The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 206

Chapter 206

Eloise scolded the butler, leaving him feeling wronged.

“Lady Eloise, I–I’ve done my utmost,” the butler mustered his courage and stammered. “I tried to send them away, but they’ve surrounded the estate gates and refused to leave.

“They’re making threats, swearing they won’t budge unless they get their money today. I truly had no choice but to seek your counsel.”

Eloise gasped in shock, her voice laced with aristocratic disdain as she demanded, “What gives them the audacity to threaten this lady?”

The butler stood off to the side in a cowering posture, not daring to utter a word.

Eloise pressed her temples wearily and said in an exhausted tone, “Withdraw some money from the estate’s vault—just enough to send them away for now. We’ll settle the remaining balance gradually; there’s no need to pay it all at once.”

Eloise thought to herself, ‘If I’m this straightforward, these people will surely try to push their luck.’

The butler acknowledged with a respectful nod and quickly turned to leave the room.

“Lady Athena shows so little consideration for you, Lady Eloise,” Dorothea said indignantly. “With the estate in such dire straits, how could she bear to let you shoulder all this? You’ve exhausted yourself for this household, yet Lady Athena—”

Eloise let out a soft sigh and leaned back in her chair, her eyes filled with exhaustion and resignation. “Enough,” she said. “What’s done is done. There’s no use dwelling on it now. Let’s first resolve this immediate trouble before us.”

An hour later, the butler returned to report. With the creditors finally gone, Eloise allowed herself a sigh of relief:

Just then, Nicolas burst in, looking utterly disheveled, his clothes mud–splattered and hair in wild disarray. He rushed in, his face alight with joy. “Mother, I’ve found it.”

Cradled in his hand was a bell. It was none other than the very bell Willow had dropped into the lake.

At the sight of the object, Eloise felt energy surge through her. She clasped her hands in prayer. “God has shown us mercy. The duke’s estate is finally saved.”

With this bell, their 300–thousand–dollar debt could finally be settled. Not only would this earn them Fermin’s favor, but it might even sway Xander to Fermin’s side.

Eloise was so overjoyed she could hardly contain herself. She exclaimed to Nicolas, “All the money and effort we poured into draining that lake wasn’t in vain after all. Our hard work finally paid off.”

“Absolutely. We spent several thousand dollars just to recover this bell,” Nicolas echoed her sentiment, nodding. He felt his heart bleed at the thought of all the money they had spent.

Had he known the immense value of this tiny bell, Nicolas would have guarded it with his life.

“Quick, take it to the Fermin Manor at once,” Eloise exclaimed joyfully.

Nicolas stood up eagerly. “I’ll go right away, Mother.”

Nicolas was already striding toward the door when Eloise quickly called after him, “Nicolas, do change your attire. You can’t

1/2

2/2

sibly visit looking like that.”

Nicolas’s hair was disheveled, his clothes splattered with mud, and even the soles of his boots were caked in grime.

Z

Only when Eloise reminded him did Nicolas suddenly realize how disheveled he was.

“Yes. I was so overjoyed. I completely forgot about that. Thanks for the reminder, Mother.” Nicolas thanked Eloise before bounding out, his face beaming with excitement.

Eloise’s spirits lifted considerably with this stroke of good fortune. The crushing burden weighing upon the duke’s estate had finally been lifted.

In celebration of this happy event, Henry ordered the estate to prepare sumptuous food and fine wine for a grand feast that evening.

Margaret was present, and naturally, Athena attended too.

During the feast, Henry’s face glowed with excitement as he raised his wine cup, eyes sparkling. “How wonderful. Our bad time is finally over. Today we must celebrate properly.”

Henry’s gaze swept across the room, but Matthew and Joseph were nowhere to be seen. ‘Joseph has already been sent to the military camp for rehabilitation, so why isn’t Matthew here either?‘ Henry wondered.

“Where is he?” Henry asked Eloise.