As the maids helped Yuto get dressed and put makeup on, he was unable to ignore the undeniable truth.
["Damn... the princess is beautiful, I have to admit"] he thought silently, he watched as the maids finished up, the result being his transformed appearance
He looked at his reflection in the mirror, seeing the princess's image staring back at him, ["I won't lie, she sure is a beauty but the bloody dress is too damn tight, it feels as if I'm suffocating!"]
Yuto adjusted the dress, feeling increasingly uncomfortable with how tightly it fit around his body, he tried to take a deep breath, but the dress constricted his chest, making it difficult to do so
["Damn... how does she deal with this every day?"] he thought silently, feeling a tinge of irritation at the tightness of the fabric
"Is something wrong, your Highness?"
Yuto quickly composed himself, not wanting to show his discomfort openly, "No, everything's fine. The dress just feels a bit... tight, that's all" he replied, trying to sound as if it was a trivial matter.
Rose smiled as Yuto followed her out of the room and to the dining hall but with every step he took, the tight dress constricted his movements, making him feel further restricted and uncomfortable.
He tried to maintain his composure, but he couldn't help feeling a pang of irritation and annoyance as he walked, ["This is such a pain in the ass"]
<- System ->
[ Endure the dress for the remaining time you are with the King and Queen ]
Yuto bit back his irritation as the system message appeared in his mind, he knew that he had no choice but to endure the discomfort of the dress, at least for now.
He took a deep breath, trying to adjust to the tight and restricting feeling of the fabric against his skin, ["Alright... I can do this"] he thought silently, preparing himself for the meal ahead
As the giant doors to the dining hall opened he spotted the king at the end of the table, the king, a man who was once in love with Yuto's' mother but could never attain her heart, was jealous of his father who had both looks and strength, a miserable man who takes the accomplishments of others.
He was smiling as he saw "Rosalind," Yuto felt a pang of disgust and dislike as he took a closer look at his "father"
Yuto couldn't help but compare him to his real father, the Sword Master, who was strong, skilled, and respected by many, a good man who died an unjust death.
["The king is just a pitiful and envious man, nothing more"] he thought silently, barely able to restrain his disgust.
["But it seems he truly loves his new wife and daughter"]
Despite Yuto's negative feelings towards the king, he couldn't help but notice the way the king looked at the queen, his new wife, and Rosalind's stepmother.
There was a genuine affection and warmth in his eyes, a stark contrast to the jealousy he held towards Yuto's father.
Yuto felt a pang of discomfort at seeing the king's tender gaze, knowing that it was meant for his current persona, Rosalind.
["I suppose the king does love his wife and daughter, in his way"] he thought silently, a tinge of bitterness in his mind but cleared his mind for what was needed next
"Good Morning Daddy!"
Yuto bit back his tongue, trying not to die out of embarrassment and regret.
He cringed internally as he forced himself to speak, addressing the king with a cheerful tone that was so unlike his own
"Daddy!" he chimed, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and regret as the words left his mouth, a pang of disgust at the act he was putting on, but he knew he had to maintain the facade for now.
"Ho ho, Morning my sweet Rosalind, why does it seem as if that dress suits you"
Yuto gritted his teeth as he heard the king's compliment it felt so wrong to be praised for his outward appearance, something so superficial and lacking in substance.
He forced a smile anyway, knowing that he had to play the role of the princess, "Oh? Thank you, Daddy" he replied, trying his best to sound grateful and charming.
["System, may I never meet you"]
Yuto silently cursed the system, wishing he could somehow make it suffer for putting him in this situation.
He felt trapped and helpless, forced to act out the role of the princess and endure the discomfort of a tight dress, he just wanted to punch something and scream out his frustration.
The King, with a swift motion of his hands, ordered the servants to bring in breakfast.
As the servants hurried to fulfill the king's command, bringing in various dishes of food, Yuto couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance.
He wasn't particularly interested in the extravagant breakfast that was laid before him, but he knew that he had to act the part of the princess and at least pretend to enjoy it.
He forced a smile as the food was placed in front of him, feeling increasingly cramped in the tight dress.
The King looked over at 'Rosalind', who hadn't touched her food, he noticed that Yuto wasn't eating and turned his gaze toward him, curiosity in his eyes.
