The World Is Mine For The Taking

We finally arrived at the castle.

The very air around the entrance felt heavier and tighter than usual. It was as though suspicion itself lingered in the wind.

Rows of armored royal knights stood more alert than ever, their eyes sharp, their hands close to their weapons. The silence was tense, as if everyone had agreed not to breathe too loudly.

It was obvious why.

The recent attack on the Holy City had rattled the entire kingdom, and the castle, as the heart of its power, had responded with unwavering paranoia. The guards were no longer just ceremonial. They were ready for war.

But I didn't falter.

My footsteps echoed against the polished stone floor as I kept walking with my heels clicking against each step.

I didn't even glance at the knights as they studied me and the man who walked at my side.

That man... was Christopher Faust.

Not Leon.

At least, not the Leon everyone knew.

But deep down, they were one and the same.

Just cloaked in a new shell.

Leon's usual jet-black hair was gone and was replaced by silken strands of pure white that shimmered beneath the sunlight pouring through the castle's high windows.

His appearance radiated prestige and mystery.

His clothes—an elaborate ensemble of deep royal blue and silver, embroidered with gold thread—looked like something only kings or emperors could afford.

The knights clearly noticed the contrast. But because he was walking with me, they said nothing. Perhaps they assumed he had my approval. Or maybe they just didn't want trouble.

Whatever the case, no one moved to stop us.

We moved deeper into the castle. The towering corridors felt colder today and less welcoming than usual. A lingering shadow seemed to hang over everything.

Eventually, we reached the massive double doors of the throne room.

They groaned open slowly, as though even the castle itself hesitated.

Angelica stayed behind, close to the marble pillars at the far end.

Leon and I advanced forward together, step by step, until we stood in the very heart of the royal court.

My father was already on his throne.

He looked exactly as I remembered.

He was bloated in pride, draped in velvet, and surrounded by women whose eyes sparkled with empty devotion.

One of his concubines was down on her knees, licking his toe with a sickening sort of delight, her naked form shivering in arousal or fear. I couldn't tell which.

Another had her bare breasts pressed to his face, giggling as if nothing in the world existed but his touch.

It was repulsive.

And yet, for a man supposedly crippled by erectile dysfunction, he looked absurdly content. More alive than he had any right to be.

I could never understand it. His obsession with women, even though his member barely worked anymore. Maybe it wasn't about sex at all. Maybe it was about power. About control.

Or maybe he just needed something— or anything for that matter—to distract himself from how pathetic he truly was.

"Hmph?"

He finally noticed me.

His bleary eyes lifted lazily from between that woman's breasts and locked onto mine.

The man who was my father.

His gaze dropped from the height of his throne like a guillotine.

"Why are you here?"

His voice was coarse and irritated, like I had just ruined his afternoon.

"I've come to talk to you about some matters, Father," I replied coolly, curtsying with practiced elegance. My fingers lifted the edges of my dress just enough to reveal a glimpse of stocking, and I placed one foot behind the other with perfect posture.

"I don't have the time. Can't you see that I'm busy?"

He waved a hand dismissively, as if I were just another servant interrupting his pleasure.

"I can see that," I said with a calm, practiced smile. "But this is a matter of importance."

The corners of my lips lifted, but the cold in my eyes made it clear that I wasn't smiling for him.

He stared at me longer this time.

Something flickered in his expression.

It was suspicion.

His gaze traced me slowly, from the tip of my polished shoes to the curve of my jaw.

What was he thinking? Could he sense it?

That I wasn't the same girl from before?

That something inside me had shifted?

Then his attention moved.

He looked to the man beside me.

"You..."

His voice dropped, laced with venom and alarm.

It was clear now.

He knew.

Leon had been right.

All it took was a glance.

And he understood.

He could tell I had changed. That I'd grown.

That I'd had sex.

And standing next to me who was exuding that aura of cool control and confidence, it wasn't hard for him to guess who it had been with.

My smile never faded.

Leon didn't flinch either. He simply stood there, smiling beside me with a relaxed poise.

The King let out a tired sigh. "Fine… State your business."

"I think it would be rather inappropriate to discuss what I'm about to say in front of so many people," I said with a playful calmness. "Especially when those people are naked… one licking your toes and another suffocating your face with her tits."

He grunted in annoyance.

"…You can all go."

His concubines scrambled like startled cats. Some clutching their clothes hastily against their bodies, others still giggling shamelessly as they hurried out through the side door, bare feet slapping against the cold marble floor.

The room fell silent once they were gone.

"Now then, state your business here."

"I love that you're getting straight to the point, Father," I said, gently brushing the edge of my dress as I stepped forward. "But before I do, I believe it would be wise to introduce this man to you."

He looked at Leon again, this time more intently.

Leon said nothing at first, but his presence filled the room like smoke.

Then he stepped forward.

With elegance befitting royalty, he bowed with his torso bending at a precise 45 degrees, one hand placed firmly over his chest.

"Nice to officially meet you, Your Majesty," he said. "My name is Christopher Faust. I am the current owner of the company Leonamon."

The King's eyes shot wide open.

For a moment, I saw something rare in his face. It was genuine shock.

And then, like a crack running down his mask, his lips split apart into a grin.

"Fufufu... Fufufu... Hehahahahahahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

He erupted into wild laughter.

The sound was thunderous. It was bouncing off every wall, rattling the chandeliers, and drowning the stillness in manic echoes.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Is this it, Myrcella?! Is this how you're planning to defy me?! I've got to admit, I'm impressed! You really do impress me, Myrcella!"

I stood silently, watching him with calm detachment. His joy didn't affect me.

It was bizarre to see him so amused. I had expected fury with him screaming, or acting with rage, even a threat or two.

But this...

This was something else entirely.

Leon remained composed beside me, still smiling faintly, like he was watching a predictable play.

"You really do take after your mother. I can't believe it… HAHAHAHA!" He clutched his forehead, his laughter nearly doubling him over. "That bitch's genes are stronger than mine, it seems… Makes me wonder if you're even my daughter."

"I'm pretty sure I am," I replied with a small smirk. "Given how calculated I am, I'd say I got that part from you."

"That wench is more calculated than you think," he muttered, shaking his head. "I'll tell you that much. Which is exactly why I can't bring myself to fuck that woman. Just the idea of lying in the same bed with her makes me sick to my stomach. Feels like I'd get stabbed in the back the moment I close my eyes. Thankfully, my member doesn't even work anymore, so I've got no reason to stick it in her. Still pisses me off that I had to marry that bitch in the first place. But… all for the sake of peace, I guess? What a bunch of fucking hypocrites."

His eyes drifted between the two of us, settling into a strange mix of amusement and curiosity.

"Now then... the First Princess of Milham... and the owner of the Leonamon company..." he said, lips curling into a smile. "I think I've got a pretty good idea why the two of you came here."

Then his attention locked onto Leon.

"But let me ask this first. You… the owner... how do you like the taste of my daughter?"

"It is very delightful, Your Majesty," Leon answered smoothly, not missing a beat.

"This was the first time?"

"We did it just earlier today," he replied plainly.

"Oh? So you didn't want her to become the woman of the empire, and decided to make your move early. Smart. That's a lucky move on your part. You're fast."

"Father," I cut in, my voice sharp enough to stop him from veering the conversation further into his little game. "You already know why we came here, don't you?"

"Yes. Yes, of course I do, Myrcella." He nodded, leaning back in his throne with a lazy grin. "But let me ask you something first… What would you do to convince me to change my decision?"