Teach Me, Then Leave Me to Them

Kazan smiled, the corners of his eyes narrowing.
The question was so perplexing that he was at a loss for words.
Eren had no time, leisure, or even a suitable person for romance.

“…No, I haven’t.”

“Then, have you ever had meaningless one-night encounters either?”

Why was he asking that now?
Swallowing the many questions swirling on his tongue, Eren managed a short reply.

“…No, I haven’t.”

He wanted to answer nonchalantly, but this time his voice trembled slightly.
It wasn’t so much out of embarrassment as it was awkward to be discussing such a topic with him for the first time.

“What about satisfying your own desires?
Do you do it often?”

“That… I’ve never done it before either…”

A blush rose to Eren’s face for the first time, which had remained expressionless until now.
Kazan leaned forward and observed his face with apparent interest.

“Do you lack desire?
Or do you have desire but don’t know how to deal with it?”

Eren was only growing more confused.
He had no idea how he ended up discussing this subject with Kazan.

“I’m not sure either.
I just never felt the urge to do anything like that.”

Kazan looked at the flustered Eren with an expression of amusement as he mumbled his vague answer.

“Do you get erections?”

Kazan asked, glancing and gesturing toward Eren’s lower body.
Flustered, Eren instinctively clamped his legs tightly together.

More than the question itself, it was Kazan’s persistent gaze that made him even more ashamed.
It felt as if he were being observed while completely stripped bare.

“That… I’m not sure about either.”

Listening to Eren’s hesitant reply, Kazan twisted his lips into a smirk, looking amused.

“Well, well, you might as well be a monk.
How dull.”

“My apologies.”

Without even knowing why, Eren apologized first.

“When you’re embarrassed, the tips of your ears turn red and you bite your lip.
It’s a reaction I’m seeing for the first time; it’s rather cute.”

This time, Eren truly didn’t know how to react and simply remained still.

Had Kazan found a new way to torment him?

Honestly, it was easier on his heart when Kazan got angry and drove him hard.
This was truly frightening because he couldn’t guess at all what Kazan was thinking.

“But thinking about it again, what about trying to seduce Arnold?”

At Kazan’s sudden suggestion, Eren’s head jerked up.

“So, you mean seduce him physically?”

He could have sworn they just discussed his lack of experience, so why was Kazan suggesting this?
He was only left wondering.
If the goal was to put him in a difficult position, Kazan had already succeeded.

“Yes, seduce him physically.
You also thought Mr.
Harrison was alright, didn’t you?”

Of course, Arnold seemed like a decent person, but that didn’t mean Eren wanted to do anything with him.
Probably Kazan knew that too and was just asking.

“You said you would gladly do anything for me.
You haven’t changed your mind now, have you?”

It was slightly irksome how he acted as if it were a fair deal after unilaterally imposing it.
To begin with, a ‘deal’ only worked when both parties were equal.
Eren was merely a chess piece moving as Kazan commanded.

“No, Your Grace.
I will do as you command.”

Finally, at Eren’s obedient answer, Kazan showed a satisfied smile.

“Seeing you two today, thankfully Arnold also seemed quite taken with you.
I think he’ll fall for you quickly.”

As expected, it was clear Kazan had arranged for Eren and Arnold to meet before the party to make a good impression.

“Ah, but, well, I’m not skilled in that area, so I’m worried I might ruin things instead.”

Since it was a task Kazan had given him, he wanted to do it well, but he wasn’t confident about successfully seducing someone.

“I’m not expecting you to be skilled.
I think approaching him with your innocent, clueless face will be more interesting.”

Eren wasn’t sure what Kazan meant by that, but if he tried to interpret it positively, it sounded enough like praise.

“It wouldn’t be bad to lose your virginity on this occasion, would it?
It’s a chance to see if you can act like a proper man.”

“Yes, I will ensure I don’t disappoint you, Your Grace.”

Eren could truly do anything for Kazan.
Hearing Eren’s determined, almost solemn resolve, Kazan let out a faint, scoffing laugh.

“Good, that’s a good boy.
If you obey me well, I’ll give you a reward.”

Eren had sworn he never once desired a reward from Kazan.
He simply tried his best to repay his debt of gratitude.
This time was no different.

