Welcome to Puberty Hell
Will you shut up? I had no idea when it started. Life went on as usual. We slept together, ate together, and headed off to work or school each in our own way. But at some point, a very subtle change began to creep in.
Elizabeth, who had always clung to me like glutinous rice, started pulling away bit by bit. She bought her own bed, claiming she wanted to sleep separately, and spent more time in her room. If I got home later than her, she wouldn't even say "You're back" — just a curt nod before burying herself in a novel again.
Even at dinner, it felt lacking. I'd slave away in the kitchen, only for her to eat and vanish. Back in the day, she'd gush with things like "Wow, looks delicious! Dad's the best!" But now...
Worst of all, hell truly began in second year. She stopped talking to me altogether. Even if I spoke first, it'd be a mumbled "Yeah, sure" as she brushed past. The house fell into silence.
"Dad! I told you not to open my door without knocking!!"
One day, Elizabeth exploded in rage and ignored me for a whole week. ...
I found myself drinking alone at dawn more often, lamenting the loss. I missed the Elizabeth who'd snuggle in my arms, reading her novels.
I shared my woes with my fellow laborers: William, Betty, and old man Nodis. Surely these fathers knew how to navigate this mess.
"Puberty's hit, huh?"
"Welcome to hell, Leo."
"Even fancy school kids go through it."
I was dead serious, but the old guys just chuckled like it was the funniest thing.
"Just endure it. That's your only option~"
"At that age, friends mean more than parents."
"You're getting off easy, though. The James girl next door got knocked up by some deadbeat."
"Oh, that? She ended up having it and raising the kid."
"Yeah, teen mom at 15."
...
Hearing stories like that made Elizabeth seem like an angel. She still hung out with her friends just fine, at least from what I glimpsed. Pretty and kind — no wonder she was popular. Top of her second-year class, valedictorian. She took after her biological dad, Emperor Marcus, with brains to match.
"Anyway, point is, accept it. It's not all bad — just part of growing up."
"Yeah, don't try to control it. 'Middle school syndrome' didn't come from nowhere."
"Won't last long. It'll be over by high school. Think of it as making memories."
Fair enough... Consulting these veterans eased my worries. Yeah, it wasn't weird — it was normal. I'd never had puberty myself. Parents crushed me young, and by 13, the world had spat me out. Made me feel better knowing Elizabeth wouldn't suffer like I did as a kid.
I shoved the worries aside and focused on work.
Hup.
I hoisted a log onto my shoulder. It was a pillar for a new five-story commercial building — thick enough for two adults to wrap their arms around, over 12 meters long. Leo carried the whole thing solo. The ground sank deep under the weight with each step. Muscles bulged like they might burst.
The other laborers, used to it by now, barely batted an eye.
Thud!
Just like that, all five logs were in place as pillars. Time to dig the foundation.
"No digging today, folks," the foreman announced.
As the workers puzzled over that, a large carriage pulled up to the site. A young mage hopped out.
"Mage'll handle the digging."
"What about pay?"
"Rest till he's done. Shouldn't take long."
"Aigoo... Aren't mages pricey? Boss must be in a rush."
"Looks like it."
The laborers swallowed their disappointment and sat to rest. No work meant no pay.
"This the spot?"
"Yes, sir. Just inside the marked lines, about 6 meters deep."
The foreman bowed slightly to the mage, who was young enough to be his son. The mage nodded vaguely and swung his staff. An invisible force tore into the earth like a massive hand scooping it out.
"Whoa."
"Mages are somethin' else. Wiggle a stick, and they rake in multiples of our daily wage."
Everyone marveled. Mages were rare sights. Most went to the military or academia. Even for big money, they shunned "lowly" jobs like construction — they raked in cash elsewhere anyway.
Leo sipped water, watching. Inefficient. Basic telekinesis magic, yet he needs a staff? Pathetic.
About five minutes in, the mage finished. It was sloppy, uneven — like a rat had gnawed it out. Amateur work.
The young mage puffed up proudly. "All set? I'm off then."
