Negotiating with Countess Lilith (1)
Even Lilith had long heard the rumors about Duke Rozena, one of the rulers of the Demon Capital. The demon race as a whole was mad for pleasure, and especially the upper-class demons—the nobles—were mostly bitches in heat who would lose their minds if they didn't shove a male prostitute's cock inside them at least once a day. But Duke Rozena was the exception. She was famous as an ironclad ascetic who never set foot in the bedrooms of the second round, even when visiting a brothel.
That was why Lilith had never expected anything more from Demian in the first place. She just hoped he'd play the role of companion to the duke with his unique calm and cautious demeanor—something a bit different from your average male prostitute. If he could keep the duke's mood from souring during the first-round drinks and leave her reasonably satisfied, that alone would be a massive success. Any serious business lobbying or entertaining after that? Lilith planned to handle it herself, rolling up her sleeves. As far as she was concerned, Demian had done his part just by catching the duke's eye and leaving a memorable impression.
But all those expectations had flown completely out the window.
Last night, when the Maid Chief rushed in with the report that Duke Rozena had taken Demian to the top-tier second-round bedroom, Lilith doubted her own ears. At first, she thought the Maid Chief was daring to joke around with her. But after confirming that the two had indeed entered an intimate room alone—with no one else around—and hadn't emerged all night, she was utterly stunned.
How in the world had such a miracle happened?
Of course, it was clear Demian had something special about him, different from the run-of-the-mill male prostitutes in the Demon Capital. But for someone with Duke Rozena's absolute power and wealth, handsome men of that caliber were a dime a dozen on any street corner. That was why Lilith had talked a big game about her high hopes for Demian while secretly just praying he'd make it through the drinks unscathed.
Yet that impenetrable fortress of a woman had gone to the second round. This was history-shaking stuff for the Demon Capital.
It wasn't just about a male prostitute and a noble getting physical. The key was that the noble and haughty Duke Rozena had taken a male prostitute's cock inside her. For Lilith, who had longed for expansion of Illusion's Banquet, this meant securing the biggest, most reliable backer imaginable.
Now she could crush the snobbish meddling from the other counts with the duke's name alone.
Before long, in Lilith's opulent office, she and Demian sat side by side on the plush velvet sofa. Lilith was dying to know what magic this little cleaning boy had worked. Her red lips curved into an alluring smile as she stared him down with greedy, delighted eyes—like she'd unearthed the world's most priceless treasure.
. . . . . . .
Sitting on the plush sofa in the office, I had the finest teacup before me—the kind reserved for high nobles, the most expensive in all of Illusion's Banquet. A subtle fragrance tickled my nose as Lilith, sitting across from me, grinned ear to ear, clearly in the best mood ever.
"Go on, Demian. Drink up without holding back. Today, you're basically our brothel's top VIP."
I could guess why she was fawning over me like this. Dragging a heavyweight like Duke Rozena to the second round? Any brothel owner would be grinning from ear to ear.
But honestly, I wasn't even sure if I'd achieved as much as she thought.
"So, heehee. How did you manage to lure that iron wall of a duke all the way to the second round~?"
Lilith set her teacup down gracefully and asked in a voice brimming with curiosity.
I made a troubled face for a moment before opening my mouth cautiously.
"Well... I honestly don't know. Our conversation just clicked better than I expected? We were chatting quietly, and somehow it led there."
This was the truth. I'd dressed up in that stuffy suit planning to bail after the first round, so how was I supposed to know I'd end up pounding her pussy on the bed, turning her into a beast-like mess of gasps?
But Lilith didn't seem to buy it wholesale. She leaned toward me with a sultry smile, like I was hiding some killer bedroom technique.
"Oh my, oh my~ Conversation vibes? Heehee, our cute little Demian has a naughty side, doesn't he~? What, is it a trade secret~?"
"Haha... well, it's not that grand..."
Cold sweat trickled down my back as I forced an awkward laugh.
Her eyes sparkled with even more interest.
"Anyway, how was last night? She didn't get too rough with you, did she~? I was dying to know how her first second-round guest would react~."
That question hit me like a punch to the gut. Right before I left that morning, the duke's chilling threat echoed in my ears: spill about her virginity, and she'd snap my neck.
"Ah, well... sorry, but the duke strictly ordered me not to breathe a word about last night. My life's on the line, so I can't really say."
Lilith smacked her lips in disappointment but nodded soon enough.
"I see~ Well, high nobles like her sometimes demand silence for the sake of face. If you're that firm, I won't pry."
She rose, opened a desk drawer, and plunked a heavy leather pouch in front of me. A cheerful jingle of metal coins rang through the office.
"Here—your promised pay. Fifty gold."
"Whoa... this much? It's way more than we agreed on...!"
I stared wide-eyed at the pouch. With the 10-gold advance, that made 60 gold total—a whopping 20-gold bonus over the original 40.
"Thank you...! Really, thank you, Countess!"
"Hoho, no need to make a fuss over this much. You went above and beyond for Illusion's Banquet, so it's just the bonus you deserve~."
She waved off my grateful bow with a leisurely laugh. But then her eyes sharpened, turning sly and secretive as she leaned in to whisper in my ear.
"But Demian, since you've caught the duke's eye... how about I make you one more special, fun little offer~? Wanna hear it~?"
She propped her chin on her hand, staring me down intently.
"It's not anything grand or special, mind you~. Just... from now on, whenever Duke Rozena—or any other high noble—visits our brothel, how about you handle their exclusive service~?"
Her whisper nearly made me drop my teacup. My eyes bulged.
"Me...? Exclusive for high nobles?"
She nodded with a beautiful, relaxed smile at my stunned question.
"Exactly~. To grow Illusion's Banquet even bigger. Beyond Heruen's heart, we need branches two, three... but our current power has limits. To expand, we need absolute backing from counts and above—solid patrons."
She leaned closer over the table, her red lips moving alluringly.
"But you've probably noticed, Demian—nobles at that level are different. Even in this skewed gender-ratio Demon Capital, handsome guys are like street fruit to them, ripe for the picking. That's why I want to sell your unique mystery at a premium~."
She patted my shoulder lightly, her voice sweet as she pressed on.
"Of course, it won't mean sending you out for every high noble. We'll stick to Reni and the other aces where possible. But for impossible targets like Duke Rozena—or VIPs craving something totally fresh—we send you. Sound tempting~?"
The second she finished, I shook my head on reflex, ready to refuse outright. Rozena was a near-miracle outlier. In a world of pleasure-mad demons, what woman squirts and passes out from one fuck? And Rozena? She looked stoic but was a closet masochist. I got lucky bending her over, spanking her ass, and railing her rough. Try that on a regular demon noble? I'd need ten lives.
Expecting other demons to fold like her to my style? Zero chance.
"Countess, I appreciate the offer, but that's..."
As I scrambled for an excuse to decline, Lilith pressed a finger to my lips, silencing me.
"Shh, don't rush to say no. Naturally, we'll pay top industry rates per gig. And... if your magic helps my plan succeed, expanding Illusion's Banquet to five branches or more..."
She brought her lips to my ear, her voice sweeter and deadlier than any demon's.
"I'll grant one wish of yours, Demian. No matter what it is~."