My name is Kota Kintaro. And not too long ago, I died.
No, not by a truck. I actually fought someone kind of strong... and, as it turns out, I lost to him. Fair and square.
This was after I had already transmigrated to another world.
But that doesn't really matter.
I died without anyone really... loving me at all. Both in my previous world and, well, the most recent one.
I felt it. My consciousness fading. I believed that this was my end. And... I accepted it.
I didn't have any strong ties. The only tie I did have was with someone who only saw me as a tool... although I didn't really mind it that much. It was more than most, after all.
It's just... I... I wish I knew what it's like to be loved by someone for real... That was my last coherent thought before I died again.
And like a prayer, I was reborn into a new world, to a wealthy noble family.
My current name is Lvalti Klaude. My current father is a kind man. As is my mother.
But as I grew up, I realized that even kind people can't really be there for you all the time.
They were busy people who were always away. And being a noble of a very high-status family, no one dared come close to me out of fear... I guess whatever I wished for just before I died was still out of reach.
Then, when my mother and I were taking a stroll in the snow when I was six years old... I saw them.
Freezing in the streets. Shriveled to their bare bones, clinging to each other. They were twins, probably. A taller boy and a girl with white hair.
No one in the kingdom had white hair, but it wasn't something a noble should concern themselves with.
I'd seen plenty of starving commoners by then. Not one had stirred me in the slightest.
But watching these two cling to each other in the snow... Watching how tightly they gripped each other, despite how weak they were...
"Come on, Lvalti. Come with mommy..." His mother's voice was soft as Lvalti stopped and looked at the two.
"Young Master! Step away from these commoners..! You don't know what they'll do..!" One of the escorts warned as Lvalti kept walking.
... Something in me... I wanted that.
The boy and the girl both looked at Lvalti. Too weak to cry out. Their faces pale, lips dry and cracked.
"Mom," Lvalti said, kneeling down toward the two. They stared into his empty expression.
"I want servants for myself too. Can I have them, please?"
"I'll even train them myself."
The two siblings gasped, their expressions flickering with confusion.
They didn't know whether to hope... or fear.
'I'm not sure what I was thinking taking these two in, but I guess it wasn't a hassle — so that's already a good thing.'
'My mother was skeptical, but eventually thought it would be good practice for me for when I'd inherit the family's assets and business. My father agreed.'
'So, since they were my responsibility, I had to teach them etiquette, manners and of their duties. Since we already had lots of servants in our estate and I was pampered, I had lots of time and leisure to teach them slowly and surely at my pace without rushing. They ended up learning everything.'
He sighed as he woke up...
Ten years later.
'But seriously... these two...'
He sighed again, lying against his bed and glancing at the two standing beside it—dignified, smiling.
"M-master... G-good morning... Did you sleep well?" the smaller girl asked.
Clarice, her name was.
"I... I've prepared your bath... like... like a lord should properly bathe...!"
Lvalti turned his gaze to the other one.
She was taller. More confident.
More... well-endowed.
Laila, her name was.
"Hey, Young Master..." she cooed with a bright blush. "I made you some breakfast... Let me feed you today. We mustn't let you use your hands so early in the morning..."
She leaned in close, face nearly brushing his.
Lvalti gulped and recoiled.
'THEY'RE JUST TOO OVERBEARING..!'
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My name is Lars.
The white-haired boy thought, looking at Lvalti back when he was a child—when he found him in the street.
Me and my little sister Clarice were sure we'd die in each other's arms.
But then, Master Lvalti found us and took us in.
We were both worried. And being the older brother, I wanted to keep my little sister safe.
I was scared. I'd heard rumors about the nobles here—that they tortured unfortunate commoners. But we had no choice but to be taken in.
Otherwise, we'd have frozen to death in the snow.
I was sure this was just another hell. We had never been this fortunate... why would that change now?
And... he was a noble. The same breed that brought us to this state. He was just the same as them, I felt. This was too good to be true.
But then... but then...
He kept waking up early just to teach us etiquette and manners. Even though he was younger than both of us, he treated us like we were toddlers..!
Despite being a noble... he fed us. Taught us how to read and write. Showered with us... even slept beside us.
I couldn't believe it.
This wasn't an ordinary noble...!
