3
Staring into a crude mirror, Subaru Natsuki—or, rather, the person who had once been called that—squinted, double- and triple-checking his reflection.
Heavy eyeshadow and carefully curled eyelashes. A neat application of powder to soften the texture of his skin, masking the differences between a man’s and a woman’s complexion. Scarlet lips, painted just enough to add a luscious sheen.
Getting the clothing right had been a real challenge—arranging layers of fabric to conceal his body shape while painstakingly adjusting them to match the styles of the southern regions.
—Always keep in mind the most beautiful version of myself.
Using every trick at his disposal, picturing everyone he had ever met.
Starting with Emilia, through Felt and the loathsome Elsa. Ram and Rem. Beatrice, Petra, and even Meili (but setting those three aside for now). Priscilla, Crusch, Anastasia… Ferris—whom, honestly, he should be looking to as his guide here.
Drawing on every instance of beauty he had seen in this world—distilling all of it into a single image in his mind…
“…This is me.”
Stepping back from the mirror, he took a slow, deep breath. Then, with a resolute turn, he faced the door.
After a long and lonely battle, he had finally finished his transformation.
And now it was time for the verdict.
He pushed open the door to where everyone waited, holding their breath.
As the door swung open, revealing the results, the gathered onlookers gasped.
“…Splendid.”
The first to recover was Mizelda.
Her voice carried admiration, even a hint of respect, as she began clapping.
Taking her word as a blessing, Subaru softly cleared his throat and smiled.
“It is an honor to be complimented by you, Mizelda.”
“…Even your voice? How…how far did you go…?!”
“Once I’ve committed, it is my duty to give my all. Lives may be saved if I see this through completely—so there is but one thing I must do.”
“Ohhh…!”
The smile faded as he raised a single elegant finger toward the sky.
The dense jungle canopy blocked the sun, but this gesture wasn’t meant for anyone above—it was for everyone gathered here.
—Always keep in mind the most beautiful version of myself.
Follow that image. Manifest the ideal.
There was nothing to fear.
Thus I will become…
“…The second coming of Natsumi Schwartz.”
“Is this some joke?”
“Eh?!”
Subaru had been completely convinced he had perfectly embodied his alias, but Rem instantly shattered his pride.
Looking closer, he realized that while Mizelda and the other Shudrak were deeply moved by his transformation…
Rem alone was looking at him with a subzero glare.
However, she quickly covered her mouth and shook her head.
“I-is there something wrong? I was quite…confident in the results, but…”
“I’m sorry. I said I wouldn’t comment, since I was the one who asked you to do this.”
“…It’s okay, Rem. Don’t feel down,” Subaru reassured her. “It may be surprising, but I don’t dislike it.”
“Huh?”
Rem’s expression somehow grew even colder.
“No, no, that was a misstatement on my part! Come on now, Talitta, Kuna!”
Desperate to change the subject, Subaru hastily nudged forward the two women standing beside him.
Talitta and Kuna had already undergone their own makeovers, their hairstyles and outfits completely transformed.
Talitta’s normally imposing presence had been softened, her surprisingly childish facial features giving her a more innocent look.
Meanwhile, Kuna’s long hair had been styled into twin-tails, which added a touch of sweetness to her usually cool and sharp demeanor.
“Heh-heh, you are both adorable. Plenty of excellent material for me to work with.”
“Th-thank you… It feels like I’m almost someone else,” Talitta murmured, blushing as she touched her hair.
Next to her, Kuna—now with a sweet Lolita style—was suddenly scooped up in a hug by Holly.
“You’re even cuter than usual, Kuna! I’m so surprised at how good you are at this, Subaru!”
“I was surprised, too. He knows women better than women do.”
Subaru grinned triumphantly at their praise.
Meanwhile, Rem narrowed her eyes at him, suspicious.
“…Why are you this good at makeup? And at applying it to yourself?”
“Umm, regarding that, there are reasons—reasons that run deeper than the sea and higher than the mountains—um, anyway, what about you?” Subaru stammered, quickly deflecting as fast as he could. “Why, you’re the type of heroine who’d rather make people wait than wait yourself, Bianca…”
It was a little difficult to explain, so Subaru looked away while dodging the question.
Rem was about to press him further when—
“It seems everyone is finished.”
A voice rich with arrogance—completely unaltered—rang through the room.
A new figure had arrived.
Everyone turned without much thought—
—and in an instant, time stopped.
“…”
Or rather, time stopped for everyone…except Subaru, who had applied the makeup.
“I left the adjustments to you…but it’s almost offensive how skilled you are.”
“Who would be glad to be complimented on their skill with powder and adornment?” Subaru muttered. “Still…I’ll admit, even I’m astonished by the final result. You’re far more striking than I expected.”
“Kh, that smug winner’s confidence…!”
Subaru bit his little finger in frustration. He had no doubts that beauty could be created. He had proven it with his own appearance, despite the limited tools.