"Rosalind, is something wrong? You haven't touched your food yet" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
Yuto felt the king's gaze on him, waiting for a response, he knew he had to say something, but his mind was blank.
["Damn it, what should I say? What would the princess say in this situation?"] he thought silently, racking his brain for an appropriate response
"Oh ho silly me Daddy, I just zoned out"
The king chuckled at Yuto's response, seeming to buy the excuse.
"Ah, it's alright, dear. Just make sure to eat something, or else you'll be all skin and bones" he said, a hint of affectionate concern in his tone.
Rosalind's 'mother', sitting across from her, frowned, "Rosalind did my teachings mean nothing?" she asked while sipping down some fine wine.
Yuto suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at the queen's comment, he had a feeling that Rosalind's mother had been a strict and demanding teacher.
["Great, now I have to deal with the queen's lectures too"] he thought silently, forcing himself to appear polite and submissive
"Of course not, mother. I apologize" he replied, trying to sound as humble and obedient as he could
The queen continued to give Yuto a disapproving look, seemingly unsatisfied with his response, seeing her expression, Yuto couldn't help but feel a pang of irritation.
["Dammit, I'm already stuck in this dress and playing the role of a brat, and now I have to endure lectures from this queen too"] he thought silently, feeling a mix of annoyance and helplessness
"Dear please do not be so hard on her, I heard she passed out today so she must not be in her right mind"
Yuto looked over at the king with a confused and curious look, ["How does he know that?"]
The queen sighed and went back to drinking her wine, Yuto silently ate the breakfast as fast as he could all while the king smiled.
As soon as breakfast was over, Yuto practically fled from the room, anxious to get out of there, the interactions with the king and the queen had been nerve-wracking and uncomfortable, and he couldn't wait to be alone in the safety of his room.
He pushed open the door and stepped inside, sighing in relief as he closed it behind him practically ripping the dress off himself.
He felt a rush of relief as the tight and constricting fabric was finally removed, and he took a deep breath, relishing the feeling of not being constrained anymore.
<- System Reward ->
[ + 20 defense ]
Yuto couldn't help but scoff as the system's notification appeared in his mind, announcing the reward for enduring the long and uncomfortable breakfast.
["20 defense? As if that makes this whole situation any better"] he thought silently, still feeling peeved by the whole ordeal
Rosalind Akira
Age:19
Title: The Spoiled Bratty Princess
Level: 1
Class: No class
Stats: Strength 52 / Defense 21 / Speed 2 / Mana 10 / Stamina 60 / Mentality 10,000
At least it looked better compared to this morning, but he could not help but look at the mentality stat, it was the highest stat the princess had but also one that even surpassed his mentality stat.
Yuto couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and frustration, the improvement in his stats was undeniably nice, but he couldn't deny that he wanted his original stats back.
["52 strength and 60 stamina? Those are decent, I suppose. Still, I wish I had my 300 strength and 5000 stamina back"]
"Wait, I'm the princess right now. I could get some equipment made to support what I lack.
Yuto pondered this idea, seeing it as a potential way to make up for his current lack of power and stats.
["I suppose I could take advantage of my position as the princess to get some equipment made. Maybe it'll help balance out my weaknesses"]
["But where do I start? Can I order the castle blacksmith to make some equipment for me? It's worth a try, I guess"]
Yuto took a deep breath, trying to mentally prepare himself for what he was about to do next.
"Alright, I've decided. I'm going to find the blacksmith and ask him to craft me some equipment that can compensate for my current stats" Steeling himself for the interaction that was about to come Yuto finally steeled his resolve and left the room, determined to find the blacksmith.
He walked down the long corridors of the castle, his footsteps echoing against the stone walls.
As he walked, he couldn't help but notice the stares he received from the passing castle inhabitants, their gazes filled with curiosity and respect toward "the princess"
Yuto ignored their stares, focusing on finding the blacksmith's workshop.
"Rosalind!" called out a voice filled with love. It was a young man in black armor. He seemed to be around Yuto's age and had the presence of holy magic and powerful martial arts.
Yuto stopped in his tracks as he heard his current name being called, he turned around to see who was calling out to him and was surprised to see a young man with his presence radiating with holy magic.
