Chapter 623: Assortment Of Magical Weapons

Third Person’s POV

No wonder Erius had been unable to control his temper.

To snatch her treasure away from Arlene during the mission assigned to her by the Ice Emperor, Erius had meticulously planned every step beforehand.

He had even gone so far as to ask his maternal grandfather, Ivan FrostStar, the Chief Priest of Ice Emperor City, for assistance, and such a favor that could turn out to be so risky wasn’t something that could be casually requested.

Yet after everything they had invested, Ethan now appeared to be growing close to Arlene once more.

Anyone in Erius’ position would have found that difficult to accept.

As for Shixea, although she wished to immediately question Ethan regarding everything that had transpired inside Dominic’s tower, she resisted the urge, as this wasn’t the appropriate time.

There were too many people present, including Master Drogo, whom she respected greatly.

There would be ample opportunity later tonight.

For now, she simply observed quietly.

Meanwhile, Erius had forcibly buried his earlier anger beneath a calm expression.

Unfortunately, every passing second only reignited that fury.

Watching Ethan completely ignore him made the humiliation even worse.

Then his mind involuntarily replayed the scene from earlier.

Arlene stumbling, and Ethan catching her during that quake.

The two looking into each other’s eyes while she remained within his embrace.

That single image repeatedly surfaced inside his thoughts like a thorn lodged within his heart.

His fingers unconsciously tightened beneath the table.

What infuriated him even more was Ethan’s behavior inside the palace.

This was the royal residence, his mother’s personal study, and even he conducted himself respectfully here.

Yet Ethan casually occupied one of the finest chairs without waiting for permission, leaned back comfortably, and examined the displayed weapons with genuine curiosity, behaving as though he were inspecting goods inside his own treasury.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of restraint in his behavior, and his arrogance almost bordered on shamelessness.

Erius’ eyes widened slightly in disbelief.

’Who does this bastard think he is?’

The thought flashed through his mind.

For a brief moment, he genuinely wanted to drag Ethan out of that chair and teach him proper manners.

However, almost instinctively, he felt another gaze upon him.

Looking up, he met his mother’s calm blue eyes.

There was no anger in them, but a quiet warning that clearly told him not to create another scene.

Understanding her meaning immediately, Erius inhaled deeply before suppressing the impulse burning inside his chest.

His expression gradually returned to its usual stiffness.

Without saying another word, he walked toward the opposite side of the table and sat directly across from Ethan.

Their eyes were now separated by only a few feet.

Erius stared straight into Ethan’s crimson eyes.

His gaze carried challenge, hostility, and an unmistakable warning.

Unfortunately for him...Ethan never looked back.

From beginning to end, his attention remained fixed upon the magical weapons resting inside the display case.

It was almost as though Erius didn’t exist.

That complete indifference proved far more infuriating than open mockery ever could.

Master Drogo quietly observed the exchange without interrupting.

Although his aged face remained expressionless, his experienced eyes had already noticed the subtle clash taking place inside the room.

Meanwhile, Shixea silently watched everything unfold, and she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Ethan hadn’t uttered a single insulting word.

He hadn’t mocked Erius, nor had he challenged him, yet somehow, he had already gained complete control over the atmosphere simply through his indifferent attitude.

She finally understood something.

This young man possessed an unusual ability to provoke others without making any visible effort.

People like Erius, whose pride exceeded their patience, were precisely the kind of individuals Ethan handled best.

He didn’t need to fight them, as he could merely ignore them.

And somehow, that hurt their pride far more deeply than any insult could.

Shixea slowly leaned back in her chair.

The more she observed Ethan, the more convinced she became that her original decision had been correct.

He truly was a difficult person to control.

A stubborn, unyielding young man who refused to bend before anyone.

But perhaps...

That was precisely why he possessed the potential to accomplish what everyone else believed to be impossible.

It was at that moment that Shixea turned her gaze towards Aria and spoke with a gentle smile that contrasted sharply with the cold authority she had displayed only moments earlier.

"Why don’t you come as well, Niece Aria?"

She gestured towards the opened weapon case.

"Go ahead and choose a weapon of your liking. Every weapon displayed here is a Rank Three magical weapon, and I believe any one of them would suit your current realm perfectly."

Aria was caught slightly off guard by the unexpected invitation.

A faint hesitation appeared on her beautiful face as she instinctively glanced towards Shixea before looking back at the display of weapons.

In truth, she wasn’t particularly close to this distant aunt of hers.

Although they belonged to the same Froststar bloodline through different branches of the family, their interactions over the years had been surprisingly few.

Nearly five years ago, her father had personally requested his grandfather, Ivan Froststar, to arrange for her admission into the prestigious New Moon Magic Academy.

Only after receiving the Chief Priest’s recommendation had she travelled all the way to Ice Emperor City to begin her magic cultivation there.

Despite being distantly related to the Second Queen of the Ice Emperor, Aria had never relied upon that identity after arriving at the academy.

Instead of residing within the royal palaces or enjoying the comforts available to members of the royal family, she had chosen to live inside the academy dormitories alongside the other students.

Every achievement she possessed today had been earned through her own efforts.

She had fought fiercely for every opportunity presented before her.

Whether it involved entering dangerous ruins, undertaking perilous academy missions, competing for limited cultivation resources, or challenging powerful opponents for valuable rewards, she had experienced everything personally.