However, the difference in base quality was undeniable.
“…Um, Abel, right?” Rem’s voice quivered.
“Who else would it be? Do not ask such a foolish question. Then again, I suppose if I have changed that much, it might be pertinent to include your surprise in the evaluation.”
Abel—or, rather, after the makeup, wig, and wardrobe change…
…Bianca had arrived.
He clenched his pale, slender fingers. His jet-black hair gleamed, perfectly complementing his sharp, almond-shaped eyes. The flowing outfit he wore—a dancing girl’s attire—wasn’t excessive, revealing just enough. His bare stomach and long legs were framed by fabric, accentuating his smooth, flawless skin.
A gorgeous dancing queen.
The ultimate trump card.
“…Personally, I was a little surprised you had no resistance to being made up…,” Subaru muttered.
“What, did you expect me to be ashamed?” Abel scoffed. “You should know—this isn’t my first time. I’ve done this many times since childhood.”
“…As a child?”
“Considering my position, it’s only natural that I should have as many tools at my disposal for protection as possible.”
Bianca—or rather Abel—crossed his arms in a decidedly unladylike pose.
Subaru could accept that reasoning. He could easily imagine that the succession process in Volakia was far more brutal than in Lugunica. A battle for survival among those with a claim to the throne, where concealing one’s identity—even one’s gender—might be a necessary survival tactic.
Abel’s willingness to sacrifice anything for his goals, even himself, must have been instilled in him from a young age—even before he took the throne.
“Still, though…it’s a little irritating that you acknowledge yourself as beautiful…!”
“That’s absurd. How could one survey an entire country from its summit without the ability to objectively assess oneself?” Abel scoffed. “You, on the other hand, have managed to overcome that lack of objectivity through mere skill—but I have no need for such cheap tricks.”
“Gh…!”
“Do you know why the tiger is strong? It is strong because tigers are strong.”
It was a logic Subaru had heard from Garfiel before—and it utterly crushed him.
The tiger is strong because it’s a tiger.
Applying that logic here, Abel was beautiful because he was Abel.
…It was a tautology.
“I…I’m sure Flora thinks the same way as you! Hmph!”
“Don’t rope me into this, buddy!”
Flora—formerly Flop—was standing behind Abel, having entered with him.
Unlike Subaru’s and Abel’s transformation, Flop had required very few changes to become Flora. In fact, because he’d had long hair to begin with, his transformation had been the most natural of them all. With just a little styling and work, he was effortlessly stunning.
If the three of them stood in a lineup, Subaru felt he wouldn’t lose in direct comparison.
But—
“The time…the time taken is so much longer… The heavens are so unfair…!”
“Sorry, buddy, but you’re really incredible! I didn’t recognize you at all!” Flora exclaimed. “At this point, I guess ‘Ms.’ would be more appropriate!”
“…I suppose I will have to content myself with that level of compliment.”
“Wait, was that a compliment? I couldn’t tell.”
Even in Flora’s body, Flop’s candidness remained unchanged.
Subaru shrugged—that was fine. Though Flora would still need some guidance on how to conduct himself for the plan.
However, the biggest challenge would be Abel.
“Flora and I can play instruments. However, your role is…”
“Dance.” Abel’s voice was flat, as if the answer were obvious. “I already memorized the plan without your commentary. I understand the importance of my role.”
“…And?”
Abel smirked.
“While I am not as gifted as my late sister, dancing happens to be a forte of mine.”
His pompous, triumphant smile was annoyingly beautiful.
His overflowing confidence should have been frustrating—
—instead, it only heightened Subaru’s expectations.
If Abel wielded the potential of his natural beauty to its fullest extent, he could flawlessly transform into Bianca.
And if Subaru was right about that…
…then he could get his hopes up about the dance as well.
“…Very well. If you’re going to speak that highly of yourself, then I’d love to see your skills,” Subaru challenged. “Just make sure you don’t choke on your own spit.”
“Choke…? Hmph. You mean my words are as pointless as spitting at the clouds? What a roundabout expression, but so be it,” Abel said, crossing his arms. “I shall teach you. Consider it a reward for the plan you’ve contributed.”
Even while he was cross-dressing, Abel’s arrogance remained utterly intact.
It was as if he had no doubt about himself whatsoever.
Subaru was both reassured and intimidated by his presence.
He glanced toward Rem. Unfortunately, he couldn’t bring her along for this mission.
However—
“Please pray for our safety. I will devote myself to this task…for your sake.”
“……………………………Done.”
“It took you a long time to pray!”
Rem had replied so slowly, with such an unfathomably deep sense of sincerity, that Subaru nearly fell over.
Peeking out from beside her, Louis blinked up at Subaru.
Apparently, she hadn’t made the connection between Natsumi Schwartz and Subaru.
For now, that was enough proof that the plan had picked up serious momentum.
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