Free Web NovelChapter 592: 592:Let’s Be Friends
"You look surprised," he said calmly.
"I am," Ethan admitted honestly after a brief pause.
Then he looked directly at the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness, with your status, I doubt friendship is something you can casually offer," he said carefully.
Haster smiled slightly after hearing that.
"And that is exactly why I am offering it seriously," he replied.
The atmosphere inside the room became quieter, and even the servants standing nearby lowered their heads further while not daring to interrupt.
Haster leaned back slightly against his seat while calmly swirling the coffee inside his cup.
"You are interesting, Ethan Blanks," he said.
"Far more interesting than most nobles inside this Empire."
Ethan remained silent and simply listened quietly.
Haster continued speaking slowly.
"You are talented."
"You are young."
"You have influence."
"And despite everything happening around you, you are still growing stronger instead of collapsing."
His crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
"That alone already makes you valuable."
Ethan gave a faint smile after hearing that.
"You are overestimating me, Your Highness," he replied calmly.
Haster immediately shook his head.
"No," he said.
"If anything, people are underestimating you."
Those words made Ethan’s eyes narrow slightly, and for a brief moment silence lingered between them again.
Then Haster suddenly laughed softly while waving his hand lightly.
"Relax," he said casually.
"I am not planning to threaten you or drag you into some troublesome political faction."
Ethan looked at him carefully.
"Then why?" he finally asked.
Haster took another sip of coffee before answering.
"Because I prefer capable people over useless flatterers," he replied calmly.
"Most people around me only know how to nod and agree with everything I say."
His expression became slightly colder.
"It becomes boring after a while."
Then his gaze returned toward Ethan again.
"But you are different.You are cautious."
"You think before acting."
"And despite pretending otherwise, you clearly dislike being controlled."
Ethan’s expression remained calm, but inwardly he felt slightly alarmed.
This Crown Prince was much sharper than he expected. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Haster suddenly smiled again.
"Do not worry," he said casually.
"I am not asking for blind loyalty."
"I simply want a proper relationship between us."
Ethan remained quiet for several seconds while carefully considering his words.
Rejecting directly would obviously be stupid, but accepting too easily was equally dangerous.
After a brief moment, Ethan finally spoke carefully.
"If Your Highness does not mind having someone troublesome as a friend," he said calmly.
"Then I naturally would not reject such honor."
Haster’s smile widened slightly.
"Haha..."
"That answer is much smarter than blindly agreeing," he said.
Then he slowly placed his cup down before looking directly at Ethan again.
"To celebrate this new friendship," he said calmly.
"I will give you a small piece of advice."
Ethan’s eyes sharpened slightly.
Haster’s expression slowly became more serious.
"The capital is not peaceful right now," he said quietly.
"There are many people watching you."
Ethan did not look surprised.
"That much I expected," he replied.
Haster nodded slightly.
"But some of them are not watching because of your talents," he continued.
"They are watching because of what you brought to my father."
The moment those words were spoken, Ethan’s heart tightened slightly.
So the information had already spread among the upper levels.
Haster observed Ethan’s reaction calmly.
"The war has reached a very delicate stage," he said.
"And your potion..."
He paused briefly.
"It has the potential to disrupt many things."
Ethan frowned slightly after hearing that.
"You speak as if ending the war would anger certain people," he said carefully.
For the first time since entering the room, Haster’s smile faded slightly.
Then he let out a quiet breath.
"You are smarter than most nobles," he muttered.
He slowly looked toward the window beside him while speaking calmly.
"Ethan..."
"This world is far uglier than you think."
His crimson eyes darkened slightly.
"And sometimes, peace is more dangerous to certain people than war itself."
Ethan’s fingers tightened slightly over the coffee cup.Then Haster continued calmly.
"Also, by trying to stop the war, you are provoking the people that stand high up in the sky, so you should think carefully about it."
His gaze slowly shifted back toward Ethan.
"Wonder whether you want to jump into the frontlines and bear the brunt..."
"Or stay behind and reap benefits."
The moment those words entered Ethan’s ears, a cold feeling crept across his back.
Because suddenly Mareti’s earlier warning echoed inside his mind once again.
"The cause of this war might not be as straightforward as you think."
The room became quiet again, and neither of them spoke immediately.
Then after several moments, Haster suddenly smiled faintly again as if nothing had happened.
"Well," he said casually while standing up slowly.
"That is enough serious talk for today."
He looked at Ethan with amusement.
"Otherwise you might start thinking I invited you here to recruit you into some conspiracy."
Ethan let out a helpless breath.
"...And here I thought this was only about dresses," he replied dryly.
Haster laughed openly this time.
"Haha!"
"Sadly, politics always ruins everything."
Then he looked toward Ethan one last time before speaking calmly.
"Enjoy your stay in the capital, Ethan Blanks."
"And be careful." freeweɓnovel.cøm
"Some eyes in this city are far more dangerous than enemies on the battlefield."
With that, Haster turned around and left alongside his guards while the sound of their footsteps slowly faded away from the room.
The atmosphere instantly turned colder and heavier after his departure.
Ethan remained seated quietly while staring ahead, and his expression slowly darkened as countless thoughts moved through his mind.
A few moments later, space beside him distorted slightly, and Rathlos appeared quietly before looking toward the direction where Haster had left.
Then he turned toward Ethan.
"What happened?" he asked.
"How did the meeting go?"
Ethan’s eyes remained fixed ahead for several moments before he finally spoke.
"The meeting went well however..."
He paused briefly.
Then remembering the subtle warning hidden beneath Haster’s words, Ethan slowly gritted his teeth.
"I think we just stepped into something far bigger than expected."
