Washing Hector’s hair wasn’t a big deal.

‘Whoa……. What is that?’

Charlie froze as she approached Hector with shampoo in hand.

It was because of something floating beneath the water.

Was it a cucumber? No, a cucumber is too small compared to that.

Then an eggplant? A pumpkin?!

Maybe he had three legs.

‘Is he human?’

It was indeed a big, big p*nis.

The novel’s description of it being as big as an arm was true.

As expected of the main character, Hector’s p*nis was very large and distinct even underwater.

Moreover, its color was beautiful.

It certainly wasn’t much different from his thigh……

That’s when it happened.

“Charlie.”

Hector’s chuckle snapped Charlie back to reality.

“Huh? Oh, yes.”

She hurriedly averted her gaze, but there was no hiding her lewd pheromones.

“Do you want to see it?”

“What?!”

Hector stared intently at Charlie.

Due to Hector’s binding ability, Charlie couldn’t escape or step back.

“I asked if you want to see it.”

“Wh-what, what do you mean?”

“My body.”

Charlie shook her head vigorously in strong denial.

“No. Not at all.”

“You seem like you want to see it.”

“Me?! Why would I want to see Your Grace’s body?”

Contrary to her words, rough breaths leaked from her flaring nostrils.

Her pupils were also fully dilated.

Hector swept the inside of his mouth with his tongue.

“Weren’t you just looking at it?”

“I wasn’t looking.”

“I told you not to lie to me.”

“Oh, and didn’t you say you don’t like people looking at your body?”

“You’re an exception.”

As Hector made a move to stand, Charlie hurriedly continued speaking.

“No, actually, it’s just that there was something huge underwater……. I didn’t see everything…….”

At that moment, one corner of Hector’s mouth lifted in a wicked smile.

Hector had no intention of standing up in the first place; he just wanted to tease her.

And Charlie soon realized this as well.

“Do you enjoy teasing me?”

Hector’s lips stretched into a longer smile.

“It’s not unpleasant.”

Hector leaned back comfortably in the tub.

Charlie stared into space with unfocused eyes like he was looking at a distant mountain.

Her small fingers nimbly massaged Hector’s hair.

Hector, with his head tilted back, lazily followed Charlie’s movements with his gaze.

It was a drowsy feeling, as if he could fall asleep at any moment.

Perhaps because her grip was weak, her passing touch tickled his spine.

But it wasn’t unpleasant.

“Charlie.”

“What?”

Charlie focused intently on the central garden visible beyond the large window.

“Look at me.”

“No.”

“I said look at me.”

“I said no.”

Charlie now talked back to Hector without fear.

Her pheromones no longer solidified.

Hector pressed his lips together to suppress a smile.

“My eyes hurt.”

“What’s wrong with your eyes?”

“Bubbles.”

“Huh?”

Startled, Charlie turned to look at Hector.

Bubbles from his hair had flowed down his face.

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Charlie quickly reached into the tub. Then, with a small hand wet with water, she wiped Hector’s face.

In fact, Hector could have done it himself. It would have been quicker.

But a flustered Charlie didn’t think about that.

“Does it still sting?”

His long, wet eyelashes drooped at an angle.

In his red eyes, Charlie’s worried face was reflected.

Hector gently closed his unaffected eyes and said,

“It still stings a little.”

* * *

The Hunt Mansion was experiencing a wind of change.

The glass greenhouse was regaining its former glory, and the garden was blooming with colorful little flowers.

Of course, in proportion to that, Tanner was aging rapidly.

And there was another person who was deteriorating rapidly. That was Charlie.

“What?”

Inside Hector’s office.

Charlie, who was sitting on a large sofa building a ship model, frowned.

“I asked why you’re not growing even though you’re eating.”

I can hear it. Somewhere, the sound of a dog… no, a bell dropping.

Charlie blurred her focus as if to erase Hector from her sight.

If only her hearing could blur as well, but his low and thick voice pierced her eardrums with every word.

“I really don’t know what the problem is.”

Hector’s brows furrowed as he looked at Charlie’s slender wrist.

Hector had ordered a special high-nutrition diet for Charlie.

It had been quite a while since she collapsed.

Moreover, he increased her food intake by eating with her.

But instead of gaining weight, Charlie seemed to be getting thinner.

It wasn’t a health issue.

She had a naturally slim build and had been more active than usual lately.

The reason, of course, was Hector, who diligently rang the bell.

But Hector didn’t think it was because of him at all.

After all, wasn’t it just a bit of walking and moving around?

Regardless of how Hector saw her, Charlie was healthier than before.

Thanks to a well-balanced diet and regular activity, her complexion was also better.

“At this rate, you’ll be the smallest at your debutante.”

