Yuto gritted his teeth as he ran out into the open field, his legs protesting against his sudden burst of activity. But he pushed on, his mind focused on the task at hand
["I hope this works..."] he thought to himself, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of the assassin
His heart pounded in his chest, his senses on high alert. He could feel the weight of the suit of armor and the tiredness in his bones, but he pushed it all aside, adrenaline fueling him forward
[-System Warning-]
Low stamina, high chance of fainting
["I know damn it! Just let me stay awake for a few more seconds"]
[-System Warning-]
High Energy Burst detected
Yuto raised his arms just as a light beam of an arrow stuck him, causing him to scream in pain
He stumbled back, the pain of the arrow shot ripping through him. But he gritted his teeth, "Rose," he called out hoarsely, his voice strained. "I-I'm hit, but I saw where the shot came from. High in the trees, to the left!"
["THIS FUCKING HURTS!"]
Although the armor had protected his arms from being blown up, his level, and stats were not high enough to ignore the pain simply
Putting up an act of a defenseless and hurt princess only served to wound his pride even more, but was necessary to fool anyone observing him
["Acting, I am acting, all for the mission, right?"]
Rose's eyes widened her expression with a mix of concern and determination. She quickly nocked an arrow and fired in the direction Yuto had indicated
The silence that followed was tense, filled only by the sound of the arrow cutting through the air. Yuto waited, hoping that Rose's shot had landed true
After a moment, a distant cry echoed from the forest, followed by the sound of something falling from the treetops. Yuto's heart leaped in his chest - it seemed like Rose's shot had found its mark
He let out a shaky breath, the adrenaline slowly starting to drain from his system. He could feel exhaustion creeping up on him, but he forced himself to stay focused
"Is... is it over?" he croaked out, his words halting
["Huh, my head is spinning, did I overdo it?"]
"Milady!"
Yuto heard Rose's concerned cry and turned his head, managing a weak smile as she rushed over to him. He leaned against a nearby tree for support, the pain in his chest making it hard to stay upright.
"I'm... I'm okay," he tried to reassure her, but his voice was hoarse and lacking conviction
[-System Reward-]
+50 Defense
+50 Stamina
Yuto's eyes widened slightly as the system's voice echoed in his mind, listing his rewards. Despite the pain and exhaustion, a small sense of accomplishment washed over him.
["50 defense and stamina, not bad,"] he thought to himself, a faint smile playing on his lips
Yuto looked up, his breathing slowly steadying. He could make out the figures of the guards running towards them, Claudia among them, "Is that Claudia?"
"Yeah," he managed to say, his voice still weak. "Looks like reinforcements are here"
As they drew closer, Yuto could see the concern etched on Claudia's face. It was clear that she had heard about the attack and had come as fast as she could
"Rosalind!" she called out, her voice filled with worry. "Are you alright? What happened?"
Rose stepped forward, taking charge in Yuto's weakened state. "Milady and I were ambushed," she explained, her voice tinged with a hint of anger. "Someone shot arrows at us from the trees. Milady got hit, but she pushed through and drew the assailant out"
["What are they talking about, I feel exhausted, or am I that badly injured that I cannot move my mouth?"]
"MY SISTER WAS ALMOST KILLED AND YOU CALL-" Claudia was distressed as she rushed to Rosalind's (Yuto's) side
"I accept any punishment you desire," Rose got on the floor and bowed her head, she showed no sign of anger, just merely accepting her fate
Yuto leaned heavily on the tree, his mind a jumble of exhaustion and adrenaline. He could hear the voices of Claudia and Rose talking, but the words seemed garbled, almost like they were underwater
"ROSALIND DON'T PASS OUT, THE DOCTOR WILL BE HERE SOON"
Claudia was holding Yuto close, her eyes not looking at him with the same hatred as this morning but with genuine concern over his health
["Everything feels so unreal . . ."]
He felt a strange sense of detachment as if watching everything from a distance. The pain in his chest throbbed, and his legs trembled with the effort to stay upright
He tried to focus, to make sense of the conversation, but his mind refused to cooperate
["W-what was I doing again?"]
All his body wanted to do at the moment was sleep, to let himself sink into the comforting embrace of warmth
He felt a wave of warmth as he closed his eyes, it was a familiar feeling from 2 years ago when his father had knocked him out
Drifting through this sea of warmth seemed to have healed his wound as he no longer felt pain, he drifted for what felt like an eternity before feeling solid ground once again
-???-
"Oh, it seems as if you finally made it here again?"
