'I'm the Villain, But the System Made Me OP'-Chapter 30: The Court Reacts

Someone was in bed with him.

Draven woke up to warmth pressed against his back. Soft. Breathing steady. Hand draped over his waist.

For a second he thought—assassin? Poison? More bullshit trying to kill him?

Then he smelled her perfume. Lavender and something else. Elise.

Right. She’d come to his room last night after the emergency meeting. Said she was worried. Couldn’t sleep. Needed to know he was okay.

They’d talked. Then she’d just... stayed. Fallen asleep next to him. In his bed. In her nightgown.

His mother. In his bed. This was so fucked up.

And he didn’t care even a little bit.

Her hand moved. *Rustle rustle.* Sliding lower. Over his stomach. Fingers tracing the muscles there.

"You awake?" Her voice was soft. Sleep-rough. Right against his ear.

"Yeah."

"Good." Her hand kept moving. Lower. "I was thinking."

"About?"

"How yesterday was insane. Three scandals. Aldric trying to grab you. Church moving the trial. Everything’s spiraling." Her fingers found the waistband of his sleep pants. Stopped there. Teasing. "And I realized something."

"What’s that?" Draven’s voice came out rougher than he meant.

"I almost lost you. Multiple times. Assassins. Politics. The Church." Elise pressed closer. Her breasts against his back. Warm. Soft. "I don’t want to waste time anymore."

She pulled him to face her. *Thump.* Rolled him over. Straddled his waist in one smooth motion.

Her nightgown was thin. White silk. He could see everything through it. The curve of her breasts. Her nipples hard against the fabric. The shape of her thighs.

Fuck.

"Elise—"

"Don’t." She leaned down. Hair falling around them like a silver curtain. "Don’t tell me we shouldn’t. Don’t tell me it’s wrong. I know it’s wrong. I don’t care."

She kissed him.

Not gentle. Not tentative. Full contact. Her tongue in his mouth. Tasting him. Claiming him.

Draven’s hands went to her waist. *Squeeze.* She moaned into his mouth.

*Knock knock knock.*

"Young master! Lord Valerius requests—oh gods I’m so sorry!"

They broke apart. *Gasp.* Both breathing hard.

Mira the servant was in the doorway. Eyes huge. Face red. Staring at them.

Elise was still straddling Draven. Nightgown riding up. His hands on her ass. Very obviously compromised.

"I—I’ll just—I didn’t see anything—" Mira backed away. *Thump thump thump.* Running footsteps down the hall.

Silence.

Then Elise laughed. Breathless. "Well. That’s going to be awkward."

"You think?"

She climbed off him. *Rustle.* Nightgown falling back into place. Stood up. Adjusted her hair. Looked completely composed except for her flushed cheeks and swollen lips.

"Duke Valerius wants us in the war room. Royal Court emergency session today." She walked to the door. Stopped. Looked back. "Tonight. My room. We finish this."

Then she was gone. *Click.* Door closing.

Draven lay there. Hard as fuck. Frustrated. Wanting to chase after her and—

[System]: *HOLY SHIT*

*She’s AGGRESSIVE now*

*Mom’s done playing safe*

*Tonight you’re definitely getting laid*

*+100 Desire for Elise*

*Current: Desire 100/100, Affection 100/100*

*She’s READY*

Yeah. He’d noticed.

---

War room was chaos again.

More people this time. Duke Valerius at the head. His three advisors. Seraphina. Some guy in Royal Court official robes Draven didn’t recognize. Two nobles from allied houses. And Elise, sitting next to Draven, hand on his thigh under the table.

Casual. Possessive. Her fingers tracing circles on his leg while everyone talked.

"—Royal Court is convening emergency session at noon—"

"—demands explanations about the leaked scandals—"

"—Aldric’s claiming it’s a conspiracy against the Crown—"

"Everyone shut up," Valerius ordered. Silence. "Status. Brennan?"

"Bankrupt as of this morning," the scared woman advisor said. *Rustle rustle.* Shuffling papers. "Treasury seized their main estate. Family fled to countryside property. They’re done."

"Thorne?"

"Criminal charges filed. Guild’s investigating the dungeon operations. Three executives arrested already." The old advisor looked satisfied. "They’re imploding faster than Brennan."

"Kastel?"

"Social exile. Nobody’s talking to them. The affair story was—" the nervous young advisor coughed. "—very detailed. Trade minister resigned. His wife’s filing for divorce. Kastel’s reputation is destroyed."

