After shooing Rapunzel out of my compartment, I quickly undressed before stepping into the washroom.
‘Ah…this is true bliss~’
The hot water from the tap was exactly what I needed after bracing the cold rain outside. Not to mention, after a long day, it was nice to warm my body up and relax the aching muscles in my back.
‘Oh my, even the soap feels luxurious when it’s all lathered up…I’ve decided, I want to take showers on the Orient Express for the rest of my life!’
Indeed, it was with great reluctance that I finally turned the tap off and dried my damp body with a fresh cotton towel. An amenity kit had been provided in the bathroom, so I unzipped it out of curiosity to take a look inside.
‘Woah, there’s so many fanciful bottles and sprays inside…let’s see here, eau de toilette, hand lotion, facial mist, lip balm—ah, yes, moisturiser!’
I eagerly took it out from the leather pouch and tried the silky-smooth cream on my face. In just under five seconds, it had soaked in completely, leaving a wonderful cooling sensation on my skin.
“Holy crap, this is awesome!” I remarked out loud, admiring the astonishing effectiveness of the moisturiser. Looking at the rest of the kit, I scratched my chin and smiled.
‘Since I already opened this, I might as well try everything inside, right?’
The eau de toilette in particular caught my attention. I held the tiny glass bottle up to eye level and studied its colourful label.
‘Rafraîchir blanchir…uh, don’t quite understand what this means, but it sounds fancy enough to be worth a try!’
I gingerly sprayed the mist on the back of my hand. Immediately, I could discern a mild floral scent, with subtle notes of citrus and jasmine, that was surprisingly pleasing to the senses.
‘Damn, this stuff is even better than the fragrances I bought for Lucia…’
I made a mental note to use the perfume before breakfast in the morning and replaced the bottle in the amenity kit.
‘Now then, what should I wear for the night?’
I hadn’t had the chance to unpack my trunk completely, so I spent the time putting my clothes away on the rack above my bed while letting my hair dry in my towel. After a minute of picking and hesitating, I eventually settled on a comfy pink nightgown with a silk-lined halter top and loose Chantilly lace sleeves that complemented my eyes.
“Let’s see, I agreed to meet Rapunzel in the lounge car at 10 PM, so…’
I checked my pocket watch on the nightstand. “Yosh! Perfect, I’m just in time.”
The blowing of the train whistle greeted me once I exited my compartment. With a slight shudder, the Orient Express slowly creaked to a halt.
“Châlons-sur-Marne! Châlons-sur-Marne, one minute stop!”
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Making his usual announcement, Conductor Machel entered the carriage from the direction of the lounge car and walked down the aisle.
“Bonsoir, Conductor.”
“Bonsoir, Mademoiselle Guinevere. Heading to the lounge car?”
I nodded my head, and Machel smiled.
“If Mademoiselle is looking for a nightcap, I’d recommend the hot caramel buttered rum. It’s the bartender’s specialty, and I’m sure he’d be more than delighted to make one for you.”
“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind, then.”
He bowed in farewell before continuing towards the adjacent fourgon.
As I turned around to head in the opposite direction, a woman exited from the compartment at the very end—Room No. 12.
The moment I laid eyes on her, I was drawn to her glossy raven-black hair immediately. It styled in subtle, loose curls that cascaded down her shoulders and framed her face with delicate waves, highlighting her dark almond-shaped eyes and button-like nose. But more than that, it was the realisation that, since discovering I had been reincarnated in this world, she…
‘…is the first person I’ve seen with black hair.’
Seemingly noticing my gaze, she shot me a cursory glance as she knocked on the adjacent door.
“Chéng jeun lòih,” A muffled voice from inside the No. 11 compartment answered.
I paused in my footsteps.
‘Hang on, that language—where have I heard it before?’
“Sāt láih líuh, Fū Yàhn,” the woman replied, and I finally recognised the strange language that they were conversing in.
‘…Cantonese?’
『Room No. 11』
【Single】Mrs. Luna R. Hui, the Heiress
『Room No. 12』
【Single】Ms. Hiladegawa Tudor, the Maid
The click of a lock being turned sounded, and the No. 11 door cracked open. As I watched, an elegant figure draped in a mulberry silk négligée emerged from behind and peered at me warily.
“Who is this lady?” she asked the Maid.
“She is—”
“Violet Guinevere, private detective,” I spoke, directing a smile at the pair. “I’m staying in the No. 6 compartment.”
She gasped and widened her eyes in unfettered shock. “You can speak Cantonese?!”
‘Well, her reaction is to be expected…’
Out of all the NPCs present in the first level of『End of the Express』, one NPC is remarkably unique in their interactions with the player. While Violet Guinevere can converse with the rest of the NPCs in an one-on-one meeting on board the Orient Express, the option to interact with the Heiress「Luna R. Hui」will only show up when her maid「Hiladegawa Tudor」is also present. And even then, all interactions with Luna is done via Ms. Tudor, who insists on speaking on her master’s behalf.
At first, the community speculated that Luna was designed to intentionally ignore Violet owing to her pride and high social status, but some fans noticed that Luna’s name seemed unconventional in an European setting and theorised that she might not be able to understand Violet instead, which would explain Ms. Tudor having to step in to act as a translator of sorts.
Incidentally, my grandmother in my past life exclusively watched Cantonese dramas on the TV all day, which was how I managed to pick up a little of the language.
‘But then again, what is a Cantonese-speaking character doing on the Orient Express?’
“Hey, why aren’t you answering me?”
While I was deep in thought, the Heiress stepped fully into the aisle and glided towards me. Her narrowed brown eyes searched mine before she pursed her lips.
“You said that you are a detective?”
“Indeed I am.”
Luna hmphed and returned to her compartment, beckoning the quiet maid to enter first. Just as she was about to shut the door, she paused and shot an enigmatic smile at me over her shoulder.
“Then, this must be Destiny.”