The wind up here on the airship is nice. A cold gust of wind comes and wraps around my head and blows, giving shivers all over my body just from touching. I've never been one for flying, it's kind of scary seeing the ground so far away.

Anyway, I left that fight with a black eye and the Orc lying on a broken table. I obviously didn't pay for the repairs, I left it on the loser's tab, which was the right choice in that situation. The three of us boarded the airship when it was time, and luckily no one came to bother me about it, so we are now on our way to Mastan.

The name is somewhat familiar to me because I got some spoilers from the guys reading Sword of The Iron Maiden in the comments. According to what those sons of bitches told me, there are two problematic people when Leonhardt stops there, because he needs to find a way to get to the North for some random reason and can't go, since the "owner of the city" prevents it.

It implies an entire arc just with the character walking around this city and trying to circumvent the problems, but as everyone who has read this genre of work probably figures out, in the end, he solves everything with brute force and plot armor.

For me, it's a different story, I'm just worried about how we're going to get out of there. If we don't draw attention, we'll probably rent some horses and distance ourselves in a short time, making the rest of the trip peaceful. Leonhardt's problem is being a vigilante who shines brighter than any common person, so of course he would draw unnecessary attention, that bastard.

I rest my arms on the railing. The airship is practically a giant ship with a balloon, powered by steam or whatever type of fuel they use in this thing. What matters is that it allows us to fly and dodge a lot of junk down below, like monsters. Of course, there are flying creatures, but they are rare, and if a wyvern or similar appears, one of the sailors just needs to grab a cannon from the storage and shoot.

In other words, practicality comes first.

Hell, I wish this would just end... sigh. Out of the corner of my eye, I see someone approaching. The blonde hair charms me as always, while her hips sway and show a thicc waist that tempts my hands to squeeze. The mountains are also very eye-catching from this height...

"What's up, Elizia."

"Darius, are you enjoying the view? It's my first time on an airship, it looks truly incredible."

"To be honest, the view isn't all that. Ah, can you come closer?"

She walks until she's right next to me, and I step back a few paces and mimic a camera gesture with my fingers. Elizia tilts her head in confusion. It's a shame people in this world don't understand this kind of thing.

"Now that's a perfect view."

"That was a good one, hehehe!"

She breaks into a huge smile, the kind that warms any man's heart, including mine. I return to the initial position and lean forward. The cold embraces my body in an unpleasant way, like a needy ghost that won't leave your side.

I think this is the first time I've had this type of moment with Elizia. We always met at the brothel, and because of the guarantee I gave of heavy gold coins, she told me she received few clients, since no one wanted to mess with the "harlot of the Moonlight playboy". My bad reputation got in the way of business, but I'm grateful for it.

"Darius, why do you continue with so much stubbornness?" she asks, tapping her fingers on the railing.

"What stubbornness? I've never been stubborn."

"Hah. Sweetie, you are the most stubborn man I know... Anyway, I'm referring to letting go of the feeling you have for me and just accepting a better girl. Let's face it, I'm not an idiot, and neither are you, I can see you like crystal and I know what's going on in your head."

"I don't really know what you're talking about..."

"And there goes your glorious tactic of pretending you don't understand anything, changing the subject, and moving on as if nothing happened. Well, since it's like that, do you want to know why your father assigned me to guide the trip?"

My ears perk up immediately. Wait a minute, am I going to hear about this? I thought it would be a closely guarded secret! I turn my head in a hurry, only to be met with Elizia's smug face, saying with her eyes, "Gotcha", and she definitely got me.

"You're going to tell me...?"

"Yes, it's no longer an issue. So, do you want to know or not?"

"Of course, I do!"

She lets out a short chuckle and takes a deep breath, brushing a strand of hair from her face and looking at the clouds in the distance.

"Before I became a lady of the night, I used to be an... adventurer, if I can call it that. I was quite famous, you know? But due to some conflicts here and there, I had to go into hiding and ended up falling into Cerise's hands because of a debt. You met me after all that, and you were also the one who paid off a large part of the debt."

"So the Duke wanted you to come with me because you were reliable, since I've known you for a long time? By the way, why did you never tell me about that past?"

