AN: So, I'm finally back from my vocation. Thank you guys for reviews, I really appreciate it :) This chapter maybe has some mistakes since I wrote it on my phone because of technical problems. Sorry about that and I hope you'll like this chapter anyway and please reviews!

Erwin stood on his balcony, his sight on a certain Gaul. The ocean couldn't be seen from this balcony but Erwin's garden could. This way he could watch training Levi.

The raven man was covered in sweat and wielded a wooden sword. It was already late evening and Levi had been training with Keith Shadis since early morning and his tiredness was finally seen in his movements. He had been slower and his strikes lacked strength.

He was only human after all. Although his body was so beautiful, even Jupiter would be jealous.

„Master?" Petra arrived behind the blond's back. „There is a problem in the kitchen. Gunter says we don't have enough of lambs for tomorrow's evening."

Oh, yes. One of emperor's cousins was in the town and he asked Erwin to make a dinner party.

Erwin knew lord Balto very well. More than he'd like to. But he was related to the emperor and thus it was expected for everybody to fulfil his every wish. And he wished a dinner party so Erwin had to organize a dinner party.

„Then tell Erd to go to the city with few slaves and to bring the lambs."

„But this meat is very expansive in the city these day-"

Petra didn't finish the sentence because Erwin gave her a look, making her know that he didn't want to hear another word.

Petra bowed her head and left him alone. Then Erwin looked back at Levi. The smaller male just clenched his jaw and silently attacked Keith's left side. He had to have really good sight because Hanji mentioned that Keith couldn't cover the left as quickly as the right although he was left-handed.

Erwin was somehow proud though it wasn't him who taught Levi how to fight.

Erwin managed broke the ice and having a conversation with Levi, but the raven wasn't exactly a sharing type and he didn't tell Erwin almost anything since the day they played the chess. But maybe it was Erwin's fault. After all he had been busy with his work and had to even leave the town for few days.

And now the party. Erwin clenched his jaw. Balto was infamous for his... interest for young beautiful people. He didn't care if it was a woman or man. And Levi and his trio, how he liked to call Eren, Armin and Mikasa, were very, very beautiful. And what could be more destroying for developing trust than if he offered any of them to Balton for a fuck.

If Erwin had Levi's obedience, he would do it without hesitation but he was sure something like that wouldn't be forgiven by Levi.

He already thought over what to do with the trio. No one but Hanji knew he had them so he could simply let them be in the basement until the party would be over.

The problem was Levi. When Erwin was in the senate, other consuls and senators asked him about him. Rumours about his victory spread pretty fast. There was no doubt Balto was going to want to see the barbarian. And there was no doubt he would like to sleep with him.

Erwin was still trying to figure out how to save Levi from this and not offend the lord.

It wasn't like he was protecting the raven, but Balto himself had only little of power and Erwin wanted to keep Levi for very special and very powerful people.

He sighed and looked at Levi for the last time. The raven had a break and was sitting with his h resting on his knees. Their eyes met. Somehow Erwin felt very uncomfortable. He lowered his eyes and went inside.

He headed straight to the kitchen where Petra and few more slaves were preparing the dinner.

„Petra." he said to the young woman. „I'd like to speak with you in privacy."

After he finished the sentence, everybody except him and Petra left the room.

„What is it, master?"

„I've already told you that lord Balto is coming tomorrow, haven't I?"

Petra's shoulders tensed. She already knew what it meant. Hesitantly she nodded.

„I would like you to do the same like last time."

Balto was at Erwin's once before and that time he was very fascinated by Petra's beauty and asked Erwin to let him spend a night with her. And Erwin agreed.

Petra wasn't very happy with the thought – not that time, not now. Erwin could tell it by the expression on her face. And because people like the feeling that they can choose about their destiny, the blond offered her a soft smile and said: „You don't have to do it. I can-"

„No, I..." Petra's cheeks turned a bit red when she realized she interrupted him. „I mean sorry for interrupting you but I'll do it for you, master."

Erwin smiled. „I really appreciate that." he said. „If there is anything you want..."

„No, I don't need anything." Petra refused, just as expected. „Just... what should I be wearing tomorrow."

Erwin thought about it for few seconds. „Wouldn't you like new dress? And what about jewellery? Maybe a necklace and earrings?"

Petra blinked. „Um, yes, I'd like that."

„Then, you can go to the town and buy it."

„And I can keep it?" Petra sounded really happy.

„Of course. You'll go tomorrow in the morning. Now you can continue in your work."

Erwin left her and headed to the stair leading to the garden.

Hannes, who kept an eye on Levi, was just about to put the said slave to his cell.

„I want to speak with him... alone."

Hannes seemed to disagree but said nothing as Erwin and Levi went deep in the garden.

