The boy suddenly laughed, but my expression did not fall.
He did not mock me, and he didn't shoo me away; instead, he ridiculed how I just used 'quite well-off' in my description.
"Quite well-off? Lady, that's the House of Valerius." He said, "They own half the businesses in this city. Their house is the one with the golden spires. But if you're looking for your friend that works there, you might want to start in the mansion."
I did feel a little jest in his tone, but I ignored it.
Instead, I was more focused on the information I had gotten.
'The richest house.'
I felt a chill of both luck and pure terror. If I played this right, I was set for life. If I played it wrong, the House of Valerius would have my head on a pike before sunrise.
I twisted my lips, thinking of the best possible course of action to take. I had to play it smart, and trust me, I always play it smart.
I spotted the most expensive-looking inn on the street. It had the signboard painted in what I believe was gold. 'The Gilded Rose.'
Now, this was a place that suited my standards.
The horses in the shed at the corner looked like they were groomed better than most people. And in my case, they were better off than me.
Ugh.
I slid off my horse, my bare feet hitting the cold cobblestones. I walked it towards the shed and said to the stable keeper,
"Hey, this horse is priceless. Lose it, and you lose your neck," I glared, and he flinched.
"Y-yes ma'am."
The main point with faking nobility was acting with confidence. You need to have so much confidence that leaves no room for doubt, and even if there was doubt, more doubt will follow that doubt, and then the doubter becomes confused, haha.
Despite how I looked, the stable keeper did not question me. Instead, he took the horse and planned to take care of it as if it were his own life.
I walked through the mahogany doors with my head held high and the oversized coat billowing behind me.
The innkeeper, a stout half-pig man with a monocle, looked me up and down with pure disgust.
"We don't serve beggars," he snapped, pointing toward the door. "The stables are down the street if you're looking for scraps."
I didn't argue. I simply reached into the pocket of the coat and pulled out the gold and obsidian hawk. I held it up, letting the firelight dance off the expensive metal.
The innkeeper's monocle nearly fell out of his eye. He turned as pale as a sheet.
"T-the... the Valerius emblem?" he stammered.
"I believe your words just now were misspoken and you were about to offer me your finest suite, right?" I said, my voice cold and demanding. " I'm tired from my long journey. Get a hot bath ready, and a comfortable dress… Immediately."
The lobby went silent.
Everyone knew the heirs of Valerius were chaste men who never looked twice at a female.
If a girl showed up with a personal emblem—looking like she'd just been through a war—there was only one conclusion.
She wasn't a beggar. She was likely his secret, scandalous obsession.
"Of course! Right away, My Lady!" the innkeeper squealed, bowing so low his forehead hit the counter. "We had no idea! Please, forgive my rudeness!"
Yet again, if this female who appeared like a scandalous obsession was in possession of one of the heirs' emblems, there was a question left unanswered.
Which of the heirs was she involved with?
I smirked as they scrambled to take me upstairs.
I had no idea what was brewing in the minds of the beastmen watching me, but I didn't care. All I cared about was how I was going to enjoy the privilege of having this emblem.
The tub looked like it was carved from a huge piece of white marble and filled with water so hot it turned my aching skin to a delicious, rosy pink.
"Haah!" I leaned back, closing my eyes as the scent of rose oil and expensive soap filled the room.
This was a far cry from a forest pool or a muddy village square.
'I could get used to this. No, I should get used to this.'
After all, if I play my cards right, I might end up living like royalty for the rest of my life.
But then again, I didn't expect that lion beastman to be so important. He belonged to the richest house in the capital. It's no wonder he had such a grand caravan.
If he decides to look for me now and take responsibility for what we did, I just might allow him to.
There's nothing like living a comfortable life.
I looked at my reflection in the silver hand-mirror the worker had left behind.
My skin looked so smooth and delicate now that the dirt was gone.
I blinked for a bit, taking a clear view of my face for the first time. Even to my own critical eyes, I looked terrifyingly beautiful. My golden eyes looked sharp like those of a viper, and my dark hair was heavy and lustrous.
If I were a beastman, then what kind of beast was I?
I'd say maybe I was a snake, because there was no other explanation for my slit eyes. I refuse to be known as a lizard otherwise.
'So, this is the face that's currently trying to turn the Capital upside down,' I thought, tracing my jawline delicately.
I looked at the Hawk Emblem sitting on the vanity. According to the gossip I'd already squeezed out of the trembling worker, there were two heirs of Valerius—Caelum Valerius and Julian Valerius—and both were considered men of 'iron discipline.'
Well, he did feel like iron when he was thrusting inside me.
I guessed the man I had snagged the emblem from was Julian, the younger brother of the two.
He was said to be friendly, kind, but also meticulous in his dealings. He treated females like a nuisance because all they wanted was to get into his bed and take on his name.
And now, here I was, claiming to be his 'special guest', haha.
'I smell a scandal brewing, and I am right in the heart of it.'
"If he finds out I have this, he'll either kill me or marry me to keep me quiet," I whispered, a devious grin spreading across my lips. "I'm betting on the latter if he was serious about what he said in the carriage."