Chapter 418

Michael’s expression changed when he heard this, and he ordered, “Open the gate and fetch Evander and his wife into the manor.”

The guards opened the gate, and Evander and Natasha rushed into the Xander Manor. The moment Natasha saw Athena, tears streamed down her face. “Athena, something happened in the palace.”

Upon learning that her father had been bloodied in the palace by Fermin, Natasha almost fainted.

The two managed to escape the palace and deliver the message under the protection of their confidants.

“Fermin has already taken control of the Imperial City,” Evander said with difficulty. “All the palace gates have been sealed off, and the Minister’s manor and Perkins Manor have been ransacked, because they are traitors.”

He swallowed and glanced at Alexandra in the hall, lowering his voice even further, “Only the helmets of the Aegis Guards were found under Stormrend Cliff, along with this…”

Evander held a bloodstained gold belt in his hand.

It was the one that Xander always wore around his waist.

Alexandra stared at the piece of gold belt and suddenly let out a shrill cry, her body slumped backward.

The maids hurried to support her. “Alexandra…”

Athena slowly reached out to catch the gold belt. As she thought of Xander’s expression when he left, her eyes suddenly turned red, but she forced the tears back.

She clenched the gold belt in her palm, holding it tightly. “The Royal Guards are probably on their way.”

With Xander gone, Fermin had nothing to fear.

Naturally, he would not let the people of the Xander Manor go.

Evander was stunned. He didn’t expect her to be so calm at the moment. “We have at most half an hour left. He sent three thousand Royal Guards to search the city. All the residences related to Prince Xander…”

“Prepare ink and paper,” Athena interrupted him and turned to the desk.

She picked up the pen and dipped it in ink, her voice steady. “You two immediately go to Bladehaven Hall in the west of the city through the secret passage. The shopkeeper there is an informant planted by Xander.

“Let him send a message to the remaining Aegis Guards in Athkar, saying that there has been a change in Pidence City, and act according to the third plan.”

Natasha was still sobbing. “But what about you? The Royal Guards will not let you go when they come.”

Natasha grabbed Athena’s hand and persuaded her. “Athena, let’s go together.”

“If I go with you, you won’t be able to escape. What’s more, Ray’s people are watching outside. I’m afraid I will fall into his hands as soon as I leave the city.” Athena’s calm voice gradually calmed Natasha and Evander down.

Seeing Athena calm and composed, seemingly with a plan, the two asked, “Athena, do you have a plan?”

Athena nodded slightly, “Xander left me a team when he left, but Pidence City is controlled by Fermin’s men. I need to send the information from the city out.”

She looked at Natasha and Evander and said, “The task of delivering the message can only be entrusted to you two.

“I need you to work with me from the inside out, open the city gates and let the Aegis Guards into the city, and directly attack the Imperial City to rescue the King.”

Evander gasped, seemingly frightened by Athena’s courage. “How many Aegis Guards soldiers are outside the city?”

Athena slowly curved her lips. “Eight hundred.”

“What?” Natasha couldn’t help but exclaim, “But there are five thousand Royal Guards in the city. We are no match for them at all.”

Eight hundred against five thousand, there was no chance of winning.

Defeat was only a matter of time.

Athena smiled very firmly, “Even if we can’t hold it, we must defend it. I believe Xander will come back. He never breaks his promises to me.”

“But, he is missing now.” Natasha couldn’t bear to say the word "death" of Xander.

But Athena shook her head, not caring at all. “How could such a shrewd person die easily? Believe me, he will come back.”

Michael said, “He entrusted you to me. While a single soldier of the Osborne family still lives, no one will touch the Xander Manor.”

Athena looked at him gratefully. “Thank you.”

Michael turned his face away, a little embarrassed. “There’s no need for politeness.”

He thought Athena would never pay attention to him again in this life, and now being able to fight alongside her is what he dreams of.

“Time is tight. Hurry up.” Athena pushed Natasha, and put the token into her hand. “Whether we can live or not depends on you.”

Natasha wanted to say something more, but Evander grabbed her hand and forcibly took her away from the Xander Manor.

Athena walked outside the courtyard, looked at the servants in the courtyard, took a deep breath, and said to everyone, “Fermin wants to kill the Xander Manor.

“We have no way out. We can only fight to the death. From now on you take up arms. Anyone who survives will no longer be a slave, but a free man.”

Athena’s words greatly encouraged the servants in the courtyard.

They wanted to live freely.

Everyone picked up their weapons and raised them above their heads. “Live, we want to live.”

The Royal Guards‘ hooves were getting closer and closer. Athena held her long sword, ready for battle.

Michael gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his eyes sharply fixed on the entrance.

As long as the Royal Guards dared to enter the manor, he would lead his three hundred men and charge forward, leaving none alive.

However, when the Royal Guards arrived at Peace Street, they suddenly froze.

They saw that the street was full of people holding hands. At this moment, they were holding hoes and carrying poles, looking at the Royal Guards with hatred, as if they were ready to die.

“Don’t go any further!” The old flower–selling woman waved her wooden stick, her thin arms trembling violently, but she didn’t take a step back. “Athena is a good person. You can’t hurt her!”

The people behind her echoed her words. Strong young men were in the front, women and children in the back, building a solid wall of flesh and blood.

The Royal Guards commander reined in his horse, looked at the wall composed of commoners in front of him, and a trace of panic flashed in his eyes.

He waved his blade and shouted, “Get out of the way! Otherwise, you will be killed without mercy!”

The blade’s icy wind swept forth, yet not a single person stepped back.

They even took half a step forward when facing the formidable Royal Guards.

The wall of people was airtight and seemed endless.

The Royal Guards commander broke out in a cold sweat. He hesitated for a moment, preparing to turn around and bypass them.

But he found that the people were all around him.

“How could this be?” The Royal Guards commander looked flustered. It was easy to kill one person.

But with all the people of the city present, he wondered if he could kill them all.

“Sir, Fermin has given a death order not to let anyone from the Xander Manor go. What should we do?” A confidant beside him offered a suggestion. “These people dare to oppose Fermin. Their deaths are not a pity. Why not kill a few to scare them?”

The Royal Guards commander thought about it and felt it made sense.

He was just about to attack when he saw the people raising their weapons and forcing him back.

They were full of murderous intent and unafraid of the weapons in the Royal Guards‘ hands.

Someone shouted loudly, “We must not let these lackeys hurt Athena again. If you want to touch the Xander Manor, you’ll have to step over our dead bodies.”