There was a grand banquet in the evening at White Hall, and Frank sought out Aria.


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    "I won''t hold you ountable for what you did," he said. "You can keep everything I gave you, but I


    have one request—once we return to Riverton, you''ll tell Winter that nothing ever happened between


    us."


    Aria was taken aback. "I-I can keep your presents? You''re not upset?"


    Noting her disbelief, Frank nodded. "I had lost myself that night, or that wouldn''t have happened at all.


    Don''t worry—I''m not upset, but no more dirty tricks like these, okay?"


    Aria nodded repeatedly as she saw the clear warning in Frank''s eyes. "Oh, are you going for a tourney


    tomorrow?"


    "Yes."


    "Then..." Aria appeared to be at a loss, but soon resolved herself and picked up the ss on the table


    and poured in wine. "Thank you for forgiving me, Frank. Cheers."


    Frank sighed in turn—while Aria had clearly made a mistake, he was responsible too.


    It was the first time in a long while since he passed out drunk, and he really should be more careful


    from now on.


    With that in mind, he took the ss from Aria and chugged it.


    When he was done, he said, "I hope you''ll clear the air with Jean and Winter, so that you''ll still be


    friends."


    "Yeah, sure." Aria quickly nodded, having been staring wide-eyed as Frank finished the ss of wine.


    She breathed a clear sigh of relief when he was done before turning toward Eron.


    Seeing his nod of approval, she shed a smug smile.


    "Thank you for staying in White Hall, Mr. Lawrence. It''s an honor of a lifetime," Eron said, quickly


    toasting Frank while cursing Aria under his breath.


    She was so ignorant that she did not know enough to hide her reactions—it would be all over if Frank


    caught on!


    If his family did not contribute, Sage Lake Sect would never agree to betrothing his daughter to the sect


    chief''s son!


    "You''re acting strangely today, Dad."


    On the other hand, Kim found her father''s fawning over Frank bizarre.


    After all, he had been badmouthing Frank endlessly after Frank took the Earthen Dragonheart and only


    stopped when the Yaffes vanished without a trace.


    There was no telling who destroyed the Yaffes, but Eron felt threatened since they were clearly made


    an example of.


    He was constantly being eaten by his own insecurities, and since Kim was his only trump card, he


    needed to get her a better husband.


    Since he could not count on the Yaffes now, the only candidate that caught his eye was Maron Ocean,


    the son of Sage Lake Sect''s chief.


    It was alleged he recently reached Birthright rank, and Elon himself was especially sure.


    After all, there was that freak thunderstorm he and his daughter witnessed before—the omen that


    Maron had ascended, even though he was only in his twenties.


    To cause such omen, it went without saying how profound the man''s talent was.


    That was why he was bootlicking Sage Lake Sect so hard—as long as they had Maron''s favor, the


    White family would inevitably be the top family of Southstream!


    That was why he volunteered to lure Frank over to his house without Kim''s knowledge.


    "Haha! Frank Lawrence... You asked for it!" Eron couldugh right then.