Arkcray's POV

"Come with me, Arkcray, and I will take you to Helios." said the incredibly large and handsome king as he stood before me.

Oh no! It seems like he has been deceived! He's attracted to me and thinks I'm really a woman!

This is a disaster!

I simply pushed him away, and he seemed annoyed by my action!

Oh no! Looks like I'm in trouble now!

"I know that women in Apollo are naturally charming and endearing. But I didn't know that you are also elusive. I am even more intrigued by you, Arkcray." King Daemon remarked.

I want to admit to him that I am actually a man! But if I do, I might be punished for the crime of lying to a king and sentenced to death!

What should I do?

How can I escape this situation?

I can't let King Daemon be attracted to me, especially since I'm a man! While it may be acceptable in Apollo, it might not be the same in Helios, considering their beliefs!

Cassius also told me that King Daemon is a cruel king! I'm in big trouble!

King Daemon raised his right hand, as if he wanted to touch my chest!

So, I slapped his hand away!

King Daemon just smirked and shrugged.

"You're a feisty woman, Arkcray. I really thought that all women in Apollo were delicate and incapable of causing harm." King Daemon said.

"Lord Daemon, King Gideon and King Agustus are looking for you." said a general who had just entered the room.

King Daemon only looked at me for about five seconds, and then he left!

What does that mean?

Is he going to punish me?

Once King Daemon left, I looked at the general who had just entered, and he showed respect to me!

"You truly are captivating, my lady, especially up close. You're one of the most beautiful maidens I've ever seen in all of Gaia." said the general.

I really want to show him my masculinity, but he might kill me too! I am not prepared for a fight with my small and delicate body!

"It seems like you're afraid of me because you can't speak properly. I saw you earlier dancing on stage, and I was greatly impressed. By the way, I am General Silas, the highest-ranking general in Helios. It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady." General Silas said, and then he took my right hand!

He was about to kiss it when I quickly pulled my hand away and placed it behind me!

It's dangerous! I really need to change into my normal clothes!

"Sorry if you were scared of me and if you're not used to having your hand kissed, my lady. This is how Helians show respect to a beautiful maiden like yourself. You're lucky because it seems like our lord took a liking to you and intentionally went here." General Silas said.

Lucky? Me?

Where! How! Tell me!

I'm unlucky because their king thinks I'm a woman and wants me to be his queen! This is a disaster!

"You're lucky because you will be safe, my lady." Silas said. "I have to go now. I'll let you rest. Until we meet again." he added, and then he left the room.

I'm lucky and will be safe?

What does General Silas mean?

But before that, I quickly closed the door of the room so that no one could enter and see me!

They might do something to me! My body is not prepared for that!

As I removed the makeup from my face and took off my clothes, my father-figure cat, Cassius, suddenly appeared.

"Cassius! You won't believe what happened!" I said worriedly as I held Cassius and squeezed his body.

"Put me down, Arkcray! I don't like being lifted!" Cassius exclaimed angrily, as if he wanted to scratch me with his sharp claws! Haha!

"Hey! Cassius! This is a disaster! The Helians mistook me for a real woman!" I whispered.

"I was also surprised when you were dancing earlier, Arkcray. I thought it was a real woman dancing." Cassius said and started licking his hand.

"And not only that! King Daemon came to my room and wanted to touch me!" I said in a panicked tone.

"What did you do?" Cassius asked, "I hope you didn't do something terrible in front of the king."

"I pushed him away!" I exclaimed in surprise.

"What? You pushed King Daemon? It's a good thing he didn't electrocute you or set you on fire!" Cassius said worriedly.

"That's it! He seemed attracted because he didn't expect women in Apollo to be courageous! He thought women here were demure! What he didn't know is that I'm not really a woman! What should I do, Cassius? What if he looks for me again?" I asked.

"Don't be stubborn, Arkcray. Just do what I'm telling you. Take advantage of the situation and seduce King Daemon and disguise yourself as a woman." Cassius suggested.

"But I don't want to! I'll only put my life in danger!" I replied.

"I want you to find out their true intentions here in Apollo. At the same time, take advantage of King Daemon! He'll grant you any wish, so if I were you, I'd ask for money or food! Or maybe ask for a house for us to live in!" Cassius said.

"You are trying to make me as an absurd person! I can sneak food for us, but I can't ask the King of Helians! What if I end up dead? We don't even know how to fight yet!" I retorted.

"Don't be stubborn, Arkcray. Just do what I'm telling you. Get all the king's Milk." Cassius said.

"You're disgusting! What do you mean by 'get the king's milk'? You're gross!" I shouted.

"I mean you should take advantage of the king for food and money! Also, gather information about their visit to Apollo. You need to know what a powerful king is doing in our land because it seems suspicious." Cassius said and left.

"You're making me do something outrageous, Cassius! Being a beautiful man is so difficult!" I exclaimed.

...

...

...

The next day while walking at the market...

King Daemon and his army are still not leaving the Kingdom of Apollo.

Cassius is right, after all. I feel uneasy about their sudden visit without any reason.

I want to find out, but I can't figure out how to do it without pretending to be a woman!

As I look at the fruits in the marketplace, I accidentally bump into a male general who seems to be picking fruits next to me.

"Sorry, sir!" I said, and as I look at that general, it's none other than General Silas!

He looked at me, and I felt nervous!

Does he recognize me even though I'm not dressed as a woman anymore?

I hope not!

General Silas squints his eyes as he continues to scrutinize my appearance! I can't stay calm in my position right now, and my butt is starting to itch!

"Have we met before, beautiful lad?" General Silas asked me.

What the! Beautiful lad?

"N-no! I've only seen you now, sir! I apologize for accidentally bumping into the highest general of Helios!" I stammered in response.

General Silas suddenly looks puzzled, and I became anxious, fearing that I might have said something wrong!

"How did you know that I am the highest general of Helios? I haven't mentioned it to you yet." General Silas wondered.

"Umm, just by your stature and presence, sir! It's not surprising that you hold a high position!" I replied. struggling to breathe properly!

Silas touched his chin and stroked it.

"So that's how the Apollans like you perceive me. I'm glad you can judge based on appearances. What is your name?" General Silas asked.

"Ah! I should go ahead, General Silas! My father is calling me!" I said and I quickly run off.

"Wait, mister!" General Silas shouted, and I turned to look at him and stopped. "How did you know my name when I haven't told you yet? And why do you look so familiar!"

Arkcray, you're so dumb!

"I can't hear you clearly, sir! I'm leaving now! My father will whip me if I stay here any longer! I'm sorry!" I shouted and ran away quickly to prevent us from talking further!

It would be troublesome if he finds out that I was the female dancer at the celebration yesterday!

Why did I have to bump into him out of all the people I could have encountered!

(Blag!)

And there, I stumbled again, unintentionally bumping into another creature because of me running really quick.

"Ouch! It hurts!" I exclaimed while lying on the ground from colliding with a being that appears to be enormous.

In just a moment, the creature I bumped into stood beside me. And when I saw his face, I wished to be buried alive in the very ground I'm lying on!

"K-King Daemon?" I gasped, with my eyes widening with fear!

After seeing General Silas, now it's him?

Both of them are scattered all over Apollo!

He just stares at me, seemingly studying my face, just like Silas did earlier!

He seems to recognize me!

Maybe he knows?

Or perhaps someone has reported that the girl who danced for him yesterday was actually a man, and that's me!

"Stand up, Apollan." King Daemon said.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" I replied nervously, quickly standing in front of him with my body being stiff!

"Have we met yesterday?" he asked me.

Oh no! This is exactly what I was afraid of! Huhu!