The maid quietly stepped out of the room.
The door closed behind her with a soft click.
And just like that, it was only the two of us.
For a mont, neither of us spoke.
I took a few steps closer while looking at the silver-haired dwarf woman sitting near the window.
Up close, she looked even better than the poster.
Her silver braid rested over her shoulder, and the red lingerie she wore hugged her figure perfectly. The fabric barely covered anything, but sohow she still carried herself like a noble instead of... well, a prostitute.
Then she slowly stood up.
Without saying anything, she walked toward the large bed in the middle of the room and sat down on the edge.
Her posture was elegant. Too elegant for soone working in a place like this.
I walked over and sat down beside her.
That’s when I noticed the scent.
A soft fragrance lingered around her. Sweet, but not overwhelming. The kind of sll that makes you lean in without realizing it.
She looked at quietly.
Then she gave a small, polite smile.
"You are welco," she said softly.
Well.
That sounded like permission.
So naturally, I moved my hand toward her waist.
And the mont I did—
She flinched hard.
Her entire body jerked backward like I had just tried to stab her.
"P-Please!"
Her voice cracked.
"Don’t touch !"
I froze.
"...What?"
She quickly scooted back on the bed, putting so distance between us. Her eyes looked panicked now.
"I beg you... please don’t touch ."
I slowly pulled my hand back.
Okay.
Now I was confused.
"I already paid twenty-five million credits," I said flatly. "You mind explaining why you’re refusing ?"
Her face imdiately turned pale.
Then she lowered her head.
"My na... is Aurelia," she said quietly.
She hesitated for a mont before continuing.
"Aurelia Valenstone. The last princess of the current King of Maladon."
I blinked.
"...You’re joking."
She shook her head slowly.
"I wish I was."
For a mont, neither of us spoke.
Then she suddenly slid off the bed and dropped to her knees in front of .
"I will return your money," she said quickly.
"In fact, I will return double."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Please... just pretend we had sex and leave."
I stared at her.
"You’re offering fifty million credits so I won’t touch you?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
She clenched her hands slightly.
Then she looked up at .
"Because I can’t allow anyone to touch ."
That answer didn’t explain anything.
So I leaned back slightly.
"...Alright," I said. "Start explaining."
She took a slow breath.
"I was once the princess of Maladon," she began quietly. "The youngest daughter of the king."
Her voice carried a strange mix of pride and bitterness.
"But my father... cast out."
"Why?"
"Because I refused to marry the man he chose for ."
Ah.
Political marriage.
Classic.
"He’s a horrible person," Aurelia continued. "Arrogant. Violent. The kind of man who thinks won are property."
She looked down again.
"I refused the engagent."
"And your father kicked you out for it?" I asked.
She nodded.
"But he still insists the marriage must happen eventually."
I scratched the back of my head.
"So what does that have to do with this place?"
She gestured around the room weakly.
"This brothel... is my loophole."
"...Explain."
"One of my maids works for my father," she said quietly. "A spy."
That actually made sense.
"If my father learns I’m doing anything suspicious, guards will co imdiately and drag back to the palace."
She looked embarrassed now.
"So I created this situation."
"You beca a prostitute."
"I made it look like I beca one."
She quickly corrected herself.
"I ordered the brothel to hang my poster outside. I wanted people to see like this."
"To piss off your fiance," I guessed.
She nodded.
"And also to discourage him."
I raised an eyebrow.
"That explains the ridiculous price."
"Yes."
She sighed.
"I set the price high enough that no sane person would ever pay it."
Then she looked at .
"...But apparently I miscalculated."
"Apparently."
She looked a bit awkward.
"You are actually only the second person who paid."
"What happened to the first one?"
"I paid him double to leave."
I couldn’t help it and laughed.
She blinked at in surprise.
"You spent fifty million credits just to keep your loophole running."
"Yes."
"Wow."
For a mont the room went quiet again.
Then I leaned back slightly.
"...Alright," I said.
"I understand your problem."
She imdiately shook her head.
"No, you don’t."
Her voice carried a bit of frustration now.
"You may think you do, but you can’t possibly understand what it’s like to—"
I raised a hand.
"Relax."
Then I reached up and ruffled my hair.
My bangs fell forward slightly.
"Take another look at my face."
She frowned a little.
Then she leaned closer.
Her silver eyes studied carefully.
"...I don’t recognize you," she admitted.
She tilted her head slightly.
"But your face looks... familiar."
Yeah.
That was expected.
So I shrugged.
"I’m the crown prince of Vampiro."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Her eyes widened instantly.
Then she quickly stood up and bowed deeply.
"Your Highness!"
Well.
That reaction was fast.
In my head, I couldn’t help thinking sothing.
Huh. This is turning into a pretty interesting plot.
Aurelia slowly lifted her head.
Her expression still looked shocked.
"W-What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I escorted a friend," I said casually.
"Your friend?"
"Yeah."
I shrugged.
"He dragged to this district."
Then I pointed toward the wall behind us.
"Then I saw your poster."
Her face turned slightly red.
"...I see."
"So I got curious."
I leaned forward slightly.
"And here we are."
She looked down for a mont.
"Perhaps... it is fate."
Her cheeks turned a bit redder.
Cute.
So I stretched out my hand toward her.
"Well," I said.
"Do you want help getting your freedom back?"
Her eyes widened. For a mont she just stared at my hand.
Then sothing in her expression changed.
Hope.
Real hope.
Her eyes actually sparkled a little.
"...You would do that?"
"Sure."
She hesitated.
Then she looked at carefully.
"What would you want in return?"
"Nothing."
She blinked.
"...Nothing?"
I shrugged.
"Well."
I scratched my cheek slightly.
"I do kind of like you."
Her eyes widened again.
"So if you’re okay with it, I’d like to make you my woman."
I added casually,
"Even though I already have other won."
She stared at .
Then she suddenly laughed.
"...You’re strange."
"Thanks."
She shook her head slightly.
"But... I don’t mind."
That answer surprised .
"Really?"
"Yes."
She looked straight into my eyes.
"You speak honestly."
Her voice softened.
"Unlike my horrible fiancé."
Then she smiled faintly.
"So I don’t mind becoming your spouse."
I scratched my head.
"You barely know ."
"My instincts never lie," she said calmly.
Well.
That was confident.
I stood up from the bed.
"Alright then."
Her eyes followed .
"...What are you doing?"
"I said I’d help you right away."
Then I crouched slightly and turned my back toward her.
"Hop on."
"...What?"
"Just do it."
She hesitated for a second.
Then she carefully climbed onto my back and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.
"You’re surprisingly light," I muttered.
"Excuse ?"
"Nothing."
Then I looked up at the ceiling.
Sigh...
Guess the brothel owner won’t like this.
"Oh well."
I bent my knees.
Then I jumped.
BOOM.
The ceiling exploded as I shot straight through it.
Wood.
Stone.
Dust.
Everything shattered as we blasted upward through the roof of the brothel.
Aurelia scread behind .
"Whaaaaat?!"
We shot past the upper floors and burst into the open night sky.
Cold air rushed past us instantly.
Below us, the entire district looked like a glowing patch of lights.
And sowhere beneath us...
There was now a very large hole in The Golden Hamr.
"...Oops," I muttered.
Aurelia tightened her grip around my shoulders.
"Y-Your Highness?!"
"Relax."
I glanced forward as we kept rising into the night sky.
"Now cos the fun part."
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