In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

After a moment of deliberation, he nodded. It wasn't just personal—this was for the safety and stability of the kingdom. For the sake of maintaining the fragile alliance between Elonia and Lania, this disgraceful matter had to be handled quietly.

Even if the unborn child was the Crown Prince's only heir, the stability of the nation came first. Given Randolph's incompetence and current state, the duke reasoned it would be better if the child never came to term. For the sake of the kingdom's succession plan, he had to harden his heart. King Charles V would have made the same decision, he assured himself.

Resolute, Duke Capone turned his head coldly. The child must be lost. Seeing the duke's steely determination, Michael remained silent, understanding the unspoken agreement.

This world was ruthless. Elise had indulged in grand illusions, naively believing the world could be bent to her will. Born into privilege, admired by all, she had harbored ambitions that exceeded her grasp. But she hadn't understood the harsh reality of this world.

Randolph was no different. He had disappointed everyone with his reckless actions, unbefitting of his noble status, and now found himself in a pitiable state. In a world where a single poor harvest could claim countless lives, the consequences of misguided decisions were far worse.

They were merely paying the price for their choices.

In the heavy silence, Elise began to realize she had misjudged the situation. These men had no intention of sparing the child. Her wide eyes filled with disbelief as she comprehended their resolve.

In this moment, her beauty, status, and lineage offered her no protection. She stopped screaming and, with a hoarse voice, asked a single question.

"Will my status remain intact?"

Duke Capone, his gaze cold and unyielding, finally spoke.

"That will depend on the agreement between the two royal families. Your safety will be assured, of course—but first, there will be an investigation into that peculiar power of yours."

Elise laughed bitterly, her voice ringing with defiance.

"Ahaha, an investigation? I am a princess of Elonia! No one has the right to investigate me. Let them try, but I will demand a public trial. Can your kingdoms handle the scandal?"

Her laughter left Duke Capone momentarily speechless. As a royal, she had the right to dictate the terms of her trial, a privilege that left the duke at a loss.

Seizing the moment, Elise reached out to him once more. Half-mad with desperation, she tried to seduce him again.

"Come, come closer…"

Before she could proceed, the duke suddenly collapsed. Unseen by her, Michael had moved behind him and struck the back of his head to render him unconscious.

Elise's eyes widened in shock as she looked down at the fallen duke, then turned her gaze to Michael. Realization dawned—this was why her powers had failed earlier.

"You… How? How did you…?"

Her voice was filled with panic. Beneath her fear, anger and confusion simmered. How could Michael nullify the power of the otherworldly force she had wielded so effortlessly?

Michael met her gaze with a faint, bitter smile but offered no explanation. He saw no need. With events having escalated to this point, there was no room for negotiation.

Slowly, he stepped toward her, reaching out his hand. Elise flinched and recoiled, but there was nowhere to run.

As his hand neared her, she curled into herself, trembling with fear. With her powers neutralized, she was no longer a formidable figure—only a frightened, vulnerable girl.

Michael's hand rested on her shoulder, and Elise shuddered instinctively. His touch was neither rough nor violent, but it carried an overwhelming sense of finality.

The potent energy that had made her the object of everyone's adoration began to drain away. Elise could feel it being drawn into Michael, leaving her hollow.

It felt as though the very foundation of her being was disappearing. She realized with growing dread that she would never regain that power.

No longer would she be loved.

Michael absorbed the energy flowing from her, fighting to remain composed as its overwhelming strength coursed through him. Exhaling deeply, he opened his eyes, his expression calm and unshaken.

Elise stared at him, her face a mixture of awe and terror. She couldn't comprehend what kind of being could so easily absorb the force she had relied upon. Her voice trembled as she asked,

"Who… who are you? How can a human…?"

Michael gazed at her impassively, his silence cutting deeper than words. After a moment, he spoke into an earring he carried.

"Leonardo."

He called for Leonardo to perform the same procedure on Elise that he had carried out on Crown Prince Randolph. The foolish games of the prince and princess had ultimately led to the ruin of them both.

...

Charles V let out a deep sigh, cradling his head in his hands. Gentle sunlight streamed through the large window, but it did little to dispel the heavy weight on his heart.

His gaze rested on the two figures lying in the bed before him: Crown Prince Randolph and Princess Elise. The ornate purple and gold quilt accentuated their pale faces, stark reminders of their fragile states.

The queen, his beloved wife, had taken to bed upon hearing that their only son had been reduced to a shell of himself following a catastrophic failure. The memory of her collapsing in tears only deepened the ache in Charles's chest.

Standing beside him, Duke Capone regarded the king with a look of sympathy. As a father himself, the duke could understand the pain Charles V was enduring. But that did not mean he would distort the truth to absolve Randolph of his actions.

Charles had flown to the fortress immediately upon learning of his son's condition. After gently stroking the Crown Prince's lifeless face, he turned away, unable to bear the sight any longer. His long-time friend and royal kinsman, Duke Capone, met his gaze. After a prolonged silence, Charles spoke, his voice trembling.

"Are all the mistakes attributed to the Crown Prince… true?"