I woke up in the morning, applied lotion, and checked my face. Then I put on my uniform, wore comfortable shoes, and grabbed a parasol. 

Long ago, they held the freshman welcome ceremony standing under the blazing sun, but not anymore. Since they held the freshman welcome ceremony in a large auditorium now, I only needed a parasol for coming and going.

“It’s orientation day—are you really okay going with just this?”

Marlene, watching me wear only my uniform, asked from the side.

The Academy provided uniforms for free. For those who wanted it, they also provided dormitories, so food and lodging didn’t cost money. Though tuition and books were expensive.

Because of this, showing off family wealth wasn’t easy at an Academy where everyone just wore uniforms.

So students bragged about their impressive families by wearing expensive accessories.

“Is there really a need for that? I’m already impressive.”

“That’s exactly why you should wear more.”

Marlene and I had different opinions.

I was already the Emperor’s niece and would become a Count of a wealthy territory—was there really a need to show off? Everyone would know my face anyway.

Despite my words, Marlene absolutely wouldn’t back down. I eventually wore one earring from the accessories Marlene had prepared and left the house.

The wind blew gently. Fazel and I had gotten houses attached side by side. Though we were engaged, we were still too young to be allowed to live together.

Since our parents couldn’t reside there, we had guardians and servants.

My servants were Marlene and guard knight Seltz, while Fazel’s servants were Musen and guard knight Lotz. Seltz and Lotz were twin knights.

Actually, Fazel seemed stronger than them.

But we were still young and needed adults to protect us.

Just in case, I also wore a necklace for emergencies. This was a necklace Fazel made for me—when pressed in an emergency, it created a protective barrier. 

As the barrier formed, fireworks would go off to alert the surroundings to the situation.

Fazel’s skills had improved enough to make something like this.

Fazel had finished his theoretical lessons after learning magic from Mage Loctaron for two years. Mage Loctaron praised Fazel for being too outstanding, saying all that remained now was for him to fill in the gaps himself.

He was taking lessons in the form of occasionally checking Fazel’s condition through letters and only contacting him when he hit a wall.

I gripped the necklace Fazel made for me tightly. The jewels sparkled, making it seem prettier than the earrings.

Fazel hadn’t come out yet. Since he had to give a speech representing the freshmen as this year’s Academy top student, he seemed to still be preparing.

After waiting a bit, Fazel opened the door and came out.

“You came out early. I was going to come out first and pick you up.”

I smiled.

“Since I was faster today, I’ll eat lunch at Fazel’s house.”

“Got it.”

Though we had someone who cooked separately, Fazel made simple things himself.

Plus, he’d said he’d cook for me sometime.

The reason for eating at Fazel’s house was simple. Since Fazel did the dishes, it was easier for me.

Fazel smiled and stood next to me.

“Should we go?”

“Sure.”

“Louelle, aren’t you nervous?”

Fazel asked me. When I just stared at him, not understanding what he meant after boarding the carriage, he added an explanation.

“I mean about giving the speech at the freshman welcome ceremony.”

Fazel was the top student and I was second. They said third place went to Caslan and Liliet.

Caslan was the male protagonist and Liliet was the female protagonist.

“I’m not nervous.”

From my perspective, I was more concerned about how Fazel would act when he met Caslan and Liliet than about the speech. So I didn’t pay much attention to the speech.

“I guess I’m the only one who’s nervous.”

Fazel had a habit of always getting tense when appearing in public settings. Knowing this, I held Fazel’s hand and smiled softly.

“Fazel will do well.”

Seemingly reassured by my words, Fazel smiled slightly.

“Thanks.”

He even said things like this now.

Where had the prickly Fazel from when we first met gone?

I smiled while recalling the past.

My plan to make the mastermind my husband was progressing well.

* * *

It looked like a wave of black continued. Students wearing black uniform jackets stood in lines.

Seeing this, Caslan thought it felt like being in darkness.

When he heard that Fazel was a top student, he realized once again that Fazel and he were destined to meet.

Fazel, who had trained in swordsmanship at winter camp, matching him evenly.

He was a boy more outstanding and stronger than anyone. It was even more memorable because despite starting swordsmanship late, he’d caught up through talent alone.

Commander-in-Chief Garen cherished him too.

