my mother office

I woke up after just a few hours of sleep and immediately sensed a difference in the air; it felt charged, as if tiny particles were floating around me.

"So, this must be mana," I mused to myself.

Closing my eyes, I focused inward, sensing a small structure within me. Now, however, it had transformed into a complete, majestic plate floating effortlessly.

"So, this is my plate? It looks quite strong," I thought, examining it with fascination.

In our world, plates are foundational; they signify the beginning of one's power. They form when you turn ten and act as the base upon which you build your strength. The more you cultivate, the more plates you accumulate, creating a towering structure of power.

Setting aside these thoughts, I could feel the latent power within me. I was eager to begin cultivating it, but I knew moving mana for the first time required supervision for safety.

Leaving my bed, I had lunch with my little sister, earning some affection points from her. Afterward, I sought permission from my mother to venture outside the mansion.

Entering my mother's office, I found her buried in her work. Since my so-called father's death, she had been dealing with the stresses of managing the Dukedom. If not for her prowess as a powerful warrior, she might have succumbed to the pressure long ago. Thinking about her, I started recalling my mother's background.

She was the only princess of the former emperor and the younger sister of the current emperor. Renowned for her exceptional talent in swordsmanship, she had forged her path by joining the military, where she established her own brigade and earned numerous accolades. It was through her military career that she met my father, a commander known more for his strategic genius than physical strength.

As I pondered my own lineage, my mother lifted her head from a stack of documents. Upon seeing me, her only child with distinctive purple eyes, she smiled warmly and gestured for me to come sit on her lap.

Happily responding to her call, I ran to her and nestled into her lap, using her chest as a comfortable pillow. Grace, my mother, gazed down at me. Though I looked similar to how I always had, something was different. Initially worried about my introverted tendencies following my father's incident, she had feared I might not recover. Fortunately, recent changes had brought relief.

She had received reports of my recent activities and progress, which left her pleasantly surprised. She knew our family had not been the same since my father's passing.

However, she simply didn't have the time to deal with it due to her work, and she felt deeply guilty about it. Yet, her son had stepped up to the task and managed things for her.

Grace was immensely relieved when she learned that her children had started playing with each other again. Looking at her son sitting on her lap so innocently, she couldn't resist pinching his cheek.

"Sigh, I really need to spend more time with my kids," she murmured regretfully.

Seated on her lap, I gazed up at her. She was looking at me with a mix of emotions and thoughts. Though I wasn't psychic, I could fairly guess what was on her mind. So, I turned towards her and switched on the caring, innocent-child mode.

"Mom, is something the matter? You seem deep in thought."

Grace was pulled out of her reverie by her child's concerned look. Touched by his worry, she responded softly, "No, I'm fine Austy. I'm just feeling a bit sleepy, that's all. No need to worry."

"Mom, you don't need to worry about us. We understand that you're busy, and we don't resent you for it. We love you no matter what," I assured her sincerely.

With that, I kissed her on the cheek and began patting her head gently, as an adult might comfort a child.

"+1000 affection," the system announced.

My actions brought a small smile to her face, and she ended up Laughing, a tear rolled down her cheek. "Mom, are you alright? Why are you crying? Did I do something wrong?" I responded in fright, just like an innocent child would. To my surprise, my mother burst into laughter.

"Hahaha... no, Austy, you didn't do anything wrong," she managed between giggles, pulling me into a warm embrace. I caught a whiff of roses again as she held me close. After laughing for a while, she recovered and looked at me with a playful smile.

"So, my little Austy is consoling his mother, huh?"

Acting flustered, I quickly replied, "No, no, Mom, I was just cheering you up because you looked so down."

"Don't worry, Mother is not mad at you."

We continued talking for some time, and after a few minutes, she asked why I had wanted to see her. I expressed my desire to go outside for some fresh air, to which she instantly agreed.

A few minutes later, I found myself outside the mansion with a few guards and my maid Mia, all dressed as common people. This time, I had decided to go incognito.

It was my first time venturing outside to see the world beyond. The streets were bustling with humans, elves, beastmen, and a few demons here and there. Seeing the different races reminded me once again that I was not on Earth.

As the head city of the Dukedom, our city was impressive, to say the least. The noble district displayed elegance like no other, with buildings that resembled modern times rather than antiquity.

In the world of Ether, although technology like cars, phones, and planes didn't exist, the society was remarkably developed. Clean roads, bustling cafes, amusement parks, and more contributed to a lively atmosphere, with people wearing happy smiles.

I covered my head with a hood and strolled along with my guards, blending into the crowd. "Accidentally," we found ourselves outside a shop thronged with young men, including several noble scions.

Playing the part of a curious child, I turned to Mia and asked, "Mia, what's happening over there? Why are so many people gathered?"

"Oh, that's just a bow shop that recently opened," she explained.

"A bow shop? Then why are there so many people outside?" I inquired innocently.

"Well, young master, it's said that the owner is a very beautiful woman, so many men come to visit," Mia replied hesitantly.

"Why do they come if there's a beautiful woman here?" I pressed further, looking at Mia with earnest eyes.

My question seemed to stump her momentarily. "It's nothing much, young master. You'll understand when you're older."

"Okay, then let's go inside the shop. I really want to see what's so special about it," I insisted.

Leading my guards, we pushed our way into the shop. Inside, I was captivated by the difference between its interior and exterior—the well-decorated space filled with various types of bows.

Hanging on the walls were various types of bows, showcasing the shop's wide array of offerings. Though it was only a single-floor establishment, the spacious layout gave off a welcoming vibe. At the counter sat a solitary woman.

She wore a full-body one-piece dress and a veil that obscured her face, with her long black hair cascading down her back. Despite the veil, her phoenix-like eyes and ethereal aura exuded a captivating presence that seemed out of place in this world. Upon seeing her, I activated the read function:

\[Name: Elenor Claus

Sex: Female

Age: 140

Species: Human

Talent: 10/10

Power: Imperial Rank 3

Title: The Bow Empress, Cold Beauty, The Imperial... etc.

Love: 0%

Description: Currently in search of a successor. Feeling a bit dispirited that she hasn't found anyone until now.

Difficulty: S+ (She is a woman with unimaginable powers, courted by several men. If you want to win her over, you'll have to work incredibly hard.)\]

Feeling intrigued by her profile, I couldn't help but be drawn to the mystery surrounding Elenor Claus, the Bow Empress.

18:14

Seeing the data i smiled

'i found you'