Chapter 27
Transformation Magic wasn’t all that difficult a spell.
However, its perfection depended greatly on the caster’s meticulous observation and intuition.
Any mage who had received magical training could use Transformation Magic, but only highly skilled mages could transform into a perfect human or animal form.
In that regard.
Lu was a genius.
“There are no words to describe it but beautiful. To think such perfect magic exists.”
The Head Maid, amazed by his exceptional magical abilities, couldn’t tear her hands away from my face.
With my chin held in place, I glanced sideways at the mirror on the table.
‘Not bad.’
Just as the Head Maid said, the shell of Viscount Weatherwoods overlaid on my body was flawless.
Bright golden blond hair with a distinctly noble air, blue eyes. Skin brimming with vitality, height well above average. Even the subtle dimples and neatly aligned teeth.
This level of detail was practically a given.
Her well-groomed hands were pristine without a single callus, her shoulders and chest broad in perfect proportion, and her relatively slender waist sturdy.
True to the Weatherwoods bloodline, ears slightly small relative to his height. A bold yet kind eye shape, with a faint double eyelid on one side.
It was the perfect combination of the masculine body I desired and the features of Viscount Weatherwoods that the Head Maid wanted.
Today, too, I pondered Lu.
‘What can’t he do?’
The Head Maid took a step back, her gaze gradually growing misty.
“Anyone who sees you will think you’re splendid. You’re beyond reproach as the head of the Weatherwoods family.”
At least he didn’t look lacking compared to an egg.
“But the core is still a maid. A demoted maid, at that.”
“Yes, I know. But Miss Daizy, you seem awfully accustomed to it? Usually, when one’s gender flips, they feel awkward in all sorts of ways.”
“Well, I’m bold. There aren’t many men like me in the world, after all?”
The Head Maid looked at me with a slightly odd expression before giving an awkward smile.
“Even so, don’t be too bold at the Noble Assembly. Ha! My worries are piling up. I wonder if Miss Daizy can really pull this off, if she won’t cause any problems—especially no slip-ups in speech…”
I patted the Head Maid’s shoulder, filled with concern, and flashed a reliable smile.
The smiling face in the mirror looked quite handsome. Not as much as my younger sibling, but perfect for making a good first impression.
“You worry too much. Just give up. What’s done is done. If a problem arises, Lu will handle it like always.”
As I spoke, I pressed down firmly on the slightly protruding bangs.
This body’s hair wasn’t too curly, yet strands kept falling onto my forehead, which was annoying.
“Hm.”
I swept the bangs back more precisely and turned to the Head Maid.
“But wouldn’t shorter hair be better? I find long bangs bothersome.”
The Head Maid, who had been staring at me blankly, averted her gaze subtly and replied, “Is that so?”
I shoved my face close to hers and demanded.
“Or just pluck them out. These are really getting in the way.”
The Head Maid’s eyes widened. With her face flushing bright red, she pushed me away.
“Th-that… Talk from a distance.”
…Ah, what’s this?
“Stop.”
Thwack.
A light tap landed on the crown of my head.
I spun around reflexively, and features so beautiful they dazzled the eyes appeared.
A face like flawless white jade, large eyes and a dainty nose, lips red as a cherry… She was a living embodiment of those clichéd descriptions.
Every blink of her fan-like lashes revealed hazy golden irises. Though Lu had transformed from head to toe into a perfect woman, only his eyes remained as they were.
‘Ugh.’
Knowing his true nature, just meeting his gaze made me feel like I was facing that brazen, tall man. In reality, that illusion was the truth piercing through the fake.
Morian Sereniye.
The identity Lu had personally hijacked as Viscount Weatherwoods’s wife was none other than the third daughter of the Sereniye Count family from the North Continent United Theocracy.
The Head Maid’s initial reaction upon hearing that had been pure shock.
“She’s the daughter of a noble from an entire nation. How could we hijack such a person’s identity? We have no intention of taking risky paths for the sake of family honor. A woman of ordinary, non-noble status would suffice.”
“There won’t be any issues using this identity, so don’t borrow trouble, Head Maid.”
