Poisoned Tongue's Provocation and Crumbling Dignity

The banquet's atmosphere continued to heat up with the climax of various parties presenting gifts. Fine wine, music, and dazzling jewels intertwined to create a scene of opulence. Leon, however, felt as if he were trapped in a transparent crystal cage, the surrounding laughter and cheers muffled and harsh as if heard through a thick pane of glass. He huddled in a shadow near the terrace doors, wishing he could melt into the wall. Eleanor Soros's precisely targeted "Elemental Form Evolution Manual" was like the final blow, shattering his last shred of hope and self-respect.

Mechanically, he picked up another glass of champagne from a passing waiter's tray and practically downed it. The cold liquid slid down his throat but couldn't extinguish the burning shame and helplessness within him. He just wanted this damned banquet to end quickly so he could escape this place that made him feel utterly disgraced.

However, fate seemed determined to work against him. Just as he was lost in thought, trying to minimize his presence, a crisp voice, as scorching as fire and carrying an undisguised mockery, rang out not far from him. It wasn't loud, but it possessed a magical quality that cut through the surrounding noise, piercing his eardrums clearly:

"Yo~ Who do we have here hiding and drowning their sorrows? It's none other than our 'Man of the Hour' tonight, young master Leon of the Hohenzollern family~"

Leon froze, his blood seeming to turn to ice. He didn't need to turn around to know who owned that voice—Eleanor Soros!

He turned with difficulty and saw Eleanor, arm in arm with a gorgeously dressed young noble, standing a few steps away with a smile as radiant as a flower. Her fiery red curls blazed like flames under the lights, her emerald eyes sparkling with the playful glint of a cat toying with a mouse, and the curve of her lips held a malicious glee. The noble youth beside her, Leon recognized as a distant relative of Marquis Metternich, was currently appraising Leon with an expression that suggested he wouldn't mind a bit more drama.

Several guests who had been conversing nearby were also drawn by the commotion, their conversations ceasing as they turned their gazes curiously. Clearly, Eleanor had deliberately chosen a spot not too far from the crowd, intending to embarrass Leon without drawing too much attention (at least, not overtly), thus maintaining her "lady-like" facade.

Leon's face instantly flushed crimson, his fingers gripping the wine glass so tightly his knuckles turned white. He suppressed the urge to turn and flee, forcing out a few words through gritted teeth: "Miss Soros, is there something you need?"

Eleanor acted as if she hadn't heard the stiffness in his tone. She lightly swirled the crystal glass filled with amber liquid in her hand, feigning surprise as she blinked her beautiful large eyes: "Oh my, what could I possibly need? I just saw you here alone, so I came over to say hello. After all..." She drew out her words, her gaze pointedly sweeping towards the dance floor, where Elisa was gracefully dancing with her brother, Victor, "You are the 'fiancé' of tonight's heroine, aren't you? Why are you hiding away alone?"

She deliberately emphasized the word "fiancé," the sarcasm evident.

Leon's heart sank. He knew trouble had arrived. He braced himself and said, "I'm just a little tired and taking a break."

"Tired?" Eleanor covered her mouth and chuckled exaggeratedly, her voice like tinkling bells, yet laced with poison. "That's true, that dance just now must have been truly 'tiring.' I feel tired just thinking about Elisa's feet hurting." Her words immediately elicited suppressed chuckles from those nearby.

A vein throbbed on Leon's temple. He gritted his teeth and said, "Miss Soros need not concern herself!"

"How could I dare concern myself?" Eleanor's smile remained unchanged, but her tone abruptly shifted, like a viper striking from its den, hitting its target directly. "I'm just a little curious... Young Master Leon, you see, everyone tonight has given Elisa so many... hmm, 'unique' gifts." She glanced again towards the dance floor, her tone becoming even more "innocent" and "confused."

