This chat is going nowhere. She is so much of a 'dandere' that it feels unrealistic. In the future, whenever someone reads my biography, they will think I am lying cause of how unacceptable this situation is. After all, where can you find a girl so robotic in her demeanor? At first, she wasn't letting me talk, and now she seems so mechanized that the whole chat is getting awkward. She isn't moving even a muscle on her face. She is such a pretty face, and you know what my heart is telling me? That she would look much cuter with a smile on her face. I clenched my fists, preparing for the showdown.

"You know one of my friends once told me that although maids are cute, cause of the amount of work they have to do every day, they are very strong, despite their looks"

There was a minuscule reaction in her face after it went to its monotonous self. It was so small that it would have normally passed unnoticed, however, just like a single drop of water seems like a great treasure in an extreme desert similarly it was very hard for that to pass unnoticed in an otherwise emotionless face.

"Your explanation doesn't apply to me after all, I am more of a supervisor of the servants in the mansion rather than a full-fledged maid," she said with a stern face.

With that, a huge grin appeared on my cheeky face.

"You say that, but we wouldn't know unless we test out things!"

There was a small table of my hip's height at the corner of the room whose only purpose seemed to be holding a flowerpot. Placing the flowerpot on the bare floor, I dragged the table to where Clair was and bent over in a gesture to initiate our arm-wrestling match.

"This is the best way for someone to gauge other's strength. Now come, may the best woman win," I said as I smiled.

Why a change of phrase? Cause I'm gonna purposely lose. Sometimes it is better to lose than to win. Perhaps compelled by my swift actions or maybe to not make me lose face she bends over, extending her arm. Disinterest visible on her face.

As she bent over as if to prove their glory hung down as they were pulled by gravity. The modest maid outfit which had hidden her mounts from the whole world, couldn't hide them anymore as they too sagged revealing her exuberant valley. Whether she was conscious of it or not, I don't know but my eyes were definitely glued there. Although it hurts my conscience a bit to act like such a perv, this time the whole fault was hers, not mine. As I was enjoying the view, she grabbed my hand to initiate the match resulting in a shock going through my arms into my brain. And no, this is not one of those glitch moments where holding hands with the female-lead makes the protagonist lose his mind. It's just that my hand is still swollen and she is not being modest with her grip. I gritted my teeth to not let my pain show on my face. It will be over in a minute or two anyway and I don't want to ruin the mood.

"Are you ready?" I said adding a deep vocal tone to my voice still staring at the wrong place. She nodded and I knew she was ready to begin, " 1, 2, 3... begin!!".

On the count of three, I started applying a bit of force just enough to make her realize the match had begun. Her hand jolted at first, clearing signifying her unpreparedness and lack of experience when it came to such endeavors, however, once she snapped out of it, she applied a steady force cause a sharp pain to creep through my spine. At first, I thought I would put up an act to make sure she doesn't realize I let her win, but now that won't be unnecessary as my face distorted due to pain.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

With a thud, my arm slammed on the table, Clair clearly taking her win.

"It's my win," Even though she claims so, there were no significant signs of joy on her face. Have all my efforts resulted in failure? However, there is something that tells me she is joyous within. Call it a hunch, or call it my experience with the opposite sex, but I was sure of that.

"Man, you are damn strong... for a girl" I claimed at the top of my voice, my eyes clearly sparkling. And here I was joyous at one moment and then depressed at the next. Looking down, circling my finger on top of the table and speaking in a seemingly depressed manner, "But now... but now my pride as a man has been shattered. No one will marry me anymore :(". I looked up at her who was seemingly a bit confused at the development and then a huge grin floated on my cheeky face, "So, Clair you must take responsibility for what you did!!! ;)."

I am a pretty great actor if I say so myself.

At that moment, I felt like I won a huge tournament. Finally the smile I have been yearning for albeit small but genuine. Without saying she turned around and left the room her ass swaying left to right in the process.

As she left the room, a wide smile appeared on my face as well, a genuine one at that. In fact, I was holding back my grin.

***

After Clair left the room, instead of going straight back to her workplace she placed her ears on Steve's room in an attempt to spy on him. However, all she heard were the chirping of birds who were probably performing in the mansion garden. There was no noise from his room. Assuming how much a talkative person Steve was she had assumed him to ramble to himself a lot of things once she is gone, but alas that doesn't seem to be the case.

Finally detaching her ears from the wooden door, she lifted up her arm. On her hands, a stain of blood entered her sight. She didn't have to think much to understand whose blood it was. Pulling out a white rag from her attire, she wiped her hands, restoring her fair hands to their former glory. She slid the rag from where she pulled it out and walked towards her workplace, where her lady might need her presence.

***

Clair has been coming to this room ever since then. Nope, not to meet me but to attend to her duties. She is like the room- service, although this room is too specious and lacks the furniture to be called a hotel. Nonetheless, I am grateful to her. I have been trying to befriend her ever since then and also initiating a rematch every day. What? It's not because I want to see her breasts or anything.

Just like that three days have passed. My wounds have healed to a significant degree, I have to admit that the ointment she is using works like a miracle. And right now, she is using the same ointment to tend to my wounds. I guess that's also part of her routine. Her face is up close to me as she works her fingers on my arms, which had probably taken the most damage. She is so close that I can smell her blood-red hair dangling on her temples, her breath touching my skin like the most charming breeze. To be honest I am a little uncomfortable with the situation. Even though I assured her that I can do these things by myself, she insisted to help me so, I couldn't refuse.

As soon as she was done, I didn't wait a moment and dragged the table where we shared our memorable matches. The poor flower-vase never found its resting place. "Today, I will WIN for sure!"

"How childish! Haven't you learned your lesson after losing so many times ?!" Wait a minute, she is a bit excited, isn't she. Don't tell me she was looking forward to it?

I pouted and then said, "Humph, although I lost three times today I feel much better and full of energy. Let's see who lets you win today."

We grasped each other's hands, resting our elbows on the table. However, nothing happened after that for a while. With an annoyed expression, she stated, "Hello, what happened ?! Aren't you always the one to do the countdown ?"

"Ah... yes, yes, I am sorry I was lost in thought". Shit, shit, I was too engrossed in the wrong place. Did she notice? I hope not. 'Jesus, Steve take your mind out of the gutter'.

" 3... 2... 1... begin!!" The big question is will I let her win today? Not a chance. But I still did a little bit of acting and applied a little less force to not make the victory overwhelming.

And that's how with a thud on the table I won the match but instead of being side by the defeat, she was smiling. 'Wow, if she not sad then...'

"I won!" I exclaimed.

Standing up I celebrated my victory with a comical dance.

I swung my arms in the air making waves in the air as I did my own mysterious footwork. If by any chance my girlfriend saw me doing this she will surely die from shame.