Chapter 19

Athena stopped in her tracks, and Aliza gasped, too scared to even breathe.

She stole a quick glance at Athena and saw the dark look on her face. Athena subtly motioned for her to check the situation.

Aliza gathered her courage and stepped forward, snapping, “How dare you, lowly maid! Have you finished your work? Coming here to gossip? Do you want to be punished? Get out of here, now!”

She motioned for the young maid to leave, but Gwen stepped in front of them, blocking the way.

The two maids behind the rockery hadn’t expected to be caught and immediately bowed in terror.

“Aliza, please, please spare us…”

Athena slowly walked up to them, her expression cold and commanding. “Which courtyard are you from?”

The young maids were shaking with fear, only able to beg for mercy. “Lady Athena, please forgive us! We won’t do it again, we promise, we won’t!”

“Can’t understand what I’m saying?” Athena’s voice turned sharp, her patience running thin.

Gwen stepped forward and slapped one of the maids across the face. “Speak!”

The maid, blood trickling from her mouth and nose, immediately fell silent and, trembling, said, “I–I’m Rose Mansfield from Ivory Grove, Lady Athena…”

Athena nodded, but her tone shifted, becoming ice-cold. “Take her away and give her thirty more lashes.”

The two maids’ eyes widened in shock. It was only then that they realized Athena, who had just returned to the estate, was far from the docile, easygoing person they had assumed.

A simple mistake of gossiping had cost Rose thirty lashes.

“Lady Athena, please, have mercy! Please!” Rose hastily bowed, begging for forgiveness, but Athena remained unmoved. “Shut her mouth and begin.”

The courtyard was too close to Margaret’s quarters; to avoid disturbing her, they quickly muffled Rose’s cries.

In no time, Rose was strapped to the execution bench, the sound of the wooden rod hitting her flesh echoing through the air.

Her sobs soon faded, lost in the wind. By the time the thirty lashes were done, her back was left a bloody, mangled mess.

Athena’s ruthless actions sent a chill through the servants in the courtyard. They were now as nervous as frightened birds, dreading that they might be the next ones to suffer.

A moment later, the beating stopped.

One of the servants, shaking, approached Athena. “Lady Athena, Rose has passed out.”

Athena’s gaze swept over Rose’s bloodied back, her eyes glinting with cold resolve. “Take her with you. Follow me.”

Gwen started to follow them, but Athena stopped her. “Don’t let Grandmother know about this.”

“Yes, I understand,” Gwen replied.

Margaret couldn’t be disturbed, and Gwen turned back toward Starling House, worry evident on her face.

Athena walked ahead, and the two young servants exchanged a look before hurriedly dragging the barely conscious Rose behind her.

The sight of Rose’s condition left all the servants who witnessed it utterly pale with fear.

Athena dragged Rose with her all the way to Willow’s Ivory Grove.

Once they reached the courtyard, Athena stopped, leaving Rose lying on the ground, barely conscious.

The noise outside quickly attracted attention from those inside, and almost instantly, they rushed out.

Eloise was the first to appear. Upon seeing the blood covering Rose, she gasped in shock.

“Athena, what is this? Why go to such extremes? Why couldn’t you settle this with words instead of resorting to violence? I thought after three years in the military, you would have changed your ways…” she said.

But as soon as Eloise saw the coldness in Athena’s eyes, she hastily stopped speaking.

A nervous laugh escaped her as she quickly tried to amend her words. “Athena, I didn’t mean it that way. Please don’t misunderstand me.”

Nicolas, however, remained composed, asking in a measured tone, “What’s so serious that you had to go this far?”

Though he appeared calm, Athena could feel the anger he was suppressing.

She knew full well her actions were meant as a provocation, directed at Willow. Of course, they would defend her.

Athena’s gaze, sharp and cold as a blade, was enough to make anyone hesitate. The sharp pain in her legs reminded her to remain controlled, but the steel in her resolve didn’t waver.

As she was standing tall, her expression distant and composed, Athena turned her attention to everyone in the courtyard. Her voice was quiet but firm as she asked Rose, “Tell me–what exactly did you say just now?”

Rose trembled, collapsing to the ground and begging, her voice breaking. “Lady Athena, please spare me! I swear, I won’t do it again!”

Everyone stood there, confused, unsure of Athena’s intentions.

But Nicolas quickly realized what was going on. He recognized Rose as one of Willow’s maids.

He thought, ‘So what if she works for Willow? If anyone is going to discipline her, it should be Willow, not Athena, dragging the girl across half the estate and using her to make a point.’

Nicolas’s face darkened. “Willow just took her medicine and is resting. Why can’t this wait until tomorrow?”

“Yes, Athena, can’t you wait until Willow is feeling better?” Eloise’s voice was full of pleading. The sight of such a disturbing scene had shaken her to the core.

And Eloise thought Willow–such a kind-hearted child–would certainly be terrified by this. Eloise disapproved of Athena’s heavy-handed method.

Seeing their nervous concern for Willow, Athena couldn’t help but feel a touch of amusement.

She wondered, ‘What would they think if they ever realize what they have been protecting all along? Would they regret it?’

A cold, almost cruel, smile tugged at Athena’s lips, making Eloise shudder.

Without saying another word, Athena turned to Rose sharply. “Speak. Don’t leave out a single word. If you miss even one, I’ll cut your tongue out.”