Hector mumbled to himself as he looked at Charlie with a rather serious expression.

“Debutante?”

Charlie tilted her head.

In this world, adulthood was at eighteen, but the debutante was held at twenty.

It was timed with graduation from the academy.

Even commoners could participate in the ball hosted by the imperial family.

However, Charlie was not eligible for either.

She was originally a Zero from the lowest class.

“I’m twenty-two.”

Hector’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What did you just say?”

“I said I’m twenty-two.”

Of course, that was the age of this body. The age of Charlie’s possessor, in her previous life, was even older.

* * *

Sunlight streamed through the wide office window.

Hector stared at Charlie without even blinking.

If not for the chirping birds, it would have seemed like time had stopped.

Tanner, who was organizing documents nearby, quietly smiled.

On the other hand, Hector, who was visibly flustered, asked again.

“You?”

Hector knew Charlie was an adult but didn’t know her exact age.

Even considering she was a Zero, he thought she couldn’t be much older than the threshold of adulthood.

So he believed she could grow more with sufficient nutrition.

Most adult women Hector had seen were Masters, averaging 170 cm in height.

Compared to them, Charlie was very small and petite.

“If you lie, you’ll lose your head.”

Despite the harsh words, Charlie remained calm.

“Seriously, who would lie about their age to make it older?”

“You look nowhere near twenty-two……”

For a moment, Hector’s gaze, which had been scrutinizing Charlie, stopped.

Charlie’s gaze, which had followed his, also stopped at the same spot.

“Where are you looking? Right now?!”

* * *

Although her clothes covered everything, Charlie clutched the fabric at her chest.

“How can you be twenty-two?”

“Gosh……. What…….”

Although part of her words was omitted, the meaning was clear.

Charlie was too stunned to respond and let out a breath.

“Is it possible that Zeros grow more slowly?”

Tanner, who was being questioned, answered.

“Even for Zeros, the second growth phase usually ends at seventeen, and by twenty-two, they are considered fully grown adults.”

“No cases of late growth?”

“There may be individual differences, but it would be minimal.”

“Did all the holy power go to her face…….”

Was it necessary to have such a serious conversation about someone else’s br*asts?

No, that wasn’t the main issue.

Wasn’t he saying her br*asts hadn’t fully developed?

Her insides boiled with rage.

However, Hector’s remarks were relentless.

“Are there any cases where magic power has caused additional physical growth?”

In fact, her frail body, which looked like it could be blown away by the wind, was the problem, not her chest.

But since Hector didn’t mention this, Charlie had no way of knowing.

“By magic power?”

“Excuse me. Hold on. What’s wrong with my br*asts?”

Unable to hold back, Charlie cut in, fuming.

But Hector only looked more puzzled.

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“Yes!”

“It’s too small.”

“…….”

The blunt statement shattered Charlie’s mental state.

“Wh-what’s wrong with being small…….”

“It looks like it would fit in one hand.”

“So, do you grab a chest with one hand or two?”

“Both would fit in one hand.”

“…….”

For a moment, Charlie was at a loss for words and stared at Hector’s hand.

His large hands indeed looked like they could encompass both of her br*asts.

“What’s wrong with being small? There are so many good things about it!”

“Like what?”

“Sm-small br*asts make clothes fit better. They’re more comfortable when running…….”

Seeing Charlie rambling, Hector’s lips curled up.

“What else?”

“What else…….”

Why am I even explaining this?

But she couldn’t lose like this. With a surge of stubbornness, Charlie continued.

“You can lie on your stomach without anything getting in the way, and you can see your belly button well.”

“And?”

“There’s also a song that goes, ‘Small br*asts gather pure love,’ you know?”

“I’ve never heard of such a song.”

“Of course you haven’t. It’s a commoners’ song.”

Charlie pouted and turned her head.

At that moment, Hector chuckled.

“It must be tough.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ll have to gather a lot.”

“What did you say?”

Hector bit his lower lip, his shoulders shaking.

Finally, an exasperated Charlie shot up from her seat.

Her hands on her hips signaled that she was truly angry.

“Don’t underestimate small br*asts. There are many men who like women with small br*asts!”

“Men like small br*asts?”

At his perplexed expression, Charlie gestured exaggeratedly and passionately spoke.

“Yes! Small br*asts can do great things!!”

In the end, Hector couldn’t hold back and burst into hearty laughter at Charlie’s circular hand gestures.

Seeing Hector laugh so heartily for the first time, Tanner looked at him in surprise.

But Hector, too busy catching his breath, didn’t notice.

How long did he laugh?

Wiping away imaginary tears, Hector said,

“I look forward to seeing what great things they can do.”