["Who is this guy, and why is he calling out to me? He seems like a holy knight or something"]
"Rosalind, is something wrong?" the young man said while affectionately holding Yutos' hands.
Yuto was taken aback by such an affectionate gesture, feeling a pang of discomfort as he held his hands.
He had no idea who this guy was or why he was acting so familiar with "the princess"
Trying to keep up his facade, Yuto smiled politely and replied, "Oh, no. There's nothing wrong. Why do you ask?"
"Well because you didn't come to my room this morning?" Yuto felt a bit confused by the young man's response
["Wait, he expected the princess to come to his room this morning? What the hell does that mean?"]
He decided to play along and gently pulled his hands out of the young man's grasp, "Ah, about that..."
Yuto trailed off, trying to think of a suitable excuse.
"Is something wrong honey?"
Yuto felt a pang of dread as the young man called him "honey"
["Honey? What kind of relationship does he have with the princess that allows him to speak to her so casually? This is getting more confusing by the second"]
Yuto did his best to maintain a calm facade.
He forced a smile and replied, "No, no, nothing's wrong. I just, uh, overslept this morning and had breakfast with his majesty, apologies for not visiting your room earlier"
"Sir, hero, please don't bother the princess," an older knight appeared, he had hair combed back, a scar on his left eye, and was taller than the young man.
Yuto noticed an older knight approaching them, and a wave of relief washed over him.
["Thank god for the backup"]
As the older knight addressed the weirdo in front of him, Yuto took the opportunity to discreetly step back, putting some distance between himself and the young man.
"B-but we had a"
The young man tried to protest, but the older knight firmly interjected, "No buts. The princess is tired and has things to take care of. You need to show more respect and wait for her to come to you if she wishes"
The older knight's tone was stern, leaving no room for argument, the young man looked visibly dejected and disappointed, but he knew better than to argue with the older knight.
He cast one last longing look at Yuto before reluctantly walking back, Yuto stood there with an annoyed and tired expression.
["Phew, that was close. Thank goodness for that older knight."]
Yuto thought silently, feeling relieved to have escaped the awkward situation.
"But what the fuck was his relationship with the princess?"
Yuto couldn't help but wonder this question as he made his way to the blacksmith.
["That young man had some sort of intimate relationship with the princess, but what exactly was it? And why was he so familiar and affectionate with her? This whole situation is getting more and more complicated"]
"Oh, and what are you up to now Rosalind?" Alyssa Akira, Rosalind's stepmother and a woman who cares very little about the stepchild she adopted
"Exploring, is that a problem?"
Yuto didn't even want to hold this conversation, just looking into Rosalind's memory showed how little Alyssa cared about her, even downright starving her when she was younger.
Alyssa looked annoyed at such a nonchalant response, as if it undermined her authority, "Watch how you speak to me young lady, I am not one of your maids I am the queen"
Yuto bit his lip, ["Is this what she had to deal with every day?"]
"I understand, now if that is all Mother I would like to continue my exploring"
Alyssa walked past Yuto after of course making more sly remarks, "Do as you wish"
Yuto rolled his eyes and continued to look for the blacksmith's location, "She calls herself a mother?"
Finally, after a while of getting lost and exploring, Yuto made his way to the blacksmith location, which was located underground, Yuto noticed that the atmosphere became noticeably different.
The area was dimmer and felt less lively, creating a sense of seclusion and secrecy, he approached the blacksmith's workshop and pushed open the heavy wooden door, stepping in quietly.
The air inside the workshop was filled with the scent of molten metal and burning embers, Yuto glanced around the workshop, his surroundings shrouded in dim light.
The room was cluttered with anvils and various tools, the walls lined with racks holding weapons of different sizes and shapes, he noticed a burly blacksmith hunched over the forge, his face covered by a protective mask as he worked on forging a weapon.
Yuto approached the blacksmith cautiously, clearing his throat to catch his attention.
"Excuse me, sir, I was wondering if it would be possible for you to craft some equipment for me?"
He asked, trying to imitate the princess's soft and refined voice as much as possible.
The dwarf looked at him and chuckled, "And what's a Lass like you need armor for?" he went back to forging the sword.
