From this day on, Lizbeth began appearing frequently at the arena outside the Frenzel residence, challenging Riezel daily.
Even though Riezel no longer gave up the first move and no longer showed mercy like before, starting with Thunderclap and Flash to defeat Lizbeth instantly, this little princess would still return the next day, attacking him with determination and persistence.
Unknowingly, this led Lizbeth to amass a significant amount of popularity.
Originally, as a princess who kept a low profile, she had gained fame after becoming a Sword Master, but very few people had seen her, so only a handful knew she even existed.
Even her siblings rarely saw her, let alone outsiders.
Because of this, her bold appearance didn't reveal her true identity as a princess.
Aside from some well-informed nobles who learned through various channels that this young swordswoman was Jinas's ninth princess, most people simply saw her as a beautiful swordswoman who wanted Riezel's guidance.
However, her performances in the arena made many people reconsider their opinions of this seemingly delicate young swordswoman.
Her swordsmanship, which was more outstanding than that of an ordinary Sword Master, her dream-like beauty, and her well-proportioned figure that belied her appearance made many swordsmen and even regular people become her staunch supporters and fans.
In just a few days, her popularity and reputation rivaled those of Riezel, attracting countless people eager to see her in person and indirectly making his arena two to three times more crowded than before.
Truthfully, this was an unexpected development for Riezel and likely for Lizbeth as well.
Sometimes, when she was about to leave dejected after a failed challenge, she would be surrounded by a crowd as soon as she stepped off the arena, which scared her quite a bit.
Even some noble children, upon seeing her, had their eyes light up with lust, not hiding their intentions at all. Whenever she left the arena, they followed her, making their motives quite obvious.
However, these people disappeared the next day, and their families faced inexplicable downfalls.
Some had their noble titles demoted, some paid a hefty price, and others were even falsely accused of crimes they didn't commit and thrown into prison overnight, causing a great stir in the royal capital.
Some nobles who had not realized her true identity began to suspect that this young swordswoman was not ordinary, so they strictly restrained their unruly relatives, forbidding them from offending her.
Of course, these matters had nothing to do with Riezel.
What he felt at this moment was only a headache.
Lizbeth's daily persistent challenges, her dejected departure after each defeat, and her strong comeback the next day clearly indicated her intentions.
He knew well what she was after.
Obviously, this little princess had not given up, or rather, the royal family had not revoked their command for her to become his attendant. Still, he also assumed that she was probably missing his point.
Regardless, she neither harassed him nor begged him but challenged him silently, leaving quietly after each defeat, her expression determined and delicate when she arrived, and dejected and disappointed when she left.
In all honesty, the fact that she persisted twice or thrice was still bearable for him, but as her challenges continued, he began to feel quite sympathetic.
Once, he even noticed that she had blood blisters on her hands as if she had been undergoing exceptionally rigorous swordsmanship training.
Needless to say, she must have practiced intensely after each failed challenge.
Naturally, this made him furrow his brow, feeling even more troubled by her relentless persistence. After half a month of this, he could no longer tolerate it and called her over after defeating her in one of her challenges.
"Why do you keep doing this?"
Inside the reception room, Riezel asked Lizbeth with a serious voice and expression.
Upon hearing his question, Lizbeth held her sword tighter, lowered her head, and replied in a very soft voice.
"I only know how to wield a sword, and that's all I can do..."
With just this sentence, Riezel had no more words to say.
Undoubtedly, the royal family hadn't revoked their command, which meant Lizbeth would continue striving to become his attendant.
Moreover, she didn't know what else she could do to succeed since she wasn't good with words. Feeling lost and helpless, she could only choose to work hard in the way she was most skilled and familiar with.
Since she only knew how to wield a sword, and that was all she could do, she could only persist in challenging him every day. If she lost, she would go back, continue honing her swordsmanship, and then return to challenge him again the next day, repeating this cycle endlessly with relentless determination and stubborn persistence.
He even believed that as long as he didn't accept her as his attendant, she would persist, even if it took her entire life.
Without a doubt, it was clumsy.
Without a doubt, it was foolishly straightforward.
Even so, it was the only way she could think of doing things.
Riezel couldn't describe his feelings at this moment and could only sigh, ending today's challenge directly.
After returning to the mansion, he walked down the corridor, his brow furrowed as if deep in thought.
Suddenly, he bumped into someone around the corner of the hallway.
"Mr. Riezel."
