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Days pasts and tiny Cinder was busy. As she was healing and by herself, she wrote everything she remembered that happened before her death. Her memory was fuzzy in some areas, but she only needed to remember up after the war. She knew there was no bypassing the war, as she gained many valuable resources through her efforts there. If it weren't for the war, she wouldn't know the exact potions from an outlaw medical mage that even made her transition possible. The outlaw mage was known as the lady 'freak' since her magic could play nature like a fiddle; her potions could help change a person into whatever gender they saw fit over time. Those who sought it were like lady 'freak' and Cinder, who didn't feel they were in suitable bodies.

People who oppose people like Cinder have been trying to capture lady 'freak' and return her to the Ministry of Magic for crimes against nature. But, as they run her out of every district of Haeven, they never catch her. Nor do they know what she looks like, as she is the master of disguise. Her real name is also unknown. Luckily for Cinder, she knows where lady freak usually works her business: in the underbelly of the Lunar District, where her mansion resigns. Yet, she doesn't know the woman personally since she only received the potions through her father.

Cinder bit her lips angrily as her hand nearly pierced the pen through the dairy. She hated that the only way she could have transitioned in her first life was through her father's underhanded means. She thought that after the high rewards of the war, she could escape her father and live the rest of her life happily as a low-noble woman. But, that wicked pink-haired maid, seduced by her father, told him about Cinder's secret. Of course, her father was, at first, disgusted as he never truly loved Cinder as anything more than a vessel to put all his responsibilities on, but he saw it as a chance to hold control over Cinder. He made a deal with Cinder that if she withheld all her ranks and earnings to him, he would help her move into a noble society as a woman, which would be challenging to move into a new arriving noblewoman with no backing. And, what has become of the beast, that helped end the war? Where had the son of Marcus gone?

At that time, if Cinder didn't cooperate with him, he would tell everyone about her being a 'freak' and seeing how people reacted to Lady 'freak,' she couldn't have that either. In miserable defeat, she agreed to the deal, thinking if she was going to be a caged bird forever locked in a cage, she could at least be pretty. Thus, the young lord 'Felix' was named being married to a low woman named Cinder as the young lord fell deeply 'sick.' Cinder was there for small noble gatherings and partying to the night, while 'Felix' only showed up for noble meetings. It was a peaceful life despite her whole life being utterly controlled by her father, who never hid his anger at her being.

Nevertheless, she made sure her father never knew her secret this time again. First, Cinder ordered all the loyal maids that call her Lex (the nickname she wanted to spread) to refer to her as 'Felix' again. Secondly, Olivia cut Cinder's hair back into the shorter hair she used to spot instead of the hair that hung over her ears that her father 'generously' allowed her to have.

Thirdly, she asks Mary, the very gossipy woman, to eavesdrop on her father and his colleagues when she's in the room serving them. Because Lord Thorax Rivera, a colleague of her father, was speaking on supporting a foreign bakery that he turned down only for it to rise in massive financial success after the war. With many investments, Lord Thorax convinced himself were failures were successful in their ways. There was this baker of a bakery that became majorly successful after the war in the Hampton district that Lord Thorax turned down investing. Luckily, Lord Thorax is an ignorant bastard that loves to hear himself talk that Mary was able to get his name.

You would think the Lord of Rivera, one of the two most powerful noble families that aren't the imperial family, would be the least of a snobby dick? Not Lord Thorax. Cinder chuckled to herself as she returned the dairy to the secret cabinet of her desk. She stretched her arms out as she sat up from her chair. She turned to the last plan for now displayed on the mannequin for her. There drew a loose cotton shirt with bishop sleeves, a dark green waistcoat with embroidered golden spirals, and black trousers with a leather belt that held a sword in a black sheath. Cinder touches the waistcoat as she looks over the clothing. It's a color she loves to wear, but everything else sucks about it. She sighs; she plans to convince her father that she is on his side, and to do that, she needs to play the part of a willing son.

"Fuck me," she whispered as she pushed her curls out of her face. Olivia comes in with a bowl of hot water and soap. She quickly went the door close before she turned to speak.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Cinder?" Olivia whispered, "You don't have to speak with your father face-to-face." Olivia puts the bowl on a table in the middle of the room.

