Time flowed on.
A full year had passed since my encounter with that mysterious woman. I was fourteen now, and my magical training was progressing smoothly. Under Claude’s fanatical guidance, my grasp of basic magic theory had reached near-perfection. At night, I continued my study of the ancient texts as always, slowly but surely deepening my understanding of Ancient Magic.
I hadn't seen that woman again, but in a way, my days had returned to their usual, peaceful rhythm.
Until today.
The grand hall was awash in the warm glow of ornate chandeliers. Gold-woven curtains draped the windows, expensive carpets cushioned the floor, and beautiful oil paintings lined the walls. Everywhere I looked, nobles in their finest attire were busy exchanging practiced pleasantries.
It was the Noble Exchange Party, the highlight of the spring social season. And finally, I was making my social debut.
I wasn't the least bit happy about it.
To be honest, I’d tried everything to avoid this. I’d fought a desperate retreat for years. As the heir to a great noble house, invitations like this had been piling up for a long time, but I’d always managed to find an excuse.
"I still have training!" "I must focus on my studies!" "My stomach hurts!"
But eventually, Father’s patience reached its limit. He’d shut me down with a ferocity that brooked no argument.
"Your enrollment at the Academy is drawing near! How do you expect to survive if you haven't even shown your face to society?"
His voice had been like iron. My participation was mandatory.
Well, he wasn't wrong. In another year, I would be entering the Academy, an institution composed almost entirely of the nobility. Starting my school life without a proper debut would be a social disaster.
But there was another reason Father had been so insistent. This particular gathering was unique.
Princess Eliana was attending.
Eliana was a central figure in Arcana Academia. As her title suggested, she was the kingdom’s princess and a core member of the hero Leon’s party. She was firmly on the side of the protagonists.
And, as was the standard for people in that camp, she loathed Albert like a plague-bearing rat.
In the original game, the idiotic Albert would corner Princess Eliana at social functions, aggressively trying to "promote" himself. He’d only succeed in incurring her extreme displeasure, causing his already terrible reputation to plummet further.
And this party, in all likelihood, was the setting for that exact scene. It was the foundation upon which my death flags were built.
I didn't want to go. I really, really didn't want to go. But when your legal guardian corners you, you don’t have much of a choice.
And so, I found myself in a carriage with my father, heading toward the venue.
"I’ll just keep my head down," I muttered to myself. "And whatever I do, I am not going near that princess."
As I sat there, hardening my resolve, Father spoke up from across the carriage.
"Princess Eliana will be in attendance today. You are aware of this, yes?"
"Yes, I suppose."
I gave a half-hearted reply, but Father reached out and took my hand, staring intently into my eyes.
"As the heir to House Kronstadt, I expect you to make a lasting impression on her."
Great, a direct order from the old man.
Did the original Albert get all fired up because of a command like this? If so, maybe it wasn't his fault. Maybe it was his dad’s fault!
...Well, I couldn't blame him entirely. After four years in this world, I’d come to understand what it meant to be a "noble." Unlike the individualism of modern Japan, the prosperity of the house was everything here. A family would pour every resource and ounce of effort they had into expanding their influence.
Winning the favor of a princess was the ultimate prize. It made sense that he’d be pushing me to show off. House Kronstadt hadn't married into the royal bloodline for several generations, and our influence was starting to wane. It was only natural for Father to be getting impatient.
"I’ll do my best, Father," I said, offering him a reassuring nod.
Inwardly, however, I had zero intention of speaking to her. I’d show my face, do the bare minimum required of me, and then make a strategic withdrawal.
At the party, I kept my eyes on a book, trying to blend into the scenery while the nobles around me chattered away. The most important thing was staying away from Princess Eliana. That was the first step toward a death flag. Today, I was going to be the master of distance. No involvement. No eye contact. That was the plan.
But while I was busy being a wallflower, a man approached me.
"Well now, if it isn't Albert of House Kronstadt. Why are you lurking in the corner like a common thief?"
I looked up to see a handsome noble with blond hair and piercing blue eyes. He was dressed in flashy, expensive clothes and was looking down at me with a look of supreme confidence.
Victor von Eldridge.
He was the heir to the prestigious House Eldridge and another character from the game. Since Arcana Academia focused on school life, exams were a major part of the plot. Victor was the perennial top-ranked student, serving as a recurring rival and obstacle for the hero.
Since he was a rival to Leon, he didn't usually have much to do with my specific death flags, but he was a naturally cynical, sarcastic prick. He was the last person I wanted to deal with.
"It’s embarrassing to admit," I said, "but this is my first time in society. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed."
"Now, now, that simply won't do. I believe House Kronstadt hasn't secured a royal marriage in quite some time. If the heir is this pathetic, that dry spell is likely to continue, isn't it?"
"I don't recall asking for your concern."
"Hahaha, how cold! And here I was, thinking of helping you make some connections."
"I’ll pass."
"Don't be like that. We’re both from ducal houses—distant relatives through the royal bloodline, after all."
Victor ignored my dismissal and turned slightly, glancing at the person behind him.
"Right, Eliana?"
My heart skipped a beat. Standing right behind Victor was a beautiful young woman with golden hair and striking features, exactly as she appeared in the game.
I’d tried so hard to avoid her, but my luck had finally run out. That idiot Victor must have brought her over. Was he trying to introduce a socially awkward childhood friend to the princess? No. He wasn't that kind of guy.
He was using me as a foil to make himself look better in front of her.
"It has been a long time, Albert," she said.
"...It has, Princess Eliana."
Based on the memories I’d inherited from the original Albert, we’d met a few times as children. Back then, Albert had been a textbook villainous noble. Just remembering his behavior gave me a migraine.
Predictably, Eliana’s gaze was laced with a hint of disdain. Her impression of me was frozen in time, and she clearly hadn't updated it. Not that I could blame her; I’d spent the last few years avoiding every social event possible.
I wished she’d just ignore me, but she was a noble too. She couldn't just walk away without acknowledging me.
"You’ve become quite the recluse lately," Victor said, stepping back into the conversation. "What have you been doing tucked away in your territory?"
"I’ve found that I quite enjoy studying magic."
"Oh? Magic? You?" A predatory, mocking glint entered Victor's eyes. He smelled blood in the water. "Tell me then, Albert, what is your opinion on the third law of the Dariarts Magic Circle breakdown laws?"
Ah, I see. He wanted to trap me in a debate and tear me apart in front of Eliana. The original Albert had no patience for theory. Against someone as studious as Victor, it should have been a slaughter. The topic he’d chosen was incredibly advanced—most fourteen-year-olds wouldn't even know the name of the law, let alone its contents.
Unfortunately for him, I wasn't the original Albert. And I’d spent the last few years debating this exact kind of thing with a magic-obsessed tutor like Claude.
"The third law holds up in pure theory," I replied instantly, "but in a practical magic circle, it’s only reproducible when the catalytic reaction coefficient drops below 0.7. It lacks real-world utility. Personally, I find the paradoxical application of the fifth law to be far more compelling."
Victor’s smirk vanished. His face contorted in a brief flash of shock. He’d clearly expected a confused stammer, not a precise technical rebuttal.
Beside him, however, Princess Eliana’s eyes widened. A spark of genuine curiosity replaced her look of contempt.
"You... you truly have been studying, haven't you, Albert?"
"I have an excellent tutor," I said simply.
"Perhaps we should talk for a while—"
And there it was. Death Flag No. 1 had officially been triggered.
Now, the real work began.