„Long time didn't see each other, did we?" Erwin tried to start a conversation.

„Really? I didn't even notice." As usually, Levi spoke with him with venom in his voice and sarcasm.

Erwin smiled. „I suppose you haven't talked with your friends today, right?"

Levi snorted and the blond knew he was right.

„You can talk to them later." he offered him.

„Hm." was the only sound Levi made.

After few minutes of silence, Erwin said: „I'm having a dinner party tomorrow. And I think people will want to see you."

There was an angry sparkle in Levi's eyes immediately. „So you'll show me to them as a caged animal which I am, huh?"

„Of course they'll want to see you." Erwin licked his lips, ignoring the poison in the raven's voice. „After all you, untrained and – with no offence – small man, were much deadlier than three other men who were specially trained for fighting in the arena. Only a fool wouldn't like to see such strong and magnificent man like you." Erwin gave Levi a smile which, he hoped, was adoring and not crazy as Hanji often described it.

Whatever Levi saw in his smile, must be really shocking since his eyes widened and he couldn't take his eyes off Erwin's.

„You didn't take compliments in Gallia?" the blonde asked curiously before he could stop himself.

The angry sparkle was back and Levi hissed: „That's nothing of your concern!"

Here it was again – a wrong step. Erwin tried to save the situation. „I apologize. I had no intention to upse-"

„This is exactly what I hate about you Romans." Levi's voice was full of contempt. „You are not honest. Even with yourselves. You believe in some stupid etiquette that tells you what you should do, that you should apologize. Gauls are maybe primitive but when they don't like something, they show it and they don't keep it for themselves."

His words almost left Erwin speechless. But it showed him something. Not that Levi's words were true – Erwin's mother showed him that he lived in a world of lies long, long time ago, but due to that Levi used the word ,Gauls' and not ,us' said a lot, at least to Erwin. Levi didn't consider Gauls as his own people and he didn't consider himself as a Gaul.

„You're right." Erwin nodded. „Romans' world – my world – is full of masks of friendships and lies. One must be really careful here. In whole Empire are only two people I trust. I consider everyone else as my enemy."

Levi smirked. His grey eyes seemed to be silver, as they were sparkling with amusing and not anger for once. „So, you see me as an enemy?"

Erwin raised his eyebrows and asked: „I am also an enemy in your eyes, aren't I?"

Levi's smirk widened even more. „Touché... Then, who taught you how to live in a word of lies, Erwin Smith?"

Erwin would probably punish any other slave who would dare to call him by his name. But Levi wasn't an ordinary slave, was he?

„My mother." the blond said. „I've already told you. She was very strict at home but she made sure that I'd survived and prosper in this world."

Levi's eyes darkened a bit. „You must be very happy you had such mother."

„I indeed am." Erwin nodded and after a second of hesitating, he continued. „You still haven't answered. Why you didn't get compliments in Gallia?"

Levi's eyes darkened even more. He was very uncomfortable with the question. His shoulders tensed and the smirk was gone. But he answered. „I don't know how Romans treat a raped woman but on this count Gauls aren't exactly good exemplars. They called her a whore and treat with me and her as a scum and trash. That's why I am pretty good at fighting. Other boys in the village often tried to beat me and sometimes I just couldn't run. And since I am not exactly strong, I had to rely on my flexibility and speed. But no one ever appreciated it."

„I think your fighting skills are very good and when I first saw you in the arena, I was enthralled. It was breath-taking." Erwin was surprised as much as Levi but in his case it was because he realized his words wasn't a lie.

Levi didn't thank or showed any gratitude but Erwi had the feeling he saw how Levi's cheek turned a bit red. Just a little bit.

He had no intention to point that out but Levi changed the subject anyway. „You were talking about the party before."

Erwin smiled. „I was, wasn't I? Well, emperor's cousin is in the city and he asked me to organize a party. Probably so he could see you. And in my world of masks, you can't refused him."

Levi slowly nodded. „And what are you expecting from me?"

„I'm expecting you to behave. If I say something, you'll agree with me and if I touch you, you won't complain. And you won't be arguing with guests or insulting them in a language they'd understand."

Levi looked into Erwin's blue eyes. „If they act as pigs, I'll-"

„-Ignore it." Erwin finished the sentence very differently than Levi intended to.

Erwin stood in the corner. Everybody finally gave him a minute to breathe. Mike stood beside him, both having a glass of wine in hands and both watching Hanji suffering by conversation with Balto. She seemed very bored and desperately looking at Erwin and Mike for help.

Neither of them moved. Both wanted to postpone the necessary meeting with that man as long as possible.

Erwin often glanced over his shoulder. Levi stood behind him, wearing only loincloth and oil which he clearly disagreed with.