Caslan, who respected him, was extremely envious of that.

Fazel and Louelle stood in the front row since they had to greet as freshman representatives.

A little distance away from them stood an incredibly beautiful young lady with blue hair and red eyes.

Her name was Liliet.

She was from a commoner background, the daughter of a wealthy merchant. He’d heard she tied with him for third place.

Caslan observed Fazel, Liliet, and Louelle like this.

Music played and the freshman welcome ceremony began.

* * *

I wasn’t nervous. I stood comfortably and looked at the auditorium stage.

On the stage, the white-haired Academy headmaster came out and gave words of encouragement. Father said he’d heard the Academy headmaster’s words of encouragement too, and this year was no different.

“Next, the freshman representative will come up and greet everyone.”

At the host’s words, I went up first. Since I wore flat shoes, it wasn’t difficult.

Going up high, I could see what shoes the students wore. The young ladies who’d worn heeled shoes to look nice today didn’t have good expressions.

They didn’t know it would last this long.

The Academy headmaster’s words of encouragement were too long.

So I deliberately summarized what I would say as much as possible.

“It’s an honor to enter the Academy.”

I then spoke about my determination and resolve to study hard going forward.

Next was Fazel’s turn. Fazel’s eyes widened seeing me come down quickly.

I remembered him asking whether the greeting needed to be long, but was there really a need for that?

Fazel went up on stage and gave his speech. Fazel also compressed what he’d prepared and spoke, just like me.

The content was similar to mine. It was all about working hard to bring glory to the Empire and Academy.

When the Academy headmaster gave his speech, formal applause poured out, but after Fazel and I finished briefly, everyone clapped extremely enthusiastically.

“Then we’ll conclude the freshman welcome ceremony.”

After the freshman welcome ceremony ended, Fazel and I decided to walk around the school and learn the layout.

That way it would be easier when making the class schedule later.

We had to create our own schedules and even register for courses ourselves. It was a system similar to university before I possessed this body.

“What classes will you take, Fazel?”

“I’ll take the required graduation courses, then some swordsmanship and magic. What about you, Louelle?”

“I’m thinking of taking business management courses.”

There were classes I’d take with Fazel and classes I wouldn’t.

We’d always studied together, so not being able to do that felt disappointing.

“Let’s work hard.”

Fazel nodded.

“Since we came this far, we have to work hard.”

I recalled the female protagonist I’d seen from the stage. Beautiful Liliet with blue hair grown to her waist and sparkling red eyes.

Fazel meets Liliet at the Academy and falls for her at first sight.

Remembering this, I asked Fazel.

“There was a really pretty girl today—do you remember?”

I asked him, pretending to be casual.

“Are you talking about yourself?”

Fazel spoke like he didn’t know who I meant.

“I didn’t see anyone pretty besides Louelle.”

Fazel knew how to say things like this now. I felt relieved that he hadn’t shown interest even after meeting Liliet.

Feeling proud of Fazel’s attitude that differed from the original story, I held his hand and walked through the Academy.

The wind blew well at the Academy. Since magical barriers were in place, mages said it felt a bit stuffy.

Fazel loosened the tie around his neck, seemingly finding it stuffy.

“It’s been a while.”

Someone approached us as we walked through the Academy.

It was male protagonist Caslan.

I tensed at Caslan’s appearance.

Even if Fazel doesn’t fall for Liliet at the Academy, what if he becomes close with the male protagonist?

He shouldn’t start being conscious of him.

If Fazel viewed him as a rival and competed with him, he would inevitably be influenced by the original story’s flow.

I watched them with a tense heart.

“It’s been a while.”

Fazel looked at Caslan and extended his hand. Caslan looked at Fazel’s hand, then quickly grasped it.

Caslan Jennell.

He was a person destined to become a Sword Master and slay a demon dragon in the future.

He was also Liliet’s fiancé.

Fazel approached Liliet as a friend, but later wanted to become her lover. However, he ultimately became the mastermind and died in place of Liliet and Caslan at the end.

Leaving behind the line that he had nothing precious left.

I shook my head, recalling that passage.

The Fazel from the novel doesn’t exist now. He has both his father and mother now.

The cause of Suran’s death was that a fire broke out in the house and there was no one to save her. But now Trean was by her side.

