Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

As he whispered those bold words into her ear, his hand drifted lower, and his finger brushed her asshole, pushing in slightly.

Elise let out a soft gasp, her entire body jolting with surprise. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, the sudden shift making her wide-eyed and breathless.

Sensing her reaction , Jae let out a low, amused chuckle. He leaned in without a word, and gave her lips in a gentle kiss, making her calmer.

As she caught her breath, she straightened, her eyes meeting his with a mix of exhaustion and curiosity. "I heard you've been spending a lot of time with the princess lately," she said, her voice soft but pointed, her brows lifting slightly.

Jae's grin faltered, his heart doing a quick flip. Is she jealous? he wondered, his mind racing as he studied her face for any hint of emotion.

Elise's gentle smile didn't waver, but her question felt loaded, like she was probing for more than just gossip. He also wondered if his run-ins with Yuna were turning heads, if the whole academy was whispering about the commoner and the princess.

The thought made his stomach twist, attention like that could be trouble. He shrugged, keeping his tone light but honest.

"Yeah, she's been kind of a pest," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "We just keep running into each other, but that's all it is."

Elise nodded, her expression softening, but Jae couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't entirely convinced, her eyes lingering on him a moment too long.

xxx

The next day, Jae was crossing the academy's courtyard, the crisp morning air carrying the scent of dew and blooming flowers from the nearby gardens. His boots crunched on the gravel path, his mind still replaying Elise's words and the spar, when a familiar voice cut through his thoughts.

"Are you stalking me or something?" Princess Yuna stood a few steps away, her blonde hair catching the sunlight, her blue eyes narrowed with mock accusation. "We always seem to meet like this."

Jae's jaw dropped, his eyebrows shooting up in disbelief. "Me stalking you?" he said, his voice incredulous, pointing at himself. "If anything, you're the one following me around!" He crossed his arms, his irritation flaring, but a small part of him was amused by her boldness.

Yuna scoffed, tossing her hair, her lips curling into a haughty smile. "Why would a royal princess follow a commoner?" she asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm, her hands on her hips.

Jae sighed, his shoulders slumping as he realized arguing was pointless. "Fair enough," he muttered, turning to leave, his boots scuffing the gravel.

But Yuna's voice stopped him cold. "Wait," she said, her tone shifting to something softer, almost commanding. "I want you to come with me. I'm heading to the woods to practice, and I could use some protection."

Jae froze, turning back to face her, his eyes narrowing. "Why didn't you think of that before accusing me of stalking?" he asked, his voice edged with annoyance.

Yuna shot him a glare, her eyes flashing with that royal authority that made his skin prickle, and he backtracked fast.

"Fine, I'll go," he said, raising his hands in surrender, his heart sinking as he realized he'd been roped in again.

The woods were dense and quiet, the air cool under the canopy of towering trees, the scent of pine and damp earth filling Jae's lungs. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the forest floor as he followed Yuna, his senses alert for any trouble.

She moved with purpose, her mana crackling as she practiced her skills, targeting small animals with precise bursts of energy. Jae watched, his eyebrows lifting, genuinely impressed.

For someone in a class below his, her control was sharp, her attacks swift and deadly, each shot hitting a scurrying rabbit or bird with ease.

She's no joke, he thought, his mood lightening despite his earlier irritation, his eyes tracking her fluid movements.

Everything was going smoothly until Yuna climbed a tree to get a better vantage point, her boots scraping the bark. Jae leaned against a trunk below, his arms crossed, half-expecting another quip from her.

Then, a sharp crack split the air, and Yuna yelped as the branch beneath her snapped. She plummeted, her blonde hair whipping around her face, her arms flailing.

Jae's heart lurched, and he activated his Phantom Step, his body blurring as he surged forward, his high Stamina fueling his speed. He reached her just in time, catching her in his arms, her weight light but solid against his chest.

His breath came out in a rush, relief flooding him as he steadied her, the forest suddenly quiet except for the rustle of leaves.

Yuna's face was pale, her breathing ragged, but as she regained her composure, her eyes narrowed, and she pushed against his chest.

"How dare you touch a royal princess so inappropriately!" she scolded, her voice sharp, her cheeks flushing with indignation.

Jae's relief vanished, his jaw clenching as anger flared. I just saved her, and this is what I get? he thought, seething, but he kept his face cool, his voice flat.

"Noted," he said, setting her down gently, his hands dropping to his sides as he stepped back, his heart still racing from the close call.