After the Pleasure Lesson is Over
After a night of pleasurable lessons, Elizabeth lay weak and exhausted. Her body felt both light and heavy, overcome by new sensations she had never experienced before.
Seeing Elizabeth's condition, John decided to clean the bar himself. He deftly straightened the tables and chairs, and cleared away the remaining plates and glasses.
After he finished, John found Elizabeth fast asleep on one of the tables, her face looking peaceful despite the blush on her cheeks.
John smiled faintly. Carefully, he picked Elizabeth up in a princess carry, lifting her light body.
"Time for bed, Princess," John whispered softly. He led Elizabeth out of the bar area and into the hallway. However, John didn't know which room Elizabeth was in.
Fortunately, Elizabeth, feeling lifted, slowly woke up. Her eyes blinked, then she pointed to one of the doors.
"That... that's my room, John..." she whispered, her voice hoarse with sleep and exhaustion.
John nodded, then opened Elizabeth's bedroom door. He gently laid her down on the soft mattress. "Sleep well, Princess," John said, preparing to leave.
But as John turned around, a gentle hand held him back. Elizabeth grabbed his wrist. "John... don't go. Stay with me." Elizabeth's voice sounded so sincere, almost pleading.
John stared at Elizabeth for a moment, then a soft smile spread across his lips. "Okay, Princess. I'll stay with you." He climbed onto the bed, lay down beside Elizabeth, and hugged her.
A Night Full of Chat and New Lessons
That night, Elizabeth's room became a silent witness to a long conversation between them. John, with his cunning nature, did not waste this opportunity. He began to teach Elizabeth how to be cunning, how to deceive others by using a mask of kindness.
"You know, Elizabeth," John began, his voice calm but full of intrigue, "Your kindness is a double-edged sword. It's beautiful, but it can make you easy to take advantage of. You must learn to use it as a shield, even as a weapon."
Elizabeth listened intently, her head resting comfortably on John's chest and her eyes fixed on his. "How... how do you do it, John? I... I don't understand."
"It's simple. Remain your kind, innocent, naive self on the surface. Let others believe that's who you really are. But underneath, your mind must work faster, more cunningly. Use your kindness to gain their trust, to catch them off guard. Then, when they least expect it, you can use it to your advantage, or to protect yourself," John explained, his eyes glinting in the darkness.
Elizabeth was silent for a moment, taking in every word. "So... I have to pretend?"
"It's not pretending, Princess. More like... strategy. You're still kind, but with a purpose. You still care, but you also know how to protect yourself. Imagine this: you smile, you offer help, but inside, you're already planning your next move. That's not evil, that's survival in this cruel world."
Under John's persuasive teachings, Elizabeth's understanding of the world began to change. She was no longer completely naive and innocent. She still displayed kindness, her friendly smile still captivating, but it was now only to gain others' trust, to lower their defenses. Her sincere heart had now learned to hide behind a mask.
"I... I think I understand, John," Elizabeth murmured, a new tone in her voice, a little firmer. "Kindness as a tool."
"Exactly, Princess. And believe me, it will be very useful in your quest for the Seven Deadly Sins. You will need more than just courage to face them."
Their conversations continued late into the night, discussing various tactics and scenarios.
John taught Elizabeth how to read people's intentions, how to gently manipulate situations, and how to exploit other people's weaknesses without appearing malicious.
Elizabeth, the kind-hearted princess, now has a cunning con man as her partner, and she is learning fast.
Finally, exhaustion overcame them. Admist their increasingly vague conversation, they both fell asleep, tightly embraced under a thin blanket.
An unexpected connection has formed between the now-devious purity and the darkness that has found its match.