Return of The Alpha Heiress-Chapter 37: Clarissa - Mass-Produced Shifter’s Aide (1)

I’d always wanted to create my own device. Not only to prove my skill as an aether-device engineer, but also so I could earn my own money.

Especially after hearing Alpha Will say I should be "grateful" to live in this house.

He made it sound like I was some beggar he picked up.

Darren looked surprised when I told him my request. Usually, only senior ae-engineers in his company got to produce new products.

Aside from assisting the Alpha, Darren was also the head of an ae-device company called AeRey. The company originally belonged to mother’s family.

Since she was an only child, the business was passed down to Alpha Will, because they believed an omega couldn’t lead a company.

After Alpha Will became Alpha, and once Darren was old enough, AeRey was handed over to him.

I knew Darren would have trouble believing in my ability, so I quickly explained the perks of the Shifter’s Aide.

"...Even though I originally made this for orphans, it doesn’t mean others can’t use it. In fact, I know the main market for ae-devices is the upper class..."

Darren listened seriously, not treating me like a child. His attention was... encouraging.

"When someone shifts for the first time, parents can help, but the pain doesn’t actually go away. Some pups get traumatized and refuse to shift again until they’re desperate. With Shifter’s Aide, the pain disappears completely."

I finished with as much confidence as I could muster.

Darren looked startled by my bold claim.

"Have you tested it?" he asked, sounding like a real company director evaluating an employee.

I nodded. "I tested it on my roommate. She hates shifting because her first time was awful."

Darren went quiet, thinking.

My heart thumped hard while I waited.

Then he looked straight at me... and shook his head. "No, Clar. Your device isn’t ready."

"Why?!" The word burst out before I could stop myself.

"First, I can’t approve a proposal without the actual proposal." He smiled a little, teasing me.

Only then did I realize how foolish I was. How could I expect my device to be mass-produced when I hadn’t even prepared a proper proposal?

Even if Darren was my brother, the company still had rules.

"I’m sorry..." I muttered.

He reached out and ruffled my hair before I could dodge. Ugh.

"And second..." he continued.

"There’s more?" I looked at him like a puppy begging for answers.

He nodded, his expression gentler now. "Your device still needs more trials."

"That’s... difficult." I didn’t have the money or the means to find more test subjects.

My shoulders slumped. Hope drained out of me.

"I can help," Darren said casually. His voice felt like water appearing in a desert.

"Really?" I asked, excited despite myself.

He nodded. "I’ll fund it and find the right test subjects. On one condition. You can’t take this device to another company."

"Of course not! I’ll make it with AeRey!" I said without thinking, voice rising with enthusiasm.

"Good, good." Darren nodded, satisfied.

For some reason, I felt like he was treating me like a kid again... hmm.

...

That night, I asked Luna Eileen if she would let me stay at the academy dorm until my proposal and testing were done.

I had to work hard to convince her. She finally agreed, but only starting tomorrow, and I had to come home as soon as everything was finished.

I didn’t have a choice but to accept.

The next day, right after class, I headed to the workshop on the first floor.

Back when I was still a regular student, the workshop was the only place I could enter in the best-class building. And I always used the side door since it was closer.

This was my first time going to the workshop as an official best-class student.

"I’d like to use a room," I told the staff, handing her my new student card.

She checked my card, then the room list. "There’s nothing available. Every room is booked for the next few months."

"All of them?" I stared at her.

She simply returned my card and ignored me.

’Seriously? Even after becoming a best-class student, I still can’t get my own workshop room?’

I dragged myself away, disappointed.

’If it’s like this... I’ll just ask Shannon or Edwin for help. Or maybe Larry. He barely uses his workshop anyway.’

Thinking that I now had three siblings I could ask lifted my spirits a little.

Brugh!

Walking with my head down, I bumped into someone entering the workshop.

It was just a normal collision, but the person was so strong that I fell backward.

’Great... as long as this doesn’t worsen my injuries and make mother worry—’

...But I didn’t feel any pain.

Instead, I smelled a familiar scent.

Richard!

I looked up and found our faces very close. His arms were wrapped around me, holding me steady.

My heart beat wildly. Something deep inside my mind whispered that I should... bite his lips.

’No. Bad brain. Stop.’

I desperately hypnotized myself not to think anything weird.

"I know it’s my fault for bumping into you, but don’t look at me like you’re about to eat me," Richard said, his deep, smooth voice brushing my ears.

That snapped me out of it.

I quickly pulled away. If he knew what I had been thinking, I would die of embarrassment.

"No—that’s not what I meant," I said awkwardly.

He didn’t say anything, but the corner of his lips twitched.

He was holding back a laugh.

Humiliating!

I turned around to leave. Spending too long near him made my brain malfunction.

"Wait!" he called. "You came from the workshop, right?"

I turned back and nodded. Obviously. We crashed right in front of the door, why ask?

His playful smile faded. He scratched the back of his neck, looking strangely shy.

With that deep voice of his, he murmured, "Congratulations... on winning the competition."

He was just congratulating me.

So why did he look like some boy who confessed to the girl he loved?

...