Leofric Cyneheard Wymane

The students were giggling to themselves, watching as their teacher, Miss Bronscone was constantly sighing.

The beautiful and mysterious noble lady, whom Leofric learnt was his sister's roommate, went back to laying her head on the table after informing Miss Bronscone of his sister's location.

Her expression went back to one of indifference.

It was as if this was a common occurrence.

Leofric truly wondered.

How many people in this academy did Zelene have under her thumbs?

"Miss Bronscone."

Leofric raised his hand, keeping his voice soft and gentle, like a typical noble lady.

"Yes, what is it now?"

"I can help you concerning Her Highness."

Miss Bronscone lifted her head, observing Leofric more carefully now. "Now that I get a good look at you, you are really...tall for a lady."

"Yes, she is!"

"Maybe her family is full of tall people!"

"I'm envious."

His classmates began to agree along with their teacher.

"How can you help me with Zelene?"

"You see," Leofric lowered his eyes, smiling. "I grew up in a family full of knights, I learnt a trick or two from them regarding troublemakers."

Yes, he had to deal with the most troublesome hazard of all.

Zelene Cyneheard Wymane.

He noticed a curious gaze upon him and he glanced up, meeting the sapphire eyes of the lady from earlier.

Iria.

That was her name, wasn't it?

The moment their eyes met, something flitted past her eyes.

It was a mixture of mockery and familiarity.

Her arm moved to the table and she rested her chin on her palm, mouthing some words to him.

"Good luck."

She tilted her head, her indifferent expression changed into a soft smile.

"..."

Leofric was stunned, his eyes widening.

Despite her smile being insincere and cold, he was still rooted to the ground by that sight.

It wasn't his first time seeing a woman smile. However, there was just something about the way the smile adorned her exquisite face...

Something about it made him freeze in place, and he held his breath.

Leofric took a moment to recover, not forgetting that this lady was mocking him as well. She believed he couldn't stop this reckless roommate of hers.

"Thank you," he retorted aloud, maintaining his lady-like voice as he stared straight at Iria in the eyes. "But I don't need it."

His classmates gave him confused glances.

Iria blinked back in shock.

Leofric merely gave an ingenuine smile back to her.

For now, he didn't have any favourable opinion of his sister's roommate.

. . . . .

Everyone watched from their windows as Leofric stood in the garden, right before a tree. There was a woman laying on the large tree branch, her hands behind her head as she rested her head on the trunk. Her eyes were closed and she was dozing off.

"Really, you never change, my dearest sister." Leofric sighed, shaking his head as he mumbled to himself.

He glanced up, seeing everyone in the classroom peeking out curiously. Miss Bronscone was doing the same, her arms across her chest.

Leofric gave them an affirmative nod, spinning around. He walked towards the tree, pulling up his dress slightly and lifted his leg.

He imbued a strength-enhancing spell on his leg, ensuring it was out of everyone's viewpoint.

Thonk!

The tree trembled violently, causing Zelene to gasp awake.

"Are you awake now?" Leofric asked.

Zelene glanced around, a dazed look on her face. She finally realised the culprit behind the surprise attack, narrowing her eyes.

"Who are you? How dare you sneak up on me like that?"

Leofric smiled. "Nara, and I'm your new classmate."

"New?"

"And your brother."

"..."

"..."

Her face twisted in confusion. "...what?"

"Bro-th-er."

"...???"

Zelene was even more confused now.

Leofric relished in the stupefied expression on his sister's face. If only he had a magic recording device.

"No, I...I heard you the first time. Other than your eyes looking similar to mine, you are nothing like my brother."

"In what way?"

"Are you serious--" Zelene gaped, stopping her words and she inhaled deeply.

"My brother wouldn't suit a lady's appearance so well," Zelene stated, not holding back her words. "Neither would he act like one."

"..."

Strike one.

"If he did, he would no longer be the brother I knew!"

"..."

Strike two.

"My brother isn't so silly as to dress up as a noble lady. He can't be that stupid, right?"

"..."

Strike three.

The smile on Leofric's face trembled, he felt as if he was bleeding from his chest and mouth by her direct words.

I...

I can never let Zele find out I am really her brother.

In disguise.

As a woman.

He regretted being petty to annoy his sister.

