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

The musty scent of old parchment and leather bindings filled my nostrils as I found myself pressed against the wooden shelves of the small book storage room.

Rumia's lips were soft and urgent against mine, her breath warm and sweet. The sound of our kisses echoed softly in the cramped space, mixing with the distant murmur of students passing in the corridors beyond.

Time seemed to stretch and compress simultaneously as we lost ourselves in each other's embrace. The outside world—with its pressing obligations and watchful eyes—faded into insignificance. Here, in this forgotten corner of the academy, we could simply be Harold and Rumia, not the commoner scholarship student and the fallen noble's daughter with all the complications that entailed.

My hand found its natural resting place on the curve of her waist, feeling the warmth of her body through the crisp fabric of her uniform.

She responded by coiling her arms around my neck with practiced ease, drawing me closer until there was no space left between us. Her developing curves pressed against my chest, and I could feel the rapid beating of her heart matching the rhythm of my own.

The minutes stretched on, each kiss deeper and more desperate than the last. When I finally managed to summon enough willpower to part our lips, I was greeted by the sight of Rumia's face flushed a delicate shade of pink that extended from her cheeks down to her slender neck. Her blue eyes gazed up at me with a hazy, almost intoxicated expression.

"I missed you so much, Hal," she whispered.

"I missed you as well," I replied honestly, tucking a strand of her blond hair behind her ear.

But then her expression shifted, a shadow passing over her features like clouds blocking the sun. Her lips formed a small pout that would have been adorable if not for the hurt flickering in her eyes. "Really? You seem to be doing well without me. You had Lisa, that new girl Zoey, and now another girl—Alicia."

I couldn't help but smile at her jealousy.

"Well, you know how I feel about Lisa," I said, my voice taking on a slightly teasing tone. "As for Zoey, I care about her, yes, but it's different. And Alicia—I'm working for her so I don't end up being expelled by any annoying nobles. You know, like your wonderful fiancé." The last words rolled off my tongue with deliberate mockery.

The change in Rumia's expression was immediate and dramatic. Her face twisted with genuine disgust, as if she'd tasted something particularly foul. "Don't call that pig my fiancé, Hal." The venom in her voice was palpable.

I raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious now. "Do you hate him that much?"

"He's despicable," she spat, her hands clenching into small fists at her sides. "You'll see it yourself soon enough. I can't believe my father wants me to marry that... that pig." Her voice cracked slightly on the last word, betraying the pain beneath her anger.

"Well, the only thing your father thinks about is getting his baron status back. He's ready to sell even his beautiful daughter for that political advantage."

To my surprise, Rumia smiled at my words, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. She stepped closer again, her hands trailing up my chest to rest against my shoulders. "What about you, Hal? What would you do for me?" The question came with a tender kiss.

"It depends," I murmured against her lips, my hand sliding down from her waist to cup the gentle curve of her ass through the fabric of her skirt. The material was soft beneath my palm, and I could feel the warmth of her skin through the layers.

"Haaaa~" The sound escaped her lips in a breathy sigh that sent shivers down my spine. Her body pressed even closer to mine, seeking more contact, more intimacy.

Emboldened by her response, I let my hand venture beneath her skirt, my fingertips encountering the impossibly smooth skin of her thighs. They were pale as cream and soft as silk, trembling slightly under my touch. The contrast between the coolness of her skin and the heat radiating from her core was intoxicating.

Rumia shivered at my caress, her breathing becoming more shallow and rapid. When my fingers finally traced along the delicate lace edge of her undergarments, her reaction was immediate and intense.

"H...Harold... hmm..." My name fell from her lips like a prayer, and she bit down on her lower lip to stifle any louder sounds. The sight of her trying so hard to remain quiet while pressing herself against me with increasing urgency was almost my undoing.

"Do you want me that much, Rumia?" I whispered directly into her ear, my breath hot against the sensitive skin of her neck.

She blushed an even deeper shade of rose and nodded eagerly. "I want you so much, Hal..."

For a moment, I was tempted to give in completely, to lose myself in her warmth and forget about everything else. But then reality came crashing back—Alicia was waiting for me, probably growing more anxious by the minute on her first day at the academy.

"Then..." I suddenly pulled back, grasping her shoulders gently but firmly. "That will have to be next time." I flashed her what I hoped was a reassuring smile, though I could see the disappointment and frustration in her eyes.

Before she could protest or try to convince me otherwise, I quickly opened the door and slipped out into the corridor.

Students moved past in groups, their conversations mixing into an indistinct buzz of academic life. I took a deep breath, trying to center myself and push down the lingering effects of Rumia's touch.

I couldn't leave Alicia alone on her first day—she might actually faint from anxiety, and that would be a disaster for both of us. The poor girl was already nervous enough without having to navigate the social complexities of academy life on her own.

But where exactly was the dining hall? In my distracted state, I'd managed to get myself turned around in the maze of corridors and courtyards that made up the academy grounds.

I emerged from Building One into the bright afternoon sunlight, squinting as my eyes adjusted. The campus stretched out before me, a collection of impressive stone buildings connected by well-maintained pathways and dotted with ancient oak trees. Following the sound of voices and the general flow of student traffic, I made my way toward what appeared to be the largest building in the complex.

The dining hall was exactly what I'd expected from an institution that prided itself on training the future leaders of the kingdom. The kingdom's finest cooks had been recruited to ensure that the academy's students were well-fed and content—after all, hungry nobles tended to be cranky nobles.

It didn't take long to spot Alicia in the crowd. She stood out like a nervous deer surrounded by wolves, clutching a plate of food that she clearly had no intention of eating. Her posture was rigid with tension, and even from across the room, I could see the barely concealed panic in her eyes.

Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one who had noticed her discomfort. A group of three young men had surrounded her, and their intentions were clearly less than noble. The leader of the group was a stocky young man with brown hair and an arrogant bearing that immediately set my teeth on edge. His gaze as he looked at Alicia was predatory, like a cat that had cornered a particularly interesting mouse.

"Come on, cutie," he was saying as I approached within earshot, his voice dripping with false charm. "You seem quite lost. Let us help you find your way around." His companions snickered at what they obviously considered wit.

"I... I'm sorry," Alicia stammered. "I'm waiting for someone else..." Her knuckles were white where she gripped her plate, and I could see her hands trembling slightly.

The brown-haired young man's expression darkened at her polite rejection. "Who cares about whoever you're waiting for? He could never be better than me." The arrogance in his tone was staggering, even by noble standards.

That was my cue to intervene.

"Alicia," I called out clearly, making sure my voice carried over the ambient noise.

The relief that flooded her face was immediate and profound. A genuine smile replaced her look of barely controlled panic, and she actually took a step toward me before catching herself. "H...Harold..." She moved quickly to my side, staying close.

The brown-haired young man and his two lackeys turned their attention to me, their expressions shifting from confusion to irritation to outright hostility in the space of a few seconds.

"So, what house are you from?" The leader demanded, his tone suggesting that this was obviously the most important question in the world.

"Does that matter?" I asked.

One of his henchmen—a thin, weaselly-looking boy with protruding teeth—stepped forward with obvious outrage. "What are you asking?! Do you know who he is?!" His voice cracked slightly with indignation, which rather undermined the intimidating effect he was clearly going for.

"No idea," I replied honestly.

All three of them visibly fumed at my response, their faces reddening with wounded pride. The leader puffed up his chest like an angry rooster and shouted loud enough for half the dining hall to hear.

"I am Borin Ironroot! Son of Viscount Ironroot! Now tell me your name!"

The silence that followed his proclamation was heavy with expectation. Around us, conversations had died away as other students turned to watch the confrontation unfold. Some looked genuinely interested in the drama, while others seemed more concerned about staying out of any potential trouble.

I found myself in a delicate position. If I revealed my full name and these nobles discovered that I wasn't connected to any house of significance, it would create exactly the kind of problem I'd been trying to avoid.

Before I could decide on the best course of action, a new voice rang out.

"What is happening here?"

The entire dining hall—which had been buzzing with hundreds of conversations just moments before—fell into complete silence. It was as if someone had cast a spell of quietude over the entire room.

I turned toward the source of the voice and felt my breath catch slightly. Standing in the doorway was a striking woman I had ever seen. She appeared to be about two years older than me, with long white hair and piercing crimson eyes that seemed to see straight through to a person's soul.

My gaze dropped briefly to the blazer of her uniform, where the number four was embroidered in elegant script. A fourth-year student, then, which meant she held considerable authority within the academy's hierarchy.

The whispers that rippled through the now-silent hall confirmed my suspicions about her identity.

"It's Rudina Diamond!"

"The student council president!"

"She's even more beautiful than the rumors say!"

The student council president?

Now that was interesting.

As she approached our little group with measured, graceful steps, I couldn't help but notice how even Borin Ironroot seemed to shrink slightly under her gaze.

Borin's voice cracked as he stumbled over his words.

"T… that's…"

He couldn't seem to finish, so I stepped in.

"They were harassing Alicia Lindow," I said evenly. "I thought it best to intervene."

Rudina's gaze shifted to me. For a moment, her expression was unreadable, but her arched brows betrayed a flicker of surprise. Her eyes lingered on me longer than most people's usually did, and I realized why—her stare had caught the pale gleam of my hair and the strange tint of my eyes. White and pink. The same rare combination she bore herself except she had red eyes. Perhaps she had never expected to see such a likeness here, in this place.

Her surprise lasted only a heartbeat. Composure returned swiftly, and she turned on Borin, her voice sharp as a drawn blade.

"Is that true?"

Borin swallowed hard. "W–what? He… he's lying!"

"About what, exactly?" Rudina pressed.

His lips trembled as he searched for an excuse, some half-truth to wriggle through, but his eyes betrayed him. He faltered, glancing away like a thief caught with his hand in the purse.

Rudina's tone dropped colder. "Enough. The three of you—this is your first day here, and already you've earned my first warning. Consider carefully whether you'll need a second."

The weight in her words left no room for protest. Borin and his friends lowered their gazes, teeth clenched in silent frustration. They said nothing more, though their narrowed eyes lingered on me with venom as they shuffled away, fists balled tight.

I met their glare with calm disinterest until they vanished into the crowd.

Turning back, I inclined my head slightly toward Rudina. "My thanks."

She dismissed the gratitude with a shake of her head. "It's fine. What is your name?"

"Harold," I answered.

Her brow arched again, as though waiting for more.

"I'm no noble," I added, sparing her the trouble of asking.

"I see." A faint glimmer of interest flickered in her eyes. "Yet you managed to find your way into this academy. That alone speaks of talent."

"I worked for it," I replied simply.

"Then continue working," she said. With that, she turned and left.

Alicia, relieved, gave me a smile. "Thank you, Harold."

I waved it off lightly. "No thanks needed. I'm only doing the job your father entrusted me with." My eyes scanned the hall for a place to sit.

It was then that I noticed her. At a table for four, sitting all alone, was Neliel. She ate quietly, each movement neat, though the room's whispers pressed against her like thorns. Scornful gazes darted her way, cruel in their indifference.

I felt a smile tug at my lips. Without hesitation, I gestured to Alicia and made my way toward Neliel's table.