Why are my arms so feeble? I guess a seven-year-old’s physical strength is practically nonexistent. On my twenty-third push-up, I collapse to the floor and can’t find the strength to get back up. But this is my all-important training to become a first-class villainess.

I steel my resolve and somehow manage to finish the set of fifty.

All those calisthenics have woken me up, so I might as well try my first back handspring in years. I’m tiny, and this room is pretty big, so I can probably go for three in a row.

With vigor, I flip my body backward. I see the floor, and I am suddenly hit with a sense of nostalgia.

One, two…three times. I did it! That last one was a little wobbly, but I did it! Muscle memory carries over from past lives apparently.

After all that exercise, I’m finally getting sleepy again.

I head straight to bed.

I get up early again the next day. One look at the clock, and I realize I have thirty minutes until Rozetta comes to wake me up. But my brothers probably get up even earlier for sword practice, so I can’t let them outdo me. Time to start with some sit-ups.

And before I realize it, I finish my set of a hundred.

Whoa! Alicia, were you actually gifted after all? I’m surprised I don’t have any muscle soreness, either…

I wonder why she was so useless in the game, then. It was probably all that coddling she got growing up. That means if I raise my skills early on, I can become an even better villainess than Alicia was in the game! Ahh, just the thought of it makes me smile.

I steady my breathing, get dressed, and exit my room. As I pass by the garden, I spot my brothers training. Agh, the more I watch them, the more I want to join in.

My brothers all have violet eyes, like our father. The way they catch the morning sun is absolutely breathtaking. And I can’t help but lament the fact that I ended up with golden eyes that match our mother’s. Violet eyes just feel so much eviler. But I won’t be discouraged! It’s what’s on the inside that counts. I keep consoling myself with these thoughts as I head for the library.

I spend thirty minutes searching a different section than yesterday. But I still can’t find any books on magic. I never thought it would be easy to locate them, but I can’t believe it is so arduous.

Oh well, guess I’ll read about zoology today.

After repeating that routine for a few days, the week is over. Word in the house is that I sneak off somewhere after waking up every day. Everyone became so worried that someone even suggested they call a doctor to check on my head. Talk about rude? I am perfectly sane.

No one even considered that I was in the library. But I don’t blame them. At the dinner table, Father would always ask me where I had been all day, but I would just smile and evade the question.

During the past week, I also went through a dramatic growth spurt. And I’m not talking about my height. I can read ten books in an hour now. And since I read for about ten hours every day, that means I can read one hundred books a day. At first, this realization surprised me and even creeped me out a little, but I can’t help it. My brain’s processing capabilities seem rather advanced.

I also developed my physical strength. It’s difficult to tell just by looking, but I can now reliably do five hundred sit-ups and three hundred push-ups. I can perform backflips, back handsprings, and somersaults at will, too. Is it just me or are my physical abilities a little too superhuman?! Maybe this is just standard when you live in a magical world.

These thoughts circle my mind as I look for Albert for my first sword lesson.

What is this incredible aura? And where is it coming from?

Besides my brothers, there are a few other people in the garden today. Oh, I see. Those are all the other romanceable characters in the otome game.

I study them from behind a pillar. And they really are handsome enough to melt your eyes.

But I’m surprised I get to meet them so soon. Am I the luckiest person in the world? Well, now’s my chance to make my big first impression as the badass villainess.

As I look them over, I rack my brain for any past-life memories of them.

The one with the flaming red hair is Eric Hudson. He’s ten years old and specializes in fire magic. He’s the tallest of the group.

The one with sparkling golden hair is Finn Smith, also ten. He specializes in light magic. He’s a bit short in stature and possesses a boyish charm.

Gale Evans, the one wearing glasses and with the mystical gray hair, is twelve years old. He specializes in wind magic and feels a bit more mature than the others.

And finally, the other twelve-year-old, with dark green hair in a ponytail, is Curtis Kenwood. He’s the best-looking of them all and specializes in green magic.

Green magic does not fit in with the five elements. In this world, besides the five major types—dark, light, water, wind, and fire—there are many other varieties of magic. The high-ranking nobles who can use one of the five major elements of magic are called the Great Five noble families.

Oops, right, there’s one more boy. The king’s son, Duke Seeker. He’s twelve years old and specializes in water magic, just like his father. With dark blue hair like the ocean and light brown skin, he’s incredibly handsome and also rather tall…

Actually, he’s totally my type. He’s on a whole nother level compared with the others. But he and the heroine end up together in the otome game’s Happy Ending. Oh well, I guess I’ll let the heroine have him.

