part of the book. He's not one of the characters. What happened?

Anastasia decided to leave that matter for now. Maybe being transmigrated here is the cause of the changes. For now she should concentrate on how to avoid of being a possible murderer.

But if she will not going to do it, the plot will surely going to change. So what will happen after that? Is her soul will come back from her original body? The question is...is her real body still available? Because after the accident, her real body must been dead. For now, she conclude that there is no chance of coming back.

But Anastasia is positive on one thing. She will not going to murder someone.

With that saying, she look for Lord Gilbert and saw the old man, busily talking to Lord Jeremy and Madame Irene.

Perfect timing.

Anastasia grab the lighter that she found on the table awhile ago. They probably used it to light the candles but forget to keep it. Then she made sure that no one is paying attention at her and secretly leave the room.

While walking at the middle of the hallway, a maid suddenly approach her and ask on where is she's heading to and Anastasia immediately ask for a bathroom and the maid immediately escorted her.

"Thank you. I think I already know the way back." Anastasia dismisses and the maid just bowed at her before leaving.

Now time to discard this thing.

Anastasia entered the bathroom and immediately lock the door. She grab the powder that is place in a sachet. Then took the lighter and burn the poison without hesitation. She waited until it is completely burned into ashes before flashing it into the toilet.

'Its done. Now I just need to wait on what will happen next.'

Anastasia fix herself while looking at the mirror. It is strange to look at your reflection that is different from the face that you grown familiar with. But she has to admit that this is her new face, for now.

She sigh and decided to head back at the banquet. Luckily she remember the way back and once she's already infront of the door, she compose herself and acted like nothing happened.

"Lady Doreen, I was looking for you, where have you been?" Lord Gilbert approach her as she went inside.

"Just went to the bathroom to you know...fix myself." Anastasia answered with her improvise reason. Before the old man can ask any further, Anastasia divert the topic.

"I dont see the others, where are they?" She ask pertaining to the room that only few people are present.

"Oh...your highness and his scholar, together with Señior Victor and Señior Philip went to the lounge to probably have some tea. Madame Irene and Lord Jeremy as well as Mister Charles and Miss Louise went to the guests room to rest." The old man explained.

"Is that so..."

"Anyway, dont forget about the plan. Do it on the dinner later." Lord Gilbert instructed firmly.

Anastasia was about to comment when Señorita Laura approach them.

"How are you Lady Doreen? Are you feeling fine now?" Señorita Laura ask.

"I am Señorita. Thank you for your concern." They started to have chat until Madame Leticia and Alice joined them. Then Lord Gilbert excuses himself. The old man gave Anastasia a look before completely leaving.

"So you work as a detective Miss Alice?" Anastasia immediately payed attention when Madame Leticia ask Alice. It is about her idol after all.

"Yes Madame." Alice answered politely.

"Detective Alice is the one who helps us to catch the person who killed our son. The police believes that it is a suicide case but detective Alice prove them wrong. That's why we owe her so much." Señorita Laura mentioned and Anastasia tried to stop being so hyper because of her too much amazement to the detective.

"Señorita Laura you flatter me. I did that because it is the right thing to do and it is my job. You know, I always believe that 'There is no peace without a-"

"Justice." Anastasia completed without even thinking, earning a look from them.

"How did you know my principle?" Alice asks in amazement.

Anastasia mentally slap her forehead because of her unfiltered mouth.

"O-oh? Nothing. You're a Detective so I assumed that your number one priority is the justice." Anastasia reasoned.

"I see..." Alice said, not convinced.

"Anyway, Lady Doreen I heard you're dating the Earl from the Montenor manor." Madame Leticia brought up.

Anastasia almost drop her jaw because of the new information. But there's no use in denying it because she doesn't even know if its real or not.

But when Anastasia was about to say something, a maid made its appearance, with a terrified expression and stopped in front of them, panting.

"Señorita Laura! Somethings bad happened!" The four woman look at her, telling to elaborate.

"Lord Jeremy found dead at the bathroom!"