Forbidden Desires: Conquering Kingdoms And Women In a Fantasy World!

"T...That was amazing, Harold! You are so strong!"

Alicia's voice rang out with genuine excitement, her earlier nervousness completely forgotten in the wake of our demonstrations. Her emerald eyes sparkled with an enthusiasm I hadn't seen from her before.

"You think so?" I asked, though I was more curious about her reaction than seeking validation.

"Of course!" She exclaimed, her hands gesturing animatedly as she spoke. "I've never seen water magic do such damage before! The way you completely destroyed that dummy... it was like watching a master-level technique." She paused, her expression growing more thoughtful. "Did Lady Isadora teach you that particular spell?"

The question was innocent enough, but I could hear the underlying curiosity. Alicia was clearly trying to understand how someone of my apparent background had learned such advanced magic, and attributing it to my supposed teacher was the most logical explanation she could conceive.

"Yeah," I nodded, not willing to explain that I'd actually developed that technique myself when I was three years old.

"But as expected, you really are amazing, Harold..." she said again, her voice carrying a note of something that might have been admiration, or perhaps something deeper.

I found myself studying her more carefully. "You know, you're pretty amazing yourself. I've never seen wind magic like that before. What exactly were you so scared about back there?"

It was a genuine question that had been bothering me since her demonstration. The level of magical control and raw power she'd displayed was extraordinary – easily on par with advanced academy graduates, possibly even approaching the level of certified battle mages. Yet she'd been trembling with nerves before the examination as if she wasn't sure she could even pass.

Was she really just a normal viscount's daughter? The magical bloodlines of nobility were generally strong, but what Alicia had shown went beyond typical hereditary advantages. This was the kind of talent that suggested either an exceptional natural gift or access to training that far exceeded what most minor nobles could afford.

"R…Really?" She asked, her eyes widening with surprise before a genuine smile spread across her face. "You're not just saying that to be kind?"

The question revealed something telling about her character. Despite possessing what was clearly extraordinary magical ability, she seemed genuinely unaware of how remarkable her talents were. Either she'd been surrounded by people who consistently downplayed her achievements, or she'd never had the opportunity to compare herself against her peers.

"I don't make a habit of lying about things like that," I assured her. "Regardless of everything else, I think both of us will easily pass through to acceptance."

It was true. In Alicia's case, even if she'd somehow completely failed the written examination – which I doubted – no academy in their right mind would turn away someone capable of that level of magical demonstration. Raw talent of that caliber was too valuable to waste, and the political connections that came with a viscount's daughter were just an added bonus.

"Don't say that!" Alicia said quickly, her expression growing worried. "It will only give us bad luck if we assume success before the results are announced..."

I couldn't help but smile at her superstition. "You'll see. Both of us will enter the academy, and honestly, I can't imagine being there without you."

What I meant, of course, was practical. As a commoner in an institution designed primarily for nobility, having an ally like Alicia – someone with both social standing and genuine magical talent – would make navigating the inevitable political complexities much smoother. Her support could open doors that would otherwise remain firmly closed to someone of my supposed background.

But as soon as the words left my mouth, I realized how they might sound to someone else. Alicia's reaction confirmed my suspicion – she went rigid with surprise, her cheeks flushing a deep red as she seemed to struggle with how to respond.

The misunderstanding was rather endearing, actually. I considered correcting her interpretation, but decided there was no harm in letting her think what she wanted to think. If anything, it might make her more inclined to maintain our relationship once we were both at the academy.

"So," I said, changing the subject before she could become too flustered, "do you want to explore the city a bit before we head home?"

Alicia's expression immediately grew conflicted, torn between obvious interest and ingrained caution. "That sounds... well, Father wouldn't want me wandering around the city alone," she said sadly.

"You wouldn't be alone," I pointed out reasonably. "I'll be with you, and you saw for yourself that I can handle myself if any trouble arises. Besides, I'd like to see more of the city before we head back home."

She hesitated for a long moment, clearly battling between her desire for a bit of adventure and her deeply ingrained sense of propriety. Finally, her curiosity won out.

"Okay..." she nodded, though I could see she was still slightly nervous about the prospect.

We set off through the streets of Erestia, heading toward a district I hadn't explored during my previous visits to the capital. This area seemed more commercial than residential, with shops and market stalls lining the main thoroughfare and side streets branching off in directions that promised discovery.

"Is this your first time walking around the city like this?" I asked, noticing how Alicia's eyes darted from sight to sight as if she were trying to memorize every detail.

"No... but it is the first time I've been alone with a boy," she admitted quietly, her voice carrying an odd mixture of nervousness and excitement.

The confession explained a lot about her current behavior. Noble daughters, especially those from traditional families, were typically closely supervised in their interactions with members of the opposite sex. Even innocent outings like this one would normally require the presence of a chaperone or family member.

