The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Athena’s gaze flicked over him coldly. “What’s there to be satisfied about? It wasn’t Willow who was punished. You took her punishment, so why would I be the one moved?” Her tone was frigid, laced with sarcasm.

Nicolas felt like he’d been struck by a needle. Even though he, as her older brother, had made a mistake, Athena was still his sister–and yet, she could be so heartless.

“You…” Nicolas couldn’t find the words to respond, his throat tightening with a strange, metallic taste. He tried to suppress the rising blood, but his body couldn’t hold up anymore. Slowly, he staggered backward.

Eloise screamed, shoving Athena aside, and rushed toward Nicolas.

Athena’s legs were already weak, barely keeping her upright. When Eloise knocked into her, she lost her balance and began to fall backward.

Behind her, the sharp edge of a table loomed.

Just as Athena seemed poised to crash into the table, a strong hand caught her waist and pulled her back.

In the dizzying whirl of motion, Athena looked up to see Michael’s handsome face up close. Her heart skipped a beat, and as soon as she realized who it was, she quickly stepped back, putting distance between them.

Her eyes lowered, not daring to meet his. But deep inside, a long–dormant part of her stirred at the brief touch.

Michael’s eyes darkened with a tinge of disappointment. After all this time, Athena still remained so distant from him. He wondered, ‘Is her heart really made of stone?‘

“Nicolas…” Willow’s weak voice cut through the tension. She stumbled toward Nicolas, barely able to keep her footing.

But as she passed Michael, she grasped his sleeve with surprising accuracy. “Michael, please check on Nicolas, he… he’s hurt…”

She was cut off by another fit of coughing, almost choking.

Michael quickly caught her, carefully helping her back into a chair.

Then, he moved to assist Nicolas. Upon seeing the whip marks on his back, his eyes widened in shock. Glancing at Athena, he immediately surmised that today’s events were somehow connected to her.

His brows furrowed deeply. He thought, ‘Why is it that whenever Athena is involved, someone always gets hurt–whether it is her or those around her?‘

Before he could think any further, Nicolas’s weak voice interrupted. “After today, I hope you’ll stop causing trouble for Willow.”

Athena smiled faintly. “As long as she doesn’t bother me, I won’t make trouble for her. I can manage myself–can you handle her?”

Nicolas glanced at Willow, who was crying pitifully with red, swollen eyes. His expression softened with concern: “Nicolas, it’s all my fault. It’s all Willow’s fault…”

The more she cried, the more Nicolas’s heart ached. One sister cried over his injuries, while the other remained as cold as

stone.

He scoffed bitterly, his words sharp. “Do you really think she’s as malicious as you?”

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Chapter 27

Athena met his gaze with a cold smile. “Since you think I’m so malicious, then stay away from me from now on.” Without another word, she turned and walked out of the courtyard.

Behind her, more sobs echoed.

Nicolas seemed to collapse under the weight of it all, either from the anger or from everything that had transpired.

As Athena left, Gwen followed her out.

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“Thank you, Gwen,” Athena paused, then asked, “Does Grandmother know about what happened here?”

Gwen sighed. “How could I tell her? I wouldn’t dare.”

“Then why?” Athena asked, confused.

Gwen smiled softly. “When you first returned to the manor, Lady Margaret asked me to keep an eye on you.”

She didn’t say more, but Athena understood. She had no reliable allies by her side. Margaret had tasked Gwen with looking out for her, knowing she might be taken advantage of.

Gwen had sensed something was wrong today and brought Siena over to investigate. She hadn’t expected it to prove so useful, but it did.

A warm feeling spread through Athena’s chest, and her eyes welled up slightly. It was as though the armor around her heart had been lifted, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a bit lighter.

Gwen noticed Athena’s vulnerability but found comfort in it. Three years of pressure hadn’t broken her; it had only made her stronger. This, in the end, was a good thing.

They continued walking and talking, moving through the garden.

As they reached a thicket, Gwen paused. “Where did the flower I planted here go?”

“The weeds have grown so thick that the flower got covered up,” Athena said, stepping forward to clear the weeds, revealing a young flower sprout.

Gwen chuckled. “See? Once you clear the weeds, the flower shows itself. Weeds steal the nutrients from the flower, so it’s best to get rid of them sooner rather than later.”

As she reached down to pull the weeds, Athena gently stopped her. “Even if we need to pull them, we should wait for the right time.

“The weeds may be taking the flower’s nutrients, but they also hide its sharpness. Once the flower is stronger, we can remove the weeds all at once, which would be better.”

Gwen smiled with approval. “You have a sharp mind, Lady Athena. As long as you understand what needs to be done, that’s what matters most.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Gwen,” Athena said with a polite smile.

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