Chapter 330

Xander’s expression remained impassive as his gaze briefly swept over Lizzie. As he lifted his eyes, the subtle upward tilt at the corners was like a chilling, unsheathed blade. The oppressive weight of his gaze descended, making the throats of those below tighten. His commanding presence rolled over everyone, and even Lizzie felt a cold sweat break out down her back.

Lizzie forced herself to stand tall, chin lifted in defiance, but under Xander’s overwhelming gaze, she couldn’t help but panic.

Xander’s voice was deceptively soft, like a blade grazing one’s throat, sending chills down the spine. “I have no intention of meddling in your marital affairs. But as a princess, how dare you act so arrogantly, surrounding Star Pavilion with your house guards? What is your purpose? For mere trivial matters, you sealed off Star Pavilion. Such audacity right under the Emperor’s nose. You are a princess, after all. Of course, I have every right to intervene.”

Xander’s words drained all color from Lizzie’s face.

Lizzie bit her lip, then forced a sly smile as she thought of the person inside. “Oh, come on, Xander, don’t be so intimidating. Aren’t you even a little curious about what’s inside that room? Who knows? Maybe there’s a real show waiting in there.”

At that moment, the tightly shut door swung open. “If you wanted to enjoy the show, Princess, you could’ve just told me,” a calm voice came from inside.

Ferris stepped out, approached Xander, and bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Prince Xander.”

Lizzie stared at Ferris in surprise, craning her neck to peer into the room. There was no sign of anyone else. Refusing to accept it, she barged inside and scoured every corner, but not even a trace of Athena could be found.

“Where is she?” Lizzie snapped, her voice edged with impatience.

Ferris remained composed and asked, “Who exactly are you looking for, Your Highness?”

If Lizzie had any sense, she would have known when to quit. But blinded by rage and hell-bent on ruining Athena’s reputation, she couldn’t care less about the consequences. Without thinking, Lizzie snapped, her voice sharp with accusation. “I heard you were having a secret date with Athena here. Where is she now!”

Ferris’s expression darkened as he rebuked sharply, “Princess Lizzie, watch your tongue! The Viscountess has never met me privately. How dare you ruin her good name with such baseless accusations?”

Seeing Ferris defend Athena so fiercely, Lizzie stormed forward, her hand reaching out toward his face. “How dare you defend that woman! Have you lost your mind?” she snapped.

But before her hand could land, Ferris intercepted her wrist with lightning reflexes.

“Your Highness, please calm yourself,” Ferris said evenly, though his ironclad grip on her wrist never loosened.

Lizzie’s face twisted in pain, yet she remained defiant, “Ferris, have you lost your mind? How dare you oppose me for that… I will report you to the Emperor and have you punished!”

“Lizzie!” Xander thundered, his voice crashing through their argument like a bolt of lightning.

Lizzie looked at Xander in terror, only to see his expression glacial, his eyes sharp as blades. He declared, “Athena is your future sister-in-law. How dare you slander her? Do you have any respect for me at all?”

Only then did Lizzie realize with dawning horror that she had said the wrong thing. She had surprisingly forgotten that Athena was going to be Xander’s future wife. Her reckless words today would surely bring consequences she couldn’t escape.

“Xander, I am sorry for my careless words. Please, don’t hold it against me,” Lizzie hurriedly apologized, unaware she had already crossed Xander’s bottom line.

If Lizzie’s offense went unpunished today, Xander felt that rumors would spread like wildfire.

Xander’s face was cold as he thundered, “Slandering my wife is an unpardonable offense. You have to be slapped three times!”

Lizzie stared at him in horror, her eyes full of fear and her voice trembling. “Xander, I am your sister and the princess of Petanion. How could you slap me across the face in public? How can I ever show my face again?”

Xander replied coldly. “Precisely because you are a princess, I must discipline you on behalf of our late father.”

With deliberate calm, Xander produced the imperial rod. “This was bestowed by the late Emperor himself. It has the right to punish everyone, including tyrants and court officials. Disciplining a mere princess is certainly within my authority.”

