Chapter 486

Just then, a man dressed like a steward came up to Frieda. He bowed respectfully and said, “Miss, Lord Curtis has asked you to bring Elijah to the study.”

Frieda looked at Athena in surprise, and Athena was just as baffled.

Curtis actually wanted to see her. How interesting.

“Father must also admire your talent and wants to keep you in the mansion,” Frieda analyzed Curtis’s thoughts for Athena on the way.

Speaking of her worries, she sighed softly. “My family has been loyal and upright for generations. I really don’t know what the King is thinking, actually sending Prince Regent to Aeridon.”

She continued, “Because of this, Father hasn’t slept well in a long time. I heard that the Prince Regent is unapproachable, ferocious, and cruel. They even say he has a ghastly face and is terrifying to look at. And yet Father still wants to marry me off to him. Isn’t that just pushing me into a fire pit?”

Athena listened quietly and said with surprise, “That’s scary.”

If Xander knew what outsiders thought of him, he might be upset. Fortunately, what reassured her was that Xander was not an impulsive person. It was good that he could remain calm even after learning she had entered the manor of Curtis.

Athena’s face showed a look of fear. Seeing this, Frieda patted her on the shoulder and said, “Don’t be afraid. Just live here in peace.”

She added, “My family has a hundred-year foundation. It’s not something that can be shaken so easily. Even if the Prince Regent comes, we need not take him seriously. With my father’s ability, he will surely make him leave without achieving anything.”

Frieda’s triumphant voice made Athena smile slightly.

No wonder the Blumenfeld family was so arrogant. Even this little county princess dared to be this audacious. It seemed that this great tree, the Blumenfeld family, really was due to be uprooted.

Before long, the two arrived outside the study. Frieda led Athena inside, where they saw Curtis sitting in a wide rosewood chair. When he saw Athena, his expression turned icy as he looked at her. “You know medicine?”

“Yes, I know a little,” Athena replied calmly.

He said, “To be able to cure my father’s illness, you are no ordinary doctor. If not for that, you’d already be a puddle of flesh.”

Curtis let out a cold snort and looked at Frieda. “Frieda, you leave first, I have words to say to him alone.”

Though Frieda was a bit willful, she knew when to read the room. She obediently responded, “Yes, Father.”

When Frieda had gone, Curtis fixed Athena with a scrutinizing gaze. He said, “I don’t care what your motives are, but if you dare to have any improper thoughts about my daughter, I will make sure you die with no grave to be buried in.”

Athena quickly lowered her head and replied, “I only want to live and dare not have any extravagant ideas.”

“That’s good.” Curtis looked at her with disdain, as though regarding an ant. He said, “Since you’ve entered my manor, it shows you have some ability. From today on, you will remain here and serve me.” His tone grew even colder. “This is not a request for your opinion. Do you understand?”

Athena respectfully replied, “I thank you, Your Highness, for your appreciation.”

Her respectful attitude made Curtis lower his guard a little. Then he ordered Athena, “They say medicine and poison are two sides of the same coin. Make me a slow-acting poison.”

Athena looked at him in puzzlement, and his expression immediately darkened. “What, you refuse?”

Athena quickly said, “Not at all. I just wish to know how strong you want the poison to be.”

Curtis gave a proud snort. “I recently took in a new shadow guard. The man is highly skilled, but I don’t quite trust him, so I want to use poison to keep him in check.”

Athena nodded understandingly. “I understand.” She took out a bottle of medicine from her sleeve and handed it over with both hands. “After taking this poison, you need to take the antidote once every seven days. It is best to use it to contain your subordinates.”

Curtis took the vial, held it to his nose, and sniffed, his brows furrowing slightly. Then he set the vial on the table and ordered toward the door. “Seventeen, come in.”

Soon, a man dressed in black with a mask over his face walked in. The moment she saw him, Athena’s eyes went wide.

That familiar body shape, familiar eyebrows, and eyes. It was obviously Xander. She really wanted to slap him on the head.

He was the Prince Regent, and yet he dared to brazenly sneak into the manor and become Curtis’s shadow guard. Beneath the mask, Xander’s lips slowly curved up. He was happy to see his wife.

“Your Highness,” even standing still, his presence exuded a killing aura so intense that even Curtis felt its pressure.

Curtis instinctively leaned back in his chair, putting some distance between them, secretly wondering where this terrifying aura came from.

Curtis thought, ‘He doesn’t even try to restrain himself when he sees me.’

Curtis cleared his throat and pointed to the vial on the table, ordering, “Swallow this medicine.”

Xander stepped forward, picked up the vial, and downed the poison in one go. This action left Curtis dumbfounded. That was poison, not candy, yet Xander was so happy taking it.

He thought, ‘Or is this person deliberately trying to show loyalty to me?’

“Your Highness,” Xander handed the empty vial back. Curtis peered inside and nodded in satisfaction.

Xander finished the poison. Now he could sleep peacefully.

Curtis said, “This poison has no cure. You must come to me every seven days for the antidote. If you dare betray me, I will make sure you die without a grave.”

Xander stood there before him, clearly just a shadow guard, but his overwhelming presence made Curtis feel like he was the one in the lower position.

Perhaps to reassert his own authority, Curtis stood up. He raised his voice. “Do you understand?”

“Understood,” Xander bowed.

Athena clenched her fists tightly, inwardly cursing Xander for being such an idiot. “That’s poison, poison! Could you drink a little less? You didn’t leave a single drop! And still looks like you have not had enough. Are you insane?”

Curtis really hadn’t noticed. After all, Athena was currently in male disguise. If he had known the two were husband and wife, he would have been furious.

Then, Curtis said, “Tomorrow is the Blumenfeld family party. Seventeen, you will stay by my side to protect me.”

When Curtis mentioned the Prince Regent, he practically ground his teeth. “The Prince Regent is cunning and ruthless. Who knows if he’ll try to strike against me? If he does…” At this point, he looked at “Seventeen” with cold eyes. “Do you know what to do?”

“I know.” Xander’s eyes gleamed with killing intent as he said, “Kill him.”

The intensity of his gaze made Curtis’s scalp tingle. He thought, ‘Why does it feel like he wants to kill me?’

“Enough. You may go.” Curtis rubbed his temples. Having a shadow guard this powerful wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

Once Xander left, the oppressive atmosphere in the room immediately lightened. Curtis felt as though a mountain had been lifted from his shoulders.

He was about to relax into his chair when he saw Athena still standing there. His eyes turned cold. “Why are you still here? Waiting for me to serve you drinks?”

Athena bowed to Curtis. “I’ll take my leave.”

Leaving the prince’s courtyard, Athena started heading back to her own quarters. But the manor was too big, and she soon found herself lost.

Just as she passed a patch of shrubs, a large hand suddenly shot out, dragging her into a hard, unyielding embrace.