June twenty-fifth. The sun shone bright, as radiant as Natasha's mood.
A light tune drifted from her lips as she fussed over her appearance and outfit in front of a full-length mirror. She was no newcomer when it came to romance — she'd had similar dates aplenty during her time with Sylvia — and having no issues with her own gender identity, she felt no aversion to skirts, wide-brimmed hats, earrings, or necklaces. So she easily picked out an exquisitely tailored black evening gown with slightly puffed hems, exuding the mystery of night and the allure of the unknown.
"Hmm, not too sultry — that would go against my style and scare Lucian — and not too rigid like armor, which would kill the charm." Natasha shifted and struck a pose, evaluating herself with satisfaction.
The gown was neither the conservative Holm style nor the revealing Trier fashion, but rather an elegant Altor design that fell somewhere between the two. Its neckline was slightly low, revealing a stretch of fair, delicate skin, but without bending over, not a single inch of what shouldn't be seen would be exposed.
The cut was masterfully done, showcasing Natasha's long, graceful neck, full, firm chest, and slender yet powerful waist in the most captivating way, brimming with feminine charm.
Natasha looked herself up and down, whispering encouragement: "Sylvia always used to envy my figure — not too thin, not too plump. Lucian is bound to be dazzled."
It wasn't that she lacked confidence. Rather, after abandoning the "Lucian Gender-Swap Plan" that day, she had reflected on the past and realized that in all her time with Lucian, she had never once tried to exude feminine allure. She had no idea whether, in his eyes, she appeared as a lady or a gentleman, and so she was determined to correct Lucian's "unfortunate" impression as quickly as possible.
Queen Natasha never backed down over something this trivial. Once she had a goal, she always marched forward resolutely, tackling any problem that arose and finding ways to overcome or compensate for it.
…………
Arling. Inside Lucian's mage tower.
The living room table was laden with plate after plate of freshly prepared Chinese cuisine, though not a hint of fragrance escaped — preservation magic had been cast on every dish.
Lucian removed the apron he'd worn while cooking and, humming a cheerful tune, walked to the full-length mirror to scrutinize himself. "Right, stick to the plan — tweak the outer style a bit, give Natasha a fresh impression, and definitely shake off that 'good buddy' image I've built up."
The black double-breasted formal coat slowly writhed, transforming into a long black overcoat. Beneath it was a white dress shirt, a black vest, and at the collar, a more casual bow-tie style knot. Matching trousers fell straight, partially covering his polished black leather shoes.
Men's fashion wasn't as elaborate as women's, yet the change in outerwear alone gave Lucian a markedly different air. Before, he had been a quiet, composed — even conservative — gentleman. Now there was an added dash of spirited flair and cool, dashing style. Combined with his natural confidence and poise, he looked even more striking.
He put on his monocle, then adjusted his bangs, sweeping them diagonally from left to right so they slightly covered the brow above his right eye.
Once he was done, he looked at his handsome, refined reflection — hair grown out to his ears — and furrowed his brow slightly, feeling he wasn't manly enough. "Should I buzz it short and grow a little mustache?" he thought.
The thought had barely formed when Lucian caught himself and chuckled. "Natasha's taste probably leans this way — if I go all rugged masculine, it'll definitely backfire!"
Lucian turned, used magic to secure the dishes, and stowed them in the storage pouch he'd been awarded upon reaching high-rank mage. Suddenly, amidst the bustle, he snapped his fingers and exclaimed in relief, "Almost forgot!" He hurried over to the bar counter in the living room, picked up a mint candy, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth.
"Keep your breath fresh," Lucian said with a grin, quoting an advertisement, then pumped his fist at his reflection in the mirror.
"You've got this!"
…………
Natasha was quite satisfied with her looks. She wore almost no makeup, merely changing her hairstyle to let her long, flowing hair hint at a touch of allure.
After adjusting her outfit, she reflexively pulled a handful of differently flavored candies from her storage pouch.
"Which flavor would be best?" Natasha hesitated, considering Lucian's preferences, then selected a violet candy — sweet but not cloying — unwrapped it, and popped it in her mouth.
All ready, Natasha was about to step out on her "knightly campaign" when something from long ago crossed her mind. "Sylvia once said that every time Lucian saw her, he'd stare at her legs like some kind of lecher ogling her stockings. Hmm — Lucian explained it away as surprise that a musician had such alchemical byproducts, and he lost his composure for a moment. But I'd rather assume he likes them than show up unprepared. At the very least, he won't object."
Humming her tune once more, Natasha opened the wardrobe. Without much deliberation, she picked out a pair of black stockings to match her outfit, along with matching garters.
She sat on the sofa and slipped her right foot out of its black shoe, propping it on the coffee table. Her foot was daintier than one might expect given her height — a graceful arc, gently curved, with slender, lovely toes. Her nails were free of gaudy polish, radiating a healthy, captivating pink, like five delicate rose petals.
She rolled up the sheer stockings, fitted them over her toe, and let the misty black fabric gradually conceal her skin, enveloping her long, straight right leg.
Right foot done, then the left. Natasha fastened the garters, stood, lifted her hem, and checked the effect — beneath the black stockings, her legs were faintly visible, indescribably alluring.
"Becoming a Heavenly Knight really has its perks — my legs used to look a bit too muscular, but now they're just right. Haha." Natasha felt no embarrassment whatsoever, praising herself without a shred of modesty.
Then she turned to the full-length mirror, gazing at the breathtakingly beautiful woman reflected there, a hint of tension and worry crossing her face.
But those feelings were quickly swept away by her fighting spirit and determined gaze. Natasha clenched her right fist and spoke to her reflection.
"Natasha, you can absolutely do this!"
…………
Lucian wore a smile as he stepped out of the living room and made his way, a touch nervously, toward the outside of the mage tower. At some point he had started humming "A Poem for Natasha" (the adapted version of "Clair de Lune") again.
Stepping onto the lift, his gaze wandered until it fell on the garden beyond the enormous floor-to-ceiling window. A sudden thought struck him: "Damn, I forgot to prepare flowers! How could I forget something this important — lack of experience really does cost you!"