"I didn't tell you because it bothers me to remember that time. The reason I am with you is also not only because of this ability of mine, he noticed that you have some complicated relationships with women. Don't get me wrong, nobles are indeed destined to always have a difficult relationship with any young lady due to politics, but he spoke specifically about the two of us."

That senile old man is trying to cockblock me?! Are you saying that you, you impotent old man, ordered Elizia to accompany us to mess up what we had going on? Damn it, I was almost succeeding! Why do you have to be like this?!

"That bastard... the Duke, what did he mention about us?"

"Torvek Moonlight denies it and says it would be scandalous for the heir of the Moonlight house to have an affair with a harlot. He didn't use those exact words, but that's what he implied in the end."

"Son of a bitch, even away from home he wants to force me to marry some fertile baroness. All that's missing is for him to grab my dick and shove it up someone's ass."

"Hahahaha! True, true... but you need to give in, Darius. He's not wrong in thinking that way, as a Duke and also a blood relative of the King."

"I know, but not long ago the bastard didn't even want to know about me, now he's all subdued because I stick my dick where I want."

"Well, it's not like... it would work out, in the end."

Huh? What? What does that mean? That it won't work out? We just run away hand-in-hand and go to another country, then I steal part of the inheritance and anything luxurious from the palace, sell it, and we spend the rest of our lives on a farm!

"Elizia, I..."

"Be quiet for a moment and think, sweetie. I am a commoner, a prostitute from a brothel in the Imperial City's red-light district. You are the son of a Duke, and you now have the attention of the King, you have the attention of the Marchoness Ravenma Galbraith, helped the ex-Countess Moriah, with several hidden suitors just waiting for a letter. Can't you see the difference?"

I step behind Elizia and end up pushing her against the railing. My eyes are full of rage, because I'm furious myself! How can you say this to me, after everything we've been through together? After listening to everything from you, and also telling you everything about my life, how can you just say this and think you can simply walk away?

She smiles, as she always does, completely unintimidated by my aggressive manner. Instead of letting out a little scream, Elizia sits on the railing and places her hands firmly on my thighs, showing off that naughty expression I've known since the beginning of our strange relationship.

"Sweetie, don't be mad at me. It's a fact, there's no denying reality. Doesn't it weigh on your conscience to think that you might be betraying the trust of other women who like you? And Ravenna? Doesn't it bother you to remember that she harbors possessive feelings for you, that she would marry you without any problem, while you are here, clinging to a harlot from the Imperial City?"

"You are not just a harlot from the Imperial City, stop putting yourself down."

"Darius, we know that..."

"We know that you have done much more for me than anyone else has! Why would I trade you for a woman I've known for less than a year, while we know everything about each other?"

Her smile widens slightly, but the downturned eyes with lowered eyebrows only show pity.

"Dear, you don't know everything about me. I understand your feelings, but I can't accept them. You would be disgusted if you knew everything I've done, and you probably wouldn't even want to be near me."

"Lies! I want you, Elizia, is that so hard to accept?!"

I lean forward, grabbing her waist so she won't fall, but inside, I'm seething with rage. What is missing in me to take her out of this miserable job and just have her by my side? What can I do? Make her a concubine? What is missing? Shit, what the hell!

This confusion and mental fog are giving me a headache. What is the difficulty in keeping things simple and direct? Why does what I want have to be tied to what a bunch of old coots thinks or believes? I don't care about these sons of bitches, I just want to rest with her in a quiet place once and for all.

I might be an asshole, yes, but I don't care!

"You are very impulsive, my sweetie."

She touches my cheeks and gives me a kiss on the forehead.

"I want you to understand that this is for your own good. We can sleep together while you aren't married, or you can simply chase after any skirt while you're young, but a serious relationship is too far. I mean, what idiot would want a prostitute?"

Elizia pauses for a moment, looks at my face, and rolls her eyes.

"Oh right, you. Look, many men find your attitude ridiculous, if a stranger could see all this and also hear everything you've said, I bet you'd be called a cuckold and get beaten up."

"I'm different, leave me alone."

"Alright, Mr. Different..."

The mischievous smile continues on that naughty face that Elizia is an expert at showing. What kind of reverse friendzone is this where I can sleep with the other person all I want, but I can't date them or try for anything serious? Well, considering everything that has happened to me, an occurrence like this is the least of my worries... but it's still frustrating.

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