He couldn't let her find out now, no matter what.

"...I'm joking." Leofric waved it off quickly, his smile stiff.

He suffered enough from Edric's constant laughter. He couldn't get over how Leofric was too good at dressing up like a lady.

At that moment, a thought hit Leofric.

That's right.

Who am I doing this for anyway in the first place?

He felt great injustice, glaring at his sister. She tilted her head in confusion, glaring back at Leofric.

"Why are you glaring at me like that?"

Leofric kicked the tree, making it tremble once more.

Zelene slipped, letting out a scream and she fell flat on the ground.

"Hey! What's wrong with you?!" Zelene exclaimed, rubbing at her sore butt as she stood up. "I've never met someone as strange and rude as you!"

There was a twinkle in Leofric's amethyst eyes, and he turned back, looking at the ladies peering out of the window. He stepped aside, gesturing to Zelene who stood up beside him.

"She did it!"

"Nara is so cool!"

"She managed to conquer Her Highness!"

"Go, Nara, go!"

Iria was observing from the corner, her expression inscrutable.

All of them started to cheer, clapping loudly. Miss Bronscone was raising her voice, calming the excited classmates down.

Leofric heard a shocked scoff from his sister.

"Did you just...make a bet to come down and get me down from the tree?"

"Of course not."

"Of course you wouldn't, I am the Princess of Wymane--"

"I promised them to bring a troublemaker back to class."

"..."

Zelene began to roll up the sleeves of her blouse. "Sure, bring me back! If you can win me in a fight, I'll go back willingly."

"How could a noble lady engage in such a disgraceful--"

"I won't go back then, until you fight me!"

Leofric sighed, nodding. "Alright, since Her Highness said so."

Zelene got into a defensive stance,

Leofric positioned himself as well.

Just then, Zelene frowned deeply as if she noticed something about her brother.

"Wait, your stance seems familiar--"

He sprinted towards Zelene without hesitation. She gasped, throwing a wild punch.

Time slowed down as he redirected her fist. He proceeded to throw her over the shoulder before Zelene could react.

Zelene slammed right onto the ground.

"Agh!"

Her eyes were wide in disbelief, blinking rapidly.

Leofric concealed his glee and straightened himself, covering his mouth. He let out an exaggerated gasp.

"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry! I-I didn't mean to throw you that hard, Your Highness!"

Zelene winced, sitting up. "What are you supposed to be?"

"I grew up in a family full of knights."

The ladies cheered even louder this time.

"Nara! Nara!"

"Nara, you look even more cool now!"

"I'm your fan now!"

"You are really tall too, now that I look at you," she rubbed at her aching body, pushing herself up and patting down her skirt. "Fine, I lost. I'll go back."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Zelene glanced at Leofric again, shaking her head to herself. "Seriously, I can't like her at all."

Leofric pretended not to hear her words, smiling like a typical, noble lady would.

The two of them walked back to the classroom, Zelene leading in the front.

"I'm glad to see you are safe," Leofric muttered softly to himself, reverting back to his actual voice. "And you've never changed, my dearest sister."

"...you said something?"

"Nothing at all." Leofric switched back to his feminine voice in an instant.

"What a weird lady," Zelene mumbled out, wincing in pain. "And strong too."

Leofric lowered his head, chuckling to himself.

It isn't so bad disguising myself as a lady after all.

Leofric would soon be desperate to take those words back.

. . . . .

The etiquette that befitted a noble lady.

That was the first torture Leofric had to experience.

He had to learn how to curtsy, and it wasn't just a simple curtsy. His teacher had eyes like a hawk, where even the slightest mistake in his movements would have her pointing it out.

After which, he had to repeat the process again, and again.

...and again.

That was when he realised...

It was just the start.

"Your Highness, please, do put in some effort. No matter how dull this may be for you."

"Yes, yes," Zelene waved it off, curtsying lazily. "Will this suffice?"

The teacher sighed helplessly. "...and Nara!"

Leofric flinched, glancing up as he almost stumbled in his steps from curtsying too much.

"How many times do I have to explain it to you?!"

Leofric closed his eyes in frustration.

"Yes, I understand, Miss Bronscone. I will try it once again."

His classmates giggled.

