Aegis's POV
I had just witnessed something utterly horrifying. The first scene, with the Princess and the man engaged in sex, was gut-wrenching enough, leaving me with a twisted sense of dread. But the scene that followed, where he defeated the three Dryads—creatures notorious for being a relentless threat to every man—was even more terrifying.
I knew those Dryads well; they were the top leaders among their kind, feared for their deadly prowess. Yet, he dispatched all three with an unsettling ease, not even breaking a sweat.
My grip on the spear tightened, knuckles white from the pressure. If I faced him, would I have any chance of winning? I was a seasoned warrior, and those Dryads were just ranged attackers. But this man moved with a speed and precision that spoke of vast experience. I could feel the tension building, a mixture of anxiety and determination coiling in my gut.
How could I force him to reveal any ulterior motives? I had no idea. But if I failed to find anything, my parents' marriage—and everything I held dear—would be in jeopardy. I couldn't let that happen. I dashed toward him with my spear at the ready as fast as I could muster. When I was about to reach him, he didn't seem to have known that I was already near him, and I jumped off.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" I roared, thrusting my spear at him with all my might. I poured every ounce of mana I had into the tip, feeling the energy crackle and hum with power.
I was sure that even his Barrier, which had withstood the Treants' relentless assault, would buckle under the force of my strike. But...
"So, you finally decided to make a move, huh?" His gaze met mine, cool and untroubled. With a swift motion, he grabbed the spear near its tip, effortlessly redirecting it. My attack went wide, and the spear slammed into the ground with a thunderous thud.
"So you knew I was going to attack?" I demanded, pulling back to gain some distance.
"If you're oozing bloodlust like that, there's no way I wouldn't notice," he said, shrugging casually. "You must really hate me to be radiating that much fury."
I gritted my teeth, anger coursing through me as I readied my spear again. "Damn right I'm pissed! You swooped in and stole the woman I've been yearning for my entire life. You—who just appeared out of nowhere and have been with the Princess for only a couple of months—while I've been trying to win her affection for centuries! I can't fucking accept that!"
"So, you think it's unfair for me to be with Artemis because I've only known her for a short time," he said, unfazed. "I get that it might seem unfair, but love isn't something that's dictated by time. So, I'd say your reasoning is pretty weak."
The air between us crackled with tension, my blood boiling as I struggled to contain my fury. My grip on the spear tightened, knuckles white with the effort. How could he be so damn nonchalant about this? The thought of losing Artemis to him after all these years was unbearable. My mind raced, seeking any opening, any weakness I could exploit to turn this around.
"What exactly did you do to the Princess? No, to the Queen and everyone else?" I demanded, my voice steady but filled with barely contained anger. My grip tightened around the spear, its shaft cold and hard in my hands. "What the hell did you do to make them act like this towards you?"
I stared at Solaris, my gaze unrelenting. "It doesn't add up. Miss Clarett, Miss Verra, Miss Serra, Miss Frey—they all despised men, went on and on about how men were a curse to our race. I knew well enough how dangerous men could be. But out of nowhere, in just a single night, they all suddenly accepted you without a second thought. And the Queen, too.
None of this makes sense."
"Aegis was?" The Princess's eyes shifted to me, filled with a mix of surprise and confusion.
"Ah, uhm..."
I was frozen, unable to find my voice. Lying to the Princess was out of the question.
The man leaned in slightly. "She's been given Solaris's approval, so there's no need to worry about that. The only thing you might want to keep in mind is her appearance. It could be a bit... alarming."
"It's true," the Princess said, her voice laced with a heavy dose of gravity. "Many humans would assume she's a slave if they discovered she's an elf."
That was a harsh reality. Our race was celebrated for its beauty, which unfortunately made us prime targets for hunters who sold us into slavery. This was why we had shut ourselves off from the world. Our Princess had been tirelessly searching for elves who had been captured and sold, working to free them. If my true identity as an elf were exposed, I'd be immediately viewed as a slave.
"I think it's fine if she stays with you," the man interjected smoothly, "especially since you have the Mirage skill. If you use that on her, no one would even suspect she's an elf."
"But I'm at school most of the time. My skill isn't very useful for long-range concealment. I can only use Mirage within my line of sight, and beyond that, it's practically useless."
"I guess she'll have to stay in your dorm room, then," the man suggested with a shrug.
"That isn't ideal," the Princess countered. "Aegis wants to experience life in the human world, right? Locking her up in my dorm room goes against that. I know what would work better for her, though."
"What's that?" the man asked, curiosity piqued.
I was just as confused. What could be more ideal for me than staying with the Princess? I thought staying with her would be the best option, but it seemed like the Princess wasn't on board with that idea. I suddenly felt a wave of sadness.
"Where else could she stay besides your place, Leon?"
My eyes widened in shock, feeling like they were about to pop out of their sockets. I was speechless.
"By the way, Leon? Why are Lixis and the others lying like that?" I heard the Princess ask, but it didn't quite register in my mind.
"Oh, nothing much," the man replied casually. "I'm just planning to try and tame some Dryads."