- #1
Basic Story: Abandoned child learns she possessives magic, finds a magic sword, then is taken to the capital to hold hands with the king's son for reasons.
Female Lead: Ciel (later earns the last name Minerva) is honestly one of my favorite kind of Female leads. Sure she's overpowered (who isn't) but never s*upid and submissive. When people need Ciel to do something they have to converse with her until they come to an agreement and even if she isn't allowed to say no, she a least gets the other party to adjust so it's more agreeable for her. Ciel isn't selectively s*upid, reading body language, and noticing suggestive or flirtatious communication to know Cedric has a crush on her.
It's just nice seeing a girl be assertive about her autonomy and never being undermined by the plot to not notice things normal people will see in these types of romance stories where they would often play in those cliches.
She also possesses Caliberne a living magical plot sword that was supposed to be absorbed by the original female lead but Caliberne thought Ciel interesting and had stronger magic and chose Ciel instead. And since this sword was an obsession with Cedric in the book Ciel keeps that information to herself.
Male Lead : Cedric Deamant the yandere obsessive lover. It's the thing where if this were a real guy no, but we all read the tag and this is a romantic shoujo so we let loose what we call appropriate. The manipulating type, his levels are...
- Willing to hurt others who would hurt Ciel
- Intercept other ppl advances first before getting twisted about it.
- Would give Ciel whatever she wants so long as it doesn't involve leaving him.
Just hiding for plot stuff to describe levels:
SpoilerHe sincerely wants her to choose to love him. He does forcefully make her choose between renewed contract or marriage vow under magic oath, I said manipulative. Later we learn that event was motivated for Cedric learned a few years ago Ciel absorbed Caliberne and wants to keep her close so other kingdoms won't abduct her. So that whole you only get two choices was also done to keep her under his protection without informing her she possesses Caliberne.) So his most wild actions toward her have a reason behind them.
[collapse]General story Faults:
SpoilerAge Dissonant: You expect it from Ciel (being a reincarnation) but the adults treat her like an adult more than a child, such as offering a paid contract than just adopting a 12 girl as a ward of the castle. (like if she was 16 the contract would make sense because while she still is a minor 16-year-old has a lot more autonomy than a 12-year-old). Then Ciel was assigned as a teacher with no background or experience in the subject when they should have been taking classes together with Cedric. (First with magic than sword fighting, even if we the readers are informed that she is a 23-year-old fencing champion that isn't information for the people who know her as a 12-year-old.)
Later you see that child soldiers are a norm in this world so long as they have strong magic. (Child ab*se but ok modern-day author creating a fantasy world that doesn't have to.) But it's still a bit much for her to become a Commander at 14. Also at the other end with the boys acting too young for their age, for they are 12 but act 8 (babysitting and classroom assistant has taught me, 12 yr boys, even the better ones are not that adorable nieve. Like a 12 boy would know that holding a girl's hand doesn't mean they have to marry her.)
[collapse]Shout out to Caliberne the magic sword and entity of victory who delivers stellar commentary in Ciel's head. Would definitely share my popcorn with her.
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