After delivering his gift, Leon forced himself to stay calm and retreated to the edge of the crowd, feeling the back of his formal jacket soaked through with cold sweat. Eliza's matter-of-fact "Thank you" and the inscrutable looks from those around him pricked at him like needles. He practically fled to the shadow of a massive Roman column, grabbed a glass of chilled champagne from a waiter's tray, and downed it in one gulp, trying to quench the burning humiliation inside him with the icy liquid.
"At last... I got it out of the way." Leaning against the cold stone pillar, he let out a long breath. The whole process had been mortifying, but at least there had been nothing wrong with the gift itself. The Starlight Sapphire brooch was worth a fortune, and its meaning suited Eliza's temperament. It ought to have salvaged at least a little of his dignity... right?
He tried to reassure himself, but his gaze kept drifting back to Eliza. He watched her casually hand the deep blue velvet box to the lady-in-waiting at her side. Her expression remained as placid as ever, betraying neither any particular fondness for the gift nor the slightest hint of disdain, as if she had received nothing more than an ordinary household item. The flicker of hope that had just risen in Leon sank again. Perhaps to her, even the most precious jewelry was no more than a worldly possession.
Yet Leon's "ordeal" was far from over. The highlight of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony—the guests' gift-giving—had only just begun. This was more than a chance to offer congratulations. It was a stage on which the various factions could display their strength, flaunt their connections, and vie with one another in secret. As the jewel of the Windsor family, Countess Margaret's prized student, and the future daughter-in-law of the Hohenzollern Family, Eliza Windsor was bound to receive countless lavish gifts that would leave people wide-eyed.
The master of ceremonies' rich, rhythmic voice rang out again as he began announcing the guests and their gifts in order of rank and closeness to the family.
The first to step forward were members of the Windsor family and several wealthy merchants with close ties to them. Most of their gifts were lavish and practical: necklaces set with enormous, flawless diamonds; miniature landscapes carved from solid imperial jade; warm jade pendants from a mysterious eastern kingdom, said to prolong life; and even the deed to a small island in the warm southern seas, complete with a private beach and magical defenses... Each gift drew a low murmur of amazement and whispered conversation. Eliza politely nodded her thanks to each guest, leaving her lady-in-waiting to record and accept the gifts. Her expression barely changed.
Watching the glittering treasures, Leon felt a little better. The gifts were certainly expensive, but most were conventional, and none quite suited Eliza's temperament. At least he had put thought into the design and magical properties of his Starlight Sapphire.
But soon, the true "highlight" arrived.
"Next, please welcome Her Highness the Eldest Princess, Elinor Augustus, to offer her congratulations and gift to Miss Eliza!" The master of ceremonies' voice held unmistakable reverence.
The entire hall fell silent. Every eye turned to one of the most exalted women in the empire. Eldest Princess Elinor approached with perfect grace, followed by two maids carrying a gift box made of rosewood and carved with the royal eagle crest.
"Eliza, congratulations on coming of age." The Eldest Princess's voice was warm, yet carried an unquestionable authority. "Your aunt wishes you a future as brilliant as the stars, and an endless journey along the path of magic." She opened the box herself.
In an instant, the entire hall seemed to grow brighter. Lined with deep blue velvet, the box held an object that was not a traditional piece of jewelry, but an ancient-looking scroll woven from some kind of silver thread. The gentle yet powerful magical fluctuations emanating from it made everyone in the room who could sense magic change expression.
"This is an ancient fragment of the Moonlight Meditation Method," the Eldest Princess said, her voice carrying clearly through the hall. "It was passed down from the Moon Temple of the elves and is of great benefit in refining pure Spiritual Power and practicing lunar magic. I hope it inspires you."
"The Moonlight Meditation Method! An ancient elven scroll!" Exclamations burst from the crowd. Magical texts—especially ancient meditation methods associated with powerful bloodlines or an affinity for particular elements—were worth far more than ordinary jewelry. They were not only symbols of wealth, but also of power and knowledge. With this gift, the Eldest Princess was making it clear to everyone just how highly the royal family regarded Eliza, a magical prodigy.
Eliza's violet eyes, usually so calm, finally brightened with unmistakable interest at the words "Moonlight Meditation Method" and "elves." She bowed slightly in the formal salute of a mage, and her voice held a rare trace of emotion. "Thank you for your generous gift, Your Highness. It is far too precious!"
Leon's heart sank completely. Compared to this ancient meditation method, which might tempt even a Grand Archmage, his sapphire brooch—one that merely "contained a faint trace of Power of Stars" and "helped stabilize the mind"—looked like a ridiculous child's toy. He could almost imagine the mocking looks people were giving him: Look at the Hohenzollern Family's good-for-nothing. All he can offer is a flashy but useless stone!
The Eldest Princess's gift crashed down like a boulder, crushing the fragile confidence Leon had just begun to rebuild.
But that wasn't all.
"Next, please welcome Lord Alexander Soros, representing the Duke Soros family, Minister of Internal Affairs, to present his gift to Miss Eliza!" the master of ceremonies continued.
Alexander Soros, the cold-faced intelligence chief, stepped forward with measured strides. His gift was just as unexpected—not gold or jewelry, but an inconspicuous, dark wooden token carved with a complex, eye-like rune.
