Chapter 78: Verdia – 1
Finally, I had succeeded in drawing the noble lady into my room.
Verdia's mere presence seemed to brighten the whole atmosphere.
I guided her inside, making sure the room was empty beforehand, and offered her a seat on the guest sofa.
"How have you been since then?" I asked as I took my seat.
"I've had some difficult times, wandering the streets," Verdia replied.
I said nothing, simply pouring tea.
"I just ordered some. Please, have some," I offered.
As I lifted my cup, Verdia spoke again.
"Could we switch cups?"
Without a word, I swapped cups with her.
"What brings you here today?"
"I realized running away wouldn't solve anything. About you and Fiona…"
I took a quiet sip, enjoying the warmth.
"So, you started seeing Fiona to get my attention?"
"Well…"
"Why did you flaunt your relationship all over the castle?"
"That's just my style."
"Are you here to get revenge on me?"
Verdia's voice was low.
She could have commanded her guards to eliminate me on the spot, but she hadn't.
If she had wanted to, it would have happened long ago.
"I don't resent you, Lady Verdia."
"How can I believe that?"
"I missed you."
Verdia's eyelids fluttered.
"I'm a married woman."
"When I lay on the hard ground, I go crazy thinking about your skin."
"Stop it."
"Has Lady Verdia never felt the same?"
"H-how could I?"
She claimed she never missed my touch.
"I suppose I was mistaken. I thought you might have missed me too."
"…What's the real reason you came here?"
"I'm here on business."
"Business?"
"I'm launching the Milf Hunter brand. This brand is exclusively for affluent, elegant married women."
"…Affluent and elegant?"
I smiled confidently, like a successful CEO.
"Yes. My brand is for the most distinguished married women in the city.
I don't cater to just anyone, unlike other trainers."
"You're really doing this? Was everything that happened that day a misunderstanding? Then why…"
Why didn't I resent her?
I chose to be honest.
"I did deceive you back then."
Verdia's brows furrowed.
"I was a nobody, but I had to do whatever it took to survive on the streets."
"How could someone like that be involved with Belita…"
"Belita has decided to join me. She's now among the ranks of distinguished married women."
"Then… the reason you came to Chartreuse…"
"Because Lady Verdia is the perfect fit for my brand.
That's why the Lord summoned me here."
"…I have no intention of getting a slave's brand on my body!"
Verdia recoiled, suddenly frightened.
"What?"
"Don't slaves get branded by the products they sell or the trainers they work with? I can't get a permanent brand."
"I don't sell. This brand is for the most… ahem, distinguished married women in the city."
"Who decides that?"
"I do."
"Who? For what purpose…"
"Take Lord Vatino, for example. He has everything: money, fame, power…"
Verdia nodded readily.
"All humans retain their animal instincts, and Lord Vatino is no exception.
He has the instinct to boast and show off the woman he's with if she pleases him."
"The term 'woman' is… a bit much."
"My apologies."
"Are you saying I'm inadequate?"
"No. Lord Vatino could probably stay up all night bragging about his wife."
"…So?"
"If his wife received a brand, he wouldn't need to talk so much.
He could easily show off his power and influence to others."
"Even so… to become the trainer's property…"
I paused deliberately.
It was hard not to laugh, thinking about what I was about to say.
This was Milf Hunter at its finest.
"I'm sorry, but you don't qualify for my brand."
"What?"
Verdia was stunned.
She must have had hopes, but I had no intention of giving it to her.
"I said you were a good fit for the brand, not that you qualified."
"So… Belita qualifies, but I don't?"
"Yes."
I fought to suppress a grin.
This must be the first time she's been rejected like this.
Verdia probably always believed she was lacking as a woman.
"To keep the value of my brand, I have strict standards.
They must be outwardly beautiful and come from respectable families."
Her eyes urged me to get to the point, a look I hadn't seen before.
To our furious Madam, I revealed the truth.
"However, they cannot have problems with their husbands."
I'd been deeply involved in the couple's sex life for some time now.
And my conclusion was clear:
They had serious issues in bed long before I arrived.
"That may be true, but…"
"You already sense it, don't you?"
"Yes."
Verdia was completely subdued.
"You enjoyed sex with me, Lady Verdia. Why couldn't you with your husband?"
"That tone…"
"Did I say anything untrue?"
"No."
"Did you have sex with me? Yes or no?"
I pressed her with a slightly aggressive tone, and she confessed.
"Yes… we did…"
"Then is the problem your husband?"
"That's not it. We have a daughter, Marnier."
"But there's been no news since then… I know why."
"You know something I don't, though I've lived with him all my life?"
"Yes."
Verdia seemed slightly agitated.
Good. Everything was going as planned.
"Don't believe me?"
"To be honest, no."
"Let's be honest. You were uncomfortable with me and wanted me out, right?"
"Yes."
"But your husband didn't listen. Why?"
Verdia blinked.
"Why?"
"Because there's a secret he can't share with anyone else."
"Tell me!"
"I can't."
I leaned back arrogantly on the sofa and scoffed.
This struck a nerve; Verdia clenched her fists and trembled with anger.
"I get it now. You're trying to seduce me and get me into bed with you."
"If that were true, I would have taken you by force."
"What are you saying?"
"Coming to my room alone without guards—aren't you being careless?"
Verdia flinched.
"Fiona isn't here either…"
I set my half-empty teacup on the table.
What I said was partly true.
A good trainer must recognize when a woman is making advances.