Petra passed by Balto, distributing drinks and wearing green dress which matched with her perfectly skin. She was very, very beautiful. Even Balto, who usually wanted to sleep with a person only once, turned around when she was passing by him. And during that, he finally noticed Erwin.

The blond silently moaned and forced his lips to a smile as Balto grinned and headed to him, his slaves following him. Mike immediately left Erwin's side with words: „Good luck." and disappeared in the crowd.

Erwin was on his own now.

„Erwin!" Balto sounded very pleased. „Good to see you again, my friend. How are you doing?"

„Very good," Erwin smiled. „Everything is perfect. After all economics of the empire is getting better and better."

Balto smiled again. „And your finance is also very good, isn't it? I heard you bought that barbarian from Pixis. I also heard he's a wild beast and one of his opponents ended up with his head severed, is that true?"

Erwin had the feeling that Levi behind his back tried not to laugh. „People have the tendency to exaggerate and though this information is not true, the show was magnificent."

„Oh, I believe it was." Balto licked his lips. „Can I see him?"

Erwin stepped aside a bit so Balto saw Levi. The lord widened his eyes. „This small creature managed to defeat three skilled gladiators?"

Levi narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to say something. Fortunately, Erwin was faster. „That's him. Just wait to see him in the action. He moves like a tiger."

Balto's eyes sparkled as he looked all over Levi's body. He watched him like the raven would be nothing but meat and it made Erwin very uncomfortable. And if he felt uncomfortable, how did Levi feel?

Before Balto could say more, Hanji proved she was way better friend than Erwin and came to them. „Erwin~" she smiled. „When are we going to eat? I'm starving."

„I must agree with the lady." Balto grinned and touched his belly. „I'm also feeling a bit hungry."

Erwin nodded: „Of course. Main course should be ready in the dining room."

The blond took them into one of his larger dining room.

Soon they were ushered into the dining room where were couches and sofas, each seating three people, surrounded three sides of a beautifully carved table. The furniture was covered with soft cushions.

When they entered the room, Erwin sat on a sofa. Balto sat right next to him and Hanji found a nice chair in the corner of the room. She chose a place where she could see anyone in the room.

Levi stood next to the sofa.

Balto immediately started ordering what he wished to eat.

Erwin remained silent and ate only few grapes.

After more than hour of Balto's talking and eating, the lord licked the tips of his fingers and looked on Levi. „You're very lucky man to have such beautiful creature to fulfil your every wish. He's very tiny but that makes him even more..." Balto grinned when he couldn't find the right word. „You know what I mean, Erwin." he winked and turned to Levi. „Everyone, including me, would be very happy if he could entertain them. If it's a question of money, I am willing to pay as much as you want."

Erwin smiled, ready to politely decline. But this time, Levi spoke first. Neither Erwin, neither Balto understood him because the barbarian spoke in his mother language but Erwin could hear the tone of threat in his seem-to-be calm voice. The blond hoped that Balton missed it.

„What did he say?" Balton asked curiously and Erwin felt relief but only for a second. Because he forget that one of Balton's slaves, he brought with him, was from Gallia as well.

„He said that you are a filthy pig and he'd break both of your arms if you only tried to touch him." the young man said.

A tense silence fell upon them. Erwin felt eyes of everybody in the room.

Then Balron hissed with cold rage: „That's unacceptable."

Balton's slave moved his hand to his belt where he had a whip. Erwin quickly got up and assume a position between two slaves with Levi behind his back.

„You had no right to touch my property without permission." his voice was unbreakable, leaving no space for objections.

Although it seemed that Erwin was protecting Levi, he knew that in real danger was the other slave. Levi would break his neck in a second.

Balto narrowed his eyes: „Alright, Erwin, I'll forget about his words if you'll let me have him for tonight."

„I'm sorry." Erwin said. „But I don't share this one. He is only for me."

„Are you saying this because you want him for yourself or because he doesn't listen to you?" Balto was very unpleased. „It looks like you completely failed in taming him."

Erwin clenched his jaw before turning to Levi. „Apologize for your rudeness."

Sky-blue eyes met the grey which were sparkling with anger. Then Levi proved he's not a real fool and bowed his head a little. „I am sorry, master."

The blond tried not to smile. Levi hadn't apologized to Balto, he apologized to him, which meant he liked Erwin better then he liked Balto. Well, almost everyone liked Erwin more than Balto, but it was still good, wasn't it?

„I'll punish him later." the blond promised to Balto – perfectly lying. „I won't punish him physically because he needs to be ready for a training tomorrow."

Balto was very unhappy. Erwin could read it on his face. The blond pretended not to notice and sat back on the sofa. He gently grabbed Levi's hand and pulled him closer, so the smaller male had no choice but to sit on Erwin's lap. He was very unhappy with the position but he understood that Erwin had to secure his position this way.

And so the party continued.