"Eir, look! Our family estate is just up ahead," Pixie said, her smile dazzling as she glanced at Eirik.

Eirik looked up and saw it: a grand, classical manor unfolding before him. The estate sprawled endlessly, with a maze of courtyards and buildings that seemed to twist and turn, a labyrinth of elegance that dazzled the eye.

This is far more impressive than in the game! Eirik thought in awe.

The Ravenshadow family truly lived up to its reputation as the foremost house of scholars in Aelsryel. Their wealth and influence were staggering.

Pixie noticed the stunned expression on Eirik's face and felt a subtle thrill of satisfaction.

"Heh, looks like I got ahead of you, didn’t I, senpai?" Pixie’s grin was mischievous, her star-like eyes glittering with triumph.

Not long ago, a peculiar system known as the "Queen Training Program" had appeared in Pixie’s mind. At first, she dismissed it as a mere curiosity, but soon realized it was far more than that—it could predict future events and even allow her to rewind time at critical junctures.

With this kind of power, she felt unstoppable.

Nothing can stand in my way!

But there was something that irked her: despite the program’s incredible capabilities, her own talent was rated blue, the lowest tier. True, she was still a purple-tier mage, but her power wasn’t derived from magic—it was from wealth. Without the Ravenshadow family's immense resources, she wouldn’t be where she was today.

This fact gnawed at her. She’d always prided herself on being a genius, but the more she thought about it, the more it stung. No matter what path she took, her family was doomed.

In one simulation, her family had been wiped out during the Dark Chaos unleashed by the demon tree. Hardly anyone survived, and she herself had fallen to the creature’s wrath.

In another timeline, her senpai and Eirik had destroyed the tree, but the damage had already been done. Her family’s downfall was sealed when her father, the head of the Ravenshadow household, secretly allied with demons and made an enemy of her senpai. The family had crumbled, its core members dead, and with them, any hope for Pixie’s future.

Even if she survived, what was the point? With her blue-tier talent, she would be lucky to scrape by. Becoming the strongest mage, let alone the queen of magic, was nothing more than a pipe dream.

Am I really the protagonist of this game?

That night, Pixie tossed and turned in her bed, kicking off her blankets in frustration.

Where is my escape?

Then, a breakthrough came to her—her senpai had found someone with a gold-tier talent!

And not just any gold-tier—it was a talent for learning magic!

If Pixie could recruit him, she would have the perfect partner. Even with her own blue-tier talent, she could soar to purple-tier, maybe even gold-tier status.

Incredible!

But that wasn’t all. Eirik’s card in the game was ridiculously handsome, adorned with multiple stunning illustrations. Some of the artwork even had golden borders.

Pixie quickly checked her household’s retainers—each and every one of them was mediocre at best. Barely any blue-tier talents, and some had black-tier talents with negative traits. She was furious.

How did senpai find someone like this? I want him!

In the game, Pixie had tried everything to recruit Eirik—bribes, promises, persuasion—but nothing worked. He refused to join her.

Then, in real life, she found out there was actually someone named Eirik living in Aelsryel City—and he looked exactly like his in-game portrait!

Her excitement soared. In the game, senpai had married Eirik in one timeline. But now?

This time, he’s mine!

"Miss Ravenshadow, why are you staring at me and smiling like that?" Eirik asked, puzzled by her odd expression.

"Huh? Oh! I’m just happy that someone as talented as you is joining the Ravenshadow family," Pixie replied, her smile as bright as ever.

Is it just me, or is there something... off about this girl? Eirik thought, scratching his head.

Before he could say anything else, a sudden burst of magical light flashed across the sky. A figure emerged from the fading glow—a breathtaking mage, her raven-black hair flowing like silk, her skin as pale and flawless as moonlight. She radiated an aura of cold majesty, as though she had descended from the heavens themselves.

Elvynna!

Eirik’s heart skipped a beat. She was even more stunning in real life than in the game. He couldn’t tear his eyes away.

Elvynna gazed at him with unmistakable affection, her deep, luminous eyes shimmering with warmth. For her, this was not a first meeting—it was a reunion after what felt like an eternity of separation. She fought the urge to run to him, to throw her arms around him.

"Senpai!" Pixie greeted sweetly, her voice high-pitched and innocent, as she bowed respectfully to Elvynna. But then, in one swift motion, she subtly positioned herself between Elvynna and Eirik, blocking their line of sight.

Her delicate features looked angelic, but there was a slyness in her smile, a hint of mischief.

Elvynna frowned slightly.

You little bitch I know exactly what you’re doing.

Had it been anyone else, Elvynna would have already put them in their place. But the Ravenshadow family had once helped her, so she held back her irritation and spoke calmly. "Pixie, this man cannot join the Ravenshadow family. He is someone I’ve chosen."

"Oh, senpai, I didn’t know that!" Pixie replied playfully, flashing a sly smile. "But I like him too, and doesn’t the rule of ‘first come, first served’ apply?"

First come, first served? You shameless brat.

Elvynna’s patience was running thin. She could tell that Pixie had been involved in the simulations, too. She was just as desperate to claim Eirik for herself as Elvynna was.

I can’t believe you’re doing this, Pixie. You really think you can take him right in front of me?

Elvynna took a deep breath and smiled, but her voice was firm. "Pixie, how about we let him decide for himself? After all, he’s a person, not some object or prize."

Pixie gave Eirik a sidelong glance, her smile unwavering.

So, you think he’ll choose you, senpai?

Pixie was confident that Eirik wouldn’t remember the simulations. If that was the case, she had just as good a chance of winning his favor.

With that thought, she stepped aside, her eyes gleaming with anticipation as she looked at Eirik.