The World Is Mine For The Taking

Chapter 86 - The Sword Festival, Part 1 (3)

Leon's POV Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

"Are you okay?" I asked Titania, my voice soft but heavy with concern.

She looked unhurt—her posture was steady, her breathing calm—but after what had just happened, I couldn't help but ask.@@@@

"I'm okay," Titania replied, scratching her cheek with a faint smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Her voice carried a lightness that contrasted the tension still thick in the air. She might've been trying to brush it off, but my eyes didn't miss the way her fingers trembled slightly before she dropped her hand.

"I'm livid...!" Trill snapped, her voice sharp and cracking like a whip. She practically radiated heat, as though her rage were about to boil over and scald anyone nearby. "That bitch almost took your head, Nia! I swear, if I get paired with her in the quarterfinals, I'll make her regret ever stepping into this tournament!"

"That's sweet of you, Trill," Titania said gently, her lips curving into a small, tired smile. "But if that happens, I want you to forfeit immediately."

"What?!" Trill's voice pitched higher, her fury now directed at Titania. Her eyes gleamed with disbelief, her brows drawn tightly together. "I saw what she did! She almost killed you! If Leon hadn't stepped in, we'd be burying you right now!"

She wasn't wrong. That woman Titania faced earlier was dangerous—not just skilled, but ruthless. The way she moved, the way her blade arced toward Titania's neck with precision and intent—it wasn't the act of someone merely sparring. It was lethal, cold, and unrestrained.

It wasn't hard to imagine that this could've been an assassination attempt. Titania was royalty, after all, and her decision to participate in a public tournament might've been the perfect bait for enemies lying in wait. But something didn't sit right.

That woman... she didn't move like an assassin. Her eyes, sharp and unfeeling, lacked recognition. If she knew Titania was royalty, it didn't show. No, this wasn't a calculated attempt to take down a royal figure. It was pure bloodlust.

Erick's warning surfaced in my mind.

"But there's someone powerful with them. Someone even I couldn't take on. A woman. She was dressed like a man, but trust me, she was definitely a woman."

Her description fit. Black hair, black eyes. A figure that carried a presence even from a distance. Was she connected to me? The resemblance was there, but... no. There was no trace of Lilith's aura in her. I had felt Lilith's essence before—it coursed through my veins and Elise's as well. This woman was nothing like that.

"You expect me to just sit back and let this slide?" Trill's voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and biting. Her fists clenched so tightly at her sides that her knuckles turned white.

"I'm not saying that," Titania said, her voice steady but firm. "I'm saying it's not worth putting yourself in danger too."

Her goals were no secret. Myrcella wanted to shatter the academy's rigid class system, opening up opportunities for students from every tier—bronze, silver, and gold—to graduate as magic knights if they desired. It was a vision that bordered on revolutionary, given the centuries-old tradition that limited such a future to the elite gold class.

The audacity of her dream wasn't lost on me. Myrcella wasn't just trying to change a school policy; she was challenging an institution older than any of us, one rooted in privilege and exclusivity. Her determination to rewrite the rules and give everyone—no matter their background—a chance at achieving their dreams was as bold as it was inspiring.

What puzzled me, though, was the fact that I knew Titania and Trill were immensely talented—enough to make sense why Princess Myrcella would want to recruit them. But me? That part didn't add up.

"Uh... me as well?" I asked, unable to hide my confusion.

"Of course, Leon," Princess Myrcella replied without the slightest hesitation, her voice smooth and unwavering. "I wanted to invite you, too."

There wasn't a shred of malice in her tone, and while I wasn't about to let my guard down completely, I had no reason to suspect her of ulterior motives. Sure, I knew that Princess Myrcella scheming against her own father, plotting to overthrow him, but she didn't strike me as someone who would stoop to deceiving me—or us, for that matter.

With that in mind, we all agreed to hear her out.

What caught me off guard was the place she chose to bring us: the Leonamon cake shop. A far cry from the kind of secretive or grand setting you'd expect for a conversation like this. She ordered a generous spread of food, not just for herself but for all of us. Judging by the sheer amount of plates on the table, it was clear this wasn't going to be a quick chat.

"Can I start now?" Princess Myrcella asked, her gaze sweeping over us. "I don't want to beat around the bush or waste any more of your time."

"Go ahead," Titania replied, her voice calm but curious.

Princess Myrcella reached for one of the saucers on the table, lifting the delicate teacup perched on top with a practiced grace. Her fingers wrapped around the porcelain handle, steady as she brought the cup to her lips. The soft curve of her mouth pressed lightly against the rim as she took a measured sip. Then, with the same deliberate care, she placed the teacup back onto the saucer. Her movements were unhurried, almost ritualistic, as if she wanted to set the tone for what was coming.

She looked up, her expression sharpened by a flicker of determination that burned in her eyes.

"I want all of you to join the student council," she said firmly, her words carrying the weight of a decision already made.

Her gaze moved between us, her lips curling into a small but confident smile. She didn't dance around the subject or try to ease into it—she dove straight in.

"I want all three of you," she continued, "because you're the ones who can help me achieve my vision for the academy."