Now that I remember everyone, I better go introduce myself.

I take a deep breath and make my way toward the handsome boys.

“Good morning, gentlemen.”

As I greet them with a soft smile, they all turn to look at me. I can feel the blood rushing to my face, seeing them up close like that.

“So this is Al’s little sister?”

“Super cute!”

“Wow, she’s so tiny.”

Their eyes sparkle as they look at me. Quick, how would a villainess react in this scenario? She would be anything but modest, of course. So I suppose I should simply agree with their remarks about my good looks. Wait, no! Introduce yourself first. I don’t want them to think I’m an insolent brat who doesn’t know her manners.

“My name is Alicia,” I say as I lift the hem of my skirt and curtsy.

“Hey, Henri, Alan. She’s nothing like what you told us,” one of them mutters.

Alan, Henri… What in the world did you say about me? Well, I think I have a good guess.

“So, Alicia, what brings you out here?” Albert asks.

What brings me out here? Don’t tell me you forgot! I’ve been pounding the basics into my muscles for a whole week for this day!

I swallow my words before they can come out and calm my temper. Then I firmly announce: “You’re going to teach me the sword.”

They give me that same dumbfounded expression as before. Except this time, the other handsome boys join in.

Did I really say something that surprising?

“I was only going to do that if you did your sit-ups and push-ups every day, remember?” Albert chides me, a smile on his face.

But I did do them! In fact, I did way more than you assigned, Brother dearest. What kind of fool do you take me for?

I’m getting angrier, and I can feel my cheeks puffing out. Oh dear, that’s a very immature way to show my anger. Well, I am still just a little girl. On the outside, at least. No! My resolve as a villainess isn’t strong enough yet. I can’t help myself. My feelings keep winning over reason.

“Ooh, she’s cute when she’s angry.”

Curtis, we don’t need your commentary for this scene. Could you please put a sock in it?

“Ali, swords are dangerous. They’re not for children.” Albert pats my head gently. Why did I ever think head pats were swoon-worthy in my past life? If anything, they infuriate me now. Swoon? More like spew.

I lightly slap his hand away, and Albert’s expression stiffens. As do the expressions of all the other boys behind him. In the blink of an eye, the once peaceful atmosphere takes a tense turn.

Ummm…what am I supposed to do now? Why can’t I remember when it’s most important…? Whatever. I’ll just trust my gut!

I pull the smaller of the swords out of my brother’s belt.

Ack! Are swords always this heavy? Okay, I can see why you’d need weight training.

But the results of my hard work are showing. I could barely hold my own body weight just a week ago, but now I’m strong enough to swing a sword…barely.

I make my way over to the base of an apple tree, take a deep breath in, and concentrate all my strength into my foot. I measure the position of an apple that is about to fall and kick the trunk with all my might.

You’ll fall for me, right? If you don’t, I’m going to be very embarrassed.

I calculate the falling apple’s trajectory the way the books taught me. Good thing I read all those. Then I swing the sword with all my might.

When I turn around and check the ground, I spot two halves of an apple.

Holy crap…I actually did it!

When I look up, everyone’s eyes are wide open. And they stand there, frozen in place like statues. I wish they’d give me some kind of reaction. But isn’t this my opportunity to make my mark like a true villainess?

After taking a deep breath, I meet Albert’s gaze head-on. “I thought I told you not to patronize me, Brother. I have a goal, and I will overcome anything that stands in my way.”

Beautiful. That was exactly the sort of line a villainess would say. And I will do whatever it takes to achieve my goal.

“That’s amazing.”

Duke is the first to speak. He watches me intently as the corners of his mouth rise ever so slightly.

He was completely indifferent to me before, so his staring is a little sudden and jarring. Under his penetrating blue eyes, I can feel my body heating up fast.

Albert picks up the two halves of the split apple, studying them. Rather than his usual smile, a grave face meets mine as he turns to me. “Are you sure you want to learn how to wield a sword?”

That’s what I’ve been telling him all along, but I suppose he didn’t get the message. I nod eagerly, and Albert falls silent with thought.

Then he murmurs: “All right.”

One moment… Did you, perchance, say “all right” just now? Does that mean you’re going to teach me?

“Omigod, you mean it?!”