* * *
“Now that I think about it, I once heard that as one’s loyalty to their master deepens, a divine beast’s appearance also changes.”
“…”
“Isn’t it exciting? Maybe one day I’ll grow even taller than you, master, and become a worthy subordinate. When I’m fully grown, I might even be able to summon Maya’s Stone!”
Bermut tilted his head slightly.
His face, which had once been boyish, was starting to show hints of manliness, though only a little.
Of course, he was still smaller and shorter than Jeanne.
I looked Bermut up and down before murmuring in a calm voice,
“Alright, I’ll wait. But you’d better grow quickly. If you’re still like this in a few years…”
“…”
“Yeah, that would be best.”
I pointed to the large landscape painting hanging on one side of the restaurant.
Bermut hiccuped at the sheer size of the painting that covered the entire wall.
I smiled ominously at him.
“Next time, I’ll make you recreate that in pointillism. Got it?”
Bermut, who had been silent, muttered with hollow eyes.
“Too many dots. Too many dots. It’s all dots. All dots…”
With a mentally shaken Bermut in tow, we left the restaurant.
Waiting by the carriage, Twitty and Berom waved enthusiastically.
Though the village’s scenery was peaceful, my heart felt heavy.
‘Jeanne enrolling in the academy wasn’t part of the original story. Not knowing the future is frightening, but…’
A cool breeze tousled my hair. I pulled out the pocket watch hanging from my neck and pressed the button to open it.
The second hand inside was ticking steadily forward.
One corner of my mouth lifted into a smile.
‘It’ll be fine. Jeanne is loved by Maya, after all.’
✽ ✽ ✽
News of Jeanne’s declaration to attend the academy after his return spread through the manor within a day.
Everyone wondered why the once haughty noblewoman had chosen studies over marriage, and Twitty, always the first to comment on the latest gossip, cried out indignantly.
“I’m telling you, it’s true! Not only did he take care of the bird Lilly was looking after, but he also gave me all the gifts he said he wouldn’t use. Why won’t anyone believe me?”
As the maids exchanged skeptical glances, they whispered in lowered voices.
“Twitty, are you exaggerating again? There’s no way the lady who always treated us like dirt would suddenly change overnight.”
“You’re always the first to badmouth her, so what made you change your tune?”
Twitty, feeling wronged, clutched his chest.
I clicked my tongue, eavesdropping on their conversation.
It seems one spy wasn’t enough to shake my image as a villainess.
‘Well, I guess there’s no need to try to win them over. It would be suspicious to suddenly act nice after all the things I’ve done.’
In truth, I didn’t need many maids.
I didn’t require anyone to help with bathing or dressing.
Rather than risk people finding out Jeanne’s secret, it was safer to maintain my villainous reputation.
‘I’ll just keep a straight face and avoid smiling too much.’
As I turned the corner with a blank expression, the maids’ gazes locked onto me.
But today felt different from usual. How should I put it?
Their eyes weren’t filled with fear, but with admiration.
“What’s going on? The only thing different is… the uniform.”
At the Etrance Academy, students wore uniforms of the same design regardless of gender.
It was both functional and aesthetically pleasing, designed by the empire’s most famous madame.
Honestly, I wanted to cut off my long hair that reached my waist, but I couldn’t risk anyone with sharp eyes realizing I was a man.
So instead of cutting it, I compromised by tying it neatly.
“Why are you staring?”
The maids, seeing me dressed differently than usual, exchanged glances with flushed faces.
I narrowed my eyes as I observed their suspicious behavior.
None of them could even meet my gaze, which only made things more suspicious.
One of the maids, Twitty, who had turned red, finally spoke.
“You’re just… so…”
So?
“…so handsome!”
With Twitty’s gushing, the maids on either side of his squealed, jumping up and down.
As I blinked in confusion, they seized the moment to chatter excitedly.
“How do you look so much like a knight in that uniform? You’re more beautiful today than I’ve ever seen, my lady!”
“Your pale skin makes the navy blue look so good on you. You’re more handsome than most noblemen.”
I felt my face flush under the maids’ adoring gazes.
I could always shut down Jerome’s constant teasing, but in front of these girls, I couldn’t utter a single word.
