Yuto sighed, took a sip of his tea, and ate a piece of cake before putting the cup down and putting his hands together. "Claudia, just let the words flow, I came here to talk and listen, let the words flow"

Claudia let out a resigned sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Fine," she muttered, her voice tinged with resignation. "I'll try to explain, but don't expect me to like you suddenly"

With a deep breath, Claudia began to explain. "Do you know what it's like to be constantly overshadowed? To be the less important one, always in the shadow of the older sibling or the favored child?"

"Imagine growing up knowing that no matter what you did, you'd never be the center of attention, never the one everyone praised and adored. You'd always be seen as the inferior sibling who was 'just as good as', but never better. It's a constant reminder that you're secondary, that you'll never be as important as the one in the spotlight"

Her eyes reflected a strange mixture of anger and pain as she continued. "And then to see you, the perfect princess everyone dotes on, who gets everything handed to her without effort... it's infuriating. You have no idea what it's like to constantly compare yourself to the golden child, knowing you'll never measure up"

"Claudia, is that what you've been seeing?"

Claudia's expression hardened again, her resentment flaring back up. "Yes," she retorted, her voice cold. "That's all I've seen. The princess who gets everything while I stand in the background, unnoticed, unappreciated"

"Do you know how many attempts on my life have been taken?"

Claudia's face contorted with confusion, her anger momentarily sidelined by surprise.

"What... what do you mean?" She asked, a hint of dread in her voice

"You will never experience this but many have tried to get rid of me, having to live in fear that your tea and food might be poisoned"

Claudia's eyes widened in shock, a mix of disbelief and horror in her gaze. The revelation about the attempts on Yuto's life seemed to have a profound impact on her

"You... you're joking, right?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly

["It's true, Rosalind wrote all the attempts at her life, it was the fear that made her build up walls to protect herself"]

"All because of a title I've never asked for but was forced on me by our father"

Claudia's face paled as Yuto's words sank in. She sat back in her chair, her hands gripping the arms in a death grip. It was clear that the weight of her unjustified anger toward Yuto was crashing down on her

"I... I had no idea," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "I thought... I thought it all came easy to you…"

Yuto looked at Claudia with a mixture of empathy and disappointment. He understood where her anger stemmed from, but it still hurt to be treated as an enemy without reason. Rosalind was hated for something she had no control over, a girl who was forced to be strong when she should have been protected.

"It's not, it never has been," he said softly, his voice laced with a touch of bitterness. "My life is not as simple and problem-free as you think. And it isn't made better by your constant hostility"

Claudia looked down, her demeanor shifting from anger to something resembling shame. For the first time, she genuinely looked at Yuto as an equal, as someone who might be suffering similar hardships.

"I... I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice cracking slightly. "I have been... unfair to you"

Yuto got up and patted Claudia's head, "Think it over, we have time, I'll be gone till noon"

["Hah, I keep forgetting that she's still a kid, I'm supposed to be an adult and here I am arguing with a kid"]

Claudia froze as Yuto patted her head, a mixture of surprise and confusion crossed her face. Despite her recent softening attitude, she was still taken aback by such a gesture.

"Wait, you're leaving?" she asked, lifting her head to look at him with slight trepidation.

"Just getting my duties done, that's all, I have lots of work to get done"

Claudia seemed somewhat reassured by Yuto's explanation. The tension in her face eased slightly, and she leaned back in her chair, her gaze now reflecting a mixture of uncertainty and thoughtfulness

"Oh... right," she murmured, a hint of reluctance in her voice. "I'll... I'll think about what you said. Promise"

<- System Reward ->

[ You have left a strong impression on Claudia's heart, she is slowly opening up to forgiving her past grievances ]

+50 Defense

+50 Agility

Yuto felt a slight boost in his stats as the system's notification appeared. He nodded in acknowledgment, then looked back at Claudia with a faint smile.

"Stay out of trouble until I'm back," he said, his tone a mix of teasing and warning.

Claudia rolled her eyes, a small grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. She put on a mock-offended expression and replied with a slight scoff.

