Chapter 236: Quite the curious ride

"You don’t seem nervous."

Blake, or now more specifically Sage Larue, stretched slightly in his seat.

"Honestly, it’s not like I’m calm either... it’s just that by now, I can manage this much."

Fortunately, he was far more used to this body and voice now. That alone had taken an absurd amount of practice.

Yesterday, after the university tour, he and Myles had gotten back at around six in the evening and met Zlatan at Myles’ house. From there, Blake had practiced basically all evening, and even a little at night.

’Ah, I’m sleepy!"

He looked toward Estelle and couldn’t help but blush a little.

"You look cool..."

Estelle smiled, looking at him.

"Are you saying I usually don’t?"

"Ah, no, not like that!"

Blake immediately shook his head.

"It’s just that I’m too used to your casual clothing."

While Blake wore a light blue dress with white lining, the outfit bringing out the delicate features of Sage’s face, Estelle was dressed in a stunning purple suit.

It was nothing like the casual clothing Blake was used to seeing her wear around the base.

She looked polished and elegant, almost intimidating.

Estelle laughed.

"I’m just messing with you! Oh right, lunch is already packed, so we won’t stop. Tell me when you need to use the toilet."

"Y-yeah..."

Blake almost scratched the back of his head.

His hand had already started moving before he suddenly froze, slowly lowering it again.

’Right.’

He remembered who he was now.

More importantly, he remembered how much effort Myles had put into arranging his hair. He absolutely did not want to ruin it.

’That would be stupid.’

Blake glanced at his reflection in the darkened window. The face staring back at him still looked strange.

’Honestly, I’d rather avoid seeing this body.’

He shifted slightly in his seat.

’It already feels weird enough to have nothing between my legs. I can’t imagine when I could have to do everyday stuff...’

He sighed lightly and leaned a little farther back against the seat.

"Honestly, it would’ve put my mind at ease if you were going to be there with me."

Estelle kept her eyes on the road.

"I’m sure it would’ve."

She gave him a small smile.

"But Sage Larue is from a ruined family. Something like a servant, she really can’t afford."

"True, true..."

Blake looked through the tinted window.

The road outside passed by in blurred pieces.

Buildings.

Trees.

Other cars.

People.

Nobody could properly see inside the vehicle.

That was one of the reasons they had arranged things this way.

Before getting into the car, Blake had activated his stealth skill.

The moment he got inside, he deactivated it.

There was no point wasting its duration while sitting in a sealed vehicle.

Still, he couldn’t completely relax.

He was going to an international event filled with influential people.

People who were probably used to noticing things.

People who might recognize inconsistencies.

And his entire identity right now was based on one.

Blake rested his cheek against his hand.

"Doesn’t it feel weird, speaking to me when I’m like this?"

His eyebrow twitched.

Estelle laughed.

"Haha! Of course not. It’s just fascinating, more than anything!"

"You bet..."

Estelle glanced down at his hands.

"It’s like that for me, too, especially with how I had to approach you."

Estelle smiled.

"You’re getting used to it."

"I have to."

There was a brief silence, then Estelle suddenly remembered something.

"That reminded me of how I met Myles."

Blake looked surprised.

"What? Really?"

She glanced at him before looking back at the road.

"Right, how did you two meet? If you can tell me..."

"Well, it’s not exactly a secret, or anything special either."

Estelle smiled faintly.

"It was around five years old, the first time I met him."

Blake listened.

"He actually cornered me when I was in a messy situation. He was a child at the time, yet he was quite intimidating."

"Desperate situation?"

Blake’s expression became slightly more serious.

"Because of AL-TECH, right?"

"No, not that."

Estelle shook her head.

"It’s not really related to AL-TECH."

She looked out the window.

"It was just a period in my life when I had lost all hope. I was all over the place."

Estelle’s smile faded slightly.

"I see..."

Blake’s voice softened.

"How was he like?"

Estelle thought about the question, raising an eyebrow.

"That’s a tough question."

She leaned back, sighing.

"Back then, he wasn’t how he is now."

She paused.

"Even when we started working together, he barely showed his face or gave me any task to work with."

A quiet chuckle escaped Estelle, while she covered her mouth briefly. Her smile, however, slowly faded.

"He was already all alone at that time."

Blake looked toward her.

Estelle continued calmly.

"Really, a second generation alone is only but a tragedy."

Blake said nothing, his chest tightening.

