The Moment He Started Watching the Clock

Worried that Kazen might tear this outfit too, Eren asked defensively in advance.
However, Kazen slowly stood up and offered a brief impression.

“It suits you better than I thought.”

The phrase ‘better than I thought’ somehow felt odd, but Eren decided to take it as a compliment anyway.

“Let’s go with this one.”

Relieved that he didn’t have to try on any more clothes, Eren rejoiced inwardly.

“Prepare shoes and gloves that match this outfit, and give me the third outfit from earlier as well.
I’ll wear it to leave now.”

“Ah, yes.
Just a moment.
If you could wait a little, I’ll bring them right away.”

Watching Chris’s retreating back, Eren subtly asked Kazen.

“Do we need to buy two outfits?”

He was puzzled why he needed two outfits for a single party.
Perhaps there was some Royal Party etiquette he didn’t know about.
But Kazen, without answering, grabbed Eren’s arm and pulled him.

Eren was practically dragged and made to stand before a mirror.
Kazen sat the bewildered Eren down in front of the mirror and picked up a comb.

“May I ask why you’re taking the comb?”

“Just stay still.”

Answering indifferently, Kazen began to sweep Eren’s hair back as he pleased.
Startled by his sudden touch, Eren, with wide eyes, glanced around and watched Kazen’s reflection in the mirror.

Kazen’s expression was stiff, yet he also seemed somewhat impatient.
Eren wanted to ask what was going on, but fearing he’d be scolded, he stayed still.

After silently smoothing Eren’s hair neatly, Kazen finally curved his lips into a slight smile.
Eren, who had been observing Kazen through the mirror, met his smiling eyes.

“This should be passable.”

Did that mean it was originally unbearable to look at?

Having never considered what his own face looked like, Eren was inwardly surprised.
Imagining what Kazen might have thought all this time while looking at his face made him feel a flush of embarrassment.

“The measurements are roughly done.
If there are any uncomfortable parts, please let me know.”

Just then, Chris returned with the new outfit, so Eren had to change once more.

“Just throw away the clothes this guy originally wore.
Have my clothes and his formal wear fitted and delivered to the estate.”

Meanwhile, Kazen’s formal wear alterations seemed mostly finished, as the employees were tidying up.
Finally able to return and finish his overdue work, Eren’s mood improved again.

“Then, shall we return to the estate now?”

“No.
Since we’re out, let’s have a meal.
It’s lunchtime anyway.”

But from Kazen came a thunderous reply.
If he was going to do this, why on earth did he cancel all his appointments?
Eren was baffled and speechless, but could only bow his head deeply.

“Yes, shall we go to your usual Elan-do Restaurant?”

“Sure, that sounds good.
Let’s go.”

Without hesitation, Kazen swiftly left the boutique and boarded the waiting carriage.
Eren followed him into the carriage.

The newly bought clothes felt as uncomfortable as wearing someone else’s.
Moreover, a heavy, unidentifiable atmosphere seemed to fill the carriage interior.

Having assisted Kazen for over five years now, Eren could quickly sense when his mood was off.
His piercing gaze felt palpable on his skin.

“Is there something bothering you, perhaps?”

“No? Why would you think something’s bothering me?”

Asked with a sly smile, Eren was left speechless.
How could there be nothing uncomfortable when he was staring at him like that?

“You were looking at me as if you had something to say, so I asked.”

After all, it wasn’t that far to walk to the restaurant from here.
But Kazen, as if finding Eren’s comment interesting, propped his elbow on his knee and rested his chin on his hand.

“Seeing you dressed up like that, you look like a completely different person.”

To say he looked like a different person just because he wore some nicer clothes… Ah, well, he had styled his hair a bit too, but he didn’t think it was enough to change his appearance that much.

“Might I ask what looks different?”

“You saw the mirror earlier.
You don’t know what’s changed even after seeing it?
I thought you were quick-witted, but you’re more obtuse than I expected.”

