Rise of the Lustful Evil Monarch (Re)

Chapter 619: The Prince of Ice (2)

Third Person’s POV

Only after several moments did her mind gradually begin catching up with reality.

She suddenly realized that she wasn’t falling anymore.

Instead, a powerful arm was wrapped securely around her slender waist, and her soft body was pressed lightly against Ethan’s lean yet surprisingly muscular frame.

His body stood as steady as a mountain despite the violent shaking around them.

The warmth of another person’s presence amidst the chaos made Arlene’s breathing unconsciously slow.

Her cloudy blue eyes instinctively rose until they met Ethan’s crimson gaze.

Unlike everyone else present, his expression hadn’t changed in the slightest.

There wasn’t even the faintest trace of panic upon his face.

For several long seconds, Arlene simply stared into those strangely tranquil crimson eyes, and the fear that had gripped her moments earlier slowly faded away.

Standing within his embrace, she felt an unexpected sense of safety.

The frightening feeling of helplessness that had overwhelmed her only moments ago gradually disappeared without her even realizing it.

Neither of them spoke, and the chaos around them seemed strangely distant.

Only when the violent shaking finally subsided did Ethan quietly release the mana beneath his feet.

"The earthquake has stopped, Princess."

Ethan’s calm voice finally broke the silence between them.

Arlene blinked before suddenly realizing how close they were standing.

A faint blush immediately spread across her cheeks.

She hurriedly stepped away from his embrace as though she had suddenly been burned.

She then quickly turned her head away before pretending to inspect the surroundings for any signs of damage.

Although she believed she had hidden her embarrassment rather well, Ethan still noticed the blush lingering upon her face and the slight rise and fall of her rather modest chest as she tried to compose herself.

Even from behind, he could see her shoulders rising and falling slightly faster than before, showing that she was trying very hard to calm herself.

"What was that?"

Arlene asked while looking across the frozen gardens outside the palace.

Although she tried to sound composed, a hint of lingering confusion still remained within her voice.

Ethan walked out beside her before calmly looking around at the academy grounds.

"I think it was an earthquake."

His answer was so simple and obvious that it almost sounded deliberately useless.

For a brief moment, Arlene was rendered speechless.

Before she could even respond, an amused voice suddenly drifted over from behind them.

"Heh..."

A mocking chuckle sounded behind them.

"Well, our new senior has certainly provided us with a groundbreaking insight."

Erius slowly walked out into the courtyard together with the black-haired young woman, no longer bothering to hide the sarcasm in his voice.

"I don’t think any of us would have realized it was an earthquake if you hadn’t pointed it out, senior."

This time, the ridicule was completely obvious.

Ethan slowly turned around.

The tall black-haired young woman had also stepped outside the palace together with the handsome young man who had emerged from the shadows earlier.

But Ethan merely glanced at him before looking away again, as though the remark wasn’t even worth acknowledging.

That indifferent reaction caused a faint twitch to appear at the corner of Erius’ lips.

Just as he was about to speak again, the black-haired young woman suddenly raised one hand.

"Quiet."

Her calm voice immediately interrupted the atmosphere.

The young man frowned slightly before looking toward her.

"What?"

She didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she slowly closed the leather-bound book in her hands before lifting her gaze toward the surrounding academy grounds.

After several silent seconds, she quietly spoke.

"...Can you feel it?"

The young man looked around in confusion.

"Feel what?"

"The cold."

Her beautiful blue eyes narrowed slightly, and everyone instinctively became silent.

Only then did they realize that the temperature had begun dropping at a frightening pace.

A freezing wind quietly swept through the conifer garden surrounding the High Moon Palace, while tiny crystals of ice slowly spread across the stone pathways and the silver walls of the ancient building.

The snowfall had become noticeably heavier, while a strange chill had begun spreading through the air.

Even the surrounding ice elemental mana had started growing denser with every passing second.

Ethan had actually sensed that subtle change much earlier than everyone else.

With his legendary-grade talent in ice element and his highly developed perception, the abnormal fluctuations hadn’t escaped his notice.

However, he had chosen not to mention them, as he usually spoke less.

At the same time, he had no intention of offering unnecessary observations in front of strangers whose motives remained unclear.

Especially not people who seemed intent on testing and provoking him from the very beginning.

The strange silence lasted only a few seconds.

Then, without any warning, a deep and majestic voice suddenly echoed across the entire academy.

The voice carried an indescribable dignity and authority, as though it originated from every direction at once.

Ethan instantly recognized it.

It was none other than that evil old man Dominic.

The moment the voice declared itself to be the Headmaster of the New Moon Magic Academy, Ethan’s crimson eyes shifted toward the young man standing opposite him.

As expected, the smug smile that had lingered on the young man’s face disappeared almost instantly.

A faint change flashed through his expression before he quickly concealed it.

Although it lasted for only a brief moment, Ethan clearly noticed the subtle stiffness that appeared when Dominic’s voice filled the surroundings.

He silently stored that reaction away.

Everyone stood quietly as the Headmaster continued his announcement.

The mention of the Glaciem Ice Abyss opening nearly fifty years ahead of schedule caused even Ethan’s usually indifferent expression to change slightly.

Even Arlene and the tall black-haired young woman could no longer remain calm.

The expressions on all four of their faces gradually became solemn.

No one interrupted the announcement, and only after Dominic’s voice slowly faded away and the surrounding silence returned did everyone finally regain themselves.

For several moments, nobody spoke.

Each of them was digesting the shocking information they had just heard.

Ethan, however, wasn’t thinking about the Glaciem Ice Abyss itself.