Hands That Claimed Me First

Just then, Kazen grabbed Eren’s wrist and pulled him back.
Because of that, Eren almost dropped the plate he was holding, nearly spilling its contents on the floor.

The moment Kazen tried to snatch that plate away, this time, Harold reached out and seized Kazen’s wrist.
Suddenly, their arms were entangled in mid-air.

‘What on earth is happening?’

Eren was not just embarrassed but utterly bewildered by the situation he found himself in.

The Crown Prince and the Duke were having a standoff, and he was caught in the middle, drawing the disapproving stares of the other nobles.
He felt so mortified he wished he could hide in a mouse hole.

Ah, that is, if there were even mouse holes in the Imperial Palace.

“Duke Clifford, whatever you have to say, can’t you let him eat in peace?
Even dogs are left alone while they eat.”

“Well, that’s because stray dogs might bite.
But my dog won’t bite me, so there’s no need to worry.”

If it were the usual Eren, he would have stayed quiet without a word, but right now, all he could think about was escaping this awkward situation.
So he raised his free arm and lightly grasped Harold’s sleeve.

“Thank you for taking the trouble to serve me personally.
I am deeply honored, but I don’t wish to take up any more of Your Highness’s precious time.
I’ll serve myself from now on.”

“Alright, then enjoy your meal.”

Perhaps finally realizing the awkward position Eren was in, Harold didn’t insist and released the arm he was holding.

“Come with me for a moment.
We need to talk.”

The moment Harold left, Kazen grabbed Eren’s arm and pulled him along roughly.
Worried the food on his plate might spill, Eren followed him cautiously.

“Did you really bring that to eat?”

Leading Eren toward a corner of the hall, Kazen asked in a chiding tone.
His gaze was disapproving, much like when he had seen the formal wear Harold had given him.

“Yes, His Highness served it himself, so I thought it would be impolite to refuse.
Do you not want me to eat this, by any chance?”

“There’s nothing good about getting accustomed to palace food.
It’ll just raise your standards and make things harder for you.”

As if eating good food once would raise his standards.
Eren thought that inwardly, but still, he obediently tried to set the plate down as Kazen wished.

“Yes, then I won’t eat it.”

“Forget it, why waste something you brought on purpose.
Just eat while we talk.”

Kazen’s contradictory attitude was truly bewildering.

But thinking about it, Kazen had shown displeasure every time Harold was kind to him.
When he tied a handkerchief around his injured hand, when he bought him formal wear, and just now when he served him food.

Maybe he resented Harold’s generosity.
Or perhaps he was dissatisfied that Eren was receiving such favor.
Frankly, he didn’t understand either possibility.
But with similar situations repeating, he couldn’t help but think that.

“But didn’t you have something urgent to tell me?”

Right now, more than anything, he was most curious about why Kazen had pulled him away from that large crowd.

“I was wondering when you’d start moving according to our plan.”

“The plan… Ah, you mean regarding Mr.
Harrison?”

Belatedly remembering Arnold’s existence, Eren let out a small sigh.

“You said you would create an opportunity, so I was waiting.”

Truthfully, he hadn’t even been conscious of Arnold, but he spoke as if making an excuse, recalling that Kazen had promised to create a chance for him to approach.

Kazen, as if displeased with Eren’s attitude, let out a deep sigh.

“Even so, you should at least go through the motions.
You look like you’re really just here to enjoy the party.”

Was it not allowed to enjoy the party since he was here anyway?
So was that why he interfered when Harold was serving him?
Because it seemed like he was enjoying himself too much.
If that were truly the reason, it felt a bit hurtful.

“Then finish that first and come with me.”

Kazen pointed with his eyes to the plate Eren was still holding preciously.
The fact that he wasn’t telling him to throw it away until the end was probably because Harold’s feelings were a consideration.

“Yes, I’ll eat it quickly.”

As instructed, Eren picked up his fork and began shoving the food from the plate into his mouth.
He had been served a surprisingly large portion, so he had to stuff his cheeks until they were full.

“Wait, stay still.”

The moment Eren was about to set his fork down on the plate, Kazen spoke in a cold voice.
Wondering if he had done something wrong, Eren froze in place.

“Look up.”

Kazen flicked the underside of Eren’s chin with his finger.
Hurriedly chewing the food in his mouth, Eren looked up.

