Sigh, yet again I got hit on by some guy. I suppose at least it wasn't a creep this time, but he gave me bad vibes.
That was the last thing she remembered as she stopped at the train station, preparing to go home now that she finished her college classes for today, and ended up getting hit on by some random guy. He was older then her, although only by five years. But still, he certainly didn't seem that good or mature.
As expected, the older boys get, the more stupid they seem to get. Younger boys might be childish in a different sense sometimes, but they are always so direct and innocent, and they dont creepily hit on me.
Perhaps because she just had naturally good looks, but she had a lot of people hit on her. They would use corny lines or just outright creepy ones, and act so snobbish. At least, that was what she encountered. She had seen plentty of girls act the same way, but as they didn't hit on her like that, her reservations and negative feelings towards them were not as strong.
She had tried to let him down gently, but then he tried to call his friends over as some sort of peer pressure, so she rejected him flatly and walked away. He tried to flash some money around, but she just told him that wasn't her thing, and then because she got so annoyed with him, she added that even if he found someone who would, he would need to pay them way more to be with someone like him.
And so as she was waiting for the train, watching it arrive, she felt herself get shoved from the back and right onto the train tracks.
"Take that back you bitch!"
His words and actions clearly didn't match, just showing his stupidity. Still, she didn't have much time to think about it as she tried to stop herself from falling, but there was nothing to grab to and her footing was already lost. So as a result, she fell right into the train and died.
Well, at least I know that creep will get arrested for murder for sure. He did it in broad daylight, in public, and there are cameras on that train station so they have video too. He wont hit on anyone else at least.
She thought that, but then she realized something that bothered her.
Hmm. Wait a second. I feel like I am handling this a bit too calmly. Also, didn't I die? How am I still thinking and conscious? Is it just a coma?
At that point, she panicked, and then she suddenly woke up in a state of panic and confusion. Her entire body felt sore and terrible. Even though she woke up, she could barely move and was feeling very disconnected.
Well, she could still feel everything, and she could wiggle her toes, so she knew she was not paralyzed. There was only a light blanket covering her body, but otherwise she felt like she was naked. A bit strange for a hospital, maybe they hadn't given her a gown yet.
However, when her vision started to focus better, she didn't resolve any of her panic or confusion. After all, she was clearly not in a hospital bed, or even in a hospital. She was in some room. It looked fairly nice, and nothing like her own apartment. In fact, the decorations alone probably could pay for ten of her apartment buildings. Was that a gold mirror in the corner?
However, as she came too, she began to notice something else as well. There were three things she felt was different.
For one thing, she felt way smaller. Her hands when she looked at them, were definently a child's hands.
Secondly, her chest was now flat as a board. Literally, there were no boobs there.
And finally, she had to move the blanket aside to be sure, and surely enough, something that shouldn't be there was.
Yes, for some reason, she was now a very young boy. She felt motivated enough to move her body from this, and rushed over to the mirror. Indeed, she had the chest and lower parts of a boy, rather then a girl. She was partly freaking out from this, but she kept checking herself out in a mirror. She was a very cute small boy after all. Basically a shota. She was a bit obsessed with her new body, suddenly becoming younger with a younger, more springy, energetic body was quite strange and a bit euphoric.
At first, she wasn't sure what to do, but then she remembered how she died.
So I reincarnated then, and as some rich boy? I am kind of freaked out by this still, but...if this means creepy guys wont hit on me anymore, and that incident wont repeat itself, isn't this a good thing?
Due to the circumstances of her previous death, becoming a boy was actually a blessing, so he decided to embrace it.
However, when he looked closer at his face, he realized something problematic.
Wait...this face...I have seen it before. This entire body is kind of familiar, but this face especially...wait, no, could it be...
As he was thinking this, a young maid entered the room.
"Oh, young master Theo! You are awake, and you are okay! Still, you were feeling so bad yesterday, so please lets get you back into bed!"
Even though the maid was a sixteen year old girl, she had no issues seeing him naked, and even went and picked him up and placed him back in the bed, although this time he was laying on his stomach. However, hearing that name made him sure of his own identity.
