The World Is Mine For The Taking-Chapter 1208 - 186 - The Princess’s Tournament (1)

Chapter 1208: Chapter 186 - The Princess’s Tournament (1)

Myrcella’s POV

"What in the world is the meaning of this, Princess?"

The Commander’s voice cut through the room, and it was sharp and unfiltered as ever. It wasn’t loud, but it carried a kind of pressure that made the air feel heavier than it already was. She stood straight, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on me like she was trying to peel me apart layer by layer.

"I know you hold a great deal of authority," she continued, her tone clipped, "but that doesn’t mean you can abuse it however you like. There has to be a limit to these things. Surely you understand that."

This was new.

For the first time since I’d known her, the Commander looked genuinely angry at me.

Not annoyed. Not mildly irritated. She was pissed.

And honestly? I couldn’t blame her.

Given what I’d done, this reaction was almost expected.

After all, the reward I had publicly announced for the tournament—the one I was personally hosting—was a dinner. A dinner with me.

And not just me.

A dinner with both me and the Commander.

On paper, it sounded harmless. Just a meal. No promises, no hidden clauses, as well as no unspoken obligations. But paper had never stopped people from imagining whatever they wanted.

Of course, it was only dinner. Nothing more than sitting at a table, eating food, and even exchanging words. That was all it was ever meant to be. Yet the moment the announcement went public, assumptions spread like wildfire.

People always did that. They filled the silence with their own expectations.

Especially now.

With the king gone, the kingdom stood on unsteady ground. Power vacuums made people nervous, and nervous people talked. They speculated. They connected dots that were never meant to be connected.

A dinner involving the princess and the Commander, offered as a prize in a tournament, during a time of instability?

To them, it was obvious.

They thought I was searching for a partner. Testing potential candidates. Gauging loyalty, strength, influence—whatever narrative best suited their gossip.

But they were wrong.

It was just dinner.

Nothing more.

And honestly, if someone was stupid enough to risk their life over something like that, then that was entirely on them. Especially when the tournament itself forbade killing. No death matches. No fatal outcomes. The reward wasn’t worth dying over, and it certainly wasn’t worth losing one’s mind over.

If they imagined something else—something bigger, something lewder, or even something political—that was their own doing.

Not my responsibility.

Besides, none of them were going to win anyway.

Leon would.

He was already set on it. This tournament wasn’t just another event to him. It was a stage for him. One he intended to dominate.

He was going to win, and when he did, he would finally show everyone what he was truly capable of.

The result was already decided.

Set in stone.

So the question remained—why even bother holding the tournament at all?

The answer was simple.

So the administration could see him.

So the Commander could see him.

So everyone who mattered would finally understand what kind of piece Leon really was on the board.

That was the only way forward.

And for that to work, the Commander needed to be involved.

I met her glare without flinching and spoke calmly.

"Why?" I asked, tilting my head slightly. "Didn’t you once say you wanted to find a man who fits your standards, Commander? I can’t think of a better way to do that than hosting a tournament."

Her brow twitched.

"Oh, I see," she said slowly. "So that’s why my name was included."

There was a pause as she studied me, her sharp eyes narrowing just a fraction.

"You’ve put quite a bit of effort into this," she went on. "I also heard that the Minister of Finance approved the budget."

"Of course," I replied smoothly. "He was more than willing to provide the necessary funding."

That part, at least, wasn’t a lie.

Just... incomplete.

The truth was, his willingness had come after a conversation he would never forget.

I had learned his secrets quickly. Actually, far quicker than he expected. Children he’d hidden away. Some within the kingdom. Some far beyond its borders. All of them existing in shadows his wife never knew about.

That same wife who had secured his position. The woman whose influence kept him safe.

If she ever found out, he wouldn’t just lose his title. He’d lose everything. Exile would be the kinder outcome. Execution wasn’t off the table.

I still remembered his face when I told him what I knew.

How his composure shattered. How his legs gave out. How he sank to the floor, forehead pressed against the cold stone as he begged, sobbing, and promising anything.

And I smiled the entire time.

"I see..." the Commander murmured, clearly unconvinced but choosing not to press further.

I shrugged lightly.

"It’s fine if you don’t agree with any of this," I said. "You don’t have to appear at the dinner at all."

She looked at me then, really looked at me.

I smiled back.

For a moment, the silence stretched between us.

Then she smiled too.

It was polite. Controlled. And perfectly shaped.

And completely empty.

"Well," she said, "it seems you’ve gone through quite a lot of trouble for my sake. I suppose it would be rude not to cooperate."

She straightened slightly.

"Though I doubt anyone participating in this tournament will manage to catch my eye."

"We’ll see about that," I replied, my smile widening just a little.

***

Lilia’s POV

I watched Princess Myrcella walk away, her footsteps light but deliberate, as if she knew exactly where she was going—and exactly what would happen next.

Lately, I couldn’t read her at all.

She used to be predictable. Calculated, yes, but familiar. Now, it felt like every move she made carried layers I couldn’t peel back.

She had become an enigma.

Something had changed. I was sure of it.

The question was—what?

And who had caused it?

There was something about her presence now that felt... easier. Not softer, not weaker—but less restrained. Like she had already made her decisions and no longer cared how they looked from the outside.

"Veronica," I said quietly.

She appeared beside me without a sound.

Not an assassin—but she moved like one. Her ability to erase her presence was unsettling, even to me.

"What do you think she’s planning?" I asked.

Veronica folded her arms.

"I don’t know," she admitted. "I can’t see the whole picture either."

That alone was concerning.

After a moment, she added, "But I’m certain of one thing." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

I turned to her.

"Leon is involved."

"Leon?" I repeated.

"The one from the King’s Game," she clarified.

"That black-haired man?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "Your brother... isn’t he?"