“What’s there to be proud of, getting it all over your face?
If you don’t even follow dining etiquette in a place like this, you’ll only be looked down on more.”

Kazen, who had taken a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped around Eren’s mouth while scolding him.
His voice sounded reproachful, but the hand wiping his face was delicate, making him feel strange.

“Ah, thank you…”

“Don’t say thank you.
I’m not doing this because I want to.
We need to go meet Arnold now, and I can’t present you looking like this.”

Casually tossing the soiled handkerchief onto the floor, Kazen let out another deep sigh.

“If you’re done, give it here.”

Kazen snatched the plate from Eren’s hand and set it down on a nearby table as if throwing it.
Then, grabbing Eren’s wrist again, he started walking.

He intended to go meet Arnold.
Feeling nervous, Eren’s body seemed to stiffen.
Suppressing his unwillingness, he walked, practically being dragged along.

“Duke Clifford, greetings.”

A few oblivious people approached Kazen, trying to gain favor by greeting him.
Kazen didn’t even acknowledge them and walked straight toward where Arnold was standing.

Arnold was chatting happily with the group the nobles had been ignoring.
Then, spotting Kazen and Eren approaching, he greeted them with a pleased expression.

“Duke Clifford, I was actually looking for you to say hello.”

“Since everyone was gathered over here, I couldn’t tell if you’d attended the party, so my greeting was delayed.”

Watching Kazen nonchalantly blame the division on Arnold, Eren felt a sense of absurdity.
It was the nobles who had shunned these people because they didn’t want to mix with them.

“It’s my first time at such a gathering, so I must have seemed a bit awkward.
Still, thank you so much for acknowledging me first.”

On the contrary, Arnold seemed much more magnanimous and gentlemanly.
It made him angry at the nobles who had been gossiping badly about him.

“Duke Clifford, if you could come here for a moment, I’d be grateful!”

Just then, someone naturally called out to Kazen.
As if he had expected this, Kazen, without showing any panic, lightly grasped Eren’s shoulder and spoke.

“It seems I’m being summoned, so I must go.
I hope you two have a good conversation.”

After Kazen left like that, Eren was left awkwardly alone with Arnold.
To think he would create an opportunity so blatantly.
Frankly, it was so absurd he didn’t even know what to say.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has prepared a piano performance by Lord Sprowd!
Please, everyone, your attention!”

As they watched the nobles swarm to one side of the hall to enjoy the performance by the famous pianist, Arnold suddenly tapped Eren’s shoulder lightly and asked.

“Shall we step out into the garden for a walk?”

He was a bit startled by the sudden suggestion, but he had already anticipated being alone with him.
Kazen had said he would arrange such an opportunity.
He hadn’t been informed it would be like this, but he was mentally prepared.

“Here, take this.
Let’s grab a drink and go out.”

Arnold, who had swiftly taken two glasses of wine, handed one to Eren.

“Yes, that sounds good.
Thank you for getting one for me as well.”

Taking the glass somewhat awkwardly, Eren followed Arnold across the hall.

“You can also go out to the garden through the balcony.”

“Is that so?
I didn’t know that.”

As if he had scouted the way out in advance, Arnold headed toward the balcony without hesitation.

In the palace garden, late-summer flowers were in full bloom everywhere.
No matter how fragrant, when all sorts of scents mixed together, it was no different from a foul odor.

Suppressing the urge to cover his nose, Eren followed Arnold.
He seemed intrigued by the garden shrouded in dim darkness, looking around here and there.

“Are you not someone who visits the palace often?”

At Eren’s question, Arnold turned around with wide eyes.

“Hmm, actually, this is my third visit.
But it’s my first time coming in the evening.”

Despite being from the Harrison family, Arnold was the third son and hadn’t been involved in prominent political activities, so it seemed he hadn’t visited the palace much.

“You, on the other hand, Mr.
Lloyd, must visit the palace often, right?”

“His Grace, Duke Clifford, whom I serve, is on very close terms with His Highness the Crown Prince.
So I often accompany him for visits.
Though I haven’t had occasion to visit this banquet hall before.”

“I see.”

Arnold muttered in a voice that didn’t sound very interested.

Eren was curious about why Arnold had specifically asked him to come out to the garden.
He didn’t seem like someone who indulged in pederasty, as the rumors Kazen had mentioned suggested.

“Was it because you found the banquet hall uncomfortable that you suggested coming out?”