16

It was not just luck that Agelia did not realize I was a boy.

After all, I had been living as a girl for fifteen years and had received an education on how to be a better girl. So it wasn't easy for me to reveal my true identity.

Even when we slept on the same bed, with me only wearing a thin nightgown and being held in her arms, I managed to get through it.

Oh my god.

I couldn't help but feel a little complacent. Am I beyond redemption?

I felt guilty being with Agelia like this, constantly apologizing in my heart... I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...!

After breakfast, Agelia sent me back early because I wasn't feeling well. I had no choice but to accept that excuse. Last night, I felt strange and shy, so I could only lie down, which made Agelia think I had stomach pain and my period had come.

Boys don't have periods...

"After you go back, remember to drink hot water," Agelia reminded me.

"Yes, yes...!" I replied with a mouthful. I had enough hot water last night and I felt like I was going to die... please spare me.

The next second, while I was still lost in thoughts about hot water, she took off her robe and put it on me.

"Huh?"

I was surprised.

"Wear this. I'm afraid you'll catch a cold when we use teleportation magic later," she said gently.

I silently held onto the collar of the robe, feeling a warmth in my heart that surpassed the warmth the robe itself provided.

Sister Agelia was really caring for me, so much so that it made me feel ashamed. But she didn't know that I wouldn't catch a cold at all...

I'm sorry, Agelia.

Please give me some more time. I will confess to you and ask for your leniency!

Several tens of minutes later--

I returned to Fontainebleau Mansion in the outskirts of the capital, bidding farewell to Sister Agelia. As I was about to enter the mansion, a raven flew in front of me and slapped a letter on my face.

"What the..." I helplessly picked up the letter. Was it impatient because it had been waiting for me for so long? After all, I was absent from the estate the whole day.

This letter should be the reply from Queen Triste to my report. I had told her about the traveler, Lienchi, wanting to learn magic.

I broke the royal seal on the wax, and as expected, it was from the royal family.

The content of the letter was completely different from mine--completely off-topic! After reading it for a while, the central idea was, "Why is the traveler interested in magic??? Does he think magic is the key to defeating the Demon King!? Should I announce a new policy for everyone to learn magic?"

...

I think I should tell her not to act rashly.

After all, I have only been serving as a maid for the traveler for three days, and one of those days I took leave. So I can only catch a glimpse of the traveler's strategic intentions.

The only accomplishment so far is knowing her name, oh... and accidentally pushing her down.

But it's alright.

With confidence, I faced the mansion's gate and cheered for myself. As a maid, I must keep working hard! Yes, yes!

I wonder if Lienchi has eaten on time? With this thought in mind, I pushed open the door and saw her sleeping on the sofa.

Huh? Again? She slept on the sofa last night too? There are a hundred guest rooms in the mansion, so why did she choose to sleep on the sofa? She's really a troublesome hero.

It seemed like I came back too early and she hadn't woken up yet. Quietly approaching her, I was relieved to see that she had a blanket covering her, the same one I had covered her with last time. I didn't dare to wake her up, but the moment she made a sound, she immediately woke up, rubbing her sleepy eyes and looking at me.

"You're back? So early."

"Yes, yes, sorry for waking you up. I'll go prepare a towel and a basin for you, and then make breakfast."

"No need for the towel and basin, just go make breakfast. I'm starving."

"Huh?" I was slightly surprised. "Did you... not eat anything yesterday?"

"Of course, I was waiting for you to come back and make it."

I was speechless for a moment. Was she angry? Is she purposely not eating to protest against me taking a leave?

"Well, um, I brought you a letter. You can have a look... and eat something," I quickly crouched down and rummaged through my handbag. Inside were the swimsuit I had brought for the hot spring, the letter for her, and..."Here, this is for you."

I handed her the bamboo monster pillow.

"What is this? Bamboo?" She looked at me skeptically. "You want me to eat this first?"

"No, no, no- of course not!"

I blushed. It's because that thing was taking up too much space, so I took it out first. I quickly took out a box of rice cakes and handed it to her.

"There are eight flavors...! I didn't know which ones your world didn't have, so I bought one of each."

She stared at the box in silence for a while.

"Well, thank you."

"Well then, I'll go prepare breakfast." I smiled with my hands behind my back.

...

...

...

After feeding the hero, it was time to feed the horses. I went to the stables and put a bunch of hay into their feeding troughs.

"Sorry, I made you hungry all day." I apologized to them as they ate, even if they couldn't understand.

In this royal estate, there were ten horses being raised. Even though Triste told me not to worry about them before I came here, and to only take care of the time traveler, how could I just ignore them?

I watched them intently. I wonder what it's like to ride a horse?

It must be different from riding in a carriage.

To be honest, the cost of fifteen years of crossdressing was that I didn't know any of the skills that boys should have...

Now that I know my true identity as a boy, should I maybe learn some of the skills that boys are supposed to have?

"Oh, there you are." A voice came from behind me. I turned around and saw Lienchi. This was the second time I saw her step out of the house.

"Mm, I'm feeding the horses." I replied.

"Oh, horses. My world also has them. You're so focused on watching them, are you thinking of trying to ride?"

"Riding is something that boys learn. I don't know how to..."

I don't know how I shamelessly said that...

"By the way, our worlds seem quite similar, don't they?"

"No, actually, there are major differences."

She came to stand next to me, looking thoughtfully at the horses grazing.

"When I see horses, I think of some fantasy creatures. I don't know if your world has a kind of white horse with a spiral horn on its forehead."

"Are you talking about unicorns?" I asked tentatively.

"Yes! That's it, unicorns."

"We have them, but you have to go close to the forests where the elves live to find unicorns."

"Bring one over for me."

"What? What? What? What? What??"