As she lunged, the courtyard trembled. No, not the stones, not the pillars — the people. Their voices collided into a storm that shook the air around me, a thousand eyes glued to the spectacle of me versus Liora, the general's prodigy daughter.
And right now? I was losing ground.
Her spear blurred faster than thought, the steel tip howling through the air like a predator scenting blood. My arms burned, my lungs wheezed, my legs screamed rebellion. Each block rattled through my bones like an earthquake rolling up my arms, numbing them until my grip threatened to slip.
> [Warning: Stamina Critical. 27% Remaining.]
[Opponent State: Peak Performance. Aggression: Rising.]
Well, that's just fantastic.
Liora's grin widened, wolfish, her teeth flashing as she spun her spear into another relentless combo. "What's wrong, Carl? That's your name, right? Running out of tricks?"
Her voice dripped confidence, mocking, but not cruel. It was the smile of a predator toying with prey it already believed was dead.
My body screamed yes. But my pride — and the damn system — refused.
> [Emergency Aid Available: Battle Instinct Lv.1.
Effect: Anticipate opponent's next strike.
Risk: Severe backlash — migraine, disorientation, nausea.
Use? Y/N.]
"Yes!" I barked before I could think.
The world slowed. Liora's muscles twitched — her wrist, her stance, her foot shifting. For a fraction of a second, I saw the strike before she made it.
I moved.
Her spear carved empty air where my head had been. My fist snapped forward, cracking against her jaw. The sound rang sharp, brutal. She staggered back two steps, shock blazing in her eyes.
Who is this guy!
The crowd exploded.
> [Achievement Unlocked: "Prodigy Breaker."
Reward: +5 Reputation, +1 Hidden Stat: Willpower.]
Liora spat blood onto the courtyard stones… then laughed. "Good. Good!" She lunged again, even fiercer, like I had just fed her fire instead of dimming it.
I began to keep up — weaving, ducking, countering. My knuckles split, sweat poured, my heart hammered like a war drum that threatened to break my chest from the inside out. Every breath scraped raw against my lungs. Every strike shook my body apart piece by piece.
And then—
The system pulsed again.
> [New Temporary Title Earned: "Noble."
Effect: You are seen as a figure of respect. +10% Persuasion in noble gatherings.]
> [New Title Earned: "Veteran."
Effect: Resilience permanently increased. +5% damage resistance in combat.]
> [Audience Perception: Carl hailed as a rising figure.]
Oh, no. Oh, yes. Both at the same time.
---
My final chance came when Liora overextended, her spear thrusting high. The system lit my vision in bright runes.
> [Trigger Opportunity: Counterstrike Lv.1.]
I seized it. Twisting low, I drove my fist into her ribs with every ounce of force left in me. She gasped, faltered, her spear clattering against the stone like a fallen banner.
The courtyard went silent for half a breath — then erupted into chaos.
"Carl! Carl! Carl!"
A hail I never asked for thundered on every tongue, burning my name into the courtyard walls.
Liora staggered, then… grinned. Her chest heaved with ragged breaths, yet her eyes gleamed. "I yield," she declared, voice hoarse but proud. "This one's yours today."
She said it like a promise, not an ending. Like she was already planning the rematch.
---
The princess rose from her throne, her gown spilling like silk fire around her legs. She clapped slowly, elegantly, until the crowd hushed at her command.
Then she descended the steps — each stride deliberate, feline. Her eyes locked onto mine, blazing with triumph, lust, and something far more dangerous: possession.
"You've surprised us all again, my darling," she purred. "But this… this victory belongs to me as much as to you."
Before I could react, she closed the distance, cupped my jaw, and kissed me.
Gasps ripped through the courtyard like arrows loosed at once. Nobles whispered furiously, scandal dripping from every syllable. My reputation, my freedom, my everything — sealed with her lips.
> [Reputation Surge: +25.]
[Harem Flag Triggered: Princess — Public Claim Established.]
I froze, stunned, until she pulled back with a wicked smile that promised trouble. "Now they know," she whispered. "That you're mine."
Her words rang louder than the crowd, heavier than my own pounding heartbeat.
---
At her side, Kaela stiffened. Her fists clenched at her sides, jaw locked tight. She muttered something under her breath, eyes narrowed at me — no, at her. The heat in her gaze wasn't hate, not entirely. Something thornier. Sharper.
She didn't even realize it herself.
My stomach sank.
Congratulations, Carl. You've officially angered the scariest knight in the kingdom… without trying. Just when we were starting to get along.
---
Later, long after the crowd had scattered and the throne room emptied, I collapsed into the bed in the chamber they'd given me. My body felt like lead, my bones buzzing with exhaustion.
Finally. Peace.
The system's earlier warning about side effects from Battle Instinct still lingered in my thoughts. Migraines, nausea… but none of it hit. Not yet. Maybe it had been bluffing. Or maybe I was too tired to care.
My eyelids drooped. Sleep reached for me with gentle hands.
Then—
creak.
The door opened.
A shadow slipped through the crack, gliding into the room like smoke. Moonlight traced the figure — curvy, elegant, dripping with dangerous allure. The air shifted, carrying perfume and promise.
A husky voice whispered in the dark:
"Congratulations on your victory, Carl… Shall we celebrate properly?"
The door clicked shut.
Silence pressed heavy. My pulse spiked. The system stayed silent, no helpful prompts this time. Just me, the bed, and the danger now pacing toward me in high heels.
Her silhouette neared, hips swaying with calculated rhythm. I pushed up on my elbows, every nerve screaming at me to move, to speak, to do something.
But my body was too broken, too drained.
The mattress dipped under her weight. Warmth bled through the sheets as she leaned closer, her breath brushing my ear like fire.
"Don't be shy," she murmured, velvet and venom all at once. "You've earned… indulgence."
My mind raced, my mouth dry. This wasn't peace. This wasn't safety. This was the start of something far, far more dangerous than the duel.
And I wasn't sure I had the strength to resist.