Athena knew she couldn’t afford to be careless when it came to Alexandra’s birthday party. She had prepared the birthday gift for Alexandra well in advance. Even if Alexandra didn’t like her, she was determined not to give anyone the slightest reason to criticize her.
On the big day, the Xander Manor’s carriage arrived bright and early to fetch Athena.
Athena wore a sapphire blue sabes short jacket adorned with floral patterns, its cuffs embroidered with gold-threaded passionflower vines. Around her waist, an apricot yellow silk sash was fastened with a gem-inlaid wooden clasp, from which hung two waist pendants that chimed softly like shards of crystal with every step.
Draped over her shoulders was a sky blue sik kesi cloak, subtly patterned with cranes and interwoven with peacock feather threads and gold, shimmering like moonlight scattered across a frozen lake when it caught the light.
This elaborate yet refined attire honored her status without drawing undue attention.
Yet, it was this understated luxury that made Athena seem like a different person altogether.
Gone was the innocence of youth, replaced by a calm confidence that marked her as a natural leader.
Only when Athena stood before him did Xander finally snap out of his daze.
“Prince Xander,” Athena called out softly.
Xander blinked, his bright eyes fixed on Athena, filled with both astonishment and admiration.
He had never seen Athena look so utterly radiant before. She was like a pearl, once hidden beneath dust, now finally revealed and shining with newfound brilliance.
From the carriage, a pair of hands with well-defined knuckles reached out. His fingers were long and balanced, bearing the faint calluses of years spent gripping weapons.
The veins at his wrists stood out, a quiet testament to his strength and control.
Athena’s eyes paused on Xander’s hands, then slowly moved up to meet his face.
That breathtakingly handsome face now wore an unexpected tenderness, sending a jolt through her heart.
It was hard to believe that the notoriously cold and ruthless Prince Xander could ever appear so gentle.
“Get in!” Xander’s deep voice snapped Athena out of her reverie.
She placed her hand in his palm, her fingers gently enveloped by his firm grasp as she leaned into his support and stepped up into the carriage.
The beaded curtain swayed with the carriage, its delicate beads tinkling crisply through the air.
Athena sat in the carriage restless with discomfort.
The carriage was large, but with only Xander beside her, it felt much smaller. His presence surrounded her completely.
The faint scent of sandalwood drifted in, causing her breathing to instinctively slow.
There was a raw intensity about Xander that could easily overpower anyone in close quarters. Athena was no exception.
But one thing was certain to her: this wasn’t fear, it was respect.
Chapter 276
If not for Xander safeguarding Petaninn, the neighboring kingdom would have long since launched constant invasions.
Athena remained silent, her mind conjuring vivid images of Xander leading his troops into battle, his commanding figure cutting through enemy lines with effortless grace.
Noticing Athena’s silence, Xander thought she might be worried about meeting his mother. So, he gently reassured her. “With me here, you don’t need to be nervous. My mother’s kind, she won’t give you any trouble.”
Such heartwarming words deeply moved Athena.
She gave Xander a gentle smile. “Prince Xander, you’re always looking out for me in every way. I truly don’t know how I could ever repay you.”
“You don’t need to. Being good to you is my own choice,” Xander said, his gaze locked on Athena. The fire in his eyes flared, threatening to consume her completely.
A delicate pink flush spread across her cheeks as she turned her gaze toward the window.
Just then, the carriage jolted to a halt.
Three crisp taps sounded at the window, Xander parted the carriage curtain slightly, and a guard leaned in, whispering urgently to him.
Athena caught a flicker of coldness before his expression returned to calm neutrality. With a brief nod, he dismissed the guard.
Of all the carriages gathered before Xander Manor, none drew more attention than the one from Porter Mansion.
Atop the carriage sat a dazzling seven-tiered canopy, the base woven from peacock feathers, the second draped in coral bead tassels, the third adorned with chiming pendants, and the topmost tier crowned with a bright yellow silk parasol embroidered in swirling clouds, its handle gently curved.
The parasol’s triple-curved frame, forged from tempered steel interlaced with gold threads, was rimmed with three hundred and sixty pearls. A display of sheer extravagance.
Double-layered silk curtains draped the windows, sunlight filtering through in streams of liquid gold as a subtle, lingering fragrance hung in the air.
The opulent carriage left everyone gaping in awe. Then a voice rang out from the crowd, “Whose carriage is this? Such extravagance!”
“What? You didn’t know? That’s Miss Kendra, the Porters’ beloved daughter. She just returned after three years of mourning her mother,” the speaker said with a sigh. “Everyone thought she’d marry Prince Xander someday, but fate had other plans… alas.”
That sigh was laden with immeasurable regret.
Athena’s fingers tightened slightly as she instinctively cast a glance toward the woman in the carriage.
Xander kept his face neutral, but his eyes betrayed him as they darted to Athena. “It’s lies. There’s nothing between us. Just rumors, nothing more.”
Athena fixed her piercing gaze on Xander, which only made him more flustered.
“What? You don’t believe me?” he asked, his voice tinged with anxiety.
Though the early spring air was still chilly, beads of sweat formed on the tip of Xander’s nose.
Seeing him so utterly flustered, Athena almost wanted to laugh.
She shook her head at Xander and said gently. “There’s no need to explain, Prince Xander. Whatever happened between you and Miss Porter belongs to the past; it doesn’t concern me.”
Frowning, Xander looked at her and asked quietly. “You don’t care? Not at all?”
“Yes.” Athena nodded, looking at Xander, slightly puzzled. “It’s just like me and Ferris, everyone has their past. You knew about mine yet still helped me, and for that, I’m truly grateful.”
Chapter 278
Xander’s frown deepened. He drew a sharp breath, wanting to ask more, yet afraid that asking would scare Athena off.
A heavy weight settled in his chest, like a stone lodged inside.
“Alright,” Athena replied.
Xander was the first to alight from the carriage, and offered his hand, hoping to help her down with gentle care.
The moment Athena and Xander appeared together, all eyes snapped to them like moths to a flame.
Meanwhile, the Porter family’s carriage stirred to life.
As the beaded curtain swayed, a pair of porcelain-like hands emerged with quiet grace.
Her slender fingers and delicate wrist, adorned with a diamond bracelet, made her skin appear all the more radiant and ethereal.
A soft murmur rose from the crowd as an otherworldly beauty stepped forward.
She wore a pristine white dress, her slender waist cinched with a belt embellished with gemstones, further highlighting her graceful figure.
This was Kendra, the Porter family’s precious jewel, admired by all who knew her.
Unlike the others draped in finery, she wore no elaborate gown.
Instead, she was dressed in plain white, her hair tied with a simple ribbon, not a single ornate hairpin to be found.
This subtle elegance only emphasized her delicate beauty, as though she were an ethereal being untouched by the burdens of the mortal world.
Even Athena had to admit Kendra’s beauty was mesmerizing. The men, of course, were entirely spellbound.
Athena glanced at Xander on instinct, only to find him completely ignoring Kendra as he quietly gave instructions to his trusted aide.
In contrast, though Kendra’s arrival instantly drew every gaze, she paid them no mind. Her eyes were fixed solely on Xander.
When she realized he wasn’t looking her way, a flicker of melancholy crossed her exquisite features. It disappeared almost immediately.
“Hello.” The soft voice by Athena’s ear made her glance sideways. There stood Kendra, her eyes still fixed on Xander, shining with quiet longing as she waited for his response.