I, who was a high schooler, was constantly controlled by the gazes and opinions of those around me, skilfully went with the flow, and lived however it led me. So that I could look even a little better to others, I paid attention to nothing but the eyes of others, and did nothing but keep up appearances. But what meaning did that have? In this world, there was no meaning in being reasonably good. From when I was three years old until I was five, I averted my eyes from reality, and lived by nothing but my desires and whims. Were I to ept this world in the true sense of the word, there was no way that it would be alright to stay that way.


    Im reflecting on my actions. The way Ive been up until now is no good. If I dont change myself, my wishes wonte true.


    Up until now, have I ever devoted my body and soul to anything? Paying no heed to ttery from others, and earnestly facing reality without running away


    Right now, Im wholeheartedly studying magic. The amount of study is iparable to any Ive done before. I dont want to feel that way again. I dont want to despair due to myck of power. Without being content with only the tasks given by my tutor, wholeheartedly reading magic textbooks from morning until night, and asionally showing up at the Magic Building Aime and the other servants backed away from me due to my enthusiasm. But I dont mind if people back away from me. Ive decided not to worry about the eyes of others anymore. If I dont, let alone Royce-sama, I wont even be able to protect myself.


    In the incident that happened in the castle townst year, had I messed up, Royce-sama, Achille and I would have died. I wont let something like that happend again. If I dont master magic more than anyone If I dont be strong enough to protect my loved ones from everybody else Even though this is supposed to be the world of an otome game, theres no saving, loading or resetting.


    This world is my reality.


    I felt impatient. Protecting Royce-sama from destruction was not something so simple.


    Im not certain if they could understand my zeal, but when I turned seven I was allowed some work at the Magic Building. My job at the Magic Building was to be an apprentice Red. It was a job within the red robed magician group that I saw at the castle before. The colour of the clothing worn by magicians working at the castle depended on their jobs. Blue was a magical research job, involving the development of new varieties of magic, items or medicine. ck worked as the guards of people of influence. Red had the most personnel, and were responsible for all of the work not covered by Blue or ck. Doing things like solving problems that arose in the countrys cities and viges, heading to certain ces to do magic inspections, eliminating monsters that troubled the citizens; it was a pretty hectic job.


    It seems that even monsters appear in this world. Its seriously too fantasy. They mostly live deep in the forest or in caves; dark ces with no human presence, and if you lived normally in a town, you would almost never see one. They didnt appear in the setting of the otome game. If something like monsters appeared in the academy, it would be undoubtedly a major incident, so thats basically the end of the story, but


    Starting from simple inspections, then eventually making my way to exterminations of lower ss monsters, I would be learning the jobs of Red, little by little. During this time, it was made sure that Royce-sama had capable adult guards with him. As expected, guarding the prince wasnt a job you could leave to a little six year old, so until we entered the academy, there was no need for me to stick to Royce-sama. My contact with him was limited to visiting a few times a week. It seems that Achille was also working a simple administration/odd-jobs job. That was because he was an apprentice like me, though.


    While living like this, one day, I had an encounter. An encounter with the enemy of Royce-sama that would appear during the K of Spades route; the heroines rival, the Q of Spades.


    Mei Zakro, the Q of Spades, was the loyal servant of the son of the kings younger brother, the K of Spades. She and her younger twin brother served as the guards of the K of Spades.


    Mei was a taciturn woman who loyally followed her orders, d in a mysterious aura, and amongst the rivals she was the one with the best personality. Incidentally, the one with the worst personality was Camille. After all, Camille was jealous towards the heroine who was growing close to the K of Hearts that she was one-sidedly in love with, and was a rival who harassed the heroine as much as possible.


    However, when it came to Mei, because her love for her lord was too strong, she ran wild and persistently tried to get rid of the heroine who was deceiving her lord. Once the heroine cleared the K of Spades route, the fact that Mei tried to harm the heroine was revealed and she was fired, and like that it became unknown what happened to her. Up until the end, she remained a somewhat mysterious rival.


    That Mei Zakro was now bawling in the middle of the corridor.


    FUAAAAAAAAAH, NOOOOOOO! WHERE AREEE YOUUUUU?


    That mysterious, devoted-to-her-duties, silent beauty is also the same age as me right now. Theres not a trace of mysteriousness here.


    So Mei was working from such a young age too, huh


    Her deep blue hair and dark skin were just like in the game, and tears overflowed endlessly from her golden eyes.


    The enemy was a little girl It might get annoying to get involved. I have no idea what to do with crying children. But Ill feel guilty leaving her alone too. And I look like a child too, right now


    Whats wrong? Are you looking for someone?


