Chapter 345

The voices of the people reached Kurtis’s ears, and he was moved to tears.

He gently pushed Athena back a little to take a good look at her, his eyes full of surprise. Where had the little girl who used to laugh all the time gone?

But the first thing he said was, “Where has the little girl who…?”

Lies never lie. Though Athena appeared radiant on the surface now, the innocence in her gaze had long vanished. She had clearly suffered much.

Kurtis’s eyes filled with guilt. “It’s all my fault. I failed to protect you.”

Athena, tears still falling, shook her head. “No, it’s not your fault.”

Kurtis’s eyes turned wet. He choked out, “My dear child, you’ve been through so much.”

At that moment, everyone nearby was in tears.

Then someone shouted, “General Kurtis, don’t worry. If anyone dares to bully Duchess Athena again, they’ll have to step over our dead bodies first!”

“That’s right! Back then, you sold your land and house to make sure soldiers received their pay. Without that, who knows how many of us would have starved or frozen to death? You’re old now, so protecting Duchess Athena is our responsibility!”

The crowd grew more and more passionate. Many raised their hands and declared, “Yes, we’ll protect the young lady from now on!”

Athena looked around, surprised by the people’s reaction. They were really standing up for her.

It had been so long since she’d felt this kind of care and support.

Kurtis pressed his palms together and bowed deeply to the people, repeating his thanks over and over.

“This is only right. Not just because she’s your granddaughter, but because the young lady is kind and righteous. She’s treated so many people with her medical skills, even giving free medicine to those in need. We’re not ungrateful. We must repay her.”

Others echoed, “That’s right! We’ll protect her!”

Such a scene was truly rare.

Athena didn’t even know what to say. All she could do was follow her grandfather’s lead, bowing repeatedly to the crowd in thanks.

“General Kurtis, if it weren’t for you giving our family military pay back then, my son wouldn’t have survived!” A burly man led his family forward and bowed to Kurtis.

Startled, General Kurtis rushed forward to help him up with both hands. “No, no, you mustn’t do this.”

The man looked at Kurtis’s weathered face and cried, “You were a loyal servant of the King, yet you suffered such injustice.”

Years of hardship on the frontier had left Kurtis dark skinned and thin. Even his legs had developed problems.

But Kurtis just smiled calmly. “It’s fine now, it’s all in the past.”

Just then, a few men’s voices were heard. “Father!”

Athena turned and saw three men hurrying toward them.

The one in front looked to be in his forties, with a full beard. Beside him were a woman and a young girl.

Though they were simply dressed and had tidied themselves up, they still looked worn and weary.

Athena’s eyes lit up, and she called out, “Uncle Richter!”

The man hesitated, staring closely at her, before cautiously asking, “Are you… Athena?”

“It’s me, it’s Athena!” Athena replied, and tears rolled down again. In her memories, her eldest uncle had always been a gentle, refined man.

Richter Perkins had once been a rising star at the Ministry of Revenue. But that unwarranted disaster had dragged him into the abyss.

In just a few years, his hair had turned gray, and he looked far older than his age.

Richter smiled with joy and nodded repeatedly. “You’ve grown so much. That’s wonderful.”

He quickly pulled the woman beside him forward and said, “This is your aunt, and this is Freya.”

The woman was his wife, Claudia, and the young girl was Freya.

They both looked at Athena kindly. Freya was overjoyed. “Athena, it’s me. Your cousin, Freya!”

Athena recognized them immediately. She embraced them tightly, tears flowing. “Freya, Aunt Claudia, you’re finally back!”

Claudia gently patted Athena’s back, her eyes red. “There now, don’t cry. From now on, we’ll never be apart again.”

Athena nodded, her voice choked with emotion. “I’ve missed your almond pastries, Aunt Claudia.”

When she was younger and visited her grandfather’s house, it was always Claudia managing the household.

She would always bake almond pastries for Athena and Freya to share by the pond, laughing and playing.

Those memories surfaced clearly in her mind now.

Claudia, too, had suffered greatly over the years.

Her skin was now sun-darkened and rough, her hands covered in scars and calluses.

Back then, she had been a noble lady, the daughter of the Minister of Ribes.

But after the Perkins family fell, Claudia’s family cut ties with her out of fear of implication.

Richter looked at his wife with guilt and sorrow. “You’ve suffered so much. I’ll make it up to you.”

Nothing was more precious than a love that endured hardship.

Claudia wiped away her tears and smiled.

A cheerful voice came next. “Athena, didn’t you notice I’m here too?”

Behind Richter stood Julius Perkins, the second son of the Perkins family.

He was thirty-five, in his prime. But his face was lean and tanned, and he limped when he walked.

Athena’s eyes widened in disbelief. She stared at him and murmured, “Uncle Julius, your leg?”

Julius waved it off with a smile. “This leg? A wolf got a bite of it. That’s all.”

“What kind of wolf could do this? Was there no doctor?” Athena blurted out in her shock.

But as soon as she said it, she regretted it.

Julius had once been a martial champion, but he was now a cripple. That had to hurt him more than anyone.

If a doctor had been available, he wouldn’t be in this condition.

Though he acted carefree, Athena knew he minded it deeply.

Julius had always resembled her grandfather the most. He used to say he wanted to fight on the battlefield. Now, how ironic that he could no longer properly...

Richter’s voice was heavy as he told Athena, “He was injured while saving me and Father. If it hadn’t been for him, both of us would’ve been eaten by…”

“Richter, it’s all in the past. No need to bring it up,” Julius laughed heartily, full of cheer.

But that laugh carried a bitter note, and Athena’s chest ached with pain.

“Alright, why is everyone crowding around here? Whatever needs to be said, say it at home.” A cold voice cut in.

Trevor Perkins, the youngest of the Perkins brothers, looked impatient and surly. His expression was full of hostility.

Athena felt a deep sadness. Trevor had once been the most cheerful and playful of the brothers. Years of exile had turned him into someone entirely different.

But when he looked at Athena, the hostility in his eyes faded slightly.

He tried to smile at her, but after several failed attempts, he uttered, “Athena, it’s good to see you again.”