"Yes you are" replied the Asian female sitting across from Jeff. "You are now Princess Jeff, 7th daughter of Emperor Go-Kashiwabara"
"A Princess! How? Why?" Jeff voice sounded very shrill
"Because that is the wish of the client reading your virtual novel" The woman replied calmly
"But I'm in my own story. I should be making the decisions not someone else. I want to be male again"
"That is not possible, unless the reader chooses to change you back to being a male"
"But this is my story. Who is reading my story? How can they be reading my story? I haven't even written it yet"
"I cannot disclose the reader due to confidentiality laws. The reader downloaded the App and is now reading the virtual novel in which you are the main character, Princess Jeff, 7th daughter of Emperor Go-Kashiwabara"
"How about you close the story? I want control of it again"
"That is not possible until the reader logs out. They are now making the decisions on how your visit to King Henry will proceed"
"So I'm still on the way to visit King Henry the VIII?"
"Yes. That is how you set up the novel. I am still your companion. I had to become female as it would be inappropriate for an unmarried Princess to be accompanied by a male"
"So who exactly are you then?"
"I am Niwata Fujiwara, your Lady in waiting"
"And we are still travelling to see King Henry? isn't that impossible? In King Henry's time, they didn't even know Japan existed"
"It is unlikely but not impossible. Rumours of impossibly rich kingdoms in the far east were widespread in 1510"
"Why have I lost control of how this story goes. I'm the person who owns the Chronivac"
"You owning a Chronivac device has nothing to do with what has happened. I understand that you you used the Chronivac to become a character in the VR game in which I am the AI controlling it. Under the terms arranged between the Chronivac corporation and Sontendo gaming, to create "The Video Game Experience" option on the Chronivac, you must remain in character until the reader logs out"
"Why didn't you tell me this before I started the game?"
"It is assumed that you read the terms and conditions"
"So in other words I'm stuck as a Japanese Princess until this reader logs out. Can't you tell me anything about this reader? It could be anyone"
"I can disclose that the reader is in Osaka, Japan"
"And?"
"It is not permissible to disclose further information"
"Some help you are!"
"I do not understand that comment. I am here to answer any questions you have"
"It was sarcasm! Am I right to assume this reader has control of my destiny?"
"The reader can choose from a subset of options. We can present options at the end of each page"
"I suppose I may as well just go with the flow and try to enjoy it. I'm still going to meet King Henry VII and it is only temporary. Can I choose the options?"
"As the game AI I propose likely scenarios. The reader chooses which way the story progresses"
"Can I have any input?"
"That is not standard procedure"
"What page are we up to? What is this reader seeing? Are we being filmed?"
"We are on page 1. The reader is seeing a series of pictures of Princess Jeff's journey to visit King Henry. There are 3 pictures of us in the carriage and 3 of the carriage and our escort"
"Our escort? Do we still have the knights outside?"
"No. We are now escorted by 50 Samurai. There is now a second carriage behind us as well containing the Ambassador and his clerks"
"Ambassador?" Jeff couldn't contain herself she whipped back the curtains of the carriage and looked out. Instead of maybe 1/2 a dozen knights accompanying the carriage there were numerous Samurai on horseback. They looked majestic. Jeff looked to the rear and could vaguely see another carriage behind theirs, though it was hard to see because of all the dust her own carriage was whipping up.
"Your Highness. It is unseemly for you to put your head the window. A Princess must act with decorum"
Jeff pulled her head back in and Niwata closed the curtains.
"So what are the options at the bottom of the first page? Can you add one that says "Jeff reverts to being male?"
"Here are the options. I will add the option you suggested, but will say that it is a extremely low likelyhood"
'Princess Jeff arrives at the Kings Court safely'
'The travellers are waylaid by bandits'
'The travellers get lost'
'Princess Jeff mysteriously becomes male'
"Now you must wait for the reader to make a choice"