--Charlotte Cremeria is the daughter of one of the most powerful military families in the kingdom.


　She is twelve years old this year. She has long, milk-tea colored hair that is soft. Her sideburns reach down to her cheeks, and her small face is filled with so much radiance that her eyes are said to be filled with amber.


　Her family is one of the most famous families that have created the historical kingdom style of fine swordsmanship, and her father is the general Perce Cremeria, a great nobleman who is in charge of the eastern frontier and leads the national army. He has a large territory in the east and a large mansion in the royal capital.


　She has a wide range of interactions with other nobles, both high and low, and is the daughter of a good family that has nothing to complain about.
　The daughter of a high class nobleman is a princess who is loved as a butterfly and a flower because of her good origin, but Charlotte's father insists that even a nobleman's princess must have a taste for swords, so she devotes part of her education to fine sword fighting.


　Therefore, on this day, she was working on her sword skills.
　The place was one of the several training grounds owned by House Clemellia in the capital. It is particularly large among the ones in the capital, frequented by the children of nobles, and is said to be of the highest quality.


　The spacious room with many windows near the ceiling is bright and the sunlight hits the floor.
　The room is bright and sunny, with several lighted windows near the ceiling, and many students are shouting enthusiastically, fighting and thrusting.
　The man Charlotte is matching swords with is an older man, one of her father Perth's high school students.
　He is muscular and broad-shouldered, giving the impression that he is standing in front of a stone wall.


　Basically, he learns swords from his father (Parth) and brother (Wayne), but they have their own jobs and don't always have time for him. So, when they are not around, the best of the best will train you.


　...... He would hold his wooden sword in one hand and thrust it out, concentrating half-heartedly.
　The other person facing you does the same, opening his or her body sideways with the right half of his or her body forward, extending the reach of your thrust.


　This is the basic stance of Royal Fine Swordsmanship.
　The opponent is an adult. The difference in size between the two would normally make it impossible for him to win, but since he has set the conditions, there is no problem.
　As I was gathering my breath and watching carefully for any sign of movement...


　Suddenly, from a standstill, a thrust like a gale appears like a vision.
　I followed it, which I had perceived a moment before the behavior occurred, and when I deviated from the trajectory, my opponent's thrust pierced the place where I had been with a moment's delay.


　Taking advantage of this, he thrusts his wooden sword into his neck, and the older man admits defeat, saying, "I am defeated.
　It was a victory. With this, I got two out of five today.


　...... I can see this "tip" every time, but even when I do, my body often cannot catch up. This is when the opponent moves too fast for my body to catch up.
　Therefore, even if I can see the opponent's movement, I often lose the game.


　After a while, I was being evaluated by the older man about my movement, when I suddenly noticed a large presence.
　It was my father, Perce Clemellia, who had entered the training area with a display of bravado.
　The air in the hall became even tighter as he appeared with a sense of authority.
　My father walked toward me while calling out to his students around him.


"Father.

"Char. You've been working hard today, haven't you?

Yes. Yes, I took two from Master Zell today.


　When I told him the result of the match, he looked surprised.


"......!　So, you can beat Zell now?

Yes.


　I bowed my head, trying to be polite.
　The older man, who was playing with him, gave my father a series of praises in the form of a report. "The princess is a genius," he said. "The princess is a genius.


　When I was embarrassed by the praise, I turned my head and said, "Well, the princess is a genius.


"Well, you look as if you are looking into the future.

"What?


　The older man's sudden words made her shoulders jump.
　You're looking into the future. Because that's exactly what he said.
　They can't see through me. My heart beats loudly, even though it shouldn't.


　It's because I feel a little guilty about that power. I wondered if it wasn't cheating to see the future like that. Isn't it not fair to use the foresight that only I can see to win the game? Such awareness exists in the back of my mind.
　As I froze, my father squatted down and put his hands on my shoulders.
　Then, from the same position, he looked at me with his dark gaze.


...... So you do have a natural disposition for swords.

Tenpin?

Yeah. Yeah. It's bigger than mine or Wayne's.


　My father calls it a talent, not a vague source of power that cannot be summed up in words, but a definite ability. He said that it is a high quality given by the heavens, a natural destiny.
　Those who are endowed with it say that they have powers that are beyond the reach of ordinary people.
　The royalty of a great nation, the heroes who make a name for themselves on the battlefield. They all have tremendous natural talents. That's why they are in the position they are in now.


　It seems that my father, my brother, and myself also have it.
　Is this natural disposition the power to see the future? I'm not sure, but...


"Char. It is not evil to use all the power you have in order to win. In fact, not using your full strength and cutting corners is the worst thing you can do in a game.

"Is that so?


　Yes, I think that was my own strength. But is it really okay to win like that? Is it really a victory of the sword to rely on a sense of divine revelation that seems to have come to you, even though the machine is yours? If you are going to compete for skill, shouldn't your initial point be the same as those around you?




　If you accuse me of cheating...


Char. The complaint that comes out of it is just jealousy. It's just an excuse for losing. Everyone does everything in their power to win. Failing to do so is a bad thing.


　My father saw through my inner anxiety and gave me a precise answer.

Remember that. Remember that.

"Yes.


　I nodded in response to my father's commanding words. Was he allowed to do so? I don't know for sure, but I think my anxiety has been lifted a little.


　Then, my father suddenly said.


"I can only feel, what about you?

"I can see.

I can see.　I can see. ...... Well, if it's you, you'll be the best swordsman in the kingdom.


