As the vacation continued, Ronin spent his days teaching and training âDonâ for âhisâ upcoming test.
âYou can still put this off for another year.â He told Belladonna. âOr are you too sick of staying cooped up in this slowly dying house?â
âA little. But what I canât stand the most was father not allowing me to do anything about it.â
She then smiled. âBut 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 boyâ¦â
He was observing her from head to toe, thinking of how exactly to do this disguise.
âYou can reveal your true identity afterward. Once you have been knighted and respected by everyone.â
Her eyes brightened at this. âYou think so, Brother?â
â Yes.â He nodded. âNo one can complain that their great Blue Knight was a woman, not with the many lives âheâ saved.â
She nodded. âHm, and the funny look on their faces would be hilarious once I reveal it.â
She added: âNot to mention Iâll be allowed to stay in the same dorm room as you, Brother!â
âAnd I would not have to deal with insufferable princesses that only knew how to pamper themselves and dress up for men!â.
He chuckled. âYou might become the one they will dress up for though once Iâm done with this disguise.â
The Foolâs 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.
âWe can leave the hair be, since many men donât do it short.â He said. âYou have already cut it in an unconventional way that would not be seen as woman-like.â
âAs for the appearance, take this.â He said, and handed over to her a potion.
âWhatâs this, brother?â She sniffed it.
âIt will make your face look sharper and more puffed up. Change your voice as well.â He told her.
âYou have to take it everyday, though. It only lasts for about 18 hours.â
The biggest problem would be the chest area, thatâs not easy to take away.
Sheâs still 12 and havenât grown much volume there yet, but one eventually she will, and it might become a problem.
âWould you mind binding your chest for the whole day?â He asked her. âYou can take it off at night.â
Belladonna finished drinking the potion, and she did look âmanlierâ and sounded âmanlierâ now.
She spoke in her new deep tone. âI could handle that, yes. Much better than corsets, in fact. Anything else?â
âClothes.â He said, and went over to Maellanâs drawers where his former clothes were.
âI finally get to wear breeches and trousers?â She said excitedly.
âYes. But we must choose the puffy ones, your leg shape might give it away.â
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 differencesâ¦..
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 thereâs no way Cermin would fall for her. Or âhimâ.
Don showed no intention of falling for men either, as he despised them quite a lot thanks to his brotherâs brainwashing back when he was a child.
And when Belladonna was in âDonâsâ clothes, she really did feel like a man. She felt different and free somehow.
Itâs 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 menâs 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 Donâs 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.
âGood to see you again, Inspector Jasny Krustal.â He bowed politely.
âRonin Willowe, it has been a while!â He nodded joyfully. âI assume this is your new young master?â
âYes.â 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.
âThis 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.â
âOh, I sincerely apologize.â Inspector Jasny said. âLosing a wife and two childrenâ¦.. It must be difficult for him.â
Duke Taevas appeared, taking off his muddy gloves and handing them to his butler.
âIt was.â He told the inspector. âBut Don had been my star in the darkness. He gave me new hope for the House Zafeiri.â
Inspector Jasny chuckled. âYes. And he actually resembles his uncle quite a lot. Many would mistake you as father and son.â
Don seemed to be beaming with pride at this.
But he cleared his throat, and calmly said. âShall we begin? I have been long prepared for this, Inspector.â
âOho! I love your confidence, boy!â Inspector Jasny clapped.
âWell, 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.â
Don and Ronin raised an eyebrow at this.
The new lordling asked: âYou will fight me? I do not want to offend you butâ¦.. would you be alright, Inspector?â
âOf course! What, do you boys think these old bones have no strength left in them to handle a beating from you young lads!?â His big tummy shook as he laughed.
Then, he raised his hand and said.
âBlessed Elyr, grant me the Sumor Halberd!â