"As if you need to tell me. I can take care of myself, you know"

Yuto chuckled softly at Claudia's mock-offended reaction. He knew she was trying to preserve some semblance of defiance, but he could see the shift in her demeanor

"Right, of course," he said, still grinning. "Just... try not to explode anything before I return"

Claudia let out an exaggerated huff, her attempts at feigning annoyance betrayed by the twinkle in her eye

"I make no promises," she retorted, her voice filled with mock challenge, Yuto shook his hand goodbye as he proceeded to exit the greenhouse

Claudia watched Yuto leave, a mixture of surprise and something akin to disappointment on her face. Despite her earlier hostility, she seemed to find his departure somewhat off-putting now

"Be careful," she called out as he reached the door, her voice a little softer than it had been moments ago

Yuto paused at the door, turning back to look at Claudia one last time. He gave her a small smile

"I always am," he replied, his voice calm and reassuring. Then, with a nod, he stepped out of the green palace, closing the door behind him

<- System ->

Wow, you did it in one meeting, I thought it would take much longer, at least 4 days.

"Yeah, I guess I did," Yuto murmured to himself. He wasn't expecting such a quick turnaround in Claudia's attitude, but he was glad to see even the smallest crack in her animosity.

<- System ->

[ Did it make you miss your sister, you haven't seen her in two years after all ]

Yuto paused momentarily, the system's unexpected question catching him off guard. He did miss Cynthia, but he couldn't let himself dwell on that now.

"A little," he admitted softly, a hint of melancholy in his voice. "But I can't afford to think about that right now"

<- System ->

[ Why? ]

Yuto's expression darkened as he continued on his way, "Because I have too much to do," he answered, his voice cold. "I can't afford to dwell on personal feelings and relationships. I need to stay focused on my goals and the challenges ahead"

<- System ->

[ Don't forget the main quest, the reason for being in the princess's body ]

Yuto's jaw clenched as the system reminded him of his purpose. Of course, he hadn't forgotten about the main quest—how could he?

"I know why I'm here, system," he replied through his teeth. "And trust me, I'm not about to forget"

["Find a who's responsible for the former Sword Master's Death"]

The goal, the reason, the anger that drove him to train till his bones broke and his skin to bleed, much to the protest of Mizuki

He kept walking, his knuckles white as he clenched his fists, "I won't forget. I'll find the one responsible, and I'll make them pay no matter what"

<- New Quest ->

[ Practice the Bow with your maid ]

Yuto paused mid-step as the new quest suddenly appeared before him, his frown deepening.

"Practice the bow? With my maid?" he repeated, his voice tinged with skepticism.

<- System ->

[ Rose's class is Archer, she could be your master in the bow, it could be more useful than a sword for now ]

Yuto let out a sigh as realization dawned upon him. Of course, Rose was an archer. The system was quite literal there.

"Right... I guess that makes sense," he finally conceded, his voice still laced with wariness. "But why the sudden quest?"

<- System ->

[ Getting stronger is the key to finding the truth, finding ways to defend yourself is common knowledge ]

Yuto understood the system's point, though the cryptic way in which it spoke sometimes irritated him. Nevertheless, he nodded in agreement.

"I get it. More strength means more possibilities," he said, his voice determined. "I just hope Rose won't be too demanding…"

With that, Yuto set off to find Rose, his mind filled with curiosity mixed with a hint of apprehension about what was to come. Little did he know that this training session would prove to be more challenging and revealing than he anticipated

He found Rose in the archery range, her slender figure gracefully drawing the bowstring back with a steady hand. Despite her delicate appearance, there was no mistaking her skill and precision, "Rose," Yuto called out as he approached her, his voice breaking her concentration.

<- System ->

[ Master Maid or Maid de la Master ]

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

He couldn't help but feel a pang of irony as the system's voice echoed in his mind. It was indeed ironic for someone so seemingly fragile to possess such mastery of a weapon.

"Quite interesting, isn't it," Yuto mused, his eyes watching Rose's every move as she released the arrow, sending it soaring toward the target with a sharp thwack.

"Is something wrong, Milady?"

Yuto shook his head in response, "No, nothing is wrong," he replied, watching as Rose retrieved the arrow from the target. "I just wanted to..."

He wasn't quite sure how to broach the topic without sounding too sudden. After all, asking a maid to train him wasn't something one did regularly.

"I was wondering if you could... teach me the bow," he finally said, bracing himself for her response.