Women can be cunning.
Verdia might not realize it herself, but she came prepared to offer her body.
If she liked my behavior, she wouldn't need her husband. She could play along and—
If not, she could use this as an excuse to kick me out.
A woman's body is her most powerful weapon.
She was trying to gain the upper hand and manipulate me.
At least, that was part of her plan.
But when things didn't go her way, everything changed.
"I'm not forcing myself on you. I apologize for my rudeness."
"Continue."
"Revealing your husband's secret means training you, Lady Verdia."
"Training?"
"Because, isn't that right? I'm trying to fix something wrong using my power."
"I'm Vatino's wife. I have the right to know."
"The Madam who ran from me because she wasn't ready for training—will she cooperate if she learns her husband's secret?"
"…"
"Or will you hurt Vatino?"
I backed her into a corner.
Had she sensed something from her husband's sudden absence?
Let's find out.
"Maybe… Lord Vatino is thinking of leaving you."
"No!"
Was that too much?
Her reaction was intense.
"I can't let my daughter, Marnier, grow up without a father!"
Good.
It was underhanded, but at least she wasn't blaming me.
"There is a way to keep harmony with your husband, Lady Verdia."
"Do I have to be trained?"
"Yes."
"How can I trust…"
"I'm not lying this time. I've proven my skills."
"Belita wasn't the type to trust easily. That's why I believe you."
She'll trust Belita but not me?
It didn't matter. What mattered was Verdia was almost convinced.
After all my effort, I wasn't going to be satisfied with just sleeping with her.
I planned to make Verdia completely mine.
"If you accept my training, I'll share your husband's secret and offer solutions for the future."
"As long as you don't give up halfway, I'll always be on your side."
"Do I have to get branded too?" Verdia asked nervously.
"No."
"What?" She looked surprised.
Did she think I would brand her right away?
"Didn't I say? You have to be a distinguished married woman with a good relationship with your husband."
"…Oh…" Verdia's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"But Belita's relationship with her husband wasn't good at first either. That means I can help you."
"I believe you."
"Then how can I trust you?"
"What?"
Her flustered expression was amusing.
She didn't know how to respond when her own words were turned back on her.
"I… that is…"
"You might pretend not to know later."
"If you want, I swear on my family's honor."
"That's unnecessary. It's a matter of my heart."
Verdia looked even more flustered.
"T-Trainer…"
"Yes? What is it?"
"I apologize…"
"Hmm."
"For making things difficult… I'm sorry."
Verdia bowed her head.
"Help me."
"You think you need my help?"
"Yes… I was foolish. There must have been a reason why my husband insisted on you."
"Then let's begin."
I rose from the sofa.
Verdia looked up at me nervously.
"What are we going to do?"
"Actually, I received this from the Lord."
I took the video mana stone from my pocket.
This was the device the Lord had personally given me.
I wasn't sure how much it was worth, but it was perfect to prove my close relationship with Vatino.
Verdia would be even more convinced she needed my help.
"A video mana stone…! That…"
"Do you know what this is?"
"They cost 3,000 gold each…"
I almost dropped the stone in shock.
This thing cost that much? My entire fortune wouldn't come close!
If I had to compensate Condel for breaking a 3,000-gold item, he might collapse on the spot.
"Yes, that's right."
"Why would he…"
"I intend to record you promising to cooperate with the training."
Verdia instinctively covered her ample breasts with her arms, looking wary.
Was it instinctive?
She seemed nervous about the idea of becoming the star of high-quality milf porn.
A sex tape of the Lady of Chartreuse…
Anyone would agree it was a smart use of 3,000 gold.
"I won't record anything else."
"I'll keep the stone where you can see it, then put it away later."
"…You're only recording what I say?"
"Now, please come to the bed."
I sat on the bed and patted the space next to me.
"Why are we sitting together?"
"We have to be in the same shot. If it's just you, no one will believe you didn't record it alone."
Good. Natural.
My mind was working well before this incredibly hot married lady's session.
Verdia, slightly embarrassed, sat next to me, smoothing her dress so it wouldn't wrinkle.
Aahh, that lovely scent…
I swear I felt an electric shock when her thigh brushed against mine.
So soft.
Such exquisite texture.
My erection becomes noticeable even through my pants.
She sees my tent and moves away.
"I'm leaving if you're going to do anything inappropriate!"
She seemed nervous about her reactions being recorded by the video mana stone.
"It's just a natural physiological response…"
She stayed silent, hesitating as she glanced at me with a troubled expression. Then, after a moment, she returned.
"Alright, hurry up and record."
"Okay, let's start."
I placed the mana stone on the table in front of the bed.
I could have kept it in my pocket, but I wanted Verdia to know exactly where to look.
It felt like recording a video message for her husband.
Now that I think about it, I'm pretty good at this—I've done it a few times before.
Verdia sensed the strange atmosphere and sat stiffly next to me, fidgeting as if uncomfortable being filmed.
Is it working?
I had learned how to operate the stone from Cecil.
It's not exactly mana manipulation—I just knew how to turn it on and off.
A faint blue light glowed from the small gem.
We were live.
"First, please introduce yourself—your name, family, age, and a brief introduction."
"Do I have to?"
"This is being recorded as evidence. Now, look over there."
Verdia hesitated, then lifted her head and spoke toward the mana stone.
Verdia took a deep breath and spoke clearly toward the mana stone.
"My name is Verdia Chartreuse. I am 30 years old and a mother of one."