she's Mine

Lia heard a masculine voice while she slept, but she couldn’t open her eyes.

“Why is she sleeping for so long? Wasn’t she supposed to wake up within a few hours?” the first voice asked.

“S-Sir… since the cause was a mental breakdown, and at such a young age, it may take longer.”

“I’m fine… what mental breakdown?” Lia thought before sinking back into deep sleep once again.

She woke up another time, but her vision was completely blurry. She felt someone beside her, wiping her arm with something wet, yet she couldn’t make out his features.

Then darkness swallowed her again.

The third time, she slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was no longer blurry, but her body felt unbearably heavy. She tried to speak, but only a hoarse whisper escaped her lips.

“…Water.”

Immediately, a hand holding a cup reached toward her, gently placing it against her lips.

Lia drank greedily, like someone lost in the desert finally finding a spring of water.

When she finished, she raised her gaze toward the man sitting beside her.

This time, he wore casual clothes: a dark gray shirt with a low collar exposing part of his collarbone, and black trousers falling neatly over his long legs. Even though his hair looked slightly messy, his handsome appearance remained unaffected.

Maximus didn’t seem to notice her staring. Calmly, he reached out and checked her forehead temperature carefully, as if trying not to frighten her.

“Good… it’s gone down.”

The first thing that came to her mind was “Where am I?”, but instead she quietly asked:

“I thought you were joking… and that you wouldn’t answer my call.”

Maximus narrowed his eyes.

Her small body trembled beneath his heavy gaze.

Before she could explain herself, he coldly said:

“I am not a man who makes pointless jokes. If I say something, I mean it… understood?”

But his sharpness softened slightly when he noticed her confusion, and he added in a lighter tone, though it still carried a hint of danger:

“Relax… I don’t eat immature swans… at least, not yet.”

A faint wolfish smile appeared on his lips.

“So there’s no need for that frightened expression.”

Then he returned to his book as though nothing had happened.

Frightened… expression?

Lia’s eyes widened suddenly. She realized she wasn’t wearing her mask. She quickly turned toward him.

“Where is my mask… Sir?”

Sir?

Maximus frowned.

“Who allowed you to call me that? It seems you don’t remember what happened the last time you said it…”

He paused for a moment, looking at her with an unreadable gaze before continuing:

“And that pathetic wooden mask… it won’t hide you from me. Even if they hide you in the deepest corner of the world, with the strongest divine artifacts, I’ll still find you.”

Lia tightened her grip on the blanket.

Last time? When had she even spoken to him before?

Gathering her courage, she said:

“I’m used to hiding my face… maybe I can show it sometimes, but I’m not used to staying without it.”

She watched his expression carefully… but it was useless. His face remained as cold and unmoving as stone.

He suddenly changed the subject.

“Eat your breakfast first. Then we’ll talk.”

Lia puffed her cheeks in annoyance. Around other people, she never dared to show her emotions… but with him, things were completely different.

Several maids entered carrying delicious dishes and placed them on the table.

“Greetings to His Majesty the Ruler… and the Lady.”

The Lady?

Lia blinked in confusion.

Were they talking about her?

Before she could deny it, Max calmly said:

“Look around… we’re alone here. Who else would they mean?”

Then he stood up and effortlessly carried her toward the table.

Startled, Lia instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck before quickly pulling her hand away.

He noticed… but said nothing.

He placed her before a table overflowing with food, enough to feed an entire family.

“Eat.” He said it like an order.

“But this is wasteful! I can’t eat all of this… either eat with me, or let the maids join us.”

Max sighed patiently.

“I already ate. And the maids have rules… they don’t sit with their masters.”

Her annoyance deepened.

“Hmph… fine.”

She refused to look at him afterward.

But the corner of his mouth lifted slightly… into a faint smile.

……

“But I’m not hungry,” Lia said while glaring at him defiantly, but before she could continue—

Grrr…

Her cheeks instantly turned bright red from embarrassment, and she wished the ground would split open and swallow her whole.

Maximus didn’t comment. He merely closed his eyes calmly.

Lia cautiously took her first bite, then another, until her hesitation slowly disappeared beneath the hunger she could no longer deny.

Maximus silently watched her, sitting at the edge of the table without eating, as though observing her was more important than any meeting in his kingdom.

After a while, the noise at the table quieted down, leaving only the faint clinking of utensils.