"Her Highness the Eldest Princess's Ancient Meditation Method, the Tranquility Emblem my brother gave, the Star Iron Halfplate from the Gilbert family, and my own insignificant old manual... Even the Roland family gifted a Magic Tower." She listed the gifts that made Leon utterly ashamed, each word striking him like a whip.

Then, her emerald eyes fixed on Leon, filled with undisguised malicious curiosity. Her voice lowered, yet it was loud enough for everyone around to hear clearly: "But, Young Master Leon, what about you? You are Elisa's legitimate fiancé! What gift did you give Elisa? I don't seem to... recall it very well?"

She tilted her head, pretending to recall, "It seems... it was a small box? What was inside? A... brooch? Oh, yes, a sapphire brooch, wasn't it?"

Her words instantly drew everyone's attention back to Leon's "insignificant" gift!

Leon felt blood rush to his head, his vision darkening. The scene he feared and was most ashamed of had finally happened! And it was revealed by the person he hated most, in the most cutting way possible, in front of everyone!

"You..." Leon trembled with anger, unable to utter a word. What could he say? Argue that the brooch cost two hundred and seventy-five Gold Rolands? That would only make him seem more ridiculous and pathetic!

Eleanor, however, acted as if she didn't see his embarrassment. She continued in that innocent yet venomous tone, pressing her advantage: "Oh, Young Master Leon, please don't misunderstand. I'm not saying your gift is bad. Sapphires are beautiful too! It's just..." She drew out her words, a sly glint flashing in her emerald eyes, "I'm just a little curious... Given the reputation of the Hohenzollern family, and your own usual... 'generous' demeanor, Young Master Leon, how could the gift you gave your fiancée on such an important Coming-of-Age Ceremony be... just a brooch?"

She stepped closer, her voice dropping even lower, yet becoming clearer, like a viper's hiss: "Could it be... that Marquis Otto or Brother Karl have been a bit tight on funds lately and didn't give you enough pocket money?"

"Pfft--" The young man from the Metternich family beside her finally couldn't help but laugh, quickly covering his mouth, but his shoulders shook uncontrollably.

The gazes of others around them became more amused and contemptuous. Eleanor's words were too vicious! Not only did they belittle Leon's gift, but they also implied the Hohenzollern family was struggling financially, or... even more maliciously, suggested that Leon had personally squandered the money meant for the gift!

As expected, Eleanor had no intention of letting him off the hook. As if struck by sudden realization, she lightly tapped her palm with her fan, her voice "surprised" as it rose slightly: "Oh! I know! Could it be... Young Master Leon, you took the money again... to 'that' place?"

Although she didn't explicitly state where "that" place was, combined with her suggestive gaze and tone, everyone knew exactly what she meant—a casino, a horse race, or some even more disreputable establishment!

"I heard," Eleanor continued casually, as if chatting, "that someone at the 'Golden Flower' club lost quite a bit the night before last... And the new top dancer at 'Nightingale and Rose,' rumor has it she received a pearl necklace worth a fortune..." She lightly tossed out a few "rumors" circulating in the Imperial Capital recently about the extravagant spending of young nobles, her gaze fixed on Leon's face. Every word was like a poisoned dagger, stabbing him fiercely!

"You're spouting nonsense!" Leon could no longer hold back. He looked up abruptly, his eyes bloodshot with rage and humiliation, and roared, "My affairs are none of your business! That brooch was carefully chosen by me!"

"Carefully chosen?" Eleanor acted as if she'd heard the biggest joke, covering her mouth with her fan and giggling. Her laughter was crisp yet jarring. "Yes, it was truly 'carefully' chosen! A sapphire brooch found anywhere, it really... suits the status of you, young master of the Hohenzollern family, and Miss Elisa Windsor!"

Her sarcasm rained down on Leon like hailstones: "It's just... I wonder if Elisa will like this kind of... 'unpretentious' gift? I thought she seemed more interested in my old manual just now?"

