Chapter 10
Standing before the mirror, Belver squirmed and turned his gaze away from his reflection.
No matter how he looked at it, it didn’t seem like him. But since it moved exactly as he did, the sight was almost unbearably awkward.
He wondered if this was really his body, then caught himself admiring how pretty it was. Realizing that was terrible for his mental health.
Bellatrix, who had made Belver look like this, nodded with great satisfaction.
“Why are you embarrassed again?”
“This is way too girly.”
Belver honestly confessed how he felt, then grabbed the hem of the pure-white skirt and fluttered it back and forth.
The skirt swayed lightly, as if drifting on a fairy’s breeze.
Looking so innocent no matter what he did was a tremendous ordeal for him.
This was what he looked like now.
“I put some real effort into it. If you go outside now, there might even be people who don’t recognize you. I styled you to look completely different from how I usually do.”
“You didn’t have to do that. You’re a duke’s daughter, so why are you so good at makeup…?”
“Makeup is a basic skill for women, you know? I’ll teach you soon, so look forward to it.”
“I’m a man, okay?! I’m not looking forward to it!”
Bellatrix chuckled at Belver, who was getting worked up, and admired her handiwork.
He knew it was his own body, but looking at it, it somehow didn’t feel that way.
Was it because she’d dressed him in a pure-white, innocent-looking dress, unlike the black, comfortable men’s clothes she usually wore?
Since the weather hadn’t quite warmed up yet, she’d given him a light-colored outer layer.
Or was it because she’d switched from her usual heavy makeup to something lighter that brightened his face?
If not that, perhaps it was Belver’s innocent, pure-hearted air.
Whatever the reason, she’d created a girl who could make any man fall in love at first sight.
The slight blush on his face from embarrassment was the cherry on top.
Bellatrix grinned and whispered.
“You like it deep down, don’t you?”
“Don’t tease me!”
“It’s only natural to feel that way. I felt bad, so I went all out for you.”
Belver hated that he kind of liked how utterly innocent he looked right now.
It was even sadder that the musclebound macho man in his mind was comforting him, saying he looked fine.
He’d rather the macho man get mad at him for turning into a girl.
In the end, Belver rationalized it to himself.
This wasn’t his body but Bellatrix’s, so it was only natural for a man to like its beautiful appearance.
It was only natural for a man to like an innocent, beautiful woman.
After rationalizing it like that, he felt a little better.
But when he moved, the sensations from his chest and hips immediately shattered his rationalization.
“You could’ve given me underwear, too….”
“Bear with it. It’s enchanted, so your underwear won’t show.”
“It’s the feeling that matters, okay? Anyway, let’s go. We’ve taken up enough of their time.”
“Sure. It’s about dinnertime, anyway.”
Belver left the shop with a sulky expression.
Could Bellatrix really feel reassured just because the clothes were enchanted to hide the underwear, despite having lived as a woman her whole life?
From the wearer’s perspective, he was practically walking around showing off this black, sexy underwear.
She seemed far too nonchalant.
It would’ve been nice if she understood how mortifying this was and got him some different underwear.
Even when he hinted that he wanted her to empathize, Bellatrix didn’t understand at all.
If Bellatrix had been born a man, she probably wouldn’t notice even if a woman openly showed that she liked him.
There was, however, one truth Belver didn’t know.
Bellatrix had never once worn that sexy underwear, and she’d never worn such a light, fresh dress either.
So it had never even occurred to her to worry that the underwear might show through the thin dress.
You can’t empathize with something you don’t know about.
“Let’s wander around outside and grab something light to eat today. Since we’re at the academy, we should enjoy ourselves in every way we can.”
“Yes. I’d like that!”
Belver agreed, beaming so brightly that ‘beaming’ was the only word for it.
He wanted to experience firsthand all the things he knew only from books.
Among them, browsing the street stalls was something he’d really wanted to try.
It was such an ordinary, everyday thing, after all.
He wanted to know what it was like to walk down the street chatting with a friend, buy food from a stall, and share it.
He and Bellatrix weren’t friends, but they were something similar, so that met the criteria.
He barely resisted the urge to grab her hand and hurry her along.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
Bellatrix saw right through Belver’s eagerness.
It was impossible not to notice, since he was showing emotions beyond the rare occasions when he got angry, felt wronged, or embarrassed.
Even his feet were bouncing, though he didn’t seem to realize it.
Since he was so genuinely excited, teasing him felt a little awkward.
