Although Xander didn’t release Athena, he also didn’t tighten his grip.

Seizing the opportunity, Athena cautiously pried his fingers off her wrist, one by one. When the last finger finally slipped free, she let out a quiet breath. In just those few seconds, her wrist had turned red and tender.

Even this ill, he was still that strong. It wasn’t hard to imagine how fierce he must have been on the battlefield. No wonder his name alone struck fear into people.

Athena took a small pill from her sleeve and held it out to him. When he didn’t object, she gently slipped it into his mouth.

The pill dissolved the moment it touched his tongue, and a flicker of surprise passed across his face. His expression softened slightly, no longer as harsh or guarded as before.

“The crystal pill,” he said, eyeing her carefully. “Who are you, really?”

The crystal pill could counter nearly any poison and delay its effects. Only one person in the world had ever possessed it–Edwin Lipsey of the Herb Hall. But Edwin had died years ago, well past a hundred.

The girl standing before him clearly wasn’t him, which left only one explanation: Athena was his successor.

Athena hadn’t expected him to put it together so quickly. She answered honestly, “Your Highness already knows, don’t you?”

Xander gave her a sidelong glance, a faint, mocking smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “So the miracle doctor I’ve been searching for all this time turns out to have been right under my nose.”

“I only ask that Your Highness keep it a secret,” Athena said quietly.

He scoffed, cold and dismissive. “I don’t take kindly to being manipulated.”

Athena gave a helpless smile. “My situation is complicated. I hope Your Highness can understand.”

If the Monson family found out she was the divine physician who’d disappeared three years ago, they’d never let her go. Knowing them, they’d squeeze her dry for every last bit of value she could offer.

Xander lowered his gaze, silent in thought.

After a moment, he looked back up at her, voice cool and calm. “Cure me, and I’ll grant you one wish. Whatever it is–I’ll make it happen.”

Athena shook her head quickly and patted the box in her hand. “There’s no need for that, Your Highness. I treated you out of admiration and respect, not for any personal gain. Besides, you’ve already paid me.”

Xander’s eyes flicked to the box, then away. “That came from my mother, not me.”

He paused, then added, “I don’t owe people favors. And what I give, you don’t get to refuse.”

Athena blinked. Well, alright then, she thought.

“Very well. Thank you, Your Highness.”

With a faint smile, she then continued, “This crystal pill will only delay the poison’s progress–it won’t cleanse it entirely. I’ll need to treat you every five days to draw it out. But…”

She hesitated, glancing at him with slight unease. “It’s not easy for me to leave the duke’s estate freely. I’ll need a reason.”

“Every five days, I’ll send someone to fetch you,” Xander said matter-of-factly. “Under my orders, no one will dare stop you.”

His tone was absolute–calm, but commanding.

Athena let out a bitter smile. No one would dare defy Xander’s command, that much was true. But if this kept up, it wouldn’t be long before people started asking questions about who she really was.

She stood there for a moment, brows furrowed slightly, trying to think of a way to cover her tracks.

Just then, Xander spoke again, “Your embroidery isn’t bad. The seamstresses here are clumsy. I’ll say I’ve asked you to help train them.”

Athena was taken aback. He was giving her an excuse to come and go freely.

“That works. In that case, I’ll take my leave.”

She exhaled quietly, feeling the tension finally ease. Still, one thought lingered in her mind: How does he know I can embroider?

Xander waved her off, signaling she could go.

Athena stepped out of the room, and Nelson came forward to meet her. “Lady Athena, allow me to escort you out.”

“Thank you, Nelson.”

Just as she reached the edge of the courtyard, she spotted Nicolas and Matthew nearby, deep in conversation with several officials.

The moment they saw Athena emerge from Xander’s quarters, both men’s expressions darkened.

Nicolas hurried over, his face full of reproach. “What are you doing here?”

He didn’t even try to save face for her. Turning to Nelson, he offered an apologetic smile. “Please forgive my sister; she can be quite unruly. I’ll be sure to discipline her properly when we return.”

Matthew followed up, voice sharp with anger. “A young woman should know her place. What are you doing in a place like this?”

If it hadn’t been for the setting and timing, he might’ve lashed out at her right then and there.

In their eyes, Athena had clearly clung to Ray and followed him into the Xander Manor uninvited. Now she was wandering around unsupervised, thoroughly disgracing the duke’s estate.

Nelson frowned, a flicker of disdain crossing his face. He gave the two brothers a long, unimpressed look.

What kind of brothers speak about their own sister this way–in front of strangers, no less? No wonder Lady Athena keeps her distance from them, he thought.

“Lady Athena was personally invited by His Highness,” Nelson finally said, his tone frosty. “Are you questioning Prince Xander’s judgment?”

Both Nicolas and Matthew froze in place.

“She… she was invited?” Nicolas stammered, turning to Athena with disbelief in his eyes. “How could someone like you have caught Prince Xander’s attention?”

Nelson nearly laughed. How blind they are, letting a true gem gather dust, he thought.

He turned to Matthew and said pointedly, “You can thank your robe. Lady Athena has exceptional skill with embroidery. His Highness is preparing a birthday gift for the Princess Dowager and needed someone with refined technique. Unfortunately, the household seamstresses weren’t up to the task, so he invited Lady Athena to assist.”

Matthew’s eyes widened. He’d never imagined that something as minor as a robe would bring Athena to the attention of Xander. This was no small matter–it was a rare honor.

He exchanged a glance with Nicolas, who gave a subtle nod in return.

Their attitudes shifted instantly. Gone was the anger and scorn, replaced by smiles and suddenly saccharine expressions.

“Oh, so that’s what this was about!” Nicolas chuckled awkwardly. “Why didn’t you just say so earlier?”

“Exactly,” Matthew added with a forced grin. “If you’d explained from the start, we wouldn’t have been so worried.”

Same old routine: blame her first, then twist the story to justify their own behavior–leaving her to shoulder the consequences. They had done it since they were children.

Athena felt a familiar exhaustion settle in. She smiled faintly, but her words carried a sharp edge. “Did you ever give me the chance to explain?”

The smile on her lips didn’t reach her eyes.

Nicolas stiffened. What kind of expression is that? Is she disappointed? Over something this minor? he thought.

But come to think of it, she hadn’t been the same since returning to the manor–detached, distant, as if drawing a line between them.

How could you draw a line between siblings? We share the same blood. So what if we quarrel–what brother and sister don’t? he thought.

“As her eldest brother, isn’t it my duty to correct her when she is out of line? What have I done wrong?"

No, the one who’s changed is Athena. She’s become cold, closed off–treating us like strangers.

I truly do want to protect her. Just like this time–if she only explained herself from the start, how could we possibly misunderstand?

Matthew gave a mocking snort. “Athena, how can you speak like that? Your brother and I are just trying to look out for you.”

“Oh? And that gives you the right to humiliate me however you please?” Athena replied coldly. “Whether your concern is genuine or not, you both know the answer better than I do. But tell me–if it had been Willow in my place, would either of you have treated her the same way?”