Dawn’s faint light pierced the lingering darkness, silhouetting the Cavendish Family Cemetery.

The coachman’s deep voice called from outside, “Your Highness, we’ve arrived at the Cavendish Family Cemetery.”

Athena drew back the carriage curtain, instantly enveloped by the cemetery’s solemn chill.

The convoy rumbled across the last stone bridge, and the massive guardian statues standing sentry before the Cavendish Family Cemetery loomed into view.

Xander stepped down from the carriage and extended his hand inside. Athena took his hand and gracefully descended.

Both dressed in plain robes, they walked side by side into the Cavendish Family Cemetery.

In the shadows, Nicolas exchanged a meaningful glance with Michael beside him.

Clad in black, Michael’s eyes flashed with a cold, ruthless glint. He gave a silent nod, then slipped into the western thicket as quietly as a shadow. In the blink of an eye, he had vanished from sight.

Willow’s eyes gleamed with excitement as she spotted Athena, like a predator eyeing its prey.

Cannons hidden beneath pine branches were already trained on the central altar of the Cavendish Family Cemetery. A single spark would transform this sacred ground into a blazing inferno.

'Today is the day Athena dies,’ Willow thought viciously. ‘And I’ll personally witness her perish and rot in.’

Athena trod the slick, damp bluestone slabs, her eyes fixed on the desolate ancestral hall ahead.

The hall doors stood ajar, their pitch-black entrance gaping like a monstrous maw, poised to devour any who dared approach.

As Athena stepped within thirty feet of the hall, countless shadowy figures burst forth simultaneously from behind the cemetery walls, stone steles, and ancient trees.

Black-clad assassins brandishing scimitars swarmed in from all directions, instantly surrounding the hundred-strong royal guard in a tight, inescapable circle.

The blades glinted in the morning light, forming a chilling web of steel.

The air thickened with murderous intent, coalescing into a ghostly white mist.

“Assassins!” Panicked shouts erupted from all directions as the guards hastily drew their swords, their faces pale with terror.

The assassins already outnumbered them by a staggering five to one—and that was just the ones in plain sight. It was unknown how many more were lurking in the shadows.

Xander stepped in front of Athena, shielding her with his body. In one swift motion, his longsword flashed from its scabbard—a streak of silver light slashing toward the nearest assassin.

Athena retreated behind Xander, a poison-tipped silver needle slipping from her sleeve into her trembling fingers.

Athena’s gaze shifted to the altar just as Nicolas stepped out from the shadows.

Nicolas’s purple robe billowed in the morning breeze, a triumphant sneer twisting his lips. He taunted, “Athena, still breathing, I see?”

“It’s you,” Athena exclaimed, visibly taken aback. Her eyes swept over the surrounding killers before her voice turned razor-sharp. “Nicolas, what exactly are you scheming by bringing so many killers to the Cavendish Family Cemetery?”

‘If Nicolas just wanted me dead, why choose the Cavendish Family Cemetery for the ambush?’ Athena thought, ‘Nicolas must be after the treasures in the Cavendish Family Cemetery.’

Athena let out a derisive laugh. “Surely you don’t actually think you can break into the Cavendish Family Cemetery?”

Nicolas gave a slow, deliberate clap, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Bravo, Athena. You’ve seen right through me.”

“Nicolas, enough talk. Just kill her.” Willow shoved her way out from behind the crowd, her face twisted in malice as she glared at Athena. Through clenched teeth, she spat, “Well, we meet again.”

Athena looked at the two of them and suddenly let out a mocking laugh. “I should’ve guessed you two were having an illicit affair. But I never thought you’d be so shameless as to actually end up together.”

“Shut up,” Willow snapped, her voice sharp with fury.

Willow jabbed her finger at Athena’s nose and spat, “Who the hell do you think you are to lecture me? Don’t even think about escaping from here alive today.”

At this, Willow seemed to recall something and burst into triumphant laughter. “You thought you’d have the last laugh, didn’t you? But you never imagined I’d be the real victor. Not only is Nicolas on my side, but even Michael still stands with me. Athena, the biggest loser here is you.