Theodore Lua Cromwell. He was a character in the otome game Realm of Hearts. He was not the villain, or the protagonist, but a side character who suffered a lot. He was used as a plot device to help show the current state of the game, and how close one was to the calamity that was approaching. In fact, he died in every route, as his death would mark the dark times, as well as his sister's ultimate declaration. It represented innocence lost, and many people thought that it was very tragic and moving, and an excelent representation of that. A lot of people were sad there was no real way to save Theo, but even if the calamity itself did not kill Theodore, his big sister always would in a power play.
In fact, Theodore was constantly in danger at home, because he was abused and tormented by his big sister, the villainess. Even at the academy, due to her power and authority she had, he would be tormented, abused, assaulted, and attacked there. He was just a sweet innocent boy, but he suffered through so much, which helped get the players emotionally invested even in defeating the villainess and the calamity.
And he had been reincarnated as that Theo, in that world.
"Still, to think that one of your father's enemy's would stoop so low as to poison one of his kids, how despicable".
The maid said that, but that was not the truth. Most likely, most people knew that while that might be the official story his sister said, that wasn't the truth.
She was the one who poisoned Theo, using a poison that wouldn't kill him, but would make him suffer a lot.
"Here, let me help you relax young master Theo".
She proceeded to get on the bed, and started to massage his shoulders and back. Because of how he could be hurt at home, Theo had a lot of stress even though he was seven, and it seemed this maid was good at massages.
She probably has a lot of practice at this point. Hmm, its occured to me I am a boy not a girl, so a sixteen year old girl maid is giving a naked seven year old boy a massage...well, I am seven, so I really am tthat young. Plus, in tthis world, this is a common thing for nobles and trustted servants if I remember the lore correctly. In any case, it feels really good, and my body definenttly needs this.
As he enjoyed the massage, he started to contemplate his surroundings. There were the maids and butlers, but there were two that really stood out. Cardon was the head butler for the estate, his loyalty was to his father, but his second loyalty was to his older sister. Although he did try to calm her down and stop her from doing too many bad things to Theo, he ultimately covered up everything his sister did to Theo, enabling her to do it more often.
Then there was the head maid, who was completely loyal to his sister. She was going to be the next heir to the household after all, assuming their father's mantle.
Now that he thought about it, there was one maid that constantly was supporting Theo, with him a lot in the game, and tried to help him, at least when she could. She was really just a background character, but could it be this maid?
Then of course, there were their parents. Their father, Duke Rozel, was someone who had a lot of power and authority in the kingdom. Some thought he might even have the same amount of power as the King himself. And this was why his sister also had lots of power and authority. However, he loved them both equally, so at the very least his sister couldn't do blatent things in his pressence.
It was also this power and authority that kept him busy, which was why he remained unaware of his son's plight. He was pretty much always working these days due to increased turmoil and strange cases appearing across the empire.
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And then there was their mother. Although she didn't hurt Theo at all, and sometimes stopped her daughter from hurting Theo, she clearly favored the daughter more, and often looked at Theo with disdain or a pained expression. Throughout the game, there were rumors that Theo was actually an illigimate child born out of a lover, and from what Theo remembered of his life so far, her actions certainly supported that.
And in just a few years, they would both attend the Academy together. The game starts out at the beginning of the Academy School year for the protagonists and Theo, and every year they would have to solve increasing challenging mysteries and defeat increasingly challenging foes. Well, at least that was the game lore. They had planned to make a game for every year, but only two had been released so far.
His sister was four years older, but because she makes him join the Academy two years early, he would only have two years of safety while she was at the Academy. Of course, there would be times where she would be able to come home for vacation, and if she did Theo would get tormented again. But it was close to the time she would depart he was pretty sure, so he had that going for him.
While thinking that, a servant came in through the door right as the maid finished the massage.
"Excuse me, young master, but your older sister has demanded your attendence immediately so she can see for herself that you are okay".
"Alright, I will get Young Master dressed immediately..."
"No, you are to just carry his clothes. Since she knew he would be in bed naked, resting and recovering, she wants to see him immediately and save time. She wants to observe the effects for herself, as part of her medical education, and also out of concern for her little brother's safety".
"But young master cant..."
"This is an order".
Hearing that he had no right to refuse, his face was quite red now. After all, he had only been a boy for some time. It was one thing for this maid, a girl, but as expected, he hadn't been a boy for even an hour so being seen naked by such an older guy was making him flustered.