"Who calls out to me?"
Yuto's eyes opened wide at the sound of his voice, "This is my voice, and these hands, I'm back in my body!"
He got up quickly, checking to make sure it was real, before hearing a slight chuckle
"Here I thought that the boy I met two years ago would become a man in the way he acts, it seems I was wrong"
Yuto stopped, his eyes staring at the beautiful woman who was sipping her tea and taking a bite of her cake, it was-
"Ernaline. . ."
Beautiful pink hair that reached her mid-back with mint-colored eyes, she wore a beautiful red dress that looked as if it was made with the finest silk
Her elf ears as well, although Yuto never met an elf in reality, he was curious to know how an elf could exist in this plane of existence for as long as she did
He was back in this strange world that was supposedly unaffected by reality and dreams, a place of his creation that reflected how he was feeling in the real world
He walked up to the table and took his seat as she served him a cup of tea and a slice of cake, she smiled as he picked up his cup
"It seems that you learned some etiquette," She pointed at how he picked up the cup, along with how he ate his cake
Yuto chuckled, "My current situation is to blame for my sudden new etiquette"
"Sounds like an interesting dilemma, I would love to hear more about it, sadly we know that's not why you're here"
Yuto looked down at his cup, it's been two years since they met, 2 long years that the questions he had only built up
In those 2 years, he had trained with his uncle, learning to preserve his aura and mana at a level that people would underestimate him
All of that seemed so pointless in front of her, as her eyes glowed ever so slightly, he knew not to waste time
"Ernaline, you said that I would have 3 questions when we meet again, is that still valid?"
She looked surprised and a bit amused, that was technically a question but because it was clear he wanted reassurance, she decided to let it slide as they hadn't met in two years
"Correct," she took another sip, trying to cover the little smirk that had formed
"Do I just ask?" His eyes slowly lit up as he took a bite of the cake
["Wow this taste, even the royal palace top chef, cannot make something this delicious"]
"Is that a question?" She put down her cup and took another slice of cake, still smirking at how dense he was being, asking pointless questions
"No"
She chuckled as she put down her cup, putting her hands together as she brought them up to hold her head, she looked him straight in the eyes
"So what are your three questions?"
Yuto was nervous, he had been beating himself up on what to ask, if felt as if she knew everything but also nothing at the same time
Confusion?
Fear?
Anger?
He felt many emotions, but he knew what he wanted to ask, what he needed to know, and how important the information could be
"The System, do you know anything about the system?"
Ernaline blinked, clearly not expecting that question but it was quickly replaced with a confident smirk, "Is that your first question?"
"Yes"
She took another sip of her tea, "Without breaking the contract I've signed, the system was made for you to regain your lost abilities"
Regain his lost abilities and what was this contract that she spoke of?
He did hear from his future self that he would recall his lost power, and along with that would come his missing memories, Mizuki's missing fragments also played a role in his lost memories
He took a sip of his tea, it was green tea which worked well to calm his nerves as he asked his second question
"My class, do you know why my class is the prince of darkness?"
Ernaline clutched her chest, it seemed that she was in pain for trying to go against her contract, "All I can say is, you need to reclaim your birthright"
As he thought, questions answered would only bring forth even more questions unanswered, it felt like an unwinnable game, each step he took only bringing him to a dead end
["Everything is so damn confusing"]
Now as for his last question, Yuto was curious about many things, who was responsible for his father's death and why is his title the youngest demon prince
He also wanted to know, why did she call him her king?
Why did she make such a painful expression when he was forced out of this world?
But knowing Ernaline would only answer one more question, solidified this final question
"My title, why is my title the youngest demon prince, aren't I human?"
Ernaline stopped clutching her chest, it seems that the contract allowed her to answer this question. She poured herself more tea and enjoyed its sweet smell and taste
"Which question are you asking?"
"Why is my title, the youngest demon prince?"
She took a sip before taking a long deep sigh, "Prince of old and prince of new, the old will fall and the new will rise, a promised king would come to be, the world will once again be enveloped in the embrace of darkness and light"
Yuto looked confused, not expecting such an answer, and it was in the form of a poem
"Uh, what?"