Fazel would live happily with his family. So there would be no reason for him to throw away his own life.

Everything came from my calculations. I smiled brightly and greeted Caslan.

“Hello, I’m Louelle Asnel, Fazel’s fiancée.”

“For a member of the imperial family to speak formally to me.”

Caslan shook his head.

“Please speak casually.”

Hearing his words, it seemed I should. I spoke casually to Caslan.

“I heard a lot about you from Fazel. I heard you have outstanding skills?”

“You’re too kind.”

“They say you’re the most outstanding in the Jennell family, so expectations must be high. Let’s work hard together.”

Caslan bowed his head. This much seemed enough for a formal greeting.

Fazel and I exchanged greetings with Caslan, quickly looked around the building, then headed to the house where Fazel was staying to eat lunch.

Inside the carriage, he asked me a question.

“Do you like Caslan, Louelle?”

I was quite flustered by his question.

“Why suddenly?”

“How should I put it? I got the feeling you were watching him closely.”

“That’s because I wondered if you might view him as a rival. Since your swordsmanship is similar. His grades were excellent too.”

I spoke honestly. Then Fazel breathed a sigh of relief. Why is he so relieved?

“So it was because of me.”

He seemed to be in a good mood.

Or was that my imagination?

“I don’t view him as a rival.”

Fazel shook his head.

“My rival is you, Louelle.”

“I don’t view you as a rival, Fazel. And I don’t particularly want to beat you either.”

“You’re really good at subjects you’re interested in, Louelle.”

“That’s right.”

“I have to compete with overall rankings.”

Fazel seemed like he’d be satisfied if he beat me in overall rankings. I smiled at his words.

To join the Imperial Knight Order, overall grades had to be excellent. If he joined the Imperial Knight Order like he dreamed, wouldn’t he be able to live reasonably happily?

Imagining a future that felt satisfying just thinking about it, I said to Fazel.

“I hope you’re a top student on the next exam too. You need the top student position, Fazel.”

“You have no ambition.”

“Well, I don’t need it.”

I just needed to pass the Academy—there was no need to become second place. But what could I do when it already happened?

When the carriage stopped, Fazel and I got out. In front of Fazel’s house, Musen, who had just returned from shopping, was opening the door.

“Musen, what did you buy?”

I often talked with Musen, who had worked in Asnel territory. Musen smiled slightly at me.

“Miss, you’re here? Sir Fazel said he wanted to eat meat for lunch, so I bought some.”

Meat sounds good!

Today it seemed we could grill meat on a griddle and eat.

“Ah, I’ll help clean up too.”

Cleaning up took a long time after grilling meat. Then Fazel shook his head.

“I’ll do it. You just eat deliciously.”

“But I can do it too.”

“What would the young lady do?”

Fazel thought I couldn’t do anything since I only grew up in the castle. That would be true for the original Louelle, but I’m different. Before possessing this body, I’d often grilled and cleaned up meat by myself.

“Just watching you eat deliciously relieves my fatigue. So eat and go home.”

Fazel spoke firmly, then took me into the house.

While Musen organized vegetables to eat as side dishes, Fazel prepared the meat for cooking.

I organized the plates. I couldn’t just play around doing nothing.

After everything was organized like that, Musen started grilling meat on the griddle.

When did he bring that?

“Miss Marlene from the castle told me to bring it. She said there’s no place nearby with good meat. She said we’d often grill meat at home, so it would definitely be necessary.”

So he brought it thanks to Marlene.

Oil came out of the meat. He cooked vegetables together with the oil.

I swallowed my saliva.

“The meat isn’t as good quality as what we ate at the castle, but I suppose we’ll have to make do.”

Musen started grilling the meat.

“The castle’s meat is so delicious, I don’t know if it’ll suit your taste.”

Fazel was worried too.

“It’s fine!”

I said loudly. Of course I ate delicious things well, but I also ate not-so-delicious things reasonably well.

I ate the meat Musen grilled and Fazel transferred to my plate.

The delicious aroma of meat entered my nose. I ate the meat with vegetables and my eyes widened.

“It’s delicious though?”

Certainly the taste was inferior to what I’d eaten at the castle.

But it was still edible.

When I said it was fine, Fazel and Musen were relieved.