Wait, My Overpowered Skill is Just… Love?!-Chapter 15 - 14: Love, What a Horrible Fate!

Two years had passed since the kidnapping incident.

I was now twelve years old, and my life had settled into a boring, structured routine—just the way I liked it. My days were filled with noble education, etiquette lessons, and constant lectures about the responsibilities of a Viscount's daughter.

More importantly, Selene's affection meter had not budged an inch in all this time.

[Affection Meter: 40/100]

No sudden jumps. No strange increases. Nothing.

It was as if the system had simply given up on her progressing any further.

I wasn't complaining. If I could keep it this way forever, I would.

At first, I thought maybe she had lost interest—which would have been perfect—but no. Selene was still always around, hovering within arm's reach like a protective shadow. It was almost as if... something was missing.

Did the system need something more than just time to advance the relationship meter?

I had no idea, and I wasn't about to ask.

For now, I was just glad I wasn't dealing with any new surprises—

"Lady Cecilia," a firm voice interrupted my thoughts, "please focus on your studies."

I blinked and looked up to see Professor Aldric, my personal tutor, frowning at me from across the long mahogany desk. His gray eyes were sharp beneath his half-moon spectacles, and his thinning white hair made him look older than he actually was.

"Apologies," I muttered, straightening up in my seat. "What were we discussing?"

Aldric sighed, adjusting his glasses. "The history of magic and its role in the kingdom. Given your status, you must understand the foundations of our world's power structures."

I internally groaned. More lectures about nobility and power dynamics. Just what I needed.

Still, I forced myself to listen as Aldric continued.

"Magic is not a gift freely given," he lectured, his voice measured and precise. "It is rare, difficult to master, and heavily regulated. Unlike in myths, people cannot simply throw fireballs at will. Magic requires an incantation, a medium, and a deep understanding of the target."

I nodded absentmindedly, but my interest was piqued when he began explaining chanting magic.

"There are no shortcuts," Aldric continued. "To perform magic, one must craft a precise incantation, shaping their intent into words. The chant itself acts as a guide, ensuring the energy flows properly."

He picked up a piece of chalk and wrote an example on the blackboard.

"From Geon to the stone of Nagan. Tremors in slumber, shifting grains. Rise."

"A simple chant," he explained, tapping the board. "It calls upon the forces of earth to shift a small rock. The first part of the chant defines the source and the target, while the rest dictates the action. A single mistake, and the spell could fail—or worse, backfire."

I leaned forward slightly. This was actually interesting.

Magic wasn't just raw power—it was a structured language, a skill requiring discipline.

Aldric glanced at me. "Would you like to attempt one, Lady Cecilia?"

I hesitated. "I don't think I have an affinity for magic."

"Affinity is only part of the equation," Aldric countered. "Understanding is just as important. Try a simple chant and see if you can shape it properly."

I frowned but decided to humor him.

Reading a simple chant from my book, I focused on a small inkwell sitting on the desk and slowly recited:

"From Undine to the wells of Nymira. Rippling mirrors, silver threads. Fill."

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

---

[System Notice: Skill Acquired – Magic Chanting (Novice)]

Description:

The foundational skill for weaving magic through verbal incantations. Allows the user to shape magical energy by channeling intent through structured chants. Effectiveness depends on precision, understanding, and affinity with the chosen element.

Current Rank: Novice

Effect: Enables the user to perform basic magical incantations with minor success. Requires a medium (soil, vessel, or living creature) and proper chanting structure.

---

I froze.

What?

Before I could react, a single drop of water formed at the tip of the inkwell.

Aldric's eyes widened in mild surprise. "Not bad for a first attempt."

I, on the other hand, was internally panicking.

Why did the system just give me a skill?

I wasn't supposed to be good at magic. In fact, I wasn't even sure if I had an affinity for it! Did the system just forcefully push me forward like it did with the soulmate bond?!

Before I could dwell on it further, a familiar voice cut through my thoughts—

"You looked adorable just now, concentrating so hard," Selene teased from her seat near the window.

I snapped my head toward her, scowling. "Why are you even here?"

Selene smirked, tilting her head. "I was bored."

Aldric sighed heavily. "Lady Selene, must you always interrupt my lessons?"

"Yes," she answered without hesitation.

I groaned, already regretting everything about today.

Professor Aldric sighed in frustration, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Lady Selene, must I remind you—again—that this is a formal lesson? Your interruptions are becoming increasingly intolerable."

Selene tilted her head lazily, lounging in the chair by the window. "And?"

Aldric's brow twitched. "And you are preventing Lady Cecilia from focusing on her studies."

Selene's golden eyes slowly met his, her playful smirk disappearing. The air in the room seemed to shift—cold, sharp, suffocating. She didn't say anything, but her stare alone sent a chill down Aldric's spine.

