Chapter 344

Xander’s shameless demeanor left Athena frozen in place. His warm breath puffed against her ear, and she stood stiffly, not daring to move.

“You need to let go. If anyone sees this, I won’t be able to explain it clearly,” Athena said urgently, pushing him. But instead of loosening his grip, Xander held her even tighter.

He wrapped his arms around her and smiled with joy. “I’m not letting go. It’s already too late to explain anything. If you don’t marry me now, I won’t become the man who toys with a girl and abandons her.” He turned her to face him and looked at her seriously. “Or is it that you don’t like me?”

Athena bit her lip, a conflicted look on her face. “It’s not that, I just haven’t made up my mind yet.”

She didn’t dislike Xander. He was the most capable and commanding man she had ever met. His kindness was something she had remembered deep in her heart. She also knew that she might never meet another man in this life who would treat her as well as Xander did.

“Then what are you hesitating for?” Xander finally let out a long breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and he almost couldn’t contain his excitement. “I know you have concerns, but my feelings for you are true. If you marry me, I’ll protect you for the rest of your life and never let you suffer.”

Athena felt as if a wave of sweetness surged through her chest. She lowered her head shyly. “Then we’ll wait for my grandfather. If he agrees, I naturally won’t have any objections.”

“How could I forget!” Xander slapped his forehead, beaming with joy. “General Kurtis will return to Pidence City soon. When he does, I’ll bring a grand betrothal gift and personally ask for your hand.”

Seeing how serious he was, Athena couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Just then, footsteps echoed outside. “Miss, General Kurtis is almost at the gate!” someone shouted.

Athena quickly pushed at Xander, “Your Highness, you have to climb out the window!”

Xander froze for a moment. “You want me to climb out the window?”

Athena urged him, “Come on, stop fussing! I can’t let anyone catch us alone together in here.” Athena dragged and shoved Xander toward the window. “Hurry up,” she urged.

Xander gave her a helpless look. “We didn’t do anything wrong. You sneaking me out like this makes it seem like we did. No gentleman would climb out the window!”

Athena showed him toward the ledge while speaking. “You climbed in through the window last night. You didn’t care about being a gentleman then!”

“Hey, wait…” Xander started to protest, but Athena had already shut the window in his face.

Just then, Trina entered the room, her face alight with excitement. “My lady, you need to go welcome the General!” She noticed Athena standing by the window with a strange expression and asked, “My lady, why are you standing there?”

“Nothing. I was just feeling a little hot,” Athena replied awkwardly.

Trina asked, “If you’re hot, shouldn’t you open the window?”

Athena forced a laugh. “I was just about to, but then you came in.”

Trina’s face softened with relief. “My lady, let me handle the window. I’ll open it for you.” She stepped forward and pushed the window open, but suddenly frowned as she noticed dust on the windowsill. It looked like footprints.

Trina looked puzzled. “There’s something odd. I clean here every day. Why is there dust?”

“Maybe a cat came in,” Athena quickly interjected, grabbing Trina and pulling her outside. “Forget about the window. Tell me, where is my grandfather?”

The sudden shift distracted Trina, who forgot all about the dust.

Trina turned to Athena and said excitedly. “He’s already at the city gate. Many people are going to welcome him back. The people all know he was wronged, and they’re heartbroken over what happened to him.”

As their voices faded, Xander stood hidden at the corner of the courtyard, a wry smile on his face. He glanced down at his clothes, realizing he needed to go change before he, too, went to greet Kurtis.

The summer heat in Peace Street was intense, but it couldn’t match the burning passion of the people.

Crimson Street, the streets were packed with people shoulder to shoulder, forming a magnificent, once-in-a-lifetime scene.

People had come from all directions to welcome the wrongly accused General Kurtis back into the city.

Both sides of the street were filled with people straining to see, their faces lit with excitement and anticipation, especially those whose families had once been saved by Kurtis. They had come early and waited anxiously for his arrival.

Soon, a line of carriages and horses appeared at the city gate.

A cheer erupted from the crowd. “He’s here! General Kurtis is here!”

The families of soldiers dropped to their knees, tears in their eyes, choked with emotion as they shouted, “General Kurtis, you’ve suffered! Thank you for saving us back then, for taking care of our families!”

Their cries rang out over the street, loud and unceasing.

The street was packed solid, leaving Athena stuck at the back of the crowd with no way through. She stood on her tiptoes, trying to see, but even craning her neck, she could only catch glimpses of the approaching carriages. She still couldn’t see her grandfather.

Trina’s face was flushed from being jostled. Sweat had soaked her hair, making it stick to her cheeks. She used all her strength to push people aside to clear a path for Athena. “My lady, there are too many people! We can’t get through!” She regretted if she’d known it would be like this, she would have come earlier. Now it was too late. Even pushing her way forward was impossible.

“Make way! Make way for the Duchess!” Trina shouted at the top of her lungs.

After a few shouts, the crowd quieted and turned to look at Athena. Then, a wave of murmurs swept through it. “It’s the Duchess! She’s General Kurtis’s granddaughter. She’s here to welcome him. Make way!”

Suddenly, the crowd parted like a wave, opening a path down the middle.

Athena finally saw the figure at the end of the street. He was slightly stooped, hair now grey.

After a few years apart, her grandfather’s hair had turned white, and his body was bent with age. He no longer looked like the once mighty general wielding a spear on the battlefield. Now he seemed more like an old farmer from the countryside. His face was marked with suffering and the weight of time.

Athena could no longer hold back the surge of emotion in her heart. “Grandpa!” she cried out and ran toward him.

Kurtis was stunned at first, then recognized Athena running toward him.

She threw herself into his arms and sobbed uncontrollably. “Grandpa, I missed you so much!”

Kurtis felt like he was dreaming. He gently patted her back, nodding again and again. “Good child… don’t cry, don’t cry…”

But Athena’s tears were unstoppable, like floodgates had been opened.

Not just her, many of the onlookers were also moved to tears by the sight of the emotional reunion.

“If the Duchess hadn’t risked her life to clear the General’s name, he wouldn’t be back today.”

“That’s right. I heard she almost lost her life several times in the process.”

“The Duchess is loyal and brave. She’s truly worthy of her family’s…