As night fell, temperatures dropped sharply, and a gentle drizzle began tapping against the windowpanes. The wind howled, and the rain intensified, with distant thunder rumbling, sending chills through the cracks in the windows.

In the "young lady's boudoir," Loewen lay flat on the grand bed, his brow furrowed in sleep. Cold sweat dotted his neck and forehead, gradually soaking the pillow.

In his dream, bed drapes floated like layered clouds. The mattress beneath him felt like a swamp, pulling him deeper. He felt unable to move.

"Finally, I've married you, my beautiful bride," Felix's face appeared above him. The young man's eyes were filled with affection as he leaned down. His slender fingers were caressing Loewen's cheek lovingly.

"Damn you... what the... %￥#￥@!" Loewen, though powerless, mustered his last ounce of strength to curse.

Deep in dreams, emotions often amplify. At this moment, his heart was a tumult of anger and fear.

"You are my bride. You promised me long ago." Felix's tone was firm as he casually removed his white coat. Then, his fingers moved toward the buttons at his shirt collar.

Terror surged, and Loewen trembled uncontrollably.

"No! You little brat! Don't, don't undress! Let me explain!"

With weak, trembling hands, Loewen frantically fumbled with his snow-white wedding dress, and finally grasped the edge of the petticoat. Summoning the courage of a warrior facing death, he lifted the entire petticoat to prove himself!

"Look! I'm a man! I really am a man!" He let out a high-pitched, distorted scream.

Felix's gaze lowered, he blinked, then smiled slightly, "It's okay. Mine is bigger than yours."

"???"

"What the hell!!!"

"Fuuuuuuuck—!"

Loewen jolted awake and sat up abruptly. It took him a long moment to realize he'd had a nightmare. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and breathed heavily.

The cold night air filled his lungs, gradually calming his racing heart.

He couldn't help but lament: Good heavens! Have I developed a psychological symptom from cross-dressing? Dreaming of a brat claiming to be bigger?

What nonsense!

Totally ridiculous!

Furious, Loewen glanced down at his own body— thin and frail, with slender arms and legs. No wonder he'd been raised as a girl for over a decade. His delicate skin and tender flesh lacked any extra muscle.

Fear crept in once more...

Loewen shivered and curled back under the covers, yawning as he made up his mind: Tomorrow morning, he would start lifting weights.

***

The sky was clear and washed clean after the heavy rain, and the chirping of birds pierced through the sunlight streaming through the window.

Loewen woke up early and, after completing twenty push-ups, grabbed a candlestick with one hand and began working on his biceps.

The two maids standing nearby almost wanted to cry: just when they had finished tightening the corset for the "young lady," it had already burst open.

Seeing them about to come over to help him adjust his clothes again, Loewen complained, "Can't I just not wear this? It's restricting the development of my abs."

The maids' faces turned a bit red, and one of them kindly advised, "Mi...Master, wearing a chest binder is a basic noblewoman's etiquette. You can't go out without it."

Loewen froze. He gritted his teeth in frustration. He made up his mind to distance himself from this absurd and twisted family and to start wearing men's clothing again as soon as possible. Otherwise, one day, his waist would be crushed by this damn thing.

While he was deep in thought, one of the maids quietly took the candlestick from his hand, pulled out a brow-shaping tool, and started trimming his brows into neat, delicate lines.

Loewen stared at the mirror, helplessly watching himself being groomed like a dainty lady. His lips twitched in annoyance.

Just as he was desperately trying to refuse having his hair styled into the dreaded double pigtails, the door was gently knocked.

Lady Flenqi peeked her head inside and delivered some good news: Duke Flenqi had returned...

***

"Father, why did you have to come back last night in that terrible storm? How was the hunting expedition?"

"It didn't go well. The people the Bovany family sent suffered heavy casualties. We had to rush back to send them to the Sacred Spring for healing. The world's becoming unstable. Demon beasts are getting more rampant."

Loewen pushed open the door and, as soon as he stepped into the study, the two people inside stopped talking and turned their attention to him.

