The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 128

Chapter 128

The carriage carried Athena all the way to the Xander Manor.

Trina was left waiting in the outer courtyard, while Athena followed an attendant into the inner quarters.

The butler, Nelson Bates, had already been waiting at the door. Spotting Athena approaching, he immediately hurried forward and said, “Miss Monson, at last you’ve come!”

His face was etched with anxiety, and of course Athena knew exactly what Nelson was so worried about.

“Has Prince Xander had another attack?” she asked.

Nelson was at a loss, wringing his hands in distress. “He was doing fine just a few days ago, but today his illness has relapsed.”

Ever since Xander started taking the medicine from Athena, he had indeed improved for a while. But today, the illness came raging back with a vengeance, and Nelson was at his wits‘ end.

Athena maintained her composure and reassured Nelson, “Don’t worry. I’ll go in and check on Prince Xander.”

The crystal pill could only temporarily suppress the toxin in Xander’s body. When its effects wore off, the symptoms would naturally relapse.

Athena entered the room with her medical kit. The moment she stepped inside, she saw Xander lying on the bed, his face as pale as a sheet, with beads of sweat the size of peas trickling down his forehead.

He gritted his teeth, his face twisted in excruciating pain, as if he were enduring unbearable torment.

Athena hurried over, set down her medical kit, and carefully checked on Xander’s situation.

After a moment, Athena’s face settled into a grave expression.

To her dismay, Xander’s condition had deteriorated yet again.

Fortunately, Athena had come prepared. She had spent the past few days in the manor carefully formulating medicine for Xander.

It would take five full days to formulate the medicine to suppress the toxin.

Athena quickly pressed the medicinal pill into Xander’s mouth.

But at this moment, Xander was already semi–conscious and in no condition to open his mouth.

Athena’s face tightened with worry as she leaned toward him and said urgently, “Forgive me for this.”

After saying that, Athena quickly grasped Xander’s jaw, forced his mouth open, and slipped the pill inside.

The pill dissolved instantly on contact.

Athena called out to Nelson, “Prepare the medicinal bath at once!”

“Yes, Miss Monson,” Nelson’s voice came from outside, his footsteps fading down the corridor.

In the chamber, seeing Xander’s breathing gradually stabilize, Athena leaned down and pressed her ear against his chest to listen to his lung sounds.

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His breathing was coarse, rapid, and raspy.

Without hesitation, Athena reached for Xander’s chest. Just as she was about to unbutton his shirt, a vise–like hand clamped down on her wrist.

Xander, who had been barely conscious just moments ago, abruptly snapped open his eyes.

Athena gasped in shock, her eyes snapping up instinctively.

Only then did Athena realize that Xander, who had been barely conscious just moments ago, had abruptly opened his eyes.

His eyes, which had been sickly and dim just moments before, now gleamed like an unsheathed blade, razor–sharp and fixed on her, filled with fierce vigilance and barely restrained aggression.

An invisible pressure washed over her, leaving her weak–kneed.

“Prince Xander.” Athena winced at the sharp pain in her wrist, frowning. She couldn’t tell if he was conscious or still in a daze.

‘If he was unconsciously lashing out, he might injure me,‘ Athena worried.

Athena called out twice, but he remained unresponsive.

Her heart sank.

The toxin clouded the mind, driving victims to lash out unconsciously.

For someone as vigilant as Xander, his defensive instincts would be even fiercer.

Killing Athena would be as effortless as breathing for him.

Just as the thought crossed Athena’s mind, Xander’s grip on her wrist abruptly tightened with crushing force, as if intent on shattering her wrist bones.

The vice–like grip made Athena cry out in pain. Her free hand flashed with a silver needle, plunging it straight into Xander’s pressure point on his shoulder.

Almost instantly, Xander’s crushing grip went slack.

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