Of course, thinking about it made his heart hurt.

Myles had always been difficult to understand, even now.

He could be standing right beside Blake, listening to everything, yet somehow feel impossibly distant.

There had always been something separating him from other people.

A wall, a barrier that nobody had been able to cross.

Until Blake.

At least, Blake hoped he had managed to cross it.

"Don’t be too sad."

Estelle smiled faintly.

"Now he has you."

Blake’s expression softened.

"Honestly, he also has you all."

Estelle gave a small shrug.

"I can’t say he never got closer to us."

She looked ahead.

"But there was always a wall."

"Yeah."

Blake smiled.

"I also have one in front of me when I’m with him!"

Estelle laughed softly.

"That’s different."

"How?"

"It’s the first time I’ve seen him being like that."

Blake blinked.

"Like what?"

Estelle didn’t answer immediately.

She continued driving.

Her expression gradually became unreadable.

Blake watched her.

For a moment, the playful atmosphere disappeared.

"I wouldn’t be able to put myself in such pain."

Blake’s face slowly drained of color.

He stared at her.

The words weren’t harsh.

Estelle hadn’t said them cruelly.

She hadn’t even sounded judgmental.

She had simply stated it.

But somehow, that made the words hit harder.

Blake looked down.

’She really means it.’

He knew what she was talking about.

Myles had spent years isolated.

He had learned to live without expecting anyone.

Without relying on anyone.

Without showing people too much.

And yet somehow, Blake had become important enough to him that things were different now.

That thought was comforting.

But it was also frightening.

Because Blake knew how much Myles had given up just to allow someone close.

He swallowed.

"Yeah..."

His voice was quieter than before.

"I guess I’m lucky."

Estelle glanced at him.

"You are."

Blake smiled faintly.

"Though I don’t think he’d agree."

"He doesn’t have to."

The road became busier.

More vehicles appeared.

Large signs began appearing along the roadside.

The airport was getting closer.

Blake straightened in his seat.

His nervousness returned.

Not because of the transformation.

Not anymore.

He was used to that.

This was different.

This was the moment when everything he had practiced would actually matter.

He had to become Sage.

Not Blake pretending to be Sage.

Sage.

A young woman from a ruined family.

A woman who had been invited to a lavish masquerade.

A woman looking for a possible marriage.

Someone who had absolutely no connection to AL-TECH.

And most importantly, someone who had no reason to care about Alfred Hicth.

Blake slowly exhaled.

’Don’t overthink it.’

He adjusted his hands.

Then caught himself before touching his hair again.

’Right. Hair.’

He smiled faintly.

Estelle noticed.

"What’s funny?"

"Nothing."

"You’re smiling."

"I remembered Myles telling me not to ruin my hairstyle."

Estelle smiled.

"He was right."

"Don’t encourage him."

"He spent quite a while fixing it."

"I know."

Blake sighed.

"He was annoyingly serious about it."

"That sounds like him."

The airport entrance finally appeared ahead.

The car slowed.

Blake’s stomach tightened.

He looked at the bag beside him.

Everything he needed was there.

His documents.

His hotel information.

His belongings.

His mission details.

Everything.

Estelle pulled into the appropriate area and stopped.

"We’re here."

Blake took a slow breath.

Then another.

He checked his appearance one final time using the reflection in the window.

Light blue dress.

White lining.

Neatly arranged hair.

Sage’s face.

Everything looked right.

He opened the door.

Before stepping out, he looked back at Estelle.

"Thanks for bringing me."

"Of course."

Estelle smiled.

"Good luck, Sage."

Blake smiled back.

"See you later."

He stepped out.

The cool air touched his face immediately.

He closed the door carefully.

For a few seconds, he stood beside the car.

Estelle waved through the window.

Blake waved back.

Then the car began moving.

He watched it disappear into the stream of vehicles.

Once it was gone, Blake turned toward the airport entrance.

He stood still for another moment.

Ba-dump.

Ba-dump.

Ba-dump.

He took a slow breath.

’Alright.’

He had trained for this.

He knew what to do.

He knew who he was supposed to be.

And he knew exactly why he was here.

Blake lowered his voice until it was barely audible.

Then, without drawing attention, he mouthed the words.

"I’ll Sneak For My Lover."

The skill activated.

The feeling of being overlooked settled over him.

Blake adjusted the strap of his bag.

Then Sage Larue walked toward the airport entrance.