Chapter 206

While others might not understand what Nicolas truly meant, he knew exactly what he was doing. He wasn’t being arrogant or dismissive. He was giving Athena a chance—a chance for them to reconcile. As long as Athena was willing to come out and greet him, he could let go of the past and still treat her as his beloved sister.

However, as soon as the attendant stepped forward to state their purpose, the gatekeeper snapped, “Who gave you the audacity! You think any random person can meet our future Mrs. Cavedish? Scram! Now, get lost!”

Everyone in the household was utterly devoted to Athena, and most knew something of her background. Athena had treated them generously, and their monthly wages were higher than those in any other household. Even on ordinary days, they often received additional benefits. A master as kind as Athena was truly hard to come by, so the servants naturally repaid her with genuine loyalty. When the servants noticed that individuals from the Duke’s Estate were once again trying to cause trouble for Athena, they didn’t hesitate to confront them and began cursing them out without even reporting the incident. Of course, they made sure every insult was loud enough for Nicolas to hear.

Nicolas wondered, “I’ve always considered myself someone of a high status. When have I ever been humiliated like this?” His face turned an angry shade of purple, and he felt like he was about to explode from holding in his fury.

The attendant returned, looking crestfallen, and reported, “Lord Nicolas, they’re being downright insolent!”

Nicolas tightened his fists behind his back, his eyes flashing with cold fury as he inwardly seethed, “How arrogant. They are being utterly arrogant. Athena had changed completely ever since she became the Viscountess."

“But if I just slink away like a whipped dog, how am I going to face my father? Only the Snowveil Balm can restore the noble ladies' flawless complexions. If I want to win over those court officials, this is the only way to appease their wrath.”

“Try again,” Nicolas forced down his rising anger and softened his tone. “Speak to them politely. If that doesn’t work, offer them some silver.”

Nicolas thought bitterly, "Those gatekeepers are nothing but snobs. If words won’t move them, money surely will.”

Steeling himself, the attendant approached again, pleading earnestly while slipping some silver coins to the gatekeeper and offering deep bows. Only then did the gatekeeper reluctantly go to announce their presence.

Inside the manor, Athena was absorbed in preparing herbal remedies. The soothing aroma of medicinal herbs filled the air, instantly refreshing the senses. Lance burst in with an excited look on his face as he exclaimed, “Miss Monson, how did you know someone from the Duke’s Estate would come! You totally called it!”

Earlier, Athena had instructed Lance to give anyone from the Duke’s Estate a thorough tongue-lashing first. He was to announce their arrival only if they were offered silver. At that time, Lance had thought that Athena was joking as he wondered, “Who would come crawling back after being insulted like that?” But against all odds, someone actually did.

Athena sealed the last jar of ointment, her clear eyes drifting toward the doorway as her lips curled into a mocking smile. “After all these years at the Duke’s Estate, don’t I know their true nature?” she thought. “Fermin didn’t expose the Duke’s Estate because he still needs them to serve his purposes. And all that chaos he caused? He expects the Duke’s Estate to clean it up. While it may seem like they are being reprimanded, it is just another opportunity for them to network with the ministers.”

Athena gave Lance a knowing smile as she instructed, “Go, escort Lord Nicolas to the main hall.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Lance’s eyes sparkled with admiration as he dashed out eagerly.

Trina looked at Athena, utterly perplexed, and asked, “Miss Monson, why did you even let him in? Isn’t that just asking for trouble?”

Athena collected all the medicine bottles from the table and placed them into a box. She tapped the box lightly and flashed a sly smile. “With so many mouths to feed in this house and everyone waking up just waiting for their meals, if I don’t hustle a little, how am I supposed to keep this place running?” she said.

Trina exclaimed in surprise, “Miss Monson, are you going to sell these to Lord Nicolas?”

Athena nodded in response, “Business is business. If he’s willing to pay, I’m willing to sell. What’s wrong with that?”

Without another glance at Trina’s wide-eyed shock, Athena scooped up the box and strode out.

After fifteen minutes in the main hall, Nicolas had sipped two cups of coffee, but Athena was still absent. Just as his patience was wearing thin, Athena finally appeared, sauntering in as if she hadn’t kept him waiting at all.

