Chapter 339
Henry froze when he saw the woman. He immediately tried to sidestep her, only to find her blocking his path again.
The woman asked, “Mr. Monson, why are you avoiding me?”
Henry’s face darkened as he forced a strained smile. “Loretta, what brings you here?”
The woman was none other than Athena’s adoptive mother, Loretta Holmes. Operating undercover in Petanion, she had long served as Nicolas’s right-hand woman. Years ago, it was Loretta who helped Nicolas escape from the imperial capital. To protect Nicolas’s life, Loretta forced Henry to acknowledge Nicolas as his legitimate heir and claimed he was born to Eloise in the countryside.
Henry’s eyes blazed with hatred as he looked at Loretta. Henry thought bitterly, ‘If it hadn’t been for Loretta’s threats back then, I never would have been forced to join the rebels and end up reduced to living as an outlaw?’
Loretta let out a soft chuckle and said, “Mr. Monson, why such hostility toward me! If you hadn’t drowned your brother, you wouldn’t have taken the position as the Duke.”
She spoke so casually, but Henry’s eyes widened in horrified shock. Henry’s face visibly drained of color in an instant.
Fortunately, no one was around. Henry gritted his teeth and snapped, “For God’s sake, that’s all ancient history. What’s the point of digging it up now? You’ve already ruined my life. What more do you want?”
Henry thought bitterly, ‘It’s horrible having someone hold your life in their hands.’ And to make matters worse, Loretta had kept Henry under her thumb for over a decade. Not a day went by that Henry didn’t fantasize about killing Loretta!
Loretta smiled nonchalantly and said, “You’re out of options now. You’d better give up any foolish ideas and stay put. If I ever find out you are crossing me, I’ll make you wish you were dead.”
“How dare you threaten me?” Henry snapped, veins bulging at his temples.
But this stronghold was built from the ground up by Loretta, and every man here was loyal to her. Though seething with rage, Henry was powerless against Loretta.
Loretta let out a contemptuous snort. “So what if it’s a threat? Don’t forget, you have only yourself to blame for all this. When you handed Athena over to me back then, you never intended for her to survive, did you? You knew damn well that worthless husband of mine was into drinking, whoring, and gambling. Giving Athena to him was practically a death sentence for her, yet you still went ahead and did it!”
Henry’s face turned ashen, then flushed crimson under Loretta’s verbal assault. He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, barely restraining himself from hitting her.
Loretta looked at Henry’s crestfallen face, her eyes gleaming with even greater disdain. “No matter how venomous I am, I’m nothing compared to you. For the title of the duke’s heir, you murdered your brother yourself.”
Henry swallowed hard, a metallic tang spreading across his tongue. Rage churned violently in Henry’s chest, the bitter taste of blood rising in his throat. He nearly coughed it up.
Henry’s eyes bulged as he jabbed a finger at Loretta and said, “You venomous bitch!”
Loretta’s words cut deeper than swords. Henry wondered bitterly, if I hadn’t taken that wrong turn all those years ago, would my fate have been different?
Loretta let out a bizarre and triumphant laugh as she walked away.
Henry stood rooted to the spot, his guts twisting with regret. No outlaw would ever meet a good end. All that awaited him now was certain death. Henry gazed up at the sky in utter despair, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face. Had he not been so consumed by greed, perhaps he could have grown old peacefully with Vania Perkins.
He said, “Vania, I’ve wronged you so deeply!”
Henry thought, "I am sorry for Athena, too. One wrong step led to another, and now there’s no turning back."
At Pidence City, Athena laid Vania to rest in a tranquil place and enshrined her tombstone at the Guardian Church. Today marked Athena’s official relocation to her newly bestowed manor. In recognition of Athena’s discovery of the gold mine, Arthur granted her the title of Duchess. He also bestowed the duke’s estate upon her.
Athena stood before the crimson–lacquered gates of the duke’s estate. Once, she had escaped this soul-devouring manor by reading on a ram’s edge. Now Athena returned to the very duke’s estate she had once fled, as the Duchess. The sunlight glinting off the gilded plaque stung her eyes, making them burn.
“Your Highness, the old plaque has been removed.” The steward’s voice snapped Athena back to reality.
Beneath the lintel carved with dragons, the plaque inscribed with “Duke’s Estate” was hurled down onto the bluestone slabs, shattering into countless fragments.
The new plaque was slowly raised into place, bearing the grand characters for “Duchess Manor“. The king had personally written these words.
Athena was no longer the helpless little girl she once was. She had transformed into someone strong and well-reborn. Now, she could rely on herself.
Trina’s delighted laughter rang in Athena’s ear. “Your Highness, this place is absolutely magnificent!”
The joyful laughter and chatter filled the air. Ata promptly replied, “Everything will be prepared for you. You needn’t worry about a thing.”
Athena couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, look at me, getting so worked up I completely forgot the courtesies. I owe everything to you." Seeing you back in such glory today truly fills me with joy.”
With a knowing smile, Ata replied, “Now all that is left…”
Athena felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. Just as she was about to speak, Marquita pulled her away from the courtyard with a look of bewilderment. “Marquita, why are you pulling me away?”
“Enough chatter out of you,” Marquita said with a smile.
Suddenly, a towering shadow eclipsed the sun. The scent of agarwood drifted in the air. The whisper of her skirt brushing over the bluestone was featherlight. She turned, just in time to see Xander clad in jet-black robes that highlighted his broad shoulders. Beneath the fabric, the sleek contours of his muscles were subtly defined. The sunlight caught his brow, deepening the shadows.
Meeting Xander’s warm gaze, Athena couldn’t suppress the smile blossoming on her face. “What brings you here?”
Xander smiled casually, “It’s the first day in your new home. I thought I’d bring you a little housewarming gift.”
But behind him stretched an endless procession of servants carrying chests. The line seemed to extend into the horizon. This was clearly not a casual gesture.
Athena curved her lips into a teasing smile and quipped, “Your Highness, have you emptied out the entire kingdom to furnish my manor? Are you always this generous, or is it just for me?”
“For others, I am as tight-fisted as they come. But for you,” Xander drawled, stepping forward, his voice low and intimate. “I’d gladly give you everything I own.”