Chapter 18

"Na, nakani ni... ikanakucha"

The villainous lady, Angelina, was different from "The Night That Clears When the Flowers Bloom."

She was seen acting like a lover with a man unknown to Meruk.

（Is Angelina also a reincarnated person?）

If so, perhaps this world is taking a different turn from the game.

Although she had anticipated this, the shock of actually encountering it was considerable for Meruk.

In the otome game "The Night That Clears When the Flowers Bloom," the game starts on the day of the entrance ceremony.

In the vast grounds of the royal academy, the heroine Meruk, who has just enrolled and is still unfamiliar with the school, gets lost.

Then, while walking through the "garden" looking troubled, she is approached by a man.

That man is Leonhardt, the main hero of the game.

Therefore, she must first recreate that "event."

Meruk has been working hard to be with Leonhardt up until today.

“But if Angelina is with another man…”

If she has memories from her previous life.

The most plausible explanation for her actions would be "avoiding destruction."

In other words, Angelina has avoided her engagement with Leonhardt...?

“Then there shouldn’t be a problem. Surely, for now. I don’t know what will happen in the future, but...”

Meruk has remembered her "memories from her previous life" since she was young.

She understood what kind of world this was after being taken in by the Schrengen family.

The time between then and the "start of the game" was short.

To recreate the content of the otome game, Meruk first needs to become a "special student."

Indeed, she has been considered wise for her age and background as a commoner.

But from here on, she needs to study diligently to achieve her desired results.

She needs to be evaluated as not just above average, but exceptionally excellent.

Meruk Schrengen can say that she has worked hard up to this point.

“This is the place...”

On the day of the entrance ceremony. She unexpectedly saw Angelina before the heroes, and was shaken because it was different from the game.

But Meruk’s goal remains unchanged.

It is to be with Leonhardt, the character she loved in her previous life.

Her actions will likely change due to Angelina’s behavior.

She wants to think about that, but for today, she must first complete this encounter event.

With that in mind, Meruk visited the garden. And there,

she met the real Leonhardt Bertsuri.

“A...”

“... ‘Who are you?’”

In front of her stands a male student with well-defined features, golden hair, and blue eyes.

He is wearing a special uniform with elaborate decorations, different from the other students.

Everything about him is shining... a real prince!

（It’s Leonhardt. The real Leonhardt! Amazing... He looks even better than in the game...!）

Meruk was moved and felt like dancing. But she needed to remain calm and handle the situation properly.

Following the script.

（Eh? But it’s early... Isn’t it? I thought I would get lost in the school before meeting him... Ah, it’s because I came to the garden first?）

Meruk didn’t wander around the school; she went straight to the garden.

Indeed, in "reality," it was her first time walking around the school.

But she had the "map" of the vast school grounds in her head.

Her memories from her previous life included supplementary materials about the game, which she had memorized.

“A, ano. Eeto. ‘I got lost...’...?”

When she delivered her line, Leonhardt opened his eyes in surprise.

“... ‘I see. This school is very large, after all.’”

“! So, so... ‘That’s right! So I don’t even know where I am...!’”

“‘Are you a new student?’”

“‘Yes! I’m a first-year student who just enrolled this year!’”

“‘I see. Then I’ll show you around the school.’”

“I... ‘Is that okay? I’m so happy!’”

“‘Hehe. Then let’s go together.’”

And Leonhardt extended his hand to Meruk.

（Ah... It’s just like the ‘still’ image. So, this world is... that game.）

Meruk took the prince’s hand and was guided to where the new students should go.

She successfully completed the first event.

Various pieces of information were swirling in her head.

Did she say the lines correctly?

Did she sound a bit stiff? It might not have sounded natural.

Leonhardt also seemed a bit awkward.

Is it... because this is the game world? Or is it the difference in reality?

But the event did happen.

And Meruk Schrengen, a baron’s daughter, met the crown prince on her first day of school.

Seeing the real Leonhardt, she reaffirmed her resolve.

She would definitely be with Leonhardt.

（I will choose the Leonhardt route. So I will complete the events. But I’m afraid of...）

The movements of the "villainous lady" Angelina.

If she wants to avoid destruction, she might not lead the bullying against Meruk.

In that case, the events might not happen smoothly.

（...But, if I stage a false accusation, it would definitely be wrong.）

Breaking textbooks or lying about being bullied.

Meruk is determined that these would never work.

（But if she’s just a reincarnated person who wants to avoid destruction, maybe we can talk...?）

If both of them want to avoid being "condemned" or "served justice."

And Meruk has a "setting" that other otome games don’t have.

She is not just a delicate baron’s daughter.

She has the blood of the former Alstroemeria royal family and will eventually be treated as royalty.

If she manifests the "power of the holy flower," the people of this country will have no objections.

Even the royal family and nobles won’t be able to ignore her.

Not only does she have the blood, but the power proves her royal status.

So at this stage, she can’t afford to make mistakes with the duchess’s daughter.

But if the "other party" knows about Meruk’s background.

And if they are just a modern person who wants to avoid destruction?

They might accept Meruk as a noble and become an ally.

Especially if she is with another man.

（But there’s no proof yet... If Angelina is just a duchess’s daughter, she should have the unpleasant personality of the "villainous lady"... Even if she has memories from her previous life, she might still have an unpleasant personality...）

She can’t talk about her "previous life" lightly.

She doesn’t want to be understood.

Her status is still low. She needs to endure and build up Leonhardt’s affection.

She needs to set up the flags and earn his affection.

The "route" will be determined in her second year.

The good ending involves being with Leonhardt next summer.

（The rest... the other targets, though.）

Carlos, Fried, Dennis, Neil, and Schurk. The remaining five targets.

She needs to be careful not to raise their affection too much.

But she also needs to be cautious and can’t ignore them.

（With Carlos... I want to become friends and get information about Angelina.）

Meruk Schrengen is still a baron’s daughter. Her means of knowing the duchess’s daughter’s movements are limited.

She was also curious about the unknown man who was with Angelina in reality.

She needs to know who he is.

She wants to have all the information and make a judgment.

（And I want to help solve everyone’s problems. Because if the ‘heroine’ doesn’t lend a hand, everyone might remain troubled.）

For example, Fried is a character who has complexes about his brother and father.

If the heroine leaves him, he will grow up with his troubles unresolved.

Meruk thought that would be "pitiful."

（I want to solve those issues... Yes. Even if I reincarnated as the ‘villainous lady’... I should do this.）

Maybe Angelina has already solved the heart problems of the targets.

And raised their affection and made the ‘heroine’ cautious...

She needs to be careful with the other targets.

If she is seen as a dangerous person, they might stop her from getting close.

In that case, Angelina would likely have solved their heart problems.

Then it would be fine, but of course, she will remain cautious.

But if Angelina has abandoned them.

As the ‘heroine,’ she needs to save them.

Otherwise, they might have a dark future.

（...Yes. Regardless of flags and targets. That’s not right. Leonhardt is the best, but I like everyone... Because I know the original story, I can’t ignore them...!）

Many more ‘events’ will happen. She needs to investigate Angelina’s movements.

With that in mind, Meruk is determined to achieve her goal.

She aims for a happy ending with Leonhardt. And she will do what needs to be done.

“Yes. I will... aim for an ending where everyone is happy...!”

If Angelina doesn’t bully her, she doesn’t need to condemn her.

If she is a good reincarnated person, they might be able to talk and resolve things.

But she can’t trust her yet.

What is she planning? Is she really driven by a trustworthy personality?

Or will she harm Meruk like in the game? She doesn’t know yet.

Thus, Meruk Schrengen’s ‘game’ began.