Chapter 3: 1000 Dreams
Later that day, Ivar began to walk through the streets of the city. After he had finished dinner, he decided to head out and start his plans since the beginning of the story would start soon.
He was walking through the city as usual, though his eyes and hair had reverted to black. This was all thanks to the ring on his finger.
It was called Ring of a Thousand Shades. Though the name sounded fancy, it wasn't a very complicated magical tool. It would transform one's hair and eye color to whatever color they wanted them to be. Children usually wore these before they attended the Coming of Age Ceremony to hide their abilities. A few older nobles also wore it but mainly to disguise the fact that they had no magical talent.
The rings were limited in ability, though. They only changed the color so it couldn't be used for infiltration unless one was very careful and skilled mages could sense how powerful other mages were.
Ivar was wearing it because he wanted to head to a particular location but he couldn't just let anyone know he had the Eyes of Order.
And as he walked down the street, he saw more and more men in the streets while barely clothed women were standing next to buildings and calling out to the men.
He had entered the red-light district of the capital.
Ivar walked through the crowd, looking at the different buildings. He had come a few times before since it was a 'nobleman's duty' to know how to perform and please a woman. Eleanor had even given him a monthly allowance to use specifically for 'training purposes' on top of his usual allowance.
After he saw the name of one building in particular, he marched through the crowd of men toward his destination.
He was planning to go to 1000 Dreams. This was one of the top brothels in the city, famous for having women skilled in bed and a variety of arts such as singing or playing instruments. The cost of seeing a woman perform was triple the cost of bedding one in another location. The actual sex would be 10 to 100 times depending on the prostitute.
When he walked through the doors, several women let out gasps when they saw him but none dared to approach. Ivar's face had grown more handsome as he grew up which made recognizing him as the heir of the von Grid family easy.
Several of the women ran off to inform their friends or the managers that a big fish had arrived.
'Saves me the trouble of requesting for the owner,' Ivar went over to the bar and ordered a cocktail. The bartender was another beautiful woman whose breasts were only contained by corset. Barely contained at that.
"I want three drinks total. Keep whatever change remains," Ivar placed a gold coin between her breasts. Drinks only cost 10 silver and a gold coin was worth 100 silver. She was getting over half a gold coin for simply making drinks.
The bartender blushed and put on a shy smile, nodding her head demurely. If he had not had the same experiences from Jacob's life, Ivar would have actually believed the woman's acting abilities.
"Such a generous tip. I hope that means that our bartender is satisfying you," a silky voice came from behind him
Ivar turned around and saw a beautiful woman with sharp, brown eyes looking at him.
She was wearing a qipao with slits that exposed her thighs and a boob window that showed a very generous amount of cleavage. Both of her legs were adorned with dragon tattoos that stretched up from her ankles to her thighs, coiling around them and drawing even more attention to her wonderful legs.
The rest of her body was also amazing, as if she was carved by a sculptor who was trying to recreate a goddess.
"11 out of 10," Ivar said
The woman smiled when she heard his reply.
"Then I must give her a raise," the woman looked pleased
"I didn't mean her service. I was talking about your looks," Ivar shook his head. "She is also amazing, though. This drink is good and her acting skills could allow her to play a major role at the theater."
The woman was stunned for a moment before letting out a seductive laugh that attracted all the men in the room. Even the ones who were being led to different rooms by the women working there, stopped in their tracks and turned to see who let out such a laugh.
Ivar was also enchanted by her laugh. He had the urge to push her down in the middle of the lobby and take her before everyone there.
'Later, Ivar. Business for now,' he thought to himself, forcing his eyes away and chugging the 2nd drink that the bartender had prepared for him.
"I thank you for the compliment, Lord von Grid. I am no longer working here but I wouldn't mind being the concubine of a powerful person such as yourself," the woman told him
"I'm sure every prince, duke, and powerful mage you have met have heard the same," Ivar didn't take her seriously. He knew that she was flattering him from his experience with women before.
"Hehe, I have been caught," the woman admitted but she didn't look ashamed. Instead, she was more interested in Ivar when he exposed her so readily. "All of our top girls are currently available. Can I make a suggestion on which one I believe would suit you most?"
She knew that Ivar wasn't ordinary when he could resist her charms and wasn't fawning over her. Even if he was checking her out, he at least kept his wits about him. That meant that he was worth creating a good relationship with in her eyes.
"No need. I'll pay for them all. I just hope that I can have a private meeting with you first to discuss a business venture, Madam Owner," Ivar placed 20 gold coins on the table.
"That is too much, my lord. We only have 6 girls available," the owner told him. Even the top women would only cost 1 gold for the night. "As for business, I must let you know that the remaining amount is still not enough if you want me."
"Worry not. I understand when a no means no. I have actual business with you," Ivar told her clearly.
The owner nodded before telling the bartender to send their top girls into the Emperor Suite and inform them that they would all be serving a customer that provided a generous tip. Once that was done, she was Ivar walked side by side up the stairs.