"This is the Tranquility Emblem," Alexander said curtly. "The wearer can resist mental probing and interference to a certain degree. It may be of some use to a mage who needs to meditate deeply." His explanation was brief and direct, but everyone understood that this magical item from the Soros Family, designed to protect the mind, was of immense significance both in its practical effects and as a symbol of the family's "protection" or "interest." It was a gift whose value could not be measured in money!
Eliza thanked him again, with equal solemnity.
Next, William von Gilbert, the eldest son of the marquis, representing the Gilbert Family, presented a gift: a custom-made women's light half-armor of star iron alloyed with mithril. Powerful protective runes had been etched into it, making it light yet sturdy—a perfect blend of artistry and practicality, and worth a fortune. The gift was unmistakably characteristic of the Gilbert Family. It displayed their strength and showed concern for Eliza's safety—or perhaps hinted at certain expectations of her as a warrior.
Then the Marquis Roland family presented her with permanent use of a Magic Tower on the largest freshwater lake in the empire. The Marquis Metternich family, meanwhile, came up with something more original: a team of garden attendants made entirely of the elemental creatures known as flower fairies, capable of cultivating rare flowers and playing beautiful music...
Each gift landed like another hammer blow to Leon's heart. Faced with gifts that were either backed by deep family resources, ingeniously conceived, or beyond any price, his Starlight Sapphire had become utterly ordinary. It was quickly swallowed by the sea of glittering treasures, without even making a ripple.
He had thought two hundred and seventy-five Gold Rolands was an astronomical sum, enough to make a grand impression. But now he saw that in the highest circles of society, money was often just the most basic price of admission. What truly mattered in a lavish gift was power, heritage, and how perfectly it matched the recipient's unique needs!
Leon gripped his empty champagne glass until his knuckles turned white. His face burned with embarrassment, as if everyone around him were silently mocking his presumption. He stole a glance at Eliza and saw that, though she remained polite with each gift, she was clearly more attentive and serious than she had been when accepting his—especially when it came to the Eldest Princess's meditation scroll and the Soros Family's Tranquility Emblem.
What an idiot I am... Leon mocked himself bitterly. I thought I could buy respect and dignity with money... In this world, without the strength and status to match, no matter how much money you have, you're nothing but a joke to others!
Once again, he felt the cruel rules of this world pressing down on him. The Hohenzollern name might spare him from being thrown out on the spot, but it could not earn him genuine respect. If he wanted to find his footing, he could not rely solely on his family's influence and a few small schemes.
Just as Leon was losing heart, the master of ceremonies spoke again. The name he announced this time made Leon's heart jolt, stirring a foreboding sense of dread.
"Next, please welcome Miss Eleanor Soros, representing the younger generation of the Soros Family, to offer her congratulations to Miss Eliza!"
Eleanor Soros! The red-haired girl who was constantly at odds with him and despised him!
Eleanor approached with a bright, slightly challenging smile, taking light, quick steps. In her hands was a small but extraordinarily exquisite crystal box. She first cast a meaningful glance toward Leon, then turned to Eliza and said in a clear voice, "Eliza, congratulations on coming of age. I went out of my way to find this gift for you. I hope you like it."
She opened the crystal box. Inside was not the dazzling jewelry Leon had expected, but an extremely ancient-looking book, its cover wrapped in some kind of dark metal and its edges set with tiny magical gemstones. The pages were yellowed but well preserved, and the book radiated a powerful sense of magic and age.
"This is a copy of the Elemental Form Evolution Manual, from a lost ancient magical civilization," Eleanor said with a hint of pride. "It records many unique insights into the nature of the elements and the transformation of their forms. It's incomplete, but I thought that for someone as devoted to the study of elemental magic as you, it might be more interesting than those shiny stones."
Elemental form evolution! It was one of the central subjects of Eliza's current magical research. Eleanor's gift was not only extremely valuable—ancient magical manuscripts were almost impossible to find—it also perfectly matched Eliza's academic interests. The thought behind it—whether malicious or precise—far surpassed that of an ordinary expensive gift!
Sure enough, the light in Eliza's violet eyes when she saw the manual shone even brighter than it had at the sight of the Eldest Princess's meditation scroll. She accepted the crystal box and, for once, gave a faint but genuine smile. "Thank you, Eleanor. I really like this gift."
Those words—"I really like it"—were the final straw for Leon. Even his nemesis had given Eliza a gift that hit the mark so perfectly and spoke directly to her heart! And what had he given her? A pretty but soulless ornament that anyone could buy with enough money!
A crushing sense of defeat washed over Leon like ice water, extinguishing the last flicker of hope in his heart. He understood now: at this coming-of-age celebration, he was not only a clown with clumsy dance moves, but also a failure who could not even choose the right gift. Faced with genuine power and thoughtfulness, his gift had paled into insignificance, worth nothing at all.
He silently turned away, unwilling to watch that glaring scene any longer, and disappeared into the darkest corner of the hall. The laughter and music of the celebration seemed to come from beyond an invisible barrier. Tonight, he had lost utterly—not only his dignity, but also that small measure of self-respect he had left.
Meanwhile, his "fiancée," that clever girl, was immersed in the joy that knowledge and magic brought her. She had probably already forgotten his "ordinary" gift. For the first time, Leon understood with such clarity the immense, almost impossible gulf that separated him from Eliza Windsor.
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