The World Is Mine For The Taking

After fucking the idols, I returned to the balcony, the perfect vantage point to oversee the entire venue. Just ahead, the stage stood illuminated, waiting for the idols to perform under its bright lights. I took a slow sip of the tea Amon had meticulously prepared. The warmth slid down my throat, a contrast to the cool evening air. She stood silently behind me, her presence calm yet dutiful, embodying the role of a perfect maid. I told her to sit, to relax and enjoy the show that was about to unfold, but she insisted that a maid like her shouldn't sit. So, she remained standing, ever obedient.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed something unusual. Among the sea of eager faces turned toward the stage, one person stood out. They weren't watching the stage like everyone else. No, their eyes were locked on me. A deliberate, unwavering gaze aimed straight at the balcony.

I didn't need long to figure out who it was. Princess Myrcella and her ever-loyal knight, Johanne. Both were dressed down, their usual regalia swapped for simple, casual attire. It wasn't hard to guess why—they were here undercover. Myrcella's presence in a place like this would cause a stir if anyone recognized her.

Mmm… I suppose I should let them up.

I instructed Amon to fetch them, and without hesitation, she disappeared into the crowd. It wasn't long before she returned, escorting the pair behind her. With a respectful bow, Amon quietly exited, leaving the balcony to us. Myrcella glanced at Johanne, her eyes sharp yet calm.

"You may leave now, Johanne," she said, her voice steady but firm.

"I'm sorry, Princess, but I cannot. It's not safe for you to be here alone," Johanne replied, his tone laced with concern.

Huh. Worried about her being alone with me? It made sense, given that I currently wore the face of Christopher Faust, Leonamon's owner. Still, it was amusing. Yesterday, Johanne had left us alone without a second thought when Myrcella called for me. I suppose I'd earned his trust as Leon. Now, thanks to the illusion magic masking my true identity, I was just another stranger.

"Oh, Johanne," Myrcella said, her voice soft but teasing. "You worry too much. There's no need." She turned her gaze to me, her smile warm, almost conspiratorial. "This gentleman would never hurt me."

Her confidence was unwavering, even without solid proof. Not that she was wrong—I had no intention of harming her.

"B-But…" Johanne hesitated.

"Are you defying my order?" Myrcella's voice dropped, the sudden chill in her tone sharp enough to cut.

"I-I'm sorry, Princess…" Johanne finally yielded, though his reluctant steps out of the room were accompanied by suspicious glances my way. Even as he left, he seemed to expect me to try something. I ignored him completely.

"Apologies for my knight's behavior," Myrcella said once we were alone, her tone returning to its usual warmth.

"There's no need. He's only doing his duty," I rose from my seat, pulling out a chair for her. "Please, have a seat."

"Thank you."

She lowered herself gracefully, and I gently pushed the chair in before returning to mine.

"You're quite the gentleman," she remarked, her eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and admiration. "Exactly what I'd expect from the owner of Leonamon Enterprises."

"It's only natural that I'd do something so gentlemanly," I drawled. "Especially for a beautiful princess like you."

"Fufufu…" Her soft, melodic laughter filled the air, light but with a teasing edge. "Those words remind me of someone. He told me the same thing—that I'm a beautiful princess who deserves to be treated right."

I'd said something like that yesterday, as Leon, of course. It seemed she hadn't pieced together that Leon and Christopher were one and the same. Fine by me. I wasn't about to hand her that revelation just yet. If she figured it out on her own, so be it.

"So, what brings you here?" I asked, arching a brow. "It's not every day a princess shows up in a place like this. I'm guessing it's not just for the concert, right?"

"You're straight to the point, I see," she said with a small smile, her eyes glinting with amusement. "You're right. I'm here for one reason: to gather allies—strong, influential ones."

For someone who claimed I was direct, she didn't mince words either. Her bluntness was unexpected, catching me off guard for a moment. I'd expected a little more dancing around the subject.

"Let me guess," I said, leaning forward slightly, resting my elbows on the table. "You're hoping to rope me into your plans. What's the play? A war of succession? A coup d'état? You wouldn't need allies unless you were preparing for something big. My money's on you planning to usurp the throne, force your siblings into a corner, and make them your enemies. Am I wrong?"

Her lips curled into a small smile. "I'm impressed. Does recruiting powerful allies always make you think of rebellion?"

"I can't think of any other reason." I shrugged, the nonchalance in my voice masking my intrigue.

It wasn't exactly a leap of logic. Myrcella wasn't far from being a top contender for the throne, but her older brother was the frontrunner. He'd already secured alliances, garnered support from neighboring countries, and expanded his influence. Once their father stepped down, it wouldn't be a surprise if he took the crown.

"Maybe you're right," she said, her gaze drifting toward the stage. The lights flickered in her eyes, giving her an almost ethereal glow. "Sir Faust, tell me—what do you think of Milham's current state? Good? Bad?"

She wanted my opinion? Interesting. Sharing a thought or two wouldn't cost me anything. Besides, I was curious about where this conversation was headed.

"I honestly think this Kingdom is on a downward spiral," I said. "With all the scandals and cases cropping up—like those high-ranking officials getting caught neck-deep in illegal shit—it's hard to believe things are as good as they once were. Corruption runs rampant. Only a small fraction of the officials actually do their jobs without sucking the life out of what should belong to the people. And let's not even get started on the economy—it's tanking."

The forced labor system was a major part of the problem. Those in power milked the lower classes dry, enforcing brutal, borderline inhumane policies. People were pushed to their limits, forced to work for the benefit of a greedy few. Minimal compensation. Zero appreciation. It was no wonder morale was shot. People stopped giving a fuck about working hard. Why bother when there's no reward? The exploitation bled them dry, leaving frustration and a sense of hopelessness in its wake.

"You sure don't hold back, do you?" The Princess smiled, amused. Her eyes sparkled with something between approval and curiosity. "But you're right. Everything you said is true. In fact, it's worse than you think." Continue your saga on empire

I raised an eyebrow. "Worse than I thought, huh?" Worse than I thought? Great. So, the Kingdom isn't just circling the drain—it's halfway down the pipe.

She nodded, her gaze flicking toward the stage, her tone turning more serious. "The Kingdom is suffering from incompetence, like you said, but there's also a deeper issue: a complete lack of motivation to push forward. And I say this as the daughter of the current ruler—the King is utterly useless. He doesn't lift a finger unless it benefits him directly. He was never fit to rule in the first place. Even my mother saw it, which is why she had to step in and try to fix things he couldn't or wouldn't do."

I was taken aback by how openly she spoke about her father like that. But then again, I could tell she wasn't some naive princess. She had grown up under his rule, and it seemed like it was enough to make her see him for what he really was.

"Because of his poor leadership, the Kingdom isn't just in decline—it's crashing. Fast. He won't step down from the throne willingly. Why would he? As long as he's King, he gets everything he wants: money, women, pleasures of all kinds. The title alone keeps him drowning in luxuries."

Her eyes darkened, voice hardening. "The only thing keeping this Kingdom afloat is the Leonamon. The trade monopoly brings in massive cash flow. Cars, smartphones, everything new and valuable—it all funnels through Milham. The Kingdom controls it, hoarding the benefits. But none of that wealth trickles down. It's all pocketed by the people at the top."

The Leonamon—the source of everything new in this world. Cars, smartphones, all the technology no one else had, and all of it was controlled by Leonamon. It boosted the economy in a way that was almost unimaginable for Milham.

"But that won't last forever," she said, a grim smile playing on her lips. "Leonamon won't stay confined to Milham. Once they expand, once they build elsewhere, this Kingdom will crumble. And when that happens… Milham will fall."