Work Text:
Clack!
Deon placed the teacup in his hands on to the table as he was forced to look through the documents.
Damn it, ever since he became a Count a year ago, tons of documents were tossed onto him. It was so… so tedious! Moreover, the Emperor wouldn’t let him retire no matter what he did.
He sighed in his chair as he continued to do paperwork. Man, he really wished that he had some power that could help him do his work quicker.
“…Haah..”
Deon yawned for a bit before he slowly closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. Though he had no idea how much his life would change in just a few hours.
***
“That was a good sleep..”
Deon got up from his seat and stretched for a bit.
But something was off, very off. His body felt much lighter yet it was also heavy at the same time, and did his hair really grow that long in just a few hours?
“…Ah.. R-Remember! Remember!!”
No, of course not! Deon was suddenly a girl now, how does this even happen? Was he cursed by a demon somehow? That explained a lot as to why he was suddenly like this, no one except beings with magic were able to make him look like this so it had to be a demon, right?
What Deon saw in his reflection as he was walking by was a young lady in the mirror's reflection instead of a man’s. She had long snowy hair that reached the waist, and red eyes followed suit that looked like fresh blood was poured and formed into a human’s eye.
“..My Lord.”
Remember entered the room, only to see a lady in what his Lord was wearing a while ago before falling asleep.
***
“I apologize, but there is nothing I can do. You don’t seem to be affected by a curse so I cannot revert it.”
“No it’s fine Ran, thank you..”
Maybe it was fine, at least he, well she didn’t have sharp fangs like vampires. She would be executed immediately for being a demon in disguise, that would be horrible, survival was an important part of her life.
Ran looked at Deon in front of her, perhaps this was a way for the world and Gods to change Deon’s fate from a bloody and lonely one to a much brighter one. She left shortly after Deon said she was dismissed and thanked her.
‘I should probably tell the Emperor about this right?’
Yes, telling the Emperor was the most important thing now. How else would anyone recognize her if she just showed up like this with no explanation?
Thankfully, a few months prior, the Emperor handed her an insignia where all she had to do was show the guards it, and they would let her in. It was an insignia that was personally made for her to enter the Imperial Palace at any given moment in time, she remembered that the Emperor told her that she could also use it once for a wish or a favor from him.
Then it was settled now, off she went to the Emperor’s office.
Deon took out the insignia from her pocket and headed out her estate to the Imperial Palace at a fast pace while also making sure that no one would see her appearance.
By the time she reached there, a few hours had already passed and it was now noon. The guards at the gate raised their weapons, waiting to attack the so-called intruder, which was Deon. They immediately dropped their weapons the moment Deon held out the insignia personally given to her by the Emperor.
“Was that the Third Hero…?”
“The white hair remains the same but he seems a little off today..”
Deon ignored the whispers from servants and guards as she made her way to the Emperor’s office. She audibly sighed at her misfortune, why did Cruel Hardt have to be here just as she wanted to talk to the Emperor? But if her brother was here, doesn’t that mean Duke Illustre was also here?
And just as she guessed it, Stave Illustre came out of the doors, walking calmly as ever with Cruel now following behind him.
Deon ignored the two and made her way into the Emperor’s office. When she got in, she could see the Emperor sitting behind his desk, doing paperwork as per usual.
“Your Majesty.”
She placed her insignia on the table and could see the Emperor looking up at her. Now that she’s gained his attention, she finally opened her mouth while pulling down her hood and decided to spout whatever lie she could think of that could explain her appearance.
“..Deon Hardt…? Yes, it’s certainly you but why are you like this?”
“I… I’m not sure myself. However, I do believe it might’ve happened while on my expedition.”
Eduardo looked at Deon who still had the same white hair and red eyes, it was just that his, well her gender had completely changed.
He wasn’t used to it as Deon was, or at least she looked like she had already adapted to the strange phenomenon that had happened to her. But if what she said was true, then didn’t that mean another demon cursed her? The most devastating curse was the one from the Demon King, but to gain another curse in just a year…
Though in truth, Deon had not adapted fully to the situation quite yet. And with the Emperor in front of him, it made things worse. She felt like she was dying while reporting to the Emperor about the predicament she landed herself in.
“Hooh.. Do you want me to inform people about it?”
“Yes, please!”
“Alright then, you’re excused. Head to the Imperial Tailor for new clothes sometime soon.”
Deon’s eyes brightened up, seriously, it was great when the Emperor had so much influence. Now she didn’t have to go around explaining why she looked like this, less work for her that was for sure! Last thing left was to retire and love a happy life, without insanely strong people bt her side.
She excused herself after receiving the Emperor’s approval and quickly left. When she got outside she could see Cruel and Stave waiting outside while discussing something.
‘He said go to the Imperial Tailor and expect me to know where that is?!’
“Ack-”
Deon took a step back after bumping into something, or someone. She looked back up and saw Cruel, her brother, standing right there with Duke Illustre. Seriously, out of anyone it just had to be them, and why them anyway?
