Even after a long heated argument, Ethan did not back down. He was firm on his decision to have the freedom to roam wherever he wanted. Aisha pleaded with him to not go outside for a few more days but he simply would not listen.


    Albaer was also a stubborn fellow, he tried to intimidate Ethan into obeying him but who was he even trying it on? He would have better chances of intimidating a dragon than Ethan.


    Rather than backing off, Ethan instead used all the psychological and negotiation tactics in the book to get his point through. So much so that he even doubted the dignity of the entire bloodline—which he knew was Albaer''s weak point.


    Albaer was not much different in his core from any typical nobleman. He was proud of his bloodline and lineage. His individual values may be different from an average noble but he was a trueborn noble through and through.


    So when Ethan doubted the entire dignity of the White Family''s lineage by softly insinuating whether being a coward was the teaching of the heritage or not—Albaer got angry and genuinely wanted to p his son. He would have even done it if Ethan hadn''t rified the meaning properly.


    "We don''t fear anyone and this is the opportunity for us to send out this message. People fear the Shadow Dwellers which gives them more and more influence. Or do you want me to hide in the castle? Is that what our Ancestors have taught us? " Ethan had said to Albaer dramatically in a questioning tone.


    In the end, despite many rebuttals, Ethan managed to convince Albaer of his point by continuously referring to the Noble Code of Conduct, Verse one that said,


    "A King''s Duty, A warrior''s Sword, A Knight''s Honor, And a Noble''s Dignity—should never bepromised."


    He himself of course did not believe any of that bullshit but Albaer was fully convinced. Ethan''s maniptive talent was so effective that Albaer began feeling ashamed of himself for even thinking otherwise.


    However, Albaer also put forward his conditions such as Alier along with a lot of elite knights being with Ethan as his guards every time he went out.


    Ethan could not grimace more at the irony of Alier being assigned to protect him. Anyhow, from his calctions it wouldn''t make much of a difference to his ns anyways.


    And so Adenberd City soon witnessed something truly spectacr and astonishing after the day the assassination attempt took ce.


    Ethan showed up at the market with a shitload of knights and soldiers as his bodyguards. Initially, such arge convoy caused panic and rm but as soon as the people saw Ethan it changed into concern.


    Everyone was duly informed of what had taken ce. They also knew how Ethan had reacted to it all on the spot. At this point, the whole of Adenberd city had begun admiring Ethan at least to some degree for his fearlessness and bravery.


    Ethan exuded his charming and easygoing Aura as he naturally conversed with the people. He also bought skewers like thest time just as promised.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Our Young Master is truly a Dragon in human skin! Even after that vicious attack, he does not cower in fear!"


    "Yeah! And he''s so friendly too!"


    Conversations and gossip like this began taking ce everywhere as Ethan''s reputation among the popce surpassed even that of the Duke himself.


    Willkie, Fred, and Jason were so impressed with Ethan that day that they volunteered to serve him and Ethan was naturally happy to have them as his subordinates. There was just the new addition of Alier to the convoy whenever he left for outside but it did not bother Ethan at all.


    Just like that, Ethan would every day go out into the city and linger about with themon folks. This gradually became his daily schedule and the city folk even nicknamed him ''The Hermit Prince''.


    His outings did not just limit to the bazaar as he asionally visited the merchants, ve market, farmers, and ''Masters of their works'' such as cksmiths or craftsmen getting acquainted with all the useful people in the city.


    The big event of Ethan''s ''Seventh Birthday'' was getting nearer as the preparations had begun to receive the guests. But Ethan did not think much of it. He only focused on his training and learning.


    One noteworthy thing was that no assassination attempt took ce after the first one. But Albaer was very cautious as he did not allow the protection to be loosened.


    While on the other hand, the investigation into the assassination reaped no fruits as the captured man died due to extensive torture. It seemed like he truly did not know anything. Hence, the case was closed as there were no loose ends left to follow.


    Ethan was currently in his room, around fifteen days had passed since the assassination attempt, and he had just returned from the city after his daily routine of swordsmanship training, learning, and outing.


    "The Assassins entered the city and the archer even managed to leave without being spotted. It''s surely the handy work of my dear uncle… " Ethan muttered as he fiddled with his hair in contemtion.


    "I can prove that it was him… If I do my best. But I need my father to be decisive, strong, and stable to handle the troublesome times that maye in the future ording to the prophecy. Thest thing I want is a broken family amidst chaotic times."


    "As far as I have known him throughout all these years, a man who values his family above all else, a man who loves his family very dearly, can he handle the bitter truth of his brother? And what about my grandparents? This won''t do… Alier has to go… But not as a viin." Ethan proceeded to say under his breath as he raised his head.


    "But first of all, now it''s time to uncover what I have been putting aside for so long. I need to know more about my stepmother along with Alier''s wife. Everyone truly has tightly sealed lips around here…" He said getting up from the chair with a crafty grin on his face.