While he was still shocked by the amount of treasures he possessed, not counting the one he had, namely the gold he earned in the auction as well as the business deal with Sophia when he heard a bell ringing.
He quickly walked towards the door, and opened it, revealing one of Sophia's servants at the door, holding a letter.
"Master Ryker," the servant said politely. "The mistress invite you to have a dinner with her tomorrow night,"
Ryker raised her brow before taking the letter and reading its content. Finishing the letter, he looked at the servant.
"Tell her I will be there, but I might not have the appropriate clothing," the servant smiled, "The mistress had prepared for such a thing actually. She told me I will bring you around the city to get you prepared for the dinner,"
Ryker nodded before telling the servant, "In that case, I will accept it. When are we going to get prepared?" he asked.
The servant's smile gets even wider, "Right now,"
-x-
When the servant meant right now she truly meant right now. He barely could tell the others where he was going when the servant pulled him into a luxurious carriage.
There, they began their trek to different stores, to which Ryker learned, there was a lot to learn of the societies of the rich and powerful.
From different types of clothes, from pants to court dresses, to little accessories, he doesn't think he can remember any of it which makes him impressed by the servant who seems to know everything.
Then, there is also the etiquette training. While some people might not care for such a thing, the establishment they will be going to will have a lot of people with significant status so, he needs to act like he is part of them.
Thankfully, he is a fast learner so he was able to memorize most of the important etiquette. He wonder if there is any place that did not practice such a thing in their upper society. If there is, he wondered why his parent did not send him there first.
For now, he will have to learn from different utensils and hope he can remember which one to use and when.
-x-
"This one or this one, which one do you think looks better on me Sonet?" Sophia asked her main auctioneer, Sonet, who was still in the process of rebooting her brain.
"Ma-manager, why are you trying out such risque underwear?" Sonet asked, her brain only computing the fact the manager, the most famous female Noble expert on the account that she rose to the top with little help from the Duke and is the idol of many female cultivators in regard to being independent of a man, is currently trying out the really dangerous underwear.
"We-well, there is a man," she could barely comprehend the usually serious manager suddenly acting shyly that she almost missed her entire sentence. Keyword: almost.
"A-a man, manager?!" Sonet shouted, a glare from the Noble expert barely keeping her mouth shut.
"Is Ilun actually right?" Sonet asked out loud, "that you actually found a boy to-" "He is much more than a boy toy!" the yell would have killed her if not for the manager holding back her strength. Still, her ears ringing for quite some time.
"At the time of the rumor, Ilun is wrong. But now, the rumor is true, but I fell in love with the man, or at least I think so," Sophia told Sonet, who had her eyes wide open at the shocking revelation.
"One, I lose a bet on if you ever find a lover. I bet you find a female lover at least. Two, congratulations manager. It is a surprise you find someone but a welcome one,"
The bright smile she receives in turn almost blinds her. Thankfully, Sophia is not in her metal form or she will really be blind.
"So, what is your plan?" Sonet asked as the manager always has a plan of some sort.
"I will have a dinner date with him at Selurafa," Sonet whistled. Selurafa is the best establishment in terms of restaurants, offering diverse cuisine from all over the Boluron Continent.
"I reserved a private room for both of us. After dinner, I will return to my home, then, I hopefully will not be a virgin anymore," she said in the last sentence with a blush.
Sonet wanted to ask who was the lucky man to get her manager but decided the manager did not speak of him for a good reason. And yes, if she finds out the person her manager is in love with has multiple lovers, she will hunt down the person and beat him up to a bloody pulp.
Thankfully for Sonet, she did not know and did not want to be nosy and so, the secret is safe, for now.
"Do you want me to vacant the Auction House, manager?" the auction house also doubles as Sophia's and the entire servant's force and most of the staff home, hers included. But renting an inn would not be an issue just to give her manager some time with her man. Besides, she could get the manager to pay for their stay.
"No need for that," Sophia stopped her. "After all, it is if I am lucky. It might not reach that point," the unspoken 'I will do my best to get it that way,' was understood by Sonet.
"Oh yeah, what I was doing, yes, which one do you think looks better on me?" as Sonet watched her manager change into the dangerous underwear, she hoped the man loved it or he would beat him up.
-x-
"You have been shivering twice already, what's wrong, Master Ryker?" Ilun asked.
Ryker shook his head, "I am not sure, but for some reason, I think I am in grave danger," he then looked at Ilun with a smile.
"I think we should continue the lesson, I think I am fine now,"
"O-of course," Ilun stuttered before looking away from him, hoping he would not see her blush.
"No wonder the manager wants him, and how he has so many lovers, he attracts them without even trying," she said to herself.
If not for her mistress wishing to be with the man, she would have tried to claim him for herself, though she would not be opposed to being a part of his harem.
Oh well, maybe she will find another man in the future.