High vaulted ceilings adorned with ornate frescoes, huge towering columns crafted from solid stone, and a beautiful polished marble floor that reflected the warm sunset hues. Like a scene from the pages of a Victorian novel, a bustling sea of people dressed in old-fashioned clothes and hats flowed along the steam-shrouded platforms, filling the air with a symphony of sounds and smells.

This was the setting of the first stage of the first level,『Gare de l’Est』.

According to the game’s stage information, Gare de l’Est was the departure stop and terminus of the Orient Express. At 7.15 PM sharp, the train would pull out of the station en route to Constantinople, beginning its 62-hour, 2,000-mile journey across the continent.

“Mademoiselle, this way please,” the porter who carried my luggage said over the din. “Do watch your step…”

His voice was abruptly lost in the deafening hiss and rumble of a steam engine. Before I knew it, we had exited the passageway and onto the crowded Platform 1.

Porters in smart uniforms scuttled around me like ants, checking tickets and assisting passengers with their luggage. Along the far end of the platform, vendors tirelessly hawked newspapers, magazines and souvenirs from colourful kiosks, hoping to catch the attention of passing travellers. A giant clock overhead ticked down the last few minutes of the fading daylight, its bronze minute hand steadily inching closer to the scheduled departure time.

“Woah!”

I was struck by a sense of awe when I finally laid eyes on the Orient Express in all its resplendent glory.

At the forefront, the locomotive—a behemoth of polished metal and gleaming brass—stood tall and imposing over the platform. Massive driving wheels, their rims nearly as tall as a single person, rested heavily upon steel rails. A plume of white steam billowed from its smokestack with a quiet hiss, almost like a slumbering beast was breathing out through it.

Standing amidst the swirling tendrils of steam behind the locomotive was a row of ornate teak carriages, with the name ‘Compagnie Internationale Des Wagon-Lits’ elegantly emblazoned along their sides. Voices conversed in a myriad of languages as the passengers were welcomed on board by the Wagon Lit staff.

‘This is really happening, huh…’

Suddenly feeling a sense of nervousness, I swallowed my saliva and worked my fingers open and shut a few times.

“Bienvenue, Mademoiselle Guinevere!” A brown-uniformed man wearing a matching forage cap greeted me with a charming smile when he noticed my arrival. “I almost couldn’t believe my ears when I heard that the famous detective is a passenger aboard this train! It’s such an honour to be able to meet you in person.”

‘Eek, who is this guy…oh wait, could he be that NPC?’

“You’re too generous with your compliments, Conductor,” I said, raising an eyebrow at him.

In the game, the conductor was a NPC who acted as a guide for the player. So, I wasn’t expecting him to be gushing over me like this.

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Incidentally, I already knew his name from the game, but I felt like I should still ask for it for politeness’ sake.

“I don’t believe we have met before?”

“Your reputation precedes you, Mademoiselle,” he replied eagerly. “My name is Machel. Please do not hesitate to approach me or any of the staff if you find anything inadequate on board or have any requests to make.”

“Ah, about that.” I gestured at the porter who was waiting by the side with my luggage. “Will you be so kind as to show us to my compartment?”

“Of course. Please follow me to the sleeping car, Mademoiselle Guinevere.”

Conductor Machel opened the door to the second carriage and ushered me into the vestibule.

A rich dark wood-panelled hallway immediately greeted me. Red velvet carpet lined the floor, while a row of ornate gas lamps charmingly illuminated the narrow space, creating a lovely inviting atmosphere. Opposite the square gold-trimmed windows facing the platform was a row of polished wooden doors, each with a gold-plated number that sparkled in the gaslight.

‘As expected of the Orient Express, the luxury on board is really unparalleled…’

“Your compartment is at the sixth door down the aisle—Room No. 6, First Class.” He took out a key, unlocked the wooden door with the number ‘6’, and snapped his fingers at the porter. “Please put Mademoiselle’s valise at the foot of the bed.”

I peeked into my room as the porter neatly arranged my luggage in the corner. Inside was a bed alongside the left wall, while the washroom, nightstand and ottoman occupied the space to my right. Facing opposite me was a window that could be slid open for ventilation, with a small bedside table placed below the windowsill. At the centre of the room was a small chandelier which provided a warm and inviting illumination to the wood-panelled cabin.

“Hmm, it’s surprisingly homely and cosy in here,” I remarked to myself. “I won’t mind staying in such a place for the rest of my life.”

“I’m honoured that Mademoiselle finds no faults with the arrangements,” Machel said and gave a graceful bow. “On behalf of the Wagon Lit company, I wish Mademoiselle bon voyage.”

“Merci, Conductor.”

I suddenly remembered something and gestured at the porter.

“Hey, come here. Take this as a tip for your service.”

“Merci! Merci beaucoup!” The porter’s eyes lit up immediately upon seeing the gold coin that I took out from my purse, and without hesitation, he grabbed it and ran out of the train shouting in joy.

‘I don’t know about this world, but the game has a mechanic known as the favorability meter which directly affects your reputation…better stay on the conductor’s good side just in case.’

Incidentally, I remembered from the game’s information screen that the currency of this world is based on a real-life currency called the ‘Franc’. But to put it simply, 1 gold coin = 20 silver coins = 2000 copper coins.

And as a famous detective, Violet Guinevere was more than loaded with riches from her clients. I gave a low whistle when I saw the glittering pile of gold nestled within my purse.

‘If only I have a way to send these back home…’

A painful feeling suddenly hit my chest.

‘Mum…Dad…Lucia…’

I blinked back my tears, but before I could compose myself, the shrill blast from a steam whistle deafened my eardrums. A tremendous vibration shook the floor beneath my feet, causing me to lose my balance abruptly.

“Ah!”

“Careful, Mademoiselle!”

Machel swiftly caught my fall and helped me regain my balance. “Are you alright?”

“Y-yes, I’m all good.” I felt my cheeks redden in embarrassment and quickly stepped away from the conductor.

Outside, the trainmaster ran past us on the platform, raising his hand to give a signal to the locomotive.

“The Orient Express to Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, and Constantinople is now departing! All aboard!”