Leonhardt's beloved, Merc Schliegen, had memories of her past life from the time she was small.
She was a "reincarnator." In her past life, she was a Japanese woman living in the modern era.
Her memories of her previous life as an "individual" were unclear.
But her knowledge of the otome game "The Night that Dawns When Flowers Bloom" remained vividly imprinted in her mind.
Why was it that the memory of that one game was so clear?
She would come to understand the reason after she was taken in by the baron's house.
"... This world is the world of 'The Night that Dawns When Flowers Bloom'?"
Merc, who had been an orphan in this world, was taken in by a baron's house, who valued her abilities and looks.
After being properly groomed at the baron's house, she stood before the large mirror in the room she had been given, now looking beautiful.
Reflected in the mirror was the very image of the "heroine" of that otome game.
Black hair, with ruby-red eyes. Even by her past-life standards, she was incredibly cute.
"I'm... the 'heroine.' ... In that case!"
She had a favourite character from her past life. That was Leonhardt.
If she was the heroine, then...
There was a happy ending where she and Leonhardt would end up together!
Merc realized this, and was overjoyed.
She also realized she had a hidden "secret."
She was not merely an orphan.
She was a descendant of the "Alstroemeria Royal Family," the previous royal line that had preceded the Kingdom of Beltsuri.
She had a backstory befitting a heroine.
Her true identity was set to be revealed at the climax of the story.
"The game's beginning is after entering the Academy..."
The heroine's name was Merc Schliegen.
An orphan taken in by the Baron Schliegen's house. The story matched up to this point.
After enrolling at the Academy, she was supposed to meet six "capture targets".
- The "Crown Prince" Prince Leonhardt Beltsuri.
- The "Duke's son" Carlos Schteizen.
- The "Royal Guard apprentice" Freed Marcot, a marquess's son.
- The "Prime Minister's son" Dennis Colden, a marquess's son.
- The "Genius mage" Shulk.
- The "Academy teacher" Niel Draught-sensei.
Leonhardt and Carlos were one year older than the heroine.
Freed and Dennis were the same age as the heroine.
Niel was eight years older than the heroine. Shulk was three years younger.
The heroine would meet them at the Academy, build trust, and raise their affection levels.
And then she would proceed onto each of their routes, aiming for a good ending.
The ending where she didn't end up with any of the capture targets was a generic "normal ending."
There were elements such as magic and magical beasts, but no threats like a Demon Lord existed.
It was a world where the world wouldn't end if the heroine doesn't try her best.
At the start of the story, the heroine would enter the Academy as a "scholarship student."
"First, I have to work hard to achieve that goal..."
A scholarship student received preferential treatment, including a waiver of entrance and tuition fees.
It wasn't something one became by doing nothing.
She had to prove to the Academy that she was an excellent student.
If she didn't, she wouldn't even reach the game's starting point.
Also, Merc had to hone her magic abilities.
That was because, in order to prove that Merc was a descendant of the previous royal family, she must demonstrate a special manifestation of magical power.
Known as the “Magic of the Sacred Flower,” it is the symbol of the former Alstroemeria royal family.
A characteristic of this power is that when she uses high-level magic, petals, similar to cherry blossoms in modern Japan, would flutter in the air.
Revealing the heroine is of royal blood becomes the decisive factor in overturning her unfortunate circumstances, leading the story to a happy ending.
In other words, if she could not use high-level magic by the end of the story, she won't be able to prove that she's a descendant of the former royal family, and the scenario would fall apart.
"... I'm going to be bullied, aren't I?"
She'd manage to attain the excellent grades needed to become a scholarship student.
But she was an orphan and the adopted daughter of a low-ranked baron house.
For reasons like jealousy and the like, the heroine ends up being bullied at the Academy.
The ringleader behind it would be... the "villainess," Angelina Schteizen.
In "The Night that Dawns When Flowers Bloom," a villainess appears, and on her account, the heroine ends up in unfortunate circumstances.
But, after enduring those difficult times, it was revealed that she was of royal blood.
And the heroine's suffering would finally come to an end.
The villainess Angelina would be condemned, and expelled from the Academy and that would be the end.
"I don't want to be bullied. But, in that case..."
I just have to do nothing. As long as I don't do anything that would draw the villainess's attention.
"... But, I..."
She had been reborn into a fate where she would be united with Leonhardt.
Merc had loved him, even if he was just a game character.
Now, in this world, she might be able to be with him.
And it was real. In reality, the Crown Prince Leonhardt... existed.
He was here, in this world. And it was her fate to be with him.
Was she just to give up out of fear of the villainess?
"There's no way I could give up... There's no way I could do something like that."
Absolutely not. That was what Merc thought.
"I'll capture Leonhardt-sama...!"
Merc made up her mind. There was something else to consider as well.
The "zamaa," the condemnation of the villainess. [1]
And what she had to be wary of was the "zamaa counter," the villainess's comeback. [2]
"I have to be careful... but. I can't overdo it."
Pushing the villainess too far and getting a stinging retaliation in return was a common pattern.
That sort of thing was something Merc honestly wanted to avoid.
Merc Schliegen poured her efforts into her studies and magic training until the start of the game.
When she successfully became the scholarship student, her "family" the Schliegen house was overjoyed as well.
"Yes, this is just the beginning. Everything is going to begin from here."
She would definitely secure a happy ending with Leonhardt. So she resolved once again.
With determination and anticipation in her heart, Merc headed for the Royal Academy.
... But there. Merc saw something. A scene she had not imagined.
"Angelina. That. D-do your best..."
"Y-yes. Ash-sama, thank you, very much..."
(Eh!? Angelina!?)
The two of them, both with cheeks flushed, clearly seeming to harbour feelings for one another.
And one of them was the "villainess," Angelina Schteizen.
"... Why?"
The man with her was someone Merc had never seen. Naturally, he wasn't one of the capture targets.
The otome game Merc knew had started off in a completely different way from the very beginning.