The days pass like they are flying on the wings of birds.

And every time I close my eyes, all I see are Viktor's eyes, looking into my own, and his mouth as he tells me he loves me.

He finally admitted it, that day, when he said my heart and his are connected. That we belong together.

I spend much of my time floating on clouds, lost in my daydreams and the wonderful memories of that beautiful moment, trying to relive them over and over in my mind.

Tonight is one such evening. The autumn equinox is approaching, and our manor has a large orchard and a forest nearby. All around me are golden fields, rolling hills of grain waving lazily in the wind. Autumn is in the air, in the leaves, the scent of harvest. The servants had prepared a picnic for us and are following at a distance to await my orders and ensure no issues arise. My hair falls in waves around my shoulders and back as I roll down the hill. Nessa is hot on my heels.

"Phelia-!" She exclaims. I come to a stop, raising my head and turning back to face her. She collapses next to me and I grin down at her. "Hey, Nessie!"

Nessa fixes her sternest stare on me, frowning as she lectures. "Phelia, you...really shouldn't do things like this in public! You aren't a child! It isn't-"

"Don't lecture meeee...." I whine, letting out a frustrated noise as I let my head drop again and glare at her. She rolls her eyes at me, letting out a sigh and shaking her head.

I get up and brush myself off, turning to extend a hand to her and help her up.

We stroll through the garden, chatting idly as we examine the roses, my fingers caressing the red petals gently as I study them. My lips curve upwards into a smile, and I tug a pair of the blooms free, cradling them to my chest before reaching to offer Nessa the second. Her cheeks color and she accepts it, though she won't look me in the eyes. "They're so beautiful, aren't they?" I ask her, gently.

She nods her agreement, sniffing the flower tentatively.

I beam at her and continue onward, humming under my breath as I follow the familiar path through the hedges to my favorite tree, nestled in the shade of a gazebo.

Our peace and quiet is shattered as Anne races up to us, shouting. "Ophelia! Ophelia it's incredible! The magic academy just sent a letter for you!"

"... And you read it?" I frown, incredulous.

I already know what's in it, of course. Having played the game I know Ophelia attends the academy (though now I'm certain my father arranged it). Viktor will shortly discover his healing touch was actually under developed magic as well, by way of an invitation letter.

I know this.

I still don't approve of Anne reading my mail, because what if it was one of Viktor's sweet love letters??

She nods eagerly, excited, and begins to dance and bounce in place. "Of course! Why wouldn't I, when it's for you!? Ophie! The school has accepted you! Isn't that amazing?"

She looks so happy for me, that I can't find it in my heart to be mad. She has no way of knowing I am already aware of all of this. She has no way of knowing I was aware of this since long before I even ended up in the world and have been preparing for it all this time, and thus there is nothing new in the letter.

I reach out to squeeze her hands in mine, giving her my best, most convincing smile. "Wow, Anne. Thanks."

Anne, content with my answer, skips away. Nessa eyes me thoughtfully. I merely give her a bland smile as well.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"You don't seem surprised."

"Why would I be? They do this all the time, Nessie." I shrug, nonchalant, and settle under the tree, laying down and resting my head on my arms, letting my hair splay out on the ground as I stretch my limbs. "Everyone wants an heir that can graduate from the Magic Academy with the highest marks possible. And the Academy wants my family's money."

Enough to allow someone with barely a whiff of magical talent in. Anne would have been the one sent there, but the Weideman family has so little connection to magic that Anne doesn't even have that whiff.

Nessa gives a soft 'hmph' of displeasure and plops herself beside me, picking up my hand to lace her fingers with my own, her eyes on the sky. We spend an afternoon lounging there.

When Viktor comes to visit, the week before classes begin, I wait for him by the road leading to the entrance. He comes to visit often now, much less reserved than before. He walks up to me and rests his hand on my cheek. I lean into it with a sigh and a smile, before stepping back and leading him up to my room.

He settles onto the sofa easily. "The letter from the Magic Academy arrived at my house recently..." he says quietly, tracing idle circles with his fingertip into my palm, before raising his eyes to mine.

Even though I knew it would, my Viktor deserves an excited response. "Ah! Viktor! Mine too!! Do you know what this means?!"

I lean forward and clutch his hands in mine. I shake him a few times and let out a giddy squeal. "We'll be going to the Academy together!! It will be so much fun! Darling ~! We'll see each other every day. We can even room together once we're in our second year."

His hands twitch in my grip, but his face is so wonderfully adorable.

His eyes are wide, as if he didn't expect that response at all, and he is bright red. The blush travels up to his ears and down to his collar, his skin flushed a vivid scarlet. He glances to the side. I can see in real time his brain overheating and erroring. Not...not literally- his constitution is fragile, but not that fragile.

...he is very cute.

I start giggling.

His ears redden more as he forces his attention back to me, still stuttering and fumbling with his words. "I...I...cannot quite believe that last point about rooms....you mustn't joke, Ophelia...what would your father think if he heard such a thing!!"

My voice becomes firm, serious, but with an edge of teasing. "It's a private school! And I'm a grown woman -or, I will be, then - with an intended. It won't be his business whom I have roomed with. Besides, we won't do anything scandalous~! We can simply sleep together at night."

He looks very doubtful.

"Really! I swear, I'll behave."

"...it...is not you I doubt. I wonder instead, whether I shall have the self restraint required not to defile such a lovely and trusting maiden..." His eyes are shadowed, even though the blush still creeps across his cheeks.

"Are you confessing to wanting to do inappropriate things to me, Viktor Schulte? How bold, sir."

".....!!!!!! P-Please do not say such scandalous things - !! I -"

I cut him off with a mischievous kiss. "Let's continue this discussion next year, when it's time to choose personal dorms, darling." I tease him, tapping my finger to his lips.

Viktor shakes his head in despair and buries his face in his hands.

It's adorable.

The day of departure for the academy arrives quickly, and I make my farewells to my family, mounting the carriage. Most of those invited to the academy share carriages, but with my status, I get a private one. A shame, because I'd like to have ridden with Viktor.

As the carriage trundles on down the path, I sigh and settle back in my seat, flicking open the book in my hand to continue reading.

It is the story of a warrior king and the noblewoman he wooed. A fairy tale. It is full of dramatics and melodrama, and the descriptions of the battles are overdramatized, and the language flowery to a sickening degree. I enjoy it thoroughly. What can I say? There's no romcoms in this world, after all.

I finish it and set it aside as the carriage rolls to a stop. The footmen open the door, and I step out into the sunshine. The campus is in sight, the ivy covered brick building looming above me. Ahead is a field where young students are lined up for basic exercises. To my left a large marble fountain sprays water high into the air.

It's an impressive display of wealth and power, just as it is in the game. The castle in the middle of the field, overlooking the practice grounds, is several stories high, the tower at its peak reaching high into the sky. Several flags blow proudly in the breeze atop the structure. I know each flag represents a branch of magic. Earth and Water at the top. Air in the center, Fire and Light beneath them. Dark on the far left, with Spirit below it. Metal at the bottom right, and Nature on the far right. That's close to the sum of what I know of magic, given the game didn't focus on the magic lore.

In the distance I see a couple of horse racing tracks, with students exercising the horses as well. Further away still is a forest. The mage training areas.

I draw in a breath as I look upon the sight I'd seen so many times in the otome game start menu. Eileen is a year younger than Ophelia, so it's still about a year away before she arrives. Still. I can't help a bit of nerves in the pit of my stomach.

I shouldn't, because I've already won, but...

This is the start of the next stage.