Chapter 257

Athena felt a bit flustered when facing Xander.

“If I still can’t get it after such obvious hints, I must be hopeless,” Athena thought.

Xander pressed the herbs into Athena’s hand with a slight smile. “What, scared?”

His gaze was open and direct, yet the searing intensity in his eyes…

Athena shook her head with a smile. “Not at all. I’m just surprised.”

Athena held up the herbs to Xander, raising a teasing eyebrow.

Xander caught her meaning and chuckled. “I may hold a lofty status, but I’m only human. Don’t put me on a pedestal.”

These words came straight from Xander’s heart. He truly wished to get closer to Athena.

However, the habits instilled in him since childhood made it hard for him to be as at ease as ordinary people.

Xander was determined to change for her.

As Xander and Athena were talking, Fiona spoke up from aside, “We’re truly grateful for your help today, Prince Xander. But the mask incident has caused quite a stir. Patients would rather believe the masks have miraculous effects than come for treatment. It’s heartbreaking.”

Between the lines, Fiona’s words overflowed with sympathy for Athena.

Athena worked tirelessly, only to be blamed instead of thanked.

Xander nodded and said, “Since this whole matter began with the Marquis of Samers, naturally, he should be the one to resolve it. There’s no need for you to trouble yourself, Athena.”

Xander was openly standing up for Athena, and Fiona, witnessing it, felt her heart swell with joy.

Athena has endured so much hardship, Fiona thought, if only she could marry Prince Xander, he would surely keep her safe and cherished.

Just then, Raegan Duvall approached and whispered to Fiona, “My Lady, it’s time to return to the manor.”

Fiona had been out for too long. Knowing she shouldn’t linger any longer, she bid Athena farewell. “I’ll come visit you again when time permits.”

Just as Fiona was about to leave, Athena suddenly remembered to thank her. “Thank goodness you were here today. I wouldn’t have known how to handle that mess without you. Thank you,” Athena said sincerely.

“You saved Cedric, and I once promised I’d repay you. This is the least I could do,” Fiona said warmly.

Fiona always repaid kindness. She would never break her word.

Athena then inquired about Cedric’s condition. “How is Cedric doing?” she asked.

“I dare not leave his side for long now. I have to watch over him constantly. But thanks to your herbal decoction, he’s improving.”

Ever since that incident, Fiona hadn’t left Cedric’s side for even a moment.

Even her hurried outing today was only possible after she had meticulously settled everything in Cedric’s quarters, and only then did Fiona dare to step away for a brief moment.

Knowing Cedric needed constant care, Athena didn’t try to keep Fiona any longer. Then, Fiona rushed off.

Surveying the courtyard’s mess, Xander’s features softened slightly.

Now that the townspeople no longer needed her, Athena saw no reason to linger.

Xander stayed close by Athena’s side, his intentions long clear.

“Though Willow wants to seize this opportunity to climb the social ladder, she’s not stupid enough to risk setting herself up to fail. Someone is fanning the flames behind the scenes.”

“This has escalated far beyond what even the Ostromne family could have anticipated.”

Xander kept the rest to himself. The higher Willow climbed now, the harder she would fall when things inevitably spiraled out of control.

Xander gazed into the distance, a knowing smile playing at his lips.

“Could it be him?” Xander wondered.

‘He’s been secretly helping Athena,’ Xander thought.

It was Ferris Mcgeel.

Athena also fell silent, lost in thought after hearing Xander’s words.

Athena thought, Willow has always been one to keep strictly to her chambers.

“Who would even have a grudge against her? This is clearly a setup. Someone’s building her up just to watch her fall!”

A familiar face flashed across Athena’s mind, her eyes widening in sudden realization.

That familiar prickle at the back of my neck – someone was watching me again, Athena thought.

She spun around abruptly, only to find the branches swaying. No one was in sight.

Ferris Mcgeel… Athena thought in disbelief, surprised that his name was the first to cross her mind.

“Come to think of it, it’s been ages since I last saw Ferris,” Athena mused.

Athena felt a pang of loss tug at her heart, leaving her feeling inexplicably empty.

Xander seemed to read Athena’s thoughts. A bitter pang settled in his heart, though he maintained a composed expression as he asked, “That three-year promise you made back then – does it still stand?”

Athena nodded firmly. “Of course it does.”

“If you still can’t get His Majesty to revoke his decree after three years, may I have a chance with you then?” Xander asked softly.

After much deliberation, Xander decided to bare his heart to Athena.

He had waited far too long, and endured far too much.

Xander thought anxiously, ‘She, the woman I love, is right here, yet I must keep my distance. Even taking a single step closer is fraught with hesitation.’

‘Nelson is right. If I keep waiting like this, someone else might snatch Athena away from me again.’

“I need to take the initiative.”

‘Doesn’t the saying go that constant dripping wears away a stone?’

I just need to be more patient, in time then she would come to me.

Athena looked at Xander, a bit startled. “Maybe.”

She preferred to let things unfold naturally, certainly not…

Upon hearing a hint of concession in Athena’s words, Xander’s mood instantly brightened.

An unguarded smile of pure joy, one Xander had never shown before, broke across his face.

Athena stared at Xander in astonishment. Perhaps her expression was a bit too exaggerated, which only made Xander laugh harder.

Laughter was infectious, and soon Athena couldn’t help but laugh along, too.

They simply gazed at each other, comfortable as if they were old friends.

Completely at ease and in perfect sync, they ended up laughing uncontrollably.

In a shadowy corner not far away, a pair of tormented eyes, brimming with heartbreak, were fixed on Athena.

Ferris’s fists clenched, a suffocating pain gripping his chest.

He clutched his chest, as if struck by a sledgehammer. The searing pain left him gasping for breath.

Upon seeing Ferris in such distress, his trusted aide cried out in alarm, “My lord, the poison is flaring up again!”

To be a shadow was to forfeit control of one’s own fate.

To maintain control over Ferris, Arthur had forced him to ingest a lethal poison.

The poison flares up monthly, and only Arthur possesses the antidote.

If Ferris failed to take the antidote in time, he would bleed from all seven orifices and die a gruesome death.

Ferris wiped the corner of his mouth with his slender fingers. Crimson blood, already faintly tinged with an ominous black, stained his fingertips.

But instead of rushing back to the palace, Ferris stood transfixed, his gaze stubbornly fixed on Athena.

Just one more look at Athena, even if it’s the last, thought Ferris.

Lately, Ferris had been secretly procuring numerous rare treasures for Arthur. Only when Arthur was in a particularly good mood would Ferris be granted even half a day’s respite.

Ferris hurried to find Athena. Hidden in the shadows, he watched her treating patients tirelessly, her face haggard from exhaustion.

Ferris watched as Athena smiled, then frowned, then relaxed again.

Ferris thought, ‘That vibrant spirit is something Athena had never shown before.

This is the real Athena, her true self at last.”

Ferris’s heart swelled with relief. Athena was thriving now, finally free from the hardships she had endured.

Waves of excruciating pain wracked Ferris’s body, nearly bringing him to his knees.

My lord, we must return to the palace immediately!” his trusted aide urged frantically.

Clutching his chest in pain, Ferris was about to leave when his path inadvertently crossed Xander’s.

No matter how well Ferris tried to conceal himself, Xander could always sense him.

‘Prince Xander is truly formidable,’ Ferris thought.

Ferris glared back with hostility, but was surprised to see Xander just exchange a few brief words with him before walking away.

With Athena now alone, Ferris’s heart surged with…

With a graceful leap, Ferris landed silently behind her and finally called out the name he had yearned to speak for so long. “Athena.”