"I-I don't think it was something human should eat..." Loryarc muttered with shaking hands.
This situation was familiar to him, too familiar. His girlfriend often forced him to take drugs and forcefully fed him those things even while he kept saying he didn't want to.
He had a trauma, if you could say.
But who cares? At least, Glamoria didn't. She didn't even know he had a trauma.
"Eat it, Lory."
She smiled, looking at him with narrowed eyes. She clearly finds the situation amusing.
"I... I..."
While Loryarc hesitates, Glamoria takes her spoon and knife to start her single feast. One mouthful of dish after another disappeared in her chews.
The smile on her face slightly faded after she glanced at him and saw him hesitate.
"Oh my Lory, you are already so big, but you still pick on meals... You're such a naughty child, aren't you?"
Glamoria giggled a quiet giggle. She put her spoon and knife back to the table in a slow, grace motions, before took a sip of water from her glass, and stood up.
Feeling a subtle intimidating air from Glamoria, Loryarc couldn't help but shrunk.
"B-But..."
Glamoria took steps, circling the table to approach Loryarc. Her eyes locked at his face, slowly widening her smile.
For what happened next, Marie could only shut her eyes and hold herself back. She wouldn't help her Master. Because if she stepped in, it wouldn't be a help at all. Lady Glamoria would only become more unrestrained—more wild than she was now.
The result would just lead to even harsher treatment.
"A-Arghhhh!!"
Her Master screamed.
Ah... He must been forced to eat the soup by Lady Glamoria.
Lady Glamoria was a strong mage. She could use a body-strengthening spell to easily suppress her Master. There's no way her Master could escape from her.
Endure it, Master.
You had endured the same for a year. It's okay.
You would be okay.
Don't be scared.
Please.
When Marie opened her eyes again, only her unconscious Master was left in the chamber. His face and clothes were stained by purble and dark unknown substances of the soup.
"It seems that today would become your holiday, is it not, Master?"
Marie crouched beside him, took her handkerchief to wipe his drenched face and the dirty floor, before bringing him back to his room.
Any other maid would take care of the empty bowl soon, so it's okay.
***
"Arrghhhh! Why don't you help me, Marie!?"
As Marie expected, her Master woke up after just 30 minutes of sleep. He even looked more energetic than before.
"I am sorry, Master. However, I can't. Stepping in her way would be dangerous. For you, and me."
Marie bit her lips in guilt. She could only bow to him, begging for his forgiveness. Unfortunately, she can't do anything in that situation, not even say some good words. No way Lady Glamoria would allow a maid like her to say such dishonoring words.
Loryarc noticed that her body was trembling. Even when she had a reason behind her action, it's seems, Marie really thought that she was in guilt because she couldn't help him before.
He scratched his head and sighed.
"Was I used to being treated like that here?" Thought that blaming her wouldn't help him or anyone, Loryarc asked her that instead.
Marie hung her head, nodded while wiping her eyes.
Dammit.
Loryarc folded his hands, began to ponder things.
His experience in his previous life taught him. That the type of women like Glamoria was bad. Better to escape from her while you still have the chance.
But how?
He realized that even his physique, as a man, couldn't withstand her strength.
The answer was maybe to become stronger.
How could he become stronger? The System, of course.
Loryarc inhaling and exhaling air, forgetting about the earlier fear and pain of being forced to eat the strange thing by Glamoria, before smiling and turning his attention back to Marie.
"Marie, where can I find a Brothel?"
Marie had already calmed down as well when she heard his question.
She tilted her head.
"Brothel, Master? Well, you could find it here, in the Capital. Or rather, doesn't a Brothel exist in almost every town and city?"
Her expression was asking him why he had so suddenly brought up the topic of a Brothel at a time like this.
Loryarc didn't explain anything and raised more question instead.
"Then, how much money do I have right now?"
Marie's perplexity increased, but she was her Master's maid, so she answered him without question.
"Lady Glamoria used to give you 100 gold coins a month for pocket money. After accumulating and using for a year, you had about 1078 coins."
"So much!?"
Loryarc already learned about this world's currency after hearing Marie's long explanation last night, so he knew how much the value of gold coins was in this world. In shorts, you could get a land with a house as a bonus at the countryside if you has even a single gold coin in your hand.
Of course, the value would decreased at the center of the country, not to mention in this Capital, the very heart of the country itself. But with a thousand gold coins, he could still be considered in the wealthier side, right?
He held his chin, pondering.
"How many women can I hire with this money..."
"M-master?"
Loryarc grinned after doing some calculations.
"Let's do some experiments, Marie!"
"Hah?"
"Brought about 100 golds for now!"
Loryarc had been already fed up with women like Glamoria in his previous life.
He should take control and break free from the cage this time.
And the way he found to reach his freedom was to kiss more women!
Let's try how his System works!
***
"Snow was falling outside, Master!"
"Furred coat, check!"
"How would you convince the Housekeeper, Mister Garesh, to give you permission to exit the palace?"
"I need some stomachache medicine."
"Cheating is bad, Master!"
"It's okay. I would just kiss some ladies and come back."
Walking in a rush down the hallway of the palace, Loryarc and Marie had some banter here and there.
Marie did her best to convince her Master, but Loryarc had already made up his mind and was so stubborn with his plan. In the end, she failed in convincing him and was forced to follow him to the brothel since she worried about her Master if he went alone.
They reached the housekeeper's office in no time.
Loryarc stopped in front of the door, nodded to the guards guarding the door, and then knocked on the door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
After some knocks, an old voice responded to him.
"Please enter."
The guards pushed the door open from both sides.
Marie and Loryarc enter the room after the door has opened widely.
There, Loryarc faced an old man with a wrinkled face and gray hair. He was sitting at the table inside the room in a butler's black uniform, wearing a surprised expression seeing him.
"M-my Lord? What's the matter? Why did you visit my office suddenly?" The old man asked while glancing at Marie, who stood behind Loryarc, his eyes demanding her explanation.
Marie turned her face to her side as a response, forming a frown on the old man's face.
Loryarc, on the other hand, calmly smiles.
"I want to go outside, to the city." He said.
"To the city?" The old man repeats his words, raised his brow slightly.
"Why would you go to the city yourself, My Lord? I could see with my eyes that you have recovered from your illness, somehow miraculously, but it would still might be dangerous for you to going outside the Palace. Maybe resting in the palace would be better."
The old man's words were polite, but he seemed to be very unwilling to give Loryarc his permission.
Loryarc showed his bitter smile as a response.
"But... My stomach is hurt, you see."
"..." Even the old man seemed unable to retort to him after he mentioned that fact.
He threw his face, clearing his throat.
"Didn't we have a skilled physician here in the palace?"
Seeing the old man still stubborn, Loryarc could only shake his head and bring Marie to join the fun.
"To be honest, he couldn't cure my stomachache, you see. I used to go to the pharmacy of the city in needs of medicines. Right, Marie?" Loryarc explaining with a smile.
He then looked at his right side, towards Marie, and pat her shoulder.
Marie received his sign and nodded.
"Y-Yes..."
The old man still seemed to have some suspicion about the two even after that.
However.
Stomachache, huh?
He understands that fact, since he has already witnessed how Glamoria was treating her fiancé for a year.
So, after some consideration, he gave up.
"Alright, I'll proceed your permission to go to the city right away, My Lord."