Heroine's POV:-
It's been almost five years since the first event of the game and....everything is different.
That one change in the Villainess's action changed the whole scenario of the game.
The misunderstanding that caused prince Lucian and villainess's engagement didn't happen. So there was no engagement.
I didn't meet the other capture targets either.
By the way, today is the entrance ceremony of the Yona Magic Academy.
I have already settled all my luggage in my dorm room early in the morning.
Being away from my hometown, I will have to stay in the academy's dormitory.
I have been staying in a rented villa along with my family for the past two weeks since I arrived in the capital.
My roommate has not arrived yet though her luggage is already here but it is handled by servants.
She's probably from some rich family.
I just hope her personality is decent.
After setting my important things in the closet, I got ready for the ceremony and left my dorm room.
.....
After arriving at the auditorium, I first met Luna.
The first time I met Luna, it was at a certain noble lady's tea party a few years ago and we quickly became good friends.
Her personality is the exact same as it was in the game, cheerful and friendly.
"Have you met prince Lucian today?"
Luna asked me an awkward question.
"No, I don't want to disturb him before the ceremony"
Prince Lucian, not long after his tenth birthday, he visited our territory.
I as the eldest daughter of the feudal Lord of the area, was responsible to show him around our territory.
It was actually planned by prince Lucian's mother, Queen Rihanna.
She found out that prince Lucian likes me and planned our meeting.
After that I met prince Lucian on several occasions and I honestly started to like him too.
Though there is some opposition in the royal family regarding this relationship because of my birth origin, we still have the full support of queen Rihanna.
We just need to keep some patience.
"You know he will be rather happy if you were to greet him before his speech"
"Luna, you know how complicated our current situation is"
I somehow put stop at Luna's nagging and wait for the ceremony to start.
As we were just looking around the crowd, I spotted several characters from the game and the one who caught my eyes was the villainess.
She was with a girl who seems to have similar features to that of a certain character in the game.
Yes that is definitely Lily from an alchemist family.
Then I also saw Kai Shen.
I guess he and the villainess really have a close bond. They almost seem like a couple.
"Ah! come with me"
Luna suddenly said and started walking in the direction the villainess was in.
She also urged me to follow her.
"Lady Elena!"
Hey what are you doing!?
How do they know each other? The villainess isn't even prince Lucian's fiancee as she was in the game.
"Good to see you lady Luna"
They greeted Luna and then she introduced them to me.
".....and he is Lady Elena's fiance, Lord Kai from the Shen family of Cerulean"
W-what!?
They are actually engaged!
This is a little unexpected. I never thought that the villainess would make such a fast progress.
If she is also a reincarnated person and knows about the game like me, then it's very difficult to guess what she wants.
Now that I think, both of them get a full score in the practical test which means they are better in magic than they were in the game.
I will have to be extra careful.
.......
After giving a fabulous speech, prince Lucian came down the sptage and I along with Luna and Ray congratulated him.
He is already very handsome, but today he is looking even more charming.
"Hina, have I done well?"
He asked me with a very gentle look but I could sense eagerness in his voice.
"You did amazing your highness"
I replied sincerely.
Unfortunately I can't talk too much with him in public because our current situation is a little complicated.
After that, prince Lucian was greeted by guests and other acquaintances so I waited along with Luna on the side.
Soon I saw an extremely beautiful girl with red hair and a really noble look who came to greet him.
"Congratulations, your highness, your speech was really amazing"
And here comes the 'complication'.
Kajol Karnis, sixth princess of Keshan and a marriage candidate for prince Lucian.
Her majesty queen Rihanna said that it was a one-sided proposal but we know for the fact that the internal opposition in the royal household is still in the play here.
After all, the second wife of the king of Keshan is from the royal family of Yona. But she doesn't have any children of her own, Princess Kajol is the daughter of the third wife.
"Thank you for your appreciation, princess Kajol. I hope you liked the academy"
"Of course I do. It's a really good place, and there are many talented individuals around here"
"Oh Lady Hina, why are you standing so far away?"
The princess suddenly called out to me.
We have only met once before this, and that was 'accidentally'.
Honestly, I can't even gauge her intentions at all.
She has been treating prince Lucian very formally and have not even tried to get close to him.
"Good to see you, your highness"
I greeted her in as short of a sentence as possible.
"You are still as shy as ever, anyway I may take my leave. Let's go"
The princess said as she led the other two girls who were with her.
They should be the daughters of the foreign affair minister, or so I heard from Luna.
In the end it took almost another half an hour before prince Lucian was able to get free from the ceremony.
"Let's go and eat something, I am really hungry"
Luna said as she held her stomach.
"Yes, me too. I know a really good restaurant around here. His highness will give us a treat on getting the first rank, right?"
Ray seems to be in a perfect sync with his fiancee as he urged us to get moving.
"Alright, I will give you a treat. You helped me this time after all. But we should not get too late, Hina also has to return to the dormitory"
Prince Lucian is really gentle and caring, especially for me. I will not let anyone come between us, no matter what happens.