Meanwhile, in the County…

The grand estate, which was usually filled with noise and activity, had suddenly turned eerily silent. A grim atmosphere hung over the place like a heavy fog. Every servant who walked through the halls did so with quiet steps, afraid to make a sound. The air itself felt heavy, filled with pressure and uncertainty.

Inside the grand hall, a lady sat elegantly on a marvelous chair. Her legs were crossed as she leaned back with composed grace. Her crimson eyes, sharp and piercing, were locked on a letter sealed with the royal symbol.

She stared at it for a moment, then slowly raised her gaze to the Imperial messenger standing before her. Her look was cold and unreadable, yet it was enough to make the man's spine stiffen.

Just meeting her eyes made his hands tremble. He quickly looked down, trying to hide the sweat forming on his forehead.

'What's going on?' he thought nervously. 'I'm at the Intermediate stage, yet I'm being pressured just by meeting a mere Beginner-rank woman?'

It was baffling, almost frightening. The air around her seemed to distort slightly, as if her presence itself carried a weight that could crush him.

The woman pursed her lips, forming a faint smile that was neither kind nor warm. It was cold, dangerous, and full of hidden sharpness.

"Did the King personally order this?" she asked in a calm voice that somehow carried a hint of ice.

The messenger swallowed hard. "Yes, My Lady. I swear there is no falsity in it."

Behind her, another woman,her long-time attendant, stepped forward, her expression tense. "Lady Rina," she said quietly.

Rina raised her hand slightly to stop her, giving her a quick glance that was enough to silence her completely. She then looked down again at the letter. Her eyes scanned the words slowly, carefully, as if trying to read between the lines.

The message was short but brutal.

The war with the Frontier had grown fierce, draining the Royal treasury dry. The King had now ordered that any noble failing to meet certain conditions would have their titles revoked. Within a month, the County would be dismantled. All wealth, lands, and soldiers belonging to it would be seized by the Royal Court.

Countess Rina's noble title would be stripped, and she was instructed to separate her personal wealth from the County's and prepare for relocation.

It wasn't just her. Many nobles were affected. But anyone with eyes could see this letter was clearly aimed at her.

"Leave," she said suddenly, her voice cutting through the silence.

"But, My Lady—" the messenger started.

"I said leave."

Her tone dropped coldly. The messenger didn't dare to say another word. He bowed deeply, turned around, and walked out as fast as he could without running.

As the doors shut behind him, the silence returned, heavy as before.

Then her attendant spoke up, her voice shaky with worry. "Lady, what should we do now?"

"Maria," Rina said quietly. "Calm down."

Maria bit her lip and her face pale. "But Lady Rina, this is too much. They're targeting us again!"

"And this time it seems we have no way but to let go."

Rina's eyes flashed with disgust as she remembered the image of a certain fat old man sitting smugly in the royal court. She could almost hear his mocking laughter in her mind.

Even before this, she had been cornered many times. The King had dropped hints again and again either to marry one of the royals or step down willingly.

But how could she accept that? She had built this County with her own hands after her husband's death. She had worked day and night to maintain it, despite all the pressure.

She had barely married when her husband was called to the battlefield. Not long after, the news came that he was dead, under mysterious circumstances.

"I always felt the Royal Family was too eager to get rid of us," Maria said bitterly. "I don't know what the Count did to earn the King's wrath, but now we're paying the price."

Rina sighed softly, her lips curving slightly into a calm, knowing smile. "However, we already expected this, didn't we?"

"But still, My Lady, it's too sudden…"

"It's alright," Rina said, her tone composed. "We've been preparing for this for a long time."

She stood up slowly, the long hem of her dress brushing against the marble floor. Her footsteps echoed softly as she walked toward a large painting hanging on the wall. It was an old portrait of a young man in armor, smiling proudly.

She reached out and gently caressed the painting's surface with her fingers. Her eyes softened.

"Before, I thought I was living only to keep his memory alive," she said quietly. "But now, with the way things have changed, I can finally pursue my own freedom."

Maria's expression shifted. Her eyes widened in surprise before lighting up with realization. "You mean…" she began with a trembling voice.

"Yes," Rina said, turning her head slightly with a calm but determined look.

Her lips curled into a faint smile that carried both grace and strength.

"Now," she said softly, "bring me a pen and paper. It's finally time to meet."

....

In a secluded chamber deep within the mansion, Ethan sat cross-legged in the center of the room. The walls were sealed tight, layered with runes that shimmered faintly in the dim light.

He had already given strict instructions to his servants not to disturb him under any circumstances. Now, with everything ready, it was time to begin his advancement.

"I hope with this, I can reach the Master level," he murmured, his voice low and filled with anticipation. "If not, at least I should be able to touch the barrier…"

He let out a small sigh. He knew it was just a hopeful dream, yet it was one worth chasing. After all, every step forward mattered.

He picked up a small glass vial from the table beside him. The liquid inside shimmered faintly with a golden-red hue, as if it were alive. Ethan turned it slightly, watching the light dance across its surface. Then he asked quietly, "System, I just have to drink it, right?"

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