"So, from the beginning... from the very start, this damn thing was a girl, huh?"

Opening the drawer revealed a pile of letters stacked high. As soon as he saw them, crack—a sharp grinding sound escaped his teeth as he smiled wryly.

For a man, she was surprisingly emotional and overly dramatic. It turns out I’ve been completely fooled. There was no one who deceived me, but I was certainly deceived—such an odd phenomenon.

"Damn..."

Now that he knew she was a girl, everything about those letters that had seemed odd to him began to make sense. What he had thought was cross-dressing was, in reality, just talk about fashion. And the typical girlish chatter about dolls, local restaurants near the school, and so on...

Reading these trivial letters, hearing Yuri's thoughts, would always bring a content smile to his face.

At those times, he would forcefully stiffen his expression, thinking, What the hell am I doing reading a letter from a guy like this? But now, he didn’t need to do that anymore.

He could read them with a grin, just like listening to a cute girl’s worries.

Every time he thought, This damn Yuri, for a guy, she’s surprisingly cute, he’d feel a pang of self-disgust. But now, he didn’t have to feel that way anymore.

At least, I no longer have to question my sexual identity...

Now that he knew the truth, there was no longer any reason to doubt himself. He had initially been too lazy to reply, but later, just hearing that a letter from Yuri had arrived would make his heart flutter. When he saw her in a dress, his heart nearly stopped. It was all normal now—what a relief.

Of course, knowing her real gender doesn't change much.

It was just a long-standing misunderstanding cleared up. Nothing in the situation was really different. Yuri was still wary of him, still scared, still lurking around, waiting for a chance to take Charlotte and Yulia away.

Yuri hadn't changed. Yuri...

However, his attitude toward Yuri would inevitably change.

No matter how hard he tried to act like before, there was no way to treat Yuri the same way after learning she was a girl. The difference in response would be vast.

So, rather than forcing himself to act the same as before, he thought it might be better to make a fresh start today.

If Yuri had been a guy, this would have been impossible, but now that I know she's a girl, this is something I can do...

The thought that came to his mind as soon as he learned Yuri was a girl was clear:

"I’ll marry Yuri."

[The Demon God 'Kali' praises your extraordinary decision!]

It was a path to an engagement with Yuri. If he was worried about his friends being taken away by the evil Count Vermont, wouldn't his anxiety be alleviated if he could get the very person himself into his hands?

Then, Yuri wouldn’t have to worry about her friends anymore, and he wouldn’t have to worry about being killed. Plus, he could marry a sweet, cute, somewhat clumsy girl who blushes when she wears unfamiliar, girlish clothes, a perfect fit for a bride.

What a fantastic plan.

Even Kali, who was usually very strict with him, praised it as solid and constructive. If he presented this plan, anyone would applaud and approve it, right? Except for one person: Yuri.

Yuri's opinion of me is probably at rock bottom...

It was all twisted from the start. Yuri had always seen him as an evil, tyrannical person who took friends and turned them into slaves. Of course, that was still the case.

From Yuri’s perspective, he was the worst kind of bad connection. So if he suddenly proposed engagement, how would she react? She’d probably be more terrified than disgusted.

Therefore, pushing for an engagement right away was out of the question. It seemed like it would take a long preparation phase, maybe even years.

I could use a cheat code, though...

If he wanted to skip the preparation and make Yuri like him right away, there was a cheat code. He could reveal to Yuri that the dark, mysterious man she had been exchanging letters with was none other than him.

Of course, it wasn’t an option he was particularly eager about. First, he had promised to meet Yuri only after she graduated from the Imperial Academy of Magic. Second, it was too embarrassing.

If he used that cheat, it would make it seem like he was one of those guys who, when they see a cute, sweet girl they want to marry, raises her with gifts and affection, wanting to make her his perfect bride.

But that wasn’t his true intention. His goal was to bring peace and end the constant fear of being killed. But if he did that, it would cause serious misunderstandings, and that was unacceptable.

So, he decided to delay using the cheat code. It would be his last resort, to be used only when all other options were closed off.

The plan is set.

Until now, living without the threat of being killed had seemed like an impossible dream. But now, that goal was finally within reach. Getting Yuri’s approval for Charlotte and Yulia’s engagement was no longer an impossible dream.

If he carefully raised Yuri's favor and then used the cheat code with the big reveal, everything would end well.

"Let’s capture the hero. Let’s see if we can do this."

[The Demon God 'Kali' fervently supports you!]

He could do it. It would be hard, but not impossible. With Kali’s support, he decided to give it a try.

I’m insane...

Step by step, his footsteps slowed, and Yuri suddenly stopped, clutching her skirt tightly.

Today was a holiday. A rare day with no classes at the Imperial Academy of Magic and no work at the company, a golden holiday.

On days like these, she had discussed with the dark, mysterious man what to do. Maybe she’d go to a brunch café near the school or visit a weird botanical garden where she could see plants from all seasons. She had even promised to go shopping with him, picking out clothes for each other.

She had filled two pages with things to do on her holiday. And yet, despite ticking off every task, here she was. Why, of all places, was she standing in front of Aslan Vermont’s mansion?

Yuri stood in front of the mansion’s main gate, clenching her teeth and trembling.

I have no choice. For my friends...

Her friends were far more important than brunch or the botanical garden. If they were taken away and she never saw them again, it would be the most heartbreaking and regrettable thing.

So, there was no choice. She had to seduce Aslan Vermont...

But then, a thought struck her.

But what about him...?

She hesitated as the thought of him crossed her mind. The man who had supported her all this time, sent her gifts and money, and always wrote back even when he was busy...

She hadn’t hesitated before, but now, every time she thought about him, her heart raced.

She realized then that she didn’t want to go through with the plan of seducing Aslan. If she married, she would want someone like him—thoughtful, good with words, kind, and generous, not someone like Aslan Vermont, selfish, quiet, gruff, and stingy.

If she married Aslan... if she became a countess, how would he think of her then?

As those thoughts hit her, Yuri felt tears welling up and a heavy weight in her heart.

"Why the hell are you crying in front of my mansion?"

"Ah... Ugh...!"

A low voice came from the other side, startling her so much that tears spilled over. Quickly, she wiped them away and turned to leave.

"Oh, it’s nothing. I was just passing by..."

"Come in. You need to wash your face. I can't let you leave looking like that."

"...Yes."

At Aslan’s soft voice, Yuri sniffled and replied.

Just now, she had made up her mind. She had decided.

Yeah... it’s unavoidable. The dark, mysterious man probably doesn't see me as a woman anyway. It was never going to work out from the start...

Clenching her fists tightly, Yuri let out a deep, chilling sound as she stepped through the open gate. It was the moment she gave up on her first love.