"Now, let's move on to the fan. It's a great weapon for every noble lady–Nara, you may stop now."

Leofric stopped his curtsy, feeling his legs trembling. His eyebrows twitched in annoyance, and he could only force a smile at his teacher.

"Take your own fan out now, under your desk, hurry."

The class followed her words, taking out the fan under their desk and placing it in front of them.

The teacher began to demonstrate, taking out the fan and placing it in front of her face before flipping it. She batted her eyelashes, masking her devious laughter behind the fan, demonstrating how the fan was used to hide one's emotion and appear graceful to the people.

Just as it was used to hide one's emotions, it was used as a flirting device as well.

Everyone began flipping their own fans.

"Oops."

"Ouch!"

Zelene looked at the fan that flew out from her hands, landing on her classmate's head. Her classmate glanced over to Zelene, an aggrieved look on her face.

"Your Highness, please. Do control your strength."

Zelene stepped towards the classmate she injured unintentionally, patting her head as she was almost a head taller than her. "I apologise, does it hurt?"

The classmate began to grow shy, lowering her eyes. "N-no, Your Highness! Thank you for your concern!"

Zelene smiled. "So you need an ointment, yes? For your bruise?"

"Wh-what?"

"So you do! Please wait right here, I'll go get it immediately."

"Ah...!"

"Miss Bronscone! I am going to get some ointment to help with her bruise, since it is my fault after all!" Zelene exclaimed, running out of the classroom.

Both her classmate and the teacher only looked on speechlessly.

Leofric witnessed this entire scene, shaking his head with an amused smile.

Flipping a flimsy fan like this, it's so simple.

Zele, how do you not know something simple like this?

Leofric prepared to flip his fan, his eyes still closed as he appeared relaxed.

I didn't get it right the first time, but I know it now–

The next second, the fan that he flipped flew out from his hands.

"Oh my goodness!"

"Miss Bronscone! Nara's fan...!"

"It flew out the window!"

Leofric widened his eyes, looking at his empty hand and the fan that leapt out the window. He slowly lifted his head up, smiling reluctantly at his teacher.

"Nara."

"Yes, Miss Bronscone."

"It seems you have broken Her Highness' record."

His classmates giggled once again.

Leofric lowered his head in embarrassment.

Just then, he heard a subdued and low laugh beside him.

He turned to look at the person, and he realised it was Iria. He could see the hint of amusement in her sapphire irises.

There were many occasions where the class laughed, but he never saw her laughing along. It was only now that she did, and it was due to his embarrassment. Leofric narrowed his eyes in dissatisfaction.

Iria noticed his irked gaze, clearing her throat. "It...really shows."

"What?" Leofric frowned.

At that moment, Iria gave him a lukewarm smile. "That you grew up in a family full of strong knights."

Leofric paused, blinking his eyes.

It appeared yet again.

Her insincere and cold smile.

"Nara!"

Leofric flinched.

"Go and get another fan now, hurry!"

"...alright."

He looked back at Iria, and she was already looking at the front. She flipped her fan, her mannerisms graceful, and the fan covered the lower half of her small, exquisite face completely. She lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes cast thin lines of shadows on the bottom of her eyes, her sapphire irises were inscrutable.

She let out a soft sigh.

It was carried away by the wind that entered via the windows.

"..."

Leofric was stunned.

That sight of her, along with her soft sigh was imprinted in his mind for a long while.

. . . . .

"Now, onto sewing and knitting!"

Everyone groaned and moaned, grumbling to themselves.

"Chop chop ladies, come on! We don't have all day now–and Nara, there's no hope for you and the fan, move on, quickly!"

Leofric lifted his head, seeing everyone shuffling to their various seats and procuring the sewing kit provided to them.

There was an exhausted look in his amethyst eyes.

Right, sewing.

It's just sticking a needle into the cloth and pulling it out.

How hard can it be?

Leofric was relieved that he could at least sit now.

Miss Bronscone started with sewing, and she did a demonstration. Apparently, there were some problems among the teachers, making Miss Bronscone take over their lessons entirely.

Zelene finally returned from the clinic with the ointment, settling down in her seat with a bored expression.

Just like that, they finally started sewing.

...and for Leofric, it was obviously his first time. After all, he spent his whole life training with swords and magic.

