Chapter 264

Before anyone realized it, dark clouds eclipsed the sun, plunging the Osborne residence into deep gloom.

By the time Michael dragged his fatigued body back to the residence, night had completely fallen.

The Osborne residence was so quiet one could hear a pin drop. The steward hurried forward, but before he could speak, Michael interrupted.

Earlier that day, Emperor Arthur summoned Michael to the palace and absolutely tore into him.

Even the Queen wasn’t spared from the Emperor’s wrath.

Even without the steward saying a word, Michael knew exactly what had transpired.

“How is Mother?” Michael asked.

The steward, looking dejected, replied, “Lady Kelsey showed slight improvement after taking the medicine, but remains…”

Michael already knew the true severity of Kelsey’s condition. Yet, upon hearing the steward’s words, his heart plummeted.

Willow had failed to secure the medicine for his mother.

Michael paused in his tracks, weighing his options.

He would have to go himself to secure the medicine.

After kneeling before Emperor Arthur for half a day, Michael’s knees were in such agony he could barely bend them.

Each step sent sharp, needle-like pains shooting through his legs.

The attendant, heart aching, quickly supported him and urged anxiously, “Lord Osborne, please, let me tend to your wounds first!”

Michael gently shook his head. “It’s fine. Mother’s condition can’t wait.”

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Michael hauled himself onto the horse. With a sharp tug on the reins, he galloped toward the Saint Jero Clinic.

A long line stretched endlessly outside the Saint Jero Clinic.

The courtyard was packed to the brim—Athena was nowhere to be seen.

Michael, burning with anxiety, stopped a passerby and demanded, “What’s going on here? Why such a huge crowd?”

The passerby, looking haggard and furious, snapped, “What else could it be? It’s all thanks to the ‘brilliant’ job of Lady Willow. If not for her, the epidemic would’ve been contained long ago, and we wouldn’t be suffering like this!”

After the passerby finished speaking, only then did he notice that Michael was dressed in luxurious attire.

He eyed Michael warily. “You’re not one of the Osbornes, are you?”

Michael’s heart clenched. Instinctively, he shook his head. “No… no, I’m not.”

In the past, when people spoke of the Osborne family, it was always with admiration and reverence.

But now, the Osborne family had become pariahs—like rats scurrying across the street, despised by all.

Now everyone was out for their blood.

Chapter 264

Bitterness welled up inside Michael. It was all my fault, he thought.

Michael wondered if everything would have turned out differently if he had…

But there was no undoing the past. He had made his bed.

He quietly stood at the back of the line, waiting to get his medicine like everyone else.

Seeing this, his attendant quickly stepped forward and urged, “My Lord, let me take your place in line! You’re still injured.”

Michael shook his head firmly. “No need. I’ll do it myself.”

I can’t even find the courage for this, Michael thought bitterly. How can I ever face Athena again?

The attendant frowned deeply. My lord has suffered so much, he thought.

Yet Michael didn’t feel that way. Instead, a flicker of joy ignited in his chest, followed by something even more dangerous—hope.

Michael thought so many misunderstandings shouldn’t have come between Athena and him.

He longed for a fresh start with Athena.

As the line gradually thinned, Athena’s figure drew nearer.

Michael watched as Athena treated each patient with gentle kindness, a warm smile never leaving her face.

Her face was weary, yet her eyes were alight with spirit.

It seemed as though she had returned to the carefree Athena of her childhood days.

When Michael appeared before Athena, she merely gave him a cool, fleeting glance, then examined him with clinical detachment before preparing his medicine.

Throughout, she treated him just like any other patient.

Michael tried several times to strike up a conversation with Athena, but never got the chance.

It wasn’t until Michael stepped out of the Saint Jero Clinic that he truly realized how wide the chasm had grown between him and Athena.

Athena’s eyes no longer followed him—now she had Xander standing guard by her side.

Behind Athena, Xander sat in quiet vigilance.

Occasionally, Athena and Xander exchanged a few words, likely discussing the patients’ conditions or possible treatment plans, perhaps something else.