This statement was the final straw! Leon felt a surge of heat rush to his head, all reason collapsing in an instant! Shame, anger, helplessness... all emotions erupted like a volcano! He took a step forward, almost lunging at Eleanor, raising his fist as if to strike!

"Eleanor Soros! You've gone too far!" he roared hoarsely, his voice distorted by extreme rage.

This commotion was significant! The guests who had been merely watching the show now looked alarmed! At the Windsor family's Coming-of-Age Ceremony banquet, the young master of the Hohenzollern family was about to attack a young lady of the Soros family? This was an unprecedented scandal!

Eleanor was also startled by Leon's sudden outburst and instinctively took half a step back. But she quickly regained her composure, a triumphant smirk flashing in her emerald eyes, while feigning terror and grievance on her face, she exclaimed, "You... What do you want to do?!"

The young man from the Metternich family beside her immediately stepped in front of her, sternly saying, "Hohenzollern! Are you trying to cause trouble here?!"

As the conflict was about to escalate, and a bigger farce was about to unfold!

Just then, a cold and commanding voice, like ice water, extinguished the nascent flame:

"Enough!"

Everyone turned towards the sound and saw Victor Windsor standing not far away. His face was ashen, his eyes sharp as knives. He first shot Leon a fierce glare, a look of warning and disappointment that nearly pierced Leon through. Then, he turned to Eleanor, his tone softening slightly, but still carrying an undeniable pressure: "Miss Soros, tonight is my sister's Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Please, let us prioritize harmony."

He then swept a cold glance at the Metternich youth and the onlookers, his powerful aura causing them to involuntarily avert their gazes or take a step back.

Victor's appearance timely de-escalated the situation. Eleanor, seeing this, knew it was time to retreat gracefully. She adjusted her expression, nodded slightly at Victor, and her tone returned to "calm": "Young Master Victor is right. I was rude. I was merely playing a small joke with Young Master Leon." After speaking, she gave Leon a meaningful look, a victor's smile on her lips, and turned to leave with her escort, leaving behind an arrogant figure.

The crisis was averted, but Leon felt even more humiliated and pained than before! He had been toyed with and humiliated by Eleanor in front of everyone like a clown, and in the end, he had to be rescued by the brother of his "love rival"! He stood there, stiff as a board, feeling everyone's gaze like needles piercing him, filled with contempt, mockery, and pity.

Victor walked up to Leon and, lowering his voice to a volume only they could hear, said through gritted teeth: "Leon Hohenzollern! Look at the mess you've made! Aren't you embarrassed enough? Behave yourself! If you cause any more trouble, I'll be the first one to deal with you!" With that, he snorted coldly and turned to leave, clearly disgusted with Leon.

On the terrace, only Leon remained, like a discarded rag doll. The night breeze blew, carrying a chill, but it couldn't dissipate the heat on his face or the coldness in his heart. He bit his lip fiercely, almost drawing blood, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.

Every word Eleanor spoke, every glance she gave, replayed in his mind like a nightmare. That humiliation was etched into his bones!

He slowly raised his head and looked through the large glass windows towards the dance floor, where the girl still stood, aloof and ethereal, seemingly detached from all the commotion. She was elegantly conversing with an older nobleman, appearing completely unaware of, and indifferent to, the storm that had just erupted because of her.

A despair and anger unlike anything he had ever felt before grew wildly in Leon's heart like weeds.

A good-for-nothing... was he?

He clenched his fists tightly, and for the first time, a flame of near-madness burned in his eyes.

Just you wait... Eleanor Soros... and everyone who looks down on me...

You will pay for today's mockery!

This thought was like lightning flashing in the darkness, brief yet incredibly clear. However, after the lightning came even deeper darkness and confusion. Pay? What could he, a "good-for-nothing," use to make them pay?

Leon dejectedly released his hands, stumbling, as if fleeing a plague, and disappeared completely into the deeper darkness outside the terrace. The splendor and noise within the banquet hall were no longer related to him. Tonight, he had lost far more than just face.