Chapter 100: A Confrontation (1)

"Brother Nolan, I want that pudding! And I’d like that cake as well! Oooh! I want that one too!"

Nestled in Nolan’s arms, Eliza pointed excitedly at the spread of food neatly arranged along the left side of the main hall.

There were hearty dishes like roasted meats and shrimp, alongside sweets such as pudding, Moonberry Tart, Crystal Sugar Petals, and a variety of cakes.

Each dish was a luxurious treat that took great effort to prepare. But since tonight was the Emperor’s birthday celebration, everything had been specially made for the occasion.

Seeing the excitement on the little girl’s face, Nolan couldn’t help but laugh.

He gently pinched Eliza’s chubby cheeks and said, "You really have quite the appetite, huh? Alright, let’s get everything you want. I’ll take you there."

"Yay!" Eliza cheered and gave Nolan an affectionate kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Brother!"

The heartwarming scene naturally drew the attention of the young nobles nearby.

Besides, Nolan’s striking appearance made him hard to ignore. The young ladies couldn’t help but stare at him in a daze.

"Huh? Isn’t that the Sixth Prince, Nolan Lorian?" A young man in white robes pointed at him in surprise.

Several of his friends were equally stunned, their eyes widening in disbelief.

"That’s really him? But... how can he be this handsome? I thought he was supposed to be ugly and unkempt. This is nothing like the rumors!"

"Yeah, I heard Prince Nolan looked awful... but he’s nothing like the rumors."

Most of them had only heard the unpleasant gossip that circulated about Nolan. Even the few portraits that existed showed him in the worst possible light.

Well, considering Nolan had deliberately kept a low profile, it wasn’t all that surprising.

"Heh... That’s unexpected. I didn’t think he’d be that handsome. Has he been hiding it all this time?" One of them chuckled softly.

The voice cut through their conversation, and at once, all eyes turned with respectful enthusiasm toward its owner.

"Young Master Allen, are you close to Prince Nolan?" one of them asked politely.

Allen gave a mocking smile as he casually swept back his dark brown hair with practiced elegance.

"Close? Why would I ever associate with trash like him?" He replied with obvious disdain. "I’ve interacted with him before, sure—but it was far from pleasant. Nolan Lorian is nothing but a barbarian—shameless and completely lacking in manners. He disgusts me."

The young nobles around him stiffened at his blunt words. Their faces paled slightly as they exchanged uneasy glances.

"Young Master Allen, please be careful with your words," one of them whispered. "If any servants or guards overhear you, it could bring trouble for you... and the Ashvale family."

But Allen didn’t flinch. Instead, he stood tall, crossing his arms with arrogant composure.

"So what if they hear?" he said coldly. "I’m not afraid. I’m the heir of the Northern Duke. My father holds real power. His Majesty wouldn’t punish me over someone like that pathetic prince."

His handsome face was etched with scorn.

Gulp!

Several people nearby looked uneasy, nervously swallowing their saliva.

Before anyone could say a word, Allen slipped his hands into his pockets and said coolly, "I’ll go greet him... and show you all just how insignificant he is compared to me."

Without another word, Allen strode confidently toward Nolan and Eliza, who were still enjoying their meal.

The young men behind him exchanged uncertain glances.

Their faces reflected hesitation—they weren’t sure whether to follow or stay behind.

After all, everyone could sense that a confrontation between Allen and Nolan was inevitable.

None of them wanted to get involved. If things went badly, it could reflect poorly on their families.

But the more they thought about it, the more obvious it became—they couldn’t just stay behind.

What if Allen took their hesitation as a sign of cowardice?

If that happened, all their efforts to win his favor would be for nothing.

Worse still, they risked being cast out of the Empire’s young noble circle.

And so, after a moment of reluctant deliberation, they followed Allen—each step heavy with unease.

***

"Is it good?" Nolan asked, crouching down with a small spoon in hand.

His gaze softened as he watched Eliza smile sweetly.

The little girl chewed the piece of Moonberry Tart Nolan had just fed her, then swallowed.

"It’s so good!" Eliza exclaimed, eyes sparkling. "It’s sweet, but not too sweet—and the berries are a little sour! I love it!"

Nolan smiled and gently patted her head.

"You’ve got a good palate," he said, cutting a piece of the tart from his plate and tasting it himself.

Sure enough, it was just as she’d described.

He couldn’t help but feel a bit of admiration for the girl.

Maybe this little one really does have a talent for food,

he thought.

After all, talent wasn’t limited to magic or combat. The ability to recognize and evaluate flavor could be just as valuable.

And it seemed Eliza had that gift—something Nolan didn’t intend to overlook.

Just as the two were enjoying their quiet moment, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the calm, followed by a cold, mocking voice.

"Well, well, Your Highness. What’s this? Picking on a little girl now?"

Nolan’s hand froze mid-motion. He looked over his shoulder to see a young man in black robes standing behind him, watching with a playful yet condescending smile.

The man was undeniably handsome—though still far beneath Nolan.

His dark brown hair was neatly styled, and his brown eyes held a maddeningly cynical glint.

That look instantly reminded Nolan of someone—Novaria.

Just a glance was enough for him to recognize the man: Allen Ashvale, heir to House Ashvale and eldest son of the Northern Duke.

Among the young nobles, Allen held unquestionable power and a reputation few dared challenge.

It was no surprise, considering he was the successor of one of the four great Duke houses in the Empire.

Unfortunately, Allen also had a few less admirable qualities: arrogance, conceit, and an inflated sense of self-worth.

He reminded Nolan of those irritating noble brats from romance or action fantasy stories in his previous world—the clichéd antagonists who always picked fights with the protagonist for no reason other than sheer arrogance.

Because of his personality, many disliked him—some even hated him—but few dared to show it.

His family’s power made him untouchable.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Nolan slowly rose to his feet, his expression cold and unreadable.

Standing at around 195 centimeters, his presence was commanding, his aura enough to make Allen and the nobles around him feel a subtle pressure.

With a slight raise of his eyebrow, Nolan asked calmly, "Who are you supposed to be? Have we met?"

Allen: "..."