Ethan's gaze darkened slightly, but his voice remained composed. "Sometimes, Sir Draco, avoiding unnecessary bloodshed isn't cowardice. It's called avoiding trouble that might get you killed."

Draco chuckled again, though his eyes glinted sharply. "Of course. Strategy. That's what separates the clever from the reckless."

Rina, standing beside them, noticed the tension. She stepped forward and lightly placed a hand on Ethan's arm. "Sir Draco," she said with a polite tone, "perhaps we should save the talk of politics and war for another time. Sir Ethan just finished saving this region from a dungeon break. He deserves peace, not questions."

Draco nodded slightly, though the smirk never left his face. "You're right, Countess…Uh sorry..You aren't one knows.. My apologies."

He bowed his head faintly before glancing at Ethan one last time.

Ethan and Rina's expressions changed briefly but they decided to let go.

With Rina's calm intervention, the subtle sparks of tension in the air slowly faded. Her composed presence brought an end to the uneasy silence lingering between Ethan and Draco.

"I only hope your strategy continues to work in the days to come," Draco mocked again after a brief pause. His tone was polite but carried a weight behind it that couldn't be ignored.

He turned away and began walking down the corridor, his boots echoing softly on the marble floor. Even as his figure disappeared beyond the walls, a faint trace of pressure seemed to linger, pressing against the air he left behind.

Ethan let out a slow breath, his shoulders easing slightly. His eyes followed Draco's back until he vanished completely from sight. Beside him, Rina remained quiet, watching Ethan closely. She could see the faint lines of thought forming on his face.

Was it a test? Or is he targeting me? Ethan thought, his gaze distant. But I don't remember offending anyone.

"Be careful of that man," Rina said softly after a moment of silence. Her tone carried quiet seriousness. "He's not someone who speaks without purpose."

Ethan nodded slightly. "I know. But if he's testing me, it's not a problem unless he has some ill intention." His eyes hardened. "And if he does, I'll make sure he regrets it."

The wind blew gently through the courtyard, brushing past them and carrying away the last echoes of their words. Yet in Ethan's chest, a quiet feeling of unease remained. It wasn't fear, but the sharp sense of instinct that something about Draco wasn't right.

A few minutes later, they boarded the carriage waiting by the gate. As the horses began to move, Rina turned her head for one last look at the estate. Her gaze lingered on the towering mansion, the stone walls, and the garden that once flourished under her care.

This was the place where she had spent decades of her life. Leaving it behind forever made her heart tighten painfully. But such was the way of the world.

Times changed, and so did people.

She took a deep breath and looked forward again, her eyes calm though her heart was heavy.

.....

Back in the estate, Draco stood in the grand hall, his expression hard and cold as ever.

"Now that we've taken over the place, make sure to search everything," he ordered firmly, his eyes sweeping across the soldiers and attendants standing in a line.

"Yes, Sir!" the men answered in unison.

"Look in every nook and corner," Draco continued, his voice sharp. "We can't afford to miss anything substantial."

One of the soldiers hesitated and then spoke, "But Sir, I don't think Countess Rina would have left anything important behind."

Draco turned his gaze toward the man, his eyes narrowing slightly. "She might not have, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't look. People like her always have secrets. Check for hidden rooms, passages, or anything out of the ordinary."

The man quickly bowed. "Understood, Sir."

As they spread out to follow his orders, Draco walked up the marble staircase and entered what was once Rina's private chamber.

The scent of faint perfume still lingered in the air, mixing with the dust and silence left behind.

He stood there for a moment, his eyes scanning the room before he reached into his coat and took out a sealed document—the royal order he had received the night before.

There were three instructions written within.

The first was to dismantle Countess Rina's influence completely.

The second, to search for any evidence linking her to people outside the kingdom.

And the third was to keep a close watch on Ethan.

Draco's eyes narrowed slightly as he read the last line again.

"That guy," he muttered under his breath. "Even for an Advanced Stage Knight, the amount of pressure he gave off was tremendous."

He clenched his fist slightly, remembering the brief handshake earlier. "This is unlike any knight I've ever met. That single grip told me enough. If I tried anything foolish, I'd be dead before I could even react."

Draco exhaled slowly, a faint smirk curling his lips. "That man is dangerous. But he's also a very useful ally."

He looked down at the parchment again and folded it back into his coat. "I should send a message to His Highness. Someone like Ethan shouldn't be ignored. He can be used well."

.....

Far away from the kingdom, deep within a secluded land shrouded in darkness, a strange gathering took place.

The air was thick with the smell of burning incense and something far more sinister. The hall was dimly lit by torches, their flames flickering against the ancient stone walls carved with eerie symbols. At the center stood a massive table surrounded by men and women dressed in long black robes. Each of them wore a hood, hiding their faces except for their eyes, which gleamed with a faint red light.

The low hum of chanting filled the air, rising and falling like a haunting rhythm. At the head of the table sat the High Priest, his bony fingers resting on a black staff embedded with a glowing red crystal.

"The war between the Frontier, Ruthiana, and Ardentia has drawn everyone's attention," one of the priests said in a raspy voice. "Even the royal armies have started moving toward the borders."

Another priest nodded slowly. "Yes. The kingdoms are too busy fighting each other to notice what happens in the shadows."

A thin, chilling smile spread across the High Priest's face. He lifted his head, the firelight reflecting in his cold eyes.

"Exactly," he said, his tone smooth and calm but filled with menace. "Since all eyes are on the war, it's time to move forward with our plans."

The priests around the table straightened their back.

At that moment, a storm of chaos was beginning to take shape.

One that would soon spread far beyond the dark hall and into the heart of the kingdoms themselves.

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