Exams... No one likes exams. But if it was super easy because you've learned about it multiple times in this life and the previous, then it wasn't so bad. In fact, it was quite nice since there's no classes during the exam period and we could all return earlier.

Instead of the exam, my mind was filled with the next event which would be coming up after the mid semester exams... the Spring Festival Holiday.

It's the festival where the heroine would essentially pick the capture target she wanted to conquer.

In the game, the heroine would go to the Spring Festival Holiday with all of the capture targets who "coincidentally" invited her to go with them alone on different days. Then, at the end of it all, she got to choose who she'll be rooting for during the annual royal academy tournament and the route she'll be progressing through to capture their hearts.

Aria, who was also a reincarnated person, would definitely use this chance to get close to the capture target, and this is bad news for me and my besties... Because if she picked a capture target, then either me or my besties would become her target because we are supposedly the "villainess" in the capture target's route.

So... I need to invite them first on the day they should be going with the heroine and thwart her plans!

And the first one I'll have to invite is... Alex.

He'll be the first person who invited the heroine to the Spring Festival in the otome game, so I need to get to him first before the others. I can't risk being late and have Aria invite him first.

So, right after this morning's exam, I went to Alexus's class to search for him.

"Eh? I-It's Lorya-sama!"

"Wow... She's so pretty..."

"W-What is she doing here in the second year department...?!"

"Ah, could it be... I-Is she searching for his highness?!"

"That's right! Lorya-sama and his highness are engaged~!"

"They're such a perfect couple~"

"Awwwhh~ She must've missed him after being so busy studying for the exams that she came here personally to find him~"

"Really? That's so romantic~"

...

W-What the hell are these girls fantasizing about...?

As I walked through the hallway to Alex's class, I couldn't help but overhear many second year students around me whispering about me missing him or something along the lines...

Hah... They must've been super bored from the exams that they latch onto anything entertaining and began fantasizing.

I'm not here because I miss him! He invites me to dinner every other day, and we kept in contact through letters! If anything, it feels like I meet him every day!

I'm here on a mission, guys! For my safety and my besties' safety!!!

I then began ignoring all of them... But of course, I still greeted them courteously because I'm an elegant, graceful, and polite young lady.

As soon as I reached the entrance to his class, I approached a cute, timid-looking girl who was staring at me.

"Excuse me. May I know if Alexus-sama is still here?"

"E-Eh?! A-Ah, yes! H-His highness is still inside."

"I see. Then, may I humbly ask you to call him for me. I would call him myself, but it would be inappropriate for me to enter a senior's class myself without permission."

"O-Of course! Please wait a moment!"

"Thank you very much."

The girl quickly entered, and before I knew it, the door opened again, this time with Alexus who looked very surprised.

That was... really fast.

"Risa...?"

"Good morning, Alexus-sama."

I smiled at him, and his expression quickly turned from surprise to his usual smiling countenance.

Then, before I continued talking to him, I looked at the timid girl and bowed my head.

"Thank you very much for your help. I truly appreciate it."

"I-I-It's nothing! Please raise your head, L-Lorya-sama!"

I raised my head and thanked her once again before returning my attention towards Alexus.

"Alexus-sama, may I perhaps have some of your time to discuss a matter?"

"Of course. Let's find some quieter place to talk."

I quickly agreed and we both headed towards the courtyard on the left wing of the royal academy. Since it was currently right after today's exam ended, it was still devoid of people.

"So? What would you like to talk about, Risa?"

We sat on a bench under the shade of a tree together. He's also sitting... close to me. Like... really close. Our shoulders are not touching, but it was only a few centimeters away from each other.

Moreover, he was also looking at me with that gentle smile. The kind of smile you'd see at the end of an otome game when you finally captured him and got the happy ending.

Ugh... As expected. He's handsome, alright. A worthy rival indeed for this prince...

"It's about the Spring Festival Holiday."

"Oh? Do you have something in mind for it? Is Eden having an event and releasing a new product?"

"Nn, Eden releasing a new product, but Laura and Vincent have it under control, so there's no need for me to go personally. So..."

"Hm?"

Ughh... Why am I feeling nervous now...? It's as if I'm... I'm asking for a date!

This isn't a date though! I think... I-I mean, w-we won't be alone together!

Phew... Calm down, Alterisa! You can do it!!!

"On the first day of the festival... W-Would you like to come with me to the city?"

"Eh?"

AAAAAHHHH!!! IT'S SUPER EMBARASSING!!!

W-Why is this embarrassing?! I've invited him to hangout countless times before! This isn't any different!!!

