Of all the things Lucas had imagined for his life, having a personal bodyguard was certainly not one of them. But given everything that had already happened to him this morning alone, it barely even registered as surprising anymore.
After a brief silence, Lucas took a deep breath and mustered the courage to introduce himself.
"My name is Lucas Verdi. I am—well, I was—a human, and I was twenty years old. In my world, I lived in a country called Italy. I died saving a friend of mine who was about to fall off a cliff… and I'm sorry to say that I have no experience in ruling a kingdom."
He wasn't sure how much would make sense to someone who had lived their entire life in a world completely different from his, but it seemed like the most honest place to start.
Aislyra listened carefully, then nodded reassuringly.
"Don't worry about that—we expected it. Having read the letter, you should already know there are two other people besides me who know who you really are."
"Yes… your mother and Alberia's personal maid, right?"
"That's right." Aislyra's expression softened slightly. "I don't know if my sister wrote it in the letter, but our mother is also the former queen. She'll teach you everything you need to know about running the kingdom."
Lucas felt a momentary sense of relief—at least he wouldn't be thrown into this role completely blind.
"But before I take you to her…" Aislyra's gaze turned sharp, her tone suddenly serious.
"There's something important I need to show you. And something equally important I need to ask."
Her piercing stare made Lucas gulp.
After a tense pause, Aislyra locked eyes with him and asked—
"Verdi, before you died… were you a boy or a girl?"
Lucas's breath hitched.
The moment the words left her mouth, one worry left his mind, but another immediately took its place.
'What is she going to do if she finds out a guy is now controlling her sister's body?!'
For a split second, he considered lying—but that would be disrespectful, and the truth would come out eventually anyway.
So, swallowing his nerves, he hesitantly answered in a quiet voice, "…A boy."
Aislyra sighed, rubbing her temple in frustration.
"Damn it. I knew it. Sometimes Elfidora likes to play tricks like this."
Then, she suddenly snapped her gaze back to Lucas—and it was the single most terrifying look he had ever endured.
"VERDI, have you by any chance TOUCHED my sister's body?!"
The sheer intensity of her voice sent a chill down Lucas's spine.
Sweating bullets, he violently shook his head at a speed that might have broken records.
Aislyra continued to scrutinize him, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Before she could press the issue further, a calm yet inquisitive voice interrupted them.
"Lady Aislyra, has something happened to Lady Alberia's body? Is she alright?"
Both Lucas and Aislyra turned toward the entrance—or rather, where the door used to be.
Standing in the doorway was a young woman with long, light-green hair, dressed in a classic maid uniform—one that looked more like something out of an anime than real life.
Her eyes were half-lidded, making it hard to tell exactly where she was looking. But the most striking thing about her were the two cat-like ears atop her head, covered in soft green fur, with tufts of long black hairs at the tips.
'A beastkin?' Lucas thought, staring in fascination.
Aislyra let out a small sigh of relief.
"Ah, Katerina, you arrived at just the right moment." Then, shifting back into formal mode, she added, "Help dress the new queen. I have to take him to the Tree. In the meantime, I'll be delivering this to the rangers."
She held up the severed hand of the assassin, showing it to the maid as if it were nothing more than a misplaced glove.
Lucas paled slightly.
Katerina, however, remained unfazed.
"I understand. I will do it with pleasure," the soft-spoken yet distinctly feline maid replied, bowing gracefully. Then, lifting her gaze toward Aislyra, she 'looked' directly at her—despite her half-lidded eyes—and spoke in a voice that was both sweet and unmistakably venomous.
"But Lady Aislyra, how many times must I remind you to stop destroying doors? I understand that the new queen was in danger, but surely it would have been quicker to simply open it rather than reduce it to splinters with your sword."
She smiled—polite, yet utterly unyielding.
"So, please be sure to also visit the artisan and inform her that a new door is needed for the queen's chamber. Understood?"
Aislyra visibly stiffened, a cold sweat forming on her brow. Her voice wavered as she attempted a weak protest.
"B-But..."
Katerina didn't reply. She merely tilted her head slightly, maintaining her perfectly ordinary smile—the kind that brooked no argument.
