“Well then,” the king gestured with a restrained motion, prompting the maids to head toward the door. Their movements were synchronized, as though rehearsed, without a hint of hesitation.

As the door opened, several women stepped into the room. Each bore her own unique features, but most were young and undeniably beautiful.

“Oh my, it’s been a while, Your Majesty,” one of them greeted the king warmly.

“Hmm,” he acknowledged with a nonchalant nod.

The familiarity between them was apparent, though the exact nature of their relationship remained unclear. Meanwhile, the maid who had guided me here quietly exited, slipping out before I could follow her with my eyes.

Before I could dwell on it, a woman approached and sat beside me.

“Hello, Sir Hero,” she greeted with a soft smile.

“…Pleased to meet you,” I replied curtly.

“You’re just as stiff as they said you’d be. But I suppose that makes you even more charming,” she teased lightly.

The red-haired woman—no, closer to a girl—smiled with a refreshing allure, like the vibrant leaves of midsummer. But I didn’t so much as glance her way, turning my attention instead toward the king.

He waved his hands dismissively, letting out a sheepish laugh. “Ah, wait, wait. You’ve got it all wrong. This isn’t what it looks like. These ladies aren’t who you think they are, either.”

“Is that so?”

“They’re daughters of esteemed noble families. Well, most of them, anyway. They’re far too distinguished for me to describe them without doing them an injustice.”

“I wasn’t aware,” I said evenly.

“Of course. How could I introduce just anyone to our esteemed Hero?”

The king shook his head with exaggerated disbelief. The women around us giggled at his words, their laughter tinkling like bells.

“What’s this? Did you think we were… you know… just any kind of women? That’s a little disappointing,” one of them said with mock offense.

“That wasn’t my assumption. But if I gave that impression, I must apologize for my rudeness.”

“How mean. We’re just here because we wanted to meet the Hero in person,” she pouted.

“There would have been opportunities to meet later, I imagine.”

“Oh, hardly. You’ll only get busier as time goes on, Sir Hero. And chances to meet face-to-face like this will become even rarer.”

Suddenly, a faint touch grazed my knee. It felt accidental, too subtle to call out directly. But before I could respond, other women began to brush against me, their touches growing bolder.

Even a hero who had slain a dragon had no means to fend off such persistent attention.

“So, is this the hand that severed the dragon’s head? I thought it would be covered in scars, but it’s surprisingly smooth,” one murmured, caressing my hand.

“I was merely fortunate and had a skilled sage by my side. Beyond that, this…”

“Oh, don’t be like that. We just wanted to take a closer look at you, that’s all. Holding your hand makes me feel stronger already!”

“I doubt it has such an effect.”

“Ahaha, I’m joking, of course. You take things too seriously. Hmm, I wonder, would touching another part of you have any benefits?”

One woman, chuckling mischievously, suddenly placed her hand on my chest. Startled, I flinched and tried to push her hand away, but the king interjected before I could act.

“Haha, come now, Hero. Surely, you can tolerate a little playful banter. A king and a hero should never mistreat women, don’t you agree? We’re not knights by birth, but we can embody their chivalric spirit.”

“Your Majesty is as admirable as ever. Then, perhaps… would you care to join us for a little fun?” one woman suggested coyly.

“But isn’t today the Hero’s day? It wouldn’t do for an old king like me to intrude. Still, I appreciate the offer, Erin,” the king replied, grinning.

The woman named Erin fluttered her lashes at the king, her gaze lingering a little too long. Formality had loosened, giving way to bold and direct gestures typical of aristocrats in such settings.

Still, I couldn’t help but sense a certain lack of refinement. My suspicions were soon confirmed by another woman’s remark.

“The princess is quite impressive, isn’t she? If it were me, I’d have eloped with such a magnificent man the moment he came to save me. But I suppose she’s always been rather shy, hasn’t she?”

“You speak as though you know the princess’s childhood well,” I remarked.

“Well… I’ve met her a few times. Mostly when I was tagging along with my older sisters. The princess preferred to be alone, but His Majesty often sought help from noble families to introduce her to friends.”

“Older sisters, you say?”

“Yes, though it didn’t go well. The princess was always a little aloof, and the other girls were too eager to win her favor.”

So most of the women gathered here were likely second or third daughters of noble families.

That would explain a lot. Eldest daughters would have had other opportunities to meet me in official settings.

And given the nobility’s tendency for early marriages, women of this age who were still unmarried likely faced significant pressure.

To them, my presence might represent an unexpected windfall—a hero, easier to sway than a traditional nobleman.

It made sense why they behaved this way. Perhaps they believed they were lowering themselves to match my status as a commoner-born hero.

“I suppose it’s fortunate, then. Now we have a chance to get closer to the Hero. From the looks of it, you’ve been too busy adventuring to make friends. Shall I be your friend?”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m fine, thank you.”

“Oh? Then perhaps you’re hoping for a relationship beyond friendship? That’s fine too. Marriage doesn’t have to be monogamous, after all.”

“That’s quite the immoral suggestion.”

“You’re too serious. Relax, I’m not that easy, either. Still, if you’re aiming to succeed His Majesty, multiple marriages might be something to consider—for love or for other purposes.”

“...”

Subtle touches continued to press against me.

I raised my hand to push one away, but another woman laughed and suddenly embraced me. The gap in our statuses prevented me from acting rashly.

Had these been mere courtesans, I might have shoved them off without hesitation. In some ways, this was more insidious—more cunning and ruthless.

“Your Majesty,” I finally called out, seeking to end the farce.

“Yes, Hero?”

The king approached, playfully bantering with another woman before turning his attention to me.

“Well? Did you enjoy the conversation?”

“…It was enlightening.”

“Not bad, right?”

“It was… different from what I expected,” I replied flatly.

“Oh, Hero…”

The king leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

“This is just a taste. If you truly let yourself indulge, you couldn’t even imagine what’s possible.”