"Do you mean... Us... together... Alone...?"

"U-Uhn... W-Will that be a problem...? I-I mean... I'll of course bring Anna, Maria-chan, and Iris with me, but..."

I fidgeted nervously, wondering what he'll say. And when I glanced up, I saw the most brilliant smile of happiness on his face.

"Of course. I would love that. I'll reserve the best restaurant for us and prepare escorts so we can explore the festival without any worries."

Ah, he accepted...

But why is my heart still beating so quickly...? My face is also super hot... I should've felt relief... After all, I've successfully done the first step in thwarting the heroine's plan...

Ughhh what's wrong with me!!! This isn't like me at all! I need to splash my face with water or something!!!

"U-Uhn, thanks!!! T-Then, I'll see you then! I-I need to go now! Bye!"

I stood up and quickly run away to the nearest ladies' room and splash my burning face with water.

I looked up to the mirror, and saw an unfamiliar, redly blushing, and flustered face of myself in it...

"...The hell is going on with me...?"

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

It took a while for me to calm down...

For some reason, my heart was beating super fast even after I successfully invited Alexus to the Spring Festival... Seems like I was much more nervous about the event than I thought.

I would've loved to just return to my dorm room and relax for the rest of the day, but I'm not done yet!!!

I still need to find Lu-nii, contact the girls, and somehow contact Keith and Wilhelm and invite them too.

With Anne, Iris, and Maria-chan in tow, I searched around for Lu-nii.

Honestly, there's only a few places he'd visit, which was his classroom, the student council office, and his own room. He doesn't hang around much elsewhere, so it should be quite easy to find him.

And as I expected, I quickly found him when I came to the student council office. He was going through some sort of file or something alone in the room. The other members of the student council weren't present.

"Ah, Lu-nii, here you are! What are you doing?"

"Hm? Risa? I'm waiting on Alexus to discuss some business about the student council. He's unusually late, though."

"Ah, that might be because of me... I was talking to him a bit earlier. Though, he should have returned by now..."

That's strange... We finished talking quite a while ago... I even return to my dorm room first to pick up Anne, Iris, and Maria-chan because I don't want to walk alone through the academy with the heroine still roaming around.

"Hm? What... were you talking about?"

"Oh, I invited him to the Sprint Festival to walk around together."

"Eh...?"

Lu-nii blinked twice and began staring at me in shock.

"You... invited him... on a date?"

"I-I-It's not a date!!! I-I just... I-Invited him first before the heroine could!!! You know about the Spring Festival Holiday event, right?! I'm thwarting her plans so she won't be able to progress through you guys' routes!!!"

"Oh... I see. Yeah, I think Lily mentioned something about that too..."

A helpless smile appeared on his face before he returned his gaze to the documents in his hands.

"So? What do you want to ask of me?"

"I've already planned on going with you to the festival too the day after my outing with Alex. I've also invited Lily, so you better come, alright!"

"Alright. I've heard about this from her too. I'll go and prepare the escorts for us."

"Fufu~ It's good that you're being so obedient~ As expected of Lily~"

"..."

"Great~! Then, I'll go and invite the others too~! Bye~"

"Bye..."

Then, I went and searched for the girls, including Ellie, and invited them to go to the Spring Festival that would be held in the royal capital as well.

And thankfully, they all agreed happily!

"Of course~! I would love to, Risa-sama~!"

"Y-Yes! I will make the appropriate preparations for our outing!"

"Thank you very much for the invitation, Alterisa-sama!"

"T-Thank you very much! I-I would love to!"

Evelyn, Illya, Noir, Ellie, Valerie-chan, and Celine all immediately agreed and began excitedly discussing what they're going to do in the festival.

Fufu~ How cute~ They're like children excited to go to a festival~

"Ah, you can also bring whoever you want, okay? Noir, You can bring your big brother too if you wish."

"Eh? Is it okay...?"

I nod with a smile. After all, I'm doing this so the heroine won't be able to invite them to the festival!

I then turn towards Evelyn and Valerie-chan.

"Also, if you'd like, you can invite Wilhelm and Keith-sama as well."

"E-Eh? Why, Risa-sama...?"

"Yeah! Why do we also have to invite them, Risa-chan?"

"We've known both of them since our childhood, after all, so we should at least invite him."

And they're both capture targets, so we can't let them go with the heroine instead...

"Uuuuuhh... Okay. If Risa-chan said so..."

"Hah... I understand. I will extend your invitation to him, Risa-sama." "Ufufufu~ Thank you, girls~"









AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please vote and comment your thoughts~!