“I won’t be able to finish all this… really,” Lia said while setting down a piece of bread.

“No one asked you to finish it,” he replied calmly.

She looked at him. “Then why all this food?”

He remained silent for a moment before saying:

“Because you neglect yourself in your darkest moments… look how little you’ve eaten. Even infants eat more than you.”

Her hand froze midair.

“It’s like you know me well. And besides… I’m only five years old.” This was the third time his words unsettled her.

He didn’t answer immediately. He simply stared at her longer than usual before coldly saying:

“I know enough.”

Silence filled the room once again.

After she finished eating, Maximus pushed his chair back slightly and stood up.

“Rest. You’re not leaving this room today.”

Her eyes widened.

“What? I can’t stay trapped here like this!”

He took only one step closer, yet his presence alone made the room feel suffocatingly smaller.

“That wasn’t a request.”

She instinctively stepped back before asking more quietly:

“And why?”

He paused, then answered with a sinister smile:

“Because we’ll be receiving guests soon.”

Lia immediately fell silent.

“And who are they?”

This time, he didn’t answer. He simply turned toward the door and said:

“They’ll arrive soon.”

He cast her a cold glance and added:

“This room is connected directly to the library. Read whatever you like.”

Without waiting for a response, he left and closed the door behind him with a muted sound.

Lia stared absentmindedly toward the door, as if waiting for something… or perhaps someone, until a figure stopped before her.

“Greetings, my Lady. I’m the maid His Excellency assigned to serve you during your stay.”

A maid with short brown hair and freckles covering her face bowed politely. She looked gentle and kind.

“Call for me if you need anything, my Lady.”

“Thank you,” Lia replied.

The maids left, leaving Lia alone. After some time, she wandered into the library.

She had always been amazed by the imperial library of the Second World and considered it enormous, but… this library shattered every standard she knew.

Lia’s eyes sparkled with genuine amazement as she ran her hand over the countless books.

This time, unlike before, she decided to read books about swordsmanship. She couldn’t always rely on others forever. Soon, she became absorbed in a book titled: “Sword Master.”

A “Sword Master” was a stage reached by those who walked the path of swordsmanship. Only a select few could attain it, requiring an extremely deep understanding of the sword itself, allowing them to control Sword Intent and the sword’s will. In the entire Fifth World, there were only seven Sword Masters, five of whom led the vanguard army of the First Kingdom.

But her joy didn’t last long. After only an hour, she felt overwhelming pressure engulfing the palace. In the next instant, Maximus appeared beside her, and both of them vanished.

She didn’t even have time to ask where they were going.

When they reappeared, countless heavenly armies stood before them, led by six well-known figures.

Silence… until—

“Hahahaha!”

A hysterical laugh echoed.

“Do you truly believe such a pathetic number of soldiers can overthrow me? Hah? If you dare knock on this ruler’s doorstep, you’d better bring a valuable gift with you.”

Maximus’s voice thundered across the entire world.

This ruler. This king.

Titles used only by supreme beings when addressing those beneath them.

“Lord Maximus, return the child to us.”

One of the figures spoke. Lia recognized her instantly.

Vitalia.

The name surfaced in her mind immediately.

Vitalia appeared wearing battle armor, a treasured artifact passed down through her family. Her hair fluttered behind her, making her look like a goddess of war.

None of the men dared speak. One wrong word could provoke him into causing catastrophic losses without even granting them a chance to negotiate. So they entrusted the “honor of negotiation” to the Spirit of Life, the only woman among them.

And considering Maximus’s general leniency toward women, even without any clear lust or desire, especially toward someone as beautiful and refined as Vitalia… hohoho… surely a noble gentleman would appreciate such a heavenly angel descending upon his roof.

What virtue. What elegance fitting for a “noble man” like Maximus.

Lia froze in place. It wasn’t because of the armies stretching endlessly beyond the horizon, nor the heavenly pressure that made the palace residents tremble in fear. Without their ruler protecting the area, they would have exploded long ago under the pressure of these gathered powers.

Lia’s heart pounded.

Why such a massive army?

Was all this truly just to retrieve her?

Impossible…

The heavenly army wasn’t something easily assembled in a short time. It looked more like a carefully prepared plan that had existed long before now.

Retrieve her?

A filthy excuse.

Lia wasn’t foolish enough to think this was out of love or affection for her. No… there was something much deeper happening beneath the surface.

“Vitalia…” Lia whispered softly to herself.

