“Why, why are you doing this, Mom…?”
“Uh…”
My head went blank, as white as a sheet of paper.
Tia’s grip on her skirt had turned it black with something.
The skirt was so dark in color that at a glance, it looked as if it were simply wet.
But the moment the metallic scent struck my nose, I knew.
It had started.
And upon realizing that, I became even more confused, unsure of what to do.
“Uh, uh, Tia. For now… uh…”
I tried to stay as calm as possible.
I had been in Tia’s situation before.
I attempted to recall how I had handled it, but nothing came to mind.
“Ah. Back then, I didn’t do anything at all.”
It was understandable.
I was frozen in panic, and Irina had to drag me along, helping me step-by-step.
Realizing that even my singular experience had been mishandled made me feel weaker.
I can’t do this.
I don’t have the ability to handle the situation, nor the confidence to teach her properly.
“Iri…!”
I stood up quickly to call for Irina, but she was nowhere to be seen.
My throat tightened as if strangled, and I couldn’t breathe.
My vision began to narrow, sounds became muffled, as if my ears were filled with water.
Even though this wasn’t my issue, I felt as though everyone’s gaze was on me.
When I lowered my head again, Tia was tightly gripping my hand, her trembling gaze pursuing my lips.
As if she were waiting for me to tell her that everything was fine and that there was no problem.
But my pitiful lips simply twitched occasionally, trembling, unable to utter any words.
It was wrong.
That thought crossed my mind as a familiar sense of helplessness began to consume me.
“Smells of blood. Clean it up quickly.”
“…?”
Thud thud.
A soft touch landed on my lower back.
The hero Leopard stood there with an irritable expression, holding something out to me.
It looked like a disposable sanitary pad.
No, it was a sanitary pad.
“Take this and clean it up. It smells.”
“Uh… okay.”
As soon as I took the sanitary pad, my blurred vision cleared, and the muffled sounds returned to normal.
My blank mind suddenly recalled exactly what to do.
My stiff limbs finally moved.
I immediately picked Tia up and hurried toward the waiting room.
“Take off your skirt and panties and sit here. Spread your legs a little. That’s good.”
“Blood… there’s so much… Is Tia hurt?”
“No. No, Tia isn’t hurt. This is… this is…”
I hesitated, unsure of what to say.
But when I saw Tia’s tearful face, my mouth opened automatically.
“This means Tia is growing up into an adult.”
“Adult? I don’t want to be an adult.”
“Me too. I don’t want you to grow up either. But eventually, we all have to become adults, don’t we?”
Tia quietly nodded.
Tia too will eventually become a grown woman.
I never imagined it would be at only three months old…
But even considering her physical age, it was rather early.
Is this what they call early puberty?
“Adult. You’ll become one. Just like me…”
“Spread your legs.”
“Muuh…”
Tia quickly stopped crying.
I checked between her legs and saw that blood had trickled down to her knees.
Thankfully, it wasn’t in too great a quantity, so cleaning her was manageable.
After cleaning her up, I looked at Tia’s face for a moment.
It was a complicated feeling.
Although she still seems like a small, cute baby to me.
The fact that she was now at the stage of having her first period and could potentially bear children was hard to believe.
The shock was indescribable.
But I couldn’t let my anxiety affect Tia.
Shaking hands, I took Tia’s hand.
I was surprised that her little hand, which used to fit in the palm of mine, had grown so fast.
“From now on, this will happen every month.”
“I don’t like it. It’s scary.”
“There’s no need to be afraid. It happens to me too.”
“Really?”
“…”
As I tried to answer, I laughed awkwardly, feeling slightly stung.
It wasn’t entirely accurate to say I experience it every month.
I only went through it once.
After childbirth.
And thinking about it, Tia’s first period had come even before I had my second period.
So I guess I’m only a month ahead of her when it comes to experience.
I wasn’t really in a position to give much advice.
But at the very least, I had to be a strong and reliable mother for Tia.
“Look. This is a disposable sanitary pad. How to use it goes like this… ”
I explained slowly as I unfolded it and showed her, just like Irina had taught me.
Though I’d only used it once, the process was straightforward, and there weren’t any major hiccups.
