The Dungeon lord : Women, power and monsters

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The next afternoon, Folami found himself sitting in a restaurant far more luxurious than any place he had visited since returning to the city.

The restaurant occupied the upper floors of a beautifully constructed stone building in the wealthiest part of the business district. Tall windows overlooked the busy streets below, while polished wooden screens divided the private dining areas from the main hall.

Soft music drifted through the room.

The scent of roasted meat, spices, and freshly prepared dishes filled the air.

Folami sat comfortably in one of the private rooms, looking as relaxed as though he had simply come there for lunch.

Across from him sat Adesewa.

For the first few moments, neither of them spoke.

Folami had seen her before.

Or rather, he had seen portriats of her.

Portriats hadn’t done her justice.

Adesewa was tall, with the calm, composed bearing expected of someone raised in one of the city’s established families. Her dark skin was smooth, and her long black hair had been carefully arranged for the occasion, falling behind her shoulders in neat braids.

She wore an elegant but restrained dress that suited the setting without appearing excessive.

There was nothing flashy about her.

Yet she was undeniably beautiful.

Two young women stood quietly behind her.

Her maids.

Both were dressed neatly and carried themselves with the discipline of people accustomed to serving a prominent family.

Folami glanced at them briefly before returning his attention to Adesewa.

She noticed.

"You’ve been staring."

Folami blinked.

"I was looking."

"That’s another word for staring."

"I suppose."

A faint smile appeared on Adesewa’s lips.

"So the rumors about you are true."

Folami raised an eyebrow.

"What rumors?"

"That you don’t care about much."

"I care about plenty of things."

"Such as?"

"Living my life not caring about much."

That answer seemed to surprise her.

"How’s that different from what I said?"

"You didn’t say it was the way I lived my life."

She facepalmed sighing at this ridiculous logic. "I have heard your argument."

"That’s good.."

" You’re gonna be a handful aren’t you?"

Folami nodded.

" Depends on how you look at things; your perspective."

Adesewa smiled.

"That is good."

She picked up her cup and took a small sip.

"I am one who isn’t fixed on viewing life from one frame "

"Why?"

"Because looking at life from just one frame would make you miss all the other experiences other frames have to offer if you understand me."

Folami considered that.

" Wow; I heard you were beautiful and calm but you’re still surprising me."

Adesewa nodded.

" I’ll take that as a compliment. And we both know females are mostly acknowledged primarily through looks "

A servant entered and began placing dishes on the table.

Neither of them spoke until the servant had finished and left.

Adesewa looked over the food.

Then she looked back at Folami.

"I suppose we should talk about ourselves."

Folami nodded.

"Probably."

"You don’t seem uncomfortable."

"I’m not."

"Neither am I."

She smiled.

"I was actually worried that this would be awkward."

"It doesn’t have to be."

"Good."

Adesewa rested her hands on the table.

"I know this marriage wasn’t arranged because either of us asked for it."

Folami nodded.

"Our families have their reasons."

"Peace."

"And business."

"Quite a lot of business."

Folami gave a faint smile.

"That’s what I heard."

Adesewa’s expression became slightly amused.

"I heard that my family is apparently putting a considerable amount of resources into this marriage."

"I heard something similar."

"My father is taking it very seriously."

"So is my grandfather."

She sighed.

"Then perhaps we should too."

Folami looked at her.

She wasn’t angry.

There was no bitterness in her expression.

She seemed to have accepted the circumstances for what they were.

"I don’t expect you to pretend to love me," she said.

Folami was quiet.

" Neither do I. I also won’t pretend either."

Adesewa continued calmly.

"But I do think we can make this work."

Folami nodded.

"I think so too."

She smiled.

"That was easier than I expected."

"Why?"

"I wasn’t sure whether you would refuse to cooperate simply because the marriage was arranged."

"I have no reason to punish you for something neither of us chose."

Adesewa’s smile softened.

"That’s a good answer."

She reached for one of the dishes.

"Besides, I have no desire to spend the rest of my life fighting with my husband."

Folami raised an eyebrow. His lips slightly curving

"That’s reassuring."

"I would much rather have someone I can speak to."

"You can speak to me."

"Even when we’re married?"

"Especially then."

She laughed softly.

"Good."

For a while, the conversation became easier.

They talked about the city.

Their families.

Cultivation.

Business.

Adesewa’s education.

Folami’s time away from the family.

She asked about the places he had traveled to.

He answered some questions and ignored others.

She didn’t press when he didn’t want to elaborate.

Eventually, her gaze shifted toward the two maids standing behind her.

"There is something else."

Folami looked at them.

"What?"

"My maids."

The two women immediately straightened.