"If I don't do this, he will be suspicious of what I'm going to do from now on," Cinder washes her face with the soap. Then she splashed water onto her face, rubbing out the soap. Olivia handed her a towel.

"Do you suspect he's not suspicious of having the maids not refer to you as Lex anymore? You were very stubborn against him to let you have that nickname."

Cinder smiled and wiped her face with the towel, "Eh, it was fun. But no, I know he would love erasing every part of me that he can't use to control."

"And you told Clyde yet?"

"I haven't seen him yet since I've been sick. I'm hoping to see Clyde after meeting with father." Cinder had only told Mary and Olivia about her plans for them to escape from this wrecked house (leaving out the part about traveling back in time and the upcoming war). At first, they thought Cinder might have gotten messed up from the sickness; however, Cinder told them to trust in her abilities.

Cinder loosened her nightclothes and stripped down as she washed her body down. Cinder made sure never to pull her gaze to mirrors as she bathed; she was happy to be alive, but she isn't that happy to see her body pre-transition. After washing up, she, with Olivia's help, put all the clothes on her body. Now, her eyes were on the mirror, staring back at a person she never thought was real: 'Felix.' Her lips couldn't help but curl down into a frown. Olivia's eyes dimmed sadly with a small smile as she put her hands on Cinder's shoulder for comfort, or at least as much comfort she could give in this situation. Cinder laid her hand on top of Oliva's hand, "I'm alright." I must do this for everyone. "I hope I don't slash the bastard down the first moment I see him," Cinder added.

She knows she can't, but with her sword by her side, she really wants to, especially as she walks down the halls to her father's office. Upon the grand wooden door, she finally sighed before opening the doors. The room was big. Bookshelves line the walls from the two grand arched windows in the back to the door. A large, green oriental carpet was in the middle of the room, with two couches surrounding it. In the center of all, behold her father, Marcus Nozelle, in his big red chair designed so much like an emperor's throne you would think the emperor would hang him for treason. In front of him was a mahogany desk full of cigars, jewels, and papers. His dark blue eyes lifted from a paper to Cinder, who bowed in response.

"What do you want?" He speaks in a low voice, the same voice he used if he was already tired of a person's existence.

"I came to ask you for a favor, c-sir," Cinder said, catching herself from cursing.

"You?" He laughed, "The last time you asked me for a favor was because of your mother's sickness. Hell, you even got on your knees."

Cinder's nails dug into her skin as she balls her fist. On that day, her father refuses to send for an aide for her mother. She was never close with that woman as her mother always locked herself away from Cinder. They spoke, but only for a minute before her mother either went away into her room or to a party. She remembers very little of her mother smothering with love; she sometimes wonders if her mother ever wanted to love her. When her mother was dying, she tried to save her by begging on her knees for her father to send aid. He said no because she had already used up her usefulness, and death was the only thing befitting for her. Cinder knew if she weren't valuable to him, she would be thrown out quickly on that day.

"Of course, I recognize that I was foolish not to look for your aid more often," she smiled.

"Oh really," his eyes burned intensely into her with a wicked smile, "Such a sudden change."

Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you. "Yes, it is sudden to me too. I guess it took sickness to realize how much I need you." I want to dig this sword into your heart.

Marcus leaned back into the chair with his hands crossed. He looks over Cinder with searching eyes, anything to gleam for disappointment. Yet, there was nothing. 'Felix' hair was short now, and 'Felix' was dressed in a manly, princely attire, like a true son. Even, 'Felix's sword was hanging off 'his' side like a real knight. "Your choices...seem to improve," He added.

Thank you, dick. Cinder bowed her head, "Thank you."

He smirked, "You have my attention, Felix."

She didn't flinch nor gritted her teeth, "May I gain the farmland off the skirt of the Marble District?" Instead, she raised her hand on her hip and stood confidently.

"You want that land with the vast, shitty farmer's house? Why the hell do you want that?" His eyes narrowed at her. Cinder knew he would be suspicious since the house was away from the Lunar District. The Marble District is where all the nobles (powerful or new) converge, especially when the imperial palace stands on top of the district in pure marble.