Tia, being clever, understood it immediately.
“Listen well, Tia. From now on, your body is capable of carrying a baby. So…”
I briefly covered basic sex education as well.
I realized I hadn’t taught her anything related to this before.
It felt like I was finally doing my job as a parent properly.
By the time I helped Tia change into a clean skirt, she was smiling despite the tear-streaked face.
“Tia is an adult now. An adult, just like Mom.”
“Ow. Don’t act like you can match me yet.”
“Muuh…”
As I stood up, I pulled Tia tightly into a hug, as tears began to well up in my own eyes.
I buried my face into Tia’s neck for a moment, silently swallowing my tears.
Was her back always this big?
She seems to grow bigger every day.
Ah. If she grew this much by three months, maybe it’s true she’s growing quickly…
Thinking about this made me suddenly find Tia strange.
“Ah. I’m sweating. Let’s stop now.”
“Muwak!”
Where did my cute and tiny little demon go?
I pushed Tia away, stood up, and peeked out through the waiting room door.
But Leopard wasn’t anywhere to be seen.
Did he leave because something urgent came up?
“I didn’t get to say thank you.”
I have disposable sanitary pads too.
Since I always carry them in case of emergencies.
But I was so surprised by Tia’s unexpected first period that I had completely forgotten I had them.
What helped me regain my composure was the sanitary pad Leopard handed me.
No matter how much he irritates me, I should still be grateful when it’s deserved.
“But why does he have sanitary pads?”
That thought crossed my mind.
Why would a man carry disposable sanitary pads?
Could it be…
“No.”
I chuckled at my own thoughts.
That doesn’t make any sense.
That dandy-looking guy being a woman? No way.
Shaking my head, I pulled a piece of paper from between my chest.
It was the party invitation I had received earlier.
I read the words on the invitation over and over.
Even though I lacked the ability to determine its authenticity.
Still, somehow, I don’t think someone would go through all this trouble just to deceive me.
“Hm?”
I surprised myself.
Apparently, I trust him more than I thought.
Perhaps today’s events have changed my perception of the hero Leopard.
“I’m hungry, Mamaja.”
“It’s not ‘Mamaja,’ it’s ‘rice.'”
“Rice, then.”
“There’s leftover tomato salad—”
“Not hungry anymore.”
“Yamama…”
From someone who was basically trash, to someone who could at least be somewhat tolerable.
Yeah, that’s all.
“Ah.”
Suddenly, a sharp pain hit my lower abdomen.
Oh no.
It started.
Looks like my cycle will sync with Tia’s.
“Hey, is the construction all done?”
“Yes, sir. Sparkling clean, isn’t it?”
The envoy to Dragania’s villa sighed in admiration while looking around.
The villa had just been purchased by the Duke and remodeled yesterday.
Though called a villa, it seemed even larger and more luxurious than the official residence.
Of course, everyone knew that regardless of whether it was the official building or the villa, the Duke rarely visited.
Known for his love of extravagance but disinterest in actual administration, the Duke already owned over thirty villas scattered nationwide.
“I already feel my hair falling out thinking about how to manage this place… Most maids won’t even last a few days before they run away, throwing up.”
“Hahaha. Keep it up! Come to think of it, isn’t there a party coming up soon?”
“It’s in honor of the renovation… But it won’t be a big event. There probably won’t be more than twenty people in attendance. In reality, it’s just a loyalty check. Representatives from the Dragania faction within the system will likely make a quick appearance out of courtesy.”
A completely insignificant party, no one important or any special intent.
Since the Duke had spent so much money on the expansion of the villa, they couldn’t just ignore it, so they were throwing this kind of formal event.
“So, why are you here?”
“I’ve come to deliver a letter from His Grace.”
“Hmm?”
The envoy took out an envelope from his robe.
The Dragania crest was impressed into the seal.
The butler quickly took the letter, tore the seal, and examined its contents, his eyes widening.
“What is it?”
“The party… His Grace will be attending…”
“Huh?”
The two of them froze in place.
A party attended by the Duke himself.
Turning an otherwise trivial party into a major unexpected event.
