The World Is Mine For The Taking

It was then I realized… do I really need to run for president to get what I came here for? After meeting Leon, my life changed. I met so many people and actually became friends with them. I met Shreddy, I met Trill, and I even got close to the woman I admire most—Miss Artemis. Funny thing is, every single one of them turned out to be part of Leon's harem—save for Shreddy, I guess. That man is such a lady's boy, and honestly, it's no surprise. Considering his strength and charisma, having a harem just seemed… natural.

And no, I didn't feel a shred of jealousy. Where I come from, polygamy is normal. The King—my father—might stick to just one woman, but most of the knights, high ministers, and court nobles have multiple wives. I was raised knowing that having many women wasn't just a status thing—it was a testament to a man's power. My father always told me that a strong man shows his strength by how harmonious his household is, even with multiple wives. So, the idea of my boyfriend having other girlfriends doesn't bother me. In fact, I embrace it because it shows how strong and capable he is.

But still… did I really need to become president? I'd already made so many friends and found someone to love. The main reason I wanted to run in the first place was because I felt lonely and wanted to connect with people. Now, it felt pointless.

Still, backing out now would feel cowardly, wouldn't it? Even though it seemed like the goal no longer mattered, I couldn't just stop halfway. My father always said, "If you start something, see it through, or you'll just make a mess of things."

And so, here I was—standing in front of thousands of students, ready to deliver my speech. My nerves were creeping up on me, coiling around my throat and threatening to choke the words before they even left my mouth. I scanned the crowd, locking eyes with a few students. And then, there he was—Leon, watching me with that calm, steady gaze.

Leon had been my anchor, my guiding light. He pulled me out of that suffocating loneliness. Without him, I'd still be running for president just to fill the void. Without him, I'd still be the stuck-up little princess demanding everyone bow to my whims.

He's the man I love with all my heart.

And just knowing he was watching gave me the strength to push that crushing nervousness aside.

Finally, I forced myself to speak.

"I am… Titania of Bethlan," I began, my voice ringing out through the hushed gymnasium. "And I'm standing here today to say… sorry."

The gym went dead silent. You could hear a pin drop. It wasn't surprising—this was supposed to be my big speech, and I'd started with an apology no one expected.

"I've already shared my vision for the academy," I continued, my tone calm but carrying a hint of that natural grace. "I'm not going to bore you by repeating it all here. Instead, I'm going to tell you why I really want to run for president.

I paused, letting the weight of my words settle over the room.

"Yes, I said it was a selfish reason, but I didn't tell you exactly what that reason was."

That's right. The reason I wanted to become president was selfish—so selfish that I even said as much during my livestream speech. But back then, I didn't say what that reason was. Now, it was time to tell them.

"Being a princess of a kingdom doesn't mean living a dream life. Sure, it sounds glamorous, but it's not all it's cracked up to be. Sometimes, you still crave the simple things—companionship, a normal lover. But when you're in a household like mine, that's easier said than done. Most of the people who approach me aren't real. The friends I make are usually after my status or trying to gain some connection to the royal family. And as for having a normal relationship? Forget about it. A royal connection is the strongest currency there is, and I know my future marriage will probably be decided for political reasons."

That's just the reality of royal families. Sometimes, you don't marry for love—you marry for alliances. My father loves me deeply, and he hasn't pushed me into anything like that yet. But if it came down to the kingdom's safety, I know he'd do what he had to.

"But underneath all that royal stuff, I'm just a normal girl," I said, my voice steady but tinged with a hint of vulnerability. "I want to have friends, experience real romance, do all those little things that make life feel meaningful. So when I got here, I made up my mind to chase after that.

"Problem was, I had this stuck-up personality, you know? The kind of vibe that makes people keep their distance. It wasn't just hard for me to make friends—it was hard for anyone to even approach me. So, for the longest time, I had no one. But then…"

I glanced at Leon, a soft smile breaking across my face. He smiled back, and for a moment, it felt like the whole gym faded away.

"Then I found someone," I said.

There was a beat of silence before I continued.

"Honestly, all I ever wanted was to have friends. Maybe fall for someone. That's it. That's the big reason. I ran for president because I thought it would make people notice me, follow me, and maybe I'd make some real friendships along the way. I know it sounds stupid—it sounds stupid to me too. But for someone like me, who's never really known what it's like to have a true friend, I was willing to grab at any lifeline I could to make it happen."

The gym was as quiet as the surface of a still ocean. My words echoed softly off the walls, filling the heavy silence.

"But now…" I took a deep breath. "Now that I've got genuine friendships, and a lover I can count on, someone I love more than anything in the world…" My eyes drifted back to Leon as warmth spread through my chest. "I don't really want to be president anymore.
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"I mean, what's the point? I've already got everything I wanted."

What's the point of me even trying to run for president anymore? Why was I still standing here, pouring my heart into this speech, trying to explain my reasons for running? Why would I still cling to this idea when I'd already gotten what I wanted?

"But even though I've already gotten what I wanted," I began, my voice steady yet soft, "there's still something I wish for."

I paused, letting the anticipation build before continuing. "I want everyone here to live the most comfortable life they can. I want to improve your learning experience with better teaching methods, a proper syllabus that works for everyone, and adjustments to the dormitories. Oh, and the cafeteria too. And most of all…"

I let my gaze sweep over the crowd, smiling warmly at their attentive faces. "I want all of you to have fun in this academy. I want you to experience the joy I've felt since coming here. It hasn't been that long for me—almost a year—but I've had a blast. And honestly, it's all thanks to someone who helped me along the way. That's why I want to do the same for all of you, to make sure you feel the way I do."

I let out a small, self-deprecating laugh, my smile softening. "I don't think I really deserve your support. If you want to switch your votes to someone else, I completely understand. I'll still be happy no matter what happens."

I bowed my head slightly. "That's all I have to say. Thank you for listening."

The room was silent for a beat before the sound of clapping broke through. It was Trill and Leon, starting a slow clap that quickly grew into a wave of applause. Soon, the entire gymnasium was filled with cheers, whistles, and thunderous clapping.

"We'll vote for you no matter what your reason is, Princess Titania!"

"You've got my support all the way!"

Hearing their words, my chest tightened, and I could feel tears threatening to spill. For the first time, I truly felt seen.

It was overwhelming.

***

Leon's POV

After Titania's heartfelt speech, it was time to cast our votes.

The process was simple. You only have to write the name of the candidate you supported and drop the voting paper into the ballot box. The boxes were enchanted with magic tools that would read what you wrote and automatically tally the results—kind of like Earth's voting machines.

The crowd was clearly divided between Titania and Princess Myrcella. Sure, some votes went to the other candidates, but it was obvious that the majority of people were choosing between the two of them.

As for me? It wasn't even a question.

I wrote down Titania's name without hesitation. She was my girlfriend, and I believed in her, plain and simple.

Walking up to the ballot box, I slipped my paper in and watched the faint glow of magic confirm my vote had been registered. With that done, I figured I'd kill some time while waiting for the results.

It would take about two hours to count the votes, so I decided to head back to my dorm for now.