13

Eon had just finished his daily bath after training when he heard a knock at the door.  Strange, who would be visiting this late?  He hadn't ordered anything lately, so he was at a loss for what it could be.  He put his pajama pants on and used the towel to dry his hair as the door closed in the outer room. 

Curious, he went to ask Greg who was at the door, to find Rie sitting down with her attendant.  He paused.  Then realizing the lack of clothes that he had on, quickly rushed back into the room slamming the door behind him.  His face felt hot to the touch as he leaned against the door.

This was not how he wanted to meet her right now.  'What were you thinking Greg?'  He heard giggles coming from the next room, and decided his attendant was going to have to pay in some way for this.  'It was definitely on purpose!' 

Greg had been having fun poking fun at Eon's innocent nature.  Even though he had given him a thorough education on relationships between a man and woman, he still got flustered over the simplest of things.  Especially anything to do with Rielen.  'This is training for his future as a Noble.' 

Deep down inside, Greg wished that he could be that innocent again.  As he looked down at the female attendant next to him, he began to wonder what it would be like to be in love.  He had long accepted that it may not be in the cards for him since he didn't have the necessary mana to make it as a Noble. 

Sure, he still had his family to rely on, even though they could only recognize him as a servant at best.  He wondered if his father would allow him to be married.  'If I did get married, I hope it is to someone like her.'  Seeing Hyla's face light up at his prank suited him.

After hurriedly buttoning up a shirt and putting on some shoes, Eon went back out into the outer room.  For some reason, Greg was bowing to Rie as if he was putting on a show.  He listened to her talk, and when she took a drink from her cup, some of the tea spilled on her face.

Congratulating himself for remembering to grab a handkerchief, he reached over and wiped it up for her.  Suddenly, her attendant rushed her out of the room.  'Did I do something wrong?'  Eon frowned.

"Perhaps the show was too much for the lady."  Greg whispered underneath his breath.  Suddenly, seeing the disapproving look on his master's face, "Good job, Master!  I think you have won over the lady well tonight."

'What did he mean?  Won her over?'  Greg pointed at the unbuttoned top of Eon's shirt, and he looked down, embarrassed.  "Did I offend her?" Eon was afraid she had left due to his unkempt appearance.  "Quite the opposite, young master.  I think she quite enjoyed the look she got."  Greg was giggling like a little girl with a secret again.

"I think I have been a little too lax on you lately, Greg."  Finding a suitable punishment for his mischievous attendant, Eon retired to his room.  He sat on the side of his bed with a small smile.  'Perhaps all that physical training has done me some good.' 

He never thought much about his appearance, other than being clean, and keeping his clothes in good condition.  His mother would tell him that girls only like boys who were clean and smelled nice.  He would often douse himself with water and soap before meeting Rie at the stream.

After coming to the Capital, he realized that Nobles put a lot of stock into how they looked, and how clean they were.  It was a little different when he would visit the military barracks, but the men would always clean up when going into the city.  If only the boys from back in the village could see him now.

It was after this incident that Greg began to notice that his master began to ask about different clothes, and how he should dress up more in his casual life, other than at Noble parties.  He smiled to himself, knowing what had caused this change. 'Well it's not a bad change.'

He would often use the young master's crush as ways to influence his master to pick more Noble activities, or dress fancier at parties.  'I wonder how I can use this latest development to make my master the top candidate?'  After all, talent can only bring you so far in Noble society.