Rose turned to look at him, her eyes widened in surprise. "You want to learn the bow?" she asked, her voice tinged with incredulity.

Yuto nodded, holding her gaze firmly. "Yes, I do. I want to become proficient in it"

Rose blinked, her surprise evident in her expression. It was clear that she wasn't expecting such a request from her young mistress. "I see," she finally said, a slight frown creasing her forehead.

"May I ask why the sudden interest?"

Yuto paused for a moment, debating how much he should share. He considered telling her about the main quest and all that it entailed, but he ultimately decided against it. The less people knew about his reasons, the better.

"I just think it's a useful skill to have," he said, his voice casual. "And I figured since you're an expert archer, you'd be the best person to teach me"

Rose studied him for a moment, her eyes searching his face for any signs of deception. She was no fool and could tell that there was more to this than he was letting on. Nevertheless, she chose not to press further.

"Alright," she said after a moment of silence. "I can teach you. But you have to promise me one thing"

Yuto's interest piqued, his eyes narrowing slightly as he waited for her condition. "And what's that?" he asked, wary but intrigued.

"You have to take your training seriously," Rose said firmly, her voice stern. "No slacking off, no distractions. You have to devote yourself fully to learning the bow if you want to master it."

"As I've said before, I will support you with all my strength, but please respect this, respect me," Rose looked nervous as she couldn't predict how Yuto would react to such a request.

Yuto regarded Rose quietly, sensing the seriousness in her tone. He had no intention of disrespecting her efforts or taking her training lightly.

"I understand," he replied, his voice solemn. "I promise to take my training seriously. No distractions, no slacking off"

Rose nodded, seeming satisfied with his answer. "Good," she said, her face relaxing into a small smile.

"Then we shall begin. First, we must start with the basics. You need to learn the correct stance, how to hold the bow, and how to nock an arrow"

Yuto's master has tried to teach him the bow before, but Yuto was only ever interested in weapons like a claymore or spear.

Yuto listened intently as Rose broke down the fundamental steps of handling a bow. Despite the occasional flash of memory of his master's previous efforts, he focused on the task at hand, determined to learn.

"Stance is key," Rose said, adjusting Yuto's stance to align his body correctly. "You need to keep your feet hip-width apart, your shoulders relaxed yet grounded. Too much tension, and you'll lose accuracy"

She showed him how to hold the bow properly, explaining the importance of a firm but gentle grip. "The bow is an extension of your arm," she told him. "It should be a natural part of you. But don't grip it too tightly, or you'll tire yourself out quickly"

Next, she demonstrated how to nock an arrow, her slender fingers moving with practiced ease. "Watch carefully," she instructed, pulling an arrow from her quiver with one hand and nocking it on the bowstring with the other. "It's all about control and finesse"

<- System ->

[ Checking her out are we? ]

Yuto blinked in surprise at the sudden comment from the system, his gaze shifting momentarily to look at Rose. He hadn't been checking her out intentionally, but now that the system had pointed it out, he couldn't help but notice the way her slender fingers moved with a kind of graceful precision.

"No, I'm just... observing," he mumbled, trying to sound as carefree as possible. But his cheeks felt a bit hotter than usual, and he hoped that Rose hadn't noticed the brief distraction.

<- System ->

[ It is different from her usual maid costume. I know Mizuki said you could have other partners but I didn't think you were like that at all ]

Yuto clenched his jaw, silently cursing the system for its constant cheeky remarks. He appreciated its guidance and aid most of the time, but moments like this made it more irritating than helpful.

"I'm not... like that," he hissed, his voice low enough that only the system could hear. "I was just watching her technique, nothing more"

<- System ->

[ I am here to support you, I can be a wing-woman if you want ]

Yuto let out a frustrated sigh, more than done with the system's teasing, "No, you don't need to be a wing woman," he grumbled, trying to keep his voice down. "I'm not interested in Rose that way. Can we please focus on my training now?"

Rose, seemingly unaware of the private, slightly absurd conversation, continued demonstrating the proper technique for drawing the bowstring back and releasing the arrow.

"Remember to keep your bow arm straight," she instructed, her voice calm and steady. "And your draw arm should form a right angle with your body. Let me see you try it now"

Yuto pushed the system's comments aside and focused on the task. Under Rose's watchful eye, he carefully mimicked the steps she had just shown him, awkwardly nocking an arrow and attempting to draw the bowstring back.

