Chapter 295
Xander’s words flowed through Athena’s heart like a warm, gentle current. All her life, she had heard nothing but cold, cutting words. Never in her life had anyone spoken to her with such tenderness.
Back at the duke’s estate, any misstep would earn her harsh punishment. Even when Athena tried her hardest to please her family, it never seemed to matter. They never once truly cared about her.
Yet with Xander, she felt like a precious treasure, truly cherished. Athena clung to Xander’s arm and said with heartfelt sincerity, “Thank you, Prince Xander. Thank you for being so incredibly kind to me.”
With a soft chuckle, Xander patted her hair lightly. “Of course I have to be good to you.”
Xander’s words left Athena utterly enchanted, making her feel completely off balance. Athena glanced around at the surrounding mountains and forests, then deliberately changed the subject. “Prince Xander, I need to go to the temple. The pawn ticket is in the dry well.”
“I’ve already sent my men to retrieve it. With Ansel and Jessa on hand, you can rest easy,” he said.
“Then what should we…” Athena’s voice trailed off, uncertain.
Xander pulled a whistle from his belt and blew a sharp, commanding note. Within moments, dozens of shadow guards appeared at his side, their faces tight with worry. With heads bowed, they said in unison, “Forgive our delay, Your Highness.”
Xander’s gaze turned icy. “Doesn’t matter. Leave none alive in these woods, except one for questioning.”
The shadow guards bowed respectfully and replied in unison, “At your command, Your Highness.” Then, Xander gently raised his hand, signaling them to leave.
The remaining guards formed a protective circle around Xander and Athena as they made their way down the mountain.
At Osborne Manor, Kelsey paced the main hall in a frenzy, her worry mounting with every step.
Fletcher’s face darkened with fury as he growled, “Now you’re worried? Where was this concern before? I warned you repeatedly to keep Michael in check, so tell me, what exactly have you been doing? Now he dares to defy the Queen for that woman? Are you trying to get the Osborne family wiped out?”
Kelsey’s face flushed with humiliation, then paled with distress under his scolding. Kelsey sat down anxiously, her brows knitted in concern. Soothingly, she said, “My lord, please calm down. These rumors may not be true. Let’s wait until Michael returns before we make any decisions.”
“The Queen is in a towering rage! With all the evidence laid bare, you still dare to defend him?” Fletcher’s face turned livid with fury. His breath came in short, angry bursts as he exploded, “He escorted Athena the entire way and even injured the Queen’s own people. The sheer audacity of that boy!”
Kelsey was both shocked and fearful, but this was her son after all. At that moment, she could only try to defend Michael. She tried to explain, “Michael has always been loyal and devoted since childhood. He’s only protecting Athena out of respect for their bond. I’m sure Her Majesty the Queen will show understanding.”
Yet, even as she said it, Kelsey herself didn’t truly believe her own words.
‘The Queen only went after Athena,’ Kelsey thought with disdain, ‘because that presumptuous girl actually has the gall to dream of clearing General Perkins’s name!’
With both the Queen and Prince Fermin involved, Kelsey couldn’t possibly allow Athena to act as she pleased.
Fletcher’s forehead pulsed with rage as he spoke in a weary, drained voice, “When he returns, send him to the Queen to beg for forgiveness on his knees. Tell him, if he dares meddle in Athena’s affairs again, he’ll no longer be my son.” With that, Fletcher stormed out, still fuming.
Kelsey sat alone in the hall, silently weeping while thinking about how Athena and Michael had been childhood sweethearts. But that illusion shattered the moment her grandfather became embroiled in scandal.
If Michael married Athena, the Osborne family would never know peace. And with Athena’s reputation already in shambles, there was no way someone like her could ever be accepted into the Osborne family.
As thoughts of Michael’s future clouded her mind, Kelsey’s tears dried, replaced by a cold, unwavering resolve. She would put an end to Michael’s feelings for Athena, once and for all. Because if she didn’t, it was only a matter of time before Athena dragged their family into complete ruin.
Thus she ordered her servant, “Go tell Lady Willow to get her ass back here immediately, or she can forget about ever setting foot in the Osborne family again.”
