4 The Male Protagonist of the Game

My heart was racing inside my chest. I was up close and personal with no other than my ultimate bias, Vladford.

I looked up and saw the male protagonist with much of his splendor. He looked my way and gave me a sincere smile.

'Oh my gosh!' I screamed internally. 'I feel like my heart will explode. I can drop dead now for all I care.'

The male protagonist stood up from his seat and walked towards me. My heart was racing inside my chest, and I was telling it to calm down.

'What if my bias will hear your loud thumping, my heart.' I scolded it.

In a blink of an eye, he was right in front of me. His black raven hair was styled to the back. Some bangs are covering his eyes. Those eyes that were of deep blue was lookin directly at me. I was captivated with his beauty from where I stood. This is the halo of the male protagonist.

"Thank you, my lady Rosaline." Vladford took my right hand and pressed his lips in the back of my hand. "I welcome you to the celebration of my name day. I wish you will have a fun time here."

"You have grown up to be such a fine young lad, little duke Vlaford." My father said.

"Please my lord duke, you can call me by my nickname as always." Vladford said. "Knowing that the 'Ford' in my name came from your name. You are my godfather of sorts."

"Hahaha yes yes, Vlad." My father laughed heartily. "Then call me uncle. Let us forgo the honorifics. We will become family soon."

"You can also call me by my nickname, my lady." Vladford said to me.

"Y-Yes…" I was stunned. "Then, V-Vlad." I smiled.

"I am happy to see you here my lord Frankford." The duke of Heathfield said. "Come now Vlad, escort your soon to be fianceé. We old ones will be here to talk about boring things."

"Yes, my lord father." Vladford nodded. "Shall we them my lady." He reached out his hand.

"Y-Yes…" I said stuttering.

I took his hand, and he escorted me in the main hall.

"H-How are you doing my lord?" I started a conversation. "I heard that you have applied to become a sword of the Wings of the Phoenix knights."

The Wings of the Phoenix Knights is the knightage of the duchy of Heathfield. They are the sworn knights that are under the Duke of Heathfield.

"Yes, I have." Vladford replied. "Like all heirs to the duchy of Heathfield, it is a rite that I need to take."

Vladford looked tense while saying this.

"I am sure you are nervous and worried." I said. "Many people in the duchy expect many things from you. Just do your best and I am sure everything will be fine." I smiled.

"Heh, strange." Vladford said.

"Huh, what is strange?" I asked.

"Other people would say 'You can do it', or 'It is expected of you to pass', and 'We believe you can do it' as can do it' as encouragement." Vladford said. "But you… you told me to do my best. It is quite refreshing to hear."

"Then I am glad to say it." I said and smiled.

Then I saw him give a genuine smile. Not the smile he has been showing me as generosity but the truest one I have seen thus far.

"Vlad!" A voice of a girl called. "There you are!"

I looked the way of the voice and saw a girl of my age. She has short platinum blonde hair and gray eyes. Her looks were average to say the least. The girl walked towards us and hugged the male protagonist almost immediately that I was shocked by who she was to do such a thing.

"Happy name day Vlad!" The girl said with a heartfelt smile.

"Haha, thanks Hilna." Vladford replied. He was smiling so genuinely to the girl, something that I as so hard to get a few moments ago.

"Let me introduce you, Rosaline this is hilna, my childhood friend." Vladford said. "Hilna, this is Rosaline, my intended."

'Oh my gosh!!! It is the female love interest!' I screamed internally.

"It is nice to meet you, Rosaline." Hilna said.

"It is nice to meet you as well, Hilna." I replied.

Vladford and Hilna started talking to each other. Their chemistry with each other was really a match just by looking at them. They were laughing while talking.

'I cannot believe I am seeing the male protagonist and his love interest.' I thought. 'Well, for now they are just friends. Their relationship will go to a whole new level after the hardships the male protagonist will face.'

*CLING CLING*

I heard the clinking of a drinking glass, a sign to call the attention of the guests.

"Here ye, here ye." Some yelled. "The duke will give his opening speech."

All the attention of all the visitors fall upon the duke of Heathfield.

"To our honored guests, thank you all for coming to my one and only son's birthday." The duke of Heathfield said with a loud voice for all to hear. "As you know, my heir is already sixteen. He has applied to the become a sword of the Wings of the Phoenix knights, a rite that all of the heir to the duchy of Heathfield must take. Now feast your eyes as my son show us his power as heir to the duchy of Heathfield., the heir to the Phoenix!"

The people around gave a round of applause. I looked at the male protagonist standing beside me tense up, but he still maintains his composure and smile. I squeezed his hand instinctively to give him my support. He glanced my way when he felt me squeeze his hand.

'Do your best.' I mouthed at him and gave him an encouraging smile.

The male protagonist's stiffness lifted as if it were never there in the first place. A confident young man now stands in his place. He walked outside of the main hall while the guest follows.

I follow the crowd when I felt some tug me by the arm. It was Hilna.

"This must be your first time seeing him in action." Hilna said to me. "I am sure you will be in for a surprise." She smiled.

My heart skipped a beat seeing her lovely smile. As I recall the female love interest of the male lead is some caring and kind. I feel that she and I can be close of friends.

"This is like an initiation rite for heirs that turns sixteen years old." Hilna said. "They would show the power bestowed upon them by the mana crystals."

"Oh…" I replied in anticipation.

This is an event that I saw as a prelude in the game. The male protagonist will show his skills to his vassals and invited guests. It not only shows his true power but also put the people under him in check. To tell them that the heir apparent is still blessed by the mana crystal that they are guarding.

'Who would know that I will see it with my own eyes.' I felt excited. 'To see magic is like a dream come true.'

It has not been a full day since I woke up in this world. As I know, I also have magic in me, but I have not yet tested it. I was excited to test my own magic powers.

The visitors gathered around an open field while I see the male protagonist stand at a distance. Night has already descended and the only illumination around are the fire from the torches which does not really give much of a light to the surroundings.

I see my father standing beside the duke of Heathfield. They are still conversing before the start of the show. The duchess of Heathfield, the male protagonist's mother was standing just beside them. Her face looked smug. She was looking at something as if irritated. I trailed where she was looking at and saw the male protagonist. That was when I remembered something in the intro of the game, that the duchess was in fact a traitor.

I was about to remember the early events of the game when a bright flash caught my attention.

"It is starting." Hilna said excitedly.

My eyes were now fixed upon the male protagonist. Ball of flames started to hover around him. I can hear the awe of the audience. Then a pillar of fire burst unto to the night sky. I was so amazed that I cannot get my eyes off of the light. When it dissipated, the male protagonists was seen at the center where the fire pillar was. Not long a pair of fiery wings emerged from his back. It was such a majestic sight.

"Look what he will do next." Hilna said to me.

I looked at the male protagonist in anticipation. He pulled out his sword and started to swing it. It was like he was sword dancing. The fiery wings were also swaying gracefully with his movements. I was mesmerized with the performance that when it was time for the closing, I was quite shocked and amazed.

"Fire bird, come to me!" Vladford shouted.

After his words a big fiery bird emerged out of nowhere. The fire from the bird has illuminated the whole field. It open it's enormous wings and flapped it a few times. I strong gush of wind hit the audience including me. The next thing I see was the bird flying into the night sky with the male protagonist on its back. He was laughing carefree and shouting with joy.

Seeing him with such a boyish look let me forget that he was the male protagonist of the game. That was when I decided that I will do my best to help him in every way I can.

'I promise… I will protect that smile.' I promised to my self.