The evening arrived heavier than usual.
Arthur had spent the entire day keeping his distance, answering little, and hoping no one would notice too much.
When he finally went up to his room after dinner, he thought he had managed to get through it one more time.
He was wrong.
He had not yet finished closing the door when he heard Tessa’s footsteps along the corridor.
She knocked once and came in without waiting for an answer, as she often did.
She closed the door behind her and stood there observing him.
“Okay,” she said without preamble.
“Now you explain to me what’s going on with you.”
Arthur turned slowly.
He still had the loose shirt on and his arms crossed over his chest, partly out of habit and partly to hide.
“Nothing’s going on with me.”
Tessa raised an eyebrow.
“For days you’ve had a strange face.
You talk very little.
You avoid being near people.
And the smell… it’s not soap, Arthur.
I can smell it even now.
It’s sweet.
And you can’t get rid of it.”
He lowered his gaze.
“It’s just… stress.
Work.”
“Don’t take me for a fool.” Tessa’s voice was low but firm.
“Mom noticed it too.
Yesterday she asked me if you were sick or if something had happened to you.
Dad pretends nothing’s wrong, but he looks at you strangely when he thinks you’re not noticing.”
Arthur felt his heart speed up.
He did not know what to say that would not sound false.
Tessa took a step forward.
“You’re pale.
You dress differently.
And every time someone gets close to you, you make that face.
Like you’re afraid they’ll touch you.”
“Tessa…”
“Tell me the truth.” She crossed her arms.
“Are you sick?
Did someone threaten you?
Did you do something stupid?”
Arthur shook his head.
“No.
It’s none of that.”
“Then what is it?”
The silence stretched.
Arthur could feel the sweet scent spreading through the closed room and knew that Tessa was noticing it even more clearly now that they were close.
The fabric of the shirt clung to his chest, and he had the distinct feeling that if she looked too carefully she might notice the different shape under the cloth.
“It’s… complicated,” he said at last.
“But it’s nothing dangerous.
And it doesn’t involve any of you.”
Tessa stared at him for a long time.
For a moment she seemed on the point of insisting, then she sighed and ran a hand through her hair.
“I don’t like it when you lie.
“I know.”
She remained silent for a few more seconds, then shook her head.
“Fine.
For now I won’t say anything to Mom and Dad.
But if the situation gets worse, or if I find out you’re hiding something serious, I won’t just stand by and watch.”
She turned toward the door.
Before leaving, however, she stopped and looked at him again.
“And use a different soap.
Or whatever it is… that smell is getting too noticeable.”
She went out, closing the door behind her.
Arthur remained standing in the middle of the room, his heart beating too hard.
He let himself fall onto the edge of the bed and ran his hands over his face.
Tessa did not know the truth.
But she was becoming more and more suspicious.
And if even she, who had known him forever, was starting to ask such direct questions, how long would it be before someone else noticed the more obvious changes?
He took off the shirt and looked at himself again in the mirror in the low candlelight.
The chest had a clear curve.
The hips were softer.
The skin seemed even more perfect.
And the scent, now that he was alone, filled the air unmistakably.
He opened the Status.
[Name: Arthur Age: 18 Level: 1 Class: Apprentice Blacksmith (Weak) Strength: 4 Agility: 6 Endurance: 5 Magic: 3 Intelligence: 12 Dexterity: 8 Skills: – Basic Sharpening (Lv.2) – Tool Organization (Lv.3) – Excessive Shyness (Passive) [Curse: Gender Transformation – Blood of Lysara] Phase: 1/4 Progress: 54%]
It had risen by another two points.
Just from the stress of the conversation.
Arthur lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
The family was starting to get seriously suspicious.
And he did not know how much longer he would still be able to keep everything hidden.