Chapter 337: Killing a king (2)
"King?" Tyrion chuckled.
"Enlighten me on what is so funny, Your Highness. Leave us, Jonas. The prince and I have plenty to speak about in private," Victor said, shooing off Jonas.
"I’ve heard children playfully giving themselves the title of king, but it’s my first time hearing a man boldly refer to himself as a king. Are you stuck in your childhood games?" Tyrion asked, humoured by Victor.
"Maybe I am. From the time I was a young boy, I always knew that I would be the king of something grand. The red light district might not look like much to you, but there is potential for the district. Watch and see," said Victor.
"Do the other brothel owners know what you speak of yourself as their king? I have a feeling they would be surprised by your title," Tyrion said as he walked further into the room.
Victor laughed. "They know what I call myself, but none of them are bold enough to correct it. They all know that they will come to work for me in the future. You see, there’s power here that even a man like you would wish to have."
"Power in buying women and them selling them for the night to men?" Tyrion asked, uninterested in such power.
Victor wasn’t offended by how Tyrion spoke of his work. "See, a man like you who has been raised in a palace wouldn’t understand it. These women and men here either owe me or I own them fairly. Don’t come in here thinking I am some evil bastard. It’s business."
Victor pointed to the chair before him and said, "Have a seat. You’re a guest here and a very important one. I am curious what you have come to speak about. Do you need women? I have plenty I can dress up in the finest garment."
"I am married," Tyrion reminded Victor.
"So, you need women who aren’t going to speak of their time with you. I understand that the duke is a feared man, but you’re the prince, and she’s your wife. You can do as you please," Victor said, curious about the intimacy of the young couple.
"Let me correct it for you. I’m a happily married man who has no interest in taking another woman to bed," Tyrion better explained.
"I have a lot of happily married men coming through here. They love their wives, but sometimes they want a little break. Something new to excite them, especially if their wife is old or having a child. Women know that we have needs," Victor said, rubbing his hands.
"I’m here to speak about the deal you made with Warren Kennedy," Tyrion said, switching the topic.
"Well, if you’re here to pay off what he owed me, you’re a little too late. Still, I would gladly take some money from you. I’ve had a bit of a bad day with earnings. How about I treat you to a lady-"
"I don’t want any of your ladies," Tyrion quickly spoke, uninterested in the offers. "Stay on track."
Victor touched his gun to remind Tyrion of the position he was in. "When you have a lady like Penelope as your wife, I don’t blame you for not wanting anyone else. Her cousin made quite the offer to me."
"And I bet a man like you didn’t think to turn it down," Tyrion said, seeing right through Victor.
"Of course not. When someone comes in and boldly claims that they can get me the daughter of the duke, I have to accept because I want to see how he can do it. I understand why you would be angry, but it’s just business for me," Victor said, playing innocent.
Victor leaned forward, his hand still on the gun, and said, "I know a lot of men who want to bed your wife. See, I am kind enough to point them out for you."
"I don’t want any help from the man who accepted to take her," Tyrion rejected the offer.
"Oh," Victor said, his eyes twinkling as something dawned on her. "You love her. You truly love her. Here I thought that you were like the rest of us, and you were just smitten by her. Wanting to know what awaited you under her dress- Careful!" He exclaimed, reaching for his gun.
Victor wanted to be friends with Tyrion, but he wasn’t going to let Tyrion waltz into his business and do as he liked.
"I urge you not to make one wrong move, Your Highness. I would hate to have to shoot you. The laws of the palace don’t matter to me here. I would shoot you, but I would rather not have to do it. I want us to be friends," Victor said, moving his hand away from the gun.
Tyrion kept his anger at bay.
Until he had a good shot at Victor, where he wouldn’t also be wounded by Victor, he needed to wait.
"You want to have a prince as a friend so you could push yourself further towards being seen as a king. There is only one king in the kingdom. Find something else to call yourself," Tyrion advised Victor.
Victor’s laughter filled the room. "I happen to like the title of king. Unless you can find a title that sounds more powerful, I will forever be king. Let me tell you a secret. There are a lot of men who back me."
"It is not a secret. You provide them with women and men, so I hear. There’s no question why they want to keep you around. You help fulfil the fantasies of men who need to be hung," said Tyrion.
"As if your ancestors were any better. We all know what used to happen during the selection for a queen. The old kings were sleeping with young ladies and sending them back to their families after they picked someone else as queen. Is that lovely?" Victor asked.
Victor heard the tales of what happened in the palace and thought it wasn’t any different from the red light district. The palace was just grander with more powerful people to fulfil their fantasies.
"It’s not right for you royals to have all your fun in the palace, but then judge the little guy. I am doing every man in town a favour with my business. I’ve had plenty of men come from the palace to have a good time here," Victor revealed.
Tyrion wasn’t surprised by any of what Victor shared. It wasn’t a secret that guards, men from the court, and other workers came to the red light district.
Unfortunately for those who sought comfort here, the red light district would soon be no more, and Victor would be the king of nothing.
"Let’s get back to the real reason you came here. I see the gun you have hidden," Victor said, his eyes settling on the weapon. "Why hide it?"