Yuto felt a hint of annoyance at the dwarf's dismissive attitude, but he knew he had to maintain his composure.
He smiled politely and replied, "Well, I've been interested in learning to defend myself, you see.
It would be a great help if you could create some armor and weapons suitable for a young woman like myself"
The dwarf raised an eyebrow, looking skeptical at the idea of "the princess" wanting to learn combat skills. But he couldn't deny that a new customer meant a potential revenue boost for him.
"What type of armor?" he stopped forging and took off the protective mask, as well as his gloves
Yuto thought for a moment, considering what type of armor would be most suitable for him.
He wanted something that would provide both protection and allow him to move freely while still fitting the image of "the princess"
If he chooses something that looks more masculine, the king will surely notice something is wrong and will probably have him detained for investigation of his mental state.
"I was thinking perhaps a set of light armor, made from materials that balance protection and flexibility," he replied, hoping the dwarf would understand his request.
The dwarf wrote all this down on his little pad, "Usually I would ignore such a request from a woman who has never held a sword, but if I leave you to cry, jeez I don't even want to know"
Yuto felt a mix of annoyance and relief at his response. Annoyed because the man didn't take him seriously, but relieved that he was willing to take his request despite his skepticism
["How patronizing,"] he suppressed the urge to roll his eyes.
["But it seems as if the princess wasn't liked at all"]
Yuto couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the princess. It seemed like she wasn't truly valued or appreciated by those around her, and he could relate to that feeling in a way.
["It must be tough to be born into royalty and still feel like an outsider"]
Yuto empathized with her situation even though he was technically pretending to be her, knowing how suffocating it can be to be distant from loved ones.
"Alright, lass, come back in the afternoon with the finest wine barrow you have to offer"
Yuto blinked, a bit taken aback by the blacksmith's unusual request.
["Did he just ask me to bring the *finest* wine for him as payment?"]
He knew he couldn't refuse outright, so Yuto nodded politely and replied, "Of course, sir. I will make sure to bring the most exquisite wine I can find"
"Now come to the back, measure your size, give me the paper then leave"
Yuto nodded and followed him to the back of the workshop, where there were various measuring tools and cloth measuring tapes.
He handed him a piece of paper and tape, indicating that he should use it to take his measurements.
Yuto did as instructed, jotting down his measurements for the armor size, he silently felt annoyed as he jotted down his numbers.
While he appreciated the opportunity to get equipment, the whole process felt patronizing and frustrating.
As he finished taking his measurements and handing the paper back to the dwarf, he mustered his best princess-like polite smile and said, "Thank you, sir. I'll be sure to bring the finest wine this afternoon"
Yuto left quickly back to ask the king for the so-called finest wine, Yuto couldn't help but feel a bit disgruntled by the treatment he received.
Being in the body of "the princess" definitely had its limitations, especially when it came to being taken seriously
Nonetheless, he needed to fulfill his promise to the blacksmith and bring the finest wine so that he could get the armor he desperately needed
While thinking about how to acquire the wine, he had an epiphany and realized that 'the princess' had access to the vast collection of liquors in the royal storage room.
Yuto quickly made his way to the royal storage room, which was a massive and opulent room filled with numerous barrels and crates of wine and other liquors.
He knew that among them was the fabled Dragon's Breath Wine, which was considered the finest and most prized wine in the whole kingdom.
Feeling determined, he approached one of the servants nearby and asked, "Excuse me, may I inquire about the location of the Dragon's Breath Wine?"
The servant blinked at Yuto's question and hesitated for a moment before replying, "That's...a special wine, reserved for only the most esteemed guests and occasions. It's kept in an off-limits storage room"
"And you are blocking me?" Yuto lifted a finger to his chest while doing his best to fake a pout.
"I'm sorry Your Highness, unless his majesty gives you permission I cannot allow you access to it"
Yuto frowned, not expecting the wine to be such a rarity.
["Great, of course, it's in an off-limits storage room. That makes things more complicated"]
He thought silently, pondering his next move, "Well, time to ask Daddy!"
Yuto bit his lip as he said this as he realized that he didn't have much of a choice but to approach the king and ask for access to the wine.
["Why does everything have to be so complicated?"]
He mentally grumbled, feeling a mix of reluctance and nervousness at the prospect of facing the king again.
