Chapter 36

After I won, Julian took me to a carriage that was already prepared for him. The interior of it was spacious, so we sat afar each other. Because of what happened in the duel, I was timid and awkward, so he took the initiative to talk about himself and the city.

It turns out that Julian was the heir to a count's family, and he was making appearances in the public eye to spread his name to the people. Since he would govern this city in the future, he was recommended to do so by his father. It seems that Julian was already known in the city for his swordsmanship, but he said it would be better if the people saw it with their own eyes. He said that it would increase his reputation as the next ruler of this city.

It crossed my mind before we fought, but it looks like he really was a big deal.

When we arrived at the mansion, we were welcomed by a butler. That butler led us to the doors and let us in. When we entered, we were then greeted by a line of maids, all wearing the same uniform.

Uwaa... They're all beautiful! I must admit... Julian has good tastes. But does he really need so many of them?

After that, along with the butler, two maids took us to the living room. They gestured at me to sit on the sofa, where a glass table was. Julian sat before me, and I sat across him after.

"You there, bring out a thousand gold coins."

"Umu," the butler nodded right away and left.

"Now then, let's skip formalities and start."

"A-Alright..."

"You mentioned earlier that you don't want to take the coins, but I insist. Whether you won or not, I want to give it to you as an investment for a good relationship in the future."

"I see..."

"With that amount, you can live in luxury in this city for an entire year," he boasted. Then with a grin, he spoke arrogantly, "My family is the wealthiest in this city. An amount like that is cheap change."

This guy... Did he really bet against my virginity as a woman for something he considers cheap change? Any sense of guilt I felt after cheating on him in that duel immediately went away when he admitted that.

"Oh? That glare again... Are you still angry at me? I know I forced you to duel me, but I really wanted to test you out after seeing you. It's rare for elves to visit our city, and when I saw that sword on your hips, I knew I should challenge you. I also didn't really want to throw you out, but I needed to corner you. If you're angry about that, I apologize."

So he really wasn't serious about throwing me out the city? I should've just ran away from that duel then? Still, I didn't expect him to apologize... Granted, his tone was still annoying.

"You just arrived here, right? Then, I'll recommend you the best inn you can stay in. You said you don't want to stay anywhere expensive, but you can still go for their cheapest rooms."

"I guess I can do that..."

As long as it's not too much, I can stay there. I was not born to a rich family in both lives I lived, so I'm not used to anything too grand. And it's not like I'll really be able to maintain a life of luxury. I don't have work where I can get steady income yet.

"As for work... I can offer you one in our state. I would prefer you to be my personal maid, if you don't want that, you can be my secretary instead. Even if you aren't that knowledgeable in both, maybe you can learn as you work?"

Why is he talking as if it's already decided I would work for him?

"If you think you can't do either, then you can still work for me as a bodyguard."

"Uhh... No, I'm not planning on working for anyone."

"Huh...?" like he just heard the stupidest thing in the world, he groaned and stared at me with a blank expression.

"I heard there was an adventurer guild in this city?"

"Tsk! Are you planning on working as an adventurer?"

Suddenly, his calm and arrogant demeanor changes. He now sounded and angry and disgusted.

What...? I thought adventurers were revered people in this world? Even at the orphanage, we learned that they were strong individuals who fought monsters in exchange of rewards. In games in my previous life too, they were like that.

To be honest, Julian's work offers were not too bad. With that said, I always dreamed of becoming an adventurer when I got reborn in this world. I mean, that does sound better than becoming a maid or a secretary of an arrogant noble.

"You want to become one of those stinking adventurers? Those people are nothing more than glorified bandits. Parasites to the country. What they do, the knights were already doing a thousand years ago."

He obviously hates adventurers. The spite in his eyes was clear to see as he talks about them.

"They plunder the money of the common people. Asking for rewards when the knights are doing the same thing for free. A lot of issues regarding their personalities too! They grew too arrogant and are now thinking they have the status of nobles like us. If they see a pretty elf girl like you enter their doors, you'll get devoured."

Eh? If he's thinking I would get beaten, then he must've forgot I beat him in a duel earlier. But if he meant the word "devour" in a different sense, then...

"Female adventurers are treated like servants in the guild, worst, toys for the higher ranking male adventurers," he added.

Then Julian continues on with a long explanation. Slowly as he did, my head turned pale from the absurdities I heard.

Imagining my drink getting spiked by a rough looking dude and then getting taken to bed almost made me hurl.

"With your skills, you can easily get accepted as a city knight instead. No, ignore that, I'll pay you an even higher salary than any knight if you work as my bodyguard."

"Here it is, Julian-sama," the butler came back with a sack of gold coins in hand.

"Umu. Here, accept it," Julian took the bag and slid it to my direction.

"Th-Thank you..."

"I'll have a servant take you to the inn I recommend. You can think about my job offers for you there - there are no better options."

"I see..."

I don't think I'll accept any of his job offerings, but they can still be useful to have just in case.

"Then, can I go now?"

"I would've wanted you to stay longer, but that's fine. I'll see you later, Eria."

He really went and took away any distance between us right off the bat, huh? This guy is so full of himself...

I stood up, ready to leave, but just before I let myself be escorted out by the maids...

"Eto... I'm just wondering... For someone who cheated on you in a duel, you're treating me generously. Why?" I asked.

"Fufu... I guess a secluded elf like you wouldn't understand," he said with his usual arrogant tone, "The reason why I'm treating you favorably is because I want to have you as my mistress."

"Huh...!?"

"It's unfortunate, really. You becoming my wife would've been better, but conception between a human and an elf is extremely rare, an heir being born between the two of us would be uncertain."

Wha... What is this guy saying!?

"Sigh... Being the most beautiful woman I ever met would have been enough for me to want to possess you, but you being an elf... Fufu... It couldn't get any better. Even when I turn old, you as my partner, will remain with the same beautiful appearance. You will not wither unlike any other woman, they all pale in comparison to you."

"You...!"

Hearing his extreme claims, I wasn't able to keep myself composed anymore.

This guy really is a dick...

Even though I was the one who asked, what he said was still not something you would say to someone you just met for the first time.

Well, at least he was being honest. I'm not really good at reading the intentions of people, so that was good for me...

"If I get to have you as my mistress, I'll even treat you better than my official wife."

"You're beyond help."

"A woman like you wouldn't understand the desires of a man like me."

"..."

I wanted to reply, to say I was a man too, but that would only make me sound crazy, so I did not.

"See you."

"That's right, I will see you again soon," Julian bid farewell again as I walked away.