I AM A MAGE BUT WITH MILF SYSTEM

Chapter 636: Well this can be problematic

He counted out twelve gold coins and placed them on the bar with soft clinks.

Tessa stared at the coins, then at Julian, then back at the coins.

”Are you... are you serious?” she asked, her professional demeanor completely shattered by shock. ”Mr. Julian, thatʼs twelve gold. Thatʼs... thatʼs more than most people make in months. You canʼt just—”

”I just did,” Julian said with a smile. ”Is there a problem?”

”No! No, of course not! Itʼs just...” Tessa was flustered now, her cheeks burning red. ”Nobody ever actually buys the Starfall Ambrosia! We keep it in stock because it looks impressive, but nobodyʼs ordered it in the three years Iʼve worked here!”

Julian smiled inwardly. Money meant nothing to him. Gold, silver, bronze—they were just metals, valuable only because societies agreed they were valuable. And those metals existed in every part of the cosmos.

Which meant that before leaving the Throne of Gods, Julian had done something very easy.

He created gold.

Lots of gold.

Currently, he had almost five million gold coins on him.

Five million gold.

More than entire kingdoms possessed in their treasuries.

And he could make more whenever he wanted.

So twelve gold for a fancy bottle of alcohol? It was nothing to him.

”Well,” he said to the still-shocked Tessa, ”I guess Iʼm your first. Consider it a memorable night for both of us.”

Tessa carefully picked up the coins, examining them to ensure they were real, then placed them in the cash box.

”Iʼll... Iʼll get you a glass,” she managed, reaching for the Starfall Ambrosia with almost worshipping quality.

”Actually,” Julian said, ”before you do that, let me ask you something.”

Tessa paused, the bottle frozen in her hands. ”Yes, Mr. Julian?”

”Do you know about the large brothel in the red light district? The one where someone named Valeria works?”.

Tessaʼs eyes went wide as saucers. The bottle slipped slightly in her grip before she caught it again.

”Valeria?” she repeated, her voice strangled. ”You... you know Valeria?”

”I met her earlier tonight,” Julian said casually. ”Interesting woman. I was just curious about her background.”

Tessa set the bottle down carefully on the bar, then leaned forward slightly.

”Mr. Julian, Valeria is not just any... any worker at the Gilded Rose. Sheʼs the favorite woman of the Duke of Ezakael.”

Julianʼs eyebrow raised with genuine interest. ”The Duke? The one who rules this city?”

”The very same!” Tessa whispered urgently. ”Everyone knows about it—itʼs the worst-kept secret in the city. Duke visits the Gilded Rose regularly, always requests Valeria specifically, pays her enormous sums, and has made it very clear that sheʼs under his protection.”

She glanced around nervously, as if worried someone might overhear, even though the few remaining guests were far out of earshot.

”Some people say sheʼs practically his unofficial mistress. That he would marry her if not for the political complications. The Duchess would never stand for it, of course, but everyone knows the Duke prefers Valeriaʼs company to his own wifeʼs.”

Tessaʼs expression became more serious, almost worried.

”Mr. Julian... if you did something to upset Valeria, or if youʼve gotten on her bad side somehow, you need to be very careful. The Duke is fiercely protective of her. One man who grabbed her arm too roughly in the street spent three months in the dungeon.”

Julian processed this information with growing amusement. So the woman heʼd just thoroughly fucked into unconsciousness in front of a room full of witnesses was the Dukeʼs favorite courtesan.

Well. That was... potentially problematic.

Or potentially hilarious.

He wasnʼt quite sure which yet.

”I appreciate the warning,” Julian said with a smile. ”But I donʼt think I need to worry about Valeria being upset with me.”

Tessa looked skeptical. ”Mr. Julian, with all due respect, Valeria is extremely professional and very, very good at what she does. If you paid for her services and think that means something more...”

She trailed off...

Julian smiled. ”Trust me, Tessa. Valeria and I reached an understanding tonight. A very... thorough understanding.”

The way he said ”thorough” made Tessa blush again, though she wasnʼt entirely sure why.

”If you say so, Mr. Julian,” she said doubtfully.

She then carefully poured the Starfall Ambrosia into the crystal glass and the liquid seemed to glow with its own inner light. She presented it to him with both hands.

”Here is your drink, sir. Please enjoy.”

Julian accepted the glass and brought it to his lips, taking an experimental sip.

The flavor was extraordinary. It started sweet like honey, then transformed into something floral and ethereal, before finishing with a warmth that spread through his entire body. He could actually feel his mana responding to it, resonating with whatever magical properties the drink possessed.

But more interesting than the taste was Tessaʼs expression.

She was watching him intently, her eyes tracking every micro-expression on his face, clearly desperate to know what it tasted like. She had probably worked at this inn for three years, polishing that bottle every day, knowing it cost twelve gold and that she would likely never taste it herself.

Julian smiled and slid the glass toward her.

”Go on,” he said. ”Take a sip.”

Tessaʼs eyes widened in shock.

”What? No! Mr. Julian, I couldnʼt possibly—this is your drink! You paid twelve gold for it!”

”And Iʼm offering you a taste,” Julian replied easily. ”Drinking alone is very boring. You can take a glass if you want.”

He gestured to the bottle and Tessa shook her head vigorously.

”No, sir! Absolutely not! Mistress Mara would have my head if I helped myself to the premium stock! No, no, only a sip is fine. Just one small sip, if youʼre really offering.”

She reached for the glass tentatively, as if it might burn her, then lifted it to her lips with both hands. She took the smallest sip possible—barely more than wetting her lips—and her eyes immediately went huge.

”Oh... oh my...” she breathed.

Then her eyes glazed over slightly, and she swayed where she stood.

”Whoa,” she said, her voice suddenly looser. ”Thatʼs... thatʼs really stroooong...”