Furthermore, the Riveras and the Ironhearts, the wings of the emperor, also resign there. So, if he suspected she was trying to escape him, that would be where he would look. But he doesn't know that after the war, a storm struck, clearing out the land, and rendering it completely useless. So, if he did suspect her of escaping, he wouldn't know where she was if the only place she would go was sold to someone else and ruined.

"I'm going to sell for profit. War seems to be going south," Marcus perked up at Cinder's words, "Wouldn't it be best to get more money for any supplies needed for war if, gods know what, we are requested for war?" Marcus smiled as he stood up from the fake throne and walked over to Cinder. Marcus was a fitted man for his age with short black hair and sideburns. He was lacking compared to other nobles, but he towers over Cinder for now. Marcus and Cinder always resemble each other quite, as Cinder doesn't retain anything from her mother. She hated that.

He patted her shoulders with both. "My son," He smirked, "Are you a clever boy? Please do what you want with the farmland; it is yours. In return, I hope you will respond when I need a favor."

He knows they're going to lower the age to enter the war for teenagers from the knights' academy can enter. As Cinder looked back at her past life, she figured all the noble families knew before they changed it. Guess they saw it as an opportunity to raise their ranks than a tragedy. "Of course," Cinder smiled. Sick Bastards.

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Cinder felt tired after dealing with her father as she walked out to the garden yard. She looks at the array of flowers, trees, and grass. It felt small to her in her past life. She was never allowed to play in the woods that surrounded the house. Now, it is peaceful to smell clean air and enjoy the garden. Her father did take care of paying the gardener to take good care of it; he was always worried about how others viewed him and his property. For Cinder, she did love the garden because it gained her a friend.

"Oi, Lex!"

Her head turns excitable towards an old friend, Clyde. Clyde was her sword tutor for years before she went into knight's academy when she was nine. She learned everything about sword fighting, fighting in general, and all the dirty tricks to use in battle from him. He was a former mercenary before he became Cinder's tutor, as is clear from the scars covering his exposed forearms. He was round and firm with a large beard on his face. His hair was dirty blonde with brown eyes. He was the same age as Olivia but also way childish. He's a big, cuddly bear of a man. Clyde rushed over to Cinder and pulled her into a big, strong hug, which she equally hugged back with the same force. They were both laughing loudly.

"My little cub," Clyde released Cinder, "I thought I wouldn't be able to fight you again."

"I reckon you wouldn't be able to take me down," Cinder grinned from ear to ear. She missed him much. She missed all of them so much. But then, when she was at war, Mary got sick. She was so ill and dying, and her father didn't care for she was a maid. She losts Mary without ever saying goodbye; furthermore, her father sent Olivia and Clyde away to another family after Mary’s death. Maybe he recognizes how much Olivia and Clyde means to Cinder and sent them away to hurt her, or he just thought they were useless; who knows? 

“Still using that wit, huh?”

"I swore never to lose it.” Clyde’s smile grew wider, and he hugged Cinder again, which he gladly received. However, she didn’t hold the hug before pulling away to look bold at Clyde. “Clyde, I need to go back calling Felix again,” she added.

Clyde’s eyes widen, “My la-lord,” he leaned down to her ears before whispering, “I thought you wanted Cinder.”

She smiled. Clyde was the one who had the most challenging time at first, with Cinder coming out as a woman. He couldn’t believe his little pupil, who cursed like a sailor, went into a fighting rage over mere insults and ate like a hog who wanted to be a woman. Clyde was a traditional man; however, seeing how much happier Cinder was being a girl, he couldn’t help but support her. He used to mess up still calling her old name before developing a habit of calling her Cinder or Lex. “I do, but I need to convince my father that I’m under his side.”

Clyde raised his eyebrow, “And why do you want to even be on the jerk’s side?”

“I’ll tell you when you,” She grabbed his shoulders, “take me to the underbelly of Lunar.” Clyde’s face lightens up in shock and intrigue. Every mercenary, former or new, know about Lunar’s underbellies. It was the site for illegal trade, soliciting from the most dangerous mercenaries, and spreading secrets. Along with an essential person to Cinder because to even get in contact with Lady “Freak,” you have to make friends with the person who only knows who she is: Griffith.