Ethan knew that simply accusing them of treason wouldn't be enough to make them worry, given their loyalty to the Duke of the North and not to the Aslan Empire. To make them understand their predicament, he needed to clarify their situation.
"You probably have no idea what's going on and are blindly being used as pawns. Let me enlighten you: you're in deep trouble. Believe me, it won't be long before the Duke starts a purge. You, and your families, will be the first targets because you've been involved in harming the North. This has seriously damaged the Duke's interests."
Ethan exaggerated to gauge their reactions. His words had the desired effect; their faces paled. One of the younger knights, looking anxious, asked, "Sir Ethan, what exactly is going on? We're just investigating a missing mage. How did we get involved in something detrimental to the North?"
"You don't believe me?" Ethan smiled. "Understandable, you're young and naive. But look at your older companions. They're seasoned enough to have some guesses. For instance, why was there a traitor mage with a false name at Baren Fortress? Why did he appear at the Lawson estate at night? What equipment did he bring? And why did your superior send you instead of coming himself? Your superior's intentions? To understand these questions, you must first grasp the significance of the Lawson estate to the North. If you don't even know that, you're unworthy of being in the Duke's knights! I'll leave you to ponder this while I return to the warmth of my cabin. This place is too cold for me."
Ethan emphasized "a mess" to ensure they understood his displeasure, then walked away briskly—more accurately, ran—because it was too cold to stand still any longer.
Back in the warm cabin, he found Angelina and Lily cleaning up. He quickly stopped them. "No need to clean up. Someone else will handle it soon. You two go to your rooms. I have some business with our guests."
Ethan then made the already cleaned areas messier, even more so than before. He prepared a cup of coffee and settled comfortably into a chair, enjoying his drink while looking out at the snow. Lily looked on, bewildered and frustrated, but Angelina, though unsure of Ethan's plan, trusted him and led Lily out, giving Ethan a playful wink. Ethan responded with a wink, appreciating Angelina's support and finding her more and more endearing as a companion.
Sipping his coffee, Ethan waited for the others to return, thinking the cold would drive them back quickly. Surprisingly, they chose to maintain their knightly dignity, leaving without asking further questions. Only one older knight returned, knocking gently before entering.
"Come in," Ethan called.
The middle-aged knight entered, looking apologetic. "Sir Ethan, I'm a rough man and accidentally made a mess of your place. I apologize for my earlier rudeness."
The knight, setting aside his noble dignity, began tidying the room. Ethan didn't believe the "rough man" excuse. In his experience, anyone who used such excuses did so out of disrespect. They wouldn't dare be rough in the Duke's presence. Such people didn't deserve courtesy unless circumstances dictated otherwise. Since this land, though nominally his, was under the Duke's dominion, Ethan decided to moderate his response. Seeing the knight's efforts, he feigned concern.
"Oh, a knight of your stature shouldn't be doing this. Let my servants handle it," Ethan said, taking over and seating the knight. "I was indeed upset earlier, which led to some overreaction. I apologize."
The knight, holding back his frustration, forced a smile. "It's our mess. We should clean it."
"You're too polite," Ethan continued, setting the knight down. "You're right to return. It was the correct choice." He handed the knight a cup of coffee, introducing himself.
"Andy, Andy Ralph."
"Well, Sir Andy, do you have any questions?" Ethan asked.
"I sense a deep conspiracy in your words. What's really happening?" Andy asked seriously.
Ethan, relaxed with his coffee, leaned back and smiled. "Not so much a conspiracy, but it could certainly affect your career."