As the vacation continued, Ronin spent his days teaching and training ‘Don’ for ‘his’ upcoming test.
“You can still put this off for another year.” He told Belladonna. “Or are you too sick of staying cooped up in this slowly dying house?”
“A little. But what I can’t stand the most was father not allowing me to do anything about it.”
She then smiled. “But now I can do something. I can be the greatest Knight under the King of Sephyrine. Though it would have to be under the guise of a boy…”
He was observing her from head to toe, thinking of how exactly to do this disguise.
“You can reveal your true identity afterward. Once you have been knighted and respected by everyone.”
Her eyes brightened at this. “You think so, Brother?”
” Yes.” He nodded. “No one can complain that their great Blue Knight was a woman, not with the many lives ‘he’ saved.”
She nodded. “Hm, and the funny look on their faces would be hilarious once I reveal it.”
She added: “Not to mention I’ll be allowed to stay in the same dorm room as you, Brother!”
“And I would not have to deal with insufferable princesses that only knew how to pamper themselves and dress up for men!”.
He chuckled. “You might become the one they will dress up for though once I’m done with this disguise.”
The Fool’s Eye skill would have been useful, but so far he only has 3 hours of use for that and twice a day.
The time limit extends exponentially every level up though. So perhaps one day, at about level 50, he can make the skill last for a whole day.
“We can leave the hair be, since many men don’t do it short.” He said. “You have already cut it in an unconventional way that would not be seen as woman-like.”
“As for the appearance, take this.” He said, and handed over to her a potion.
“What’s this, brother?” She sniffed it.
“It will make your face look sharper and more puffed up. Change your voice as well.” He told her.
“You have to take it everyday, though. It only lasts for about 18 hours.”
The biggest problem would be the chest area, that’s not easy to take away.
She’s still 12 and haven’t grown much volume there yet, but one eventually she will, and it might become a problem.
“Would you mind binding your chest for the whole day?” He asked her. “You can take it off at night.”
Belladonna finished drinking the potion, and she did look ‘manlier’ and sounded ‘manlier’ now.
She spoke in her new deep tone. “I could handle that, yes. Much better than corsets, in fact. Anything else?”
“Clothes.” He said, and went over to Maellan’s drawers where his former clothes were.
“I finally get to wear breeches and trousers?” She said excitedly.
“Yes. But we must choose the puffy ones, your leg shape might give it away.”
After finishing dressing up, Don was perfect and ready to go.
For the training, Ronin had pushed her to build her muscle more. It would be easy to hide on the first few years since she was still in puberty and there were not much differences…..
But once she hit 14 years old, her build would raise suspicions. He had started finding ways to increase her height as well.
She needed to look so manly that there’s no way Cermin would fall for her. Or ‘him’.
Don showed no intention of falling for men either, as he despised them quite a lot thanks to his brother’s brainwashing back when he was a child.
And when Belladonna was in ‘Don’s’ clothes, she really did feel like a man. She felt different and free somehow.
It’s funny how a change of clothes and appearance could make someone feel like an entirely different person. That was also what transmigration was like, in a way.
But she also felt very much like Donna at times, even with the men’s clothes. On certain days, he felt like Don even when wearing a dress.
Ronin was the only one capable of telling which was which and used the right name for him or her.
Which was of course because of his mind-reading ability, but she assumed her brother must have just known her that much to tell and have a special bond with her.
The last day of vacation came, and so did Don’s Triannum test for the Academy.
It was only Inspector Jasny Krustal that officiated his Triannum test that day. His brother Vyrill had been more and more reclusive.
Which worried him very much deep down, but he could not find a way to get through to his brother. Vyrill had always been distant to him, no matter how hard he tried to get close.
But seeing these two boys talking and training with each other as he arrived, he could not help but remember the old days.
Back when there was no fire. Back when he and Vyrill were close like two peas in a pod.
Ronin had heard all this, so he turned to greet the inspector.
“Good to see you again, Inspector Jasny Krustal.” He bowed politely.
“Ronin Willowe, it has been a while!” He nodded joyfully. “I assume this is your new young master?”
“Yes.” He said, with his teeth clenched.
Ronin still despised that word very much from the bottom of his heart. But he was good at not showing it on his face.
“This is Don, nephew of my lord Duke Taevas. He came all the way from Scirocco to be his new lordling after Belladonna had sadly perished.”
“Oh, I sincerely apologize.” Inspector Jasny said. “Losing a wife and two children….. It must be difficult for him.”
Duke Taevas appeared, taking off his muddy gloves and handing them to his butler.
“It was.” He told the inspector. “But Don had been my star in the darkness. He gave me new hope for the House Zafeiri.”
Inspector Jasny chuckled. “Yes. And he actually resembles his uncle quite a lot. Many would mistake you as father and son.”
Don seemed to be beaming with pride at this.
But he cleared his throat, and calmly said. “Shall we begin? I have been long prepared for this, Inspector.”
“Oho! I love your confidence, boy!” Inspector Jasny clapped.
“Well, my brother is not here to assist me and bring practice dummies. So I would have to evaluate you and fight you at the same time.”
Don and Ronin raised an eyebrow at this.
The new lordling asked: “You will fight me? I do not want to offend you but….. would you be alright, Inspector?”
“Of course! What, do you boys think these old bones have no strength left in them to handle a beating from you young lads!?” His big tummy shook as he laughed.
Then, he raised his hand and said.
“Blessed Elyr, grant me the Sumor Halberd!”
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