With Duchess Rozena: The Second Round (1)
Her sudden, out-of-left-field words made my heart drop like a stone, startling me half to death. "Shall we head up?" was just code for this boring first round of drinks being over, right? Surely she meant we should all retire to our rooms for some rest. I was desperately clinging to that denial of reality when Duchess Rozena rose from her seat with elegant yet intimidating poise and strode right up to me, standing frozen in place before her.
"What are you doing? Aren't you going to show me the way?"
Her flat, emotionless voice left me gaping like an idiot. "Y-Yes...?" I stammered dumbly.
She nodded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "The second round is standard in the basic service package, isn't it?"
Only then did I glance around. The other noble demon women, panting like beasts in heat, had already dragged their male prostitutes off to the second-round rooms. Somehow, in this vast, opulent VIP lounge, it was just the two of us left.
"Ah... r-right, this way."
I couldn't hide my panic, stumbling over my words as I led her ahead. Outwardly, I kept my steps steady and calm, but inside, my head was a screaming siren, flashing white-hot panic. This was nowhere in the plan! What the hell is going on?!
Lilith had sworn up and down that Duchess Rozena had never once gone for a second round in any brothel—ever—so I could relax. So why me, all of a sudden? What innocent thing had I said to hit some inexplicable trigger of hers?
I swear on my life, I hadn't seduced her one bit. Not even a hint of sexual appeal. If anything, I'd bundled up in this hot, stuffy suit just to avoid accidentally stirring anything like that! It was enough to drive me insane.
And so we headed to the top-tier VIP bedroom reserved for second rounds at Illusion's Banquet. I'd only been in here a few times before while cleaning, but even now, it was undeniably impressive. The floor was covered in plush red carpet that sank to my ankles, and smack in the center loomed a king-sized bed big enough for five or six adults to roll around in comfortably. As we entered the room, lit by softly glowing magic power lamps and furnished with luxury pieces, I swallowed hard.
No way... she doesn't actually want to fuck me, does she? My heart pounded so loud I was terrified she'd hear it.
Duchess Rozena entered and headed not for the massive bed, but for the cushy leather sofa. She sat ramrod straight, posture perfect, her face as stoic and icy as when she'd been sipping drinks in the lounge moments ago.
In that suffocating silence, I stood there awkwardly, racking my brain like mad. Okay... what the hell do I do now? Somehow, I had to defuse the tension. Carefully, I spoke up.
"Duchess...? Would you like something to drink? Maybe a nightcap before bed?"
She nodded silently. "Fine."
I let out a secret sigh of relief and headed to the ice vault in the corner—a magic device like a fridge from my old world, stocked with premium liquors chilled to perfection. I grabbed the sweetest, fruitiest wine with the lowest alcohol content I could find, plus two crystal glasses, and brought them to the table. Pouring the red liquid with a gentle glug-glug, I said in my softest, kindest voice,
"Here, down this and get some good rest. You've worked hard today."
Stay calm, Demian. Even a tiger can't bite if you keep your head. I repeated it to myself a hundred times, soothing my hammering heart. Sure, we'd ended up in this unplanned second-round room, but think positive. From our chat in the lounge, she was just bone-tired from endless boredom and fatigue. Maybe she really was here just to sleep.
My job was clear: get her drinking naturally, then gently guide her into dreamland. Flashing my warmest, gentlest smile, I placed the sweet, fruity wine glass carefully in her hand.
"You've had such a long day ruling this vast Demon Capital, Duchess. Carrying burdens you can't share with anyone outside. Please, just for this moment, set them all aside."
She stared at my face wordlessly under my flowery words, her cold red eyes showing no flicker of emotion. Taking the glass from my hand, she slowly wet her lips with the red liquid.
"...Sweet."
That single word was all she said. But the fact she didn't push it away and drank willingly was a huge green light for me.
"I hope Illusion's Banquet can be a little haven for your weary body and soul. Even someone as mighty as you needs a sweet drink and real rest now and then."
The moment her glass emptied, I topped it up with a glug-glug, keeping up the small talk nonstop. How was winter at Obsidian Castle up north? What tea did she enjoy after tough training? All safe, wholesome topics—no hint of sex anywhere.
She stayed bolt upright on the sofa, tossing out curt "Yes" or "No," sipping her wine. But at least the conversation didn't stall.
"Duchess, won't sitting so rigidly on the sofa strain your body? For once, let me guide you somewhere more comfortable."
I flicked my eyes to the enormous king bed in the room's center.
"That bed's stuffed with the finest monster feathers from the Demon Capital—lie down, and it's like floating on clouds. After a drink, reclining there would melt away your fatigue way better."
My one goal: get her on that fluffy bed and let her pass out unnoticed. She glanced between the bed and my face. A strange silence hung, then she set her glass down with a clink, rose slowly, and approached with graceful, restrained steps. She lay delicately atop the plush monster-feather mattress.
Watching her, I clenched my fist inwardly. Yes! Nailed it—got her settled perfectly! Just wait till she dozes off, then slip out quietly for the perfect happy ending!
But as she rested her head on the pillow and turned to stare at me standing there dumbstruck...
"Why aren't you coming over? Aren't you supposed to satisfy me tonight?"
Her innocent tone, like a naive child, stopped my breath and made my lips quiver.
Ah... we're fucked.
Inevitable doom crashed through my mind, cold sweat trickling down my spine. Every demoness I'd seen at Illusion's Banquet was a lust-crazed beast—rough-handling men, wringing them to the bone. And this was one of the Seven Dukes of the Demon Capital? She might look calm and rational now, but who knew what savage predator she'd turn into in bed.
No—odds were overwhelmingly she'd become the ultimate hunter. This wasn't "oh shit" territory; it was endgame.
Crawling into that bed meant my life was over. My reason and instincts screamed bloody murder in red alert.
Desperate to escape this death trap, I forced an awkward grin. "Haha... Duchess, satisfying you goes without saying, but pushing too hard tonight might mess up your schedule tomorrow. Let me just rub your shoulders to ease the—"
"Enough."
My frantic excuse was sliced clean by her icy, heavy command. The room's air thickened, choking my throat. Her red eyes pierced me with chilling glare, boring into my soul.
"Stop talking and come here. You've been yapping too much."
The suppressed killing intent in her tone nearly buckled my knees. My heart thrashed like it would shatter my ribs. Narrowing her eyes in clear annoyance, she added lowly,
"Do you hate the idea of sharing my bed?"
The overwhelming pressure paralyzed my remaining sanity white. Any more refusal, and my head would roll before she even wrung me dry.
"N-No way! How could I possibly... haha, sorry if it came off like that."
Forcing a groveling bow and the most servile smile imaginable, I had no escape in this vast, lavish room. Like a beast dragged to slaughter, I took heavy, dreadful steps forward.
Please just let me live... Swallowing bloody tears inside, I slowly slid onto the massive bed where she waited.