"Very well, we will go there at once".
Concern for my safety? No, she just wants to make me walk around naked, embarass me further.
"Where is my sister?"
"...the garden".
The maid looked quite annoyed at that, and Theo couldn't blame her. This wasn't the first time his sister did this to him, or even the first time she made him walk around outside naked. It was just another one of her annoying power grabs. Theo was pretty helpless against it, he was never able to develop the confidence in himself to resist her.
And he knew what would happen if he refused, it would just get worse. Last time he tried to get out of it, she retliated by making him take a carriage ride through town like that, and often opened the doors to greet people, making him have to hide or hope no one recognized him. Somehow despite this, no bad rumors ever circulated.
Seriously, this girl...I know she has an inferiority complex. Despite being in such a high position, and being good overall, in every specific category, someone always beat her out. And because of the strange coldness between me and mother, she often lashed out at me. Or at least, that was what the theories were for the message boards. There were a lot of background details, but the game developers often let people figure it out for themselves. It was a mystery after all, so reasons were not always directly stated or clear.
Either way, he had no choice but to go to his sister in his state, his maid carrying his clothes to change into afterwards. When they reached the central garden, there was an eleven year old girl in a gazeebo, wearing just a light white dress, enjoying some tea in this scenery.
"Good morning, my adorable little Theo".
"Good morning, neesama".
"Now now, we might be siblings, but this is an official meeting and I am higher ranked as the heir. After all, one's health is a serious matter".
As she said that, her eyes narrowed. Theodore had no choice but to kneel and bow his head.
"I greet the esteemed head of the household. Thank you for gracing me with this chance to meet today, Oneesama".
"Better...now, stand and come closer".
Theo did so, as she could see signs of irritation on her face.
"...considering how bad the poisoning was, I expected they would have to carry you here like an infant, but it seems you are already healthy enough to walk on your own".
Oh yeah, wasn't I poisoned? Maybe reincarnating cured me or something? I have no clue what is going on there, this specific moment was never in the game.
"Your body is still quite small" she said, as she poked his belly button. "You should really try to rest and eat more. Dont worry, I made sure to give the head maid plenty of instructions for while I am gone".
In order words, Theo was going to be tormented remotely by the head maid, who was completely loyal to his sister for some reason.
"You should probably excercise outside like this, I hear boys do it all the time in their dorms and it helps them ensure they have a healthy body. I will add those instructions to her list too. I do hope though that your weak stomach improves, you seem to get sick so easily sometimes when you do eat".
Because you poison my food.
Theo often had to resort to eating ahead of time in the kitchen the servants were using, to avoid poisons utilized by his sister.
At that moment, a young boy around Theo's age ran from the western entrance and approached the two.
"Young Master Pelria, a letter and a package from your mother at the Imperial Capital arrived! Furthermore, we have a carriage here. They came earlier it seems, to ensure that as the daughter of a duke and his heir, you have more then enough time to make it to the Academy before the semester starts this year!"
Pelria paused for a moment, and clicked her tongue ever so slightly. Only Theo was able to hear it, but she maintained the appearance of a dignified noble and benevolent older sister acting out of kindness and good will.
"I see. I suppose it cant be helped. I thought I would be able to enjoy some more time with my little brother, but if that is the case, I guess I must check on that message and package and depart today. I do hope that you continue to enjoy your time here, dear brother".
As she said that, she then walked off. Her servants and guards went with her, while the maid proceeded to get him dressed into the clothes she brought almost immediately until the boy stopped her.
"Hey, hey. Theo, want to go swimming with me while we are here? I know a good spot the head maid wont think to check".
Even though the young boy should have been a servant, he spoke very casually to Theo. And yet, rather then malice, it was friendliness.
"Zuuki! You shouldn't speak that way to the young master! What if someone heard you?"
Theo however, although a bit flustered by his current state, nodded and smiled a bit. He was a boy after all, and Zuuki was another boy from Theo's memories that was an ally. Zuuki was the little brother of the maid with Theo, Paza. He was also a character that accompanied Theo a lot, but he was not just a background character. Theo didn't know this yet, but messenger was just a cover for Zuuki. In truth, he was from a group of spies that worked directly for the king. They had bloodline magic that not only made them excelent covert operatives, but also let them handle tasks as if they were far more mature, something about their mentality being bolstered.