"Don't be nervous about it," I told her with a reassuring smile. "Just think of me as a friend. Besides, since we're going to be spending a lot of time together once we start at the academy, you might as well get used to it now."

"You're right," she agreed, nodding as if the logic helped settle her nerves. Her posture relaxed slightly, and her smile became more natural.

As we continued walking, I spotted something that seemed perfect for the moment. "How about we get something to eat? Look, there's an ice cream vendor over there."

I pointed toward a colorfully decorated cart where a cheerful-looking man was serving frozen treats to a small crowd of customers. The setup was charming in its simplicity – just a cart with a bell, an array of flavors displayed on hand-painted signs, and the kind of casual atmosphere that invited spontaneous indulgence.

"I…Ice cream? At this time of day?" Alicia asked, her voice carrying genuine bewilderment.

Her reaction told me everything I needed to know about her upbringing. Clearly, she came from the sort of household where meals and treats were served at specific, predetermined times, probably planned days in advance by kitchen staff who coordinated with tutors and governesses to ensure proper nutrition and schedule adherence.

"Two vanilla ice creams, please," I called out to the vendor, ignoring Alicia's surprise.

The man nodded cheerfully and began preparing our order, scooping generous portions into crisp waffle cones that smelled of fresh baking. I paid him and turned to offer one to Alicia, who accepted it hesitantly while glancing around as if she expected her father to materialize from the crowd at any moment.

She took a tentative lick, then her eyes widened with surprise and delight. The ice cream was clearly well-made – rich and creamy with the kind of genuine vanilla flavor that spoke of quality ingredients rather than cheap substitutes.

"You should enjoy more of your youth while you can," I observed, watching her expression brighten with each taste. "Once you're fully established as an adult with all the responsibilities that entails, you won't have as many opportunities for spontaneous pleasures like this."

"B…But I am an adult, Harold," Alicia protested, though her tone was more confused than argumentative.

I had to remind myself that in this world, the transition to adulthood happened at fifteen rather than eighteen. By local standards, both Alicia and I were considered fully grown, with all the expectations and limitations that status typically brought.

"I know," I corrected myself. "What I mean is, you've only just become an adult, and you're still in the student phase of your life. After you graduate from the academy and take on whatever role your family has planned for you, you might not have as much freedom for simple pleasures like afternoon ice cream."

"That... may be true," she admitted thoughtfully, her expression growing slightly melancholy as she considered the future that awaited her.

"That's why I'm here," I said with a reassuring smile. "As your... companion and protector, I'll make sure you have opportunities to enjoy yourself. You don't need to worry about anything when I'm around."

The words came out more smoothly than I'd intended, carrying implications that I hadn't necessarily meant to convey. But they had the desired effect – Alicia's nervousness visibly decreased, replaced by something that looked like trust and perhaps gratitude.

"T…Thank you," she stammered, her cheeks flushing pink again.

I sighed internally, recognizing the pattern that was developing. Without meaning to, I'd been unconsciously adopting the manner of speech and behavior that had served me well in my previous life – the kind of smooth confidence and subtle charm that had made James Trevills successful with women. The problem was that those techniques were almost too effective when applied to someone as sheltered and inexperienced as Alicia.

Every casual compliment, every protective gesture, every moment of confident reassurance was being interpreted through the lens of her limited experience with men her own age. I needed to be more careful, or I'd end up creating complications that would make our future relationship more difficult to manage.

Just as I was contemplating how to recalibrate my approach, disaster struck in the form of a sudden, violent shove from my left side.

The impact caught me completely off guard – not because I couldn't have avoided it if I'd been paying attention, but because I'd been so focused on my conversation with Alicia that I'd let my situational awareness lapse. My ice cream went flying, the cone spinning through the air before splattering against the cobblestones while cold vanilla cream splashed across the front of my trousers.

"Hey, watch where you're going..."

The voice belonged to a young man who was clearly from the noble class – everything from his perfectly tailored clothing to his precisely styled hair spoke of wealth and privilege. He'd been walking with the kind of entitled confidence that suggested he expected the world to move out of his way, and had apparently been annoyed when I'd failed to do exactly that.

But his irritation transformed into something much uglier the moment he took in my appearance. His eyes traveled from my simple, practical clothing to my obviously common features, and his expression shifted from mild annoyance to open disgust.

"A filthy commoner," he sneered. "I should have expected as much. Your kind never knows their proper place, do they?"

I slowly turned my gaze toward the noble who had shoved me, and I could feel something dangerous stirring in the depths of my consciousness. It wasn't anger, exactly – I'd learned long ago to control such crude emotions. What I felt was something far more refined and infinitely more cutting: pure, unadulterated disdain.

The look I gave him wasn't one of rage or frustration. It was the kind of look a king might give to an insect that had dared to crawl across his throne. Cool, calculating, and utterly dismissive. It was a gaze that spoke of experiences and achievements this pampered boy couldn't even begin to comprehend.

My ego, carefully controlled for years now, was speaking through my eyes with crystalline clarity.

