"Curse on you!"
"You're the worst!"
"It's all your fault!"
"We can't be with you."
"Just die!"
The voices echoed endlessly inside his head.
"Aaghh, shut up!!"
Leo Julius Eros screamed against the tormenting words.
Leo Julius Eros—known by many as a man consumed by greed, hated and despised for it.
His eyes snapped open. He gasped as though waking from a nightmare, his right hand clutching his chest. His golden eyes trembled, his body shook, and sweat rolled down his skin.
"…What was that…?" Leo muttered, his own voice strangely unfamiliar.
He found himself in his large room decorated in white and trimmed with golden patterns like a noble's estate. He lay upon a grand bed of crimson sheets and white covers. Outside, birds chirped as the morning sun poured through the open window, the gentle wind brushing into the room.
Yet something was wrong.
His body felt unusually light. He slowly raised his hand—and froze. His skin was soft, delicate, and strangely… feminine.
"Huh…?"
He noticed that his long messy hair, seeing this, he was throwing the sheets aside, Leo moved his legs off the bed and stood up, unsteady as if his strength had been drained. He staggered toward the window. But the moment his eyes caught the reflection in the glass—
A girl.
Messy brown hair. Golden eyes dulled with exhaustion. Dark shadows beneath them. A face both weary and unfamiliar.
"Who is… she?" Leo whispered in confusion.
But the voice that left his lips was not his own. It was high, soft—undeniably feminine.
"W-What!?"
Panicking, Leo rushed to his desk, snatching the hand mirror from its surface. His trembling hands raised it to his face—
And what he saw was the same girl reflected back at him.
"Wha—!? This… this is… m-me!?" His golden eyes widened in shock, sweat dripping down his forehead.
"No… it can't be… That means… this girl is… me!?"
His reflection stared back—fear etched on a face that was no longer his.
That moment, the mirror slipped from Leo's trembling hand and shattered on the floor.
Cold sweat drenched his face.
He was no longer the Leo he once knew.
"N–No… how… why me…?"
His voice quivered as he staggered back from the broken mirror. His pale face twisted as if he had just seen a nightmare. His entire body trembled.
Then—he bolted.
He flung open the door and ran, his frantic footsteps echoing down the corridor. The spotless marble floor stretched endlessly, draped with a long crimson carpet. Tall candles glowed faintly from the upper floor, casting flickering shadows.
Yet Leo kept running.
"What is happening!? Why am I turning into a girl!? Is this a dream!?"
BAM!
"Ugh—agh!!!"
Leo collided headfirst into someone, and the two of them tumbled to the floor.
It was a maid.
She looked about eighteen or nineteen, with long snow–white hair tied neatly into a ponytail and jet–black eyes that gleamed with quiet sharpness. Her black–and–white uniform flowed elegantly, adorned with a single red rose pinned to her chest.
"Ow…" she groaned softly, holding her head where it struck the floor. Then, blinking, she looked at him with curiosity.
"…Huh? Who are you, miss?"
Leo froze.
Both of them scrambled to their feet.
"I… um…"
His lips quivered. Words refused to come out.
(How can I possibly tell her I'm Leo Julius Eros!?)
His golden eyes sharpened as they met hers.
The maid tilted her head slightly, studying him with intrigue.
"Do you happen to know of Master Leo Julius Eros?" she asked, stepping closer, her tone curious.
"Oh—y–yeah! Haha, of course I do!" Leo forced a smile, awkwardly scratching his head with his right hand. Sweat trickled down his cheek. "Master Leo… he called me here. But, uh, sorry, I really need to go!"
"…I see."
The maid's lips curled into a small smile.
"So you are Master's guest then."
She bowed lightly, her voice filled with grace.
"My apologies for the delay. I am Dalia, head maid of Master Leo Julius Eros. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"T–Thanks… so, I'll just… be going now. Goodbye."
His voice wavered as he turned to leave.
"Please have a wonderful day—ah, excuse me, miss!" Dalia suddenly called out.
Leo stopped, his heart skipping a beat.
"…Yes?" He looked back nervously.
"May I… know your name?"
Her black eyes glimmered with honest curiosity.
"Uhh…"
Leo exhaled sharply, then turned around with a newfound resolve.
"…I am Mion. A… friend of Leo's."
His tone was firm, his golden eyes flashing with confidence as a faint smirk touched his lips.
"I see. Thank you very much." Dalia smiled warmly, her voice soft. "I hope you'll visit again, Miss Mion. Have a wonderful day."
"Yeah. Of course." Leo smirked back. "I'll definitely be back, Dalia."
With that, he strode out of the mansion, in the mansion Dalia turned around with an eerie smile, and walked away to room.
The wide stone road bustled with life. Humans, Elves, Demons, and mixed-blood folk all walked side by side. Merchants rattled their carts along the way, children in academy uniforms hurried past with books in hand, and adventurers in flashy armor strutted with pride. Above them stretched a clear blue sky, while elegant houses lined the streets with noble grace.
On a shaded bench beneath a towering tree, Leo sat slouched forward.
"Uuhh… what did I even say back there? Mion? Damn it, of all things—I gave the worst name possible…"
He clutched his head with both hands, trembling as he ground his teeth. His expression twisted in sheer panic.
"And why didn't Dalia get suspicious of me? Does she really trust my so-called friends that much…?"
Lost in thought, Leo rose to his feet. It was then he realized the gazes—people around him had stopped to stare.
"Huh? W–Why are they looking at me like that?"
He forced a nervous smile and started walking, trying to escape the attention.
"HEY!!!"
A booming voice thundered from down the street.
Leo spun around, startled. "W–What was that? Who!?"
Through the crowd rode an imposing figure—an elegant man with jet-black hair tied into a long ponytail. Sharp light gray colour, age around twenty seven. He wore a red and gold-trimmed coat, a sash pinned with a golden star, and at his hip rested a gleaming sword striped in blue and gold. Mounted on a pure white horse, he radiated authority.
It was none other than Logen Bon Arnold, Captain of the Kingdom's Guard.
"Hey, you there, halt!"
The horse reared slightly as Logen pulled up before Leo.
"M–Me? Um, sir… did I do something wrong?" Leo stammered, panic rising.
Logen dismounted in a smooth motion, boots striking the ground with weight. He crossed his arms, studying Leo.
"Girl. Don't you know the laws of this kingdom? Why in the world are you walking the streets in… men's sleeping clothes?"
"Hhaaaah!?"
Leo froze, eyes wide. He looked down at himself—and his heart dropped.
"Shit! So that's why everyone was staring at me! I'm doomed!!!"
His face burned crimson, body trembling like a leaf.
"Hey? Are you alright?" Logen asked, his stern tone softening. Seeing the girl's panic, her gloomy expression, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity.
"…She must be struggling with something." He sighed to himself.
"Fine. If you truly have no other clothes, I'll prepare some for you," he offered, voice clipped as though the matter annoyed him.
"Really!?"
Leo's eyes lit up, sparkling with relief. For a moment, the captain was taken aback by the pure, innocent joy in her gaze.
"…She's actually a good girl," Logen thought, watching her expression soften.
"Of course. As Captain, it's my duty to aid those in need," he said with dignity.
Leo narrowed her eyes slightly, studying him. Good… perhaps this man could help me lift my curse.
"Come. Let's go," Logen declared. Mounting his horse again, he extended a hand down toward her.
Leo hesitated only a moment before grasping it, letting him pull her up onto the saddle behind him.
I hope this will lead me to a clue…
And with that quiet prayer in her heart, Leo rode away beside the Captain of the Guard.