Chapter 5 - The Bet
He was taken aback by their reactions.
Many families had tried to arrange marriages for him through his father before, but he always turned them down because he valued his freedom.
Even families with high positions and status in the empire tried to match their daughters with him, yet his father rejected every proposal.
His father respected his choices and stood by him.
He would often say he wouldn't let Dave be bound by arranged marriages, promising to support him in deciding who to marry.
Even though rumors called him a womanizer, it didn't stop people from trying to marry their daughters to him.
Despite his reputation, he treated his partners with respect. He had many ex-girlfriends, and they were all stunning.
After each breakup, he often gifted them mansions or valuable treasures as parting gifts.
Sure, he could be seen as a scoundrel, but one with elegance and generosity.
He didn't want to be tied down and enjoyed living freely as a teenager.
Even though it was legal to marry young in this world, he wanted to enjoy his youth and freedom.
..................
Dave's Sin Points had reached 190, and they were still climbing.
He decided not to buy items or weapons immediately since the system only offered low-level items for now, and he wanted to level up to access stronger equipment.
After the introductions, many girls tried to chat with him, but none could get a chance due to the fierce-looking girl nearby.
She had a gloomy expression, and it was clear she was itching for a confrontation.
Since birth, people had treated her with respect, and no one dared to bully her.
But now, here was this young man pushing her buttons, and she was set on teaching him a lesson.
Though, deep down, she knew he was stronger than her.
In their brief exchange, he'd overpowered and toyed with her easily.
Dave was also known never to have been defeated since starting his martial path.
Even though Rose wasn't fond of him, she'd heard a lot of rumors about Dave.
[Ding! You've gained Sin Points]
Wrath +50
SP: 240
Dave noticed the tigress beside him and gave her a smirk.
"You want to teach me a lesson, but I'm stronger than you. You can't use your status to hold me back, so just give up. Maybe we're meant to be together."
Rose was shocked by his boldness and responded angrily, "Who wants to be with you? You're known as a womanizer, hmph!"
Dave's reputation was well-known in the empire, and he didn't deny it.
"Yeah, I'm a womanizer. So why don't you become my woman? I don't have any girlfriends right now. What do you say?"
He teased her, knowing she'd keep giving him endless Sin Points.
Rose's face reddened in a mix of shame and anger.
"You…you pervert! This isn't over," she said, trying to calm herself.
As the princess known for her temper, she found it hard to control her anger and wanted to hit him badly.
She closed her eyes, trying to push Dave out of her thoughts.
[Ding! You've gained Sin Points]
Wrath +100 (Rose)
SP: 340
Now, Dave could see who gave him the most Sin Points at once.
He realized Rose might be a treasure chest of Sin Points, considering how easily he could provoke her.
Rose felt a confusing mix of emotions.
Though his teasing and presence irritated her, she also felt a strange attraction to him, which left her puzzled.
Her usual fierce demeanor softened, leaving her feeling both frustrated and curious.
Though she admitted he was attractive, she was determined to stay strong and not let him get to her.
Looking for an outlet for her anger, she confronted a boy she noticed watching her.
"What are you looking at? Do you want a beating?"
She had been staring at the ceiling for a while, thinking, and hadn't noticed what was happening around her.
"No, no!" the student stammered, pointing at Dave beside her.
Rose quickly turned and found Dave staring right at her face. Their faces were only a centimeter apart, their lips almost touching.
Rose's cheeks turned pink as she quickly looked away. "Why are you staring at me?"
Dave chuckled at her reaction. "I just realized you look cute when you blush. Are you sure you don't want to be my girlfriend? I'm handsome, rich, powerful, and I have high status and a pretty big di—"
"Stop, you pervert!" Rose snapped, shocked that he'd be bold enough to say something like that.
"Dignity," Dave continued with a grin. "What were you thinking?"
"Hmph!"
"Maybe if you reach King Level this month, I'll consider it," Rose smirked, feeling confident he wouldn't make it that far in such a short time.
She didn't know why she'd said that but wanted to see him lose face.
Dave always seemed to irritate her, and she was determined to see him embarrassed.
Dave smiled and took her hands, saying, "Really? Can you promise that? What if you're just kidding?"
Rose tried to pull her hands away, but for some reason, she didn't resist and let him hold them.
"We can sign a contract," she said, preparing a soul-binding agreement. It stated that if someone broke it, they'd suffer severe consequences like death or injuries.
Dave was surprised she went through with it.
He read it and signed it. The contract said that if he didn't reach King Level within a month, he'd be her servant for a year—but he was confident in himself.
"This will be easy," he thought.
Rose signed it as well, making their contract official.
In her heart, she imagined him becoming her servant for a year, ready to make him do all sorts of things.
Dave guessed her thoughts and said, "Well, get ready to be my girlfriend, my beloved Rose."
He winked at her and closed his eyes.
Lina, the teacher at the front, noticed their interaction and, with her skills, overheard their conversation.
Even she didn't believe he'd reach King Level in a month, so she continued her lesson, ignoring them both.