He walked through the castle corridors toward the king's chamber, steeling himself for the interaction to come.
As Yuto arrived at the door of the king's chambers, he took a deep breath before summoning his courage and entering the room.
The king was seated on his lavish throne, surrounded by various attendants and advisors but what caught Yuto's attention was that the young paladin knight from earlier was kneeling before the king, like a dog on a leash ready for any command.
The king noticed Yuto's entrance and raised an eyebrow, "Rosalind, is there something you need?"
Yuto composed himself and responded carefully, "Yes, Father. I was hoping to acquire some Dragon's Breath Wine for a special occasion. Would it be possible to get access to it?"
He held his breath, hoping that the excuse would be enough to convince the king and that he wouldn't question him further.
The king looked shocked, hell everyone did, the young paladin was the most confused as he even stood up to look at Yuto.
"Honey, I think it's still too early to drink wine, and you said you would drink wine only when your marriage with the hero was to happen" the king gestured to the young paladin from earlier.
Yuto's heart sank as he heard the response.
It seemed like the king was not willing to give him the wine easily, and even worse, he had inadvertently made a promise that was going to be difficult to keep.
["Great, now I have to pretend I'm getting married to some hero to justify wanting the wine"]
He thought silently, feeling frustrated and a little annoyed with himself for making things more complicated.
He mustered a polite smile and replied, "I assure you, Father, I have no intention of having any wine for myself"
"It's just that an important guest has asked me for it, and I want to make sure to fulfill their request"
The king looked at Yuto for a moment, studying his expression, Yuto did his best to give puppy eyes with a quivering lip, he sighed softly not being able to withstand the sight of his daughter on the verge of tears.
"Very well, I shall permit you to access the Dragon's Breath Wine. But be warned, its effects are quite potent and dangerous, so be careful"
The king looked visibly concerned as he provided the permission.
Yuto breathed a sigh of relief but couldn't help feeling a bit guilty for lying. He nodded thankfully and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Father. I'll be cautious and ensure the wine is used responsibly"
As Yuto left the king's chambers, he heard the whispers and murmurs from the attendants and courtiers nearby, commenting on how "the princess" seemed different.
He felt a pang of discomfort and annoyance but brushed it off, reminding himself that he needed to play the part of the princess flawlessly if he wanted to get the equipment he needed and to find who was responsible for his father's death, he was willing to bow to the bastard who might have something to do with it.
"Rosalind, wait!"
Yuto turned around as he heard someone calling his name.
To his surprise, it was the young paladin from earlier, looking rather flustered and awkward.
["Oh no, not this guy again,"]
Yuto thought silently, feeling a mixture of reluctance and annoyance at the paladin's presence.
"You seem different, did I do something wrong you won't even call me by my name?"
Yuto blinked, feeling a bit confused and guilty at the same time. He couldn't remember the paladin's name for the life of him, and he didn't want to keep calling him "hero" or "sir" forever.
["I need to come up with a quick excuse"]
Yuto thought silently, quickly thinking up a lie.
"Oh, no, dear. I'm just feeling a little under the weather lately. Nothing you did, my love," Yuto replied with a faint smile, trying to sound as princess-like as possible.
["System quick, what's his name?"]
The system took a second
<- System ->
[ Wanless Mei ]
["Wanless Mei? Is it some other meaning to it?"]
Yuto thought silently, trying to commit the name to memory.
"Dear, as I said, I apologize if I've been distant lately. It's just that I've been feeling a bit unwell, but it's nothing for you to worry about"
Yuto responded with a gentle smile, hoping that his fake excuse would be convincing enough.
"Rose, is something wrong?"
Yuto blinked, feeling a bit surprised by his persistence.
"No, of course not, my love. I've told you already, I'm just feeling under the weather" Yuto replied, trying to sound reassuring but also distant enough to get the paladin to stop bugging him.
["Man, is this guy always this clingy?"]
He thought silently, cursing his luck for having to deal with this hero-wannabe
Wanless gently pulled Yuto into his embrace, "Not even a goodbye kiss?"
Yuto's anger has perhaps reached a new time high, just looking at this fool being so touchy snapped something in him.
["Should I just beat him?"]