Chapter 267
Athena was caught off guard by a sudden pull, lost her balance, and toppled backward.
Just as Athena was about to hit the ground, a figure flashed past and caught her just in time.
With a piercing shriek, a maid was sent flying.
Jessa stepped in front of Athena, fixing a cold glare on the person she had just sent flying. She snarled, “How dare you lay hands on the Viscountess, you lowly wretch!”
The maid crashed to the ground, too weak to even try getting up.
She opened her mouth to speak, only to cough up a mouthful of blood.
A pair of embroidered shoes appeared before the maid’s eyes, the lustrous pearls on the toes gleaming dazzlingly.
The maid’s eyes widened in horror as her blood splattered onto the priceless Oriental pearls.
She saw Lizzie’s icy face.
Looking up, she saw…
“Worthless! How dare you soil my shoes!"
“Your Highness, spare me! Spare me, Your Highness," the maid cried out desperately.
With a cruel smile on her lips, Lizzie crushed the maid’s hand under her embroidered shoe as she strode toward Athena. “Drag this wretched wretch away and execute her!”
The maid let out a piercing shriek, “Your Highness, Your Highness, spare me! Aaah!” Her desperate cries echoed as she was dragged away.
In mere seconds, a vibrant life was extinguished.
Lizzie didn’t even bat an eye, as if she had just killed a stray animal rather than a human being.
Lizzie halted in front of Jessa, a cold, razor-sharp smile on her lips. She sneered, “And who the hell do you think you are, daring to lay a hand on me!”
Athena quickly pulled Jessa behind her and curtsied deeply to Lizzie. “Your Highness, please forgive Jessa. She acted solely out of loyalty to protect me. If any offense was given, I implore your magnanimous understanding."
Lizzie let out a cold, mocking laugh and shook her head. “Mercy isn’t my virtue. Your maid dared to offend me, so she must pay with her life. Guards, drag this wretched girl away and have her beaten to death!”
Jessa clenched her fists. If Athena hadn’t held her back, she would have punched Lizzie right in the face.
“Your Highness, please wait!” Athena hastily pleaded. “Jessa has offended you, but I am willing to bear the punishment in her stead.”
“My Lady!” Jessa gasped in shock, about to speak when Athena gave her a subtle shake of her head.
If Jessa said anything now, it would only make things worse.
I’m the Viscountess, Athena thought. Lizzie wouldn’t dare harm me directly.
Besides, Xander was still at Saint Jero Clinic.
Lizzie burst into mocking laughter, as if she’d just heard the most absurd thing. She sneered, “Athena, you’d actually take punishment for a maid?”
Athena took a steadying breath. “Yes,” she replied, her voice even.
Lizzie’s face broke into a smug smile. Her eyes gleamed with mischief as she deliberately thrust out her foot.
With a mocking smile, Lizzie said to Athena, “Since you’re so devoted to your maid, I’ll grant you—Lick and clean my shoes, and I’ll let her go.”
By making Athena clean her shoes, Lizzie was clearly humiliating her.
Jessa clenched her fists until her knuckles whitened, her eyes blazing as she glared at Lizzie. She declared, "I am responsible! Punch me if you want–but leave the Viscountess out of this!”
Jessa stepped forward, planting herself squarely in front of Lizzie.
Her eyes were utterly fearless.
Though Jessa was Athena’s bodyguard, she exuded an overwhelming killing intent.
Lizzie dramatically clutched her chest in feigned terror, her eyes wide with mock outrage. “How dare you, you wretched maid, get so close to me! Are you trying to assassinate me?” she snapped. “Guards! Seize her and beat her to death!”
Just as the guards moved to seize her, a tall figure suddenly appeared right in front of Lizzie.
Ferris gazed at Lizzie’s startled face, the corners of his lips curling into an almost imperceptible smile.
He plucked the handkerchief from Lizzie’s hand, then knelt down to meticulously wipe the blood from the Oriental pearls on her shoes.
