Leofric Cyneheard Wymane

The carriage equipped with mana stones was situated in front of Leofric. The faster he reached the academy, the better. These types of expensive carriages were only used by the royal family to reach their destination in record time. 

Leofric spun around, facing his parents. 

He was dressed in a long-sleeved white shirt, his first two buttons were unbuttoned. His outfit came along with dark brown pants, and a scarf to strap his sword to his hip. 

He didn't want to dress like a nobleman, since he didn't want anyone to recognise him. Alas, his towering height along with his striking appearance of his slightly tousled platinum blonde hair and amethyst eyes did not help. 

"I can't believe I'm sending off another child of mine so soon…" 

"I'll be back soon, mother. With Zele."

His mother embraced him, her voice trembling slightly. "Make sure to come back, the both of you."

"..."

Leofric smiled, bending down and hugging his mother back. "Worry not, mother."

The mother and son withdrew, and the mother dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. 

His father approached him. 

"You have suffered much, my son."

"It's nothing new," Leofric smiled in resignation, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Just another day of looking out for my troublesome younger sister."

"I'm proud of you."

"For impersonating a noble lady?"

"Wh-what? That's not--"

"I'm joking, father."

"You brat, you still have the mood to joke around?"

Leofric widened his smile. 

For his family, he would sacrifice everything he had. 

His father reached out, patting his son on the back. "Come back soon, your mother and I will be waiting."

Leofric nodded, before something occurred to him. 

"Do you think Zele ever learned how to brew tea properly after being in the academy?"

His father went still, letting out a groan. "Don't remind me."

His mother laughed through her tears. "Oh, that silly girl. I still remember the taste of it, till this day." 

Leofric chuckled and he gave his father a short hug. "It was bitter beyond words, and...slightly spicy?"

"We'll still drink her tea anyway," his father laughed.  "We are the only ones who can." 

"Of course, she's our most precious daughter." 

"The two of you can look forward to it again."

His father shook his head with a helpless smile, and his mother didn't seem so upset anymore. 

Leofric gave his parents one last glance, boarding the carriage. 

"Let's go."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The rider held another mana stone in his hand, slotting it into an opening. 

There was a wave of energy that exploded out from the carriage as it took off into the sky. The Duke shielded his wife from the impact, the two of them staring at the carriage riding off into the horizon. 

Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Leofric reached inside his shirt, taking out a piece of paper. He unfurled it, reading the contents. 

"So what do you plan to do when you reach the academy?"

"Enroll in it."

"...what?"

"Give me your letter of recommendation."

"Why, great Young Duke. I'll have you know my letters are only given to the appropriate person."

"...really now?"

"Don't you know? I am fair and righteous."

Leofric scoffed. 

"He says that but he still ends up giving it to me anyway," he mumbled to himself. "Fair and righteous, what a load of bullshit." 

Leofric closed his eyes, leaning back and resting his head against the seat of the carriage. He kept the letter back into his shirt after rolling it up. 

The memory of the conversation between the Crown Prince continued in his mind. 

"You could always ask for a letter from my mother. I am saving it for a noble lady that needs--"

"I'll handle the internal affairs of the palace for three whole months."

"Leo. What do you take me for?" 

"And you'll be escorting Rowena to every single possible place from now on."

"Anyone there? Grab me a quill pen and paper! It's urgent!"

Leofric scoffed again. 

"Seriously, who's the crazy bastard here? Hah!"

He could never understand it.

He could never understand how Edric could become a complete fool because of love. 

Edric, as the Crown Prince, was someone to be revered according to both nobles and commoners. Leofric agreed wholeheartedly to that sentiment. 

Nevertheless, as an ordinary man, Edric was an utter lovesick fool that has a bad habit of annoying the ones closest to him. 

"Does love really work like that?" Leofric muttered to himself. 

"Nevermind that," he pushed the carriage curtains open, gazing at the clouds. "There's another annoying fool to focus on now."

. . . . .

Leofric disembarked the carriage, his black shoes touching the soil as he carried a briefcase. It has been enchanted with magic, allowing more storage than a usual briefcase. 

Not wanting to garner any attention, he instructed the rider to land further from the outskirts of the city. 

Ribury. 

The city served as the border between the Deneian Empire and the Taiwisha Kingdom.

