Chapter 8.2

Chapter 8.2

Lia took a step forward, wrapped in the towel, and heard girls’ laughter from afar as they ran about in the warm spring weather. She looked up at the sky again as she walked back to the mansion thinking about how she had grown and became used to being called ‘young master’. Many things had changed.
“Betty, my chest hurts.”
“Why, did you have a nightmare?”
“No, literally.”
Lia poked her chest, and Betty answered with a knowing smile, “It’s a natural change. I will have more comfortable clothes ready for you to try on soon.”
“It hurts naturally?”
Lia tilted her head as she stood in front of the dresser in her room. She saw a boy with chilled lips reflected in the mirror next to the dresser. She removed her wet clothes and observed her naked body and looked closely at the curves that began to show on her chest.
“I know someone who works under a famous tailor and will get you some underwear that fits in a few days.”
“Okay,” Lia smiled excitedly.
“And…” Betty had been about to say that a letter from the academy had come for Lia but stopped short when she saw a trickle of blood running down the girl’s thigh, and Lia’s eyes opened in shock as Betty hugged her.
“Betty, what is this?” She asked, sounding frightened.
“You have become a lady, young master.”
***
Lia was ill for a week and could not do anything but lie down. Betty told her that every woman went through the same pain and told her of her tears when she was growing up. Lia was scared after hearing that, as she imagined the Marchioness scolding her and chasing her out. However, Betty said that would not happen and gave the girl a white lily that night.
“You have to cut your hair today.”
Lia stared at the yellowing lily as she stood up. The hairdresser was waiting for her in the dressing room preparing to cut her hair. While long hair was becoming popular among men, Lia was easily mistaken for a girl due to her delicate face, therefore, the Marchioness was obsessed with keeping Lia’s hair short. Lia had no control over the hairdresser cutting her hair.
The hairdresser praised Lia’s beauty as blond hair fell on the floor.
“Stop!” Lia raised her hand when her hair was short, and the hairdresser was speaking too much, and he blushed as he finished her haircut and placed a mirror in front of her.
“You make me happy with your beauty and the aristocrats who came today…”
Lia interrupted the hairdresser, “You speak too much.”
“Human beings are susceptible to beauty, and…” The hairdresser could not finish his words as he absorbed Lia’s hurtful words, and he watched her as she sighed and looked out the window. She was looking at the ladies who were walking in the garden holding their parasols.
Minor noblemen under the Marquis often came to be seen by Lia, as the rumors regarding Kieran’s treatment spread. If something happened to Kieran, Canillian Vale would take his place. Lia’s angelic face was also a reason for their visits.
“Can’t we close down the mansion?”
Anher smiled faintly at Lia’s question, “Young master, someone from the academy has come to see you. Therefore, we will close down the mansion until he goes back.”
***
The old man was Count Padric Jonathan, who was the head of the Imperial Academy. Two deans stared at Lia as they stood behind him.
“The Imperial family will ask more persistently if you delay Sir Canillian’s admission, especially with your elder son being abroad.”
The Marquis was calm despite the sharp tone, “I have not spoken to Anastasia yet and I’ve told you that I will delay this matter until she returns.”
A dean replied to the Marquis’s words, “We received the letter, but the Ihars also desire Sir Canillian to attend, and since many young noblemen desire to meet him, we cannot postpone this matter longer.”
“Sir Claude said so?”
“Yes, he has explicitly said so.”
The Marquis looked at Lia, who sat with an indifferent face. She had now become too beautiful, and as the academy was full of boys it would be that much more dangerous for her.
“If my child goes to the academy, I want an individual room and a private servant. He is weak and needs much care.”
“We can give him a private room, but it’s against the rules to bring a servant.”
“Then, I will give up admission. Sir Theodore says that he is already smarter than a senior at the academy.”
“Which is all the more reason why we’re here. We can allow him to have separate rooms in the capital if you are worried about academy life.”
While the two men argued, Lia’s heart raced after she heard them mention the capital. Her mother may be there. She looked up at the Marquis as she slowly fisted her hands, “Father, I desire to go. Mother will allow me if I can fill my brother’s absence. I will not let the Vale name down.”