For a moment, the tutor faltered, clearing his throat and adjusting his glasses. "T-That being said... I suppose we can continue."

I stared at the exchange, half-amused, half-exasperated. It wasn't often that Aldric, a strict and seasoned scholar, was visibly unsettled. But Selene had a way of making people back down with nothing but a look.

Unfortunately, I had little time to enjoy the small victory.

Before I could protest, Selene grabbed my waist and pulled me onto her lap.

"What are you—!?" I yelped, struggling as she adjusted me to sit comfortably against her.

"You're too fidgety," Selene murmured in amusement, resting her chin lightly on my shoulder. "Sit still."

I glared daggers at her, my cheeks heating. "I have my own chair!"

"Mine is better," she said smoothly, her arms wrapping loosely around my waist as if to keep me from escaping.

I turned to Aldric, silently pleading for intervention, but the old tutor merely sighed as if he had long given up. "If this is what it takes for you to sit still and pay attention, so be it."

My soul left my body.

Selene squeezed my sides slightly, amused by my suffering.

This was going to be a long lesson.

---

Trying my best to ignore the absurdity of my situation, I focused on Aldric as he continued his lecture.

"As I was saying," the tutor adjusted his notes, "our empire was founded nearly a thousand years ago under Emperor Althoras the First. Unlike neighboring kingdoms that relied on warlords or divine rule, Aetheria was built upon a foundation of noble houses, each sworn to maintain balance within the realm."

I nodded absentmindedly, already familiar with this part. The empire was a web of noble factions, bound together by loyalty, power, and tradition. Some houses ruled over vast territories, while others specialized in trade, diplomacy, or warfare.

"Originally, magic was thought to be a gift from the gods, bestowed only upon the royal bloodline," Aldric continued. "However, as centuries passed, it was discovered that magic was not tied to divinity, but to one's affinity and origin."

That caught my attention.

The tutor turned toward me. "Which brings us to our previous lesson—magic theory."

"As I said before, magic is an incredibly rare and difficult art," Aldric began, "and only those with a natural affinity can wield it effectively. Every magic user possesses two defining traits: an Element and an Origin."

He raised a finger. "The Element is the force that one is most attuned to—fire, water, wind, earth, and so on. This determines the type of magic one can use."

I nodded. That much made sense.

"The Origin, however, is far more significant," he continued. "It is the core essence of a person's existence—the fundamental force that defines them. Unlike elements, which dictate magic, the Origin influences a person's instincts, actions, and even their fate."

I frowned slightly. "So... an Origin is like someone's nature?"

"In a way," Aldric nodded. "Most people are unaware of their Origin. However, for those gifted with magic, their Origin often manifests as an unshakable truth—something they cannot go against, no matter how hard they try."

A strange chill ran down my spine.

"If a person fully awakens to their Origin," Aldric continued, "it becomes nearly impossible to act against it. It is not a conscious choice, but an impulse that dictates one's every action, like an absolute law engraved upon their soul."

I shifted uncomfortably, not liking the sound of that.

"So if someone's Origin is, say, 'War,' does that mean they'll always be drawn into conflict?" I asked.

"Precisely," Aldric confirmed. "And if one's Origin is 'Loyalty,' they may be unable to betray those they have sworn to protect, no matter the cost."

I felt Selene's arms around me tighten slightly.

...Strange.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

Before I could dwell on it, Aldric closed his book. "Now that we've covered the basics, it is time to determine your Element and Origin, Lady Cecilia."

I blinked. "What?"

"All noble children are tested at your age," Aldric explained. "It is a standard procedure to ensure we understand the strengths and limitations of those with potential."

I hesitated. "But what if I don't have an affinity for magic?"

"That's impossible! Almost all noble children have an affinity for magic." He placed a small crystal orb on the desk. "This orb will reveal your affinity and origin."

I stared at the orb warily.

Aldric lifted his hand, chanting:

"From Luthiel to the veil of fate. The river flows, the past lingers, the future is written. Reveal."

The orb pulsed with light.

I swallowed hard.

What if I did have an Origin?

What if I didn't want to know what it was?

The glow intensified, and then the orb pulsed with radiant light—a blinding, golden glow that filled the room. For a moment, I could barely breathe. It wasn't just bright—it was warm, comforting, like standing under the midday sun. But something about it felt off.

Then, the magic circle beneath the orb flared, and words formed within its shifting patterns.

Element: Light

Origin: Love

I blinked.

Then I blinked again.

...Wait.

Wait.

I rubbed my eyes, half-expecting the words to change, but they remained the same, glowing softly as if mocking me.

Love?

My Origin is... Love?!

A cold chill ran down my spine, followed immediately by a wave of sheer indignation.