In my previous life, I had reached heights of power and influence that would have made this provincial noble's wildest dreams seem like modest aspirations. I had commanded resources that dwarfed the treasuries of entire kingdoms, wielded influence that extended across continents, and moved in circles where the royalty of this world would have been treated like minor dignitaries at best. The wealth I had accumulated as James Trevills could have purchased this boy's entire family lineage and still left change for buying a few kingdoms on the side.

Nobility?

The concept was laughable when viewed from the perspective of someone who had transcended such antiquated social structures entirely.

The young noble, to his credit, wasn't entirely oblivious. Something in my expression – perhaps the complete absence of the deference he was accustomed to receiving from commoners, or maybe the quiet confidence that radiated from my posture despite my humble clothing – clearly unsettled him. His initial smugness wavered as he tried to process what he was seeing.

Unfortunately, rather than retreating from what should have been an obvious warning, his fragile pride seemed to interpret my disdain as a challenge that demanded immediate response.

"What's that look, filthy commoner?!" He shouted, his voice cracking slightly with indignation as he raised his hand in a threatening gesture.

The motion was telegraphed and clumsy – the kind of wild swing that spoke more of pampered upbringing than any real training in combat or confrontation. I found myself calculating the dozen different ways I could end this encounter before he even completed his swing, each option flowing through my mind with the kind of clinical detachment that came from years of dealing with far more dangerous opponents.

"Harold!"

Alicia's voice cut through my tactical planning. Before I could react, she had grabbed my hand with surprising strength and was pulling me away from the confrontation, her grip tight with urgency and fear.

She was already dragging me away through the crowd.

I blinked in surprise at her sudden action but allowed myself to be led away, curious to see how this would play out. She moved with the kind of desperate purpose that suggested she understood the potential consequences of this situation far better than her sheltered upbringing might have implied.

We ran through several winding streets, Alicia choosing our path with an instinctive understanding of the city's layout that spoke of more familiarity with Erestia than she'd initially let on. She led us around corners, through narrow alleys, and past busy market squares until we finally reached a secluded corner where old stone buildings created a natural alcove away from the main thoroughfares.

Only then did she release my hand, immediately turning to scan the area behind us with careful, anxious eyes. She peered around the corner we'd just turned, watching for any sign of pursuit, her breathing still rapid from our impromptu escape.

When she was satisfied that we hadn't been followed, she finally allowed herself to relax, her shoulders sagging with relief as she let out a long, shaky breath.

"You didn't need to do that, Alicia," I said.

Her reaction surprised me. Instead of the embarrassment or apology I might have expected, she straightened up with a fierce determination that transformed her entire demeanor.

"I had to!" She declared with surprising vehemence. "I'm here to protect you from situations like this, aren't I? That's part of what we agreed upon!"

The reminder caught me off guard. She was right, of course – we had discussed how her noble status could provide protection against exactly this kind of social aggression, though I'd been thinking primarily of academy-related situations rather than random street encounters.

"Besides," she continued, her voice dropping to a more uncertain tone as she lowered her gaze, "what could you really have done against him anyway?"

What could I have done? The honest answer would have terrified her.

I could have ended that confrontation in ways that would have left the noble questioning every assumption he'd ever made about social hierarchy and personal safety. I could have used magic that would have made his family's political connections irrelevant. If he'd somehow managed to retaliate using his status and influence, I possessed the resources to destroy him so thoroughly from the shadows that he'd never even understand what had happened to him.

But of course, I couldn't say any of that to Alicia. Such capabilities would raise questions I wasn't prepared to answer, and they would fundamentally change how she saw me in ways that could prove problematic for our future relationship.

Instead, I reached out and gently lifted her chin with my fingers, guiding her gaze back up to meet mine.

"You're right," I said softly, allowing genuine warmth to color my voice. "Thank you, Alicia. I appreciate you looking out for me like that."

The touch seemed to electrify her. Her clear green eyes widened as they met mine, and I watched a deep blush spread across her cheeks like watercolors bleeding through silk. For a moment, she seemed caught in some kind of trance, her lips slightly parted as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.

Then, as if suddenly realizing how intimate the moment had become, she quickly looked away, her entire face flushing an even deeper shade of pink.

"S…Since we're here anyway," she stammered, clearly trying to change the subject to something less emotionally charged, "we might as well... that is, I noticed that your clothing..." She paused, gathering her courage before continuing in a rush. "I could buy you some better clothes, Harold. I have money with me, and it might help you avoid situations like that one."

I considered her offer carefully. She was absolutely right – my current commoner's attire was indeed attracting unwanted attention and marking me as a target for exactly the kind of social aggression we'd just escaped. While I didn't particularly care about the opinions of petty nobles, dealing with constant harassment would become tiresome quickly, especially once we were at the academy where such encounters would be far more frequent and potentially consequential.

"I'll gladly take you up on that offer," I nodded.