Cruel turned around and immediately, he widened his eyes, he could tell this was Deon just by a slight glance. Even if his baby brother, well sister now, changed appearance, he would always be able to notice Deon no matter what. After all, Deon was his precious brother(sister).
“Oh my, is this perhaps…”
“Ah, Duke Illustre. Please leave Honorary Count Hardt alone for a while, he- she’s not used to her new appearance yet.”
Eduardo appeared behind Deon and placed his hand on top of Deon’s shoulder, Cruel looked at this and almost felt a vein popping. While Deon, who was unaware of this continued to glare at her brother.
“Well if that’s the case then, how about sending Sir Cruel to accompany the Count or would it be better to say, Honorary Countess?”
Deon flinched when she heard what Duke Illustre suggested, there was no way she was going to accept being accompanied by Cruel Hardt. She would rather die than walk around with that bastard by her side.
Just as she was about to retaliate, Eduardo agreed to what the Duke said. Deon felt like her world was shattering when she heard the Emperor agree to the Duke’s words.
“You are all traitors!”
Was what Deon wanted to say as she was being guided back home with Cruel, these people moved way too quickly for her own good. Now she had to deal with being stuck with Cruel, that man hates her to the guts, what if he ends up killing her?!
***
‘This is so awkward…’
Deon sat beside Cruel while looking out the carriage window. By now, news of her spectacle has probably spread throughout the Empire. Nothing would change even if she was a girl now anyway, she was still weak, her brother still hated her, and she’s probably gonna die after getting found out that she was faking her strength.
As Deon was staring out the window, the carriage outside stumbled upon a ‘rock’ which caused the carriage to tumble.
‘What the fuck!’
“Deon-”
Cruel caught Deon as she was about to tumble over from the turbulence of the carriage, who would even dare to attack his baby sister in broad daylight while he was here?
He unsheathed his sword while Deon was rummaging through her pockets for a spare pair of daggers. Even if they were sent by the Duke, he would kill them all for just the slightest thought of trying to harm her.
Did Deon mention that she was also still in her brother’s arms? Well, she did and it was oddly comfortable. She thought that he would choke her to death the moment she came into contact with him.
“Kill that bastard of a Third Hero-”
A sword immediately pierced through the assassin that was aiming for Deon which freaked her out, the assassin was just a few inches away from stabbing her. Not to mention, it was from the back, how did Cruel even notice that guy?!
In reality, Cruel’s big brother instincts kicked in and he immediately slain the assassin. The fight continued on in Cruel’s favor as he dodged incoming attacks from assassins that were specifically going for Deon, though he gained a few cuts due to it but it was fine as long as Deon wasn’t injured.
“That should be it. But now we have no driver nor do we have a carriage.”
‘Oh, the driver was also an assassin… How great.’
Now she had no ride, and was stuck with Cruel Hardt, a Cruel Hardt with a sword in his hands. How was she supposed to get to her home now? She pondered for a bit before she was lifted up into Cruel’s arms a moment later.
“What are you doing?! Let me go!”
“...”
Deon kicked and hit the front of Cruel’s body and even pulled his hair, yet none of that was able to coerce him to let her down. In the end, she gave up to her fate and let her self be carried by her brother. Why was this guy so persistent anyway, he hated her so he should stop acting like he cares about her!
“W-welcome Sir Cruel a-and Sir- Dame Hardt..?”
‘Oh, they were already informed of my situation. The Emperor is sure quick as hell.’
Cruel nodded at the two and headed inside the Hardt mansion, and his home that the Duke took away from him.
He walked past the servants as well as Remember as he went up the stairs, he already knew the layout of the house so there was no need to ask for guidance, he’s lived here before after all.
He reached Deon’s room where Deon was still using despite the amount of years that passed, he let her down and she immediately slammed the door on him.
Was she perhaps still in her rebellious phase? Is what went through Cruel’s mind as he left the Hardt Manor. How could anyone say that Deon was evil, look at her!
She was just a cute little kid in her rebellious phase, yes she had some interesting fits of rage. But it wasn’t that serious, it wasn’t like it was his baby’s fault that she ended up like that anyway.
***
“Ughh… Why do I have to go to this ball?”
“My Lady, you have to! It is a ball specifically held for the Crown Prince’s birthday, besides, My Lady has not ventured outside ever since you changed. Neither have you attended the Princess’s and Emperor’s banquet, so this is mandatory.”
“...”
Well, Deon couldn’t refute that. It’s been months since she had shown herself to society ever since she turned into a girl, but she was just too lazy to attend parties and neither did she even want to do so. It was too tiresome being approached by nobles from left and right, she didn’t want to go through that again.
But at last, here she was in a dress that was specifically tailored for her by the Imperial Tailor that usually only made outfits for the Imperial Family. Something that many aristocats wouldn’t even dare to dream of.
