Chapter 362

Dusk was falling, and the carriage was cloaked in dimness.

A faint fragrance from Athena drifted into Xander’s nose. He stared at her full lips as they moved up and down, speaking.

The rich hue reminded him of cherries on a tree, exuding a sweet aroma.

Xander unconsciously swallowed. Though the summer heat had long passed, he still felt a bit hot.

He raised his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Athena noticed and asked, “Are you very hot?”

Just then, the carriage jolted violently as it rolled over a stone, and Athena fell forward.

Xander instinctively reached out to catch her by the waist. Even through the brocade, he could feel her body warmth.

Her hair brushed against his chin, carrying a subtle scent of cedar.

Inside the carriage, the two looked at each other awkwardly. Athena’s face flushed red like she’d been boiled.

She quickly pulled away from Xander, not knowing where to look.

Thankfully, the coachman stopped the carriage in time, and his voice came from outside. “Your Highness, we’ve arrived at the Duchess Manor.”

“I… I’ll go first.” Athena hurriedly got out of the carriage as if escaping.

Xander watched her back with a trace of disappointment. That sudden embrace had left his mind blank.

He had meant to take the opportunity to interrogate her, but by the time he recovered, she was already gone.

He lifted the curtain and looked out, wanting to call after her, but Athena had already disappeared from sight.

Xander chuckled helplessly and muttered, “Am I really that scary?”

A missed opportunity. It seemed like he’d have to wait until the wedding night to settle the score.

Just then, Ansel rode up beside the window and whispered a few words to Xander before handing him a sealed letter.

Xander opened the letter and read it. His expression grew serious. He then ordered the coachman, “To the palace.”

The day before the wedding, Athena sat talking with Kurtis.

The entire residence was filled with festive joy, and Kurtis was beaming with happiness.

Lately, Athena had taken good care of him, and he had become robust and even gained a bit of weight.

Her uncles had also transformed from sallow and thin to rosy and healthy-looking.

Even Claudia and Freya seemed like completely different people.

They looked at Athena with warmth in their eyes, giving her a long-lost feeling of home.

“Athena, this is a gift for you,” Claudia said with a smile as she handed Athena a box.

Athena took it, thanked her, and opened the box. Inside was a gilded beaded bracelet.

She quickly shut the lid in a fluster and said, “This is too precious, I can’t accept it.”

She remembered seeing Claudia wear this when she was a child.

Such an expensive bracelet should be worn by Freya, not given to her.

But Freya smiled and said, “Athena, just keep it. Even though you weren’t born to my mother, she treats you as her own daughter. This bracelet is a pair; one was given to me, and the other to you. If you don’t accept it, Mother won’t feel at ease.”

If it weren’t for Athena, the Perkins family would still be suffering in the northwest.

They had only just returned to Pidence City and been reinstated in their official positions. Their foundation was still shaky. So, Athena didn’t want to accept such a costly gift from them.

Athena said, “I deeply appreciate your thoughtfulness, but I truly can’t accept this bracelet.” Unable to bear imposing such expense on Claudia, she persisted in returning it.

Suddenly, Claudia pulled a long face and said, “Could it be that you think our gift is too shabby?”

Athena gasped and shook her head quickly, “Of course not! I would never think that…”

“Or are you afraid of being associated with poor relatives like us?” Claudia added.

Athena was left speechless. She took the box back and said, “I’ll keep it, I will. Just please don’t say that again.”

Seeing Claudia and Freya giggling behind their hands, she finally realized they were using reverse psychology.

Athena let out a helpless laugh. That really had startled her.

Kurtis and the uncles chuckled as well. Kurtis said, “Your wedding is a big deal. We may not be wealthy, but we’ll give all we can for your dowry.”

He added, “Your uncles, the Perkins family, and I gathered forty chests of items. It may not be much, but it comes from our hearts.”

Athena’s eyes widened. Her grandfather had only just returned to Pidence City. Where would they have found the extra money?

They must have emptied their coffers. But if she didn’t accept it, they would be heartbroken.

Athena forced a happy expression and said, “Thank you, Grandpa and Uncles. I’ll accept it.”

Seeing her accept the gift, Kurtis finally smiled in relief, and the uncles all laughed happily.

After returning to her room, Athena called Trina and handed her a box. “Give this to Grandfather after I leave.”

“What is it, Miss?” Trina asked curiously.

Athena replied, “Banknotes. I’ve already sent people to restore the general’s estate. Grandpa will not live here permanently, and since he wants to return, I’ll make sure he has nothing to worry about.”

The box contained one hundred thousand silver coins, enough to support the family for several years.

Claudia was good at business, and Athena knew how to make money grow.

Trina respectfully responded, “Yes. But it’s getting late. You should rest. We’ll have to rise before dawn to start dressing up. There’ll be a lot to do.”

“Alright,” Athena replied, yawning and lying down to sleep.

It felt like she had only just fallen asleep when Trina began shaking her awake. “My lady, wake up! Time to get ready!”

Athena reluctantly opened her eyes and saw the pitch-black sky outside. “What time is it?” she mumbled.

Trina brought over the wedding dress and placed it on the stand while helping Athena change. She replied, “It’s about 3 am.”

Athena muttered an “oh,” then washed up and was promptly seated before the vanity to have her makeup and hair done.

The process took over half an hour.

Even after she was fully dressed, it was still dark out. There was still time before the groom arrived.

She sat on the wedding bed to rest her eyes.

The wedding dress made her look delicate and radiant. The full satin skirt fanned out like flowing clouds, regal and celebratory.

Her head was adorned with a silver tiara studded with gemstones. Fine filigree formed a floral pendant that rested between her brows, heavy enough to make her neck ache.

She didn’t know how long had passed before the room gradually lit up.

Athena had thought she would be too excited to sleep on her wedding day, but the endless preparations had already worn her out.

Now, she just wanted to get the ceremony over with and have a good, long nap.

At last, daylight broke, and outside came Claudia’s voice. “Is she ready? The wedding procession is about to arrive!”

Claudia was also dressed festively today, looking very cheerful.

She walked in and stood before Athena, inspecting her from head to toe with a wide grin. “So beautiful! There’s no bride in the world more stunning than Athena.”

“Aunt Claudia, you’re teasing me again,” Athena said with an embarrassed smile.