Chapter 5
“Then… how would I repay it?”
“It’s simple. Let me study you.”
The professor’s tone was far too casual for the weight of his words.
“This potion was already ready for human testing. And then, you just happened to show up.”
“You’re saying… after all that talk about how valuable the potion is, the payment is me being your test subject?”
“Exactly. Like you said, it’s priceless. That’s why completing the research is even more important.”
I wasn’t sure why, but I couldn’t bring myself to trust him—despite the calm smile he wore.
He was clearly young to be a professor at Kamar Academy. Most likely a recognized genius.
And it was true—I had taken a potion he created and miraculously grown younger. That alone was proof of his skill.
Still… something about him felt off.
“What exactly is this potion? If making people younger was the goal, it looks like you’ve already succeeded. Why continue the research at all?”
Maybe he noticed my suspicion, because his expression softened a little as he replied.
“I’ll be honest with you. If you’re a citizen of Valkanos, you’ve heard of it—the Taran Forest and the incredible resources hidden inside.”
The Taran Forest.
Of course I knew the name. Every Valkanos citizen did.
The forest where terrifying monsters lived—the same ones that had attacked me. Its unique soil and energy produced rare, mystical plants found nowhere else.
But because of the danger—and because it lay within the Acruge family’s territory—very few ever got near it. The resources it held were said to be worth a fortune.
One example was the Heisha flower.
A bloom said to massively boost a magician’s mana—and even enhance the energy of knights. A single flower was worth a fortune.
There had been talk for years that the Empire needed to claim the Taran Forest someday.
“So what does that have to do with this potion?”
“Because,” he said smoothly, “this research is being funded directly by the imperial family. The goal is to make those resources easier to access.”
“How… exactly?”
“That part is classified. I can’t say more. But the reason I’m telling you all this is to reassure you—this isn’t just my personal project. It’s a state-sponsored experiment. When it’s complete, it could mean huge progress for our people and the Empire.”
I didn’t know how to respond.
This wasn’t just about one man’s ambitions. It was a major government-backed project. That changed everything.
Seeing my hesitation, he leaned forward slightly, his tone lowering.
“And the truth is… your current condition? It’s not normal. It’s actually a side effect of the potion.”
My thoughts jumped back to the lab mouse he had shown me.
It had dropped dead instantly after tasting that pink liquid.
And he had said most test animals had died from it.
“…You mean I could’ve ended up like that mouse?”
“Yes. But you didn’t. You’re one of the lucky ones. Not only did you survive—you reversed time.”
Just thinking about it sent a chill down my spine.
That potion I’d mistaken for a drink could’ve killed me.
So much had happened in such a short time—from arriving at the academy to this moment.
I was still trying to process it all when he called out,
“Lady Farrington.”
Snapping out of my thoughts, I looked up.
His gray eyes, sharp behind his silver-rimmed glasses, were serious.
“Let’s make a deal.”
“A… deal?”
“Yes. I’ll study you so I can finish the potion. In exchange, you won’t owe me a single coin. No compensation. You’ll just need to stay under observation and cooperate. Think of it as a form of health care. You’re like a ticking time bomb right now—you don’t know what could happen next. But if you stay near me, I’ll make sure you’re stable. And if that’s not enough, consider this: you’d be helping bring prosperity to the Empire.”
He wasn’t wrong.
But something about his proposal made me hesitate.
How much of this can I actually trust?
He claimed the potion was worth more than the academy’s annual budget… yet was willing to cancel that debt in exchange for testing me?
Even if the experiment was state-sanctioned, it felt like everything lined up too perfectly.
It was hard to believe a deal so one-sided in my favor wasn’t hiding something.
As if reading my doubts, the professor leaned closer, his disheveled hair casting a soft shadow across his eyes. His voice dropped to a low murmur—almost devilish.
“Didn’t you come here to apply for an assistant alchemist position? If you agree to the contract, you’re hired—on the spot.”
His tempting words echoed in my mind.
I closed my eyes, just for a second, then opened them again.
It was a perfect offer. Too perfect. But I didn’t nod.
I was thirty-eight. I hadn’t lived this long just to make another reckless mistake.
I needed proof. I needed to see for myself what was true and what wasn’t.
Every time I’d rushed into something before, I’d always ended up regretting it.
“I understand your proposal, Professor. But this is all happening so fast. I need a little time to think it over.”
His expression stiffened. Clearly, he hadn’t expected me to push back.
“I also need to tell my family about what happened to me.”
At the mention of “family,” images of my older sisters, Medina and Claire, flashed through my mind.
I had walked away from them in disappointment, but even so—how could I keep something like this from them?
And our mother had just passed not long ago. I had been unconscious for days after the attack. They were probably worried sick.
“I’ll talk to my family first, then give you, my answer. And I’ll also be looking into this potion—if it’s really worth as much as you say.”
He seemed genuinely surprised by my firmness.
Then, narrowing his eyes, his voice took on a sharper tone.
“Did you already forget what happened to the lab mouse?” he said coldly. “You’re not stable. If you leave my supervision, you could die.”
The word die sent a chill down my spine.
But no matter how afraid I was, I couldn’t blindly sign a contract I knew nothing about.
Seeing how angry he got only made things feel even more suspicious.
“No matter how serious this is… I can’t agree to become a test subject just based on your word alone. From my perspective, the more you try to rush this decision, the more it feels like you have something to hide.”
