“Sir knight, are you sure you can walk? We can get rid of the luggage and you can ride the donkey.”

“I said I’m fine. Now stop pestering me. Cough!”

“You’re not convincing anyone with all that blood.”

“I’m used to it.”

“Private Johnson, please beat some sense into him.”

“M-my name is Jameson, your highness. And… and I can’t possibly force the knight to do anything he doesn’t want to.”

“Oh, you men! One is a brute. The other is useless!”

“M-my deepest apology, your highness.”

We walk and bicker and camp and walk some more for two weeks. That’s when we come across a small settlement that isn’t on any map. The villagers look at us with curious gazes as we make our way to the tavern. We offer to pay in coins but they’re not interested, so I exchange some of my dresses for boarding and food. The next day, I swap my jewelries for three ponies and our journey becomes smoother. Ten days later, we finally have the Lilac Mountains in our sights.

Woodlands give way to vineyards and rolling hills. And there are enough quaint brick houses and tourists around to allow us to let down our guards. I take charge and lead the group to the Merlot Hotel. The manager recognizes my face and things seem to move in the right direction. We are given rooms and a postal mage is called over to convey my message to the capital. My uncle also arrives after hearing the news.

“Uncle!”

“Oh, my dear Grace. It must have been terrible!”

I hug my uncle as Adrian and Private Johnson discuss who is the likely mastermind behind my attack. Adrian is convinced it’s my uncle, while Johnson points to a weasley little man in his entourage.

“Tell me that doesn’t look like the face of a villain.”

“Appearances can be deceiving, soldier boy. It’s all about the motive.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“What motive would Prince Gael have?”

“The fact that you call him a prince and not a king.”

I introduce my saviors, Knight Adrian Acker, and Private Johnson, to my uncle. We tell him what happened while twisting the story so that Johnson wouldn’t be punished. My uncle says he’ll immediately look into the 73rd company and Johnson hands Adrian fifty silver as promised.

Oh, I get it. You guys never told him which company it was.

And he fell right into the obvious trap. The late prince wasn’t very smart was he?

Shhh! No spoilers.

Oh, come on! How is it a spoiler when everybody knows the prince is dead? How he actually died, now that I want to see.

Adrian returns to his room and orders the most expensive wine the hotel has.

“Put it on the royal tab.”

“Yes, sir knight.”

Adrian watches the view on the balcony as he sips the wine.

“What do you know? The merchant was right. This is the shit. Now, how many farms should I burn down? All of them? All of them. Hehehehe! Hahaha haha!”

Adrian visits the vineyard and turns 180 degrees when he sees Duke Ambrose picking grapes.

“W-what the hell is he doing here?!”

Look, grandfather. That’s you!

Amelia, you were so close all along… My darling girl! Sob!

Adrian gathers information around town and learns that both of his parents are my uncle’s guests and have been staying in the area for the past month. With that news, he returns to the hotel to plan his next move.

That looks like stress eating to me.

Yup.

Damn, look at the way he–she?–swallows that lamb whole.

Judge, can we go back to calling… er… Amelia, ‘the devil?’ All these different identities are getting confusing to keep track of.

You didn’t object when I gave you the chance. Now live with the consequences.

How about we use the they/them pronoun?

No!

Absolutely not!

Judge, arrests this woman! She’s butchering our language!

“Adrian! Knight Adrian Acker, what is the meaning of this?! What is up with the bills you’re stacking?”

“Don’t start this now, girl. I’m already having a headache. You’re making it worse.”

“And this is how you deal with it? Drowning yourself in wine?!”

“Yes.”

“Get up, you bum. I’m going to my uncle’s estate this evening.”

“So long. Farewell. Good bye.”

“You’re my knight. You’re coming with me.”

“I quit. Good bye.”

“Ugh, you’re impossible! Be ready by five or I’ll have you hanged for treason! Good bye!”

I slam the door closed and Adrian rubs his temple.

“Huh… What the hell are you worried about? You’re wearing a different face. Plus, they shouldn’t mean anything to you in the first place.”

Amelia…

Adrian looks at himself in the mirror and decides to touch up his face. His dark hair becomes black and straight like a raven’s. His amber eyes turn blood red. His features become sharper and domineering as his body straightens.

He puts on a sleek black suit and a black cape with red linings and even grows a mustache.

“Nah, too corny.”

He loses the mustache and puts on an evil grin.

“Amelia is dead. It’s time for the world to meet… the Red Demon. No. The Devil! Yes. Yes! Adrian Acker, the Devil! Mwa ha ha! Mwa hahahaha!”