"That is all I could answer for now, for that is all they allow me to answer, for I must not mess up events that have not come to pass"
The world around them started to crack, the same as back then, he was being sent back to the real world, this time he stood up and walked to the same place he woke up
"Already used to it, I see," Ernaline said with a soft chuckle as she too got up to see him off
"It's not our last meeting, I know we'll meet again"
She smiled as she held his hand, her thumb caressing the ring he wore, "You must have so many questions"
"Of course, I knew this journey would be long and would only serve to leave me asking more"
"You said the same thing before," her eyes once again looked as if she was going to cry, a warmth of nostalgia in those mint-colored eyes of hers
"If you are ever to return to this small little place, I will answer 5 questions"
Yuto smiled as he kissed her hand, "A promise it is"
As he fell through the crack of reality, he could see her smile becoming brighter, "Till we meet again my King"
He chuckled as he fell downwards, "We will meet again, I'll make sure of it"
Envelope once more by the sea of warmth before feeling soft cushy pillows and a toasted blanket
-Morning-
Yuto slowly stirred awake, blinking groggily against the morning light that filtered through his closed eyelids. His chest still ached, and the memories of the previous day's attack flooded back to him
He shifted slightly, taking stock of his surroundings. The bed beneath him was comfortable, and the soft sounds of birds singing outside helped to anchor him in the present
"Ernaline, when will we meet again?"
As he focused his thoughts, a nagging realization hit him - his suit of armor was nowhere to be seen. He struggled to recall what had happened after the attack, but his memory was hazy with exhaustion
"Ah, I'm just covered in bandages, it seems that the energy beam was more dangerous than I thought"
Yuto carefully ran his hands over his body, feeling the rough texture of the bandages that wrapped his chest. It seemed like his injuries had been tended to while he was unconscious
"I'm back in this body, hah, I was comfortable being in my body even if it was for a few minutes," He attempted to sit up, wincing as a twinge of pain shot through his chest
"Kgh, it seems the injury is deeper than I thought"
["That's what she said, hehe"]
"Rosalind!"
Claudia called out, she dropped the basket of bandages and potions, her hands covering her mouth
Yuto's eyes flickered open, taking in Claudia's stricken expression. He slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position, gritting his teeth against the pain in his chest
"Hey Claudia, it seems that I'm a bit hurt"
Claudia's eyes widened as she saw Yuto push himself up into a seated position, concern etched on her face. "Rosalind! You shouldn't be moving so much, you need to rest!"
"Since when did you care so much?" Although he did what the system asked for, he was surprised at how worried she became for Rosalind overnight
Claudia rolled her eyes at Yuto's comment, but her expression showed genuine concern, "You nearly got killed yesterday. Of course, I'm worried"
"I don't mean to cut you off but where is Rose?"
Claudia's expression softened at Yuto's question. "She's resting after tending to your wounds all night. She refused to leave your side until she was certain you were going to be okay"
"Claudia, please don't tell me you punished her, yesterday was just an unlucky night to be outside"
Claudia stayed silent, it was unpleasant seeing Rosalind coughing up blood and leaning against the tree, Rose her maid should have done something anything to protect her
"Claudia?"
Claudia averted her gaze, her lips pressed in a thin line. "I... I was upset," she confessed, her voice soft
"Rose was meant to keep you safe, and instead, you were the one who had to fight and get injured"
"Rose shot the assassin, I did my part by drawing them out, she acted on my orders"
Claudia's frown deepened, clearly not entirely convinced by Yuto's explanation. "She still could have prevented the situation from escalating in the first place," she pointed out. "Her job is to protect you, and she failed"
"She is my maid, not a shield!"
"Exactly!" Claudia retorted, her voice rising in frustration. "And as your maid, it's her responsibility to ensure your safety and well-being. You shouldn't have needlessly put yourself in danger like that!"
"Claudia, where is Rose? Please do not tell me she was punished for following my orders"
Claudia let out a weary sigh, sensing that Yuto was determined to see Rose. "She's in the servants' quarters resting," she finally relented. "But you shouldn't be out of bed, especially this soon"
"Thank you, and I must be honest I am surprised at your reaction to the situation"
Claudia arched an eyebrow, curious about Yuto's statement. "Surprised by what?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of suspicion
"My little sister being so worried about me, and even being angry on my behalf," he leaned in to pat her head
Claudia's cheeks tinged with a hint of pink as Yuto patted her head, her annoyance at his actions momentarily forgotten
"Cut it out," she grumbled, swatting away his hand
"Oh, and the everyday Claudia is back"
Claudia rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Tch. You're insufferable, you know that?"
