Chapter 46
The Beginning of Change
Attending the “successor lessons” didn’t mean I was meeting new people.
It wasn’t even that Eve was teaching everything — each subject was taught by a different instructor.
Pheromones, history, and social studies were still taught by Eve. Emergency medicine used during wars or battles was taught by Angela, the family’s resident doctor. And manners — those proper etiquettes required of a family head — were taught by Rita.
‘If you think about it, it’s not much different from before… except their attitude toward me has changed a lot.’
Until recently, everyone treated me like a cute little baby — and that fact had become painfully clear.
And all that changed in just two days.
The strictest and dullest among them was Theo, who taught all the remaining subjects.
Theo always looked tired, so even teasing him felt wrong — maybe that’s why his classes felt especially boring.
I quietly called out to him as he scribbled something with white chalk across the deep green board.
“Theo.”
“Yes, young lady?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
He answered without even looking at me.
I knew it wasn’t because he disliked me — Theo just had the kind of personality that threw itself into every duty with absolute seriousness. That’s probably why he was always so tired.
Why does he live so hard? Does he get paid extra for all that work?
He’s the head’s aide — his base salary can’t be that small…
“Theo, why do you always look tired?”
“Do I look that way to you, young lady?”
“Yeah. Do you not sleep much?”
“I can’t sleep.”
“Why? Too much work? Want to take the day off?”
Theo, who had been calmly answering, suddenly stopped talking.
Then he set down his chalk and turned toward me.
I froze like a block of ice.
He wasn’t just “Theo” anymore — he was “Teacher Theo,” the strict instructor, and that switch made my shoulders tense.
I rolled my eyes from side to side to avoid his gaze, but he took off his glasses and pressed a hand over his closed eyes.
“Sigh…”
A deep, heavy sigh.
I braced myself, expecting a scolding to come next, and straightened my slouched posture.
“Young lady.”
“…Y-yeah?”
“Then, let’s end the lesson here for today.”
“…Huh?”
He said that? After all that dramatic tension?
Class had barely started fifteen minutes ago!
I mean, I wasn’t complaining…
“Is that okay?”
“I’ve been waiting since yesterday for you to say something like that, young lady — that you were worried about me.”
…Was that a good thing?
I couldn’t tell if Theo’s words were sincere or had a hidden meaning.
“I’m not being sarcastic, so please take it at face value.”
As always, Theo read my hesitation immediately and clarified it for me.
“Young lady, I look sleep-deprived, right?”
“Yeah, you look like you really need a nap.”
“Thank you. As you suggested, I’ll go get some sleep now. Please relax and leave when you wish.”
Before I could even reply, Theo packed his books and bolted out of his office like a bullet.
“…What just happened?”
So that was his roundabout way of saying he wanted to rest?
He could’ve just said that from the start!
Who would stop Theo from taking a nap after seeing his face?
…Ah, right. There is one person.
My dad.
The next morning, Hale found himself in a troublesome situation.
It started with a letter that arrived early that day.
Hale frowned at the red wax seal from a familiar family — realizing immediately what it meant.
To: Hale Ibyen,
From: Gavi Roton.
With a deep sigh, he began reading the bold handwriting sprawled across the parchment.
**“Hello, Hale? It’s Gavi.
Remember how I sent my kids over to your place last time?
This time, I want to invite Senika over to our house. What do you think? Sounds fine, right?
Just for two days! I’ll make sure there’s tons of delicious food she’ll like, so don’t worry — your daughter won’t starve here ^^
Oh, and the important part! I know you’d never send her alone — that’s just not your style.
But if you send too many guards, my elders might get a bit uncomfortable, so please be reasonable about it, okay?
P.S. I’ll accept a refusal only if there’s a very good reason. Otherwise, I’ll assume it’s a no and keep asking later, so be careful how you answer ♥”**
Watching Hale’s expression grow increasingly grim, Theo shook his head slightly from beside him.
‘Normally, the lord would never send the young lady anywhere he himself wouldn’t go… but after what happened last time, he might have no choice.’
After all, Hale owed the Roton family — especially since both of Gavi’s heirs, the next heads of the Yellow Dragon family, had been placed in danger while visiting.
Unfortunately, Hale now had a solid reason to accept Gavi’s invitation.
Theo studied his lord’s face, waiting to see how he’d react.