He carelessly tossed the handkerchief aside and said, “Your Highness, why trouble yourself over some lowly servant? With your royal wedding approaching, shedding blood would be a bad omen.”
The moment Lizzie saw Ferris’s breathtakingly handsome face, the fury in her eyes melted away, replaced by a lovesick gaze.
With trembling fingers, Lizzie slowly reached out to caress Ferris’s face, her eyes glazed with adoration. “Ferris,” she breathed, “you finally stopped ignoring me.”
Ferris took Lizzie’s hand and said, “Your Highness, allow me to escort you back to the palace.” Without waiting for her response, he strode forward with purposeful steps.
Lizzie’s eyes sparkled with joy, all thoughts of troubling Athena completely forgotten.
Utterly smitten, Lizzie followed Ferris for a few steps, then turned back and arched her eyebrow at Athena in a provocative, taunting gesture.
Lizzie’s smile widened triumphantly when she saw Athena’s shocked expression.
Then, clinging affectionately to Ferris’s arm, she disappeared into the distance with him.
Athena stood frozen in place, her eyes wide with utter disbelief.
She remained in a daze, even after Ferris and Lizzie had disappeared from sight.
Jessa’s heart ached seeing the Viscountess like this. “My Lady, shall we head back?” she gently suggested.
“Ferris is he really getting married?” Athena asked, the realization slowly setting in, her voice trembling. Jessa saw her eyes well up and gave a subtle nod.
Jessa stood by Athena’s side, at a loss for how to comfort her.
Jessa knew little about what went on between Athena and Ferris.
All Jessa knew was that Athena and Ferris had almost gotten married. She guessed Athena must have had strong feelings for him.
But Ferris and Athena were never meant to be, Jessa thought.
From the very beginning, their paths were…never…
Their paths were destined to diverge farther and farther.
But Jessa was mistaken. Athena wasn’t heartbroken.
But it wasn’t just that Ferris was getting married…
…it was the fact that he was marrying Lizzie.
How could the notorious Lizzie ever deserve someone as precious and…
Besides, Lizzie was vicious by nature. If Ferris married her, he’d be trapped in a living hell!
If Ferris were marrying a respectable woman, she’d give them her blessing.
But of all people, it had to be Lizzie.
Athena turned around to head back, and just as she did, she spotted Xander standing not far away.
He stood motionless beneath the banyan tree, his silhouette nearly merging with the darkness.
His gaze rested calmly on Athena, his expression tinged with quiet desolation.
“Prince Xander?” Athena stared at him in surprise. “How…how long have you been standing here?”
“I’ve been here since you came out,” Xander replied, his voice a little husky–perhaps from the wine.
His eyes, usually as brilliant as stars, were now clouded with quiet melancholy.
Athena’s heart skipped a beat. There was something in Xander’s eyes that really tugged at her.
Before Athena could say a word, Xander broke the silence with his gentle voice, “Are you feeling sorry for him?”
Athena was surprised by Xander’s perceptiveness, but she saw no harm in admitting it.
Athena nodded wordlessly. “I just want him to be happy,” she said.
Sometimes, Athena wondered what she truly felt for Ferris.
But she couldn’t make sense of it.
She couldn’t bear how much he had suffered–all she wanted was to protect him.
Athena and Xander walked slowly down the quiet street, the only sound in the stillness being the soft rhythm of their footsteps.
Athena nervously bit her lower lip and stole a glance at Xander only to find his gaze already locked onto hers.
“Something on your mind?” Xander paused, his gaze resting on Athena with quiet expectation.
Athena took a deep breath. Gathering all her courage, she finally managed to ask, “Could you…possibly help him?”
Seeing the lost expression on Athena’s face, Xander’s brow furrowed slightly.
Under the cover of night, Xander’s deep voice murmured by Athena’s ear, “Athena, just because you think something is bad doesn’t mean everyone else feels the same. You’re not Ferris–how can you know he is enjoying this?”