Night settled after dinner, a velvet hush pooling over the house.

Steam rose like pale mist as I rinsed dishes; Eastern Moon Aixue and Faya stepped in with a stuffed paper bag.

“Mizumi-kun, your uniforms are here,” Aixue chimed, the bag swaying like a little bell.

“Ah, okay, I’m coming.” Relief rippled through me as I slid the clean dishes into the cabinet and dried my hands.

“Mizumi-kun, why are you the one cooking and washing?” Her brows lifted, a petal of doubt.

“It’s nothing.” I shook my head, calm as a dusk lake. “Back at the Mizumi Clan, my sister and older sisters loved my cooking. I enjoy it too, so it became habit.”

“So impressive!” Faya blurted, eyes bright as fireflies.

“It’s just cooking. No need to be that surprised.” I shot Faya a puzzled look, a faint cloud drifting across.

“Well, it makes sense.” Aixue laughed, light as wind through bamboo. “Noble sons rarely cook or do chores. Yet you handle both, and well.”

She added with a playful glint, “You’re from the top family in this world, the Mizumi Clan, so it’s surprising. Anyway, here.” She handed me the bag, palm steady as a crane.

“Oh, I see.” I nodded and took the paper bag, its weight like a folded moon.

“Ooh, ooh! Boss, what’s the uniform like? Is it pretty?” Hill bounded over and leapt into my arms like a spring cat.

“Servant, go try it on.” Xinuo drifted closer, snow-cool voice nudging me toward the inevitable.

“...” I gave Xinuo a flat look, a pebble skipping across my patience. Why does she love making me wear women’s clothes? Is it just my girlish face?

“Fine.” I sighed, a thin reed bending in the wind. Sooner or later I have to wear it; today or tomorrow makes no difference.

I pulled out a set of the uniform, surprise blooming like morning dew. Huh—this is actually pretty.

Egisia Academy is a girls’ school, so the uniform’s a skirt, white as new snow. It’s two layers, simple yet elegant.

The first layer is a sleeveless long dress, pure white, smooth as flowing silk; the material feels high-grade, like a quiet luxury.

The second layer is a small jacket with lace cuffs, also white, and at the chest sits a white rose—fabric, not flower—woven delicate as frost.

The dress is embroidered with graceful patterns, and with all that white, it looks spotless and pure, like moonlight on water.

“So pretty! Boss, boss, try it on!” Hill buzzed around me, a hummingbird in sugar rush.

“Exactly. Servant, you must try it.” Xinuo nodded, eyes clear as winter glass.

“Why aren’t you two changing? Especially you, Xinuo—you’d look better than me.” I sighed again, a willow drooping. In my mind, her snow-white hair and this white uniform matched like snow and moon.

“We’ll change later. Stop fussing and go.” Xinuo grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the changing room, quick as a swallow.

“Eh—eh?!” My protest fluttered like a loose leaf.

Thud!

She pushed me in and shut the door, neat as a blade.

“Ugh, I’ve worn women’s clothes a few times, but I still can’t get used to it.” I stared at the mirror, eyes damp as rain, skirt limp in my hands.

Why do I have to wear women’s clothes? Even the first time I met Xinuo, she seemed set on it—why else make me her maid?

“Stop overthinking. Just put it on.” I slapped my cheeks lightly, a drummer finding rhythm, and started changing.

Three minutes later.

I stood before the two-meter mirror, blank as a snowfield, staring at my reflection.

Weird—why does this feel different from the maid outfit? The thought drifted in, feather-light.

My white-gold hair fell to my waist, unbound, spilling over shoulders like sunlight on snow. I’d worn women’s clothes a few times, so the blush didn’t flood my face.

This pure white uniform hugged me like it was tailored by fate, fitting so perfectly it felt unreal.

It’s different from the maid outfit. The maid gave me a cute vibe; the Egisia uniform tilts me toward pretty and elegant, like a noble lady at court.

I have no idea if the Mizumi Clan counts as “noble,” but the mirror said what it said.

“I can’t. It looks beautiful, but why do I feel so crushed?” I sank to my knees, palms braced, mood wilting like bruised petals.

“No.” I pushed up, spine straight as a spear. “My goal is the Ancestor. I won’t be defeated by mere women’s clothes. Besides, I don’t look bad in them.”

“Alright, let’s go.” I dusted the skirt, smoothed the creases, and drew a few slow breaths, like waves settling.

I opened the door and stepped out, a pale figure crossing still water.

“...”

“...”

The hall fell quiet as snowfall. Xinuo and the others stared, eyes wide and glass-clear.

After a long breath, then another—

“Servant, truly born beautiful.” Xinuo’s praise rang like a silver bell. Rare, but it didn’t lift me; I don’t want compliments only when crossdressed.

“Ooh! Boss, you’re so pretty! You really suit women’s clothes!” Hill bounced, joy sparking like fireworks.

“Mizumi-kun, are you really a boy?!” Eastern Moon Aixue blurted, disbelief bright as lightning.

“Of course I’m a boy!!!” Annoyance stung like nettles; having your gender questioned is a sour bite.

“But… we were honestly stunned,” Faya murmured, voice soft as a moth’s wing.

…