It was also where the Ladies' Academy was founded and situated at. 

Long ago, in the peace treaty signed by the previous rulers, noblewomen from both sides were allowed to attend the academy together. However, in the event one were to pose a threat to the other, the peace treaty would be annulled. 

Overtime, this peace treaty became a double-edged sword. 

The Deneian Empire was waiting. 

They were waiting for a single blunder from the Taiwisha Kingdom. 

Leofric knew that...and he didn't want that to happen. 

Any small event would be twisted into a threat, as long as the Deneian Empire found out. 

"If Zele is right about the assassins," Leofric frowned, wearing the necklace. "The entire city is under their jurisdiction."

His straight, platinum blonde hair changed to black. It grew in length, reaching down to his waist. 

Leofric walked along the gravel path, one hand carrying the briefcase while the other was shoved into his pocket of his pants. 

There was another problem about the assassins. 

Who were they affiliated with? Who do they obey?

If it was the Taiwisha Kingdom, they were planning to revolt. 

If it was the Deneian Empire, they were preparing for war. 

Neither was a better choice. 

. . . . . 

Leofric located the cartographer recommended by Edric. He pushed the door open, stepping in as the bell enhanced with magic jingled. 

"We-welcome!"

A young bespectacled man shot up behind the counter, flustered at the sudden appearance of a customer. 

The store was full of cupboards and tools related to cartography. On the wooden counter, there were maps haphazardly drawn, some glowing with a yellow hue while the others seemed like ordinary maps. 

"Wh-what can I do for you, my lady?"

Leofric froze in shock.  

That's right. 

I'm a woman now. 

His outfit was still his shirt and pants, with his briefcase. It wasn't uncommon for a woman to dress this way, but not many of them were willing to dress like a man. His sword was still strapped to his hip.

He cleared his throat, approaching the cartographer, sticking his hand out. 

"The map, per His Highness' request." 

It was hard to discern if he was a man or woman with his voice, but he made it soft and elegant, just like how most noble ladies would speak. 

"..."

The cartographer was silent, looking dazed. 

"...the map?" 

"O-oh!" 

The cartographer jumped, blinking rapidly as he nodded furiously. 

"Yes, yes! I have it--ouch!"

He squatted down, only to collide onto the wooden counter. He dropped to the ground and Leofric leaned over, frowning in concern. 

"Are you alright? You hit your head pretty hard there."

The cartographer blushed, nodding as he rubbed his head. "Ye-yes, thank you for your concern, milady!"

Leofric nodded. 

"The map as per His Highness' request!" 

He hastily handed over it to Leofric. 

"Thank you," Leofric said, giving the map a quick scan before he rolled it up, opened his briefcase and shoved it in. "It's drawn perfectly."

Edric really has a knack for discovering the most talented people. 

This man is the best cartographer I have ever seen. 

The map was sucked into the briefcase that appeared empty to a person's eyes. 

Meanwhile, the cartographer seemed embarrassed by the compliment.

"You should get that checked out," Leofric tapped on his forehead. "It's starting to bruise, and it might affect your work."

With those words, he left the store as the bell jingled once more. 

"She's so pretty…" the cartographer mumbled out. "And tall, and a swordswoman..."

Those words were heard by Leofric, his senses were heightened through training. He sighed, not knowing to feel happy or ashamed.

"I should go through with it completely."

It meant all dresses and no swords now. 

Right now, he just needed to find somewhere to change into a dress, and hide his sword in his magic briefcase.

. . . . .

From anywhere in Ribury, one could see the Ladies' Academy. With its intimidating size and grandiose architecture resembling a castle, one wouldn't be able to overlook it. 

Leofric spent the entire day scouting the city, using his own magic to mark areas that were points of interest before concealing it. The entire time, his amethyst eyes kept straying to the academy. 

The more he scoured the city, the more his concern for his sister grew. Places that weren't notable before now seemed different after he thought about the assassins. 

He determined that the city was truly under their jurisdiction now. 

"Leave me alone, please!"

"Why would a lady like you be out this late at night?"

"I told you, I needed some medicine for my sick son!"

Leofric walked down the deserted streets, the lampposts that were supported by magic weren't enough to illuminate the quiet alleyways. 

