Magic World Precautions

Anne had told the Goddess about his existence.

Lu Xing was not too worried. Although he knew nothing about the gods of this continent, by his understanding and estimation, the goddesses of the Magic World might not be stronger than the Cold Ice Fairy.

He absolutely did not mean to disparage the Magic World.

The Cold Ice Fairy was simply too powerful.

With her Treasure Mirror, Lu Xing could shine it on plants and turn them into human form. With a single snort from the Fairy, wind and snow would vanish.

In the Magic World, that was equivalent to the Life Goddess plus the Ice and Snow Goddess.

Lu Xing continued reading. The head maid stood beside the bed, watching him with cold eyes.

"Mr. Lu Xing, in order for you to have a pleasant journey through Rowens Che City and the Northern Territory, please carefully read the following precautions."

After talking about the Goddess, Anne spent another long passage in her letter expressing her excitement about going to Earth and returning. Only then did she begin preparing Magic World precautions for Lu Xing, blatantly copying his.

"First, your identity is Anne—that is, me~, Anne Weisz Swinton, daughter of Duke Swinton of the Northern Territory. The Swinton Family is...

Vizes is...

The Swinton Family has a history of a thousand years..."

Lu Xing read a full two pages before finishing the first precaution. He could not help laughing. "Anne, you really should learn how to rein in your urge to express yourself, then study concise writing."

The head maid heard him.

Lu Xing picked up the third sheet and continued reading.

"I'm very sorry, Mr. Lu Xing. I wrote a little too much earlier. I wrote that two nights ago, and Mother was beside me at the time. Before I knew it, I had written a lot, so I put it all into the envelope."

Lu Xing raised an eyebrow. So her mother knew?

Reading on, he found that she did not.

"Second precaution: other than praying to the Goddess, I have not told Father, Mother, or anyone else about Mr. Lu Xing. I thought about it all night and decided that, for now, it would be best not to let anyone else know about your existence.

So I can only trouble you to ask others more questions, Mr. Lu Xing. Don't worry, I have already told everyone that if they see me acting strangely in the future, they must not make things difficult for you. (It is a very strange way of putting it, but I think Mr. Lu Xing will understand.)"

Lu Xing nodded. Only people who had exchanged bodies could understand that kind of wording.

"If there is anything you do not understand about this world, you may ask my maids, or Father and Mother, my teachers, or my friends. If you leave the city, you may also ask my captain of knights.

My head maid appears cold on the surface, but she is actually very kind. She may be hostile toward you. If—if, I mean—she acts that way, just put on a stern face and order her: 'As the heir of Duke Swinton, I order you to do such-and-such!' She will definitely obey."

Lu Xing glanced at the maid with Emerald Green Eyes and continued reading the letter.

"The sentence above is very serious, so it is best used cautiously. Or, Mr. Lu Xing, you can phrase it differently. Say it like this: 'I am Anne. Go do such-and-such.'"

Lu Xing laughed again. Anne's words were so vivid. Used on this cold and beautiful maid, they carried an oddly contrasting feeling.

He could order her to do anything?

The head maid looked toward the letter in his hands, seeming to sense something. In an even voice, she asked, "What are you laughing about?"

"There wasn't even a 'please.'"

Lu Xing said something completely out of context, offered no explanation, and continued reading.

Yet the head maid understood what he meant, and her tone turned colder. "If it were Miss Anne, she would say it like this: 'Dear Catherine, quickly bring me the letter so I can have a look!'"

Lu Xing understood.

His manner of speaking was worlds apart from Anne's. Their voices were the same, but Anne spoke with a cheerful, rising tone, while his was flat and straightforward. The head maid could detect that subtle difference.

Lu Xing continued reading on the bed, temporarily ignoring this tall, long-legged maid.

"If you need to ask Father, Mother, or other elders questions, or if they press you about things you do not wish to answer, you may say this: 'The Goddess's radiance shines upon the Northern Territory. I am Anne/I do not wish to answer your question/Dear so-and-so, please do not ask. I will answer in a few days.'"

Lu Xing could tell that the words Anne had taught him carried the strong tone of a Noble Lady—these words had been written in the language of the Magic World.

But he understood Anne's true intent: certified by the Goddess, I, Anne, have not had my body invaded by bad people!

It was equivalent to having the Holy Light Goddess vouch for her, so that Anne's strange behavior would not get her dragged off to a church for an exorcism.

"Third precaution: Mr. Lu Xing, you cannot use magic. Before you understand how magic power works, please be extremely careful with all magical items. You may wear any of my jewelry, but be careful not to activate it with magic power."

"Fourth: before you understand this world, it is best not to go out and inspect the estate. Mr. Lu Xing, you may have fun within Rowens Che City. I have quite a few friends in the city, and you can go play with them."

Lu Xing smiled faintly. That was another Noble Lady's way of thinking. Why would he go play with little girls?

"These are all the precautions. There are some other things I am too embarrassed to write, but I still want Mr. Lu Xing to know. For example, I would like to ask Mr. Lu Xing to go play with Phoebe in the garden at five in the afternoon, or a little later. It is the pet I have raised since childhood, and it is very close to me."

Anne mentioned quite a few things, then deleted some of them. She must have written them earlier, but since Lu Xing had not come, she had gone and done them herself.

They included, but were not limited to: wearing a pretty dress to attend some young lady's tea party, visiting a certain madam with her mother, praying at church, going to someone's home to try on newly released dresses, visiting poor families in the western part of the city and bringing them gifts, and so on.

Among the daily activities of a Noble Lady were mixed in some serious matters that the heir of a Duke should handle.

Anne did not mention magic or lessons. She probably thought he could not do either, so she had not said anything.

And finally!

Using smaller handwriting, Anne made a small, shy request of Lu Xing:

Mr. Lu Xing, you may see my body, as that is unavoidable when changing clothes or attending to personal hygiene, but please do not do anything else. The Swinton Family is a conservative and traditional noble family, and Anne does not wish to be seen as a socialite with many lovers.

Regarding what happened on Earth last time, Anne once again apologized to you and hoped to receive your forgiveness.

The letter was signed: Anne, exchanging souls with you and exploring Earth.

She had already learned that when Lu Xing became her, she became Lu Xing and found herself in a school on Earth.

Lu Xing put down the letter and finally turned his gaze toward the maid waiting beside the bed.

Their eyes met, as though both knew the other's secret. A silent contest quietly began.

Lu Xing spoke first. "Tell me your name!"

The head maid's exquisite face was utterly cold, and her voice carried a biting chill. "You rude fellow, you are not Miss Anne! Who are you?!"

Behind her, the maids exchanged startled looks, then all turned to look at the Duke's daughter seated on the soft, large bed, her golden hair still disheveled from sleep.

The person on the bed was not Miss Anne?