Inside the Rhine Palace, maids and attendants had long since prepared everything. They were merely waiting for the arrival of the hosts and guests for the gala to officially begin.
Time passed slowly, and as participants arrived one by one, the banquet hall gradually grew lively. Among the crowd, Eros spotted many familiar faces. Annie and Claire were both there; seeing him look over, Claire even shot him a playful wink.
Since the academy had just begun its break, most of the children from noble families were still staying in Intiles. Upon hearing that a charity gala was being held in Eros's name tonight, they had all come without hesitation. After all, Eros’s act of single-handedly leading the evil spirits away in the Sin Domain had effectively saved their lives. It was only natural to support their benefactor and donate some money.
Estelle, naturally, had set no barriers for this event, as it was a prime opportunity to build Eros’s reputation. Consequently, it felt as though half the nobility of the entire Empire had gathered tonight.
Watching the throngs of people moving to and fro in the banquet hall, Eros couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. If a few cultists managed to sneak in and plant bombs in the Rhine Palace, the entire Chris Empire would probably grind to a halt by tomorrow morning.
Of course, that was just a joke. In reality, such a thing was impossible. Setting aside the outer security perimeter, three Archbishops from the Inner City’s cathedrals were present—all of whom were Transcendent-level powerhouses. They might appear to be chatting casually with guests, but Eros was certain their spiritual perception blanketed the entire hall. At the slightest anomaly, they would likely react instantly.
Eros took a glass of red wine from Laurent Town from a passing maid in black stockings, took a sip, and mentally calculated the time.
Finally, after another ten minutes of waiting, the ruler of this Empire—one of the three most powerful individuals in the civilized world—Caesar Augustus, arrived. He stepped out of his carriage with his wife and children and made his way into the palace.
This was Eros's first time seeing the ruler of this vast Empire: master of over eighty million square kilometers of territory, leader of four billion people, and conqueror of the twenty-seven western nations—His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Caesar Augustus.
As if sensing Eros's gaze, the Emperor smiled and nodded in his direction. Seeing that he had been noticed, Eros followed etiquette and bowed with his hand over his chest. The rest of the banquet guests rose and bowed in unison upon the Emperor’s arrival.
Caesar Augustus waved his hand to signal everyone to stand at ease, then walked straight to Eros’s side. He took Eros by the hand and led him toward the raised dais at the front of the hall. Beside him, Empress Isabella Augustus smilingly took Undine’s hand, leading her up as well.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Eros’s eyes inadvertently swept over the Empress, and he immediately spotted his mission objective. Man, that Heart of the Ocean is so white... wait, no! That gemstone is huge!
It had to be said, there was a reason Empress Isabella was dubbed the most beautiful and charming woman by every fashion magazine. It wasn't just the prestige of her status; it was her genuine beauty. In Eros's opinion, her looks were only a fraction behind Estelle’s—practically indistinguishable.
Saliba, from this day forward, you are my, Eros's, good brother!
Standing still, having not followed his parents forward, Saliba suddenly felt a mysterious chill run down his spine. He felt as if someone was staring at him, but when he looked around, he found nothing.
Strange. Suppressing the flutter in his heart, Saliba turned his gaze toward the high dais.
Once Emperor Caesar had led Eros to the top step, he released his hand and clapped to signal the crowd for silence. He cleared his throat and spoke with a smile:
"Ladies and gentlemen, do you see this young man beside me?"
"I believe some of you have heard his name..."
For the next ten minutes, the Emperor introduced both Eros and Undine. Eros was familiar with this process; typically, when noble children first entered social circles, a person of high status was invited to introduce them to help them integrate into the "ton." For Great Nobles, this meant inviting a King or Emperor. Such invitations were rarely declined, as it was a well-established tradition.
With the introductions complete, the gala officially began.
Maids uniformly dressed in black stockings began filing in from the side doors, carrying various desserts and fine wines. On either side of the dais, the orchestra struck up one light, melodic tune after another.
As the host, Eros was required to stand by the donation box. Whenever someone came up to donate, he had to raise his glass and toast them as a sign of gratitude. After thanking several groups of people, just as Eros was deciding to use his powers to secretly sober up, Claire walked up to him with elegant strides.
"You look a little tipsy. Do you want to go rest for a bit?" Claire said, her beautiful eyes curving into a smile. As she spoke, she pulled a small checkbook from her clutch.
"I’m not that drunk yet. I just rarely drink, so my body hasn't quite adapted to the sensation!" Eros replied with a smile, handing her a pen.
Claire took the pen, scribbled a figure on a check with a flourish, tore it off, and dropped it into the donation box beside him.
Seeing this, Eros said with a light laugh, "On behalf of those who will receive help in the future, I thank you for your contribution."
"Is there no other way to thank me?" Claire blinked, her words laced with implication.
Not far away, Annie saw the two of them chatting and laughing. She immediately marched over. "What are you two talking about?"
Hearing her voice, Claire didn't even need to turn around to know who it was. She gave a deliberate, soft giggle. "Eros said he wants to thank me properly—the kind of thanks that doesn't include you!"
Annie gave a cold huff. "You think I'd believe that?" Without another word, she pulled out her own checkbook, snatched the pen from the side, and began writing furiously.
Eros couldn't help but be amused. Every time he saw these two, they were competing.
Just then, a deep, booming voice came from nearby:
"Boy, I’ve heard my daughter mention you. Ever since she came back from the academy, she’s been bringing up your name every chance she gets!"
Eros turned toward the sound. A man with a mane of golden hair and a burly build, looking much like a lion, stood there.
When Annie saw him, she hurriedly and respectfully greeted him: "Uncle Milan!"
Hearing that name, Eros instantly knew who he was—the father of the "little crybaby," Doreen.