Aislyra snapped upright.
"YES!!!" she yelped, before bolting out of the room at full speed.
Katerina sighed dramatically.
"Lady Aislyra, you're so elegant in formal settings and during training… why can't you always be like that?"
Then, turning back toward Lucas, she gracefully approached before offering a slight bow. She lifted the hem of her maid's uniform slightly and spoke in a soft, formal tone.
"Nice to meet you, Your Majesty. My name is Katerina, and from today onward, I will be your personal maid. My duty is to assist you with daily tasks and accompany you throughout the day. I will also be your instructor in etiquette and magic."
Lucas blinked.
'Magic?!'
He had already realized magic existed thanks to Alberia's letter, but the idea of learning how to use it himself was way more exciting than he expected.
Eagerly, he reached out his hand to return the greeting.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Katerina. My name is Lucas Verdi, and until recently, I was just an ordinary twenty-year-old guy. I don't know anything about noble etiquette—or magic, for that matter—since in my world, it's not considered real. I'm not sure I'll live up to your expectations, but I intend to do my best."
Katerina shook his hand gently, her lips curling into a kind smile.
"Don't worry. Helping you become a great queen was my last order from Lady Alberia—and I fully intend to uphold it."
Then, releasing his hand, she suddenly added, "By the way, Your Majesty, could you please raise your arms for a moment?"
Lucas blinked in confusion.
"Like this?" he asked, lifting both arms into the air.
"Exactly."
Without warning, Katerina swiftly pulled his nightgown over his head—leaving Lucas completely bare except for a pair of white panties.
A jolt of panic shot through him.
His arms immediately flew up in an attempt to cover his exposed chest—though, considering their size, it was an impossible task.
His heart pounded. Then, remembering Aislyra's ominous warning, he quickly squeezed his eyes shut.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!" he shouted, his face burning with embarrassment.
Katerina's tone remained completely calm.
"I'm changing your clothes. As Lady Aislyra mentioned, you'll be leaving the palace, and you can't go outside in a nightgown."
Lucas opened his mouth to protest—but then froze, realizing she was right.
He had been so focused on Katerina's cat ears earlier that he hadn't registered what Aislyra had told her.
And while he was busy processing that realization—
Katerina removed the last piece of clothing left on his body.
His panties.
Lucas let out an involuntary squeak as he felt the fabric slide down his legs.
"KATERINA!!?" he shouted, his face now entirely red.
"Don't worry, Mr. Lucas. I've finished undressing you—it won't take me long to dress you."
"That's not the problem!!" Lucas shouted. "Just give me the clothes, and I'll dress myself!"
Katerina tilted her head slightly, unfazed. "Are you sure? I should warn you—the garments aren't exactly simple to put on. You'll at least need to open your eyes."
Lucas stiffened.
The memory of Aislyra's threats flashed in his mind.
He wasn't ready to see Alberia's body as it had been created.
"…Never mind. I'll trust you," he muttered in resignation.
Katerina gave a satisfied nod. "Well then, please wait a moment while I retrieve your attire."
She turned toward the large, ornate wardrobe at the side of the room and began selecting the necessary garments.
The next minute was, without a doubt, the most humiliating of Lucas's life.
Who would've thought being dressed by someone else could be this embarrassing?!
If he were still in his original body, maybe he wouldn't have felt this level of discomfort. But now… he wasn't sure if it was because he was in Alberia's body or simply because he was now female, but this body was way more sensitive than his own.
Every single time Katerina's delicate hands brushed against his skin, he felt sensations he absolutely did not want to be feeling. His face turned redder and redder with each fleeting touch.
By the time Katerina finally stepped back, she sighed.
"Mr. Lucas, I'm finished. You can open your eyes now."
Lucas cautiously peeked one eye open.
"However…" Katerina continued, "I believe you should have kept them open while I dressed you. Lady Aislyra is far too protective—you must get used to Lady Alberia's body as soon as possible. I'm sorry to say this, but a queen who blushes every time she looks down will arouse suspicion."