And there wasn’t anything in particular to tease him about, either.
“It’s crowded, so give me your hand.”
“Ah, yes. I mean, yeah.”
“Why? Don’t you want to?”
“No…. I’m embarrassed….”
As the crowd began to thicken, Bellatrix started acting as Belver, as they’d agreed.
Belver was quite brazen and selfish, but at least he spoke politely.
Belver caught on and started acting as Bellatrix, too.
She, on the other hand, was very innocent and shy, but didn’t speak politely.
Holding Bellatrix’s hand so he wouldn’t get lost in the crowd, Belver wondered:
Was it okay for them to be walking around together so openly?
Hadn’t she told him just two days ago to act meticulously to preserve her image?
Even he felt it was already too late to preserve Bellatrix’s usual image. Had she given up, too?
Whatever the case, Belver liked this situation.
If he still had the notebook he’d used on Earth, he would’ve crossed out a line.
“Let’s take a break.”
“Yes!”
After following Belver as he ran all over the place, Bellatrix sat on a bench to rest for a while.
She sat watching Belver nibble on a skewer beside her, puzzled.
Belver was supposedly a commoner she considered lowborn.
Then why did he know less about street culture than she did?
As she watched, Belver tilted his head and held out the skewer.
He must’ve thought she was looking because she wanted some.
Bellatrix brought it back to his lips.
He happily began nibbling on it again.
“No. You’re just so cute when you eat.”
“I’m not cute! If you’re going to compliment me, say I’m cool.”
“All right. Our young lady is so cool.”
No matter how she looked at it, Belver didn’t seem like an ordinary commoner.
To begin with, an ordinary commoner should tremble as soon as they heard she was a duke’s daughter.
Not brazenly demand whatever they wanted like that.
Judging by his usual manners and attitude, he was clearly the son of a well-to-do family.
What bothered her was that Bellatrix knew the name of every imperial noble.
Where on earth had he come from?
He obviously had a story behind him.
Bellatrix held back, deciding this probably wasn’t the time to ask.
Still, she’d have to ask about his circumstances eventually.
Not because she meant him any harm; she was simply curious.
What kind of person Belver had been before switching bodies with her.
With that resolve, Bellatrix failed to notice a pair of fervent red eyes watching them nearby.
***
Roho had run into the two of them by chance.
They’d come out to enjoy commoner culture, only to spot the pair walking around hand in hand.
Unable to just walk past, Roho quietly followed them.
“Is that really Bella? It definitely is, but…”
That was the conclusion Roho reached after following them.
It was definitely the Bellatrix Roho knew, but somehow she didn’t seem like Bellatrix.
The very essence of her presence was different.
Roho thought the reason was absurd, but there was no other explanation.
This was the commoner from the rumor that had suddenly started going around—that Bellatrix had fallen in love with a commoner.
The one still at her side now.
He was quite a catch for a commoner.
To be so relaxed with the great Bellatrix by his side.
And to even draw out such a girlish side of the great Bellatrix.
Even Roho had tried all sorts of things to get close to Bellatrix and failed.
“I’m jealous of that guy.”
Roho was genuinely jealous of the commoner.
At the same time, Roho thought it was a good change.
Bellatrix, who’d always been sharp, had softened a lot thanks to that commoner.
She hadn’t ignored Roho during the lecture, either.
Roho had sensed she’d changed from that moment on.
Roho was looking forward to the next tea party.
Now that Bellatrix had softened, they could get closer in all sorts of ways.
Roho had always attended out of obligation, but this was the first time they’d ever looked forward to it.
“So she can make that face, too.”
Roho continued observing Bellatrix.
Every little thing she did felt out of place.
She smiled brightly and sat demurely, like a girl straight out of heaven, but none of it matched the Bellatrix Roho knew.
Roho had always known she was beautiful, but her beauty had been closer to cool and alluring. They’d never known she could look so innocent and cute.
Her movements were so graceful and demure, the complete opposite of how she usually moved with crisp efficiency.
“So Bella’s a woman after all. Seeing her act so girlish—she’s even better at it than I am. This could be useful reference.”
Roho continued observing, muttering words that would have made Belver blow his top if he’d heard them.
Then Roho saw something and blushed.
“And…. she’s a little too bold….”
Roho was relieved that almost no one else had eyes like theirs.
And as for that scrap of black cloth they’d just seen, Roho decided to keep quiet about it until the tea party.