章 77: Is this one of those moments?

Ethan, his suspicion still lingering, posed his question cautiously, his gaze fixed upon Valerie's seated form. "Why the sudden change of heart? I never took you for someone who would give up so easily," he inquired, his voice tinged with a hint of skepticism.

Valerie's response carried a trace of vulnerability as she spoke, her eyes still cast downward. "As I mentioned, my mana is depleted. Any further drain would jeopardize my ability to sustain my beauty," she admitted, her voice laden with a mix of resignation and self-preservation. 

She lifted her gaze to meet Ethan's, a glimmer of challenge dancing in her eyes. "Surely, you wouldn't want to pry into a woman's secret to eternal beauty, would you?"

Ethan remained cautious, his mind grappling with the sudden turn of events. "Are you truly okay with this?" he pressed further, seeking confirmation amidst the uncertainty.