Chapter 5

To cut to the chase, I was able to use magic.

However, the speed and precision of the magic circle deployment had decreased, and my level had dropped slightly compared to my memory. If this continues, I might not be able to produce satisfactory results as a duke's daughter.

Ugh... I don't want to show a pitiful face to Sir Cyril or my brother.

But I can't just focus on the content of the presentation. My primary goal is to protect Sir Cyril, and my secondary goal is to prevent the cancellation of the presentation.

Using magic properly as a duke's daughter comes after that. First, I need to make an effort to prevent the incident from happening. With that in mind, I immediately called out to Claudia as soon as I entered the venue.

"Claudia, I saw a man wearing a robe with the crest of the Aurorze Viscount's family."

If it follows the original story, that person is after Sir Cyril's life in this venue. I lied about seeing someone from the Aurorze Viscount's family to warn her.

"...The Aurorze Viscount's family, you say?"

Claudia tilted her head, unfamiliar with the name. But it's only natural that she wouldn't recognize it. The Aurorze Viscount's family was abolished about ten years ago.

Normally, there shouldn't be anyone wearing their crest. But if someone is in the venue, they might be seeking revenge on the royal family. When I conveyed this, Claudia's expression changed.

"Is that true?"

"I don't know, but no one would wear the crest of an abolished family for no reason. There's a good chance they're planning something here. Can you inform the security?"

"Understood."

Claudia ran off to report. If everything goes well, the culprit will be apprehended before the incident occurs.

However, it's unlikely that many people would remember the crest of a viscount's family that was abolished ten years ago. It might be difficult to prevent the incident.

While I was thinking about this, Sir Cyril arrived.

His caramel blonde hair shimmered in the morning sun. Dressed in a white formal suit, he looked as if he were enveloped in light, and the nearby young ladies were sending him admiring glances.

His beautiful blue eyes met mine.

"Good morning, Sophia. You're wearing a robe today."

"Yes, I decided to start with the appearance."

I'm currently wearing a dark gray robe with an open front, a first-class combat-ready item prepared by my father, with protective enchantments that can deflect ordinary attacks.

Under the robe, I'm wearing a thin blazer, blouse, and skirt, a design reminiscent of a Japanese school uniform, typical of a dating game.

"I see. The coral pink hair and the dark gray robe suit you very well."

He touched my long hair that flowed over the robe. His touch was gentle, as if he were touching a treasure. I think this kind of casual gesture is what makes him attractive, or typical of a dating game character. I let him touch my hair and smiled back, saying, "Thank you. You look especially handsome today, Sir Cyril."

"If you think so, then it was worth dressing up."

He smiled and released my hair, then raised his elbow slightly, indicating his intention to escort me. I said, "I'll take you up on that," and grabbed his arm.

Amidst the excited squeals from the audience, I headed to the VIP seats with him.

The venue is a circular stage by the lakeside, with a beautiful stone stage in the center. Crystal pillars lined the perimeter, creating a fantastical atmosphere. The audience seats were arranged in a semicircle around the stage, with particularly luxurious seats in the VIP area.

I sat next to Sir Cyril in one of the VIP seats, subtly scanning the surroundings. There had been no report of the suspect being caught yet. The attacker must be somewhere here.

As I tensed my nerves, the presentation began solemnly.

First, the students would present their achievements in order of grade, starting with the lower grades. The most outstanding magicians from each grade would present their work, and finally, the most excellent graduates would demonstrate their magic.

There are several types of magic presentations, and this lakeside magic presentation is mainly evaluated for artistic merit. The challenge is to create the most beautiful phenomena using the supernatural power of magic.

The young magicians are creating soap bubbles, light and flame art, and other fantastical scenes, all of which are worthy of being grade representatives.

...Come to think of it, I haven't decided what I'm going to do. Before I regained my memories from my previous life, I planned to create intricate ice sculptures, but I'm not sure if I have the technical skills to do so now.

"The creativity is lacking, but the technique is quite impressive. It's a joy for our country to see young magicians handling such magic."

Sir Cyril, who was watching the presentation from the adjacent seat, murmured. I found it interesting, but it didn't seem to surprise him.

—And that's when I suddenly realized something.

I probably find it interesting because my current personality is based on my memories from my previous life. If that's the case, what wasn't unusual for my previous self might seem unusual in this world.

Looking up at the sky, a sudden idea came to me.

Yeah, this might capture the hearts of the people in this world.

I want to surprise everyone by demonstrating an original magic that combines my memories from my previous life with modern technology. With that in mind, I started planning how to execute my idea.

Then, it was our turn, and a man in a staff robe called us. I stood up with Sir Cyril.

At that moment, I noticed the crest of the Aurorze Viscount's family on the collar of the staff robe. As I realized this, the man pulled out a dagger from his pocket, his face twisted with vengeance and joy.

"Sir Cyril!"

I instinctively spread my arms between Sir Cyril and the man. Sir Cyril's surprised face filled my vision—and then, a sharp pain shot through my back. Unable to bear the pain, I crouched down.

Someone's scream echoed through the venue, and Sir Cyril's eyes were filled with anger.

"You, how dare you hurt Sophia!"

Sir Cyril roared and lunged, apprehending the attacker in an instant. I looked up at his brave figure, admiring how handsome he looked, angry on my behalf.