Chapter 341
Alexandra’s voice turned shrill, her eyes reddening. She glared at Xander as if he were some heartless scoundrel who’d toyed with a woman’s affections. But Athena was engaged to Xander. Xander never had the slightest affection for Kendra. He never even showed her any affection, so he wondered how Alexandra considered him a villain in this situation.
To be blunt, this was all Kendra’s one-sided infatuation. Out of respect for their family ties, Xander avoided being too direct with her. Little did he know she’d use that as an excuse to turn against him.
Xander shot Alexandra a sharp look, cutting her off. “Mother, watch your words. I’ve never had any romantic involvement with Kendra, nor have I kept her waiting all these years. If such words were to spread, how would the public perceive me?”
Given his high-ranking position that already drew public scrutiny, it was highly inappropriate for Alexandra to blurt out such remarks in a fit of emotion.
Xander’s sharp rebuke brought Alexandra back to her senses. Though she was fond of Kendra, Xander was her son. She knew perfectly well where her priorities should lie.
Alexandra took a few deep breaths, then turned to Kendra with a gentle smile. “Kendra, you should go back to your room for now.”
After all, discussing such delicate matters in front of a young lady of her sensibilities would only make her uncomfortable.
Kendra shook her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Aunt, please just let me go home.”
Alexandra’s tone grew firmer. “Don’t worry, I will settle this matter for you.” She then gave her trusted matron a meaningful look. “Take Miss Porter back to her room.”
After much coaxing from the servant, Kendra reluctantly left, dragging her feet with visible displeasure.
Alexandra finally turned to Xander with a grim face. She said coldly, “You’ve been completely bewitched by Athena. Even if she holds the title of Duchess now, she has no one to support her. What real benefit can she possibly bring you?"
“Kendra, on the other hand, has the Porter Mansion behind her. If you marry her, you’ll have the full support of that powerful family, especially her two brothers. One is the newly appointed top scholar in the imperial exams, and the other is being groomed by His Majesty to become a commander. Their future success is guaranteed."
“Listen to your mother, Xander. Don’t be so stubborn and blind.”
Xander’s frown deepened. “Mother, it’s you who refuses to see reason.”
Alexandra looked at him, bewildered. “What makes you say that?”
“Mother, have you never truly pondered why the Osborne and Monson families collapsed? Henry deserved his fate, but even the Osborne family, with the Queen behind them, was dragged down as well.”
He paused, watching as Alexandra’s face turned pale, enunciating every word. Had His Majesty not already marked both houses for destruction, how could they have been toppled so easily over Athena’s affair?
“With so much evidence suddenly uncovered, do you really believe Athena could have single-handedly dismantled two ancient noble houses? Doesn’t it all seem just a little too convenient, Mother?”
Xander’s words left Alexandra utterly dumbfounded, her eyes wide with shock.
She stared fixedly at Xander and said with difficulty. “Are you saying His Majesty deliberately planned to purge the two great noble houses?”
Xander remained silent, his deep, inscrutable gaze fixed on Alexandra.
It was precisely this silence that made a chilling realization slowly creep over her.
Alexandra clutched her chest, her voice laced with disbelief. “But Michael is a military commander, exactly the kind of talent the court desperately needs? How could His Majesty…”
Xander gently set the cup on the table, his fingers tracing its rim as he murmured, “That’s why His Majesty didn’t convict Michael, but relegated him to the frontier garrison. With the border states showing signs of unrest, keeping him in reserve means he can be deployed as needed.”
Alexandra drew in a sharp breath as a cold realization washed over her. She finally understood Arthur’s intentions.
With the Osborne family backed by the Queen, Arthur feared their growing power might threaten his throne.
So he used Athena as a convenient means to remove this lingering thorn.
By choosing exile over execution and sparing the lives of the Osborne family, he managed to keep Michael firmly in check.
Realization dawned on Alexandra as her brows knitted together. Xander continued, “If I were to marry Kendra now, wouldn’t I become a thorn in His Majesty’s side? Then the Xander Manor would be the next to face his wrath,”
“Well…” Alexandra opened her mouth, but no words came out.
She looked at Xander, flustered yet still clinging to hope. “The Xander Manor has shown unwavering loyalty. Even if His Majesty harbors suspicions, surely he wouldn’t take action against you, would he?”
Xander fixed his deep, knowing gaze on her, his voice as soft as a drifting cloud. “Mother, even you don’t really believe that, do you?”
He brushed the dust from his robe with a wry, self-deprecating smile. “Mother, I’ve made up my mind. After Athena and I hold our wedding ceremony, we shall depart for my land. You will accompany us.”
Alexandra bolted to her feet, her face a mask of panic. “No, that won’t do! You wield such immense power now. How could you possibly abandon everything here for some remote, desolate land?”
“Mother, being near the Emperor is like being near a monster. With the considerable power I wield, do you truly believe His Majesty would remain indifferent?”
Alexandra’s face went from pale to ghostly white. Her eyes darted frantically, utterly at a loss for words.
She had never even considered leaving for the fiefdom. The remote and barren territory Xander had could never compare to the luxuries of Pidence City.
But once Xander had truly made up his mind, she could not do anything about it.
Xander’s voice turned icy as he delivered his final ultimatum to Alexandra. “Kendra cannot remain in the Xander Manor. Mother, if you persist in this, you’ll not only harm her but also endanger me. I have never once considered marrying her.”
With that, he turned on his heel and strode out.
Xander’s unyielding stance left Alexandra utterly devastated. She was sad, yet unable to shed a single tear.
After all her careful scheming for him, all she received in return was his cold, merciless rejection.
She thought, ‘The King fears Xander because of my son’s exceptional abilities.
“Yet Xander has never harbored a single treacherous thought. His loyalty to the throne is unwavering.
“But to the King, he’s nothing but an eyesore.
“If Xander really wanted it, the throne would be his for the taking!”
Alexandra was heartbroken. She had fought her whole life to put Xander on the throne, but his utter lack of ambition made her feel like all her efforts were in vain.
After a long moment, she let out a deep sigh.
Yet her eyes hardened with resolve. “If you won’t fight, then your mother will fight for you,” she vowed silently.
She thought, ‘How could my brilliant son ever be content to play second fiddle to others?
“I will have the Porter family’s support, no matter what.
“As for Athena…”
Alexandra’s lips curved into a frosty smile. “She’s just an obstacle in our way. When the time comes to remove her, I won’t hesitate.”
But for now, the priority was to make Xander accept Kendra. Otherwise, even with Athena out of the picture, he still wouldn’t choose her.
Alexandra’s mind was made up. Producing a small bottle from her sleeve, she emptied its contents into the soup brought by the maid.
Alexandra called out, “Attendant!”
Her trusted matron appeared instantly before her.
She commanded with a dark expression, “Take this soup to Xander at once.”
The matron looked at Alexandra in astonishment. If my eyes aren’t deceiving me, she’s giving Prince Xander Delusion Powder, she thought.
This drug was completely colorless and tasteless. Even the most skilled warrior wouldn’t notice a thing.
Once ingested, it would cause one to lose their senses, becoming delirious with desire and lost in vivid illusions of their beloved.
The servant knew that Alexandra was forcing Xander to sleep with Kendra.