"I sure am"
Claudia shook her head, a mixture of fondness and aggravation in her expression. "Do you have a switch that magically turns you from annoying to charming?"
"I am Princess Rosalind, known to be an ice-cold beauty to many and cute and charming to others"
Claudia snorted at Yuto's statement, a hint of disbelief in her eyes. "Ice-cold beauty, huh? I can think of more accurate adjectives to describe you," she teased
He laid back down, "When Rose wakes up, please tell her to come visit me in my room"
Claudia nodded, a hint of sympathy crossing her face. "Fine, I'll tell her when she wakes up. But for now, you need to rest and recover, got it?"
Claudia got up from her chair and was about to leave before pausing, her hand on the door handle, "Oh, and a very important guest is here to meet you"
"What?" Yuto perked up, his curiosity piqued. "Who is it?"
"Her name is Alice Elizabeth Marie, something like that, said it had something to do with your studies, Father rushed me out of the room before I could hear more"
Yuto stayed quiet, Claudia nodded before leaving Yuto alone in the room, his mind racing with questions and a sense of dread
"System!"
[-System-]
Yes Master?
"Why, just why, does that woman have the name of my friend who died two years ago?"
"Answer me!"
[-System-]
What is the question?
Yuto gritted his teeth, his patience wearing thin. "Why does this 'Alice' person have the same name as my dead friend?" he repeated, his voice taking on an edge of irritation
[-System-]
Alice Elizabeth Marie
Race: Human
Status: The assumed individual has already passed
Childhood Friend
Last seen two years ago, in the battle against the demon army in your hometown
Reported missing and was assumed dead as the body was never found
"I know that already. What I want to know is why does she share her name?
[-System-]
I do not understand why you are so angry.
"Because Alice is dead!" Yuto snapped, his frustration and pain boiling to the surface. "To see someone else using her name feels wrong like they're disrespecting her memory!"
Yuto's heart ached with the memory of his lost friend. Alice had been his closest companion, someone he had shared dreams and secrets. To see someone else bearing her name felt like a mockery, a cruel reminder of what he had lost
[-System-]
You seem more emotional than usual, what is causing such reactions?
"Of course I'm emotional!" Yuto exclaimed, his voice cracking with a hint of vulnerability
"Seeing someone else with her name brings back all the pain and loss I've been trying to keep bottled up inside. It's like someone's playing a sick game with my emotions"
[-System-]
Did you love her?
Yuto paused, the question hitting him like a punch in the gut. He had never allowed himself to fully acknowledge the depth of his feelings for Alice. But love? It was a word he had always kept at a distance, avoiding the complexities it would bring.
"I... I don't know," he admitted finally, his voice soft and uncertain
[-System-]
I recall you telling Mizuki that you dodge Alice's kiss, is that correct?
Yuto's cheeks flushed, the memory bringing a hint of embarrassment. "Yeah, I did," he confirmed, his voice laced with a hint of defensiveness. "But that doesn't mean anything... right?"
[-System-]
I understand your anger, but this could also be a coincidence that there exists another that shares the same name
Yuto slumped back against the pillows, a mixture of hope and skepticism swirling within him. "A coincidence, you say..." he mused, his voice quiet. "But the odds of that happening are ridiculously low"
He couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in his gut. The name "Alice Elizabeth Marie" held too much significance for it to be a mere coincidence
Could it be possible that destiny or fate had played a cruel trick on him, presenting him with a living reminder of his lost friend?
[-System-]
Master, do you suspect that she didn't die?
Yuto's eyes widened at the implication. The thought had crossed his mind, but he had dismissed it as wishful thinking. But now, with the System bringing it up, the possibility seems less far-fetched
"Is... is that even possible?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper
[-System-]
She was never confirmed dead, only missing
Yuto's heart skipped a beat. "You're right," he murmured, the gears in his mind starting to turn. "There was never any definitive proof that she was killed. She was just... gone"
[-System-]
You seem down and not as energetic, as if you trying to-
"No, I'm sorry for snapping at you like that, I guess I just failed to control my emotions this time"
Yuto tried to put up a fake smile, "You see, it's fine nothing is wrong"
[-System-]
I do not mean to be rude Master, but your smile doesn't seem to reach your ears as it usually does
Yuto's face seemed shocked, but he quickly regained some level of composer
Passive: Cold Blooded is now Active
His eyes showed no sign of any emotion but he laughed it off, "I guess I'm more tired than I originally thought, don't worry about me"
[-System-]
Get some rest, Master, you must not overwork your mind in your current state
Yuto nodded reluctantly, his mind swimming with questions and doubts. "Fine," he conceded, settling back into the pillows. "I'll rest for now, but this isn't over. I need answers"
As if reality was going to be so kind, Yuto was jolted back to attention by the unexpected entrance of Firestone. He reflexively sat up, wincing as the motion pulled at his injured chest
"Firestone," he greeted his voice with a mix of surprise and irritation. "What is it now?"