He tossed a lace-patterned fan into the air and caught it. 

"Wherever I go, people never change."

He marched into the alleyway, bumping into the man harassing the hapless woman. His lackeys were shocked at seeing such a tall noble lady, flabbergasted as they stood at one side. 

"What kind of bastard--"

The leader of this man glanced up to glare at the culprit who bumped into him. 

Leofric was now a beautiful noble lady that was half a head taller than the leader. His inky-black hair shimmered under the faint light from the lamppost. 

His sharp amethyst eyes mesmerised them. 

There was a prominent beauty mark under his right eye, which the Queen insisted that he should make obvious using a black dye.

A mana stone necklace rested just below his neck, above the chest line of his dress. 

Seriously. 

Leofric let out a snort in his heart. 

Even his face seems lecherous. 

He moved his hand up that was holding the fan, flicking it open. However, the fan flew out from his hand instead, landing on the ground with a thud.

"..."

"..."

"..."

All of them looked on silently.

Leofric picked it up from the ground quietly, unfurling the fan open in an awkward manner instead. He proceeded to cover half his face with the same fan, curtsying.

"Pardon my rudeness."

"N-no, milady. You weren't rude at all--"

Leofric punched him straight in the nose. 

The unruly leader stumbled back, supported by his lackeys. He shot his head up, his brown eyes widening in shock. 

"Bo-boss! You are bleeding!"

He wiped at his bloody nose, staring at Leofric in shock.   

Leofric curtsied once again, not saying a word. 

The lackeys wanted to fight back when the unruly leader shoved them back. He straightened himself, his hand on his shoulder as he bowed. 

"Milady, we shall take our leave now."

Leofric nodded, plastering a smile across his lips. "Don't come back."

The group of men walked away and Leofric kept his cold eyes on them. When they were out of sight, he spun around and offered a hand to the woman who was sniffling quietly on the ground. 

"Are you--" Leofric halted abruptly, unconsciously speaking in his real voice. "Are you alright?"

"Thank you, thank you. I'm fine."

"You don't look fine. Where are the guards?"

"It's alright, I've dealt with worse, " the woman wiped her tears away. "Guards? Oh, you must be a noble lady here to attend the academy, and not a resident."

That was another suspicious thing Leofric noticed. There were guards patrolling, but not enough for a city as big as this. 

"Yes, I am new here. So do tell me."

"They were bribed by that lecherous garbage you saw earlier," she hissed out, clutching onto the medicine for her son. "He is able to roam freely as he pleases."

Leofric frowned. 

The guards assigned here couldn't be easily bribed. 

It served as the border between Deneian and Taiwisha. At least, the Taiwisha Kingdom wouldn't assign simple guards here. 

Even if they were to be bribed, that man wouldn't have the money to buy them over. 

Were they killed and replaced?

Where are the reports about their deaths or their missing cases? 

The reports about Ribury aren't matching up. 

This city wasn't the only one compromised. 

They were scattered within the palace too. 

Were they rebels? Deneian? 

Or another enemy force unheard of? 

Leofric helped the woman up, showing her a kind smile despite the whirling thoughts in his mind. 

Looks like the report to Edric will be more than just a few pages. 

The woman thanked him again. 

"Be careful next time, " he advised her. "Even if it's for your son, you shouldn't be roaming the streets so late in the night."

"...but aren't you a lady yourself? And a rather pretty one too."

"..."

He was still conflicted about being recognised as a pretty, noble lady. 

"Well, I'm different," Leofric maintained his smile. "Very different."

. . . . .

The exterior and interior of the academy was resplendent. The Taiwisha Kingdom and Deneian Empire spared no effort in embellishing the academy. 

The windows were wide and long, the sunlight streaming into the carpeted corridor as Leofric walked down along with his teacher. She was dressed in a blouse and long skirt that reached her ankles. 

With every step Leofric took, he had to remind himself he was now a noble lady. 

"So, you are Nara. Recommended by His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of the Taiwisha Kingdom."

"Yes."

Leofric spoke in a soft and demure voice. He touched his mana stone necklace, catching a glimpse of his long, black hair from the corner of his eye. He didn’t have a choice but to lie about his necklace being a family heirloom. 

There was no possible way to conceal a mana stone. A family heirloom was the perfect bluff for the curious ones. 