"..."

The needle in his hand trembled, and he tensed up, trying to control his hand. In the end, it became worse and he frowned.

"..."

Hence, he decided to jab the entire needle in.

Zzzst!

The cloth somehow tore apart.

"...?!"

Leofric looked between the cloth and the needle, not knowing how it happened.

He heard a sigh, and flinched back in shock when he saw Miss Bronscone standing there, observing his masterpiece.

"Nara."

"...yes, Miss Bronscone?"

"This will take a while, won't it?"

. . . . .

It was more than a while.

"..."

"..."

"Ow!"

"..."

"..."

"...ouch! Not again, damnit!"

"..."

"..."

Leofric hissed in pain, tempted to throw the entire sewing kit away. He glanced down at his thumb and index finger, they were littered with spots of blood.

Leofric grimaced.

Someone stepped in beside him, their figure casting a shadow over the cloth he was holding.

"...?"

It was Zelene.

She snorted when she saw Leofric's callused and bloody hands.

"I've never met anyone worse than me in sewing!" Zelene laughed, her arms across her chest. "It's great to know I'm not alone, so you'll have to suffer along with me."

Leofric gave Zelene a disgusted look.

Zelene controlled her laughter, a devious look on her face.

"You know, Miss Bronscone will never allow you to return to your dorm at this rate. Not until you get a decent-looking handkerchief."

Leofric went pale.

He didn't come here to learn how to sew handkerchiefs!

He came here to investigate the assassins and to keep his sister safe!

Yes, the same annoying younger sister right in front of him, relishing in his misery!

Zelene waved at him. "Good luck."

Leofric clenched his fists, his eyebrow twitching in anger.

Who am I suffering this for in the first place?!

He glared at Zelene's back, and he felt extremely tempted to put her in a chokehold. All of a sudden, his vision was covered by a handkerchief and a pale hand.

Leofric blinked in shock.

He looked at Iria, and she seemed too composed.

"Take it, it's a spare."

Her voice was lukewarm as always, not showing a hint of any emotion.

"Why?"

"It hurts to look."

Leofric felt his heart skipping a beat at her words, a bewildered look in his amethyst irises. "What does that mean?"

"You are so horrible at it, that it is even beyond saving. So, it hurts to even look at you."

"..."

"Also, I'm feeling sorry for the numerous handkerchiefs you've torn through."

Leofric felt himself bleeding internally from those straightforward insults.

"...thank you."

He accepted her handkerchief with a shattered pride.

When he finally recovered from the fatal strike, he glanced down at the handkerchief in his hands. There was a simple decoration at the bottom right of the handkerchief, it was the silhouette of a cat sitting down.

He was reminded of a stray cat he encountered once, while he was investigating the unruly parts of the city. It followed him but refused his touch.

It hissed and clawed at him too.

Leofric smirked to himself, resting his chin on his hand.

He shifted his position, turning towards Iria as he gazed at her back. He lifted the handkerchief he was holding, placing it beside her figure. The sunlight streamed in via the windows, bathing her rose-gold coloured hair in a warm light. She was focused on sewing another handkerchief, her eyes following the needle closely.

The posture of the cat and Iria's regal posture made him chuckle inexplicably.

"It's similar."

. . . . .

Finally, night came.

Fortunately, Leofric had a dorm room to himself and he had no other roommate. He was dressed in an all-black outfit, and he was relieved from the torture of wearing a dress.

He adjusted the black gloves on his hands, and he stood at the window, gazing at the moonlit sky. He placed a hand on the side of the window, narrowing his eyes and he pulled the black mask over his face.

After contemplating for a few moments, he leapt out the window skillfully.

He sensed it.

One of his markers in the area has been activated.

- END OF CHAPTER 6 -

. . . . .

Tales of the Cross-dressing Young Duke presents...

The Encounter in the Night

"They will come here."

"Here?! Wha--umph!"

"Be quiet."

"..."

"If you don't want to be found, stay close."

"That--pardon me."

He pushed away from the embrace slightly.

"...?"

"You see, my face is...right in your...chest."

"I know that."

"...so let me–"

"I'm allowing you to touch me, so..."

She asked in the dark.

"Why are you shy?"