The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Willow’s sobbing stopped the moment Athena fainted.

“Get the house doctor, quickly!” At Henry’s low command, the maidservants scrambled to help Athena, rushing forward in a

flurry.

But there was someone faster, heading toward her before they could even get close.

Just as Michael was about to reach Athena, Nicolas grabbed his arm. “What are you doing? Everyone saw you carry Willow back. Now you’re going to pick up Athena too? Is that really appropriate?”

Nicolas’s eyes burned with anger. “You can’t have both the fish and the bear’s paw. You can’t want both of them—you’re being far too greedy.”

Michael instinctively glanced at Willow. She lowered her head, a fleeting sadness crossing her face before tears began to fall.

Michael understood why Nicolas had stopped him. After returning to the residence, he had confirmed with Eloise that the marriage proposal had come from the Osborne family, not Athena’s doing.

But Athena was the one he was betrothed to. He had always treated her as the future lady of the duke’s estate. He wondered, ‘How have things come to this?‘

Furrowing his brow, Michael didn’t move, but his gaze remained locked on Athena.

Willow’s voice, laced with tears, reached his ears. “It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, Athena wouldn’t be sick. I should be the one to blame.”

Her sobs tore at Eloise’s heart. She paused in her tracks, then turned to pull Willow into a tight embrace. “It’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself.”

She helped Willow toward the Ivory Grove. “You’re not well either. Let’s go back and let you rest first.”

“Mother, I’m fine. I need to see Athena…” Willow’s words were cut short by a violent coughing fit. Her frail body shook with each harsh cough, and her face quickly flushed.

Eloise, filled with concern, said, “It won’t help to see her now. It’s better for you to rest and recover first.”

Willow, her eyes red, reluctantly nodded. “I’ll listen to you, Mother.”

In the Snowdrop Wing, Athena lay in bed, her face as pale as paper.

Nicolas had never felt so panicked. The image of Athena collapsing kept replaying in his mind. He had never seen her so weak.

She’d always been strong as an ox, ever since she was a child. He wondered, ‘When did she become so fragile? She only bowed in the rain all night, and I didn’t punish her harshly. So why is she still burning with fever?‘

His heart felt as though it were being squeezed in a vise, the suffocating pain making his head throb.

He pressed his hand to his forehead, instinctively wanting to call out to Athena, but he stopped himself.

He had always suffered from migraines, and whenever an attack came, Athena would make him medicinal meals and gently rub his temples to relieve the pain. But ever since she went to the military camp, no one had been there to help him.

The house doctor entered, carrying a medical box.

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Chapter 18

Nicolas quickly stood and asked, “How is she?”

The doctor bowed slightly, his face serious. “Lady Athena is very weak. She can’t handle much more.”

As he spoke, the doctor cast a meaningful glance at Nicolas, as if there was something he wanted to say but didn’t. He had never seen a young lady suffer as much as Athena.

“Her knee is nearly beyond repair. If she doesn’t get proper rest and care, she could be left with a permanent disability.”

After speaking, the doctor sighed repeatedly. “I’m not skilled enough. Please forgive me, Lord Nicolas.”

Nicolas’s eyes widened in shock, his confusion clear. “How could this be? She’s never said anything about it before.”

If Athena had told him, he never would have punished her like that.