"Good." Valerius leaned back. *Creak.* Chair protesting. "So Aldric lost three major supporters in one day. How’s he responding?"

The Royal Court official—middle-aged guy, bald, looked perpetually stressed—spoke up. "Desperately. He’s been meeting with every noble house that’ll talk to him. Offering bribes. Political favors. Threatening some."

"Which houses are biting?"

"House Mordren. House Blackthorn. House Greaves." The official counted on his fingers. "All smaller houses. Combined they don’t match what he lost but it’s something."

"Terms?"

"Extortionate. Mordren wants a trade monopoly. Blackthorn wants a royal marriage—Aldric’s cousin to their heir. Greaves wants a title elevation and land grants." The official looked tired. "He’s bleeding resources to stay afloat."

Elise’s hand squeezed Draven’s thigh. He glanced at her. She was smiling. Slight. Satisfied.

She liked watching Aldric suffer.

Kind of hot actually.

"The emergency session today," Valerius said. "What’s the agenda?"

"Officially? Investigating the leaked scandals. Finding who’s responsible." The official pulled out a scroll. *Crinkle.* "Unofficially? Aldric’s going to accuse you. Publicly. Claim House Valerius orchestrated everything to undermine the Crown."

"Can he prove it?"

"No. But he doesn’t need proof. Just enough suspicion to force an investigation. Tie you up in legal proceedings for months."

"Fuck that," Seraphina said. First time she’d spoken. Her voice was ice. "We counter-accuse. Turn it back on him."

Everyone looked at her.

"How?" one of the allied nobles asked.

"Aldric tried to kidnap Draven yesterday. Royal Guards at our gate. Demanding custody." Seraphina’s eyes were sharp. Calculating. "That’s illegal detention without formal charges. We file complaint. Make HIM defend his actions."

"That’s—" the nervous advisor started.

"Brilliant," Valerius finished. Grinned. "Shift the narrative. Make the session about Aldric’s overreach instead of our alleged conspiracy."

"He’ll deny giving the order," the old advisor said.

"Let him. The guards are still on duty. We subpoena them. Force testimony under truth magic." Seraphina was on a roll now. Standing up. Pacing. *Tap tap tap.* "Either they confirm Aldric ordered it—proves he’s acting illegally—or they lie, break under truth spell, get arrested for perjury. Win either way."

[System]: *Your girl is SCARY*

*Political genius mode activated*

*Also watching her pace is hot*

*Those hips don’t lie*

Draven agreed on both counts.

"Do it," Valerius ordered. To the Royal Court official: "File the complaint. This morning. Before the session starts. Catch Aldric off-guard."

"Yes, my lord." The official was already writing. *Scratch scratch scratch.* Quill on parchment.

"What about the Church?" Draven asked. "Trial’s in three days. We ignoring that?"

"Can’t fight two wars simultaneously," Valerius said. "Focus on Aldric first. Church second. We—"

*CRASH.*

Window exploded inward. Glass everywhere. *Tinkle tinkle tinkle.*

Arrow. Black shaft. Embedded in the table. Right where Draven’s head had been a second ago.

Elise had yanked him down. *Thump.* Both of them on the floor. Her on top of him. Protecting him with her body.

"ASSASSINS!" someone yelled.

More arrows. *Whoosh whoosh whoosh.* Coming through the broken window.

Valerius’s guards burst in. *SLAM SLAM.* "Protect the Duke! Seal the—"

*BOOM.*

Explosion. Different window. Fire magic. The whole wall shook.

"They’re INSIDE the estate!" Seraphina was already casting. Ice forming around her hands. *Crackle crackle.* "How the fuck did they—"

"Doesn’t matter!" Draven pushed Elise off him. Gently. "Stay down."

"Like hell." She was already channeling light magic. *Pulse pulse.* Golden energy. A-Rank mana signature flaring.

His mother was hot when she was ready to murder people.

Focus. Not the time.

Draven stood. Void core pulsing. *Crackle crackle.* Black energy around his hands.

Through the broken window—movement. Rooftops. Three figures. No, four. All dressed in black. B-Rank signatures. Professional killers again.

"[Void Lance]!" Draven formed the spell. *Crackle.* Threw it.

*WHOOSH.*

Hit one assassin. Direct hit. *THUNK.* Guy fell off the roof. Didn’t get back up.

Return fire. *Whoosh whoosh.* Two more arrows.

Draven dodged. Barely. One grazed his arm. *Shing.* Cut through his shirt. Blood.

"Draven!" Elise was next to him. Hand on his arm. "[Light Heal]!" Golden energy flowing into the cut. *Pulse.* Wound closing.