The six great figures didn’t move, yet their mere presence made the air itself harsher, as if the entire world stood on the edge of a single decision.

Maximus didn’t even glance at the others.

A king had no reason to acknowledge ants.

He stood firmly with one hand in his pocket, staring at the armies with unmistakable disdain.

His entire focus remained on the main actor of this play.

At the same time, he sent a mental message to his servant watching from elsewhere, accompanied by a faint mocking smile invisible to others.

“Felix, guess something for me. How many minutes do you think your master needs to slaughter these mortal insects?”

“Hmmm… I’d say maybe five minutes at most, without showing any real power.”

“Very good, Felix. I’ll make sure to reward you generously.”

Max replied, pleased by his servant’s answer.

Felix thanked him, then—

Suddenly, Maximus smiled charmingly and said:

“How may I assist you, my beautiful lady?”

He flirted shamelessly without even considering her husband, whose face darkened with anger.

A monster with a beautiful face…

The only decent thing about him was that he didn’t see women merely as tools for satisfying lust.

Even so, despite it not being the first time, this shameless man never failed to astonish them with his audacity.

What was shamelessness?

This was shamelessness itself.

“Return the child to us.”

Vitalia spoke again after regaining her composure, though this time her voice carried sharper authority, as if she wasn’t requesting… but commanding.

To outsiders unaware of the truth, it would seem the Lady of Life held the advantage and bargaining power.

But in reality, only she knew that at this very moment, she was trembling with fear.

Maximus laughed again, a short, cold laugh devoid of amusement.

“Child?” he repeated, savoring the word. “Since when is what belongs to me requested so casually?”

“Good… very good.”

…

The six great beings silently cursed everything cursed.

If not for their pride, they would have fled the instant they heard those words.

Ah… poor Vitalia had truly been offered as a sacrifice to a demon.

…

One of the heavenly soldiers stepped forward.

The moment he did, he exploded into pieces, his organs scattering across the soldiers beside him.

Terror spread through the armies.

That soldier had been elite. He wasn’t someone easily killed… especially not like this.

The others tried to flee, but—

“What? You knock on my door, waste my time with my girl, and think you can leave without permission? Do you think this house belongs to you?”

Maximus laughed mockingly at their failed attempt to escape.

Lia’s eyes widened.

The truth stood clearly before everyone.

This tyrant wasn’t something anyone could deal with.

He hadn’t even used a quarter of his strength.

A mere pulse of Maximus’s will was enough to silence an entire army without lifting a single hand.

“Surrender and live. Resist and die.”

He said it with a crazed smile.

Everyone trembled.

For anyone who had lived through Maximus’s terrifying era… those were the last words they ever wanted to hear from that monster’s mouth.

Some sections of the army trembled, not out of fear… but shock.

Was he truly still this powerful after the Great Catastrophe?

Meanwhile, Vitalia slowly narrowed her eyes.

“You know why we’re here,” she said calmly while hiding the deeply rooted fear inside her.

This time, Maximus slightly turned toward her.

“I know,” he answered. “That’s why you’re still standing before me… instead of becoming dust in the sky.”

Silence.

A heavy silence so intense Lia felt she could hear a pin drop.

Then…

Something happened that made her unconsciously step back.

The air behind the heavenly army split apart.

Not a normal opening.

It was a tear in space itself.

A massive shadow emerged.

Not an army, but another existence entirely, and with it, Lia realized the concept of power she once knew had been nothing more than a joke.

“So you summoned them…” Maximus said quietly.

“The Sky Guardians.”

Knights personally chosen by the Will of Heaven itself. They could not be summoned through ordinary requests. They only appeared in humanity’s darkest moments, when even supreme forces failed to respond.

They had not appeared since the Great Catastrophe, retreating into isolation to recover from their devastating losses.

For the first time, the faint smile vanished from Maximus’s face, replaced by a savage grin dripping with anticipation to rip out these fools’ throats one by one.

If there was one word to describe his current state, it would be—

Battle addict.

He glanced toward Lia, and the savage smile temporarily disappeared.

“Don’t move. Stay inside this formation.”

Lia trembled, but nodded instinctively.

Vitalia spoke in a pleading tone:

“Let her return with us, Maximus. If Her Ladyship learns of this, she’ll take her back anyway… and we’ll keep her safe until she grows older. Then we’ll return her to you. You don’t want her intervention right now, do you…?”

