The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 30

Matthew’s face darkened, his expression as black as the bottom of a pot, filled with seething anger.

He thought, ‘Athena, how dare you?‘

“Athena has some nerve,” he said, his voice low and sharp with fury.

Aliza flinched, lowering her head in fear. “Lord Joseph, please don’t blame Lady Athena. She didn’t know you were back at the manor.”

Joseph, with a mocking glance, shot her a skeptical look. “You’re still covering for her? What did she promise you? If she hadn’t returned, Mother would’ve given you to Willow. So why, as soon as she’s back, does a maid who once belonged to Willow suddenly become hers?”

Aliza lowered her head even further, too afraid to speak.

Her pitiful demeanor only confirmed Matthew’s suspicions. Fury rising within him, he stormed into the courtyard to confront Athena.

The servants and maids in the courtyard saw him coming and tried to block his path, but with a sharp command, Matthew dismissed them. “Get out of the way.”

None of them dared to challenge him, only watching in silence as he kicked open the door to Athena’s room.

Inside, Athena stood quietly in plain clothes, her frail figure and pale face startling Matthew into stillness.

He instinctively glanced around the room but saw no one else. Only then did he turn back to her, his voice unsure. “You… are you really Athena?”

The Athena he remembered had been healthy, vibrant. The woman before him, however, seemed as though life had drained from her entirely, reduced to a mere shadow of herself.

The once lively, cheerful Athena was now a world apart from the person standing in front of him.

A sharp pang hit Matthew’s chest. Something wasn’t right. But he couldn’t put his finger on it. He thought, ‘Three years of hard labor can’t have changed her this much, can it?‘

Athena gave a faint smile, but there was no warmth behind it.

Her tone was so indifferent, so detached, that Matthew almost felt as though he was speaking to a stranger. “Lord Matthew, what brings you here, making such a scene in my courtyard?”

Matthew frowned, his mind struggling to comprehend. “What did you just call me?”

He knew Athena had changed, but he never expected her to be so cold and distant. Even he, her elder brother, wasn’t worthy of the simple courtesy of being called his name. He had always been the one who spoiled her.

As a child, he never allowed anyone to get close to his horse except Athena.

He trusted her to care for it, and she always did so perfectly, keeping his beloved horse in top condition. His favorite bow and arrows had also been entrusted to her.

She had always been the one person he trusted, his most cherished confidante. But now, she couldn’t even call him “Lord Matthew.”

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Chapter 30

“Athena, have you lost your mind? You’re calling him Lord Matthew?” Joseph’s voice dripped with mockery. “Are you going to deny me too?”

Athena didn’t acknowledge Joseph’s words. Out of all her brothers, he was the one she disliked the most.

She focused on the small space in front of her, speaking in a calm, almost detached tone. “So, you’ve come here today to seek revenge for Willow.”

It wasn’t a question, but a statement, because this kind of thing had happened too many times before.

Every time Willow was wronged, the two brothers would storm in without hesitation, holding her accountable for everything without even knowing the facts.

Sometimes, Athena couldn’t help but wonder what kind of sins Henry had committed to father two such foolish men.

Already frail, the commotion from the two brothers was starting to wear Athena down.

She sat down on a stool and poured herself a cup of coffee, taking small sips. As she lifted her arm, her sleeve slipped down, revealing large scars on her skin.

Though she quickly tried to cover them, Matthew had already seen them. The sight of them was so shocking, it felt like a burning pain in his chest.

“How did you get these injuries?” Matthew asked, his voice thick with concern.

Chapter 31