Transmigrated As An Extra In The Novel I Love And Hate

The time had finally arrived for the official banquet to begin, and the atmosphere in the palace had shifted from the hurried preparation of earlier to a more polished, formal tone. The nobles, officials, and dignitaries from all corners of the five empires began to arrive in droves, each eager to make their presence known and forge connections with those in power.

I was taken from the baby playroom, where I had been enjoying my game with the princesses, by my parents. The three baby princesses were reluctant to let me go—understandably so, since I had literally made them my new playmates. They reached out for me with those big, innocent eyes, clearly upset at the idea of parting with me.

But, as I looked at them, I simply waved my tiny hand, giving them the most adorable wave I could muster, and babbled a little something along the lines of "See you soon!" Even I didn't know how they understood, but somehow, they seemed to comprehend so I just shrugged and moved on.

They reluctantly let me go, their faces lighting up as they returned my wave. They would see me again soon, they seemed to say with their eyes. I couldn't help but smirk internally—this was a victory for me. Not even the princesses were immune to my cuteness.

After bidding them goodbye, I turned to my new friend Thorin, who was still sitting in the corner of the room, watching the commotion. With a gentle pat on his head, I gave him a little wave too and babbled trying to say Goodbye and see you soon . His eyes sparkled with happiness and he smiled widely, seemingly understanding that we would meet again as well and waved back to me. I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of happiness as I left.

"Is this what it feels like to have friends?"I thought of myself.

My parents were soon greeted my all kinds of nobles and officials as soon as they entered.

As I lay in my mother's hands, my eyes drifted over the crowd, observing my surroundings. It was almost like I was watching a well-choreographed performance. Nobles and officials were gathered around my parents, showering them with flattering words and empty praises. As expected, each one seemed to be trying to form connections with my parents, eager to stay on their good side.

System, you see this, right? I thought to myself, quietly amused.

"Of course, bro. They're all playing their part in the game," the system replied, its tone light and amused. "But don't worry, we both know what's going on here."

I could hear the light laughter of my parents as they politely greeted each noble and official, maintaining a perfectly composed facade. They acknowledged the flattery with nothing more than a few kind words, never lingering too long with any one person. It was clear they weren't wasting time on meaningless pleasantries.

My parents were playing the game just like everyone did , I had also learned to do so in my previous life. I had attended countless business banquets and meetings, hosting my fair share in the past, so this was nothing new to me. Networking, subtle flattery, and hidden agendas—I understood it all, even if I was currently in the form of a baby.

I couldn't help but nod in approval as I observed their interactions. Their politeness and efficiency were commendable. They knew exactly how to deal with these types of situations, and I could see they weren't least swayed by the false praises being thrown their way. Instead, they offered just enough attention to the nobles to maintain their dignity while also making it clear they weren't there to waste time.

As the evening wore on, more and more dignitaries arrived, and the room began to fill up with the sounds of polite conversation, laughter, and the clinking of glasses. It wasn't long before I noticed some important figures from the novel making their entrance. I could already feel the intrigue bubbling beneath the surface. Some of these people would become key players in the events that would unfold in the story.

I was aware of the characters—both heroes and villains—who would make their presence known soon enough. But for now, I stayed lying comfortably, watching the subtle interactions between the nobles and officials with interest. Every moment felt like a carefully choreographed dance, with each player trying to move into a better position for the future.

As I watched the room fill up with more people and the conversations grew louder, I couldn't help but chat with the system.

"Well, it's clear what's going on here," I mused, eyeing the nobles around the room. "These people are all trying to make a connection with my parents, but they're doing it with flattery and hidden motives."

"Ah, the art of flattery and manipulation," the system responded in mock seriousness. "They all want something, but you can tell by the way they grease the wheels of the conversation. It's almost amusing to watch. You of all people, are definitely enjoying this little show ."

I smirked inwardly. "Well, I am enjoying it. It's just fascinating to see how different this world is compared to my last one but people are all the same. But, you know what, I can't blame them. Everyone plays the game."

As I settled in my mom's arms, watching the noble drama unfold before me, I couldn't help but feel a quiet sense of anticipation as i observed the characters from the novel as I saw them in real life and no longer just as text and images.

For now, though, I was content to observe from my mother's hands, waiting for banquet to end while my parents chatted with the important guests. The evening was still young, and the games had only just begun.

(Author's Note: Everyone plays the game , this is something I have observed and recorded from my experience of liee and I can tell you that as you experience more of life , this fact becomes more and more obvious)