Xander looked at Kendra with his usual air of detachment, his expression as cold as ever. He gave her only the barest nod, a gesture devoid of warmth or welcome. His indifference was unmistakable; anyone else would have taken the hint and stepped back.

But Kendra remained unfazed. She flashed a familiar smile. "Three years apart, Xander, and you’re still giving me the cold shoulder?"

She was breathtaking, her eyes soft with affection as they lingered on him. With her beauty and background, she was the kind of woman most men couldn’t say no to.

But Xander remained unmoved. As she stepped closer, he pulled Athena toward him and said, without expression, "This is my future wife."

Kendra’s smile froze in place. Her gaze snapped to Athena, and all tenderness drained from her face, replaced by a cold, hostile glare. Kendra gave Athena a casual once-over, then curved her lips into a knowing, subtly condescending smile, "Oh, I know who you are," she said.

Her words dripped with unspoken implication. Everyone knew Athena as the Monson family’s long-lost daughter, who was eventually sent to the military for discipline after accusing her adopted sister. Cold and ungrateful, she had even severed ties with her own family. Now, she was nothing more than a mere Viscountess.

To Kendra, a woman like that could never deserve someone as noble and brilliant as Xander. She could only wonder what kind of tricks Athena had used to so thoroughly cloud his judgment. Kendra didn’t even deem Athena worthy of her attention; the woman couldn’t pose a threat whatsoever. After all, Alexandra had made it clear that the position of Mrs. Cavendish was reserved for Kendra alone.

Whether in family pedigree or reputation, Athena simply paled in comparison. After a brief pause, Kendra offered Athena a graceful smile, but the slight curl at the corner of her lips betrayed a subtle mockery.

Athena caught the look and returned a gentle, knowing smile. She had already guessed that Kendra saw her as a rival, but she had no intention of engaging in a battle of egos. After all, Athena had never planned to marry Xander.

“Lady, shall we head inside? Her Highness Alexandra is waiting for you,” Kendra’s maid cut in, her voice sweet but tinged with condescension after these three years apart. Though polite, her words clearly flaunted Alexandra’s special favor toward Kendra.

Kendra maintained a flawless smile and gave Athena a polite nod. “See you in a bit. I’m sure Her Highness will be quite taken with you, Wright.” Athena inclined her head slightly, her smile courteous but distant.

To everyone’s surprise, the tension between them never erupted. The crowd, expecting a dramatic confrontation, was left watching in silence as the moment slipped away, the curtain falling before the first act even began.

As Athena and Xander walked toward the manor, Xander lowered his voice and murmured, "Thanks for earlier."

“So, you’re thanking me for playing your human shield?” Athena teased, flashing him a playful grin.

Xander let out a soft chuckle. “Yeah, good thing you didn’t call me out on it, or I’d have been completely mortified.”

“Come on, Prince Xander, you’ve had my back plenty of times too. No need for thanks,” she replied.

They walked side by side, chatting and laughing, looking every bit the perfect couple. Whenever Xander gazed at Athena, his eyes brimmed with such tenderness it seemed to overflow. All around, women who had secretly pined for Xander clutched their handkerchiefs in silent fury, nearly shredding them. None of them had imagined that, after so many well-matched choices, Xander would choose Athena.

Meanwhile, beneath the colonnade, Lizzie swept in with grandeur, every inch the picture of nobility in full regalia. By her side stood Ferris, his expression utterly blank. From the moment Athena entered, however, his gaze never left her.

Lizzie scoffed at his pathetic display. “She’ll never be yours, no matter how long you stare. Must you persist with this sad delusion? It’s enraged her. Ferris, blind to her beauty and status, had fallen for Athena of all people. A woman disgraced and cast aside. Lizzie couldn’t understand what that shameless woman possessed that she lacked.

Ferris was clearly infatuated with Athena, and even Michael couldn’t seem to get her out of his mind. Worst of all, even Xander seemed drawn to Athena. He had nearly taken a stand against Lizzie just to shield that woman.

While Lizzie was still seething, Ferris spoke with deliberate mockery. “So, I’m supposed to like you, not her, huh?” His voice dripped with biting sarcasm. Ever since his engagement to Lizzie was finalized, Ferris had abandoned all pretense of respectful deference toward her. No matter how much Lizzie went out of her way to please him, she was only met with scathing remarks in return.

Every time Ferris opened his mouth, Lizzie was left seething, her rage so sharp it felt like her chest might split open. More than once, she nearly marched to her brother to demand he dissolve the engagement.

But then she remembered, letting Ferris go would be far too easy. He was too perfect a prize to forfeit. That face, that arrogance, that willful defiance—breaking him would be far more satisfying than bending ten willing men to her will. The more he recoiled, the deeper her fascination grew.

“You may loathe me now,” she said smoothly, “but once we’re married, you’ll never be rid of me. I’ll give you heirs, and you’ll belong to me until your last breath.” Her expression twisted with manic delight. Nothing pleased her more than imagining Ferris chained by duty, glowering as he yielded to her control. Watching his fury and helplessness would be her sweetest victory.

“Whatever,” Ferris muttered, barely looking at her.

His indifference set her off again. She gripped his arm, her voice dropping to a hiss. “If you don’t want Prince Xander to hear of this little rift, I suggest you start acting the part.”

At that moment, Ferris stopped resisting. Every trace of defiance seemed to vanish. With a smug smile, Lizzie linked her arm through Ferris’s and strode up to Athena.

“Prince Xander,” Lizzie greeted him with a practiced sweetness, as if she had forgotten everything he had ever done to her.

But Xander saw through the act immediately. That sugary charm was wasted on him. His voice turned cold in an instant as he cut her off, “Strange. I don’t recall my mother inviting you to her birthday celebration?”

Unfazed, Lizzie replied, “Her Majesty was kind enough to invite me. I also wished to present a token of respect as a younger member of court. More importantly, I come on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen to offer her congratulations.”

With Lizzie invoking the Queen’s authority, Xander had no choice but to hold his tongue. Still, his warning was unmistakable. “You’d best behave yourself.”

Princess Lizzie shot a provocative smile. “Naturally.”

Turning to Athena, she softened her tone with false civility. “Viscountess, your engagement to my brother has remained pending for quite some time. There’s been no news at all. Perhaps the situation has changed?”

The venom laced in her tone was unmistakable. And yet, because she was Lizzie, no one dared to speak out. Not wanting to put Athena on the spot, Ferris stepped in, his tone cold and steady. “Marriage arrangements are His Majesty’s concern. Or have you taken it upon yourself to speak in the King’s place, Princess?”

His blunt retort wiped the smile off Lizzie’s face. Her expression twisted with fury: Throwing decorum aside, she snapped, “Who do you think you are, speaking to a princess like that? Get on your knees and apologize now!”

Ferris responded with a quiet scoff. “Watch yourself, Princess.”

His unwavering defiance shattered what little composure she had left. With trembling hands, she drew the soft whip from her waist and struck it against the floor with a sharp crack, “I’ll punish whom I please. Even if I beat you to death here and now, my brother wouldn’t object!”

Then, she swung the whip down hard, aiming directly at Ferris. But before it could strike, a hand seized her wrist in an unrelenting grip.