　You can see the complexity in my father's face when he said that. I got the impression that he could not be honestly pleased.
　When I looked at him curiously, his expression returned to normal.


And you're not good enough to have such problems.

"Well, lately I've been able to beat not only Mister Zell, but others as well!

Hahaha, I see.


　My father laughed and nodded, but he didn't take me seriously.


"But, Charu. But Char, you must remember one thing.

What is it?

Even if you can see the destination, that doesn't mean it's absolute. Even if what you see is your defeat, you can change the outcome as long as you don't give up.

"Never give up. ......

That's right.


　My father said these words and then said.


"By the way, Char. What are you doing this afternoon?

Yes. I'm going to explore the city with Risha afterwards.

I see. Lisha's your friend and my collaborator's daughter. You must protect her.

Yes, sir.


　I nodded vigorously at my father's words. It is common for noblemen to think that those of lower rank should protect those of higher rank, but my father often spoke of the responsibility of those who are above. He said that subordinates are not their shields, but their protectors. They are there to protect us because we are there to protect them as a big umbrella. We should never take for granted that they will protect us.


　Lisha is the daughter of a viscount and a younger friend to me. She knows that she has to protect her if something happens to her.


　So.


"I swear on my sword.

"Mm.


　My father nodded his head in satisfaction as he swore on his sword.


"Father. May I have your permission to train you until the hour is up?

All right. --Take the sword.


　............ So, after a while of matching swords with my father, I wiped off my sweat, took a break, and went to the Count's mansion.
　When I returned to the mansion, I found that Lisha, who had come for me, had been shown into the parlor.


　When I entered the room, she stood up from the sofa and took a lady's bow.
　As always, Lisha is lovely. Her beautiful silver hair glistens in the sunlight and is pulled back into a ponytail. She wears a blue ribbon, a frilly blouse, and a blue skirt. Her lips are pale and her cheeks are full. Every part of her is doing its part to enhance her loveliness.


　What I especially like are her eyes. Red, beady eyes. I especially like her red, beady eyes, with a glint of straightness and honesty in them.


　It's a good idea to take a look at the website to see if you can find any useful information.


　...... The main areas of the capital are patrolled by guards, so security is good. It's a good idea to take a look at the information on the web to get a better idea of what you're looking for.
　As Lisha and I walked, we talked about what we were up to. We talked about the progress of our studies and training, talked about other families, gossiped about other families, and talked about the latest fads in ornaments.


　Eventually, the conversation turned to what they had left at the party.


Yes, ...... for Mr. Arx.

"Yes. Take it to your brother.


　Apparently, Lisha had left the evidence of wrongdoing from the nightclub with her brother.


　--Arx Raytheft. He's a boy who was disgraced and disinherited by Joshua Raytheft, the head of the Raytheft family and Risha's brother.
　The reason for his disinheritance is said to be a lack of talent.
　The reason for his disinheritance is said to be a lack of talent, as he lacked the magical power necessary for his family.


　The amount of magic power is an important factor for a military man whose strength lies in his magical talent.


　The amount of magic power is an important factor for a soldier. If you have a lot of magic power, it will be a factor in defeating the same mage, and you can rely on that amount of magic power to defeat many enemy soldiers.
　To put it bluntly, it is the ability of succession. How much you can fight, how long you can fight. How long can you stay in the battlefield?


　It's no wonder the Viscount thinks that's so important. If you are the head of a military family, you have to stand on the battlefield and command your troops. Mage commanders must take the initiative in using magic, and if their level of magic is the same as that of ordinary mages, they will not be able to show the people around them.


　It is a pity that everything is determined by birth, but it is unavoidable considering the family.
　The amount of magic power will never change.
　The Raytheft family places particular importance on the amount of magic power, so they must have been cut off early.


　That's why the other side gracefully asked for the engagement to be dissolved.
　However, Lisha seems to have a different opinion of him.


"I think it's safe for you to have it.

You trust Arx-kun, don't you?

"Yes.


　Lisha's face broke out. When she talks about Arx, she looks quite happy.
　I think it's because he's a kind and loving brother.


　I've been introduced to a number of boys my own age through my association as a ...... nobleman. In the event that you're not sure what to do, you can always ask for help. Some have the bearing of aristocrats and behave elegantly. Some were so wealthy that they neglected their studies and training.


　Let's imagine the Arks based on Risha. In my mind's eye, I see a thin, gentle boy with silver hair like Lisha. A boy with a rather introverted impression, who seems to have nothing to do with rough things.


　I imagine him standing side by side with his fiancée.


　It still doesn't feel right.


"Miss Charlotte.

What is it?　Lisha.


　In response to the sudden call, Lisha cast her eyes down anxiously.


Is visible talent that important ......?

...... Well, I don't know. I'm not sure about that either.


　I don't know," he said, "but if you think about it in the context of the aristocracy, it's still .


But we nobles are the ones who stand on top of others. To be on top of someone, you need the right kind of power. Maybe you need to be more talented than normal. If the talent is great, it will naturally become visible.

"......, is that so?


　Risha may not be happy with her brother Arx's disadvantage.


　--But what if you apply his situation to yourself?


　What if I had no talent for swords and was treated as coldly as he was? If I had been born in another family, I wonder how I would have fared.
　When I think about it, it still seems unreasonable.


　Regardless of one's intentions, one's initial point of origin is determined by birth, and no matter how hard one tries, it cannot be reversed.


　If I were to find myself in such a situation...