There's another knock at my door.

  "Miss, lunch is ready. Your mother wants to know if you're coming down or if you're not feeling well and would like some broth brought to your room."

  "I'll come down now."

  What can I do? I don't think it's a good idea to play sick and stay locked up all day. At least I don't have to worry about getting dressed; a maid already came this morning to help me with the ribbons on this dress and styled my hair. That’s another thing—this isn't my body.

  I sigh and approach the mirror. It shows me the reflection of a brunette girl who could be considered pretty, though not remarkable. She has beautiful curves—more than I'm used to—and doesn't look like she exercises much. Oh, and more important than my new appearance: there's no character status. Believe me, I've tried saying stats, statistics, character sheet, inventory—every word I could think of—but nothing. In the game, the protagonist was a commoner with quite powerful light magic affinity and high intelligence stats. As for this bland supporting character? I have no idea. One thing is clear: in a world with magic, I'm going to study and practice until I become excellent at it.

  I leave the room and walk down a spacious hallway. The floor is tiled in shades of gray ceramic, and the white walls are adorned with the occasional vase or portrait. The decor matches the video game’s medieval magic world theme perfectly. Everything I see fits a noble's mansion, though I expected it to be more luxurious.

  Once in the dining room, which is spacious, I take the only empty seat. I'm grateful for that. It's hard enough pretending I know how Bianca interacts with her family without risking sitting in the wrong spot.

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

  Her long brunette hair is styled in a bun, and her eyes are the same shade of blue as the one that greeted me from the mirror. Her nose looks similar, too—I'm confident I've got it right.

  "I have a headache and feel a little foggy. I'm sorry if I seem off."

  "I'll have Layla bring you a herbal tea later."

  "Thank you."

  I don't call her mother or countess because I have no idea how Bianca typically addresses her.

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

  "Uh..."

  I guess he's referring to the academy entrance exam. The video game starts with Mary, the protagonist if you choose her, failing the entire written part but passing because of her high affinity for light magic.

  Light magic isn’t particularly rare. Around ten percent of mages possess it—or at least they did at some point during their innocent childhood. The issue with magic is that it depends on your personality. To have light magic, you must be so good that you’re practically naive. The otome explains that most light magic users eventually grow tired of being taken advantage of, cheated, or outright robbed, causing their personalities to change—and with it, their magic.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  That’s why, when a noble family has a child with an affinity for light magic, they often send them to monasteries for education and protection, ensuring they remain good and pure. Light magic heals wounds and removes curses, making it vital in a society where medicine hasn’t advanced beyond herbal remedies.

  And the fact that Mary is a commoner? That’s unusual, because in this world, after the great wars, humanity rewarded all powerful magic users with noble titles. The stronger the magic, the higher the title. Since then, commoners have little magic because it’s hereditary. Occasionally, though, an "indigo" appears—a child gifted with immense power despite not inheriting it. Mary could be one of those—or perhaps the illegitimate child of a prince or king, given her high intelligence and wisdom stats.

  If you’ve played as Mary, entering the academy seems ridiculously easy. But judging from what I’m hearing over dinner, that’s not the case at all. Both the theoretical and practical exams are apparently very challenging, and Bianca’s family is putting a lot of pressure on her to study.

  “You have to pass, little sister,” says a young man a few years older than me, his hair the same chestnut shade as mine. “If you don’t get into the academy, you can’t participate in the games, and we need you to.”

  “This is your fault for failing,” blurts out the youngest at the table—a boy who doesn’t look older than eight. “Instead of spending so much time working with father, you should’ve prepared better.”

  “Elias,” our mother scolds him. “You know managing the county is a lot of work. Your brother has done well prioritizing that and helping your father.”

  Now that I’m paying attention, the count appears much older than his wife. His hair and beard are streaked with gray.

  “We’re counting on you, Bianca,” says the man I assume is my father, his voice kind. “You’ve been studying for so long, and you know what’s at stake. You’ll do well.”

  No, I don’t. I didn’t get very far in the video game—certainly not far enough to reach the games. My friend did. I remember her saying that nobles took them extremely seriously because their rankings brought prestige to their families. Sometimes, winning even earned new lands or economic benefits. I didn’t pay much attention back then. What I do know now is that my new parents don’t seem to be in a strong position if they’re so desperate for me to get into the academy.

  That’s when it hits me. Bianca passed her exams because she’d spent years studying. But I’ve just arrived—essentially a blank slate—with no memories of her experiences and no idea what’s going to be on the test.

  I’m in trouble. What will happen if I fail?

  Well, that’s optimistic... more like when I fail.

  “Are you alright? You suddenly look pale,” my mother says, her tone full of concern.

  If only she knew...

  “My head,” I say, feigning discomfort. “I’ll finish this plate and then head back to rest.”

  “Of course, dear. Remember, you leave early tomorrow for the countryside. You’ll be able to study more peacefully there and do one final review. Once summer ends, I’ll accompany you to the academy.”

  “Yes. By the way...” I hesitate, unsure how to phrase this. “I’d like to see my stats.”

  “Your what?” my older brother asks.

  “My intelligence levels, my magic…”

  “Your chart? You’re acting strange today, Bianca,” the youngest pipes up.

  “Yes, please.”

  I try to keep my racing heart under control. I need to know if this body has power. My gamer instincts haven’t been able to focus on anything else since I woke up here.

  “Dear, I’ll ask Layla to make you a strong tea. Your chart has been on your desk ever since we took you to the capital’s square as a child to touch the stone. They copied everything onto a parchment for you, and you’ve treasured it ever since. Now, go rest for a while. You can’t afford to get sick so close to the exam—it’s just a month and three days away.” She dramatically presses 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, alarmed.

  Okay, time to fake a fainting spell or something. No way am I explaining that I have no idea where her beloved daughter is—or that I’ve unintentionally stolen her body.

  Now that I think about it… what if Bianca is in my body on Earth?

  The idea of someone else occupying and using my body makes me dizzy. Honestly, pretending to faint is easy. I let them take me back to my room.

  That month away, at the country house, will be a blessing for me. It’ll give me time to figure out more about Bianca.