Vol. 3 Chapter 9.1 - Taming the stallion

Vol. 3 Chapter 9.1 - Taming the stallion



It was still great up until Kloff had to confidently visit the estate early in the morning. However, without even catching a glimpse of Aeroc’s hair in the house, Kloff couldn’t understand why he had to walk from one end of the study to the other, receiving a stern scolding from the butler multiple times.

“Chin up, shoulders back! Don’t rush your pace.”

The butler corrected Kloff’s posture while waving a whip he got from somewhere. When Kloff asked what it was for, the sharp lash fell on his shoulders.

“If you want to be a match for the Count, start by practicing the proper posture.”

“I see. Is this what they call aristocratic bride education?”

“Rather than that, it’s more like taming a stubborn colt, but yes, that’s right.”

“...Taming a stallion, is it.”

“Exactly.”

Kloff glared at the butler with obvious ridicule, but the butler remained composed as if he had never ridiculed him. He pointed to one side again, commanding, “Walk straight.” Kloff reluctantly followed suit. It hurt to get hit, but since he had set his mind on becoming an economic bureaucrat, he might gain access to the royal social circles. In that case, he thought this butler’s education would come in handy.

Let’s think of this positively. Despite feeling boiling anger when the butler slapped his shoulders with the whip, following him step by step behind his back, Kloff decided to think positively. The training continued for the whole morning. After it ended, when Kloff was about to go to the office, the butler handed him massive books on liberal arts.

“Tomorrow, you will be tested on the contents of these. Finish reading it all and come.”

“I have to read all of these today? Don’t tell me that you’ve read all of these?”

Kloff had read plenty of legal and economic books during his university years, he could proudly say that he had read a fair amount of books in liberal arts. It was hard to believe that the butler could check all of these, when Kloff himself only knew half of the titles in this stack of books.

“Of course, it wouldn’t be me testing you. It’s part of the list written by the Count.”

“Then who’s doing the test?”

“The Count will do it at this time tomorrow. Make sure not to disappoint him.”

With his hands outstretched in front of him and an innocent expression on his face, Aeroc was about to make his move when the butler coughed loudly. He got startled and quickly straightened up, smiled a fake smile of politeness, and bowed his head. Kloff, who had just opened his arms in anticipation of Aeroc’s rush, let out a huff of air and bowed politely. This damned old man.

Approaching gracefully, Aeroc held out his hand for a shake, but Kloff grabbed it and pulled him into a quick embrace. Then he kissed his lips as if to show off. At first, Aeroc was surprised and stunned, but when the kiss ended, he opened his closed eyes, a little disappointed.

“How have you been?”

“I want to ask the same for you.”

As they exchanged greetings, Kloff lightly embraced Aeroc and kissed his golden hair again. The butler, who had been watching the scene from behind, had an astonished expression. Kloff smiled with a victorious smile and deliberately ran his hand down the smooth curve of Aeroc’s back. It had been a long time since he had seen Aeroc, so he didn’t want to let him go. He whispered to Aeroc if there was anywhere that hurt or if Aeroc had missed him, and Aeroc laughed softly.

The butler, watching the two men, coughed repeatedly as if he were a patient with a lung disease. At that, Aeroc lightly pushed Kloff away and distanced himself. Aeroc sat down, wary of the butler. Kloff glared at the butler like he was going to kill him, and tried to sit down next to Aeroc, only to have the butler rush in and swing his whip at him. Kloff ended up sitting across from Aeroc. Sparks flew between Kloff and the butler. Aeroc smiled awkwardly and picked up the book on the table.

When the test began, Aeroc was even worse than the butler. Even Kloff, who had never been outperformed in oral exams all his life, was at a loss.

“Why do you think that way?”

This was the worst question of all. It was the question that came back when he answered that there was no reason other than the ethical obligation commonly mentioned for the ruling class to consider the lower class. Asking such questions was a common tactic used by some professors to intentionally put people on the spot and see how they reacted.

Normally, he would have gathered all sorts of philosophical topics to turn the conversation around and gain the upper hand, but there was no point in defeating Aeroc like that and it didn’t seem like he could win either. So, while pretending to waste time, Kloff stretched his leg under the table and touched Aeroc’s leg with his. Slowly stroking it, he said, “Well, let’s see.” A blush spread on Aeroc’s fair and unblemished face as he bit his lip and began to glare at him. Kloff feigned ignorance and rubbed his leg more boldly.

“Wha... what?”

“Hm, I wonder why?”

As Kloff smiled smugly, Aeroc was about to open his mouth, but he realized the butler behind him and closed his mouth. He stammered, “...Let’s move on to another question,” and opened another book. Fortunately, Aeroc’s attention was too distracted to ask difficult questions, so Kloff could answer them easily.

“It seems like you’ve read everything.”

“I don’t lie. Unlike someone.”

“I... I guess we’ll stop here today.”

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