"Sir! I have also prepared gifts for Lady Seila," Colt said, cutting off Count Landon's words.
Normally, interrupting a count like that would have been seen as rude, but Colt didn't seem to care.
More importantly, everyone had already forgotten that Colt was a commoner.
Ordinarily, commoners didn't attend noble ceremonies—especially not something as significant as a coming-of-age celebration. But this time was an exception.
That meant no one really knew when he was supposed to give his gift.
If it were before the nobles, it would have broken protocol. But giving it after them—after the royal family—felt just as strange.
The safest choice would have been to give it privately, at a different time. As a friend, he could've done that without issue.
Even Myrin had done so. Since her father hadn't attended, she didn't want to present her gift in the middle of the noble procession. So she gave it beforehand.
But now that Colt had stepped forward in front of everyone, there was no going back.
Still, Seila spoke up. "I will accept it."
Count Landon followed quickly. "Cough. Colt, alright. I suppose it's on me—I forgot to ask you earlier. My apologies."
With that, he took responsibility for Colt giving a gift even after the royal family, smoothing over the breach in etiquette.
After what the second prince had just pulled, this much was the least they could do, he thought.
"Lady Seila—" Colt began.
"Seila," she corrected gently.
She wanted everyone to know they were friends. That formality didn't exist between them.
Colt smirked. "Seila, I've prepared three different gifts for you."
Three? That broke the norm. No one gave more than one gift.
But it was clear to everyone—Colt was a commoner, trying to make up for lack of quality with sheer quantity.
So they didn't take it seriously.
Colt reached into his inner pocket and took out a small wrapped package.
Seila accepted it and carefully opened the wrapping. Inside was a blue necklace.
The second prince smirked when he saw it. A necklace? Compared to his own gift, it looked cheap.
The others seemed to agree.
But then Colt began to speak. "Please wear this necklace whenever you meditate. It enhances the effects of meditation by ten percent."
...Huh?
Did I hear that right?
What?
The room fell quiet as people glanced at each other.
Ten percent. It didn't sound like much—but for mages, it was enormous.
Every mage trained endlessly to grow their mana reserves. And now, here was something that could boost that effort by ten percent?
If it were even one percent, people would kill for it.
If it were five, it would be considered a national treasure.
But ten?
And it came from Colt—a commoner.
"Colt, I can't possibly—" Seila started, but Colt cut her off.
"Don't worry. I don't need it. Otherwise, it would just sit unused."
There was a second feature he hadn't told her about.
It had a tracking spell that would reveal Seila's whereabouts to Colt whenever needed.
The second prince bit his lower lip. This was a bigger gift than his, and it came from someone beneath his notice.
Where did he even get something like that?
Even the first prince was now watching closely. He'd definitely be looking into Colt's background the moment he was back.
But Colt wasn't finished yet.
Colt took out a rolled up parchment next, tied neatly with a blue ribbon.
When Seila opened it, her eyes widened—far more than when she'd unwrapped the necklace.
"Why?" she asked quietly.
"I told you there was an easier way," Colt replied with a calm smile.
"What is it?" Count Landon asked, unable to hide his curiosity.
"It's the unique spell to reveal invisible enemies," Seila answered, her voice trembling now.
A hush fell across the room. It was the spell he cast by stomping his feet.
Of course, it was the advanced version, and Seila needed to train for a long time before she could use it like Colt.
But still, everyone had seen how strong it was.
No one, no matter their rank, would give away such a powerful, unique spell. Just selling it would've made Colt wealthy for life.
"Ah, but I'd like to ask that you not share it with others," Colt added casually.
No one took offense. On the contrary, they understood completely. Sharing it would devalue something that was likely one of a kind.
And yet—Colt still wasn't done.
He glanced at the second prince, because he knew what was coming would hit hardest for him.
"Seila, I hope you'll also accept my final gift," Colt said, drawing a small, polished badge from his pocket.
Gasps rippled through the nobles. The air shifted.
The moment they saw the symbol engraved on it, all the adult nobles instinctively lowered their heads.
It was the royal crest.
A royal promise badge.
Colt held out something so rare, so coveted, that most nobles would never see one in their entire lives.
A token that granted a personal request from the royal family—access to restricted archives, a pardon, an artifact from the treasury, even military mobilization in special cases.
Of course, they were all limited to what the second prince could do.
And Colt... was giving it away.
He placed the badge into Seila's stunned hands like it meant nothing.
The room erupted in hushed murmurs. Shock turned to disbelief.
A commoner had somehow obtained a royal promise—and instead of using it for wealth, power, or protection, he gave it away as a gift.
Not to a king or a count. But to her.
Even Elsei and Count Landon seemed frozen, unsure if accepting such a gift was even appropriate.
Seila slowly looked up. Colt was smiling again, casual as ever, like none of this mattered.
She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Her chance to refuse had already slipped away.
"Ah, before I forget," Colt said, turning to Count Landon. "Sir, I believe the gift-giving has come to an end, am I right?"
Count Landon nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. The final gift had shaken even him.
"Then I think it's time for the music to begin. Lady Seila, may I have the first dance?"
Is he doing this on purpose?
Everyone in the room knew what that badge meant. It had two engraved lines—the mark of the second prince.
By handing it over like it was nothing, Colt was making a statement: he didn't need the prince's favor.
And now, asking Seila to dance?
It was a direct challenge.
The second prince had already all but declared his intent to propose. So, he would be given the first dance.
But Colt beat him to it. And he had done so without saying a single thing that could be called improper.
And since Antoine hadn't said anything openly, there was nothing he could object to.
Seila took a breath, then smiled. "I'd be honored."
The room stirred again.
At his table, the first prince chuckled under his breath. "Pfft. My dear brother, it seems you've found yourself some competition."
Antoine's expression darkened. But only for a moment.
It doesn't matter. He's just a commoner. In the end, I'll be the one laughing.