Kelsey, still seething, added sharply, “Tell her every single word, exactly as I said it, right to her face!”
‘The audacity of that woman, trying to manipulate my son!’ she seethed inwardly. Kelsey, unable to vent her anger on Fletcher, unleashed all her fury on Willow instead. Willow may have held the title of the Osborne family’s mistress, but in Kelsey’s view, she had no sense whatsoever. Despite being married, she frequently returned to her parents’ home, this visit already stretching beyond ten days. It made Kelsey question her motives.
The servant, seeing Kelsey was beside herself with rage, immediately rushed to the duke’s estate to deliver the message.
Willow had also been on edge these past few days, her heart in constant turmoil. All this time she’d been staying at the Osborne estate, Michael hadn’t shown his face, not even once. It broke her heart.
Nona skipped in cheerfully from outside. “Lady Willow, someone from the Osborne family is here!”
“Really?” Willow’s face lit up with sudden joy as she sprang to her feet.
Nona nodded vigorously. “The messenger is waiting in the main hall.”
Willow’s eyes lit up with hope as she eagerly asked, “Who is it? Is Michael here too?”
“It’s just a servant,” Nona reported, though she found it odd. “He says he’s here to deliver a message.”
If Michael truly intended to fetch Willow himself, he wouldn’t send only a lowly servant. Nona couldn’t help but wonder whether he was testing the waters.
Willow had been staying at the duke’s estate for days, and Nona was nearly frantic with worry. She still couldn’t come up with a decent excuse to get Lady Willow back to the Osborne manor.
Seeing her chance, Nona tried to coax her. “Lady Willow, the Marquis must have sent a servant to make amends because he’s worried about you. Who knows, maybe he’s already back at the manor with a special surprise waiting for you!”
All Willow needed was an excuse, a way to return with dignity. Even if Michael didn’t show up himself, she could still use that as her chance to go back.
Nona’s words struck right at Willow’s heart, exactly what she wanted to hear.
Willow straightened her back and, feigning reluctance, declared, “Were it not for my lord’s sincere intentions, I would never agree to see him.”
“Yes, Lady Willow! Once you’re back, you simply must make Lord Michael apologize properly!” Nona knew just how to sweet-talk, feeding Willow only what she longed to hear.
Willow and Nona made their way from the rear courtyard to the main hall. Sure enough, just as they had expected, the servant from the Osborne family was already there, waiting for them.
By the time Willow arrived at the main hall, her mother, Eloise, was already there.
Eloise winked at Willow and said, “See? Michael must be worried sick, that’s why he sent someone to fetch you!”
Willow smirked at Eloise. “Mother always knows best.”
When the two entered the hall, Eloise maintained her dignified air as she asked the servant, “Did Lord Michael send you to fetch Lady Willow?”
The servant, recalling Kelsey’s words, shuffled forward a couple of steps, visibly uneasy. “Begging your pardon, Lady Eloise, but it wasn’t Lord Michael who sent me.”
Eloise looked shocked. “If it wasn’t Lord Michael, then who sent you?”
The servant swallowed hard, stammering nervously, “It… it was Lady Kelsey…”
“Out with it! What’s with all this hemming and hawing?” Willow was beside herself with impatience. To her dismay, it wasn’t Michael who’d come to fetch her. Willow was desperate to know what Kelsey wanted to tell her.
Startled by Willow’s sharp command, the servant, clearly flustered, had no choice but to relay Kelsey’s exact words. “Lady Kelsey said, ‘You’d better get your ass back here immediately, or don’t even think about ever setting foot in the Osborne family again.’”
At these words, both Eloise and Willow turned deathly pale with shock. Such an outright insult stripped Willow of all dignity.
Willow’s eyes welled up with angry tears as she choked out, “What utter nonsense! How could Lady Kelsey ever say such things to me?”
The servant flinched and had no choice but to reveal the truth. “It’s because of Lord Michael, he left the city with the Viscountess and hasn’t returned to the manor for several days.”
The servant wasn’t privy to all the facts, but he knew the whole mess started because of Athena, so he spilled everything to Willow.
At those words, rage overtook Willow. Her vision blurred, and she nearly collapsed from sheer fury.