They knock on my door again.

"Miss, lunch is ready. Your mother asked if you'll be coming down or if you're feeling too unwell and would like us to bring some broth to your room."

"I'll come down now."

What can I do? I don't think it's a good idea to pretend to be sick and stay locked up all the time. At least, getting dressed isn't necessary, one of the maids already came in this morning to help me with the laces of the dress I'm wearing, besides doing my hair. That's another thing that bothers me, this isn't my body.

I sigh and approach the mirror. It shows me the reflection of a brunette girl, who could pass for pretty without being remarkable. She has beautiful curves, more than I'm used to, and doesn't seem to exercise. Ah, and more important than my new appearance: there's no character status. Believe me, I've tried saying statistics, character sheet, inventory... all the words I could think of, but nothing. In the game, the MC was a commoner with quite powerful light magic affinity and with good intelligence stats. About this bland secondary character, no idea. What I'm clear about is that, in a world with magic, I'm going to study and practice until I'm really good at it.

I leave the room and walk down a wide hallway. The floor is made of ceramic tiles in gray tones, and the walls are white; they're decorated with the occasional vase and portrait. The decoration follows the video game's theme, a medieval world with magic. Without a doubt, everything I see fits a noble's mansion; although I expected more luxury. Once in the dining room, which is spacious, I take a seat in the only free spot left. I'm thankful for that, I'll have enough trouble pretending to know how Bianca relates to her family without having to worry about sitting in the wrong place.

"Are you alright, darling?" asks the middle-aged lady who must be my mother.

Long brown hair tied in a bun, eyes the same bluish tone as those that greeted me from the mirror, similar nose... I don't think I'm wrong.

"My head hurts and feels a bit foggy, I'm sorry if I'm acting a bit strange."

"I'll ask Layla to bring you some herbal tea later."

"Thanks."

I don't call her either mother or countess, as I don't know how Bianca usually addresses her.

"Well, ready for the final push before your academy exam?" asks the one who must be the count.

"Uhh..."

I guess he's referring to the academy entrance exam. The video game starts with Mary, the protagonist, failing all the written part but passing because she has a high affinity for light magic.

Light magic isn't that rare. Ten percent of mages have it, or had it at some point in their naive childhood. The problem with magic is that it depends on your personality, which means you have to be so good that you're foolish to possess light magic. In the otome, it's explained that most of its users end up so tired of being taken advantage of and even scammed and robbed, that their personality changes and, with it, the magic they use. That's why, when a noble family has an offspring with light affinity, they usually take them to temples where they are educated and protected, to keep them good and pure. Light magic heals and removes curses. It's vital for a society where medicine hasn't developed beyond apothecaries with natural remedies. And Mary being a commoner? That's unusual, because in this world there were great wars and, when humanity won, all powerful magic users were given noble titles. The higher title for the greater magical power. Since then, commoners possess little magic since it's hereditary. However, sometimes an indigo appears, a baby who has been gifted with great power without inheriting it. Mary could be that or, simply, the illegitimate daughter of some prince or king, because her intelligence and wisdom stats are very high.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

If you've played as Mary, it seems like getting into the academy is super easy. However, from what I'm hearing during this dinner, it's not like that at all. The exams, both theoretical and practical, are quite complicated, and Bianca's family is pressuring her to study hard.

"You have to pass, little sister," a young man a few years older than me with the same brown hair tone is telling me. "If you don't get into the academy, you won't be able to participate in the games, and we need you to do that."

"It's your fault for failing the exams," blurts out the last diner, a boy who doesn't look more than eight years old. "Instead of working so much with father, you should have prepared better."

"Elias," our mother scolds him, "you know managing the county is laborious. Your brother has done very well in prioritizing learning it and helping your father."

Now that I notice, the count seems quite a bit older than his wife. His hair and beard are covered in gray.

"We trust you, Bianca," my supposed father tells me affectionately. "You've been studying for a long time and you know what's at stake, you'll do well."

No, I don't know. I didn't get very far in the otome; I didn't reach the games. My friend did, I remember she told me that nobles took it very seriously because their victory or a good ranking position meant prestige for the families and that they were often granted new lands or economic benefits based on it. I didn't really understand well, to be honest. What I am clear about is that my new parents don't seem to be in a very thriving position if they so desperately need me to enter the academy.

Then I realize. Bianca passes because she had spent years studying, but I just arrived like a blank slate, without her memories, and I have no idea what they're going to ask me. I have a problem. What will happen if I fail?

Well, how optimistic... let´s say rather when I fail.

"Are you alright? You suddenly look pale," my mother worries.

If she only knew...

"My head," I pretend it hurts. "I'm going to finish this plate and retire."

"Of course, daughter. Remember that tomorrow you leave early for the country house. There, you’ll be able to study more peacefully than here, give that last review, and as soon as summer is over, I'll take you to the academy."

"Yes. By the way..." I don't really know how to ask this. "I'd like to see my statistics."

"Your what?" my older brother asks.

"My intelligence values, my magic..."

"Your chart? You're really strange today, Bianca," the little one pipes up.

"Yes, please."

I try to hide my racing heartbeat. I want, need, to know if this body has power. My gamer side hasn't thought about anything else since I woke up here.

"Daughter, I'm going to ask Layla for a double tea. The chart, you´ve had it on your desk since we took you to the capital square as a child to touch the stone slab. They copied everything onto a parchment and you treasure it. Come on, you should go to bed for a while. You can't get sick now with the exam in a month and three days." She dramatically brings a hand to her forehead.

"Don't worry, mom, I'll be fine soon."

"Mom? You haven't called me that since Elias was born."

She gets up and approaches me worried.

Okay, I'm going to pretend to faint or something, because they're going to catch me here and there's no way I'm explaining that I have no idea where their beloved daughter is or that I've stolen her body without meaning to.

Now that I think about it, what if Bianca is in mine back on Earth?

The idea that someone is occupying and using my body makes me dizzy. Look, it's even easy to pretend to faint. I let them take me to my room. That month away, in the country house, will be a bless to try to find out more things about Bianca.