Of course, it didn't mean Zuuki was an adult mentally, it just meant he could handle his job properly while still being a kid.
Incidentally, Zuuki was Theo's best friend, and is mentioned as being in the game as Theo's mental support during difficult times. And although given how diverse the message boards was, this wasn't overly significant, but there were a number of people who shipped them. They were essentially purely innocent ships due to their age during the games of course, but the fanart was fairly extensive.
Well, nothing like that actually happened in the game...although, this moment wasn't in the game either.
Zuuki ended up taking off all of his clothes, and the two were now skinny dipping in a secret pond. The original Theo was not aware of this, but in fact the real reason the head maid could never find this bond when they swam here was because it was a Lunar Pond, and there was a lot of shadow magic here. Only those who were skilled with Shadow Magic, or who already knew of its existence, would be able to find this place, so swimming here with Zuuki was one of the few times Theo felt safe.
There was also a few more secrets of the Lunar Ponds, but at the moment they were not important.
I didn't realize that he and the maid were related, its true in the game when talking with him, he often refered to having a big sister, but never directly mentioned it. I guess Theo must have known, but it was never said in the game. Unless I just missed it. Still, I am just glad he is only seven. Small enough to make me a bit more comfortable with all this.
On that note, she was watching them from a distance, having prepared some towels to dry off with and keeping their clothes clean. It was likely Zuuki planned to keep them here until Theo's sister, Pelria, had left.
Once that was over, and they dried off and got dressed, Theo remembered something from his previous life, and considering the connections he now knew currently, thought about something he could do right now.
"By the way, I wasn't aware servantts were allowed access to the record keeping books unsupervised aside from the Head Butler and father's personal accountant".
"Eh...wait, did you see someone in there?"
"Yes. The head maid, a few days ago. I didn't want to say anything with my sister around, in case she hurt me because of it, but I definently saw her in there. She also had the lockbox key too, and she seemed to be writing in it".
"Hmmmm....oh, thats right! I have another job I have to do! I will see you both later!"
Zuuki said that, and then he ran off.
Yes, I am sure Zuuki is more then capable enough considering what he can do in just two years in the game. Its rather early, but taking the Head Maid off the field is something I absolutely need to do if I am going to save my own life, or at least just keep my sanity.
In the game, one hears off a scandal, and the protagonists can later reveal to weaken the villainess' power, that the head maid was altering records and embezzling. She ends up taking the fall personally, but in truth, the villainess had embezzled those funds herself to fund her darker and more illegal ambitions, as well as using it to hire people and buy poison to torment Theo.
She already has a massive amount saved up surely, and there are other methods she uses to increase her funds. But taking it out two years earlier should limit it to some degree. At the very least, she will have to make the choice sometimes between progressing her own plots, and tormenting Theo. Either way would be a victory.
But taking out the Head Maid, who would torment Theo the most when his sister was not here on her orders, meant that he was already free of quite a lot of suffering.
Theo was determined not to die a second time!
----------------------------------------
Two days later, and as Theo was reading a book in the library, Zuuki came in, looking shocked.
"Theo! Its the head maid! She just got arrested for embezzlement! It turns out she has been stealing large amounts of money from the dukedom!"
Zuuki acted all surprised, his facial expressions were undoubtly one of a shocked boy.
But when Theo couldn't help but smile at him, for the briefest of moments, he smiled proudly as well. He corrected it quickly, so if Theo had not been paying attention and in the know, he might have missed it. But Zuuki was quite proud of himself right now.
Well done Zuuki, on taking her out of play.
"Well done Zuuki, on bringing me this information as soon as you heard it".
Zuuki seemed a bit uncertain, but he seemed to roll with it.
"I didn't really do that much".
"Nah. You are always incredibly great at making me feel better, so I thought given the news, it warranted such words".
Yeah, telling him the truth, or even just part of it, would be kind of difficult. Lets just pretend not to know he is here as a spy. I just hope his family doesn't scold him for taking such actions to help me, I cant imagine they will be thrilled to hear he got the head maid arrested, even if he did it without any trail back to him.
And now, Theo would be able to make plenty of preparations for two years from now without any major interference. It was time for him to get started.