The World Is Mine For The Taking

I decided to meet with her.

Honestly, I didn't even know why. I couldn't explain it—not logically and especially not emotionally. It wasn't like I had a reason prepared or something meaningful I was hoping to get out of it. There was just this strange, gnawing pull in my chest that said I needed to go.

So I did.

The place we agreed to meet at was the Leonamon Cake Shop.

The moment I walked in, I saw her.

She was already seated—elegant and composed, as if she'd been waiting for me for a while. Her posture hadn't changed over the years, still carrying that sense of quiet confidence. But what caught me off guard wasn't the familiarity—it was her belly.

Big. Round. Heavy-looking.

It protruded beneath her outfit like a bold, undeniable truth.

She was almost there.

Almost due.

"It's been a while, Irene," she said with a soft smile.

That smile… it completely disarmed me.

Warm. Gentle. So full of affection that it made something twist inside my chest. It wasn't fake—it didn't have that surface-level politeness or any passive-aggressive undertone. It was the smile of a woman at peace. A mother. It hit me harder than I expected.

I wasn't ready for that kind of kindness coming from her.

And she was eating cake—multiple slices of it. Plates scattered around, bits of whipped cream and crumbs here and there. She wasn't even trying to hide how much she was eating, and honestly, she didn't need to.

I'd heard before that pregnant women tended to eat more than usual. They weren't just feeding themselves anymore after all as they were nourishing another life growing inside them. That idea alone… it was still wild to me.

That Gabrielle, of all people, was going to be a mother.

"…It's been a while," I replied, a little stiffly.

It had been exactly four months since she took her leave from teaching at the academy. Four months of no contact. Four months of silence.

"Come here and sit with me," she said, her voice as warm as the smile still lingering on her face.

Without saying anything else, I moved toward the seat across from her and sat down. My hands were in my lap, and I couldn't help but feel a little tense.

"Why did you call for me?" I asked, not bothering to dance around it.

She didn't answer right away. Instead, she gestured toward the cakes in front of us.

"Well, why don't you start eating first?" she said, casual and light. "I mean, there's cake here for you, too. So why don't you start with that?"

I hesitated. "I don't want to take from someone who clearly needs it more…"

She smiled again, and this time it was playful. "Don't worry about it. I still have plenty more."

"W-Well… if you say so, I guess I'll take you up on that offer. To be honest, I was feeling a little peckish. If you'll allow me…"

I reached forward and picked one of the cakes from the tray.

The moment I took the first bite, I felt like my soul was melting.

Soft sponge. Perfect sweetness. The kind of flavor that spread through my tongue like velvet, teasing my taste buds and making my entire body relax. I let out a soft breath, trying to suppress the embarrassing pleasure that rushed in.

It was almost too good. I could've sworn I was about to have an orgasm from how amazing it was.

Leonamon never failed. Leon had control over so many things—business, tech as well as infrastructure—but somehow, even the taste of the food his brand served was top-tier.

And just as I was enjoying that sensation, she opened her mouth and said the one thing that instantly made me forget how to chew.

"I heard that you and Rose had a threesome with Master last night."

I choked.

Hard.

I immediately grabbed the nearest glass of juice and poured it into my mouth, trying not to spit out the cake still halfway on my tongue. My throat burned. My heart skipped like five beats in a row.

"W-Where did you hear that?!" I asked, voice cracking, face already flushing a deep red.

She just laughed softly. "I was joking that I heard it. Actually, I was just confirming something."

Her smile turned a bit sly.

"Well, it was kind of obvious once the two of you suddenly called Master out like that. I guess my assumption was correct."

S-So… she was testing me.

She threw out bait to see if I'd bite—and I did. I fell for it like an idiot.

Of all the people I didn't want knowing about that… it had to be her.

"S-So what?" I shot back, a little sharper now. "Are you going to reprimand me for that? Even though I was the one who kept insisting I wanted a monogamous relationship with Leon?"

She shook her head gently.

"No. I'm not blaming you," Gabrielle said. "I was just wondering if you're okay with it now. With Master having a harem."

I looked down at the table.

My fingers curled slightly, pressing into the napkin beside the plate.

I… didn't know.

"It's because of me, isn't it?" she asked, her voice quieter now. "I'm the reason you haven't accepted it."

That was…

Right.

That was exactly it.

There was no other explanation—no other reason for why I kept hesitating, why I couldn't bring myself to be with the man I loved. It all came down to her.

And I knew that what I was doing was selfish. Holding onto a grudge for so long… it was pathetic. It was exhausting. It was depressing.

But even though I knew all that… I still couldn't let it go.

I was too proud. Too bitter. Too damn stuck.

"I know it's because of that," Gabrielle said gently. "But I'm sorry, Irene. I won't leave Master. I'm going to be his. Forever."

The weight in her voice hit me like a stone.

She wasn't bluffing.

She was serious.

And why wouldn't she be? She was pregnant with his child. That wasn't something you do unless you're all in. I believed her completely.

"I know," I said quietly. "And I'm not going to try anything stupid like asking you to leave Leon. I know how much you love him. Enough to leave your job as a magic knight. Enough to accept all of him, even the parts that aren't easy. That kind of love… it's not something anyone can just overlook."

I took a breath. My voice cracked a little.

"Honestly… I think you have the upper hand against me. If I tried to push anything right now, Leon would be the one to cast me aside. And that's something I don't want to risk."

"I see…" she murmured.

She leaned back slightly, resting a hand on her swollen belly.

"Well, you're right. I love Master. I love him more than anything in this world. And I don't think that love will ever fade. Not ever."

She looked at me again—this time with piercing sincerity.

"That's why I'm giving Master everything he wants. Anything that'll make him happier."

Then, her eyes locked with mine.

"That's why… come and join Master's harem, Irene."