บท 18: Reaching the Capital City

Ardor remembered how his parents decorated his back with deep and ragged cuts when irritated and they were definitely the ones who killed his feelings and left him hopeless.

'The day truck-kun took me away was the only time I felt something.' Ardor touched his back with his right hand, feeling phantom pain from his memories.

'Ah, I remember. It was relief. Then emptiness, then pain as I woke up here. This life I felt something that strong when I first looked at Isabella. It was love at first sight.''

His right hand reached to his side, and Jeanne immediately walked up to catch it. They walked holding hands, as Westray woke up and the sunlight shone on their faces. Ardor looked to his right.

'This time, I finally have someone to love, to protect, to care for.' His eyes hardened with unshakable determination. 'All those who oppose my happiness… shall suffer, and be torn in eternal regret!

…

"Aha, so this is her place!"

A young, slender man clapped his hands upon finding out the location of his prey. A pretty maid followed behind him.

"How exciting!"

He rubbed his hands in delight. Feeling thrilled at the thought of a wonderful opponent to conquer.

"Halt! Who are you? Daring to loiter around the Stone estate without an invitation!"

A guard finally woke up from the noise and looked at the man, laughing in joy. He jumped up from his chair and took out his sword, pointing the blade's tip at him. The other guard also woke up and assumed the same position.

"Hey boys, there's no need to be too feisty, is there?" The man sweetly said, looking at the sword tips pointed at him.

As the men got goosebumps, and their instincts were telling them to run away, the man added, "Go tell your First Madam a very important guest has arrived. You'll be punished if you don't do so!"

The guards looked as if they were pardoned of a great crime and ran inside, leaving the entrance open, unguarded.

The man smiled, then simply walked in with the maid and followed them inside.

…

"Hiya!"

Jeanne grabbed Ardor's waist tighter as a fierce wind blew by her ears. Her eyes were shut tight as she held onto the only source of security she could find.

Ardor sat stable on the demon horse under him and turned to look at her figure with a helpless gaze.

With a slight apology, he shouted to let her hear amidst the roaring wind, "I'm so sorry! I never knew it would be an uncomfortable ride! We would have taken the carriage if I knew of this!"

Jeanne shook her head and remained silent. But her determined gaze told him everything he needed to know.

'To think she's pushing herself so much, just to not be a burden to me, and not slow me down.' He rubbed her head, sticking to him. 'How admirable.'

Ardor looked at the clouds that seemed within reach and looked down at the forests below, and buildings the size of ants. 'Never knew flying was an option here. And on a demon beast at that!'

He looked at the black horse with wide wings under him. With each flap of its wings, they went higher and higher, and flew faster and faster. His sight trailed to the beast's neck and glanced at the man controlling it.

'A beast tamer. To think I thought it was a primitive warrior civilization.' He mocked himself for underestimating the people here. 'That man even told me his horse is as strong as a Warrior! Is he one too?' he wondered.

The large flying demon horse shortened their week-long journey by a carriage to merely a few hours, and they soon landed outside the Capital City. Of course, it was at a cost that few could afford.

"Thank you, sir! Please use our services again!"

The man with a hat happily pocketed one platinum coin and once again climbed atop his familiar demon beast and took off to the skies as Ardor and Jeanne looked at his receding figure that turned into a dot and soon disappeared.

Ardor looked at the tall city gates and glanced at Jeanne.

"Let's go. We have a lot to explore, in the day and the night."

He smiled at her with apparent intentions as she nodded, appearing less cheeky and more obedient.

They paid one silver coin to the guards keeping watch of the cement-like 20 meter tall gray city walls and entered a wide earthen street. He saw stalls, sheltered with cloth roofs raised on poles on either side of the entrance to give the visitors a wide variety of items to buy.

Ardor ignored their advertisements and went to find an inn. After asking some people on the streets, he reached their recommendation—Wicked Inn.

'To think these wicked people have a hand in other businesses as well,' Ardor thought as he entered the wide doors of the building 10 floors high with Jeanne in tow.

He was suddenly interested in the force backing this organization, but stopped that thought, knowing it was useless for the current him.

After walking on the maroon carpets, he reached the reception, draped in shades of gold and black. The staff wore black suits, with a badge on their chest denoting their name and position.

He went to the receptionist, a woman with moderate assets, and a professional smile. She heard faint footsteps, muffled by the carpet, and looked up to find a young man approaching with a short beauty holding a small leather bag.

"Welcome, sir. May I know what kind of room you would like to have and for how many days?"

Ardor didn't really know the standards, or the prices here, so he simply asked the receptionist.

"Let me know of your options."

"Very well, sir. We have the regular guest room, with a single bedroom…."

As she began explaining to him about the various rooms, Jeanne kept looking around the wide reception area. She noticed they decorated it even better than any building she had seen before, the Flame's included!

"And we have the best VIP rooms with all the amenities above but with additional perks like any kind of food on demand by our top chefs, a private swimming pool, and you will also automatically become our VIP guest if you decide to use this room with us for a significant amount of time."

Ardor asked, "Is 10 days enough?"

While the receptionist still maintained a professional smile, she was inwardly shocked. Nobody, not even nobles, would be wasteful to use their VIP rooms for so much time!

But she did her job.

"Yes sir, it would be plenty."

"Okay, so how much is it?" Ardor asked.

"30 platinum coins, sir." The receptionist looked at his expression, waiting to see surprise appear.

But Ardor simply looked at his balance LPs.

[Lust Points: 75

Logs:

Base LPs: 69

Purchased Slave (Jeanne): -20

50% from Clone 1 (Lance): +10

Daily Repeatable Mission with Alse (2x bonus) and Isabella (2x bonus) x75: 150

Purchased Item (Soul Flower): -150

Devoured Platinum Coins x17: +17

Trip to the Capital: -1]

'It seems I still have enough to spend.' He gave a smile, one that Jeanne would recognize. 'It's only about a few hours of work anyway, how cheap!'

"Sure." He responded. "Where do I pay?"

Somewhat confused, the receptionist immediately billed him and watched as he left along with the cutie with his room's keys.

*Click*

After Ardor locked the oak door to his new room, he looked at Jeanne's back, who was admiring the interior of the massive entrance and the insides that felt more like a house, not just a room.

Even he felt astonished at what money could afford him, but wanted to satisfy his hunger first.

Jeanne was caught unprepared as he rushed at her and caught her. While she yelped in surprise, he domineeringly said, "Let's do it!"

Jeanne looked hesitant. "B-but, it'll make another mess again. And I want to see more of this city before sleeping in exhaustion after cleaning it."

He lightly knocked her head. "Did you forget we're no longer in the Flame estate? They're people here to do that stuff!"

She felt embarrassed at a stranger cleaning their fluids and covered her face from imaginary shame. Ardor immediately understood her thoughts.

"Relax. These are the perks we can enjoy with power. It's completely normal."

She uncovered her eyes and stared at his sincere face.

"Is it?" She asked in doubt.

He nodded. "It is."

While Jeanne felt she had understood something new, he carried her in a princess carry, leaving their small pouch holding their precious items and memories; their pictures, stuff he gifted her and so on, and he went to the master bedroom.

Looking at the queen-sized bed, he smiled at finding the perfect place to have fun. The duo once again lost themselves to sensuous pleasures and continued until lunch.

After ordering some food and getting room service to clean their mess, they continued till the evening, and finally cleaned themselves in their massive bathroom before leaving the Wicked Inn to explore the city and enjoy local delicacies.

Ardor felt happy as her face bloomed in joy exploring the tasty food, the beautiful parks with fountains, and other memorable places.