There was no other solution.

Otherwise, this demon would turn them into food for his beasts.

One thought appeared in the minds of the ignorant.

The great beings were exaggerating this monster’s strength.

Even if he was truly a terrifying tyrant, there was no way he could emerge unharmed against all six of them together… right?

This time, without realizing it, Vitalia truly struck Maximus’s sore spot.

He released a quarter of his power.

The six great figures coughed blood.

As for everyone else…

Well, they literally died.

Absurd.

A ridiculous level of power beyond belief.

Those were the final thoughts of the deceased before the last spark of life faded from their minds.

Then he said:

“You still speak as though this world allows you to negotiate.”

And suddenly—

Something happened that no one expected.

He dropped to one knee, placed the mask over Lia’s face, gently patted her head, then said to Vitalia:

“Fine… you’re right. Take her.”

He picked Lia up and threw her toward Vitalia.

“Ahhh!” Lia screamed in shock.

Before she hit the ground, Vitalia caught her.

That bastard Maximus…

Sometimes he felt like a slap to the face, and other times like sweet candy.

“Do not break your word, Goddess of Life. If you do, I’ll make sure adding the matter of that pathetic mask and your attempt to hide her from me becomes part of the already long list…”

His voice carried unmistakable threat.

“Farewell, my beautiful swan…”

…!!

Just like that…

The God of Void suddenly spoke through clenched teeth filled with rage.

“If only you had allowed me to kill him back then, we wouldn’t have reached the point where we great beings are called ants! Where is the justice in that?!”

…

Perhaps you wonder why, among everyone present, the God of Void showed the greatest hatred toward Maximus.

Let me tell you the tragic story of the deceived emperor, one of the many victims of Maximus’s recklessness in his youth…

…

Millions of years ago…

The God of Void stood inside the coronation hall completing the final steps toward achieving his first dream:

Power and the throne.

Yet his focus wasn’t on the imperial priest’s words.

Instead, he searched the crowd for his soulmate and future empress…

Silvar.

She was his second dream.

And today was supposed to be the happiest day of his life.

Coronation and wedding.

But—

His heart suddenly tightened.

Something terrible had happened to his beloved.

The moment the ceremony ended and he received the priest’s blessing, he rushed toward her chambers where she was supposedly preparing for their promised wedding… or so he thought.

He tore through space and arrived before her door.

For the first time in his life, he hesitated.

His hand gripped the doorknob—

Then he heard loud feminine moans and filthy sounds mixed together.

Horror exploded inside his chest.

He recognized that voice.

Silvar.

…Who would dare… unless it was…?

The God of Void’s eyes widened.

No… no… not him…

He pushed the door open and saw his greatest nightmare.

His bride, still wearing the wedding dress he had personally spent days designing and selecting fabrics for, lay in a disgraceful position beside a man he recognized instantly.

Maximus.

The Crown Prince.

Maximus continued what he was doing until the God of Void’s beloved lost consciousness, openly displaying her pleasure without even acknowledging the husband watching them.

Because simply—

She no longer cared.

Young Maximus stood there absurdly handsome, his black clothes wrinkled, scratches visible across his neck as evidence of the “battle” he had just fought.

He spread his arms wide and grinned wolfishly.

“Surprise!”

“How do you like your coronation gift? Beautiful, isn’t it? Hahahaha…”

Ah…

Maximus in his youth truly had been an entirely different person.

Officially, the shining green crown of betrayal had been placed upon the God of Void’s head.

A coronation gift crafted by his wife and his rival.

The God of Void’s eyes turned blood red as he screamed and gathered all his strength into a single attack, summoning his clan’s strongest weapon.

“Die for me, you bastard!”

Maximus laughed and casually kicked the incoming attack aside.

The God of Void crashed into the wall, his bones shattering instantly.

Pffft—

Blood poured from his mouth.

“Why… why?” he asked his unconscious wife, desperately wanting her to tell him she had been forced, that the monster had violated her.

Why would she allow another man to touch her when she never even allowed him to cross her boundaries before?

That was what hurt most.

“Cute… are you trying to convince yourself?” Maximus mocked.

The psychological pain was worse than the physical agony.

Once the God of Void lost the ability to resist, Maximus allowed him to leave before vanishing into black mist.

“Thanks for the meal… oh right! She was a virgin too. Such a shame, a virgin mermaid is incredibly rare… tsk tsk… anyway, you should be honored