Chapter 55
After murmuring a few words of comfort to Trina, Athena succumbed to the medicine’s effects and sank into a heavy sleep.
For two days, no one disturbed Athena. She finally managed to get some undisturbed sleep. On the third day, Eloise came calling.
Athena didn’t want to see her, but she said gently, “Mrs. McGee sent someone with a message. She’s inviting you to attend an event with Mr. McGee.” Valentine’s Day was coming up. On this day, women pray to the heavens for wisdom and romance. Every year, people hang all kinds of festive decorations along the streets to celebrate. The festivities grew livelier each day, and on the festival day itself, the streets were packed with revelers and bustling with excitement.
Gale must have arranged for Athena and Ferris to view the decorations together to foster their relationship. Since it was Gale’s order, Athena had no choice but to comply.
She gave Eloise a curt nod. “Understood.”
Seeing Athena’s indifferent expression, which made it clear she didn’t want to talk any further, Eloise felt a pang of sadness in her heart. Eloise’s lips trembled, her eyes rimmed with red as she asked in a shaky voice, “Athena, is your hand feeling any better?”
Seeing that Athena showed no response, Eloise murmured to herself, “What a foolish thing for me to say. With such a serious injury, of course you can’t recover overnight. I haven’t visited these past few days because I was afraid my presence might upset you. But please know, in my heart, you are still so important to me.”
Eloise reached out, wanting to stroke Athena’s hair, but when she met Athena’s icy gaze, she awkwardly pulled it back. Eloise felt a lump in her throat and had no idea why. Even though she clearly cared about Athena, things rarely went as she hoped. Instead of growing closer, the rift between her and Athena only widened. Tears threatened to spill, but Eloise held them back, not wanting to displease Athena any further. Facing her daughter, she felt utterly helpless. She felt that even the iciest heart should have thawed by now.
Athena couldn’t bear to watch Eloise cry in front of her, as if she were the one who’d been so terribly wronged. Yet it was Athena who bore all the blame and endured the scolding. She thought, “What right does Eloise have to cry?!”
“Understood,” Athena replied flatly, eager to be rid of Eloise.
Noticing Athena’s displeasure, Eloise quietly sniffed, swallowing her grievances. She forced a smile and said softly, “Then get some rest.”
Athena rose and curtsied. With one last lingering look, Eloise finally left.
After Eloise left, Trina frowned with concern at Athena’s injured hand and said, “But my lady, your wound hasn’t healed yet. How can—”
Athena couldn’t help but think, “Even Trina knows my injury hasn’t healed yet. Why couldn’t Mother have just refused Mrs. McGee for me? But no, she did nothing. Or maybe, in her eyes, this injury is nothing serious, just a couple of days' rest and I’ll be fine, right?”
But what Eloise didn’t know was that most of the royal family’s methods were cloaked in darkness. Those torments could break a person’s soul without leaving a single visible mark. Though Athena’s hand seemed healed, any movement brought stabbing pain, a pain that would persist for months.
“Don’t worry,” Athena reassured Trina. “The wound’s nearly healed now. And as long as I’m careful, it won’t cause any trouble.” For the past two days, Athena had been taking her own herbal medicine. Naturally, her remedy was far superior to anything an ordinary doctor could offer.
“Trina, remove the bandage for me,” Athena said.
Trina fretted. “But the physician said the bandage must stay on for a week or so. Please wait a little longer, my lady.”
“Take it off. I’ll be fine,” Athena said firmly. Keeping the bandage on was inconvenient, and more importantly, Athena didn’t want Ferris to think she was just playing the victim.
Seeing Athena’s resolve, Trina reluctantly stepped forward to remove the bandage.
As the bandage was removed, Athena’s hand appeared pale and flawless, without a single bruise in sight.
Trina gasped in wonder, “My lady, your hand has healed so quickly!”
Athena forced a smile but said nothing. She experimentally flexed her fingers; as expected, pain shot to the bone, and a fine sheen of sweat broke out on her forehead.
As evening fell, festive decorations and lights illuminated the streets. Trina arranged Athena’s hair in an intricate clip and adorned it with an emerald hairpin, lending her a lively grace.
After a period of recuperation, Athena no longer looked as gaunt as before. Her sunken cheeks had filled out, and her skin now glowed with healthy color. On the surface, she appeared full of life, yet her eyes remained dull and lifeless, utterly devoid of the vivacious charm expected of an eighteen–year–old maiden.
After Trina finished helping her change, she was startled to find that she was still painfully thin, little more than skin and bones. Her heart aching, Trina said to Athena, “My lady, you should eat something.”
Athena’s lips curled slightly in a humorless smile, but she said nothing. Three years of torment had ruined her stomach. She could tolerate neither cold nor spicy food, and even eating a bit more than usual would make her uncomfortable. Her current appetite was barely half that of an average woman. When her stomach ailment flared up, the excruciating pain would leave her wishing for death. Each episode would take months to recover from.
“Alright, it’s about time we left,” Athena said as she rose to her feet, with Trina following closely behind her.
Siena and Aliza exchanged a nervous glance before stepping forward. “My lady, what about us?” they asked anxiously. The hunger in their eyes swelled uncontrollably, their naked ambition leaking out even in unguarded moments.
Seeing that the two of them weren’t keen on going, Athena said, “Trina will come with me. You two stay behind.” Her words suited them perfectly.
Siena thought excitedly, “Athena and Ferris have gone to hang out, and Mr. Monson is still at the estate. This is the perfect chance to get close to him!”
Siena and Aliza cheerfully replied, “Yes, my lady!”
Trina cast a pitying glance at the two of them and thought, “They are oblivious to the fact that Miss Monson has already cast them aside.”
Outside the Monson family estate, Ferris’s carriage already stood waiting. When Athena emerged, Ferris lifted the carriage curtain to look at her, and froze in astonishment.
Athena was dressed in a pale cyan gown that accentuated her slender neck and delicate shoulders. Her hair was simply tied up, with a few loose strands falling gracefully around her face. Under the light, her features were softly illuminated, her brows arched like distant mountain ridges, her lips a vivid crimson, like winter plum blossoms dusted with snow.
Ferris couldn’t help but frown. The scrawny girl with dull yellow hair from his memories had now blossomed into an elegant young woman. But her eyes, so lifeless now, as if they’d seen too much suffering in life, were filled with a world–weariness. He found himself wondering, “How did the vivacious, playful Athena once know become just a shadow of herself!”
The girl who used to laugh and chatter nonstop now sat as silent as a statue. She hadn’t spoken a single word since getting into the carriage. The atmosphere was painfully awkward. Ferris was never skilled at charming women, so he was clearly annoyed by Athena’s cold expression. He said coldly, “If you’re not willing, then why force yourself?”
Athena looked up at him, a faint apology in her eyes. “My lord, what makes you say that?”
“You’ve been silent since boarding, not even sparing me a glance. Must I stoop to coax you?”
Ferris was the center of attention since birth. Others had always catered to him. Athena’s aloof demeanor clearly displeased him.