'He's being different, something I didn't expect among all the things that could happen,' thought Gilgamesh as he looked at Rudeus and replied, "I appreciate your congratulations. You can sit at this table since you are Eris's magic teacher, she would be happy to have you with us."
Eris, who had been silent, nodded and said, "Of course, you can sit with us. I don't understand why you weren't here from the beginning."
Embarrassed, Rudeus replied, "No, I'd rather stay with Ghislaine. You have many people to talk to, so I'll step aside not to take up your time."
"That's right... Well, we can talk later once this is over," Eris smiled as she bid farewell to Rudeus, who returned to his table.
"Interesting..." Gilgamesh murmured with a hint of curiosity about this new stance of Rudeus, who had been reserved from the start.
Thanks to Eris, after Gilgamesh met her, his attitude, for some reason, had become much calmer. As if a great volcano had slowly cooled down, all that fierceness in his demeanor had been contained for some reason known only to them.
Once Gilgamesh and Eris stood up, the guests began to approach them one by one.
Due to Eris's presence, the guests had learned that Gilgamesh was not as cold and distant as when he was alone. Many of the nobles in this place had seen and studied the prince's attitude, and they understood that he was calmer after meeting Eris.
"Pleased to meet you, I am Richard Brown from the Centaur Merchants group."
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Brown. Is the atmosphere to your liking?" Gilgamesh took care to respond to each guest as Eris had asked him to.
"Haha, we rushed to this place as fast as we could after receiving the invitation. It was a surprise to see Prince Gilgamesh participating in a ceremony, so we were intrigued and decided to come and see. Of course, also to celebrate the birthday of your fiancée, Eris Greyrat."
"Oh, then I must thank you for your consideration! Many in this place must be confused about what is happening, but they have nothing to worry about because since I arrived in this city, I found Miss Eris by my side, and I can say it was destiny."
Gilgamesh smiled broadly after feeling slender hands trying to pinch his waist. However, since his body was always in its best condition, it was very difficult for her to succeed.
"Idiot..." Eris muttered, wanting to leave this place because of embarrassment.
Did he really become interested in her that day?
She couldn't believe it; his behavior that day was very aggressive... Wait, does Gilgamesh like her being that aggressive? Eris let her imagination run wild as she discovered something that perhaps pleased Gilgamesh, but he didn't even acknowledge it.
In this way, one after another, they became encouraged to greet Prince Gilgamesh and the lucky Eris, who seemed to be on par with her fiancé according to the rumors about her.
"Haha, so you're Prince Gilgamesh! I was very curious to know who the prince was who managed to kill a Sword King at such a young age. Well, I'm also a Sword King, and I don't understand how someone like you could have defeated an old man. Well, pleased to meet you; my name is Hugo!"
Hugo didn't reveal his last name because he didn't have one; he represented a large travel protection trade group. Their reputation was great because they could safeguard any valuable items from being stolen during transportation.
Perhaps it was because he believed it was impossible for Gilgamesh to have defeated a Sword King, or maybe he had some other intention, but Hugo seemed to forget that he was in the presence of Gilgamesh at his fiancée's celebration.
And so, Gilgamesh smiled as he sought the man's gaze before him. "Oh, yes, I can respect your own opinion, you simple Mogrel."
The air suddenly turned cold, spreading a simple but oppressive atmosphere around, and many who noticed this began to speak in hushed tones.
Hugo's laughter and enthusiasm disappeared upon seeing Gilgamesh's gaze.
Eris, on the side, furrowed her brows and said, "An idiotic Mogrel who doesn't know his place at this celebration."
"It seems the drink had a higher alcohol concentration than expected, so it's understandable for someone who can't handle alcohol to become a fool. I suggest you take a walk; if you're still dissatisfied, we could test those doubts you have on that fighting platform right in front of all the nobles in this place." Gilgamesh patted Eris's back and said, "I wouldn't want to spill your blood on this important day for Eris."
Hugo felt the impending death, so he shook his head and said, "I beg your pardon, Prince Gilgamesh. I was wrong, and I deeply apologize."
Gilgamesh might have already killed him, but Eris was by his side, and maybe that scene wouldn't have looked good on such a special day. She had handled it, so she said, "Very well then, disappear from our sight."
"Yes..."
If Eris had let things escalate, she knew what would happen next, and it wouldn't be good. Therefore, she decided to let it go for now since they could settle this matter later.
Gilgamesh smiled and asked Eris, "Do you want to start tonight's event?"
"Do you want to do it already?" Eris became very excited at the thought of having a duel as the main event of the night instead of a simple dance.
"Of course, you're the queen in this place."