It was much harder than it looked. The string's tension against his fingers was far greater than he had anticipated, and his arm trembled slightly from the effort. He managed to draw it halfway back, but it was far from perfect.

"Not bad for a first try," Rose commented, studying his form with a critical eye. "But your draw is a bit shaky. You need to use your back muscles more and pull smoothly, and continuously. Here, let me help you"

<- System ->

[ How smooth of you to receive her help, on hand heh ]

Yuto's cheeks heated up again as Rose stepped closer to him, her slender fingers gently adjusting his form. He was acutely aware of her proximity and the subtle scent of her hair as she positioned his shoulders and hands, trying to ignore the fluttering feeling in his chest

["I'm the princess right now. Get it together, Yuto!"]

Yuto mentally cursed himself, trying to push away the butterflies in his stomach. He needed to focus, goddammit. But then he felt her fingers on his wrist, her touch sending a small shiver down his spine

He tried to ignore it, channeling all his attention into learning the correct archery technique

Yuto gritted his teeth, trying to summon the image of Mizuki to his mind. Her warm smile, her soft laugh, her unwavering loyalty. He repeated that image in his mind over and over, using it as a mantra to keep his thoughts from wandering.

["Mizuki, only Mizuki"]

Rose, blissfully unaware of the inner turmoil Yuto was going through, nodded approvingly once his form was corrected. "Much better," she said, a hint of satisfaction. "Try releasing the arrow now"

Yuto took a deep breath, trying to keep his focus steady. With all his concentration, he released the arrow, watching it fly towards the target. It wasn't a perfect shot, but it was at least close to the center of the target.

Rose surveyed the arrow's placement on the target, a hint of approval in her eyes. "Not bad," she complimented. "Your release was much smoother then, and your aim was decent. You're catching on quickly"

Yuto tried to ignore the itch of warmth he felt at her praise, instead nodding in response. "Right," he said, mentally slapping himself for reacting to a simple compliment. "I'll keep practicing until I become proficient"

As they continued the archery lesson, Yuto tried to keep his thoughts strictly on the task at hand. But every time Rose leaned in to adjust his form or brush a strand of hair out of his face, he found his heart thudding a little too hard in his chest.

It was going to be a long training session that led into the night

Yuto's archery skills gradually improved. He found that focusing on Rose's instructions and trying to ignore the way his heart raced whenever she touched him, was a great distraction from the inner turmoil

Each shot he took was better than the last, and his accuracy slowly improved. But the butterflies in his stomach refused to disperse completely, a constant reminder of his inner turmoil

<- System ->

[ So, was I right? ]

Yuto let out a huff, his frustration with the system flaring up once more. But he couldn't deny the truth in its words anymore.

"Yes, you were," he muttered between gritted teeth. "You were right. I might have... developed a small attraction to her"

<- System ->

[ Well, attraction and love are different. You love Mizuki and are also attracted to her. I am certain that what you feel for Rose is just attraction and not love ]

Yuto let out a sigh, admitting the system's words, "You're right again," he said, his voice tinged with resignation. "I love Mizuki, there's no doubt. But this... this thing I'm feeling for Rose isn't love. It's an attraction, a... a weird sort of interest I didn't expect"

He paused for a moment, reflecting on his feelings. "It's strange. I never thought I'd be attracted to anyone besides Mizuki. But there's something about Rose..." His voice trailed off, leaving the implication hanging in the air

[ Skill: Alert - Intense bloodlust is being directed at you ]

[-???-]

[ Is watching you ]

[ Mental State is Higher ]

[ Cold-Blooded Active - You are no longer Shaken ]

Instinctively, Yuto focused his senses, trying to detect any signs of danger nearby. He was glad that the Mental status overruled the blood lust, but that didn't make him any less uneasy about the whole situation.

Who could be watching him, and what were their intentions?

He glanced around, his eyes darting from shadow to shadow, trying to catch a glimpse of whoever or whatever was watching him. The silence was unnerving, the absence of visible threat only adding to his anticipation.

He tensed up, his senses on high alert. "System," he whispered under his breath, "Who is watching me?"

