The ability to store spells ahead of time meant she could prepare high-tier spells in advance and deploy them instantly during combat without delays.

The attendant nodded and moved to unlock the case.

——

Meanwhile, Percival and Aliyah had gone towards the melee weapons section on the opposite side of the room.

They both had similar tastes which is why they both browsed through gauntlets and bracers, lifting each one to test its weight and balance.

She reached out and picked one up, holding it up to the light and turning it slowly in her hand."What do you think?" she asked.

Percival glanced over for a second. "Looks solid"

She nodded. "What about you? Finding anything?"

Percival picked up a set of reinforced gauntlets, their outer plating had runic symbols that glowed faintly when touched.

He tested their weight, flexing his fingers inside them. "Maybe. These could work."

He turned them over in his hands, inspecting the craftsmanship, then glanced at her. "Hey... we need to talk later tonight."

Aliyah paused mid-step, her hand hovering over the edge of the display case. She didn’t look surprised, more like she’d been expecting it.

"Alright," she said simply.

Percival nodded, then set the gauntlets back down. "Cool."

They continued browsing in silence after that. There was some tension between them, but It wasn’t hostile, it was just ... weird.

——

Ethan spent some time going through the catalog without finding anything of particular interest.

He turned to the attendant before him. "Where’s the best stuff you have?"

The man cleared his throat before responding "I’m afraid, Mr. Stark, that our premium inventory is currently... unavailable."

Ethan’s brow furrowed. "Unavailable?"

The attendant nodded. "Yes, sir. We have an arrangement with Mr. Ivan, guild master of the Blackhearts. Whenever we acquire anything of exceptional quality, Mr. Ivan has standing orders to purchase them immediately upon arrival."

Ethan stared at him. "You’re telling me he just... buys everything before it even hits the floor?"

"Precisely, sir," the attendant replied. "The arrangement was done with the boss. Once an item of sufficient grade enters our inventory, it is transferred directly to his possession. Payment is handled in advance through a retainer account he maintains with us."

Ethan said nothing for a moment.

The attendant shifted slightly, as though sensing Ethan’s dissatisfaction. "However," he continued carefully, "if you have something specific in mind, we could arrange for a custom commission."

Ethan shook his head. "No need, I do my own crafting."

The attendant simply bowed without saying anything further.

—

Eventually, the team reconvened at the front counter. Wilson and Hayley didn’t bother with items.

Wilson carried the sword his father, Lord Heydrich, had given him, while Hailey, for her part, wasn’t a sucker for weapons.

Ethan had stocked up on potions, health and mana recovery potions, which were now packed neatly into a bag. They weren’t for him specifically as he could do without them, but for the team.

The attendant spoke. "Will that be all, sir?"

Ethan nodded. "Yeah."

The attendant tallied everything up and after a moment, she looked up at Ethan. "Your total comes to 540,000 gold grits."

Without showing any sort of concern, he simply pulled out a note bill from his coat pocket, wrote the amount on it with a quill pen, and handed it over.

As they stepped back outside into the fading evening light, Percival let out a low whistle. "Man, you just dropped a fortune in there."

Ethan shrugged without saying anything much. As they walked toward the cars, the screens materialized.

[Self-Imposed Objective Complete: Equip your team: +7,000 XP]

[Experience Points Balance: 155,500] 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Ethan exhaled, dismissing the screen with a thought.

Then he turned and followed the others to the cars.

⸻

Later that evening

Ethan’s car rolled slowly into the compound. Hayley sat in the passenger seat, with his arcphone in her hand.

She had picked it up when it buzzed a few moments earlier, and now she was reading Bettie’s message aloud.

"’Thank you so much. I wouldn’t have been able to afford these items,’" she read in an amused tone.

She glanced at him, a grin spreading across her face. "Aww, I like this girl."

Ethan smiled as he continued forward.

As the vehicle came to a stop towards the front of the manor, Bella stepped out.

She paused at the entrance, her face already brightening the instant she spotted it was his car arriving.

Ethan’s expression softened, and a genuine smile spread across his face as he watched her.

Hayley noticed, and unlike him, she did not smile. "...Ethan, you could at least give me a heads up when your girlfriend plans to greet you at the door."

Ethan let out a small smile at that, with his eyes still on Bella. "You do know I’m betrothed to the princess," he said lightly. "She can come here whenever she pleases."

Hayley was aware of Ethan’s situation with the princess. He told her something today that they were going to get married within the year. It hadn’t been easy to hear, but Hayley had seen it coming.

Ethan quickly asked, Aren’t you scared of getting your heart broken?... what if i don’t come for you?

Hayley watched him for a second, then she smiled. "The way your heart just sped up," she began, almost teasingly, "that’s how I know you’ll come for me too. Eventually."

There was a pause before she added,

"It’s how I also know that the next time I kiss you...you’ll kiss me back."

Ethan sighed and turned away from her. He didn’t like how easily she made him lose composure.

Hayley let out amused laughed as she reached for the door handle. "I’ll go say hello to Francesca, then I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone."

She stepped out and shortly after, Ethan followed.

Hayley reached Isabella first. "Princess," she said, inclining her head slightly in acknowledgment.

"Hayley," Bella replied in a warm tone.

Then Hayley spoke again, her voice softer this time. "Thank you, for helping my brother the other day."

Bella’s smiled and waved it off with one hand. "It was nothing."

Hayley gave a nod. "Excuse me."

And with that, she stepped past them both, heading toward the front doors of the manor without looking back.

Bella turned back to Ethan, her arm sliding around his neck as he drew her in by the waist. She rose onto her toes, meeting him halfway.

Their lips met in a slow comforting kiss, and when they finally pulled apart, Bella let out a breath, letting her forehead rest on his for a moment.

"I missed you," she whispered.

Ethan smiled. "It hasn’t been two days."

She laughed softly. "Doesn’t matter."

He kissed her forehead, then stepped back slightly, his hands still resting on her waist.

"Come on," he said. "Let’s head inside."

Bella nodded, and they walked toward the manor together, slipping her hand into his as they moved.

——

A/N: Fair warning, next Chapter will contain 18+ content. If you do not appreciate such content, it’s okay to skip it.

Next set of updates will come in a few hours instead, won’t take a full day.