Chapter 463

Athena couldn’t sleep. Xander’s triumphant return had already made the court officials dissatisfied.

Even the King went to the city gate to greet him, but he secretly ran back to the manor.

That would give those old ministers a handle to criticize him for being arrogant.

But seeing Xander sleeping so soundly, Athena couldn’t bear to wake him.

So, she decided to let him be.

Xander got up after another hour.

Athena was already dressed. He lay on the bed, smiling as he watched her.

His eyes were shining.

“What are you looking at?” Athena glared at him and inserted the jewelry into her bun.

Xander smiled sweetly and said, “You look so beautiful. I’ve dreamt of this scene countless times, and now that I see it, I feel at peace.”

He got out of bed, wrapped his arms around Athena’s waist from behind, and sighed, “This is so nice.”

“Alright, hurry up and get dressed. The palace banquet is already late, and those old guys will have something to say when we get there.” Athena pushed Xander away, signaling him to change quickly.

Xander chuckled softly, letting them talk.

He picked up an eyebrow pencil and began to draw Athena’s eyebrows, not leaving until she repeatedly urged him to go, and they went out the door together.

By the time the two arrived at the palace, the banquet was already coming to an end.

As soon as they appeared, the eyes of the court officials fell on them.

“Prince Xander and the Princess Consort are so late to arrive. The King has been waiting anxiously.”

“If you two hadn’t arrived, I’m afraid the palace banquet would have moved to the Xander Manor,” Minister Baptiste stroked his beard, subtly hinting that Xander was deliberately being pretentious.

Athena stood firm, heard the words and raised her eyes to look at the speaker, her eyes clear but sharp. “Minister Baptiste, what are you talking about?”

“That sounds like sowing discord. Are you trying to stir up discord between the King and Prince Xander?”

Her voice was not loud, but it clearly spread throughout the hall, emphasizing the words “sowing discord.”

Baptiste’s face turned pale, not expecting Athena to be so sharp-tongued.

He hurriedly got up to defend himself, “Your Highness, please forgive me. It’s all because I had a few too many drinks and spoke nonsense. Please don’t blame me, Your Highness.”

“Oh, I see.” Athena feigned understanding and nodded.

Her tone, however, became several degrees colder, “Since you know you have a problem with speaking without restraint, you must not be greedy for wine next time.

“Otherwise, you may offend the king and bring trouble upon yourself.

“You are an imperial censor, don’t gossip like a shrew in the marketplace.”

“You…” Baptiste was speechless, his face alternating between green and white.

He had always prided himself on being upright in the court, daring to argue with anyone.

Being publicly reprimanded by a young woman today, how could he swallow this insult?

He turned abruptly to the dragon throne and bowed deeply to the King, “Your Majesty, I have no intention of stirring up trouble, but simply misspoke unintentionally.

“But Princess Consort is being so aggressive, is she relying on Prince Xander’s favor to be arrogant and deliberately make things difficult for me?”

With Baptiste taking the lead, others at the banquet immediately echoed in agreement.

The Minister of Finance stepped forward and reported, “Your Majesty, although Prince Xander has worked hard and made great achievements, this is not an excuse for Mrs. Cavendish to be arrogant.

“Your Majesty personally went to the city gate to greet him, but Prince Xander went straight back to the manor, which clearly shows that he does not respect Your Majesty!”

As soon as the words fell, the hall fell silent, and everyone’s eyes were focused on Xander.

Xander stepped forward and said loudly, “Your Majesty, I was indeed delayed by important matters. As for being late today, it was because Athena suddenly had heart palpitations, and I was worried about her health. That was why I was late.

“If you guys think I am wrong, I am willing to accept the punishment, but please do not speak ill of women and children.”

He would let no one harm his wife.

The following words changed the expressions of everyone present.

Everyone thought, ‘Xander thinks too highly of Athena. How could he allow a woman sit on his shoulders and flaunt herself in front of everyone?‘

Someone said with dissatisfaction, “Prince Xander, as a man, you shouldn’t say that. No matter how important this woman is, can she be more important than the King?”

He stretched out his sleeves and pointed at the crowd.

“Prince Xander, take a look. Many ministers are waiting for the two of you, and even the King is waiting. Yet, you refuse to attend the banquet just because the woman is sick. How can you say you have any respect for the King?

“Prince Xander, you are being too arrogant.”

This righteous and forceful speech won the support of the officials present.

“That’s right, Mr. Vogel is absolutely correct.”

Xander stood tall, his gaze sweeping across the ministers at the banquet.

His voice was stern, filled with the coldness of a seasoned warrior. “But I would like to ask you all, is this a family banquet or the imperial court?

“If you want to discuss my guilt, why not do it in the court tomorrow?

“What kind of gentleman would be so aggressive towards a Princess Consort?”

At this point, he paused, his tone growing colder. “If you are still not satisfied, why not remove my official hat, bind me, and throw me into the heavenly prison, how about that?”

All the officials present gasped.

Xander had just returned to the court after winning a battle, if they were to bind him and throw him into prison, they would drown in the spittle of the people.

For a moment, the hall was silent, and no one dared to say a word.

Upon hearing this, the King frowned. “Baptiste, you are drunk, go back and sober up. As for the Minister of Finance…”

The King turned his gaze. “I am more aware than anyone of Prince Xander’s loyalty. If you say such unpleasant things at the banquet again, you will be punished to copy ‘the Monarch and Ministers‘ ten times.”

The faces of Baptiste and the Minister of Finance turned pale as they repeatedly apologized, not daring to say another word.

However, Xander was not satisfied.

He cupped his fist and bowed to the King, saying, “Your Majesty, I rushed here for days, first to report good news to Your Majesty, and second, to see my wife, children, and mother, whom I have not seen for many days.”

“My sincere loyalty has been distorted by these courtiers, so I might as well not be Prince Regent.”

As he spoke, he took off his official hat and held it high above his head.

In a loud voice, he said, “Your Majesty, please take back the official seal of Prince Regent and allow me to take my wife and children back to the fiefdom to live a carefree life.”

“Uncle?” The King stood up excitedly, clearly anxious, “I will not allow it.”

All the officials were dumbfounded; they just wanted to suppress Xander’s prestige and remind him that he was always below the King.

Unexpectedly, he went so far as to resign from his official position.

The ministers, who had been filled with righteous indignation, all knelt down like dumplings being dropped into a pot.

They shouted, “Please, Prince Regent, calm down.”

If Xander were to resign, these officials would be infamous for all time.

The people would say that these pests forced Xander to resign.