Chapter
Eyan's First Lesson
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The palace library was silent—too silent.
Eyan stood near the towering shelves, arms crossed, already irritated. The scent of aged parchment clung to the air, heavy and suffocating.
"Why am I here?" he asked flatly.
Hans bowed his head slightly, ever composed.
"His Majesty, King Thalor Therald, has given an order."
Eyan's eyes narrowed. "That explains nothing."
Hans stepped forward and placed a book into his hands.
It was… strange.
Bound in dark leather, heavier than expected.
"His Majesty said," Hans continued calmly, "that you are of age now. There are… matters a king must understand."
Eyan frowned, flipping the book open without much thought.
Then he froze.
The pages were filled with illustrations—drawn figures, bodies intertwined in ways he had never seen, never imagined. His expression twisted almost instantly.
"What is this?" he snapped, slamming the book halfway shut as if it had burned him.
Hans didn't react. "A guide."
"A guide?" Eyan looked genuinely offended now. "To what, exactly?"
Hans met his gaze without hesitation.
"To intimacy. To marriage. To what is expected of you as a king… and as a husband."
Eyan frowned, clearly unconvinced. Still, he opened it again.
And immediately—
He snapped it halfway shut.
"…No."
Hans remained perfectly calm. "Your majesty—"
"No," Eyan repeated, sharper this time, holding the book like it had personally offended him. "This is inappropriate."
"It is necessary."
Eyan looked at him in disbelief. Then, without another word, he thrust the book back toward his chest and turned away.
"You may leave hans."
Hans paused for a brief second… then bowed. "As you wish."
The sound of the library doors closing echoed behind him.
Silence.
Eyan stood there alone, staring at the book like it had insulted his entire bloodline.
"…Ridiculous," he muttered.
With a firm expression, he walked toward the shelf and shoved the book back into place.
"This has nothing to do with me," he said under his breath. "I will not marry. I will not have children. Why would I need something like this?"
He turned to leave.
Paused.…Then slowly looked back at the shelf.
There was a flicker in his eyes now. Curiosity. A dangerous, persistent kind.
"…Tch."
Annoyed with himself, Eyan stepped back, pulled the book out again—this time more cautiously—and opened it.
His face stiffened instantly.
"…What is wrong with people?" he muttered, brows knitting together.
He flipped a page. Then another. Each one somehow worse than the last.
"Why are they standing like that…?" he whispered, genuinely baffled. "That cannot be comfortable."
Another page.
Eyan's ears turned red. "…There's more?"
He leaned slightly closer, eyes scanning the text beneath the drawings now. His expression shifted—confusion, disbelief… and something else he refused to name.
"…People actually…" he started reading under his breath—
And stopped. Mid-sentence.
His entire face flushed. He shut the book immediately.
"…Enough."
His voice came out lower than expected.
He exhaled once, sharply, then placed the book back onto the shelf with forced composure—like returning something dangerous.
"This is absurd," he muttered again, though it sounded far less convincing now.
Without another glance, he turned and walked out of the library—perhaps a bit faster than usual.
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Hans was waiting outside. Of course he was.
"Well?" Hans asked calmly. "Have you finished it, Your majesty?"
Eyan didn't even stop walking.
"No," he said quickly. "I can't do it."
And just like that, he was gone—disappearing down the corridor far quicker than a emperor should.
Hans watched him leave. Then… slowly smiled.
"…I see."
He clasped his hands behind his back, gaze thoughtful.
"From the redness in his face… one thing is confirmed." A small, knowing pause. "His Majesty likes women."
Hans turned slightly, already planning his next steps.
"I should inform the king."
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(Royal Palace – Night)
(Eyan's Chamber)
Knock. Knock.
Eyan walked to the door and pulled it open.
Standing there was Luca, eighteen, wearing that ever-present grin that already promised trouble.
"Eyan," Luca leaned casually against the doorframe, "are you sleeping?"
"Not yet," Eyan replied flatly. "What do you want?"
Without waiting for permission, Luca slipped inside.
"We leave for the Imperial Academy tomorrow," he said, glancing around the room. "Aren't you excited?"
"Not really."
Luca clicked his tongue. "Tsk. You're boring."
Then, as if remembering something important, he pulled a book from behind his back and held it out.
"Anyway, Father told me to give this to you."
The moment Eyan saw the cover—
His expression darkened instantly.
"I won't read it," he snapped. "Take it back."
Luca blinked, then smirked. "Why? It's a good book. Very… educational."
"I don't need it," Eyan said sharply. "I won't get married."
Luca raised a brow. "Even if you don't get married, you still need it."
Eyan looked unimpressed.
Luca stepped closer, lowering his voice slightly. "We're going to the Imperial Academy. There will be a lot of women there."
Eyan's expression didn't change. "So what if there are women?"
Luca stared at him for a second.
Then sighed dramatically. "Your Highness… are you pretending, or do you actually not know?"
Before Eyan could react, Luca grabbed his shoulders and turned him toward the mirror.
"Look at yourself," Luca said, gesturing at his reflection. "Do you really think the women at the academy won't fall for you the moment they see your face?"
"You're too handsome," Luca continued, completely ignoring him. "It's basically unavoidable."
Eyan frowned. "That won't happen...I won't let anyone come close to me."
"Oh really?" Luca's grin widened. "And what if you fall for someone?..Then you'll definitely need—"
Eyan's gaze sharpened. "That won't happen."
He grabbed Luca by the collar and marched him straight to the door.
"Out."
"Hey—wait—!"
"And take that stupid book with you."
Eyan shoved him outside and slammed the door in his face.
Bang.
For a moment, the corridor was silent.
Then—
Luca looked down at the book still in his hands.
A slow smile spread across his face.
"Don't be hurt," he muttered, lightly tapping the cover. "Don't worry…"
He glanced back at the closed door.
"One day, he'll come searching for you on his own."
With a quiet chuckle, Luca turned and walked away down the dimly lit corridor.