Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

Clara's voice hit Jae like a spark, and before he could brace himself, she was sprinting across the compound, her footsteps kicking up dirt in the cool night air.

She slammed into him, her arms wrapping around his neck in a hug so tight it squeezed the breath out of him. The familiar scent of her, wildflowers and a hint of woodsmoke, flooded his senses, grounding him in a way nothing else could.

"I can't believe you're really here!" she gasped, her voice muffled against his shoulder, vibrating with a mix of joy and disbelief.

Her warmth pressed against him, and for a second, Jae forgot the spider guts still clinging to his clothes, the ache in his muscles, the risk of being caught outside the palace.

He pulled back just enough to see her face, her dark eyes wide and shining in the dim glow of a nearby lantern.

A grin tugged at his lips, despite the knot of worry in his gut. "Hey, I promised I'd come back, didn't I?" he said, his voice low but warm, trying to keep it light even though his heart was racing.

Clara laughed, a bright, bubbling sound that cut through the heavy silence of the village, and for a moment, it was just them, no system, no nobles, no cave.

"How'd you even pull this off?" she asked, stepping back but keeping her hands on his arms, like she was afraid he'd vanish. Her pigtails swayed slightly, catching the lantern's flicker, and Jae felt that familiar pull in his chest, the one that made him want to forget everything and stay.

"I Made a friend," he said, keeping it vague. "He helped me sneak out." No way was he spilling about Byun's coin or the system's crazy demands.

She nodded, her lips curving into a knowing smile, like she could sense he was holding back but didn't care.

"Come to my place," she said, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "My aunt's out. We've got the whole house to ourselves." Her fingers brushed his wrist, sending a jolt through him, and the memory of their last night together, her moans, her body pressed against his, flashed through his mind, tempting him to say screw it to the palace.

But reality crashed in like a bucket of cold water. "I can't," he said, his voice tighter than he meant. "I have to get back. If they catch me, I'm screwed, and I don't want trouble for you or Mom."

He saw the disappointment flicker across her face, and it stung worse than any spider bite.

Leaning in, he kissed her, quick but deep, tasting the warmth of her lips one last time. "I'll come back soon," he promised, pulling away. "Just… not tonight."

Clara pouted but nodded, her eyes soft. "You better," she said, and Jae forced a smile before turning to slip out of the compound, his heart heavy as he left her behind.

xxx

The next morning, Jae dragged himself through the castle's stone corridors, his eyes gritty and his body screaming for rest. He'd barely slept, the detours to his mom's and Clara's eating up the night.

By the time he'd snuck back into the palace, the sky was already turning gray, and he'd collapsed onto his too-soft bed for maybe two hours of sleep.

Now, he felt like a zombie, his head foggy and his limbs heavy as he shuffled toward class. "I can't keep doing this," he muttered, rubbing his face.

Random late-night visits were gonna kill him. If he wanted to see his mom or Clara, he'd have to plan better, make sure he wasn't stumbling into the academy half-dead every morning.

As he rounded a corner, a familiar voice cut through his haze. "Well, look who's still kicking!" Byun's cheery tone was like a slap, and Jae groaned as the noble slung an arm around his shoulders, all bright-eyed and annoyingly awake.

Byun's golden hair was as ruffled as ever, his smirk practically screaming trouble. "So, how'd your little escapade go last night, scrawny? Spill."

Jae shot him a glare, his voice low and urgent. "Keep it down, man. I don't know who's listening." The last thing he needed was some nosy guard or noble overhearing and ratting him out. Byun just shrugged, his arm still draped over Jae like they were best buds, completely unbothered.

"Relax, nothing's gonna happen," Byun said, his voice dripping with that cocky confidence that made Jae want to roll his eyes.

They pushed into the classroom, the air thick with the smell of chalk and old books. Sun was already there, perched at his desk, his dark eyes shooting daggers at them.

Jae tensed, expecting trouble, but Byun just waved at Sun with a grin, like he was greeting an old friend. To Jae's shock, Sun waved back, though it was grudging, like he'd swallowed something sour.

Jae leaned toward Byun, keeping his voice low. "How much pull do you actually have around here?" he asked, still thrown by Sun's reaction.

Sun was a royal prince, the kind of guy who could ruin Jae's life with a snap of his fingers, yet Byun handled him like it was nothing.

Byun laughed, a loud, carefree sound that made half the class glance over. "It's not about power, man," he said, leaning back in his chair, one arm slung over the backrest. "I'm just tight with everyone. Me and Sun? We go way back. He's got his head up his ass sometimes, but he'll warm up eventually. Give it time."

His grin was all charm, like he could talk his way out of anything, and Jae couldn't help but wonder how much of it was an act.

Before Jae could press further, the teacher, Ms. Lira, the tall, glasses-wearing woman from yesterday, strode in, her heels clicking on the stone floor. The class quieted, and she fixed them with a sharp look. "Alright, let's see if you've mastered yesterday's skill," she said, her voice crisp. "Coating yourself in mana, hardening it like a shield. Show me."

One by one, the students stood, summoning their mana shields. Most managed it, though some were shaky, their auras flickering like bad Wi-Fi.

Jae went last, his shield forming effortlessly, a solid blue sheen that felt like second nature.

Ms. Lira nodded, impressed. "Good work," she said, her eyes lingering on Jae, Byun, and Lin, the only three who'd nailed it. "Now, let's take it up a notch. Today, you're using that skill in combat training."