There was no romance between them, yet an oddly undeniable harmony existed.

At this moment, the person Michael envied most in the world was Xander.

He could stay so close to Athena, share the same space with her, and even be at her service.

Clutching the medicine, Michael left, bitterness weighing heavy on his heart…

Athena watched Michael walk away, a complex, inscrutable glint flickering in her eyes.

Trina asked in confusion, “My Lady, why do you even care what happens to him? If I were you, I’d never have given him the medicine!”

Athena gave a soft chuckle. “I don’t care if he lives or dies, but Lady Kelsey still serves my purposes.”

Chapter 264

Athena thought Kelsey should know something.

Athena gave Kelsey the medicine not as an act of kindness, but to make her a pawn.

Trina let out a soft, “Ah.” “No wonder,” she said, nodding in understanding.

Trina stole a glance at Xander across the room, where he was quietly directing his attendants with practiced ease.

Ever since Athena entered Saint Jero Clinic, Xander had been steadfastly by her side.

Xander was distant and reserved with everyone except Athena, who alone could draw out his same boldness.

Trina shook her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and teasingly said, “My Lady, if only you could marry Prince Xander!”

Athena hurriedly clapped a hand over Trina’s mouth, darting a furtive glance at Xander. Seeing he remained oblivious, she exhaled in relief.

Athena turned back and shot Trina an exasperated look. “You little rascal, must you blurt out every thought that crosses your mind?”

Trina playfully stuck out her tongue and eagerly defended Xander. “Prince Xander has it all—looks and power. What man in the capital wouldn’t dream of marrying him? Honestly, My Lady, if you married him, no one would ever dare to bully you again!”

“Alright, that’s enough. Get to work,” Athena said hastily, worried Trina might blurt out something even more outrageous. She quickly assigned her a task. “Go and distribute all these medicinal herbs.”

Trina looked at the table piled high with medicinal herbs and sighed wearily. “I’ve been working nonstop for three days and nights—when will this ever end?”

Even though Trina grumbled, she wasted no time getting to work.

Athena couldn’t help but chuckle and shake her head at Trina’s antics. “Oh, this girl!”

Rubbing her aching lower back, Athena couldn’t help but smile to herself. Even though I’m sore, I couldn’t be happier, she thought.

It was exhausting, but worth every second.

The epidemic was finally under control. Athena thought with relief, Once the last batch of medicine is distributed, I can finally get some proper rest.

Xander glanced over at Athena, his gaze sweeping over the entire scene just in time to take it all in.

Xander summoned Ansel and ordered, “Everyone has been working tirelessly these past few days. Pass on my orders to reserve several tables at Fortune Pavilion for a feast to reward everyone.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Ansel acknowledged the order and was about to leave,

But Xander called out. “Trina has served exceptionally well—reward her with 350 thousand dollars.”

Originally, he planned to reward her with 700 thousand dollars, but then he realized that for a young maid like Trina, such a large sum would attract far too much unwanted attention.

So he settled on 350 thousand dollars instead.

Ansel was taken aback. “Why single out that girl for a reward?”

Ansel thought, “Prince Xander said Trina had worked especially hard, but hasn’t everyone here worked their fingers to the bone? Why single out just that little maid for a reward? Isn’t that peculiar?”

Xander thought for a second, then shrugged, “Fine, then. Everyone gets 350 thousand dollars.”

Chapter 264

Rewarding only Trina would draw too much attention.

Ansel drew a sharp breath, staring at Xander in shock. “Your Highness, are you truly serious?

350 thousand dollars was no small fortune for a servant!

There were easily twenty or thirty people working in Saint Jero Clinic.

Just this one reward from Xander amounted to a whopping 10.5 million dollars!

Even with the prince’s vast fortune, this was downright squandering the family fortune.

Ansel’s face twisted in distress as he looked at Athena, his eyes full of reproachful resentment.

If there were a mistress of the household, Xander wouldn’t be so extravagant.

Athena was taken aback. What’s he playing at? she wondered.