“…….”
He said nothing, just stared at me with an irritated expression.
Maybe he realized I had a point.
I had no intention of backing down, so I spoke firmly again.
“Like I said earlier, I’ll discuss this with my family and give you my answer afterward. If you have anything else to say to me, send a message to the Farrington estate.”
“Tch. Do whatever you want.”
He scowled in frustration, but perhaps he understood that pushing further wouldn’t work—because this time, he didn’t argue.
With my mind made up, I stood from my seat.
“Then, I’ll be going now.”
I gave a small nod of courtesy and walked out of the lab, feeling his glare on my back.
Outside, the academy guards who had dragged me here were still standing nearby—but this time, they didn’t try to stop me.
I glanced at them briefly, then hurried off.
It was only after I started walking again that I noticed how loose my dress felt with every step.
It was undeniable proof that my appearance had truly changed—that I had returned to the body of my early twenties.
The face I’d seen in the mirror kept flashing in my mind.
I raised a hand to touch my cheek. It was smooth and firm—no trace of the fine lines that had settled there over the years.
It really felt like I was living in a dream.
I didn’t even know how I made it home.
Too much had happened in the last few days. My mind was overwhelmed, my thoughts scattered.
More than happiness about looking younger, what I felt most was confusion. None of it felt real yet.
As I reached the familiar front gate of my home, all I wanted was to step inside and rest.
Clunk.
The gate, which usually opened with a rusty creak, wouldn’t budge.
“…What?”
Confused, I turned my head—and that’s when I saw it.
The nameplate, which should have read [Farrington], now said [Kenebano].
In the Valkanos Empire, it was customary for noble households to display the family name on the gate to signify who lived there.
So why was there someone else’s name on mine?
A bad feeling crept over me, but I shook my head in denial.
No… no way.
We’d had a heated argument, yes—but there was no way my sisters would sell the estate so soon.
It had only been three days since I packed a bag and left to attend that interview at the academy.
They couldn’t have sold the house that quickly… could they?
Still, my hand trembled as I knocked on the gate.
No matter how many times I blinked, the name on the sign didn’t change.
Knock, knock.
Moments later, a woman appeared from inside the estate, dressed in a crisp maid’s uniform.
The color drained from my face.
We’d never had maids here.
This was the house I’d lived in my whole life—since the day I was born.
And now… a stranger was stepping out to meet me.
The woman looked at me and asked politely,
“Can I help you?”
“I… I should be asking you that.”
The words caught in my throat.
It felt like something had clamped around my neck, making it hard to speak.
My vision blurred as my eyes burned with the sting of tears.
This isn’t real… right?
This has to be a mistake… right?
It hadn’t been long since our mother’s funeral.
I had left because I was hurt by my sisters, Medina and Claire, when they talked about selling the barony and the estate—but deep down, I thought they would come around.
I thought if I refused strongly enough, they would eventually listen.
But while I was gone—just three days—they had sold the house. Just like that.
It felt like I had been pushed off a cliff.
I wanted to scream. Cry. Collapsing onto the ground wouldn’t even begin to express what I was feeling.
It was heartbreak. Pure and raw.
Like the earth beneath my feet was crumbling away.
It felt like I was falling into an endless void—deeper and deeper, with no end in sight.
Like I’d been drenched in ice water, I stood frozen in place. Then, the maid in front of me, still wearing an annoyed expression, asked again sharply.
“I said—who are you?”
“I… I’m the owner of this house. Who are you, exactly?”
“Excuse me?” she scoffed. “This property was purchased two days ago by my lady, the Viscountess. The transaction is already complete. What on earth are you going on about?”
The Viscountess in our family could only mean one person—my eldest sister, Medina. My second sister, Claire, had married into a baron’s house.
“The Viscountess… is her name Medina de Hessling?”
“Y-yes.”
“She’s my sister. This sale is invalid. This house—my home—was where I lived with my mother. I still have legal claim. She can’t sell it without my consent—”
“Listen, miss,” the maid cut in, her tone sharp now. “I heard there were no male heirs in your family, so the eldest daughter inherited the title. That means Lady Medina had every legal right to sell this estate. My lady purchased it properly, through all the correct channels. The payment is complete. If there are issues in your family, take it up with them. Don’t cause a scene here.”
Her cold, factual tone made my grip on the gate tighten.
The worst part was… she wasn’t wrong.
By law, the authority to sell the house did fall to my sisters.
But twenty years…
I had spent twenty years caring for our mother, who had been suffering from dementia.
Two decades of my life—gone.
No courtship, no career, no dreams pursued. I gave everything up to support this family. I told myself, At least I’m needed. At least my family will be grateful.
But the moment our mother passed, they threw me aside like I didn’t matter.
Like I was just an empty burden they couldn’t wait to be rid of.
It felt like every ounce of my effort, every sacrifice, was being erased before my eyes.
“…No,” I whispered.
The maid furrowed her brows. “What did you say?”
I slowly lifted my head, meeting her gaze with tear-filled eyes.
Somewhere along the way, my tears had started falling, warm streaks tracing down my cheeks.
“This house is mine!”
I didn’t mean to raise my voice—but the pain came rushing out like a tidal wave.
The maid’s eyes widened in surprise. Then, almost instantly, her face twisted in irritation.
“I was trying to be polite, but you really must be insane.”