Lucas exhaled. "I get it… but I'll need a bit more—"
His words died in his throat the moment his eyes landed on the mirror.
What the hell am I wearing?!
It looked like something straight out of an NSFW fantasy game.
Covering his torso were two horizontal strips of white fabric adorned with golden embroidery. They started just below his neck and stopped right above his breasts, barely covering them. One wrong movement, and he'd be exposing himself to the entire world.
A separate piece of white cloth with golden accents extended down the center of his torso, covering his stomach and lower back. However, as it neared his waist, it narrowed into a thin vertical strip, trailing down between his legs both in the front and back, almost reaching the floor.
His arms were covered by long, elegant white gloves that extended up to his upper arms, stopping just before his shoulders.
Yet, what stood out most was the complete absence of a skirt or trousers. Instead, the only other pieces of clothing were a pair of thigh-high white stockings, stopping just below his knees, and a delicate pair of white panties held up by thin golden strings, offering minimal coverage.
Lucas stared at his reflection, paralyzed in horror.
Then, he turned to Katerina, his voice rising uncontrollably.
"WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU MADE ME WEAR?!!"
He half-expected the flimsy cloth strips covering his breasts to fall out of place from the sheer force of his movement.
But oddly enough, they didn't budge.
Katerina, completely calm, placed a laurel wreath with golden leaves onto his head and gently slid gold-plated shoes onto his feet.
"These are the sacred garments, passed down since ancient times. Every queen must wear them."
Lucas felt his soul leave his body.
"Who the hell invented these, and how can they possibly be considered sacred?!"
Katerina's response was immediate.
"The goddess Elfidora, when she created the first elves."
Lucas shut his eyes and sighed deeply.
'The idea I had of this goddess is completely falling apart…'
"…Do I have to wear these?" he asked, his voice laced with defeat.
"At least during official ceremonies and public appearances," Katerina answered. "However, in your free time, during training, and in combat, it is not required."
Lucas turned back to the mirror.
Only one word came to mind.
'Erotic.'
Before he could spiral further into despair, the door suddenly opened.
Aislyra walked in, arms crossed, her sharp gaze settling on Lucas.
"Well, I see the new queen is ready." She nodded approvingly. "Then we should get going."
Lucas sighed again but followed without complaint, doing his best to ignore the heavy swaying of his new chest.
It didn't help that every time he looked down, Aislyra would glare at him like he was committing a crime.
Trying to distract himself, Lucas took a moment to examine his surroundings as they walked.
The hallways of this so-called palace were strange—the walls were made of polished bark, giving the whole place a surreal, organic feel.
"…Is this palace actually a giant tree?" he wondered aloud.
Aislyra didn't respond.
After a few minutes of walking, they stopped in front of a massive wooden door.
Aislyra turned to him, her expression uncharacteristically solemn.
"Your Majesty, please place your hand on the door."
Lucas blinked at the sudden shift in tone.
Before he could question it, Katerina leaned in close and whispered, "Mr. Lucas, outside of private situations, we must act as if you are Lady Alberia. You never know who might be listening."
Lucas nodded slowly, then placed his hand against the door.
The moment his skin made contact, the door lit up with a golden glow and opened on its own.
Beyond it lay a vast, empty chamber—save for the massive glowing magic circle in its center.
"This is a teleportation circle," Aislyra explained. "It can only be activated when a member of the royal family is present. It will take us to our destination instantly."
Lucas barely had time to process her words before Aislyra stepped into the circle, motioning for him and Katerina to follow.
The moment all three of them stood within it—
A blinding light engulfed them.
And in the blink of an eye—
They were outside.
Lucas gasped.
In front of them stood a tree so massive it dwarfed everything he had ever seen. It was easily over ten times larger than General Sherman—the largest tree from his old world.
And yet, despite its grandeur, the land around it was barren.
Nothing—not even grass—grew near its massive roots.
Before he could put his awe into words, Aislyra suddenly fell to one knee, bowing deeply with her fist pressed against the ground.
Her cold blue eyes met his with unshakable intensity.
And then—
She pleaded.
"Lucas Verdi, please… help us save this kingdom from Artema's return!"