Kindness, Reserved for One

The number of attendees was far fewer than Eren had expected.
Roughly just over fifty people, split into two groups.

Since it was a gathering of Harold’s friends, there were fewer women than expected, and most were men.
Everyone was dressed up as if it were some mating season for male birds, which was a bit ridiculous.

“Finally here, Duke Clifford.
They say the main guest arrives last.”

A man who spotted Kazen greeted him cheerfully.
Eren also knew who he was: Count Denzel, Victor.

“Count Denzel, thank you for the welcome.”

Victor’s father was the famed magnate Marquis Croiten from the south.
Croiten was a fertile grain-producing region in the southern Espel Empire, so his family had more grain than they could ever let rot for generations.

Victor was very close not to Kazen, but to Kazen’s relative, Liam.
Sure enough, Liam approached from right behind him to greet them.

“Your Grace, I was just wondering where you’d been since you hadn’t appeared yet.”

Liam was Kazen’s cousin and also the managing agent for the Clifford family’s mines in the north.
He was close to Kazen’s mother, Catherine, but not particularly close to Kazen himself.

“Thought you were busy.
Good to see you, Liam.”

Casually returning the greeting, Kazen looked around at the people gathered near Liam.
They were all top-tier nobles of the empire.
Since they all knew Kazen well anyway, while they exchanged light greetings, Eren just stood there quietly like a borrowed cat.

Then, of all people, Victor noticed Eren standing silently behind Kazen.

“And who is this?
I don’t believe we’ve met.
Are you acquainted with Duke Clifford?”

At his words, the nobles turned their attention to Eren at once.
Suddenly faced with converging stares, Eren, also flustered, subtly hid himself behind Kazen.

At such gatherings, it was against imperial etiquette for someone like Eren to introduce himself.
The person of higher status beside him was supposed to introduce him to others.

“Ah, this fellow is my aide, Eren Lloyd.
You’ve probably met before.”

So Kazen pulled Eren forward and introduced him.
The nobles’ expressions changed immediately upon hearing Kazen’s explanation.

“I see.
Now that you mention it, I think I might have seen him once when I visited the ducal residence.
His attire is different, so I didn’t recognize him…”

Victor, who had been greeting him warmly just moments ago, now lifted his chin in a dismissive manner.
His gaze seemed to ask why someone was standing here dressed so far above his station.

Perhaps it was just his own perception, but Victor’s contemptuous stare made Eren feel suffocated.

“Harold invited him, so I brought him along.”

“I thought so.”

Seeing everyone’s lukewarm reactions, it was clear they didn’t welcome Eren.
It wasn’t surprising, as he had expected it, but that didn’t mean he was unaffected.

“Look, even those nouveau riche over there were invited by His Highness.”

One of the nobles pointed a finger toward the group gathered on the other side of the hall, where Arnold was also standing.
Upon spotting him, the nobles burst into laughter.

“His Highness seems to have developed a taste for commoner food after trying various delicacies.
First, he wanted to discuss state affairs with merchants, and now he’s serving them champagne at his table.”

Sarcastic remarks mocking the commoner-born attendees followed.
Watching the nobles laughing as if it were hilarious, Eren felt his heart grow cold.

Just because they were born of noble blood, they looked down on and casually insulted others like that.
It made him wonder why he had to hold them in high esteem.

Frankly, he didn’t care what others thought or how they acted.
But the fact that Kazan was among those people felt newly horrifying to Eren.

“What’s so amusing that everyone’s talking about?”

Just then, Harold, who had approached from behind the nobles, asked with a gentle smile.
At the familiar voice of the Crown Prince, the nobles who had been gossiping about him startled and flinched.
The one who had first mentioned Arnold even hiccupped.

“Your Highness, you shine as beautifully as the sun that illuminates the empire today.”

Kazen offered a greeting with perfect composure, as if he’d never been talking about him.
It felt incredibly awkward seeing him use such formal language with Harold.

“It seems all the invited guests have arrived, so I’d like to start the party.
Why is everyone gathered in small clusters like this?”

Harold smiled and gestured toward the group gathered on the other side.

Probably everyone present knew the reason the guests were divided into two groups.
Harold, who had personally invited them, couldn’t possibly be unaware.

“We were just discussing what gift to prepare for Your Highness’s upcoming birthday.”

Thanks to Kazen smoothly changing the topic, the other nobles also began chatting and laughing naturally again.

“Exactly.
One gets the desire to prepare a truly surprising gift.”

“As I always say, I don’t wish to receive gifts, so please don’t go to unnecessary trouble.”

Harold calmly declined and then gestured, gathering people.

“Let’s begin the party.
Everyone, please gather toward the center.”

He probably intended to mix people up by bringing them to the middle.
Knowing this would happen anyway, Kazen and the others began rising from their seats, one by one.

Whether they liked it or not, everyone knew the nobles had to coexist with those people from now on.
Even if of low birth, they couldn’t completely ignore those with money.

Of course, there were nobles like Victor or Kazen who had maintained vast lands for generations, but many nobles were already parasitic on the newly wealthy.

Eren felt he might understand why Kazen had told him to get close to Arnold.
As he thought this and turned his head, his eyes met Harold’s.

“Eren, you came.”

As he approached with a very pleased expression, Eren instinctively glanced around to gauge the others’ reactions.

“It is an honor to be invited to such a distinguished gathering.”

“Honor?
The honor is mine that you came.”

“No.
If Your Highness calls, it is only right to come.”

Laughing as if it were a joke, Harold lightly swept his eyes over Eren’s attire.
A flicker of disappointment passed over his face as he confirmed it wasn’t the formal wear he had sent.

“Did you not like the outfit I sent?”

“Not at all!
I was deeply moved by your gracious gift of the clothes.
The design, the color, the fabric—I loved it all.
But, well, I made a mistake with the laundering…”

Eren tried to recite the excuse he had painfully prepared in advance, but just then, attendants swarmed into the hall, causing a commotion.

Startled, Eren looked to see the cause of the disturbance.
Attendants were carrying in tables laden with food, placing them right in the center of the hall.

“Don’t worry about that.
I sent it on my own whim, so whether you wear it or not is your choice.
More importantly, come here.
I’ve prepared some special dishes; let me get some for you.”

Harold gently took Eren’s wrist and pulled him along.
Without thinking, Eren was pulled by him toward the table.

He could feel the eyes of those gathered around focusing on Harold and him.
Their gazes seemed to ask what a lowly person like him was doing stuck right next to the Crown Prince.

“Take this.”

Bowing in apology, Harold personally handed Eren a plate.
The more he did so, the sharper the people’s stares became.
Under their prickly glares, Eren felt as if holes were being pierced through his body.

“I can serve myself…”

“Instead of arguing, just take it.”

Harold insisted on placing the plate in Eren’s hand and began serving food onto it.

“Look, this is halibut braised in champagne; it’s very good.
And this is roasted chicken with porcini mushrooms, my favorite among the Imperial Chef’s dishes.”

Not only did Harold personally serve the food, but he also explained each dish.
True to his reputation as a discerning gourmet, he was very knowledgeable about food.

“You really don’t need to serve me like this.”

“There’s plenty of food, so don’t be conscious and eat your fill.”

Harold said, patting Eren’s thin shoulder with concern.
His considerate manner was just like when they had met at the ducal residence.
It hadn’t changed, even in a situation where others were pointing fingers.

Harold’s behavior only left Eren confused.
Why was he being so kind to him?
Treating him like this wouldn’t make him able to do anything for Harold in return.

“Your Highness, thank you for being so kind to my aide.
But I have some business with him, may I take him for a moment?”