The moment the imperial rod appeared, everyone fell to their knees in an instant. Lizzie was no exception. For all her usual arrogance, even she wouldn’t dare defy the late Emperor’s authority. Her legs buckled beneath her as she knelt, her eyes filled with utter despair. It was only right for Xander to discipline her; after all, an elder brother’s authority was like that of a father. Additionally, Xander was acting in the name of the late Emperor.

With a sharp crack, Xander’s hand struck Lizzie hard across the face. Instantly, her cheek burned with searing pain. Three slaps might not seem like much, but for Lizzie, the humiliation was unbearable. To be publicly slapped was the ultimate disgrace for someone of her status.

Lizzie broke down, wailing uncontrollably, her cries of pain and indignation echoing through the hall.

After delivering the three slaps, Xander’s gaze remained piercingly cold. “From now on, watch that tongue of yours and curb your arrogance. If you dare act so presumptuously again, my punishment will be far worse than mere slaps.”

“Yes, Xander,” Lizzie looked utterly defeated, and her arrogance was completely gone. Her carefully styled hair now hung in disarray, strands clinging to her tear-streaked cheeks. Her delicate face was flushed crimson; she was the very picture of misery. Since she was in front of Xander, she couldn’t vent her fury. This humiliation cut deeper than any blade.

It wasn’t until Xander had left that Lizzie finally erupted in hysterical screams. In a wild frenzy, she yanked a sword from a guard’s scabbard and began slashing and stabbing indiscriminately.

Several attendants and maids, caught off guard and unable to dodge, were wounded by her wild attacks, plunging the scene into utter chaos.

Ferris strode forward, seized the sword from her grasp, and flung it aside. He snapped, “Prince Xander hasn’t gone far. Do you want another punishment, Your Highness?”

“Ferris!” Lizzie glared at him, her teeth clenched in fury. “My people saw you and Athena enter the same private room at Star Pavilion. So why was she gone the moment I arrived?”

Ferris’s expression remained unreadable as he replied evenly, “Your Highness must be mistaken.”

“You’re saying I was mistaken?” Lizzie scoffed, a furious, bitter laugh escaping her lips. Her voice trembled with barely contained rage. “Are you plotting against me?”

“Your Highness, watch your words. You can’t just spout baseless accusations without proof,” Ferris replied, his disdainful gaze nearly driving Lizzie mad.

Left with no other alternative, Ferris knocked her unconscious. Then, with a look of utter distaste, he unceremoniously shoved her into a maid’s arms and commanded coldly. “Take the princess back to her residence.” The maid looked at Ferris with both gratitude and terror. Had he not knocked Lizzie unconscious, her hysterical rampage would have only gotten worse.

Several attendants carried the dazed Lizzie downstairs and stuffed her into the waiting carriage.

Once the house guards at Star Pavilion had dispersed, Ferris walked out. Unsurprisingly, Xander was waiting for him outside.

Ansel stepped in front of Ferris. “Xander awaits you ahead, Prince Ferris.”

Xander stood in a secluded spot by the lake, his hands clasped behind his back beside a bridge. His dark, wide-sleeved robe billowed dramatically in the wind. Against the shimmering water, his broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted silhouette stood in sharp relief, radiating a chill colder than the lake itself.

A flicker of envy crossed Ferris’s eyes. Xander was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and destined for wealth and privilege. He was simply born to a life of fortune. It seemed the heavens had given him everything. Even Athena, who once meant everything to Ferris, now only cared about Xander.

Ferris thought, “How come I can’t even hold a candle to him, no matter how hard I try?”

Ferris masked the resentment in his eyes and gave Xander a respectful bow. “Prince Xander.”

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through the back of his knee, and he crumpled to the ground. When he glanced back, he saw Ansel staring at him with a cold, piercing gaze, idly twirling a pebble between his fingers. Looking up, Ferris saw Xander’s frigid expression. It was unmistakably clear this was done at Xander’s command.

Ferris unwillingly sank to his knees, a strained smile plastered on his face. “Prince Xander, care to explain what this is about?”

Chapter 331