    WAAAAAAAAAH!


    Just like Achille did to me recently, I tried patting her on the head. It seems that it was effective, and the girls sobbing receded just a little. Just by knowing her future self, seeing her crying face feels plenty wrong.


    Wheresss, Raiga-sama?


    Ehh


    It seems like shes looking for her master Raiga Transbaal; in other words the K of Spades. Was Mei all LOVEMaster at this young an age? But wow, it really is too weird seeing this gap between the always calm, mysterious Mei from the game, and the Mei right now.


    Youre looking for Raiga-sama?


    Uuu I had an afternoon nap, and then Raiga-sama was gone (sob)


    Mei and afternoon naps It really is a mismatchedbo. I stayed by her side for a whileforting her, so her crying calmed down a lot.


    After a while came the pitter patter sounds of multiple peopleing down the other end of the hallway.


    Meii!


    In an instant, I could tell who the owner of those footsteps were How troubling.


    Raiga-sama!


    Before my eyes stood the K of Spades, Royce-samas enemy, Raiga Transbaal. Because hes Royce-samas cousin, hes an ikemen as well, but that overpowering atmosphere of his has not a smidgen of friendliness. Behind him was Meis younger twin brother, J of Spades Kai Zakro, standing there inconspicuous as the air. Her face still dirtied from crying, Mei reached her hand out to him.


    Why are you in a ce like this? I told you not to leave the room, didnt I


    Fueeh, because, when I woke up Raiga-sama wasnt there.


    Mei You musnt bother Raiga-sama


    Ah! Even though hes young, the little brother is speaking just like in the game. Kai the little brother was taciturn and mysterious just like his older sister.


    You. What did you do to Mei?


    Raiga red at I, who had been reduced to decoration. When he did, Mei grabbed Raigas arm and shook her head side to side in protest.


    The pink Oneechan didnt do anything wrong!


    Hang on, is the pink Oneechan referring to me? Certainly I didnt give my name, but


    She listened to me when I was crying!


    Is that so?


    Raiga made aplicated expression. He was d in a difficult-to-approach aura, but this expression of his held some amity.


    Youre Royces hanger-on-er, right?


    He knows about me? The informationwork of the royal princes son sure is amazing, huh Its still better than being called a flunky, I guess.


    Im not a hanger-on-er; Im his future guard, you know.


    Like I care Oi, Mei! Dont wipe your snot on my clothes!


    The dignity of the royal princes son is being ruined. As I thought, I feel like I dont really understand their rtionship.


    Did Mei-chan always have this kind of personality? At a nce she looks like the calm type, but


    Could it be? I wondered about a certain possibility in my heart. Raiga might know something about it.


    The one who reacted to my worsd wasnt Raiga, but surprisingly Kai.


    You What do you know about Mei?


    I dont know where he got it from, but he was holding a long needle in one hand. Oi, oi, are you trying to threaten me with a deadly weapon? Were in a corridor used by other people, you know? The twins Mei and Kai were characters that looked docile, but were prone to quickly resorting to violence.


    Stop it, Kai.


    Held in check by his lord, Kai readily withdrew. He really does feel like the by my lords orders type, huh. After making sure that Kai sheathed his weapon, Raiga turned to me and spoke.


    Mei has been like this since I met her. Dont make weirdints.


    Im sorry. I was just thinking that they werent a very simr pair of twins.


    Just because theyre twins, doesnt mean their personalities have to be the same, right?


    You are right


    Were heading back.


    Yes!


    Leaving the frozen me behind, Raiga left with the twins in tow.


    Does Raiga not know, or was that acting? But Kai knows something for sure. I cant say anything since I only know how she was in the future, but perhaps Mei is a human from the same ce as me I dont have any confidence in that though


    persistently tried to get rid of is . Since I mostly read action fantasy, it almost always means kill, but Im hoping thats not the case here. ><


    (sob)  gusu which is a sobbing noise


    her crying calmed down a lot  her style of crying mostly became less extravagant (i.e. less bawling more sniffling)


    Youre Royces hanger-on-er, right? [] Its still better than being called a flunky, I guess. Theres a world of difference between a pouch and poop. Hanger-on-er is hang-on pouch, whereas flunky is actually goldfish poop. Both refer to people who follow another around like a sycophant. I omitted thest line, since it wasnt significant, and would be like impossible to trante anyway. Ruins the flow to leave it in with an exnation, but fyi, there was such a joke present.


    Also theres no  but its like a set phrase thing in JP (___LOVE or ____) so I had to try and find a way in Eng that wouldnt just look like two words awkwardly stuck next to each other.