Nicolas slammed the cup down on the table with a loud clatter and snorted contemptuously, “You’re already putting on such airs as just the Viscountess. If you ever become the princess consort, you’d probably think you’re God’s gift to mankind.”

Ever since they were little, Athena had been under Nicolas’s thumb. Whenever she made a mistake, he would make her stand in the corner as punishment. Though merely her elder brother, Nicolas always acted like a stern parent, constantly lecturing Athena. Even now that Athena’s status changed, Nicolas still refuses to acknowledge it and keeps putting on airs.

Completely unfazed, Athena retorted, “If Lord Nicolas is only here to mock me, you may leave now. Show him out…” With that, she made to rise, ready to depart.

Nicolas’s face paled with suppressed rage, but he forced himself to soften his tone. “I’m not here to bicker with you today, Athena. I have a matter to discuss,” he explained.

“A matter to discuss?” Athena scoffed coldly. “As if I’d waste my time on idle chatter with you, Lord Nicolas.”

Hearing this, Nicolas was so frustrated that he could barely speak. Swallowing his pride, he managed, “This isn’t a negotiation. I’m here to beg a favor from you.”

His unwilling expression struck Athena as utterly hilarious. With a mocking smile, she asked, “Begging for what?”

“The Snowveil Balm, could you spare me some?” Nicolas forced out the words, each syllable bitter on his tongue. He never had to beg Athena for anything before. Back then, a single glance from him and she would have poured out her whole heart for him. Now, he had to swallow his pride just to face her icy disdain. The humiliation burned like acid in his throat.

Athena idly tapped her fingernails against the box, deliberately drawing out the moment. She replied nonchalantly, “Lord Nicolas, what a joke. Nothing comes for free, you know? With so many mouths to feed in this house, and it’s not like I’m running a charity here with endless money to spare."

“Name your price," Nicolas replied as he squared his shoulders. At that moment, he had decided that if Athena weren’t going to give it for free, he’d buy it.

“700 thousand dollars,” Athena enunciated slowly, deliberately drawing out each word.

Nicolas nearly choked in outrage. “What kind of medicine is this expensive? Why would it cost 700 thousand dollars?”

Athena chuckled derisively. “If it weren’t effective, why would Lord Nicolas come begging for it? You could always ask the royal doctors to concoct it, couldn’t you?”

Nicolas was rendered speechless, his throat clogged as if stuffed with cotton as he thought grimly. "If those royal doctors could, why would I be here swallowing Athena’s contempt!"

700 thousand dollars, that’s a fortune. 'But without the Snowveil Balm, those noble ladies' faces would be ruined beyond repair. And if Fermin’s plan to win them over fails because of this, he’ll surely make me pay dearly.”

Nicolas gritted his teeth, jaw tight with suppressed anger. After a brief moment, he produced a 700 thousand dollar cheque from his pocket and stated, “Fine, here’s the money.”

Athena didn’t take the cheque. Instead, she shook her head subtly and clarified, “I meant 700 thousand dollars per bottle. There are ten bottles in this box, and that makes 7 million dollars in total.”

“You!” Nicolas shot to his feet in fury as he jabbed a finger at Athena. Just as he was about to unleash his anger, he was met by her icy gaze, and the words instantly died in his throat.

Athena smirked, “What’s wrong, Lord Nicolas? You can’t even scrape together a measly 7 million dollars? Has the once-mighty Duke’s Estate truly sunk this low?”

Nicolas’s face turned livid with rage. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out nine more 700 thousand dollars cheques from his pocket and slammed them onto the table. “I can afford 7 million dollars,” he snapped.

With that, he grabbed the medicine box and stormed out.

Trina watched Nicolas storm off in a huff. Only then did her gaze fall upon the cheques, her eyes sparkling with pure delight. As she tucked the cheques away, Trina chuckled gleefully, “Lady Athena, you’ve already sent the ointment to all the other noble households. If Lord Nicolas ever finds out, I am sure he will pop a blood vessel.”

Athena’s lips curved into a faint smile as she responded, “To investigate my maternal grandfather’s case, I’ll definitely need the support of these young ladies. Now is a golden opportunity to build connections.”

At the thought of this, Athena’s lips curled in cold amusement. “As for Nicolas…”