The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 213

Chapter 213

Bound with ropes on the bed lies a figure–her hair wild and tangled as she cowers in the corner, most of her body hidden behind sheer drapes. Only the faintest outline suggested it was a woman.

Athena tentatively called out, “Macy?”

The figure flinched violently as if startled, then clutched her head and let out a piercing scream. Athena’s heart twisted in agony at the sight.

She didn’t dare get any closer, instead stopping about six feet away and softly calling, “Macy, it’s me, Athena.”

The woman on the bed didn’t respond, but at least she’d stopped screaming. There was a pause, almost like recognition dawning.

Seeing her react, Athena choked back a sob and called out again, “Macy, don’t you remember? When I was little, I loved the sweet pastries you made.

“You always said that sweet pastries could cheer people up, and if I ate more, I wouldn’t suffer anymore. Macy?”

The woman on the bed slowly turned her head. But the moment she saw Athena, she clutched her head and let out a shrill, terrified scream.

Athena wasn’t frightened by Macy’s deranged state. But when she caught sight of Macy’s mouth, Athena recoiled in horror, taking two steps back. Macy’s tongue had been cut out.

Macy opened her mouth, straining to produce garbled syllables. “L–Lady Athena—”

Then Macy wailed uncontrollably. Her hoarse, indistinguishable sobs sounded as if her throat was filled with gravel. With her tongue gone, it was impossible to tell whether she was crying or screaming.

“Macy?” When Athena saw that Macy recognized her, she shouted and rushed forward to her.

Hearing the commotion, Ferris burst into the room. “Atheny, don’t,” he called out.

He tried to stop Athena from approaching Macy, but the two women were already clinging to each other, bursting into loud sobs. The words he meant to say died on his lips, replaced by shock.

When Macy was first rescued, she wouldn’t let anyone near her. She also showed severe self–harming tendencies.

At one point, Macy even managed to run away. After she was found and brought back, to prevent her from escaping again, they had no choice but to restrain her to the bed with ropes for her safety.

The ropes were padded with cloth, and she was given enough space to move around.

Perhaps realizing that those caring for her meant no harm, Macy eventually stopped trying to run. Still, she remained mentally unstable, completely detached from reality.

Ferris had feared that Macy might hurt Athena, but the scene before him stunned him.

To his astonishment, seeing Athena seemed to bring a moment of clarity to Macy’s troubled mind. She actually recognized

Athena.

They clung desperately to each other, sobbing uncontrollably for what felt like an eternity before Athena finally pulled away.

Her gaze trembling, Athena looked at Macy over. Her body was covered in gruesome, livid scars. The sight made Athena’s

1/2

stomach churn

But the cruelest thing was that the tendons in Macy’s wrists and ankles had been severed; even the simplest grasp was now an impossible dream.

“Macy, I’m so sorry,” Athena sobbed, tears streaming down her face.

Athena had endured so much suffering herself without ever shedding a tear, but now, seeing Macy like this, it felt as if she could cry until there were no tears left.

Though Macy was Athena’s maid, they grew up together. Macy was utterly devoted, always looking out for Athena.

Whenever danger arose, Macy would step in front of Athena without hesitation to shield her. Macy was more like a sister

than a servant.

‘I could kill myself for not finding her sooner,‘ Athena berated herself inwardly. ‘If only I’d found her earlier, she wouldn’t have had to suffer so much.‘

Macy could only produce guttural, inarticulate sounds from her ruined throat.

Tortured beyond speech, she whimpered weakly, straining with all her might to lift her trembling hand, just to wipe the tears from Athena’s face.

Athena clutched Macy’s hand tightly, her voice dripping with venomous hatred as she demanded through gritted teeth, “Tell me. Who did this to you?”

2/2

田