Marilyn appeared around the corner, pushing a tea cart and giving Riezel a slight bow.
"Marilyn?"
Seeing Marilyn, Riezel came back to his senses and nodded.
"You've come out of Yuri's office?"
"Yes." Marilyn replied expressionlessly. "Since the Lady is focused on her work, I thought I'd wash the tea sets and come out."
Upon hearing this, Riezel simply nodded.
However, just when he thought the conversation was over and they should part ways, she suddenly spoke again.
"Do you have time right now?"
Marilyn's unexpected question made Riezel slightly taken aback.
"Hmm? There is... actually..." Riezel replied in confusion. "Why? Is there something you need me for?"
"No..." Marilyn shook her head. "I just wanted to ask if you'd like to spend some time with me if you have the chance."
Riezel's expression turned strange.
'What does she mean? Does this woman want to tease me?'
Riezel couldn't help but wonder.
Although he didn't know the reason, he sensed that this maid didn't seem to think highly of him, as proved by how she often glared at him behind Yuri's back. While not exactly a look of deep resentment, the displeasure in her eyes was evident.
Needless to say, she usually kept to herself, cold and unapproachable except toward Yuri, behaving like an ice block to everyone else. Now, with her suddenly saying such a thing, Riezel couldn't help but overthink.
Perhaps Marilyn was aware of this as she gave him another glare after seeing his odd expression.
"I just want to talk to you about Princess Lizbeth."
Marilyn revealed her reason.
"Her?"
Riezel's expression turned to one of realization, and his gaze toward Marilyn became more meaningful.
'Just as I thought, this maid really is...'
"Are you still not considering accepting Princess Lizbeth as your attendant?"
As Riezel confirmed something in his mind, Marilyn asked him a question.
He glanced at her face, noting her expressionless demeanor as if she were discussing a stranger.
After pondering for a moment, he spoke up.
"I've already said I have no plans to take on any attendant, and I certainly don't want to be bound by some nonsensical restrictions."
Riezel had always said this, and he had always felt this way.
However, the main reason was, in fact, the latter.
"I don't like the feeling of having a contract dictate what I could or couldn't do." Riezel continued calmly, shaking his head. "That's why I have no intention of signing an attendant contract with her."
Originally, he had resolved in this second life to live freely, following his chosen path rather than being forced to adhere to someone else's established rules.
Given this, the royal family's attempt to bind him with a contract, restricting what he could or couldn't do, instinctively made him resist.
However, Marilyn didn't quite understand his viewpoint.
"Why? From my understanding, the royal family probably just wants you to commit to something like 'cannot be detrimental to the kingdom', which shouldn't be too harsh a condition, right?" Marilyn asked in a confused tone. "Does Mr. Riezel think you will become Jinas's enemy in the future?"
"Who knows?"
Surprisingly, Riezel didn't deny it.
"At least none of the so-called royal family or nobles have done anything I liked so far. Who knows what kind of stupid moves they might make in the future?"
At that point, Riezel might indeed end up opposing Jinas.
Moreover, if they thought that the existence of the contract would prevent him from being detrimental to the kingdom, allowing them to test his limits and do things they shouldn't, he couldn't tolerate that.
For him, such a contract was merely a restriction on personal freedom, permitting others to act recklessly toward him.
For this reason, he certainly wouldn't agree to such a contract, especially not with a clumsy and pitiful princess as a bargaining chip.
They might think they had made a great sacrifice by offering their own princess as an attendant for him, showing enough sincerity, but had they ever considered Lizbeth's feelings?
They were obviously selling her freedom, selling someone else, not themselves.
Of course, this approach of treating others as property to be bought and sold, which reminded him of his fate in his previous life, would never make him like them.
As a result, although Riezel felt pity for Lizbeth's persistence and hard work, he still hadn't considered, and probably would never consider, taking her in as his attendant. He was only contemplating whether he should warn the royal family in person to have them give up.
"..."
Upon hearing Riezel's answer, Marilyn seemed at a loss for words.
Seeing her reaction, Riezel felt curious and asked a question.
"Do you think this is acceptable?"
Riezel looked seriously at Marilyn.
"If you were in her shoes, and the royal family wanted you to become someone else's attendant to achieve their goals, would you be up for it?"
"..."
Marilyn remained silent.
However, after a while, she answered with a flat expression and tone.
"If it were me, I would be more than willing."
"What?"
Marilyn's answer left Riezel standing there in blank surprise.