"Jeez what's up with the attitude, lass, I came because they said you seemed dead"
Yuto's annoyance shifted into faint amusement at Firestone's carefree attitude. "Well, I'm not dead," he retorted, his voice dry. "And why do you sound so disappointed about it?"
"Haha, you damaged the armor I granted you of course I would be a bit annoyed, so what the hell hit you?"
Yuto frowned, his mind going back to the attack. "An arrow"
He remembered the searing pain of the arrow piercing his chest and the sudden drop in his health bar. It had been a direct hit, and if he hadn't been for the armor's defense, it would have been much worse
"I doubt an arrow can do that much damage"
Yuto shifted uncomfortably, his eyes flickering to the bandages wrapped around his chest. "It was an enchanted arrow. It penetrated through my armor like it was paper"
Firestone rubs his chin, "Well, the bad news is that it will take at least 3 days to repair it"
Yuto's expression darkened. "Three days?" he repeated, his voice laced with frustration. "I can't afford to wait that long"
"I have things to do, places to be," Yuto continued, his mind racing with thoughts of his mission and the enemies he had to face. "Three days in bed, resting is a luxury I can't afford"
Firestone pointed, "Lass, you look as if a single feather might kill you"
Yuto's annoyance flared, but he knew deep down that Firestone was right. His body was bruised and battered, his chest bound tightly in bandages. Even the effort to sit up left him breathless.
Firestone let out a chuckle as he started walking out, "Come see me when you heal"
With Firestone's departure, the room fell silent, leaving Yuto alone with his thoughts. He fidgeted restlessly, the prospect of three days of enforced rest wearing on his patience
"Rosalind, love it's me!"
["Fuck it's Wanless!"]
Yuto let out a curse as Wanless barged into the room. He quickly sat up, his expression a mix of surprise and irritation
"Oh my dear, what happened!"
Yuto's annoyance faded slightly at Wanless' concerned tone. He gave a dismissive wave with his hand. "Just a minor inconvenience," he muttered, downplaying the extent of his injuries
Wanless rushed over, casually holding Yuto's hand. He observed Wanless's fretful expression with a mixture of annoyance and resignation
"Wanless, I'm fine," he assured, his voice gruff. "Just a few scrapes and bruises, nothing to worry about"
Wanless's grip on his hand tightened, his eyes roaming over Yuto's bandaged chest. "This looks more than a few scrapes," he chided, his voice filled with worry
Yuto sighed, knowing that Wanless wouldn't be easily pacified. "Alright, it's a bit more than just a few scrapes, but I'll be fine," he conceded. "It'll just take a few days to heal, that's all"
"B-but"
Yuto's irritation flared at Wanless's persistent worry. He gently pulled his hand free from Wanless's grip. "But what?" he snapped, his patience wearing thin
"You can stop fretting like a mother hen," he continued his tone stern. "I've been through worse. This is nothing"
"Rosalind, what do you mean you've been through worse?"
["I forgot this was the princess's body"]
Yuto cursed inwardly at his slip-up. He had been so focused on dealing with Wanless that he had momentarily forgotten his disguise
He forced himself to compose himself, his expression hardening into an irritable scowl. "You don't know half of what I've experienced," he mumbled, attempting to cover up his mistake. "I've had many injuries like this before. I'll heal and be back on my feet in no time"
It took a bit of convincing and lots of back-and-forth arguments that Wanless agreed to leave, on the condition that Rosalind would have a cup of tea with him once he recovers
As Wanless left, Yuto's scowl softened into a weary sigh. He sank back into the pillows, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on his chest. It seemed like everyone around him was treating him like porcelain, fragile and breakable
He closed his eyes, trying to block out the ache in his chest and the nagging thoughts in his head. "Three days," he murmured to himself. "Three days in bed and everyone will lose their minds"
"Sigh, I miss Mizuki and Scarlett"