* * * *

From the next day onward, Eren was swamped trying to handle his work in advance for the upcoming Royal Party.
The days passed quickly as he worked hard, and finally, the day of the party arrived.

Eren and Kazan boarded the carriage heading to the Imperial Palace.
It wasn’t the first time riding in a carriage with him, but for some reason, he felt uncomfortable today.
It was probably because Kazan was staring at him so intently from right across.

Eren, who had been looking down pretending to check his shoes, lifted his head and looked at Kazan’s face.
He was staring straight at him, smiling brightly as if very pleased.

“Was it because I chose it?
The clothes suit you well.”

What could this possibly mean?
He had scolded him just the other day for wanting to attend the party, calling him a zoo monkey.

That was just Kazan.
When he was in a good mood, he acted magnanimously with a truly angelic expression.
But if he was even slightly displeased, he transformed into a ferocious beast, spewing sharp words to hurt others.

Looking at him, he felt like a rose.
Its true beauty could only be appreciated from a distance.

“It’s because Your Grace has good taste and chose clothes that suit me well.
Thank you.”

“Of course.
Harold’s taste is truly the worst.
If that guy ever offers you clothes again, make sure to refuse.”

Eren had answered sincerely, but after Kazan reacted like that, he slightly regretted saying it.

“Yes, I will do so.”

He answered calmly, but frankly, Eren had a bit of a headache thinking about what to say to Harold if they met.

He couldn’t say Kazan had torn the clothes, nor could he dare say he threw away the clothes graciously bestowed by the Crown Prince because he didn’t like them.

Truly, he couldn’t understand Kazan for putting him in this awkward position.
The outfit hadn’t seemed so ill-fitting that it needed to be torn up.
In the end, he just ended up spending double the money.

“At the party, nobles might approach you.
Of course, not with good intentions.
Know in advance you won’t hear many kind words.”

Kazan acted nonchalantly, as if discussing someone else’s business.
Thinking about it, to him, it was strictly someone else’s business.
He had also discouraged Eren from attending out of concern for that situation.

“Yes, I am mentally prepared.”

“And I won’t be helping you either.
There’s no reason for me to.”

Eren hadn’t expected Kazan to help him anyway.
He would be grateful if he didn’t side with those people.
Knowing Kazan, he might even do just that.

“I know that as well.”

“I’ll create time for you to be with Arnold, so don’t forget our agreement from yesterday.”

Eren wasn’t sure how he planned to ‘create time,’ but he nodded anyway.
He figured Kazan must have some plan.

“Don’t try to force anything today; just try to become friends by exchanging greetings.
Rushing things tends to ruin them.
Instead, if he tries to rush, play along.”

“Yes, I will remember.”

Simultaneous with Eren’s answer, the carriage came to a stop.
Eren looked out the window at the line of carriages in front of the Imperial Palace.
As lavishly dressed people descended one by one, attendants were checking each invitation.

Though he pretended otherwise, upon arriving at the party venue, he was nervous.
As if he knew he would be, Kazan looked at Eren with a pitying expression and asked.

“Getting nervous now that we’re here?”

“No.
It’s just… a bit awkward.”

“That is being nervous.
If you’re scared, you can run away now.
I won’t make fun of you.”

As if he knew exactly what he was thinking, Kazan tapped Eren’s shoulder and stepped out of the carriage first.
Following him out, the uniquely cloyingly sweet scent of the Imperial Palace stung his nose.

The palace garden was planted with all sorts of flowers, so except in winter, it was always filled with an overwhelming floral fragrance.
Some people mocked it, saying it perfectly represented the superficial, flashy identity of the Imperial family.

“Welcome.
Let me check your invitation.”

Snapping back to his senses at the attendant’s voice, Eren took out the invitation from Harold he had carefully kept in his pocket.
The attendant returned the checked invitation and bowed politely.

“Mr.
Eren Lloyd, you are confirmed.
Welcome.”

“Ah, yes.
Thank you.”

Being treated like this was unusual, making Eren uncomfortable immediately.
In contrast, Kazan stepped into the hall with a casual stride as if it were only natural.

“Hoo.”

Letting out a long sigh, Eren followed him into the bustling party hall.