“No matter how I think about it, I don’t want to send Senika to that scorching place,” Hale muttered.
“I figured you’d say that.”
“But I can’t think of a proper excuse to refuse. Theo, what do we do?”
Theo almost laughed — his master sounded so confidently helpless. But that was his job, after all.
Theo knew Gavi well. He’d been to the Yellow Dragon domain on Hale’s behalf several times.
‘The Roton head… well, to put it nicely, he’s persistent. To put it bluntly, he’s obsessively stubborn.’
Then an idea sparked. A perfect excuse that even Gavi couldn’t argue with.
“My lord,” Theo said.
“Yes?”
“What if we say the young lady’s adult transformation period is about to begin?”
Hale turned sharply toward him, eyes wide.
“It’s not a lie, technically. She’s just entering adolescence — and considering how other heirs in different families developed, the timing fits perfectly.”
It made perfect sense.
Other houses might’ve heard vague rumors about each other’s heirs growing up, but not the exact details.
Hale’s face brightened instantly. He straightened from his chair and quickly began writing a reply on fresh parchment.
To: Gavi Roton,
Your letter was a pleasant surprise. Your request is reasonable, but I’m afraid I can’t grant it.
As you know, Senika is about to enter her adult transformation phase. It would be better for her to experience it here, at home, rather than in a foreign environment.
Still, since I owe you and you seem to care deeply for her, I’ll reconsider after the transformation is complete.
If she doesn’t wish to go, though, I can’t force her.
Until we meet again — stay well.
– Hale Ibyen
A week after the day Theo skipped class, I felt absolutely terrible.
I’d noticed my condition getting worse over the past few days, but today… today felt like the peak.
Yesterday, I could at least hide it from Rita.
But now? I couldn’t even move in bed.
My body felt heavier than wet cotton.
“Young lady, you’re sleeping in today…”
Rita entered my room, holding the clothes I was supposed to wear — then dropped everything the moment she saw me groaning.
“Oh my goodness!”
She brushed the damp hair from my forehead, touched my skin, and instantly went pale.
“When did you start feeling sick? No, wait — I’ll call Angela right now!”
She moved faster than I thought humanly possible, and soon Angela appeared at her side.
Angela examined me quietly, then sighed.
“She’s entering her adult transformation.”
“Already? I thought there was still time.”
“For the young lady, this is not unusual. She’s… a special case.”
Rita bit her lip — something she usually scolded me for doing.
I wanted to tease her for that, but I couldn’t even lift my arm.
All I could do was squeeze her hand weakly.
“Your lip… you’ll hurt it,” I whispered.
Her eyes filled with tears as she let go.
Even my voice was fading. Every word drained me.
So this was the pain of transformation?
“What should I do now?” Rita asked anxiously.
“For now, I’ll inject my pheromones into her system,” Angela said. “It should lower her fever a little.”
“And you’ll have to keep doing that until it ends?”
“No. This is only a temporary measure. If we can’t find a proper solution soon, this condition could continue indefinitely.”
That… that wasn’t what they told me before.
I’d been told it would hurt “a little.”
No one said anything about pain that felt like dying.
Was that supposed to be a joke? Because it’s definitely not funny.
Angela was hiding something — I could tell.
And if she knew, then Father must know too.
What’s happening inside my body?
Does it have something to do with my black pheromones?
I was about to ask Angela about it when she turned to the door.
“Joshua. Please stay with the young lady for a while. Rita and I have somewhere to go.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Joshua appeared from somewhere, taking Rita’s seat beside me.
As Angela led her away, Rita suddenly turned back, meeting my eyes.
“Young lady, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Okay.”
“If it hurts too much, you can… bully Joshua a little, okay?”
“Wait— what?” Joshua yelped, eyes wide.
But when he saw Rita’s worried expression, he nodded obediently.
He’s trying so hard not to argue… poor guy.
I couldn’t help but smile faintly.
“Don’t worry too much, Rita. I’ll be fine.
If I can’t take it anymore, I’ll bully Shu-Shu like you said.”
“A-ah, young lady!”
Her face softened a little, and she finally left without looking back.
Angela was definitely taking her to Father’s office — there was nowhere else they’d go.
They must be discussing what to do about me.
Whatever it is, I just hope they find a solution soon…
Before the fire burning deep inside me consumes me completely.