“All you’ve got is just an empty Princess Consort title, without any real power. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be traveling with just a pathetic hundred guards.”

The more Willow spoke, the more animated and triumphant she became.

Willow flung her sleeves wide, laughing maniacally. “Look around you, Athena. The whole mountain is crawling with my men–what chance do you have against me?

“Bow and apologize. If I’m in a good mood, I might grant you a clean death and let you reunite with your precious husband, Xander, in Hell.”

Athena slowly swept her gaze around, catching sight of shadowy figures moving through the wooded hills–clearly, a sizable ambush had been set.

Yet not a hint of fear showed on Athena’s face. Instead, she fixed Willow with a piercing glare and sneered, “At least I live with a clear conscience, unlike you—a sewer rat who can’t stand the light.

“Your whole life is destined to be spent running and hiding in fear. Sometimes, I almost pity you. Doesn’t it exhaust you, living your whole life in lies and pretense?”

“Shut up. Just shut the hell up and bow.” Athena’s words had struck Willow’s rawest nerve. Willow jabbed a finger at her and shrieked, her voice shrill with fury, “This is your last chance. Bow and beg me for mercy.”

All her life, Willow’s greatest desire was to see Athena bow before her, utterly humiliated and begging pathetically through broken sobs.

Only then would all the humiliation and pain Willow had endured feel worth it.

“Bow to you?” Athena gave a cold, derisive laugh, her voice laced with undisguised scorn. “What makes you worthy?”

She tilted her chin slightly, her voice ringing with unshakable authority. “I am the Princess Consort, personally bestowed by His Majesty. My husband and I would rather die standing than ever bow to you.”

Xander deeply admired Athena’s unyielding spirit. He reached out and clasped her hand, saying with a proud smile, “Great, my dear.”

The sight of Xander and Athena’s loving handclasp nearly drove Willow insane with jealousy.

“I can’t stand that superior look of yours. You want to die? I’ll make sure it happens.” Willow retreated to Nicolas’s side, her voice laced with venom as she ground out through clenched teeth, “Nicolas, finish them.”

The moment Willow’s words left her lips, Xander sprang forward like lightning.

Xander charged straight toward Nicolas and Willow, his longsword clashing against the assassins’ scimitars with ear-splitting metallic screeches, sending sparks flying in all directions.

He moved with lightning speed, each sword strike ruthless and precise. Every swing of his blade whistled through the air, and in an instant, the assassins collapsed to the ground with agonized screams.

But the assassins surged forward in relentless waves, completely surrounding Xander and Athena, leaving no room for escape.

“Xander?” Athena gasped, flicking a poison-tipped needle with deadly precision. It struck an assassin sneaking up from the side right in the throat.

The assassin’s eyes widened in disbelief as he slowly crumpled to the ground.

Athena drew a steadying breath, forcing herself to remain composed. Her sharp eyes swept the surroundings, scanning for any opening to escape.

Athena was completely surrounded by guards, forming an impenetrable human shield around her.

Athena watched anxiously as Xander darted in and out among the enemy ranks, narrowly escaping death time and again. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, fear twisting inside her with every close call.

“Ansel, cover Xander now,” Athena commanded.

“His Highness has ordered me to ensure your safety at all costs.” With a single, fluid motion, Ansel slit the throat of an approaching assassin, never leaving Athena’s side.

Nicolas’s mocking laughter echoed through the vast Cavendish Family Cemetery. “Xander, no matter how skilled you are, you’re no match for my army of assassins. Be sensible and surrender to your death—maybe I’ll even let you keep your whole body.”

“You are delusional,” Xander roared, his sword strikes intensifying. “Nicolas, you’ve committed treason and rebellion—your crimes deserve a thousand deaths. Today, I’ll tear you limb from limb and rid the whole city of your menace.”

Just then, Willow emerged from the thicket on the opposite side, clutching a powerful bow. The arrowhead gleamed coldly as she took deadly aim at Athena.

“Die, you bitch,” Willow snarled with a vicious grin, drawing the bowstring taut, poised to release the arrow straight at Athena.