The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Athena smiled faintly, her expression unconcerned. “Lord Matthew, are you asking about these scars because you plan to avenge me?”

Matthew paused, momentarily taken aback. While he felt for Athena, he also understood that life in the military meant hardship–it was inevitable.

He thought, ‘If it hadn’t been for that, how could she have become so well–behaved? We were doing this for her own good, but she refuses to see it.

Suppressing the ache in his chest, Matthew forced a stern expression. “Why do you always target Willow? Haven’t we treated you well? Why do you insist on competing with her for that small bit of affection? All it does is make us more disappointed in you.”

“Affection?” Athena’s eyes flashed with sarcasm. “Tell me, was that tiny bit of affection something you gave me?”

Matthew blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”

“After I came back, I tried to win your favor. I willingly fed your horses, cleaned the stables, and when you loved archery, I even went to the mountains to gather wood for your bows, getting scratched and bruised in the process. But my efforts only earned a glance, and you handed my bow straight to Willow…”

Athena had hoped that by now, talking about the past wouldn’t stir her emotions. But bringing it all up again, the old hurt rushed back, nearly drowning her in frustration.

She had poured her heart out, offering everything she had, only for it to be trampled upon.

Joseph muttered, clearly irritated, “You did all that willingly, so why are you making such a fuss? Besides, Willow is our sister. We let her have some things–what’s the harm in that?”

“So, I’m just supposed to be ignored?” Athena took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm. “To you, my efforts mean nothing, so you think it’s fine to trample on me. But if it were Willow, would you treat her the same way?”

Matthew and Joseph both fell silent. In their hearts, they both knew the answer. They wouldn’t treat Willow like that—she was their little sister.

When Willow was a child, they cherished every scribble she made or every clumsy little pouch she stitched. They kept them. as treasures, proof of her love.

But Athena’s efforts, her scribbles, her pouches–those had been tossed aside, even mocked.

“Athena, do you even know what it means to copy someone else badly?” Matthew could still hear their taunts ringing in his

ears.

His brow furrowed, as if he felt something was off.

He didn’t deny Athena’s sacrifices, but Willow was different. She had no one but them.

“So, this is why you resent Willow?” Matthew quickly found a way to justify his attack on her. “Even so, you shouldn’t be so hostile toward her. If you had an issue, you could’ve spoken to us directly. Why go behind her back with these underhanded

tactics?”

Joseph nodded in agreement. “Yeah, if you’re upset, why not just tell us?”

As she faced their questioning gazes, Athena’s smile grew colder. “From the start, you’ve never respected me. I’m just a

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country girl with bad habits, and Willow is precious and refined. That’s the difference between us.”

Matthew flinched, guilt momentarily flaring up, but he quickly shook it off. “That’s nonsense.”

“Have you forgotten, Lord Matthew? Every time you came back, when I went to greet you, you’d always look at me with disdain. You’d scold me for not being ladylike, for having bad habits. I can still remember that look in your eyes.”

Matthew froze, his chest tightening. “I didn’t.”

“Those were just careless words from when we were children. And you still remember them?” Joseph, clearly baffled, raised his voice. “Is it really necessary to bring this up now? Just because you’ve been mistreated a little, you’ve grown so distant from us?”

Athena looked up at him, her gaze calm and steady. “Lord Joseph, what right do you have to lecture me? If it weren’t for me covering for you every time, I’m sure your legs would’ve been broken by Lord Henry long ago.”

Her words hit Joseph like a slap. His face turned pale, and he hurriedly retorted, “Athena, you’re talking nonsense.”

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