Maria Leanora De La Riva, aka the gothic lady, is her aunt, and Stella Rosario De La Riva, aka crystal ball girl, is her cousin.
What a fabulous family she has. She thought as she sat silently in her chair, while the two females decided on the specifics of her supposedly 'love story'.
Apparently, when her father said he would 'get help, he meant he would grab his two charmingly obnoxious relatives and let them decide what to do with her situation.
Unfortunately, the two said women decided she 'needed' a grand love story to explain how she got pregnant. For the rest of the day, they remained in the drawing room with her relatives, deciding how she met her supposedly 'husband'.
"She could fall, and he would have helped her get up." Her Aunt suggested.
"No, no, no, no, no, that would have been unbecoming; we could say she prettily stumbled on him." Her cousin suggested.
It has been hours now, almost nighttime. The twilight rays from the window made her realize just how late this whole ordeal had become. Anna touches her temples, aware of a brewing headache that threatens to get worse as this thing drags on.
"And then?" Her Aunt prompted.
"And then he was captivated, couldn't let go of our dear cousin. But he did not have a choice. After all, he is nothing but a poor commoner." Her cousin animatedly declared, twirling in the room as needed.
"And so what happened?" Her aunt asks again, clearly very invested in her make-believe meeting with the father of her child.
"He asked for a dance, but alas... everyone knows my cousin wanted to marry into the gentry and so he was denied."
"Oh, how crushing." Sadness was apparent in her aunt's voice.
"And so…., he kidnapped her."
That escalated quickly.
Her cousin continued with her tale. "...he took her to the border, across that barbaric nation where they could get married without obtaining a marriage license."
"Wouldn't that mean I was abducted and raped?" Anna couldn't help but interrupt.
"But of course not, you weren't raped, you fell in love with him and gave up your heart willingly." Her cousin countered.
Willingly how? As if reading her thoughts, her cousin's eyes twinkled.
"It was his ruggedly handsome face, he had a face you like, and you love him at first sight, yes, very much so, but you hesitated because he was not titled, but still loved it when he swept you off your feet in his white horse, oh no, let's make it black, a black horse of a stead and ride over the sunset."
"You know, daughter, I have always been fond of wide shoulders, I'd say, we describe him as someone with a sturdy frame too." Her aunt interjected.
"But of course, mother, only the best for our dear cousin here" beamed Stella.
Anna sighed. This has gone on far too long. Let's get this over with.
"Okay, so, what will we say his name is?" She asked.
"Oh, we could just pick it out from the obituaries in the newspaper..." Stella said before the two women looked at her father, who was holding a copy of it, perusing the contents as if he was carefully deciding his next acquisition."...Have you decided on a name, Uncle?"
"Well, I know some of these lads, so we have to be careful to select someone with no background or maybe an orphan that no one knows of, that will make it easier for all of us."
"I am glad you have been a merchant for so long, Brother, you probably have some idea of at least which of these men would be of common birth and will fit our needs." Her aunt praised, this cause her father to flush as he tugged on his cravat. It occurred to her that her father is one of those types who do not take compliments well.
"I am merely going through everyone's family name. I have done multiple businesses in the capital and will recognize well-off or nobles who have died in that war."
"I will never understand the conflict that we have with the North. I swear all those lives lost in some senseless war, may god rest these poor men's souls." Stella lamented as she did the sign of the cross.
Why was she not surprised that the place she was transmigrated to had an ongoing war? War is a very common narrative in web novels. Maybe she should ask if they have some war hero, a duke in the north, or a cursed prince, etc.
The question is, how is she gonna ask it in a way that it will not be so obvious that she has no idea what is going on? What if she ends up asking something that is common knowledge?
She was still mulling over this idea when she heard her father say.
"John Philippe Castro, it looks like this guy is our guy."
"Is that gonna be my niece's husband?" Her aunt said softly as she positioned herself at the back of her father's chair, peering over his shoulder as if trying to make out the writings on the publication.
"It's a name I am not familiar with. So far, I have 5 people."
Curious, Anna walked towards her father and took a peek at the paper as well. She saw multiple lists of names. Several of the names have been circled with her father's quill, no doubt as her potential husband.
"Rosales, Ambrose Martin.. Who is that? Stella asked, as she too could not resist checking out the list.
"I have no idea. Never heard the name before, I figure we should add it"
"Oh I do like that name, Ana Secilia Dela Riva y Rosales, Oh… it fits so perfectly, I'd say we choose this one." Her Cousin chimed in.
"Now let's not be hasty, we don't know this person. I'll have him investig-"
"Uncle, you don't understand, His last name literally means roses!!" Then her cousin looked at her brightly. "Oh, Secilia, from now onwards you will be called Mrs. Flowers, Oh what I would give to be called roses."
"That is a very pretty name, I'm surprised I haven't heard of it. Oh, why is his name separated from everyone else?" Her Aunt asked.
"That's because he is on the list of soldiers who have been dead for months, and no one has claimed his body."
Upon hearing this, Anna could not help but get sad. She then wondered if anyone had even noticed that she had died. Has anyone found her body yet? Did her company decide to check on her when she did not come to work?
She smiled bitterly, her landlord will probably be the one to find her body when she comes knocking on the door by the time she misses rent payments.
"Let's choose this one." She found herself saying.
Everyone turned their heads to her; she suddenly found herself the center of attention, but she pushed on anyway.
"It doesn't look like he got anyone, so I think he would be the best option."
"Well, if that is your wish, then so it shall be."