Chapter 352
Outside the door, sunlight streamed over Xander’s ornate robe. Though elegant, it could not conceal the loneliness he now bore.
Athena looked at Xander. He was once a spirited and influential prince, now reduced to a title in name only. Her heart ached, eyes gradually filling with tears.
In a soft voice, she asked, “Is everything settled?”
Xander noticed her reddened eyes. A flicker of pain flashed through his heart, but he still wore a gentle smile. “More or less. The King made this punishment to give Lord Isaac a way out. Now that I hold no power, Lord Isaac won’t press the issue any further.”
He paused, his gaze drifting past the courtyard into the distance. “Besides, to appease Kendra, His Majesty has granted her the title of Princess.”
As soon as he said this, Athena threw herself into his arms.
Xander froze for a moment, then embraced her tightly.
“I’m sorry… this is all because of me,” Athena said, full of guilt. If not for her, Xander wouldn’t have lost his title and authority.
“What are you apologizing for? I’ve long since grown tired of officialdom. Now, I have nothing binding me. There’s peace in that.” Xander sighed softly, then added reassuringly, “Besides, this has nothing to do with you. The power of the Xander Manor was too great. It was bound to draw the King’s suspicion.”
He continued, “Don’t blame yourself. It had less to do with you, and more with Isaac shrewdly reading His Majesty’s mind.”
Serving a ruler was like walking on thin ice. This statement was no exaggeration.
Xander considered himself fortunate just to walk away unscathed.
Even so, Athena couldn’t shake the ache in her heart. She clung to him as tightly as she could, as if only by doing so could she express the depth of her feelings.
Xander felt secretly overjoyed and deliberately said, “Now I’m just a powerless prince. You once said you’d take responsibility for me. You can’t abandon me now.”
“You…” Athena let out a soft laugh through her tears.
Even now, he was still joking.
She lightly punched his chest, but Xander caught her hand and held it.
Looking at her with a fiery gaze, he smiled. “Let’s get married.”
Behind him, a bridal procession had silently gathered, taking up nearly the entire alley.
Athena blushed and tugged gently at his robe, unable to hide her smile. “What are you waiting for? Bring everything inside.”
At the head of the group was Nelson, dressed in formal attire along with the rest of the procession.
At his call, “Delivering the gifts!”
Strong men in coordinated outfits carried bright boxes trimmed with gold, sparkling in the sunlight.
Inside were treasures from across the empire. There were jewelry from the Western regions, pearls and agate from the Southern Sea, silk and brocade from Southvale, paintings by renowned masters, rare medicinal herbs, and more.
One by one, the boxes were carried into the courtyard.
Chapter 352
Hand in hand, Xander and Athena walked in. Lance had already informed Kurtis and Athena’s uncles.
The courtyard was filled with boxes. Kurtis’s eyes gleamed with emotion.
The uncles all beamed with joy, except for Trevor, whose smile was clearly forced. It seemed that no matter how great the occasion, it couldn’t stir him.
Xander stepped forward and bowed. “Greetings, General Kurtis and the three Lord Perkins.”
His voice was calm and respectful, without arrogance. Now that he had no official post, he showed a deliberate lowering of status.
Still sharp in spirit, Kurtis gave a small nod. “It’s Athena’s luck to gain Your Highness’s favor,”
Then he turned to Athena. “Athena, go fetch that jar of Amber Wine I’ve been saving. Let His Highness try it.”
It was an excuse to send her away. He wanted to speak with Xander privately.
Athena cast Xander a worried glance. He met her eyes with a composed look, “If it’s such fine wine, of course I must try it.”
He smiled gently at her, at ease.
Though Athena trusted his prowess on the battlefield, this was a different kind of test. She still felt uneasy, especially with her three uncles eyeing him like hawks.
Richter teased her, “What, worried we’ll scare off your future husband?”
“Uncle Richter!” Athena gave him a playful glare and left the room.
As soon as she was gone, Kurtis spoke to Xander. “Athena was lost to us for many years. After all she’s endured, I only wish for her to live freely and be happy for the rest of her life.”
He added, “Since you’ve come to propose marriage, I have just one request: Protect her well. That’s all I ask.”
His tone was sincere. He truly cared for Athena’s well-being.
Xander bowed deeply. “Rest assured, General Kurtis. My feelings for Athena are genuine. I won’t make grand promises, but I want only Athena and no other. I’ll protect her and never let her suffer.”
He added, “If I fail, then I accept any punishment you see fit, without complaint.”
Everyone in the room stared at Xander in surprise. Aside from his royal lineage, among men of status, only a few did not have multiple wives and concubines.
Yet he, in front of Athena’s elders, declared his commitment to her alone. It was admirable.
Kurtis widened his eyes slightly and asked in disbelief, “Prince Xander, are you truly promising a lifetime of monogamy with Athena?”
“I am,” Xander answered firmly, meeting his gaze. “I mean what I say. If I cared only for appearances, I could have accepted Kendra into my household when the Porter family pressured me.”
Kurtis fell silent, but a warm look began to replace his caution. “You truly are a man of principle, Prince Xander. It seems I was too narrow-minded.”
Xander replied, “You flatter me, General.”
Kurtis gave a nod, then asked, “One more thing. I’d like to hear your opinion on the current situation at the border.”
Xander had expected this test of his strategic thinking. Calmly he replied, “Though there are minor skirmishes at the border, our forces are strong and our generals brave.”
He continued, “I believe we should use a dual approach. We can show strength to deter enemies, and simultaneously promote trade with surrounding tribes.”
He added, “This will not only stabilize the frontier, but build mutual trust and goodwill. With both firmness and grace, we can win peace while displaying our might. That will make our neighbors more inclined to cooperate.”
Kurtis’s eyes sparkled with approval. “As expected of a seasoned warrior. With you, the realm has hope for lasting peace.”
“Father, His Highness is not only capable but loves Athena deeply. We’re all in favor of this union,”
“Yes, Father,” Julius said with a sly grin, pointing his chin toward the door. “Let’s stop testing him; if we wait any longer, someone outside might get anxious.”
At the doorway stood Athena, clearly having overheard quite a bit.