It was a dark green bowknot dress, there were ruffles on the hems of her skirt, laced gloves were worn on her hands, a small pearl necklace was place on her neck. And lastly, she had leggings on that covered her legs and was paired with dark green platforms that matched her dress, she had to wear shorter platforms since she still wasn’t used to using heels.
“Not yet, we need to add a ribbon into your hair then… Make up!”
‘When will this be over…’
The maids braided the upper part of Deon’s hair, forming a half-do. They then took out a green ribbon and tied it into Deon’s hair. The ribbon was made of satin and had black laces surrounding it with an emerald embued in the middle of the bow
They turned Deon around after braiding her hair and applied light makeup as requested by Deon who did not like wearing makeup, Deon had no idea why they were even trying to dress her up for just a birthday part. Besides, she received a special permit from the Emperor and Crown prince and Princess that she had no need to attend any banquets.
“It’s time to go My Lady.”
“I’m coming.”
Deon walked out of her room once the maids finished applied just a light shade of pink lipstick and a peachy colored eye shadow onto her. She went down the stairs and let Remember guide her to the carriage.
The carriage took off with Deon in the carriage, there was no need for a cloak since the whole procedure took hours and it was no longer daytime. First, with her having to bathe in warm water filled with rose petals and other essentials, then drying her hair before getting her clothes fit on, and finally, getting her hair and makeup done.
“My Lady, we are finally here.”
“Got it.”
Deon opened the door as Remember escorted her down, the guards froze up when they saw the Third Hero(ine) step down from her carriage. Never would they expect such a beautiful lady to be the Third Hero now, would they?
Deon, who had no idea what was going through their minds, walked up to them and held up the insignia the Emperor gave her. She still hadn’t used her wish yet since the Emperor said what she wanted wasn’t exactly a request, but rather something that he should do, but it was still nice to carry the insignia around as most of the guards knew the existence of the insignia that she held in her hand.
“Honorary.. Count Hardt has entered the room!”
She made her way in as the herald announced her arrival, it seemed that the herald was still confused and stuck to Count as it was easier to remember. After all, she was a man before turning into a girl. The aristocats whispered amongst each other as they looked at Deon who greeted the Imperial Family.
“That’s the Third Hero?”
“He.. She looks better than I thought.”
“Her beauty even rivals the Empire’s Princess.”
‘These people need to stop talking…’
Deon curtsied one last time before she left to the corner of the room, she went to the confectionery table and grabbed a cup of pudding before exiting to the balcony.
Was what she wanted to do anyway.
But the world had other plans as she soon found her arm being grabbed by a noble. He looked to be about in his late twenties, perhaps a Young Master and not yet the Head of a house yet.
“You must be the Third Hero.”
“…Yes, that is me. Is there something you need from me?”
The noble went even closer to her, it creeped Deon out. Even if she was a woman now, she was a man in the past, it was weird to have her arm pulled like that.
“If there’s nothing you need-”
“A dance, can’t you see everyone dancing now?”
“…”
Fuck.
She totally forgot about that, and she had no one to turn to. The Emperor was dancing with his niece while the Crown Prince decided to socialize with other nobles. Did this man plan this out to humiliate her in front of everyone?
Deon scanned around the room and finally, she spotted Cruel standing in the distance. Even if he hated her, he can’t refuse a dance from her right? She locked eye contact with Cruel for a short moment before she ran past the noble and to Cruel saying something she would never even think she’d say.
“O-Orabeoni, please dance with me!”
“Okay.”
Cruel immediately answered back and took Deon’s hand, right in front of the noble who originally asked her first. Deon didn’t notice it but, her and Cruel’s outfit were matching, it made everyone doubt the rumors on Cruel hating his younger sibling. Along with the fact that he immediately accepted Deon’s informal dance invitation.
Of course, while the nobles wondered about the rumors, Cruel was overjoyed with the fact that his baby sister chose to dance with him instead of the noble who was pissing him off a while ago.
He saw how the noble pestered Deon for a dance, and was even about to pull out a rose from his suit! However, the Duke was watching him and he wasn’t able to do anything.
Wait, if his baby sister was now a girl, doesn’t that mean that more men will be trying to court her? No, he won’t let that happen, not on his watch.
Deon, who had no idea what Cruel was planning about future people trying to court her, panicked. She wasn’t used to dancing as a woman and this would be her first time to do so in an official setting.
‘It’s okay, I can do it.. I practiced.’
She’s practiced enough from Remember, she can probably dance without stepping on Cruel’s foot, right? Either way, Cruel wouldn’t care but Deon had no way of knowing that.
The musicians began slowing down to cue that it was about to be the end of the dance session.
‘It’s finally about to end-’
Just at that moment, Cruel lifted Deon up in the air as he spun her around, her dress swayed as she was spun around by him.
Shortly after, Deon was back on the ground, she didn’t feel dizzy due to Cruel holding onto her gently to make sure that she wouldn’t feel uneasy while in the air.
“Thank you for the dance.”
The two curtsied to one another and Deon left shortly after. However, she had no idea how everything would change after that dance.