The World Is Mine For The Taking

As I suspected, this man was one of Titania's royal guards. It seemed they had a strict law regarding anyone who dared to touch Titania inappropriately—a law that meant signing your own death warrant. Whether this law applied to everyone or just them, I wasn't sure.

As we stood locked in a tense standoff, bullets came hurtling towards me. I managed to block them with ease, but the man wasted no time in launching another assault. Despite my efforts to defend myself, the relentless barrage of attacks from all sides was beginning to overwhelm me. I needed to rethink my strategy.

The man in front of me was relentless, his skill and power evident with each strike. And it wasn't just him—everyone around me seemed to possess formidable abilities. It felt like I was the target of an assassination plot, with enemies closing in from all directions.

It was becoming increasingly difficult to defend myself without resorting to my own skills. Though I could easily summon my Guardian to aid me, I didn't want to reveal my abilities just yet. Instead, I put my trust in Lady Luck to intervene on my behalf.

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Utilizing the first aspect of Lady Luck, I allowed one of the bullets to graze me. However, thanks to my imperceptibility to deadly situations three times, the bullet harmlessly ricocheted off the concrete beneath our feet.

As the skirmish continued between the Bethlan's Royal Knights and myself, I sensed imminent danger. Someone was preparing to unleash their skill against me. Should I block it? With only two instances of Lady Luck left, perhaps I should conserve them. But something felt off about this particular skill—a sensation akin to being forbidden from utilizing my own abilities.

Glancing down at the ground beneath me, I noticed a large circle drawn there.

A circle that nullified skills completely? That was certainly unexpected. Someone possessed the ability to neutralize skills within a large radius of 100 units. Anyone caught within that circle couldn't rely on their skills at all—they were rendered entirely ineffective. With that limitation in place, I had to face this situation without relying on my own skills.

Dodging seemed to be my only option for now. Though I could attempt to escape the circle, I was surrounded on all sides. Even if I managed to break free, the user could simply create another circle, trapping me once more.

But the man before me, swinging his sword with fierce determination, didn't seem bothered by the circle. That wasn't due to immunity; rather, he lacked any skills to begin with. Yet, his strikes were remarkably potent, capable of shattering a normal person's defense. His proficiency in mana control was evident—much like mine, it was precise and focused.

He was using his wind magic to enhance the speed and impact of his sword strikes. It was a surprising revelation. Someone else possessed such precise mana control, a skill that rivaled my own. Had he realized the incredible potential of mana in this world, just like I had? It wasn't certain yet, as he seemed to be operating within his current limits.

"Leon?"

A voice called out my name, drawing my attention. I turned to see Titania, her expression one of shock. Her wide blue eyes were fixed on me—or rather, on the intense battle unfolding before her.

"Leon!"

Titania's voice cut through the chaos, her eyes wide with alarm as she rushed toward us, her arms outstretched as if to shield me from the attacker.

"P-Princess, what are you doing here?!" The knight's eyes widened in shock. "Seize the attack! The Princess is here!"

At Titania's intervention, the bloodlust surrounding us seemed to lessen, though it didn't completely dissipate. I could still feel the lingering animosity directed towards me. I understood their sentiments to some extent. To them, Titania was a cherished flower, one they were duty-bound to protect. Her purity and beauty were unparalleled, like a pristine white blossom.

And here I was, perceived as a threat, a mere interloper poised to trample upon their prized possession. If I were in their shoes, I'd likely feel the same animosity towards an intruder.

However, they were barking up the wrong tree. As far as I was concerned, neither Titania nor I had done anything wrong. It was their meddling that had stirred up this mess.

Titania shot the knight a fierce glare, her arms still outstretched as if to physically separate him from me. "What exactly do you think you're doing to Leon?"

"I'm protecting you from him, Princess," the knight replied, his sword still poised for action. He seemed ready to pounce on me at the slightest provocation.

"Protecting me? All you're doing is trying to cut off my boyfriend! What in the hell do you all think you're doing?! Do you want my father to hear about this?!"

"Princess, the King has already issued the decree that anyone who engages in anything sexual with you should be swiftly executed. This man has violated that decree, and so we have been tasked with eliminating him," the knight explained.

So, it was the King himself who had enacted that law. It seemed to be a national statute, not just a rule of the Bethlan Knights.

"You were watching?!" Titania screamed in outrage. "How dare you do this to me?! Do you want Father to find out about this?!"

"D-Don't fret, Princess. I didn't peek. I know full well that your Father, the King, would have me swinging from the gallows along with three generations of my kin. It's a law that no one should lay eyes on the Princess's magnificent form! But this scoundrel not only saw, but also engaged in lewd acts. So, Princess, step aside.

I'll swiftly end his suffering with a clean cut to the neck."

"Are you suggesting my Father's behind this? If so, then I command you to stand down! This man is my lover!"

The knight clicked his tongue and glared at me as if I were his mortal enemy. "This man is just a worthless bastard who's not fit to even look at you, Princess. I'll never acknowledge that he's the one who gets to be by your side," he spat. There was madness in his eyes, but I could also see traces of jealousy. Maybe he was in love with Titania himself, but those stupid laws kept him from confessing.

Or perhaps he thought he wasn't good enough for her? Either way, a man fueled by jealousy towards another who won the heart of the woman would be one tough opponent... I knew that firsthand, because I'd been that guy before.

"Leon is the only man who's right for me," Titania declared. "I won't even glance at another guy. Even if Father opposes it, I'll do whatever it takes to make this love story happen. And if Father, or any of you, try to harm Leon, well, I'll have no choice but to end my own life."

The knight's eyes widened in shock. "Y-You can't be serious, Princess. You're the sole heir to the throne. If you take your own life, then—"

"Then the Bethlan Kingdom would crumble and vanish from the map," Titania interrupted. "Isn't that right?"

"J-Just for a man, you're willing to sacrifice the future of the Kingdom, Princess?" the knight asked, his voice trembling.

"Leon means more to me than the throne," Titania asserted. "So, if you don't sheathe that sword," she continued, pulling out a dagger and aiming it at her neck, "I'll end it right here."

The knight looked shocked, and without hesitation, he sheathed his sword. "...We're sorry for this, Princess. We promise not to harm this man again. I'll also relay your message to His Highness," he said before glaring at me, then turning around and jumping off the roof. The tension dissipated as he left.

Titania let out a heavy sigh, lowering the dagger from her throat and spinning it with her fingers before sheathing it at her side.

"Sorry about that, Leon," Titania said. "Are you hurt?"

I felt my heart race as I witnessed that turn of events. Titania had just defended me from her own knights, who were supposed to be protecting her. Not only that, but she was also willing to sacrifice the future of her kingdom just for me. Just for me. She was incredibly cool. It was enough to make my heart flutter.

Overflowing with love, I grabbed her cheeks and pulled her in for a kiss. After our lips parted, we gazed into each other's eyes.

"I love you, Leon," she said. "I think I love you now more than anything in the world."

"I feel the same way, Titania," I replied.

"Call me Nia," she said.

"What...?"

"That's what my parents call me," she explained. "Nia."

Nia. It was a name perfect for her. Nia, meaning bright.

"I love you too, Nia," I said. And with that, we kissed again. Under the dark sky, we shared our love for each other.