Leofric's dress was the same midnight blue dress he wore in the presence of the Queen and Edric. The skirt of the dress brushed against his ankles. 

"Just Nara?"

"I would prefer not to reveal my full name."

"Strange, you are the second one now.."

"...?"

"Alright, now, just past these doors."

His teacher stopped right in front of a door. She had a neat and strict appearance, enough to make Leofric tense. 

She adjusted her glasses, gesturing at the door. 

"Welcome to the Ladies' Academy. I hope you’ll do your best to become a respectable noble lady."

"...yes."

The two of them entered the classroom, and everyone's eyes landed on him. It was something Leofric was used to, and he faced the women with a smile. 

"Nara. Your new classmate. Guide her well."

"..."

"..."

"Is that it?" Leofric asked. 

His teacher looked at him, nodding. "To your seat now, hurry. At the back."

Leofric frowned, and his eyes started to search the classroom, not for his seat but a person. He frowned when the person he was looking for wasn't here. 

His teacher suddenly sighed, an arm on her hip.

"Zelene Cyneheard Wymane. Where has she gone to now?"

"...Her Highness escaped again!"

"Yes, she did!"

"I saw it! She broke the window lock!"

"Me too! It was stunning!"

"Oh, oh! Miss Bronscone! She told me to tell you how boring your lessons were!"

The classroom was filled with cheerful giggles. 

"Silence!"

They settled down immediately, becoming meek. 

"Iria."

Leofric followed the gaze of Miss Bronscone, his amethyst eyes landing on a svelte, rose gold-haired woman. She lifted her head from the desk, her wavy hair tumbled down her back as she did so. 

Leofric was taken aback by her appearance. 

Such a unique hair colour, and...

Her almond-shaped sapphire eyes blinked, her impassive expression not suiting her exquisite facial features. 

She is absolutely beautiful. 

"Yes, Miss Bronscone? You called?"

"You ought to know your roommate's whereabouts."

She received curious glances from her classmates, and Leofric noticed some of them seemed to be filled with contempt. 

"Mmh, there."

She spoke in a gentle voice, raising her hand and pointing it to the direction of the academy's garden. Her head turned towards the window, the sunlight beaming down on her fair skin.

"She's climbing the tree again."

"..."

"Iria, won't you--"

"You know I can't get her down, Miss Bronscone," Iria said with a lukewarm smile. "I am a lower noble from Deneian, I can't show Her Highness any disrespect. "

The classroom was filled with giggles again. 

"Someone needs to get Rowena..." Miss Bronscone groaned. 

"But Miss Bronscone, even Rowena won't be able to stop Her Highness!" 

"..." 

Leofric resisted the urge to laugh, his expression a mixture of exasperation and fondness. 

Truly. 

His younger sister never changes. 

- END OF CHAPTER 4 -

. . . . . 

Tales of the Cross-dressing Young Duke presents…

101 Ways to Survive the Academy and from Miss Bronscone 

By Zele

▪︎Find two talented people to have your back. My fair ladies, Rowena and Iria. 

▪︎ Play hide and seek with Miss Bronsone (if you are in the garden, use caterpillars as a distraction).

▪︎ O̶p̶e̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶n̶d̶o̶w̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶j̶u̶m̶p̶ ̶d̶o̶w̶n̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶n̶e̶a̶r̶e̶s̶t̶ ̶t̶r̶e̶e̶  Miss Bronsone installed a lock, so smash the window lock with a chair (they can't use the expensive mana stones to create magic locks)!

▪︎ Be an expert in tree climbing (they don't chop down the trees, like what mother did).

▪︎ Be an expert in spotting hiding places (I copied the school map with the help of Iria, she is a brilliant woman).

▪︎Examinations? Just wing it! ...kind of! (Why do we need exams on how to be a proper lady anyway? How ridiculous!)

▪︎ Convince Rowena and Iria to help me sneak into the faculty and steal the weekly reports of my progress. 

▪︎Burn my reports! (Brother said to make sure no one could tattle on me, didn't he?)

▪︎Do the steps above until they are too frustrated to even make reports about you anymore (I'm saved from my mother's wrath).

▪︎Avoid the academy's old dormitory at night.  

▪︎ If all else fails, just wing it again!