"I’m fine—"

"You’re bleeding—"

"It’s a scratch—"

*BOOM.* Another explosion. Different wall this time.

"They’re trying to collapse the building!" the scared woman advisor screamed. Not helpful but probably accurate.

Valerius was barking orders. "Seal all entrances! Get civilians out! Someone find where they—"

*Thump thump thump.* Footsteps overhead.

Ceiling assassins. Great.

"Above us!" Draven yelled.

Too late. Ceiling cracked. *CRACK CRACK.* Stone falling. *Crash.*

Figure dropped through. Landed. *Thump.* Crouched. Daggers out. Straight at Draven.

Fast. B-Rank speed. Blade coming at his throat.

Elise moved faster.

"[Light Barrier]!" *WHOOM.* Golden shield appeared.

Assassin’s blade hit it. *CLANG.* Stopped dead.

Then Elise thrust her other hand forward. "[Smite]!"

*BOOM.* Light magic explosion. Point-blank.

The assassin flew backward. *CRASH.* Through the wall. Gone.

Silence.

Elise stood there. Breathing hard. "Haa... haa..." Hand still glowing with magic. Her nightgown—she’d thrown a coat over it but barely—was singed. Hair wild.

She looked like an avenging angel.

Fuck she was beautiful.

"Everyone alive?" Valerius called out. He was fine. Mana barrier up. Completely calm.

"Here!" Seraphina. She’d frozen two assassins solid. They were ice statues on the floor.

"Alive!" the advisors. Huddled in corner. Terrified but breathing.

"Clear!" the guards. Five dead assassins. Two captured. The rest fled.

Draven checked himself. Cut on his arm. Elise had healed it. Some bruises. Nothing serious.

He looked at Elise. "You okay?"

"Fine." She was looking at the hole in the ceiling. The destroyed walls. The dead bodies. "This is the second time in four days someone’s tried to kill you in your sleep."

"Technically I was awake this time."

"Not the point." She grabbed his face. Turned him to look at her. "This has to stop. I can’t—I can’t keep watching people try to murder you."

Her hands were shaking.

Elise. A-Rank mage. Former adventurer. Had killed monsters and bandits and god knows what else. Shaking.

Because she was scared for him.

"It’ll stop," Draven said. "When Aldric’s done. When the Church backs off. When—"

"When you’re dead because I wasn’t fast enough to save you?" Her voice cracked. "I can’t lose you. I can’t. Not after—"

She didn’t finish. Didn’t need to. After her husband. After being alone for years. After finally having someone again.

Draven pulled her close. *Thump.* She buried her face in his chest.

"I’m not dying," he said. "I’m S-Rank. Void-corrupted. Impossible to kill apparently. I’ll be fine."

"Promise."

"Promise."

She looked up. Eyes wet. "Tonight. My room. I meant it."

"I know."

"I need—" she stopped. Took a breath. "I need to feel you. To know you’re alive. To—"

"I know." He kissed her forehead. "Tonight."

Duke Valerius cleared his throat. *Ahem.* "When you two are done being disgustingly intimate in front of everyone, we have a Royal Court session to prepare for."

Right. Politics. Assassinations. Church trials. The world wasn’t gonna stop because he wanted to fuck his mother.

Priorities.

---

Royal Court session was at noon.

Draven had never been to one. The throne room was massive. Hundred-foot ceilings. Gold everywhere. Three thrones at the front—King, Queen, Crown Prince. King’s throne was empty. He was still "sick."

Queen sat in hers. Middle-aged woman. Sharp eyes. Looked pissed about being there.

Aldric sat in the Crown Prince throne. Looking smug. Like he’d already won.

Two hundred nobles filled the room. Great houses in front. Lesser houses in back. All dressed fancy. All whispering. Gossip spreading like wildfire.

Duke Valerius entered with his group. Draven. Seraphina. Elise. Three advisors. Guards.

Everyone stared.

"—that’s Draven Arclight—"

"—the S-Rank heretic—"

"—his mother’s with him—"

"—heard the Valerius estate got attacked this morning—"

Whispers. Stares. Judgment.

Draven ignored it. Walked to the Valerius section. Front row. High-rank privilege.

Elise sat next to him. Hand finding his. Squeezing.

Not hiding anymore. Fuck it. Let them stare.

"Order!" The Royal Chancellor called. Old guy. Looked like he’d rather be anywhere else. "This emergency session is called to address the recent—" he checked his notes. "—unprecedented collapse of three noble houses and allegations of conspiracy."

