Rise of the Lustful Evil Monarch (Re)-Chapter 256: Ethan’s thoughts

Third Person's POV

Their influence seemed to stretch into every possible corner of the empire.

I clearly underestimated how deeply rooted this empire is... thousands of years of dominance don't just vanish overnight.

They entered the inn and though no guards manned the entrance, Ethan immediately understood that such precautions were unnecessary.

The mere presence of the word Imperial in the name was more than enough to strike fear and caution into any would-be troublemakers.

Few would dare to even breathe wrong in such a place.

Inside, a warmly lit reception hall welcomed them with its cozy and elegant design.

The scent of rare incense floated faintly in the air and mixed with the subtle aroma of polished wood and rich fabric.

Wasting no time, Ethan strode confidently toward the reception desk where a bespectacled and mildly beautiful young woman was deeply engrossed in a book.

As they approached, she briefly glanced up at them with disinterest before casually returning to her reading and seemed to be completely unfazed by their presence.

Virelle's eye twitched at this unexpected treatment.

In all her life, she had never once been dismissed or ignored like this, especially not by some low-ranking inn worker.

However, just as her temper began to simmer, Ethan reached out and gently squeezed her hand.

That simple gesture calmed her in an instant and her frustration slowly faded.

Instead, she grew thoughtful.

This subtle difference in treatment that was obviously caused by her new identity and unassuming appearance opened up a fresh realm of understanding for her.

She silently absorbed the experience as it was a novel taste of humility and a lesson in perception that added depth to her growing awareness of the world.

Meanwhile, Ethan kept his ever-composed demeanor and spoke directly as he cut to the chase with calm clarity.

"I would like a large room for the three of us for one night."

The girl didn't even look up as she replied in a bored flat tone,

"Not allowed. Only two per room, no exceptions.

Payment upfront, no pay, no stay.

One night costs a hundred gold coins per room."

And just like that, she fell silent again.

Ethan stared at her for a moment and the edges of his smile tightened ever so slightly.

Even though he didn't show it openly, he wasn't exactly pleased.

The woman's dismissive attitude clearly stemmed from their ordinary and poor-looking appearances as she hadn't even tried to mask her contempt.

Still, Ethan didn't argue.

He gave a small nod and silently reached into his spatial ring.

With a soft clink, he placed two hundred low-tier dark magic crystals onto the desk.

"Two rooms. One night."

The moment the sound of the crystals hit her ears, the woman's posture subtly shifted.

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She finally put her book down and collected the crystals wordlessly while she reached beneath the counter.

A few seconds later, she handed Ethan two old and slightly worn bronze keys.

Without another word, she promptly returned to her book and her cold indifference resumed as though they had never spoken.

Ethan didn't waste a second more on her.

With the keys now in hand and his usual easygoing smile still intact, he turned away without comment and began walking toward the staircase that led to the so-called inn rooms above.

He looked down at the bronze keys in his palm and noticed two distinct numbers carved into their surface—202 and 203.

Nodding slightly to himself, he led the way as they climbed the stairs and soon arrived at the second floor, as it was the location of their rooms.

A long corridor bathed in a dim bloody glow from the Blood Moon stretched before them and marked the quiet stillness of night.

The subtle lighting cast soft shadows on the walls and ceiling and gave the space a calm and almost mystical atmosphere.

Ethan found himself appreciating the ambiance as he walked forward and eventually stopped before the two adjacent doors.

He reached for the key marked 202 and opened the door to the first room.

Velcy followed closely behind and stepped in right after him.

However, the moment Virelle tried to enter, a soft hum echoed as a blue shimmering barrier materialized across the doorway and stopped her in her tracks.

She blinked in surprise and instinctively touched the glowing field, only to yelp as a sharp electric shock coursed through her fingers.

Quickly pulling her hand back, she looked at the barrier in astonishment.

Ethan turned around at the sound and narrowed his eyes as he examined the translucent field.

Without hesitation, he reached out and touched it himself, only to find that it didn't affect him in the same way.

His expression darkened slightly as realization dawned on him that this must have been what the receptionist meant by "only two people per room."

With a silent sigh, he exited the room and gestured to Virelle to enter.

She seemed to have come to the same conclusion and nodded in understanding before stepping inside.

This time, the barrier let her through without resistance.

Seeing that, Ethan smiled faintly and said,

"You two, freshen up and rest. I will do the same in the other room."

Without waiting for a response, he moved to the second room and stepped inside.

Instantly, soft lights bloomed to life in the room and revealed the surprisingly modern and lavish interior.

For a world with medieval foundations, the sophistication was remarkable.

A large, king-sized bed adorned with crimson silk sheets stood at the center and was draped in a sheer transparent canopy that added a touch of elegance.

Ornamental potted plants stood like silent sentinels beside the bed while exquisite paintings adorned the walls.

Each painting seemed to tell a story, from the vast grasslands of the demon lands to eerie depictions of the cursed Dark Forest, and the towering demon cities of this ancient empire that pulsed with an ancient grandeur.

All of it combined to create a dim yet captivating charm that suited the deep silence of the night.