“No issues? What do you mean no issues? Miss Daizy! Do you think there won’t be problems for you either?”
How had I reacted back then?
Naturally, I’d pretended not to hear and focused intently on the dishes. I had no desire to get caught in the crossfire like a shrimp in a whale fight.
In the end, Lu had won the argument.
His final persuasion tactic had been simple: an oath under the condition that he would never do anything to harm the Weatherwoods family.
Afterward, he answered her repeated questions with oaths instead. In total, four oaths were added to the inside of Lu’s arm.
‘So that’s why so many oath marks were engraved on his body.’
He’d just used oaths to brush off persuasion whenever it got bothersome.
It was quintessentially Lu thinking. And only someone of his caliber could get away with it. At any rate, Lu had ability, even if trust was another matter.
Lu, who had been gazing intently at my face, warned me as if making a plea.
“For the time being, you’re my woman. Don’t go flirting with this girl or that girl—behave yourself.”
Ridiculous nonsense from early morning.
What was he suddenly on about? I didn’t even know where to start picking it apart.
“I’m your man, not your woman.”
When I corrected his phrasing, Lu covered his mouth and flashed a detestably charming smile. A terribly lovable smile.
“Feel it properly, darling. It’s not empty down there, is it?”
“…….”
“You’re neither fully woman nor man right now. Which means? You can flirt with both women and men. Double the caution. Got it?”
His brazen nonsense left me bewildered once more.
‘No wonder it felt strangely lacking somehow.’
Of course, I didn’t care either way.
Whether flirting with women or men, hearing him spout it off so casually just made me feel unfairly aggrieved.
“Why go to such lengths…? No, couldn’t you just make it a normal male body without all this?”
Lu, beaming sweetly, clung to my arm and replied.
“Mm. But Morian was unavoidable. I didn’t want to link arms with a man.”
Urgh.
My mood soured. My stomach churned. I was already regretting volunteering for the Noble Assembly.
To stir such discomfort with that lovely face. If flipping people’s insides was a talent, it was one.
“Oh my, where are you looking? Didn’t I say you’re a beast despite appearances, darling?”
I didn’t want to respond. Playing along with his game only amused him.
Instead, I turned serious eyes to the Head Maid and cautioned her.
“The Noble Assembly could be a major crisis for the Weatherwoods family. Is this woman really okay as Viscount Weatherwoods’s wife?”
Say she’s not. Say you can’t allow anyone but a demure Weatherwoods wife.
Contrary to my hopes, the Head Maid gave an unexpected reply.
“For some reason… The male form feels more natural, Miss Daizy. The woman seems like a different person altogether.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“You can converse so normally—why did you act like a dimwit all this time?”
I responded with my specialty: pretending not to hear.
Only then did the Head Maid shed her awkward expression and return to her usual comfortable face. With suddenly solemn eyes, she parted her lips.
“This might be meddling…”
“What is it?”
“Miss Daizy, no affairs. Illegitimate children make things complicated.”
“Ah. Is the Head Maid losing her mind like my wife, by any chance?”
The Head Maid burst into a hearty laugh for the first time in a while.
“Ahaha, I’m joking. Just kidding. How could I complain about you two? I only hope you return safely without any major issues. Please take good care of our Weatherwoods family.”
With the Head Maid’s parting words, we left the mansion.
Two luxurious four-horse carriages were waiting at the gate.
Where on earth did he get those? One was even a luggage cart, stuffed full of Morian’s colorful clothes…
It was early morning. Fortunately, few people passed by on the street.
I stood before the carriage door and extended a hand to Lu.
“Shall we go, my lady?”
“Lady? Call me my love, Morian. We’re the hottest newlyweds in the world.”
Lu approached with a grin and took my hand.
A red wedding ring stood out between her white fingers. Lu’s was a plain fake wedding ring, but mine was special.
It was a magic tool that would dispel the Transformation Magic and revert me to my original form the instant it broke.
I hoped I’d never have to use that function.
“This trip is going to be so much fun. Right, darling?”
Amid her sweet eye smile, a sharp sneer warned me.
For the week of the Noble Assembly.
You’re definitely going to suffer.