No. Absolutely not. This has to be a mistake.

"Fascinating," Aldric murmured, adjusting his glasses as he studied the result. "Light is an exceptionally rare element, often associated with divine blessings or healing magic."

I barely heard him, my entire being consumed by disbelief and horror.

Love. Love?!

What kind of cosmic joke was this?

This was that damn god's fault, wasn't it?!

'YOU!!!' I internally screamed toward the heavens, my hands balling into fists. 'I KNOW YOU DID THIS! STOP MESSING WITH MY LIFE!'

Somewhere, in the vast unknown reaches of the divine realm—

A certain god sneezed.

"Strange," he muttered, rubbing his nose. "Why do I feel like someone is cursing me again?"

Back in reality, I was still staring in complete shock at the floating words, my mind going through every possible explanation for how this could have happened.

Maybe the orb was broken? Yes, that had to be it. Maybe Aldric had miscast the spell? A perfectly logical conclusion. Maybe I was just hallucinating? Yes. Clearly, I was still asleep, and this was a nightmare.

But no matter how much I mentally rejected the result, the truth was right in front of me.

Light Affinity.

Love Origin.

I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.

"Lady Cecilia?" Aldric's voice snapped me back to reality.

I forced my face into an expression of forced neutrality, refusing to let my emotions show. "...Yes?"

"You seem... unsettled," he noted, watching me carefully.

I gave him a stiff, clearly fake smile. "Not at all. I am simply... processing."

Selene, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "Love, huh?"

I whipped my head toward her, only to find her grinning knowingly.

"Shut up," I hissed.

She chuckled, resting her chin on my shoulder again, her golden eyes practically glowing with amusement.

I felt my soul leave my body.

Aldric, thankfully, ignored our exchange. "Your results are quite remarkable," he continued. "Light is an element commonly associated with blessings, purification, and healing. And as for your Origin..."

I braced myself.

"Love is a powerful force," he said thoughtfully. "Though rare, those with this Origin often develop exceptional abilities tied to bonds and emotional connections."

I physically winced.

"Of course," Aldric continued, "Origins manifest differently for each individual. Some follow their compulsion naturally, while others take longer to awaken to their true nature."

I had never wished for ignorance more than I did in this moment.

Selene's arms tightened slightly around me. "A love-based Origin..." she murmured, her voice unreadable.

I refused to look at her.

Aldric closed his book with a satisfied nod. "This concludes your elemental and origin assessment. We will discuss potential applications for your abilities in our next lesson."

I barely managed to keep my voice steady. "Understood."

Internally, however, my entire world was crumbling.

---

I slumped back in my chair, mentally drained from today's lesson.

Not only did I now have to live with the horrifying truth that my Origin was Love, but Selene had been watching me with way too much interest ever since the result was revealed.

I could feel her gaze on me even now.

This was going to be a nightmare.

I exhaled slowly, trying to calm my thoughts before they spiraled into full-blown panic. Over the past two years, I had grown very aware of one undeniable fact.

Selene was getting more and more attached to me.

At first, it was subtle.

She had always been protective, but it was within reason. Standing guard when I left the estate. Overseeing my training. Keeping a close eye on me during social events. Normal knight things.

But over time, it became... different.

The space between us kept shrinking.

She had no concept of personal boundaries anymore.

It started with small things—hovering closer than necessary, brushing her hand against mine when handing me something, tilting my chin up to fix my posture. Minor gestures, ones I could brush off as coincidence.

But then came the more blatant ones.

She started holding me by the waist when guiding me somewhere. She had a habit of tucking strands of my hair behind my ear—which she absolutely did not need to do.

She would lean into my space whenever she spoke, her golden eyes searching mine like she was reading something only she could see.

And now, she pulled me onto her lap whenever she felt like it.

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, taking in how much she had changed over the years.

She was taller now, her once wild, unkempt hair sleek and well-kept. Her posture had shifted, no longer the feral warrior I first met, but an elegant knight with a composed air. Her body had grown stronger, her limbs carrying the lean muscle of a seasoned fighter.

But the biggest change was her expression.

Selene had always been difficult to read, her face a carefully controlled mask of neutrality. But recently, there was something... different about the way she looked at me.

A strange intensity.

A silent possession.

I didn't like it.

I really didn't like it.

And now, with my Origin being what it was, I had a horrible suspicion that things were only going to get worse.

Selene hummed beside me, as if she could sense my thoughts.

"You're awfully quiet," she mused. "Something wrong, little dove?"

I clenched my jaw. "Don't call me that."

She smirked. "But it suits you."

I glared. "No, it doesn't."

"Mm," she hummed noncommittally, clearly ignoring me.

I was going to die.

Not from an assassin. Not from war.

But from this ridiculous woman and her inability to keep her hands to herself.

----

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