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Kazen was teasing him.
Kazen reached out and neatly swept the hair behind Eren’s ear.
Startled by his sudden action, Eren flinched, squeezed his eyes shut, and hunched his shoulders.

“When I first met you, you were like a stray kitten thrown on the street, but now you’ve grown into someone who can properly play the part of a person.”

Kazen smiled playfully and flicked Eren’s nose bridge lightly with his finger.
The expression ‘stray kitten’ felt a bit unfair.
After all, Eren was older than Kazen.

But there was no disputing that Kazen had picked him up when he was abandoned.
It was a fact Kazen constantly reinforced in Eren, almost like brainwashing.

‘The first time.’ Pondering that word, Eren lowered his eyes to the floor and traced back the not-so-distant memory.
It was not long after the war ended and Eren had followed Kazen to the ducal estate.

Having always lived in poverty, everything was bewildering to Eren, who was in such a large, splendid mansion for the first time.
He didn’t know dining etiquette, let alone how to read.

‘Write down everything I say.
If you don’t understand something, ask me right then and there.
Don’t pretend to know and mimic, only to get lost later because you don’t actually know.’

Kazen took Eren along and taught him how to read, as well as trivial life etiquette like how to dress and eat.
It was all so he could use him, of course.

‘Follow me around all day and think about how you can help me.
Breathe only for me, and think only of me until you fall asleep.
It’s not difficult, is it?’

When Eren had somewhat learned to read, Kazen handed him a small notebook and pen and said:

‘Everything I give you isn’t free to enjoy.
You will become my hands, feet, eyes, and ears, circling around me like the air.’

‘Yes, I will do anything for you, Your Grace.’

Thanks to Kazen, Eren was saved.
Beyond simply saving his life, he gave Eren, who had been like a rat scavenging on the streets, a new chance.

And in that second life, Kazen became his guide.
Because of him, Eren could escape his bleak fate and finally live like a human for the first time.

In short, Kazen was a god-like being who gave Eren everything he now had.
So to repay that debt, he had to do anything.

“We’re here.
I can see the restaurant.”

While Eren was briefly lost in memories of the past, the carriage arrived at its destination.
Kazan looked out the window, muttered to himself, and checked his watch again, like someone with a compulsion.

“We arrived right on time.”

As expected.
He had snapped at Eren that he had no work to do, but he clearly had an appointment he needed to be on time for.
But asking again would likely make him angry, so Eren quietly followed him.

Despite his leisurely smile, Kazen entered the restaurant with hurried steps.
Even though they visited without a reservation, the moment they saw Kazen, the staff rushed out to greet him.

“Welcome, Your Grace.
I’ll show you to your table right away.”

No matter how busy the restaurant was, the VIP seats reserved for upper-class customers were always empty.
Thus, they were immediately escorted to a table without waiting.

Awkwardly, Eren followed the staff’s lead.
This wasn’t a place Kazen held official meetings, so Eren rarely accompanied him here.

In fact, Eren had rarely ever dined sitting beside Kazen.
He had shared a table a few times when he first arrived at the estate to learn dining etiquette, but this was the first time doing so outside.

“How would you like to order?”

“Hmm, I’ll have my usual.
Eren?”

Ironically, Eren had never ordered his own food here before.
He usually just made the reservation or naturally slipped away before the meal began.

So, unsure of what to order, he hesitated.

“Ah…”

“Will you have the same as me?”

Kazen, watching Eren sigh stupidly while looking at the menu, intercepted his answer.
Belatedly snapping to his senses, Eren nodded hastily.

“Yes, that would be fine.”

As the staff collected their menus, the grandfather clock standing in one corner of the restaurant chimed to announce noon.

Instantly, Kazen smiled meaningfully.
Given how he kept checking his watch earlier, it seemed something was supposed to happen at noon.

Sure enough, he rose from his seat and gestured to someone.

“Mr.
Harrison.
What a pleasure to meet you here.”