Facing Fermin’s challenge, Athena smiled faintly and said, “Forgive me, Your Highness. I was raised in the countryside and am used to open area and an unrestrained life. I’m afraid I wouldn’t adapt well to a cage. I sincerely appreciate your kindness.”
She held her ground with grace, neither yielding nor overreaching.
Fermin frowned. “No one defies my command, not even you. Think carefully. My patience is wearing thin.”
Fermin scoffed to himself, ‘So what if she’s the Viscountess? In the end, she’s merely a woman. If the Emperor asks about this, I’ll just give a brief explanation. Does a nobody like her, with no backing, really think she can challenge me?’
Fermin was brimming with confidence, convinced that Athena was merely playing hard to get. He’d seen this kind of act from women far too many times.
“Your Highness, forgive me. Please consider me simply unworthy of your favor.” Athena remained unyielding, not a flicker of change in her expression.
Henry, seeing Fermin’s face darken, looked at Athena with a mix of disappointment and anger. He snapped, “How dare you act so insolently before His Highness! It’s merely your modest knowledge of medicine that has earned his regard. Surely you don’t actually believe he fancies you?”
Henry took two steps forward, urgently gesturing at Athena. “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and thank His Highness for his mercy!”
Despite his glaringly obvious hints, Athena remained utterly unappreciative. She scoffed, “Duke, instead of concerning yourself with my affairs, you’d do better to clean up your own mess.”
She thought, ‘With your entire Monson family on the verge of collapse, you still find time to meddle in my affairs? What a joke.’
Henry turned pale with rage at her words. He pointed a trembling finger at Athena’s nose and nodded furiously. “Fine. Just fine.”
He thought, ‘I always knew Athena was an ungrateful wretch, but this truly takes the cake.’
Henry turned to Fermin, his face contorted with guilt. “Your Highness, please forgive my failure as both a father and a servant, for raising such an ungrateful wretch. Now that she has left my family, her fate is no longer my concern.”
Fermin sighed deeply, putting on a show of concern. “In that case, for your own good, I have no choice but to discipline her on your behalf.”
“Your Highness may proceed as you see fit,” Henry declared with feigned loyalty.
Fermin smiled with satisfaction and issued his final ultimatum. “Athena, this is your last chance. Will you return to my manor with me?”
“Never,” Athena replied, her tone crisp and unyielding.
Fermin let out a mirthless laugh, his gaze sweeping over Athena as if to say, “You truly don’t know your place.”
Fermin’s voice turned icy. “One step beyond this place, and the Federal Bureau will drag you away. At that point, not even my authority could shield you.”
As the Viscountess, Athena was far above the jurisdiction of mere local police stations. The Federal Bureau adjudicated only the gravest offenses. If she went in there, even if she survived, she would come out a shadow of her former self.
Henry’s eyelids twitched violently. He hadn’t expected Fermin to be so ruthlessly cruel.
Having failed to co-opt her, he now resorted to judicial punishment against Athena. Even a strong man would barely survive that place, let alone a woman like her. Going there would be a death sentence. She’d be lucky to survive.
Henry fixed Athena with an anxious gaze. “Now that it’s come to this, must you still be so stubborn?”
Athena showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, she countered Fermin, “Might I ask Your Highness, what crime have I committed?”
“Don’t you know what crime you’ve committed?” Fermin sneered, as if he’d just heard something ridiculous. “Crimes demand punishment. You nearly killed Willow. That’s attempted murder. You don’t actually think imperial law is just for show, do you?”
Athena let out a knowing look. She said with a faint smile, “So, Your Highness, I understand. If I go with you, you’ll be my protector, and if I refuse, I’m heading for the imperial dungeons. Isn’t that right?”
“Athena, you’re a clever woman. You know where your best interests lie.” Fermin spoke, his face radiating absolute confidence.
Fermin scoffed to himself, ‘There’s no way Athena is foolish enough to end up in prison. Attempted murder warrants banishment.’
Athena nodded gracefully. “Your Highness makes a fair point. Naturally, any sane person would seek your protection.”
Fermin smiled triumphantly. “I knew you’d come to your senses. As long as you’re willing to come with me, I promise you a life of luxury and privilege. No one would ever dare to lay a finger on you again.”
Athena bowed slightly. “Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. But I do have one question: under imperial law, one is innocent until proven guilty. Do you have any evidence that I have harmed Willow?”
Athena maintained her composed demeanor, her bright eyes glinting like honed steel.
Athena’s words wiped the smile from Fermin’s face. He sneered, “You truly have a stubborn soul.”
Athena curtsied gracefully to Fermin and retorted, “Thank you for your undeserved praise, Your Highness. Truly, it’s you who continues to astonish me.”
Though her tone was deferential, not a trace of reverence could be found in her eyes.
Fermin felt he had encountered the first real challenge. Far from being angered, he was rather intrigued.
Fermin thought to himself, ‘Athena’s defiant spirit is exactly what intrigues me. If she were to grovel at my feet, begging for mercy, that would be utterly dull. She wants evidence? Then I’ll make her admit defeat beyond all doubt.’
Fermin declared imperiously, “Willow is the evidence. Though she remains unconscious, all the maids at the villa can testify. At the time, only you and Willow were in the hot spring pool. Athena, there’s no way you can deny this.”
Fermin sneered at Athena. “As the suspect, you’ll have to pay a visit to the imperial dungeons.”
With that, Fermin signaled to have Athena apprehended.
Athena interjected sharply, “Hold!”
With a casual wave, Fermin signaled his guards to withdraw.
Fermin watched Athena with keen interest, thinking, ‘Let’s see how much longer she can keep struggling.’
“Scared now?” Fermin sneered.
Fermin sneered inwardly, ‘I thought Athena was made of sterner stuff. Turns out she’s just like the rest.’
But in the next instant, Athena made a move that took him completely by surprise. “Since you have witnesses,” she said calmly, “I have someone who can prove I am not the one who harmed Willow.”
“You have a witness?” Fermin regarded Athena with genuine surprise.
Only now did he find this confrontation truly intriguing.
“Then enlighten us. Who is this witness of yours?” Fermin challenged, raising an eyebrow.
Athena smiled faintly and replied, “Your Highness, my witness is none other than Willow herself.”
At these words, the crowd erupted in shocked murmurs.
“What? Your witness is Willow? That’s absurd!” Henry was the first to explode, almost jabbing a finger at Athena’s nose. “You injured Willow yourself, yet you dare claim her as your witness? It’s preposterous!”
“Duke, there’s no need to make such a fuss. The truth will be clear once we ask Willow,” Athena said calmly, her expression unperturbed.
No one could fathom what Athena was scheming, and even Fermin fell into deep contemplation.
After a brief pause, Fermin challenged, “But Willow remains unconscious. How exactly do you propose to question her?”
“If I say she’ll wake, she’ll wake.” Athena’s tone was absolute.
Her confident gaze struck the onlookers as sheer arrogance.
Even the imperial physicians were at their wits’ end, yet Athena, without so much as a glance at Willow, boldly declared she could wake her up, leaving everyone present utterly stunned by her audacity.
People couldn’t help but think, ‘What sheer audacity!’