"Pardon? There's still so much left..."
The foreman trailed off. It was dug, sure, but so haphazardly they'd need laborers to fix it.
"I've done my part. The rest is shovel work, right? Gotta pick up my nephew from school anyway."
"Ah... Understood."
Despite the shoddy job for top dollar, the foreman let him go.
"Sorry about that, everyone. Grab your shovels."
The foreman called awkwardly.
"No sweat. I was gettin' antsy anyway."
"Tsk tsk, that green kid's got no future."
"Did a dogshit job. Made diggin' harder than it had to be."
The laborers snatched up shovels for the pay, no hesitation. Leo joined, hopping into the pit to smooth the bumpy mess. His pace outstripped the others — five times faster than a regular worker.
An hour later, Leo climbed out. Dusk had fallen.
"You earned this. Hot coffee at least."
The foreman handed Leo a warm cup. He thought highly of him. Leo's efficiency was double a normal worker's — irreplaceable, really. Hauling massive logs and stones solo, holding ropes alone — a one-man army on site.
Of course, he paid accordingly. Not mage-level, but on par with big corp wages. Full days till evening netted 400,000 harts. That was two regular workers' pay, yet it felt like a bargain. Almost stingy, but Leo took what was offered.
"Here's 50 bills for today."
The foreman passed a fat envelope. Tough days like this meant bonuses. Leo pocketed it without counting — he trusted the man after all this time.
Before clocking out, he told the foreman, "Full attendance this month too."
"Really? Coming up on two years straight — you sure?"
"Yeah. Daughter's tuition."
"Lenz school, right? That'll bleed you dry."
Lenz was elite, upper crust only — no scholarships. Leo used to work just three or four days a week, to spend time with Elizabeth. But with talks drying up, no point sticking around home. Full-time it was.
"Hope you're really okay with it."
The foreman was thrilled but worried. Construction paid big, but wrecked your body. Earnings vanished on medical bills. Leo was young and tough now, but age would catch up.
"I'm fine. Manual labor's second nature."
"Alright then. Speak up if it hurts."
The foreman eyed him sadly. To outsiders, Leo was the selfless dad sacrificing for family. Not wrong, but not the full truth. If hard labor ruined him, he'd never have made Imperial Guard.
Heading home, Leo stopped at market. Elizabeth was out with friends. Probably home by now? She loved roast chicken. He loaded up on groceries.
Arms full, he ran into her mid-conversation with friends. She flashed them the smile she never gave him anymore.
"Elizabeth. Fancy meeting you here."
"..."
They spotted Leo. Elizabeth clamped her mouth shut. His appearance: sweat, dirt, dust-caked body. Matted hair. Unnameable stench assaulting the nose.
"Uh, hi..."
The friends greeted awkwardly.
"Let's go."
"H-Hey? He's still your dad..."
"Just go."
Elizabeth led them past, ignoring him. Leo started to grab her but glanced at himself and dropped his gaze.
*
Elizabeth and her friends walked in silence. The friends especially reeled from the scene.
They'd seen her dad at pickup: tall, refined vibe, seemed like a good guy. Clean speech and looks screamed businessman or officer.
But the reality? Fresh from manual labor. Now it clicked why Elizabeth never introduced him — or invited friends home.
Lenz school was basically a networking hub. Royals, foreign nobility, even imperial kin attended. Classes were secondary; connections ruled. Kids visited each other's homes to bond.
Yet Elizabeth never hosted. Now they got it.
Everyone adored her — boys, girls, even profs. Pretty, smart, sweet. Sure, some envied her, but...
"Shoulda said somethin', Ellie~"
Beatrice smirked. She secretly resented Elizabeth but tagged along to fit in.
"No shame in a job. Why hide it? Even if your dad's a laborer, you're still our friend."
The girl's father was a marquis. Her mocking tone left friends glancing nervously at Elizabeth.
Surprisingly calm, Elizabeth halted and fixed Beatrice with a stare — deep, dark as ocean depths.
"Beatrice."
"Yeah, Ellie?"
"Will you shut up?"