The World Is Mine For The Taking

After waiting for hours, the results were finally in. I dragged myself back to the gym after crashing for two hours post-voting. Lately, I'd been feeling like I could sleep forever. Maybe it was the lack of proper rest. Between work at the Leonamon and trying to piece together the Empire's movements, sleep had become more of a luxury than a necessity.

The gym was buzzing with activity. People crowded around the results board, their expressions a mix of excitement and tension. I caught a glimpse of the board from where I stood, but the second I saw the numbers, I turned away and went looking for Titania.

I didn't need to think twice about where she'd be.

The voting had played out exactly as expected. The top two were Princess Myrcella and Titania, with an enormous gap separating them from the rest. The other candidates might as well not have bothered. But this wasn't just about being in the top two—only one of them could win.

"There you are. Figured as much," I said when I found her.

Titania was on the rooftop, gazing out at the sprawling academy below, her silhouette outlined by the setting sun.

"Oh, Leon," she greeted me, turning with that trademark graceful air, her voice carrying a certain nonchalance. Enjoy new tales from empire

"The results are in," I said, stepping closer. "Have you seen them yet?"

"I have," she replied with a soft smile. "I lost."

She said it like it didn't matter, like it was no big deal. The truth, though, was hard to ignore. She'd lost to Princess Myrcella by just seven votes. Seven votes—that was the razor-thin margin that separated winner from loser. Titania hadn't relied on sweet-talking or shallow promises to gain support. She was upfront about her reasons for running, and yet she'd still managed to capture the hearts of so many people. If it hadn't been Princess Myrcella she was up against, Titania would've won in a landslide.

"Haaa… It's finally over. Thank goodness," she sighed, leaning against the railing.

"You're not sad?" I asked, studying her face.

"Hmm? Why would I be?" She tilted her head slightly, her expression calm. "Didn't I tell you? Whether I won or lost, I'd be happy with the results."

She had said that before. But still, it felt strange. Someone who worked so hard for something wouldn't just brush off a loss like it didn't matter.

"Honestly, I'm glad I didn't win," she continued, her voice light yet sincere. "If I had, I think I'd feel like I didn't deserve it. You know what I mean?"

"You're wrong," I said, stepping closer. "You worked hard for this. If you'd won, you would've deserved every bit of it."

She laughed softly, a sound as airy as the breeze brushing past us. "Fufufu… Maybe you're right. I did work hard, didn't I?"

Without thinking, I reached out and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into a hug.

"Yes, you did," I said firmly. "You did great. You should be proud."

And just like that, the composure she'd been holding onto crumbled.

She broke into sobs, clutching at me as if the weight of everything she'd been holding back had finally become too much.

"I… I worked so hard, Leon…!" she cried, her voice cracking. "I did everything I could… and… and still… Uwaaaaaaaaah!"

Even though she'd told herself she'd be okay no matter the outcome, losing still stung. She was happy for Myrcella, sure, but the pain of falling short after giving it her all was bubbling over, raw and unfiltered.

"It's okay," I whispered, holding her tighter. "You did everything you could. That's what matters."

That's all I could really say to her. I mean, what else was there to do? Maybe I could've said something more, but for now, comforting her was the best I could manage.

After a while, she finally stopped crying. Sitting beside me on one of the benches up on the rooftop, she wiped her tears, sniffled a little, then let out a nervous laugh.

"Hahaha, geez, sorry for bawling like that. Ugh, how embarrassing," she said, her cheeks still a little flushed.

"I don't know," I replied with a small smirk. "You're actually kind of cute when you cry like that."

She tilted her head at me, her lips curling into a faint pout. "Oh, stop teasing me."

"I'm serious." I gave her a look, leaning back slightly. "That's the first time I've ever seen you let your guard down like that."

It really was. Titania, always so composed and confident, had never shown me a vulnerable side before. And now that she had, there was something endearing about it. Her pouty, slightly swollen eyes just added to her charm. Not that I didn't take her tears seriously—I did—but seeing her like this was unexpectedly adorable.

"You're such a tease, Leon," she said with a soft smile, then rested her head on my shoulder. Her voice turned quieter, more reflective. "You know, as much as I hate to admit it, I am kinda bitter about losing. Not because Myrcella won—I sorta expected that. She's a princess, after all. I'm just… bitter because it was so close."

I nodded silently, letting her vent. That slight margin of seven votes would've stung for anyone. Losing by that little was almost worse than losing by a landslide. It made you wonder if there was something—anything—you could've done differently.

"It's not like I'm upset with her or her victory," Titania continued, her tone steady despite the emotions simmering underneath. "She put in the effort just like I did. Maybe even more. And honestly? She earned it fair and square. But still… that gap. Ugh."

Yeah, I got it. No one liked being second place. First place was celebrated, and third could still feel proud they made it that far, but second? Second was where the 'what-ifs' lived, gnawing away at you.

"I mean," she went on, "even if my reasons for running were kinda shallow at first, I did want to make this academy better. I wasn't lying about that, y'know?"

"I know," I said, nodding. "You were genuine about that."

She smiled faintly. "Guess my efforts just weren't enough in the end. I tried my best, but… yeah."

The sun was setting now, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The warm rays kissed our skin, adding a quiet, serene backdrop to her words. Despite everything, she looked at peace—or at least like she was trying to be.

"I'm happy with how far I came," she said softly, her voice laced with acceptance. "But part of me keeps wondering… if I'd just tried a little harder, would it have been enough? Would I have won? Maybe, maybe not."

"Are you satisfied with the results?" I asked after a moment, glancing down at her.

She giggled lightly, her usual confidence creeping back into her voice. "Fufufu… yeah, I think I am."

Even though she lost, Titania seemed ready to move forward. Sure, it still stung, but she was handling it with grace. And to her credit, Princess Myrcella had fought clean—no dirty tricks or underhanded tactics—and still managed to edge out a win. Just seven votes. That was all it came down to.

"I'm really thankful for everything, Leon. For what you've done for me," she said softly, her voice carrying both warmth and sincerity. "I wouldn't have come this far if not for you. I wouldn't have gotten that many votes without you by my side."

"I didn't do anything," I replied. "You're the one who did it all. I was just watching from the sidelines."

"Hehehe…" She giggled, a sweet, melodic sound. "I knew you'd say that, but just having you on the sidelines helped me, you know? And… I'm happy you came into my life. Without you, I'd still be that stuck-up little princess who looked down on people. Without you, I'd still be the lonely Princess with no one by her side."

"I'm glad you came into my life too, Nia," I told her. "I love you."

"I love you too, Leon," she whispered, her voice trembling just slightly.

Our faces inched closer, and then our lips met. We kissed under the setting sun, a kiss that was slow, tender, and filled with all the emotions words couldn't express. When she finally pulled away, her face was mere inches from mine, her cheeks flushed with a soft pink that caught the sunlight just right. In that moment, she looked radiant—blushing, glowing, and utterly breathtaking.

It was the most beautiful face I'd ever seen.

"Leon," she said, her voice low and intimate.

"Yes?"

"Will you make love to me tonight?" Her words were direct yet full of vulnerability. "I want to feel you inside me."

It wasn't just lust driving her. I could feel it in her voice, in the way her eyes searched mine. She wasn't asking for sex—she was asking for comfort, for love. She wanted to feel close to me, to have my love fill her, body and soul. And who was I to deny her that?

I leaned in and kissed her again, deeper this time, letting my answer pour into that kiss. When we parted, I smiled and said, "Yeah. Let's make love tonight."

With that, hand in hand, we headed to my dorm room.