Noble's Dignity
Even after a long heated argument, Ethan did not back down. He was firm on his decision to have the freedom to roam wherever he wanted. Aisha pleaded with him to not go outside for a few more days but he simply would not listen.
Albaer was also a stubborn fellow, he tried to intimidate Ethan into obeying him but who was he even trying it on? He would have better chances of intimidating a dragon than Ethan.
Rather than backing off, Ethan instead used all the psychological and negotiation tactics in the book to get his point through. So much so that he even doubted the dignity of the entire bloodline—which he knew was Albaer's weak point.
Albaer was not much different in his core from any typical nobleman. He was proud of his bloodline and lineage. His individual values may be different from an average noble but he was a trueborn noble through and through.