Even when we couldn't write properly or made mistakes, he was gentle and patient.
I thought I was dreaming.
No... this has to be a dream, I forced myself to believe.
But we were safe in their estate. And Lvalti was harmless.
It was then I decided that we should stay with him at least until we figured out how to return.
Clarice agreed.
We'd use him.
I decided we'd use him until we were at full strength, well-taught, and ready to return to our homeland... to exact our revenge. But then... a few years later... I saw it.
The more Lvalti grew up... H... He started teaching and being with Clarice more attentively than me..!!
I... I felt my chest tighten and ache. I hated that he gave her more time than he gave me.
That's when I realized...
I fell for Lvalti. Despite being three years older than him... And despite me being a boy.
But... he wouldn't reciprocate my feelings. That much I knew.
I was a boy, and Lvalti was probably more attracted to girls. I've seen it with how he looked at Clarice and me... I... Wanted him to look at me like that, too.
I'd shave my face every morning—sometimes twice a day—just to look more feminine for him.
But it didn't work. I kept being treated... as the older brother.
It frustrated me, but I decided to quiet those feelings down. We were using him after all... and we'd leave anyway when the time was right.
But then...
Clarice came to me, flushed and nervous, with something she had decided a few years after he took us in.
"Lars..!" Clarice let out with a blush. "I... I'm... I... I'm going to s... seduce Lvalti! And marry him!"
She yelled it like a declaration. "I... L... Love him..!"
It all cracked. Everything I had planned. All the emotions I planned to keep buried came crashing down.
No... She was going to take Lvalti away from me... Leave me alone..!!
Screw going back to our homeland! Lvalti will be mine!
We'll go back after I make him mine.
Lvalti is attracted to girls... And I'm not a girl. That's why I have no chance...
...And that's why, when I was old enough; I came to the black market to have a forbidden ritual performed on my body—
"Are you sure about this, boy? I can only alter your appearance, not your biology. You'll still be male."
Lars, now covered with runes on his body nodded.
"Will I be pretty? Will I not have to shave my face again!? Will I sound like a girl? Will I have a womanly body..!? And will I grow up looking like a girl, too?!" Lars's eyes glistened at the black market operator.
"Y... Yeah... May I ask... why? Or... whom?" The operator recoiled.
"My master..! I love him...! And this way, he'll love me too!"
"...R... right..."
After an hour-long ritual of forbidden magic, Lars was transformed into the body of a voluptuous beauty. Although... the remnants of her previous identity could not be erased.
'That's not a problem!' Lars—now Laila—thought to herself.
'We could just adopt a child...!'
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'I'm still not used to it, even after all these years... That bastard Lars... Why did he turn himself into a girl!? Is it to feel closer to his sister...?'
Lvalti thought, glancing at Laila's blush—and Clarice's hostile glare aimed straight at her.
'You bastard, Lars... I mean, Laila... I won't lose...!!! I'll marry Lvalti...!!!' Clarice clenched her teeth, shooting daggers at him.
"Ara, Clara, you good? You seem a little nervous... Is something bothering you...?" Laila asked, almost mockingly, her innocent smile framed by a palm resting lightly on her cheek.
"N... Nothing... SIS... I'm just worried if the young master slept well, that's all... W-wow, he could sure use the bath I made for him, right..?"
She forced her voice to sound soft and sweet.
"Oh my, but if he uses a bath without eating or drinking anything, he might faint..."
Laila sighed, voice gentle yet smug.
"You really have much to learn, my younger sis..." Then she turned her attention back to Lvalti.
"Now, young master..."
She placed the tray down, picked up a fork, and guided a slice of beef and some vegetables toward his mouth.
She sat on the edge of his bed, leaning in close—her breath warm against his cheek as she blushed.
"Say aaaaahh~..." Laila cooed.
"You bastard..!"
Clarice hissed under her breath, steaming with fury.
'WAY... WAY TOO OVERBEARING...!!' Lvalti paled.
'Just what was I thinking, taking these two in...?'
He zoned out for a moment—watching the two of them.
Focused entirely on him.
Only him.
'But... it's... not the worst, I suppose. But...'
He looked down.
'They're only grateful I saved them. That's all this is... Surely.'
'There's no way they love me unconditionally, right?'