Unable to come up with a quick retort, I turned sharply.
The three maids quickly followed behind me.
“My lady, please, take us to the entrance ceremony, won’t you? We want to see you declare the academy’s rules looking so handsome!”
“Quiet.”
Embarrassed, I stopped in my tracks and snapped.
The maids immediately fell silent.
I hesitated as I saw their scared expressions, then added in a gruff voice.
“…I’ll show you after I’ve had some more training. I don’t want you to see me clumsy.”
Their fearful faces lit up again. As I walked quickly ahead, I could hear their whispers behind me.
“Isn’t he shy?”
“I’ve never seen his blush like that before.”
I had forgotten that I always became awkward in front of women.
As my racing heart finally began to calm down, I bumped into someone coming from the opposite direction.
“Where are your eyes? Watch where you’re going, idiot.”
There was only one person in this mansion who could curse me out so freely in the morning.
Cedrick, who had been grumbling, stopped and scanned me up and down.
As his gaze roamed over me, I grinned mischievously and struck a few model-like poses.
“How do I look? The maids just said I’m more handsome than any noble they’ve ever seen.”
“You’re hilarious. Where in the empire would you find a noble with such a tiny build like yours?”
I glared silently at Cedrick, who had hit a sore spot.
He was a good few heads taller than me, which only made his words sting more.
Cedrick was right, though.
Right now, Jeanne looked more like a pretty boy than anything else.
He couldn’t compare to the perfectly handsome Cedrick.
I muttered quietly to myself.
“Just wait. In five years, Jeanne will be a perfect young man like you.”
Well, by then, I wouldn’t be having these chats with Cedrick anymore.
I’d be retired and enjoying a peaceful life in Sacre. Humming, I asked him a question.
“By the way, Cedrick, which guild are you joining?”
I knew Cedrick hadn’t joined any guild yet, but I wanted to see if he might consider joining the same one as me.
Frowning as he walked down the hall with papers in hand, Cedrick replied.
“Why would I bother with something so tedious? I’m already busy enough helping my father. I don’t need to join a guild since I already have a set career path.”
Of course, as someone practically guaranteed a job in the finance department, Cedrick had no need for guild activities.
Still frowning, Cedrick continued.
“And one more thing: Don’t talk to me at the academy.”
I stopped in my tracks at his serious tone.
Seeing my reaction, Cedrick made a face, clearly annoyed.
I opened my mouth in protest.
“Are you embarrassed by me?”
“Yeah, and I have a feeling hanging around you will get me involved in some kind of trouble. If I miss out on being top of the class because of you…”
Cedrick sighed and shook his head.
He looked especially tired today, more so than usual.
Pressing his hand against his shadowed eyes, he warned me in a low voice.
“I won’t forgive you. Got it?”
“…”
“You’re not going to answer?”
Despite being siblings of the same Efilia Duchy, Cedrick had no intention of helping his clueless younger sister.
It hurt, but I couldn’t entirely blame him.
I had no idea how hard Cedrick had worked to become top of the class at the academy, especially without any magical talent.
I grumbled under my breath.
“…Fine.”
“And take a separate carriage.”
“Why? Should I start using formal speech with you too?”
“Now that you mention it, why don’t you?”
I covered my ears as Cedrick’s nagging voice grew louder.
His temper seemed to be getting worse with time.
“And one more thing.”
Cedrick, still focused on his scolding, grabbed my hands to pull them away from my ears.
“The entrance…”
A strange silence followed. I squinted at him and repeated.
“The entrance?”
“…”
“What about the entrance?”
Cedrick, who had seemed on the verge of saying something, suddenly tossed my hands aside and stomped off toward the carriage.
‘Honestly, he can never say anything sentimental.’
After spending so much time with Cedrick, I could guess what he had been trying to say, even without asking.
“Miss, you’re going to be late for the entrance ceremony!”
Bermut, waiting by the carriage, fussed at my dawdling.
I took a deep breath and clenched my fists.
‘I’ll say what Cedrick couldn’t.’
In this newly unfolding story, the tale was finally preparing to turn a new page.
With a faint smile, I took my first step forward.
“Welcome to the academy, Jeanne.”
* * *
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Cedric is cute
lol