Just as Grace Cooper and Lily Foster were competing enthusiastically in front of Ethan Brooks, having a great time, a discordant voice suddenly rang out from the nearby crowd.

"It's nothing more than a childish trick to attract girls' attention. Such an immature ploy—I'm surprised you would even use it."

Upon hearing this voice, both Ivy Foster and Lily Foster had a slight change in their expressions, especially Ivy Foster, whose enchanting eyes now revealed a trace of suppressed anger.

At some point, one of the two main protagonists of this banquet—the Princess Qingping, Claire Harris—had already arrived at this rather inconspicuous corner, surrounded by the Second Prince Ryan Bennett and his entourage.

Everyone present, including Ivy Foster, understood that the reason this remote and quiet corner had drawn the attention of Princess Qingping Claire Harris was entirely because of Ivy Foster and Ethan Brooks. In the past, Ethan Brooks had always kept a low profile, hidden away in the Marquis Wu Wei's residence, never appearing before outsiders. Even if Claire Harris and her group wanted to cause him trouble, they had no sufficient reason!

But now, Ethan Brooks had openly appeared at the banquet hosted by His Majesty the Emperor, and in front of so many outstanding young talents of the capital. If at this moment she didn't take the opportunity to thoroughly humiliate this couple, severely damage their reputation, and make it impossible for them to show their faces in the capital, then she, Claire Harris, would not be the daughter of the King of the Western Territories.

The moment she stepped out from the crowd, Princess Qingping Claire Harris, at the head of the group, couldn't help but instruct the maid beside her, "Go, take your sword and test him. See if he truly has the courage to remain unflinching even if Mount Tai collapses before his eyes!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Seeing Claire Harris order her maid to draw her sword as soon as she arrived, Ivy Foster immediately shouted, "Claire Harris, what are you trying to do!?"

Claire Harris glanced disdainfully at this "defeated opponent" and said arrogantly, "Isn't your wonderful husband quite the actor? At a banquet like this, he actually uses such low-level tricks to attract so much attention. I find it hard to believe. I want to see if, as people say, he can truly remain unfazed when facing my maid's sword."

"You—"

"Relax, my maid knows her limits!"

As Claire Harris spoke, her maid had already stepped in front of Ethan Brooks. Before she had even properly steadied herself, the glowing sword at her waist flashed out in an instant, carrying a sharp, cold gleam as it thrust straight toward Ethan Brooks's left eye. The decisiveness of her action and the murderous intent in her eyes made Lily Foster, Grace Cooper, and the others watching nearby cry out in alarm.

"Whoosh!"

The sword tip, gleaming with cold light, stopped instantly when it was only a centimeter away from Ethan Brooks's pupil.

And Ethan Brooks's gaze seemed to remain exactly as before, without the slightest change.

No!

There had already been a change.

Lost in thought, Ethan Brooks snapped back to reality, and under the threat of that sword, stood up!

Seeing that Ethan Brooks was unharmed, everyone who had been watching this scene let out a sigh of relief, especially those connected to Ethan Brooks like Lily Foster. The moment the maid thrust her sword, their hearts had leapt into their throats, and even their steady breathing paused slightly when the sword finally stopped.

"Thank goodness."

Lily Foster let out a breath of relief.

"Good, good, good!" Although Claire Harris repeated the word "good," there was not the slightest hint of joy on her face.

Ivy Foster said coldly, "Have you caused enough trouble, Princess Qingping? Don't forget, this is a banquet hosted by His Majesty the Emperor, and Ethan Brooks is also an invited guest of His Majesty. Even though your King of the Western Territories wields immense power in the four northwestern provinces, you can't just act recklessly in the capital!"

"Trouble? How is this trouble? After all, your chosen husband, the dignified daughter of the Xu family, Ivy Foster, can't possibly lack even this bit of courage, can he?" As she spoke, a mocking smile appeared at the corner of Claire Harris's mouth. "That sword just now has already proven to me the extraordinary courage of this Ethan Brooks. However, I don't think once is enough. How about we do it again?"

The moment the word "again" left her lips, Princess Qingping, standing beside the Second Prince Ryan Bennett, suddenly drew her sword. The speed, technique, and ruthlessness of this strike were several times greater than that of her maid earlier. Almost as soon as she finished speaking, her sword was already at Ethan Brooks's eyes.

But at the same time she struck, Ryan Bennett seemed to suddenly notice something and cried out in alarm, "Watch out!" In a split second, he lunged forward and pushed Claire Harris, who was only a step away from him, aside...

"Clang!"

"Whoosh!"

"Bang!"

Three faint sounds rang out in quick succession, accompanied by a flash of cold light that suddenly startled everyone at the banquet!

All eyes immediately followed the cold light and landed on a wall not far away.

At this moment, the lime dust drifting from the wall had not yet fully settled, but through the haze, everyone could clearly see that embedded in the wall was a broken sword, no more than two fingers long!