Forged Destiny [Book 6: Ch. 12]

"Not to mention the challenge of juggling your latest paramours. How many is it now? Six, seven?"

"Five," I corrected, though not without a fair bit of embarrassment. The incident with Rebecca, the farmer's daughter, played in my mind, except the news of my return had somehow spread. As had news of my generosity in the marketplace, and my – as Sapphire put it – growth spurt.

None of those things was overly impressive from the point of view of a Hero. They flew up in levels and attended a school where everyone else did, too, but to simple folk in Ansel, my change might as well have been a metamorphosis. I'd left a gangly and uncertain youth and returned in a shape that Coral assured me was the pinnacle of manhood. Strong, mature, confident and wealthy – all without becoming arrogant or an asshole.

As she put it, I'd proven myself prime husband material, both in terms of personality, looks and my ability to provide for a family. That I also had the exotic flair of having visited the city and rubbed shoulders with various Heroes only made me more enticing.

—Forged Destiny [Book 6: Ch. 12]