Chapter 328

Lizzie’s words pierced Ferris’s heart like a sharp arrow. His already shattered heart throbbed with excruciating pain. Beads of sweat broke out on Ferris’s forehead as he fixed Lizzie with an icy glare.

The more Ferris raged, the more Lizzie reveled in it. She cupped his face in her hands, letting out a hysterical laugh. “Look how gorgeous this face is. Even your anger completely bewitches me. Ferris, I’m so utterly obsessed with you. What am I supposed to do?”

Ferris angrily slapped her hand away, his voice icy. “Have a safe trip back, Princess. I won’t be seeing you out.”

Seeing his fury, Lizzie burst into mad laughter as she swept out.

Once inside the carriage, Lizzie leaned her head against her hand as the manic smile slowly faded from her face.

“Your Highness, shall we return to the manor?” the maidservant timidly inquired, sensing Lizzie’s foul mood.

Lizzie fixed the maidservant with a withering glare, then, without warning, lashed out and kicked her square in the chest. With a shriek, the maidservant was sent tumbling out of the carriage, landing hard on the ground. The coachman had no time to bring the carriage to a halt and could only watch helplessly as its wheels crushed the maidservant’s body. Her leg was instantly mangled, and she shrieked incessantly in agony.

Lizzie leaned out of the carriage window, pointed at the maidservant, and laughed maniacally. Her deranged display left the onlookers seething with silent fury. None dared to say a word.

Not far off, Ferris witnessed Lizzie’s brutal act, murderous intent gleaming in his eyes. Without a moment’s hesitation, Ferris drew his bow and aimed directly at Lizzie. Just then, his trusted aide firmly gripped his arm and exclaimed, “Prince Ferris, you must not!” Fiercely loyal to Ferris, his trusted aide swiftly snatched the bow from his grasp.

Ferris let his trusted aide take back the bow, his jaw clenched in fury. Through gritted teeth, he growled, “Lizzie, I swear I will kill you.”

His aide let out a sigh of relief and said, “She’s a princess, my lord. You still need her to achieve your ambitions. Only once she’s your wife will the Emperor truly put his trust in you.” His aide shot Ferris an awkward glance, then lowered his voice. “Prince Ferris, sometimes you have to endure the small things for the sake of the bigger picture. You’ve already endured so much. Please show more patience.”

Ferris slammed his fist against the door, his jaw tight with fury. He closed his eyes briefly to compose himself, then ground out, “Hurry with the manor renovations.”

“At once, my lord.”

Before they knew it, June 4th had arrived. Athena knew Ferris was getting married.

Athena had been torn for days. She wondered if she should send Ferris a wedding gift, and if so, what she should send him. Athena truly wished Ferris happiness, but this impending marriage was clearly the last thing he wanted. Besides, he probably wouldn’t want a gift from her. After much deliberation, Athena finally decided to meet Ferris in person. Athena had Jessa deliver an invitation to Ferris, and they agreed to meet at Star Pavilion.

Ferris was ecstatic when he received Athena’s invitation. With careful hands, Ferris unfolded the letter. Upon seeing Athena’s distinctive handwriting, the smile on his lips widened involuntarily. The letter read: [Meet me at Star Pavilion at two in the afternoon.]

It was barely mid-morning. Two o’clock felt like ages away.

Ferris couldn’t wait any longer. He instructed Neil Ward, “Go pick out a few outfits for me. It has to be something that will bring out my complexion.”

Neil glanced at the sun and knew that it was still far from noon. He said with a slightly bemused expression, “Prince Ferris, isn’t this a bit too early?”

Ferris’s expression faltered. “Too early?”

Neil pointed at the sky and said, “It’s not even noon yet, Prince Ferris. There are still four hours until two o’clock. You might as well have some lunch and take a nap before heading out, so you’ll look much more refreshed when you go.”

Ferris gave a sheepish smile. “You’ve got a point there.”

Ferris returned to his desk, but he could not get into the mood to deal with his work. He was normally as steady as a rock. However, Ferris kept stealing glances at the sky outside that day. Fifteen minutes crawled by before Neil couldn’t resist asking with a teasing smile, “Prince Ferris, are you perhaps feeling a bit warm? Shall I fetch some chilled fruit to cool you down?”

Ferris caught the teasing smile playing on Neil’s lips and knew exactly what he was thinking. Ferris shot Neil an exasperated look. “You’re really asking for it today, aren’t you?”

Neil pursed his lips and grinned. “Prince Ferris, you always lose your head whenever Miss Monson is involved. If only you could marry her…”

At this, Neil abruptly clamped his mouth shut, watching as the smile on Ferris’s face visibly vanished. Neil slapped himself in frustration. He thought, ‘Damn, I just had to rub salt in the wound and upset Prince Ferris for nothing.‘ Neil’s words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing Ferris’s excitement.

Ferris didn’t blame Neil; instead, he just waved him out, preferring to be alone with his thoughts. He slumped into his chair, staring blankly at the sky, his mind adrift and his spirit crushed. He knew that time couldn’t be turned back, and his relationship with Athena could never be the same as in the past anymore. In the end, Ferris didn’t bother changing his outfit and simply attended the meeting in the plain blue clothes he was already wearing.

Ferris’s carriage had barely left when word reached Lizzie.

Lizzie’s eyes gleamed with wicked delight. “Really? Ferris actually went to see that bitch?” The servant said, “Your Highness, Prince Ferris is indeed heading to Star Pavilion. I also witnessed the Viscountess make her way there.”

Lizzie let out a triumphant cackle, her voice dripping with malicious glee. “This is absolutely perfect. My efforts to upset Ferris weren’t wasted after all. He finally played right into my hands.”

“Your Highness, shall we follow them?”

Lizzie sneered, “Of course I’m going. Just watch me catch them red-handed. That slut Athena dares to seduce my fiancé? I’ll make sure that she’ll be utterly ruined.” Lizzie could practically envision the scene of Athena groveling at her feet, begging pathetically for mercy. Lizzie thought viciously, ‘Ferris likes Athena, doesn’t he? Let’s see if he will still like her once he sees the woman he loves becomes a whore for all to take.‘

Lizzie played it smart this time. She avoided using her carriage. Instead, she hired an ordinary coach and kept a low profile. All of this was to avoid detection by Athena and Ferris.

Meanwhile, Athena and Ferris remained unaware of Lizzie’s sinister scheme. Though sharing the same room, Athena and Ferris maintained impeccable decorum. Trina and Neil were both present as well, though they remained by the doorway while Athena and Ferris conversed inside. When Athena and Ferris met again, both found themselves at a loss for how to act.

It was Athena who first broke the awkward silence. She said while raising her cup, “You’ve been made a Prince, and I haven’t had the chance to congratulate you yet. So let me toast you.” Ferris raised his cup, gently clinking it against Athena’s before they both took a sip.

Athena placed her cup back on the table and gazed at Ferris with clear eyes. “You look sturdier now, not as gaunt as before.”

Ferris smiled softly. “Yeah, I owe it all to you.”

After a brief pause, Athena finally turned the topic to him. “Is there anything I can do to help with your wedding? I know you don’t like Princess Lizzie. If there’s anything I can do, I’ll spare no effort.”

Ferris’s expression faltered. “So you came today just for this?”

“Yes, I can’t bear to see you marry someone you don’t love. I just want you to be happy for the rest of your life, Ferris,” Athena whispered.