A Normal Day

"Young Lady! Please top running around! You might trip yourself!"

"Hehehe! Catch me, Luka!!"

It's been a little over a week since that night. Weiss easily tracked all the intruders running around the manor and effortlessly killed them while teaching me. The entire time I have not seen him use aura. The intruders were constantly using Aura, some of them even had distinct colors like the green-colored Aura of that Cole guy. They were significantly stronger than the others that only had the basic white Aura.

I never did anything to help Weiss, or rather, I couldn't. He was pretty much one-man-army. Trying to help would just hinder him, I just did my best to learn and understand the lectures as he killed the intruders.

During the past week or so I started to officially start my butler duties while I receive training from Weiss every three days.

I don't know which is more tiring, tending Rosaline or the physical abuse of Weiss' training. Wait no, why am I even asking this? It's pretty obvious that the former is more tiring. The duke's daughter is like a dog without a leash. That comparison's a bit rude... can't think of a better analogy though. It's too damn hard to keep with her. She has way too much energy. My mind is constantly tired from trying to stop her from hurting herself or putting the wrong thing in her mouth.

It's amazing how this kid can be so carefree when some assassin-like people literally targetted her just a week ago. Does she even know? She probably doesn't, she's just a 10-year-old kid. As for the reason why she was targetted, probably her status as a duke's daughter. Maybe some kind of political enemy? I'm not gonna get any answers from just speculati- WAIT, SHIT!!!

"LADY ROSALINE NO!" I hastily tried to stop her from climbing a tree. She didn't listen. In fact, her movements quickened as I tried to stop her.

I couldn't stop her. I was both tired mentally and physically. In the end, she was able to climb the tree in the garden.

"HAHAHAHA!!! I'm the queen of the world!" She spread her arms out while sitting on a branch.

"Young Lady, please refrain from saying those words."

"You're no fun, Luka!"

How the hell do I put a leash on this kid?

Someone came over to help a moment later. It was the maid previously in charge of looking after Rosaline—Rachel. The brunette maid held something in her hand. It was a cookie.

"Lady Rosaline, please come down from the tree. I have cookies."

"WOAH!! Luka, catch me!!"

"Wait what?!"

I didn't have time to process what Rosaline just said. She already jumped and was falling. I was able to catch her though. I held her in a princess hold and put her down. She took the cookie from Rachel and started munching on it with tiny bites. For such an energetic girl to eat like a mouse is surprisingly cute.

It's fortunate that my reflexes have improved ever since training with Weiss. I don't want to invoke the anger of the duke. He's never used the control bracelet on me but... it's better safe than sorry.

"What is wrong with this girl?"

"His Grace dotes on her. So she can be a bit spoiled."

"A bit? You call this a 'bit'?"

I was exasperated. Rachel knows quite a lot about Roslaine's tendencies and how to deal with them, I should ask for advice later. She reminds me of that blonde maid from that anime I used to watch. Hayasa-something something. It's been years, I don't remember her name. Well not that it matters.

Rosaline is really spoiled. I heard that a tutor teaches her manners and stuff about nobility. It's quite evident that the lessons don't work. Well, I'm not the parent here. I'm not gonna go out of my way to correct her behavior. I'll just do my job as her butler, get stronger from Weiss' training, and find the opportunity to escape in the future.

"Oh right, Sir Weiss told me to give this to you."

Rachel took out a small notebook. I received it and flipped it open to check out what's inside.

Inside the notebook, there were instructions on a different Aura breathing technique. It was quite detailed. There were even drawings of different parts of the body, depicting how Aura energy should be properly distributed.

I couldn't help but grin. I'm going to try this out later this night.

I looked up and checked the position of the sun. It was... maybe around 2pm. Not really sure, just making guesses. Rachel is already here. It's training time.

I left Rachel and Rosaline in the garden. Rosaline was waving as usual. What a carefree kid.

***

"𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩!!"

I was on the ground, coughing. That last punch was different from usual. It curved in a weird trajectory and did a solid blow to my stomach.

"You got complacent."

I continued to moan in pain as Weiss kept talking.

"You got used to the patterns I was using to attack you. Your enemies will never be kind enough to give you the leisure to attack you in ways you can easily see through. Always think 10 steps ahead. Read the movements and predict the outcome. Is the enemy going for an uppercut? Is the enemy targeting a different area? Is the enemy going to make a feint and try to fool you? Always think, think, and think. Never stop thinking when fighting. A moment's rest could become fatal. Now, stand up and dodge."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Weiss already sending a kick to my head. This bastard didn't even wait for me to stand up.

I mustered up the willpower and desperately tried to roll away and dodge. It was a success.

I tried to use the momentum of my roll to stand up. I failed. I didn't see where I was rolling towards and hit my head on a tree.

Dammit, I'm not John Wick. The realization frustrated me.

I was still able to stand up in the end.

"Dodge."

It was a punch this time. A right hook? I lowered my head and dodged it, but then my face was struck by Weiss' knee.

My nose started bleeding. Blood droplets dripped down on the soil.

What did Weiss say again about predicting the enemy? This is gonna one long training session.... fuck...