Chapter 132: First dance
Eren sighed quietly, tilting his head back against the bench.
The system was painfully correct for this once. Gifts left unused out of petty stubbornness were a complete waste of resources. Besides, when it came down to giving unforgettable memories into the hearts of the women he cherished, extravagant lunches and mountains of designer silk were merely the basics.
Material wealth was easy; but something that could print in their memories forever? That’s a really expensive experience.
His blue eyes drifted lazily across the plaza. Passersby strolled through the evening breeze—some genuinely laughing with their companions, others wearing masks, pretending to be ok.
’At least I’m not stuck playing pretend. And hope neither are they.’
"Hey, you three," Eren called out to them.
Simultaneously, the muscle mommy, the petite genius, and the busty maid turned their heads toward the man anchoring their little universe.
Eren looked back at them and simply smiled.
It wasn’t his usual predatory smirk, nor was it the unhinged grin. It was a completely warm, and deeply affectionate smile that instantly caught all three of them off-guard.
Norelia blinked, her guard immediately flaring up with adorable caution. "What absurd scheme are you calculating in that head of yours now, Eren?"
"Do you really want to know how much I love you three?" Eren asked in a low voice, his gaze lingering tenderly over each of their faces.
"I can’t write you poetic sonnets, and I certainly won’t measure my feelings against some tragic stage protagonist who ended up dead in the third act. But if you truly want me to drop this perception spell right now, climb onto the edge of this fountain, and scream to every single noble and commoner in this capital that Eren Volsver belongs entirely to you... I will do it without a single second of hesitation."
Before he could even finish the sentence, a soft weight leaned against his left side.
Eren glanced down to find Norelia resting her petite head lightly against his chest, her small hands clutching the front of his shirt. Her ruby eyes are soft with shyness. "You idiot... we were only teasing you."
From his right, a warm, fragrant wave of vanilla enveloped him as Mira wrapped both arms around his arm, burying her flushed cheek against his shoulder with adoration. "You don’t need to yell from a fountain, Young Master. I already know you love us more than anything in this world... and you’re the greatest, kindest person I have ever known."
Emma sat beside Norelia, watching the display with a fond smile. The tall knight reached over with her long arm, resting a palm against his shoulder before leaning in close to press a kiss right onto his cheek.
"I was joking, you brat," Emma whispered with a husky chuckle against his ear. "I love you. We all know the political mess you’re navigating with the Reeding girl. What does it matter if the rest of the world is blind to our relationship? We know how fiercely you protect and care for us... and that is the exact reason I have never once regretted loving you."
Mira snuggled closer. "We really, truly enjoyed today, Young Master. Very, very, very much. Just being by your side is the most fun thing in the entire world."
Eren shook his head lightly with a fond chuckle. "Not quite, my sweet sugar baby. The fun isn’t over just yet. There’s one final thing I want to give all of you before this sunset fades."
The three beauties exchanged slightly confused glances. The pink-haired raised a brow, her storm-grey eyes curious. "And what exactly are you planning to pull off now?"
Eren didn’t answer with words. He merely offered them a smile, his blue gaze went toward the roadside band playing a gentle, repetitive melody near the far rim of the plaza. The troupe looked tired but earnest, working for whatever spare coppers the passing crowd tossed for them.
Now he understood why the system asked to use the skill, [Art of Music and Dance], to be used now.
"Just stay right there and look pretty," Eren murmured, gently dislodging himself from their warm embrace and rising from the bench.
"Wait, Eren! Where are you going?" Norelia called out, tilting her head in pure confusion as the three of them watched his retreating back.
Eren walked toward the band. The troupe consisted of a handful of young street performers, barely in their early teens. Sitting on a wooden stool at the center was a young girl with messy pigtails, cradling a worn, wooden violin.
Noticing the finely dressed noble approaching, the music trailed off into an awkward halt.
Eren stopped in front of the little violinist, offering an easygoing smile. "Excuse me, little lady. Do you mind if I borrow that violin for a quick minute?"
The girl immediately hugged the instrument against her chest like a dragon guarding a mountain of gold, puffing out her cheeks in a fierce glare. "I can’t just hand my thing over to strangers, mister! It’s not a toy!"
A slightly older boy holding a polished wooden flute flinched in terror, frantically nudging her shoulder. "Hey! You can’t speak to a noble lord like that!"
Turning to Eren, the boy bowed. "I-I apologize for her, sir! She doesn’t know any better—"
Eren chuckled, waving off the boy’s panic. He crouched down to eye level with the pouting girl, seeing an exasperatingly familiar stubbornness in her round eyes. It reminded him of Liora.
Reaching into his pocket, Eren retrieved a handful of imperial gold coins and dropped them into their open case—an amount easily worth three months of living.
The girl’s stubborn frown instantly melted into wide-eyed shock. Reluctantly loosening her grip, she held out the instrument with trembling hands. "O-Only temporarily, mister... and don’t you dare break it."
"I’ll treat it with the utmost care, promise," Eren smiled, gently accepting the worn instrument and the horsehair bow.
Passersby and nearby patrons began slowing their pace, murmuring among themselves. Most assumed the wealthy noble took it out of curiosity or to impress his three gorgeous dates sitting by the fountain.
Then Eren rested the instrument smoothly beneath his jaw.
He closed his eyes. The instant his fingertips brushed the strings, the passive knowledge of a thousand virtuosos flooded his muscle memory. Drawing the bow across the bridge, he didn’t just play a note—he unleashed a breathtaking, resonance of melody that sliced straight through the ambient noise of the bustling plaza.
The opening notes were slow, intensely melodic, and heavy with romantic longing. It was a haunting, magnificent tempo that immediately seized the attention of everyone within fifty paces. The ambient chatter of the crowd died.
Then, the tempo swelled. Eren shifted his posture, his blue eyes opening with a spark. The melody exploded into a rhythmic, and passionately playful waltz—vibrant, warm, and bursting with life.
It wasn’t stiff, aristocratic chamber music; it was a celebratory anthem of untamed affection, weaving intricate trills and sweeping crescendos that practically forced the heart to dance along.
The street musicians stood frozen, their jaws slack in utter awe.
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