Chapter 3: The Crossdressing Encounter

After turning a few corners and confirming no one was following, Aelian let out a long breath.

His palms were covered in sweat.

“That was close…”

He leaned against the wall, heart pounding like a drum, excitement and panic rising together.

‘Crossdressing to tease my best friend? This is straight out of a doujinshi!’

Just as he was feeling smug, a discordant sound of footsteps came from the alley ahead.

Aelian looked up. Three men stepped out from the alley, blocking his path.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a face full of coarse flesh, wearing dirty leather armor and a rusty short sword at his waist.

Behind him were two lackeys: one tall and thin as a bamboo pole, the other short and fat as a wine barrel. Standing together, they looked exactly like the standard wanted posters at the adventurers’ guild entrance.

“Well, well, little lady. All alone?”

The leader grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

Aelian: “…”

Isn’t this the classic roadside thug ambush trope? This kind of plot actually happens?

Next, was he going to be captured by these three and turned into a cream puff? Wait, oh right, a male lead should randomly spawn nearby, right? But he wasn’t a real heroine, so who knew if that rule would kick in.

His thoughts raced. The original owner of this body was a good-for-nothing waste, with no magic, no swordsmanship, and got winded just from running.

The only advantage was the surname “Celestis”.

“Move.”

Aelian tried to keep his voice steady, but inside he was already cursing.

“Don’t be so cold, little sister.”

The leader stepped forward, rubbed his hands, and grinned with his fleshy face. “We just want to buy you a drink and make friends.”

“I said, move.”

Aelian tried to lower his voice, and glanced toward the street. There were few people around. The nearest shop was dozens of steps away, and the shopkeeper was probably napping, completely unaware of what was happening.

Shouting for help now might not be heard, and could provoke them.

Was he supposed to run a race with these three in a dress? Interesting.

There was no way he could outrun them.

His mind raced while his face remained calm, even cold.

“Do you know who I am?”

The moment he said it, the three thugs paused, looked at each other, and shook their heads.

The leader sized him up, his gaze lingering on the expensive-looking dress, and hesitation crept into his eyes.

Aelian didn’t answer. He just lifted his chin slightly and swept a look of pure contempt over the three.

That expression was borrowed from the original owner’s memories. Looking down on everything was second nature to him.

“Leave now, and I can pretend this never happened.”

He deliberately kept his tone light, so light it carried a chilling calm.

“But if you insist…”

He paused, and the corner of his mouth curved upward, though the smile never reached his eyes.

“I promise you will regret it.”

The three thugs exchanged glances.

The silver-haired girl’s reaction was odd. Normally a girl her age would either scream for help or run, not stand there telling them to move.

“Boss…”

The thin one leaned close and whispered, “Could she be from some great noble family?”

The fat one swallowed nervously.

“That outfit looks like it was made by the best tailor in town… No ordinary person could afford it. And her hair is silver. Could she be one of the Celestis ladies?”

The leader’s forehead broke out in fine sweat.

He wasn’t afraid of a fight, but he was afraid of picking the wrong target.

In the Empire, a noble crushing a commoner was easier than crushing an ant.

If they messed with the wrong person… their family might send someone before they could even get a stab in…

The leader stepped back.

“Look, don’t be hasty. I just wanted to buy you a drink… How about…”

“Get lost.”

The three big men shuddered at the same time, as if they could already see themselves surrounded and killed.

“Forget it, forget it.”

Aelian stood still, watching the three figures disappear into the depths of the alley.

He let out a huge breath of relief, his legs going weak, almost unable to stand.

“Damn…”

His heart pounded so fast it felt like it would leap out of his throat.

Those few minutes were more thrilling than the time he was hit by a truck in his past life.

“Thank goodness… thank goodness I actually bluffed those three.”

He closed his eyes and took a while to recover before straightening up.

He couldn’t stay here long. What if those three realized the truth, or he ran into more trouble…

He picked up the paper bag and quickened his pace toward the estate.

But as he passed the well at the town entrance, a voice stopped him.

“Please wait, miss.”

Aelian’s step faltered, and his heart skipped a beat.

‘Again? Third time’s the charm?’

He took a deep breath, turned around, ready to use his “noble young lady” skill again.

Then he froze.

Standing before him was a boy who looked fifteen or sixteen.

His flaxen short hair was slightly messy from the wind, and his dark brown eyes were as clear as autumn lake water.

His clothes were plain but neat, worn properly.

A simple iron sword hung at his waist, the hilt wrapped with anti-slip cloth.

The boy stood there, smiling at Aelian, but his gaze was firm as if he were about to enter…

That face looked familiar.

This was the original protagonist, Leon. A genius boy of common birth, future hero of the Empire, and the dream lover of every heroine.

“I saw you were surrounded by some men over there?”

Aelian blinked, as if questioning why he hadn’t helped.

The boy read his doubt and explained:

“You misunderstand, miss. I wasn’t standing by. I was about to go over, but then I saw you drive those three away. So I thought I’d come see if there was anything I could help with.”

“Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine.”

Aelian brushed back his long hair and gave a gentle smile.

“My name is Leon Black. I’m a new student at Tyrend Academy, living at the end of this alley.”

“May I ask, what is your relationship with Aelian?”

Leon looked at Aelian’s silver hair and asked hesitantly.

“Aelian? I don’t know him.”

The silver-haired girl shook her head, as if she had no impression of Aelian.

“Um… what’s your name?”

“Anya.”

“If there’s nothing else, I won’t bother you further. Farewell.”

Leon knew they had nothing to talk about, and the other party had no desire to chat. Staying would only annoy her.

He smiled shyly, gave Aelian a gentleman’s bow, and turned to leave.

Aelian stood there, watching the retreating figure.

Then he looked down at his black Lolita dress, and then in the direction Leon had disappeared.

“Pfft…”

Aelian laughed out loud.

Leon hadn’t recognized the nemesis who used to bully him in middle school!

Next time they met, he had to tease him.

Aelian thought with amusement.

***

Aelian calmed himself and stepped into his home.

The butler at the door saw a strange woman visiting and assumed she was another of the young master’s lovers. Not daring to be rude, he said:

“Miss, my young master has not returned yet. Please wait in the reception room.”

As he studied her, the butler found her face increasingly familiar.

“Butler, it’s me, Aelian.”

Aelian smiled faintly and spoke in a low voice.

“Young master, what are you…?”

The butler’s eyes widened. Had this good-for-nothing young master awakened some special trait?

He stroked his beard and looked Aelian up and down. He had to admit the outfit really suited his young master… Wait, no! Was that the point?

“Why are you dressed like this? If the master finds out…”

“Stop.” Aelian raised a hand to cut him off. “He doesn’t come back even once a year. Even if he did, he wouldn’t spare me a glance. He won’t notice how I dress.”

The butler was speechless.

It was true. He had seen how the master favored the eldest son. The second young master had never been valued.

“Besides… butler, don’t you think I’m cuter like this?”

Aelian leaned in half a step, blinking his ice-blue eyes at the butler with an innocent look.

The butler’s old face turned red, and he looked away.

“In that case, I won’t say more. Young master, you… take care of yourself…”

Aelian chuckled and walked past him with his bags.

“Prepare hot water. I want a bath.”

He gave the order casually, then thought of something and added:

“In the future, when I’m not home, if anyone asks if they’ve seen a silver-haired girl, you haven’t seen anyone like that.”

“I… understand.”

Watching Aelian’s back, the butler stood frozen.

“She looks exactly like the late madam…”

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