<- System ->

[ Error Error Error ]

[ Level is not high enough, Dodge! ]

Yuto's heart quickened as the system's voice cut through his thoughts, the mention of dodging instantly snapping him into action. His instincts kicked in, and he swiftly sidestepped to the right.

An arrow whizzed past where he had been standing just seconds earlier, embedding itself in the target with a sharp thunk.

He had evaded the attack, but the realization that someone had just tried to shoot him sent a jolt of adrenaline through his veins.

"What the hell?" he cursed under his breath, his gaze darting around, trying to pinpoint the location of the attacker

"Rose!" Yuto shouted

Rose, who had been in the middle of gathering some arrows, immediately straightened up at Yuto's shout, "What's going on?!" she asked urgently, quickly moving towards Yuto.

"Someone's trying to shoot me," Yuto grunted, his eyes still scanning the surroundings for any sign of movement. "I barely dodged the last attack"

"We need to find cover," Yuto said, his voice hard and urgent. "I can't keep dodging forever. We're sitting ducks out here in the open"

He quickly scanned the immediate area, looking for any kind of cover that could offer them protection from incoming arrows. The tension in the air was palpable, and he was painfully aware that the next attack could come at any moment.

"Over there," Rose suddenly said, pointing towards a cluster of tall bushes nearby. "We can hide behind those for now"

Yuto nodded, grateful for Rose's quick thinking. They dashed to the bushes, ducking behind them just as another arrow flew by, missing them by mere inches.

Panting slightly, they crouched behind the bushes, their backs pressed against the rough bark of a tree, "Any idea who's trying to shoot us?" he hissed, his voice low but urgent.

"I'm not sure," Rose replied, her voice equally hushed. "I didn't see anyone. But whoever it is, they're a damn good shot"

Yuto clenched his jaw, his mind racing as he tried to figure out how to proceed. They were in a dangerous situation, trapped behind a few bushes, with an unknown assailant trying to take them down.

<- System Quest ->

[ Kill the Assassin ]

Yuto glanced at Rose, seeing the mix of concern and determination on her face. She was willing to take on the danger with him, and he felt a surge of gratitude.

"We have to find them," he said, his voice resolute. "We can't just sit here and wait to be shot again"

"But how?" Rose asked, her eyes darting around anxiously. "They have the advantage here, being able to watch us from a distance"

"We need to draw them out," Yuto replied, his mind already working through possible strategies.

"Is there a way we could make ourselves bait without being sitting ducks?"

"My class is Archer, but it's hard to pinpoint where they are"

Yuto nodded, understanding the dilemma. Archer classes generally had ranged attacks, and knowing exactly where the enemy was was crucial

He looked at Rose, contemplating their options. They needed a way to draw the assassin into the open, without putting themselves too much at risk. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he turned to Rose

"What about a distraction?" he suggested. "If we create a noise or movement that draws their attention, maybe they'll come out of hiding temporarily, thinking we're vulnerable"

"Milady, I can't just leave you alone, I'm your maid!"

"I know, I know," Yuto waved her concerns aside. "But we don't have many choices here. If we want to draw the assassin out, we need to create a distraction that they can't resist"

He met Rose's gaze, his eyes determined. "I'll be okay. Trust me"

Rose looked uncertain, clearly concerned for his safety, but she ultimately nodded, understanding the logic behind his plan

"All right," she agreed, her voice firm. "But be careful. I don't want anything happening to you"

Yuto gave her a small, grateful smile. He appreciated her concern, but right now, they had a more pressing issue to deal with

["I'm thankful I asked Firestone for this!"]

The suit of armor materialized around Yuto, encasing his body in a strong, protective layer, the problem was the fact that his stamina was almost at zero.

Yuto gritted his teeth as he felt a wave of exhaustion crash over him. The system's warning about his stamina being almost at zero rang in his mind like a blaring alarm.

He could feel the weight of the armor on his body, draining him of what little stamina he had left. But he couldn't afford to slow down now, not with an assassin lurking nearby.

He took a deep breath, steadying himself. He could do this, "I'm going out there," he said firmly, his eyes fixed on the open field before them. "Stay here and cover me from a distance, okay?"

Rose nodded, her expression determined, "I've got your back. Just be careful out there"

Yuto gave her a nod, steeled his determination, and then, with a burst of energy, dashed out from behind the bushes, making himself a target.