Rise of the Lustful Evil Monarch (Re)

Chapter 620: Threads of Conspiracy

Third Person’s POV

Instead, another thought had quietly surfaced within his mind.

’So many coincidences...’

He had barely entered the academy.

Within less than a day, he had met Dominic, been accepted into the Crystal Formation Batch, attracted the attention of many people in the academy, and now one of the greatest opportunities in the Northern Glacial Region had suddenly appeared.

It all happened far too quickly.

His instincts continuously warned him that something about the entire sequence of events felt unnatural.

Was everything merely a coincidence?

Or...

Was this another move in the unseen game being played by that devious old fox, Dominic?

Or perhaps...

Was that bitchy queen Shixea involved as well?

The more Ethan thought about it, the more dissatisfied he became, as neither Dominic nor Shixea appeared to be simple people.

Both seemed accustomed to hiding countless secrets beneath calm smiles, and he disliked becoming a chess piece in someone else’s plans.

Even if those plans ultimately benefited him.

His crimson eyes quietly swept across the frozen academy grounds once before he spoke.

"Let’s go, Princess."

His tone was calm as he had completely lost any interest in continuing the High Moon Palace tour.

There would be plenty of time to familiarize himself with the academy later.

For now, understanding the sudden appearance of the Glaciem Ice Abyss and the plan to venture into it was far more important.

Arlene nodded almost instinctively before following him without saying a word.

The two of them began walking away through the frozen conifer garden.

Behind them, the tall black-haired young woman remained standing in silence.

Her beautiful blue eyes rested upon Ethan’s retreating figure before shifting toward Arlene.

A thoughtful expression gradually appeared on her face.

Initially, she had assumed that Ethan was merely another talented subordinate recruited by the old empress’s faction, and perhaps someone sent to assist Princess Arlene in the academy.

After all, no matter how talented he might be, he should have still occupied the position of a subordinate before the daughter of the Ice Emperor.

However, the scene she had just witnessed completely overturned that assumption.

From beginning to end, it had been Arlene who unconsciously adjusted herself to Ethan’s pace.

She had followed behind him without protest.

Even now, after Ethan casually suggested leaving, she obediently accompanied him without raising a single objection.

The relationship between the two clearly wasn’t what she had initially imagined.

A strange light flickered within her blue eyes as she silently memorized Ethan’s face.

It was then that the handsome young man standing beside her spoke,

"We should leave as well.

There is no point remaining here.

I have already seen everything I wanted to."

His voice was normal, but his face had turned noticeably darker than before.

His gaze lingered on Ethan’s departing back until the latter completely disappeared among the academy buildings.

Only then did he reluctantly withdraw his eyes.

The two quietly walked away from the High Moon Palace before making their way toward the academy’s main exit.

Neither of them spoke for several minutes.

The unusual silence between them lasted until they finally entered the luxurious carriage waiting outside.

Only after the carriage began moving did the young woman finally break the silence.

She turned toward him with visible curiosity.

"Cousin..."

Her voice carried genuine confusion.

"You never explained why we waited specifically for that new student.

Is it because he is Princess Arlene’s new helper?"

She had been wondering about it ever since they first arrived.

Her cousin had insisted on personally observing Ethan despite refusing to explain his reasons.

Now that they had finally met him, she found herself even more confused.

The young man quietly leaned back against the comfortable seat before closing his eyes.

His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest for several moments.

A faint smile slowly appeared upon his lips.

However, unlike the smile he had displayed earlier, this one carried a trace of calculation.

"You will understand soon enough, Aria."

His answer was as vague as ever.

Hearing that, Aria frowned slightly.

She knew her cousin well enough to realize that he had no intention of explaining anything further for now.

Still...

The image of the mysterious violet-haired young man calmly standing amidst the earthquake while Princess Arlene looked at him with unconscious trust continued replaying inside her mind.

For some reason, she felt that the arrival of that young man was destined to change far more than just the academy.

Outside, the luxurious carriage gradually disappeared into the bustling streets of Ice Emperor City while snow continued falling silently from the heavens above.

A few minutes ago...

Meanwhile, the moment they stepped out of the academy gates, Ethan slowed his pace before turning toward Arlene with a faint smile on his face.

"I will meet you here tomorrow, Princess," he said calmly.

"Until then... goodbye."

Arlene nodded almost instinctively, as she knew that their walk together had ended just now.

She wanted to ask him where he intended to stay tonight.

The question reached her lips before she stopped herself.

After a brief moment of hesitation, she swallowed the words.

Since Ethan was cooperating with her master and had arrived in the academy originally through Queen Shixea’s arrangements, it was only natural for him to stay within the FrostStar Palace, the personal palace of Queen Shixea herself.

Thinking that, she simply watched him leave without asking anything further.

Ethan’s tall figure gradually disappeared into the bustling streets of Ice Emperor City, eventually blending into the endless crowd of merchants, adventurers, nobles, and commoners moving through the broad avenues beneath the gently falling snow.

Only after he completely vanished from her sight did Arlene finally turn around and walk toward her own luxurious carriage waiting nearby.

Meanwhile, Ethan walked leisurely through the busy streets.

The enormous silhouette of the royal palace stood proudly in the distance, towering above the countless buildings of Ice Emperor City like an ancient glacier overlooking the world beneath it.

Snow continued drifting from the grey sky while countless people hurried through the streets, discussing the shocking announcement regarding the sudden opening of the Glaciem Ice Abyss.