Charming the Princess

As soon as they entered the classroom, the lively chatter that had filled the room came to an abrupt halt. Marcus, stunned for a brief moment, realized that this was the third time such a thing had happened since his arrival at the academy. However, he was no longer surprised. This time, the silence wasn't just because of him—it was because he had entered alongside Princess Serina and Charlotte.

He could feel the weight of curious stares on him, but Marcus had learned not to pay attention to the reactions of others.

He calmly made his way to his usual seat near the window, the quiet whispers of his classmates trailing behind him. With a sigh, he sat down and rested his head on his hand, gazing out of the window.

Today would be the first time he'd actually attend all his classes. On his first day, he had ended up in the infirmary after his duel with Leo. Thinking about that, a sigh escaped his lips.

The door creaked open, and Professor Erza walked in, her heels clicking against the floor as she moved to the front of the classroom. Her sharp eyes scanned the students, and when they landed on Marcus, a small smile appeared on her face.

"Good morning, class," Erza began, her voice firm yet approachable. "Today, we will be reviewing advanced elemental theory, so make sure you're paying attention."

The students settled down as she began the lecture. Marcus, who already knew much of the magical theory from both the novel and his own studies, listened casually. His thoughts drifted back to setting of the Novel.

It was an Adventure - Harem novel, a story of exploration, magic, and conflict, centered around Leo, the protagonist. Leo would travel around the world, marrying beautiful women from different races, growing his harem, and eventually defeating the demons who ruled as enemies of humanity.

But now, everything was changing. Marcus was already altering the story's course. He had forged relationships with key characters—Princess Serina, Charlotte, even Professor Erza. He had earned the attention of Principal Lucian, and most importantly, he had injured Leo. That had never happened in the original plot. Leo was supposed to grow steadily stronger, overcoming every challenge with ease. Yet, Marcus had thrown a wrench in the story's natural progression.

The class continued as Professor Erza delved into the complexities of combining elemental magic. "When using multiple elements, it's crucial to understand the nature of each one," she explained. "Fire is destructive and forceful, while water can be both fluid and unforgiving. Wind is swift, and earth is resilient. Mastery comes from knowing how to blend these elements seamlessly."

Marcus listened casually, though his mind was elsewhere. He had dark magic, an element most feared and misunderstood, and now he had sword aura, a rare ability even among elite mages. He hadn't yet explored the full potential of these powers, and he wondered how they might interact.

"Marcus," Professor Erza's voice suddenly called out, snapping him back to the present. "Since you've demonstrated remarkable control over your aura, why don't you explain to the class how you focused it during your duel?"

All eyes turned toward him. Marcus could feel the weight of their gazes.

He stood up slowly, his voice steady as he began to speak. "Focusing aura is about balancing control and power," Marcus explained. "Too much focus on control, and you lose the raw force that makes aura effective in battle. Too much force, and you risk burning out quickly. The key is to treat the aura as an extension of yourself—like an extra limb. You have to trust it to move with you, not against you."

"Well said, Marcus," she remarked. "Aura manipulation is as much a mental discipline as it is a physical one. It's clear you've grasped that concept."

Marcus sat back down, satisfied with the reaction.

As the class progressed, Marcus's mind wandered again. He thought about the world of the novel, how Leo was supposed to grow stronger, gathering allies and building his harem. But Marcus wasn't going to let that happen. He was already disrupting the narrative, and soon, he would be powerful enough to take full control of his fate.

When the class ended, Serina and Charlotte approached him. Both had been relatively quiet during the lecture, but now their attention was fully on him.

"You continue to impress, Marcus," Serina said, her voice carrying a hint of admiration. "That explanation about aura was… insightful."

Charlotte, standing next to her, nodded. "You're definitely standing out more than I expected," she added, though her tone was more reserved.Hearing her Marcus just smirked.

"Still," Serina continued, "I'd like to see more of your abilities firsthand. What do you say we head to the training grounds? I've been wanting to test myself against someone who can use aura as well as you."

Marcus raised an eyebrow. Serina was the crown princess, after all, and challenging him to a duel, even a friendly one, was no small matter. But Marcus was confident in his abilities.

"Sure," he replied with a shrug. "I've got some free time before the next class."

The three of them made their way to the academy's training grounds, a vast open area equipped with magical dummies and other training equipment. It was usually crowded with students practicing their spells, but today it was relatively quiet, which suited Marcus just fine.

Serina unsheathed her sword, its blade glowing faintly with her aura. She stood a few paces away from him, her stance confident and relaxed. "Let's see if you can handle me," she said with a playful grin.

Marcus grinned back, summoning his dark aura. It surrounded him like a swirling mist, the energy pulsating with power. He knew he couldn't afford to go all out—not yet. But he also couldn't afford to hold back too much.

The two squared off, their auras clashing in the air between them. Serina made the first move, dashing forward with impressive speed. Her blade slashed through the air, aimed directly at Marcus. He parried it easily, their auras colliding with a sharp crackle of energy.

Serina was fast, but Marcus was stronger. He could feel the power of his dark aura surging through him, guiding his movements with precision. He countered with a quick strike, forcing Serina to leap back.

"Not bad," Serina called out, her voice filled with excitement. "You're tougher than I thought."

Marcus didn't respond. He was focused, letting his instincts take over. The two of them exchanged blows, their auras dancing around them like living shadows. Each clash sent shockwaves through the training grounds, the air crackling with magical energy.

Finally, Marcus saw an opening. With a swift movement, he unleashed a burst of dark energy, knocking Serina's blade out of her hand. She stumbled back, her aura flickering.

"I yield," Serina said, raising her hands with a smile. "You win this time."

Marcus relaxed, letting his aura dissipate. "You weren't bad yourself," he replied, though inwardly he was pleased.

Charlotte, who had been watching from the sidelines, approached. "You're full of surprises, Marcus," she said quietly. "I didn't expect you to handle her so easily."

Marcus shrugged. "I've had a lot of practice."

As Marcus extended his hand to Serina, helping her stand, he activated his charm ability, feeling the familiar tingle of dark energy subtly intertwining with his aura. His eyes glimmered briefly as the power took hold, invisible to all except himself. He watched as Serina's face softened, her gaze lingering on him for a moment longer than usual. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her usual confident demeanor faltered just a bit.

"Thanks," she said, her voice quieter than before. She smiled, a hint of something deeper flickering in her eyes. Marcus could feel the charm working, the tendrils of his influence beginning to take root.

Charlotte, standing nearby, hadn't gone unnoticed either. Marcus caught her staring at him, her usual aloofness replaced by a growing curiosity. The charm ability didn't work as strongly on her as it did on Serina—yet. Still, he could see subtle signs: the slight hesitation in her movements, the way she shifted closer to him without realizing it.

'Two down, several more to go.' Marcus thought, his mind already calculating how to further his control over these two women. Serina, the crown princess, and Charlotte, his betrothed, were pivotal to the story, and both were crucial pieces in his plan to accumulate more Demon Points. With them under his sway, Leo would be left floundering, his carefully crafted narrative unraveling.

"Your aura control is even more impressive in person," Serina said, standing a bit too close now, her breath brushing against his skin. "You've definitely caught my attention, Marcus. I'd like to spar with you again sometime… perhaps under more private circumstances?"

Her words were laced with a playful undertone, but Marcus knew better. She was serious. The charm was working its magic, pushing her towards him, subtly altering her feelings.

"I'll look forward to it," he replied smoothly, flashing her a grin that made her heart skip a beat.

Charlotte crossed her arms, clearly noticing the interaction.