Aldric stood. "I’ll be direct. House Valerius orchestrated these leaks. Deliberately. To undermine my support and destabilize the Crown."

Gasps from the audience.

"Proof?" Valerius stood. Calm. Cold. "Or are we doing accusations without evidence now?"

"The timing is proof enough. Three scandals. One day. All targeting houses loyal to me." Aldric’s voice carried. Practiced. Rehearsed. "Coincidence? No. Conspiracy."

"Interesting theory." Valerius smiled. "Here’s mine. You’re a paranoid fool grasping at straws because your political base is collapsing."

More gasps.

You didn’t call the Crown Prince a fool in open court.

Valerius just did.

"How dare—" Aldric started.

"I dare because I have evidence of YOUR crimes." Valerius pulled out documents. *Rustle.* "Yesterday. Royal Guards arrived at my estate. Demanding custody of Lord Draven Arclight. No formal charges. No legal warrant. Just demands."

"That’s—"

"Illegal detention. Violation of noble rights. Abuse of Crown authority." Valerius looked at the Chancellor. "I’m filing formal complaint. Demand investigation."

The Chancellor looked pained. "Crown Prince Aldric, did you order—"

"I requested protective custody for his own safety," Aldric said smoothly. "The Church is investigating him. Multiple assassinations. I thought—" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Bullshit." Draven stood up. Hadn’t planned to. Just—fuck it. "You tried to kidnap me because your political allies are gone and you’re desperate."

The room went dead silent.

Nobody interrupted the Crown Prince.

Draven just did.

"Lord Arclight," the Chancellor said carefully. "Perhaps you should—"

"Should what? Stay quiet while he lies?" Draven looked at Aldric. "You sent assassins to kill me. Twice. Failed both times. So you tried legal kidnapping. That failed too. Now you’re here making up conspiracy theories."

Aldric’s face went red. "You have no proof—"

"The guards who came to my estate. Still on duty. Subpoena them. Truth magic. See what they say about who ordered them." Draven’s void core pulsed. *Crackle.* Black energy visible. Couldn’t help it. "Unless you’re scared of what they’ll say under oath."

Aldric stood. Mana flaring. A-Rank. Angry. "You dare challenge—"

"I’m S-Rank." Draven let his own power show. *Crackle crackle crackle.* Black energy spreading. "Want to compare?"

The temperature in the room dropped. Two mana signatures clashing. A-Rank vs S-Rank.

Not even close.

Aldric sat back down. Fast.

Queen was smiling. Slight. Amused.

"ENOUGH." The Chancellor slammed his staff. *BANG.* "Both of you. Sit. This is not a dueling ground."

Draven sat. Elise’s hand found his. Squeezed hard.

"Good," she whispered. "You scared him."

Yeah. He had.

[System]: *HOLY SHIT*

*You just dominated the Crown Prince*

*In front of the entire Court*

*+1,000 VP for public humiliation*

*Aldric’s Fear: +50*

*Your reputation: TERRIFYING*

*VP: 23,950 → 24,950*

The session continued. Arguments. Counter-arguments. Legal bullshit.

Eventually: Investigation approved. Both directions. Valerius’s alleged conspiracy AND Aldric’s illegal detention attempt.

Stalemate.

But Aldric looked shaken. Draven looked confident.

Optics mattered.

---

That night.

Draven stood outside Elise’s room. Door closed. Light visible underneath.

She was waiting.

He’d promised. Tonight. They’d finish what started this morning.

His hand went to the door handle.

This was it. The line. Once he crossed it—really crossed it, all the way—there was no going back.

His mother. Forbidden. Wrong. Taboo.

And he didn’t care.

The Abyss Core had taken his fear. His hesitation. His doubt.

All that was left? Wanting her. Needing her. Not giving a fuck what anyone else thought.

He opened the door.

*Click.*

Elise stood by the window. Backlit by moonlight. Wearing a silk robe. Silver-white hair loose. Looking at him.

"You came," she said. Soft.

"Promised I would."

"I wasn’t sure." She walked toward him. Slow. *Tap tap.* Bare feet on floor. "After everything today. The assassination. The Court. I thought you might—"

"Might what?"

"Change your mind." She stopped in front of him. Close. "Realize this is insane."

"It is insane."

"And?"

"Don’t care." Draven pulled her close. *Thump.* "I want you. You want me. Everything else is noise."

Elise smiled. "Good answer."

She kissed him.

And this time? Nobody interrupted.

[TO BE CONTINUED IN CH 31]