Third Person’s POV

A deep sense of resignation and sadness filled her chest.

Everything she had worked for so carefully, every cautious step she had taken and every calculated decision she had made throughout this arduous journey, had all been rendered meaningless in a single moment.

Her efforts had come to nothing.

The mysterious coffin that her aunt had unearthed with such precision and significance had been taken away from her and was stolen by the very person she despised the most, her cunning and scheming half-brother.

And Claire...

Her maid and her companion since childhood, someone who had always been by her side, had also been taken away after being reduced to nothing more than a bargaining piece in someone else’s game.

And in the end, she was left standing here with nothing.

She did not even know what awaited her next.

Thinking about all this, a hollow feeling spread within her.

For a moment, she wanted nothing more than to break down, to cry, to release the storm of emotions that churned violently within her heart.

She wanted to vent all her anger, helplessness, grief, and resentment that pressed against her mind like a suffocating tide.

But she didn’t, or to be sure, she couldn’t, as she was a princess and she was not alone.

In the presence of a capable subordinate of her father, someone who would report her actions and demeanor, she forced herself to suppress those emotions.

Her eyes watered slightly, but she forced herself to swallow them down and preserve what remained of her dignity and the honor of the royal family she represented.

Seeing her in such a state, the usually silent and stern aura master let out a faint sigh, his expression softening slightly.

He finally chose to speak, as he was unable to ignore her condition any longer.

"You should not let yourself fall into such despair, Princess," he said in a steady voice.

"Instead, try to look at the brighter side of what has happened.

I had initially assumed that the opposing party would keep their identities hidden and attempt to eliminate all of us, especially you, so that the prince’s way to the throne is cleared easily.

And this way, they could have also erased any trace of their involvement in such a heinous crime of assassinating a princess.

But the fact that they revealed themselves openly suggests that they have not descended to such extremes, or to be exact, they feared the omniscient will of the Ice Emperor."

He paused briefly before continuing, his tone still calm but firm.

"Furthermore, your maid is not dead, so that means she can be recovered.

And this experience... painful as it is... should serve as a lesson to you that one should never carry such liabilities into dangerous trials, battles, or expeditions, no matter how close they are to you or how much you value them."

At his final words, Arlene suddenly turned toward him, her expression tightening as a spark of anger flared within her eyes.

Her voice came out low and hoarse, edged with restrained fury.

"So you mean to say that my maid is nothing but a useless liability... is that it?"

The aura master shook his head immediately, his expression remaining composed.

"That is not what I meant, Princess," he replied calmly.

"You should reflect on my words without any bias or emotion.

If you do, you will understand my intention.

Every individual in this world has a role they are suited for.

No one is capable of excelling in every field.

Your maid... she is not meant for such dangerous environments.

She is not a warrior at the end, even if she is a mage who has participated in academy level tournaments and competitions."

His words were not harsh, but they carried a blunt truth.

Hearing him, the anger in Arlene’s eyes slowly faded as understanding dawned upon her.

Her expression softened slightly, and she lowered her gaze, nodding faintly with a hint of embarrassment at her earlier reaction.

The aura master did not press further.

Seeing that she had grasped the essence of what he meant, he simply allowed a faint, approving smile to appear on his face before returning to his usual composed demeanor.

As for what she should do next, whether to recover what she had lost or seek revenge, he did not offer any advice about that, as it was not his place.

And truthfully, he had little interest in the internal struggles and rivalries of the younger generation unless they directly involved him.

After a few moments, Arlene slowly rose to her feet, her expression no longer clouded with despair but instead hardened with quiet determination.

Without sparing even a glance toward the bloodied remains of the traitorous grandfather and grandson lying lifeless upon the snow, she spoke in a steady voice,

"Let’s go home."

The aura master nodded in acknowledgment.

Without another word, the two figures moved forward, their silhouettes gradually fading into the vast, desolate expanse of snow-covered plains.

The ever-present storm soon rose once again, and its icy winds swept across the land and buried all traces of the battle, the bloodshed, and the events that had unfolded there beneath a fresh layer of silent, undisturbed white.

Deep in the distance, where the dark and mist-covered expanse of the Ghost Pine Woods finally came to an end, the landscape changed completely.

The endless forest gradually melted away behind the horizon and gave way to a vast frozen plain that stretched outward as far as the eye could see.

The land was covered entirely in layers upon layers of white snow, smooth and untouched in many places, with not even a single tree remaining in sight.

The cold winds travelled freely across the open plains without obstruction while carrying streams of icy mist and powdered snow endlessly through the air.

Though barren, the plains were not lifeless.

Many icy rivers and winding streams emerged from the distant Aurora Frost Mountain Range behind them, their freezing waters cutting through the endless white lands like blue veins.