Three days later, at the vast courtyard in front of the Orwin Manor, a procession of carriages adorned with the royal crest of the Kingdom of Veria glided in and docked with elegance. A row of Royal Guards in gleaming silver armor stood at attention, offering a reception befitting the highest honor.
Duke Orwin stood waiting at the foot of the grand staircase, with Ethan standing slightly behind him, arms crossed, his chin lifted slightly in his habitual manner.
The door of the first carriage opened. A middle-aged man with a warm smile and a dignified bearing stepped down. He was the King of Veria.
"Welcome, my friend!" Duke Orwin stepped forward with a broad smile. The two embraced familiarly, like old acquaintances who hadn't seen each other in years. "Was the journey smooth?"
"It was excellent. Thank you for such a grand welcome," the King of Veria laughed good-naturedly.
However, Ethan's attention was not on the adults' conversation. His gaze was fixed on the second carriage, whose door had just opened.
In that second, it was as if time stood still.
The slender figure of a young woman stepped down from the carriage. The afternoon sun bathed her silver hair, which cascaded down to the middle of her back, shimmering like expensive silk. But what truly held Ethan in a trance were those violet eyes. They were mysterious and breathtakingly beautiful, like precious gems.
Ethan inadvertently held his breath for a moment. The arrogance in his heart wavered simply by meeting her gaze.
"Is this... my daughter," the King of Veria gestured towards the young woman. "Princess Alicia."
Hearing the name, Ethan snapped back to his senses. He quickly adjusted his expression back to one of confidence, trying to shake off the awe he felt just moments ago. He stepped forward and offered a slight, ceremonial bow.
"A pleasure to meet you, Princess Alicia," Ethan said, deliberately deepening his voice to sound imposing. "I am Ethan Orwin... the Son of Mana, and the one who will be your opponent in the duel. I hope your skills are as beautiful as the rumors say."
His words were laced with clear arrogance, intended to intimidate her from the very first meeting.
However, the reaction he received was silence.
Alicia merely glanced at him with a gaze that was completely still. Those violet eyes held no tremor of fear nor any hint of admiration. She looked past him as if he were mere air, before turning to curtsy respectfully to Duke Orwin.
"It is an honor to meet you, Duke Orwin. I have heard of your greatness for a long time," her voice was melodious, yet cold as ice.
"As for you..." Alicia turned back to look at Ethan for a mere fraction of a second, speaking in a flat tone. "Pleasure."
With that, she turned her attention back to her father and the Duke, completely indifferent to Ethan's insolent attitude. She left the young man standing frozen in humiliation amidst the laughter and casual chatter of the two adults, who seemed oblivious to this small psychological warfare.
"Hahaha! My son might be a bit too spirited, please forgive him," Duke Orwin patted the King of Veria's shoulder.
"Young people are like this. Full of fire!" The King responded in good spirits.
Ethan clenched his fists tight, trying to suppress the resentment building up in his chest.
Dare to ignore me? Fine! We'll see who has the last laugh in the arena!
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Orwin Manor was illuminated by chandeliers casting a soft glow. The atmosphere in the dining hall was luxurious, befitting their status. Exquisite dishes were served one by one, accompanied by soft music.
There were only four people at the table: Duke Orwin, the King of Veria, Ethan, and Princess Alicia.
Ethan sat opposite Alicia. He stole glances at her periodically, hoping to find an opening for conversation to salvage his face from the afternoon. However, the conversation at the table took a direction he had not anticipated.
"I heard that the Duke recently handled the magical beast problem at the northern border last month," Alicia spoke up as she gently set down her wine glass. "Your decision to use Earth Magic to create a barrier wall instead of using Fire Magic to purge them... I think it was a brilliant vision. Not only did it minimize damage to the forest, but it also preserved the topsoil so the villagers could continue farming immediately."
Duke Orwin raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, a pleased smile appearing on his face.
"Oh... The Princess knows such deep details? I didn't think news from the border would reach the ears of young people so quickly."
"I am interested in studying the strategic application of magic in governance, Uncle," Alicia replied eloquently. Her eyes sparkled when speaking of academic subjects. "Magic is not just for destruction, but for creation and maintaining balance... I read your grandfather's records on mana allocation in agricultural areas. It was fascinating. If Veria were to adapt it, it could help solve the drought problem in the western region."
"Hahaha! How sharp! Your daughter is truly extraordinary, my friend," the Duke laughed with delight, turning to nod in admiration at the King of Veria. "Her thoughts are profound beyond her years."
Ethan sat listening to the conversation with indescribable feelings.
He wanted to interrupt. He wanted to say, 'I can use Earth Magic too!' or 'I can destroy an entire mountain!' But compared to what Alicia was saying... what he had to say suddenly seemed ridiculous.
"Er... Father," Ethan tried to find a rhythm to interject, his voice weak. "I... today I practiced exploding a large boulder at the training ground. It shattered completely."
Silence blanketed the dining table for a moment.
The Duke turned to look at his son, offering a thin smile before replying briefly, "Hmm, good job, Ethan. Keep practicing." Then he turned back to talk to Alicia. "Anyway, about the magical irrigation system you mentioned..."
The short response felt like a needle piercing Ethan's heart.
He chewed the meat in his mouth with difficulty, watching Alicia converse with his father and the King with such flavor. She discussed politics, economy, and advanced magical theory fluently. Her eyes were full of confidence yet humble, her manners elegant in every inch.
Unlike him...
Ethan looked down at his own hands. Suddenly, a feeling of jealousy erupted in his chest. Not jealousy of power, but jealousy of her 'substance'.
Why... isn't she the same age as me? Ethan asked himself. Why is it that when Father talks to her, he looks so happy and respects her like an adult... but with me, he sees me as just a child who needs praise for accomplishing little things?
He thought back to everything he had done... demanding attention, showing off his power, being self-centered. If he didn't get what he wanted, he would take it out on the servants.
Compared to the young woman in front of him who was analyzing the state of the nation with world leaders... he felt incredibly small.
"Lord Ethan?"
Calling his name made Ethan startle and look up, finding Alicia looking at him.
"Just now, you said you practiced exploding a boulder, is that correct?" Alicia asked. Her tone was not mocking, but rather laced with genuine curiosity. "Did you spiral the mana, or was it a direct impact?"
"Uh... I..." Ethan stammered, unused to being asked technical questions like this. Usually, he just released power by instinct. "Well... just released the power in one go... boom... impact type... I guess?"
Alicia nodded slightly. "Impact type, I see... simple but powerful. However, if you try spiraling it, you could save up to three parts of mana, and the potency would be much more focused."
After speaking, she turned back to her soup, leaving Ethan jaw-dropped.
He didn't feel angry about being lectured... but he felt 'ashamed' until his face went numb.
Ashamed that he was the 'Son of Mana' yet knew less theory than her. Ashamed of acting like a child amidst a circle of adults. And most importantly... he was jealous that she seemed so utterly perfect.
Just you watch... Tomorrow in the duel, I will show you the difference between theory and the real deal!
Ethan thought to himself while gripping the fork in his hand tightly, trying to mask the feeling of inferiority that was eating away at his heart.