Loewen felt a little awkward and stiffly performed a noble's greeting. Then he raised his eyes to silently observe the imposing middle-aged "foreigner" before him.

This was his father—Chad Flenqi, the Duke, the renowned "Glacier Wolf of the Continent."

"My dear sister, ever since your memory loss, you've become more reckless. At least knock before entering," said Gian, the eldest son, who was folding his arms with an annoyed look.

"Father, brother, I apologize for interrupting your conversation," Loewen said respectfully and lowered his head. His heart was racing—he had indeed acted too hastily.

"Loewen, have you really lost your memory?" Duke Flenqi quickly walked over, placed his hands on Loewen's shoulders, and frowned deeply, inspecting him from head to toe.

Loewen instinctively took a half step back, creating some space between them. "Yes, father."

The duke's frown deepened.

In the past, whenever he came home, his "daughter" would eagerly rush to him like a cheerful lark, and sweetly ask for the gifts he brought back from all over the continent. But now, he seemed so distant, even his gaze was filled with unfamiliarity. It seemed that he truly had lost his memory.

"Father, there's something I want to discuss with you," Loewen said, gathering his courage and looking his father in the eye.

Duke Flenqi, still caught up in a sense of loss and worry, looked slightly dazed. "...What is it?"

Loewen took a deep breath and spoke earnestly, "I want to attend Charles Magic Academy."

Sure enough, Duke Flenqi froze for a moment and immediately rejected, "I'm afraid it's not possible. What would you do there, with no magic talent? Charles Academy is not a place for idle play."

"Father, I'm not going there to play. I'm going to study!" Loewen protested strongly.

He took a deep breath and spoke from the heart. "Although an accident has caused me to lose my memory, it has also helped me realize many things. I know I have no magical talent, and I know my existence has embarrassed the family, but I don't want to remain a useless person!"

"Father, even though I can't cast magic, if I go to the academy, at least I'll be able to understand what magic really is and learn some basic theoretical knowledge." Loewen's eyes shined with a strong desire to learn.

Since he was in a magic world now, he didn't want to be a "Muggle."

Before the duke could speak, Gian, his annoying brother, sneered and mocked, "What good will theory do? If you can't actually use it, it's all for nothing."

"I'm not completely incapable of using it," Loewen shot him a glance and lowered his gaze, "Yesterday, I reviewed the curriculum for new students at Charles Magic Academy, and there's one subject I'm confident I can master."

Gian snorted in disdain, pretended to be curious and asked, "What subject?"

"Potion-making."

At these words, Duke Flenqi hesitated for a moment.

"Potion-making?" the duke murmured. "It's quite a marginal subject, but you can certainly study it by experimenting with potions."

That's what Loewen had been waiting for. His eyes glinted with excitement.

Gian sneered again, throwing out another sarcastic remark, "That's the only thing left for you to study. But even if you study that, you'll never graduate from the academy. Don't even think about going there."

"Whether I graduate or not is a matter for the future. Right now, I just want to go to the academy and study!" Loewen shot Gian an annoyed look and then fixed his unwavering gaze on Duke Flenqi. He looked sincere.

"Father, I've never been good at anything. I grew up under the family's protection and indulgence. But I don't want to depend on the family's favors forever. I want to have a skill that will allow me to stand on my own in this world."

Loewen spoke earnestly, his words full of sincerity. Duke Flenqi frowned, as if feeling a headache coming on.

Seeing his father's hesitation, Loewen seized the moment. He grasped his father's arm with both of his hands. His eyes brimmed with tears and his voice trembled.

"Father, if you give me a chance, I will study hard. I will never bring disgrace to the family. Please believe in me!"

Duke Flenqi's usually stern face softened slightly, though it was unclear whether it was due to Loewen's passionate promises or his persistent pleading.

The duke's mind was a bit clouded. Eventually, he agreed, leaving Gian utterly dumbfounded.

"Thank you, Father!" Loewen was overjoyed. His green eyes were sparkling brighter than the most dazzling gems.

"I will become the strongest potion master in the empire."