Adesewa gestured toward them.

"After we marry, they will technically become your household servants and ’serve’ you. "

Folami frowned slightly.

"Why?"

"That’s simply how it is done. It’s tradition for weddings of this magnitude for families like ours. It’s to show status and nobility; you marry one wife and get two concubines. "

She glanced at the two women.

"They were assigned to me when I was younger. They know my habits, my schedule, the people I prefer to deal with, and how I like my things handled. And with me they’ll serve you my husband to be."

Folami nodded.

"All right."

"If you don’t like either of them, you can have them replaced."

Folami looked genuinely confused.

"Replaced?"

"Yes."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because they will be serving you as well."

She said it as though it were obvious.

"If they aren’t to your liking, you can request different women."

Folami waved a hand.

"There’s no need for all that trouble."

Adesewa’s lips curved upward.

"No trouble?"

"No."

"You haven’t even seen how troublesome they can be."

One of the maids lowered her eyes.

The other fought to keep a straight face.

Folami glanced between them.

"They seem fine."

Adesewa laughed.

"You’re making decisions rather quickly."

"They haven’t done anything wrong."

"Yet."

Folami shook his head.

"I don’t see a reason to replace them."

Adesewa leaned back slightly.

"Very well."

Then she added casually,

"Although, considering the amount of resources your family is putting forward as my bride price, I think you’re allowed to trouble yourself a little."

Folami paused.

He looked at her.

Then at the maids.

Then back at her.

"That’s how you measure it?"

She smiled.

"I’m saying that if your family is sending enough resources to make merchants cry, you should at least make use of some of the privileges."

Folami laughed.

It was the first genuine laugh Adesewa had heard from him.

"You sound like a merchant."

"I was educated in business."

"I noticed."

She smiled.

"The bride price is significant."

"How significant?"

Adesewa gave him a knowing look.

"You’ll find out when you ask your grandfather."

Folami narrowed his eyes.

"That’s not an answer."

"It’s the answer you’re getting."

He shook his head.

Adesewa took another sip from her cup.

"You’ll probably understand why my father was so pleased with the arrangement once everything is transferred."

"I don’t particularly care about the bride price."

"I know."

She looked at him thoughtfully.

"That’s actually one of the things I find interesting about you."

"What?"

"You don’t seem interested in what my family can give you. I mean what you get from.this marriage. You’re not involved in the politics of your family or trying to gain more allies to have a better standing. You know if the palm goes well, out families would be amongst the top in ilebi not just the West the whole ilebi. Meaning having influence in this city and others."

Folami leaned back.

"If I wanted someone else’s wealth, I’d simply stay within my family."

Adesewa studied him.

"Then what do you want?"

Folami didn’t answer immediately.

His mind briefly went to the empty three-story shop.

To the four young adventurers living under his roof.

To the training grounds.

Then to the future.

"I want to build something of my own."

Adesewa’s expression became more attentive.

"Your own?"

"Yes."

"What kind of thing?"

"I haven’t decided everything yet."

He paused.

"But it will be mine."

Adesewa smiled.

"I understand."

"You don’t think it’s foolish?"

"No."

She shook her head.

"I think it’s admirable. I’m happy you’re at least somewhat ambitious"

Folami looked at her. " Somewhat?"

"My family has spent generations building its businesses. I’ve benefited from that, of course. But if I simply spend my life standing inside something someone else built, I’ll always wonder what I could have created myself."

Adesewa nodded slowly.

"I understand that feeling."

Folami raised an eyebrow.

"You do?"

"My family taught me their businesses from a young age."

She smiled faintly.

"I enjoy it. I genuinely do. But I don’t want to be known only as someone’s daughter."

Folami’s expression softened slightly.

"So we’re similar."

"Perhaps."

The conversation continued.

They talked about what they wanted from the marriage.

Neither demanded romance.

Neither promised something they couldn’t guarantee.

They simply agreed that if they were going to be married, they would at least try to make their home a place where neither of them felt trapped.

By the time the food arrived in full, the awkwardness had almost disappeared.

Adesewa picked up her chopsticks.

"Well."

Folami looked at her.

"What?"

"I suppose this could have gone much worse."

"Definitely."

She smiled.

"And tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?"

"We meet again."

Folami nodded.

"All right."

"Good."

She looked at him for a moment.

Then smiled.

"Folami."

"Hm?"

"I’m glad you’re not an unpleasant man."

Folami stared at her.

"I was apparently supposed to be?"

"You’re from my family’s former enemy."

She shrugged.

"I had to prepare for the possibility."

Folami gave a small smile.

"Then I’m glad I exceeded expectations."

Adesewa laughed.

"So am I father."