The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 358

t as his patience was wearing thin, Athena finally appeared, sauntering in as if she hadn’t kept him waiting at all.

Nicolas slammed the cup down on the table with a loud clatter and snorted contemptuously, “You’re already putting on such airs as just the Viscountess. If you ever become the princess consort, you’d probably think you’re God’s gift to mankind.”

Ever since they were little, Athena had been under Nicolas’s thumb. Whenever she made a mistake, he would make her stand in the corner as punishment.

Though merely her elder brother, Nicolas always acted like a stern parent, constantly lecturing Athena.

Even now that Athena’s status has changed, Nicolas still refuses to acknowledge it and keeps putting on airs.

Completely unfazed, Athena retorted, “If Lord Nicolas is only here to mock me, you may leave now. Show him out…”

With that, she made to rise, ready to depart.

Nicolas’s face paled with suppressed rage, but he forced himself to soften his tone. “I’m not here to bicker with you today, Athena. I have a matter to discuss,” he explained.

“A matter to discuss?” Athena scoffed coldly. “As if I’d waste my time on idle chatter with you, Lord Nicolas.”

Hearing this, Nicolas was so frustrated that he could barely speak. Swallowing his pride, he managed, “This isn’t a negotiation. I’m here to beg a favor from you.”

His unwilling expression struck Athena as utterly hilarious.

With a mocking smile, she asked, “Begging for what?”

“The Snowveil Balm, could you spare me some?” Nicolas forced out the words, each syllable bitter on his tongue.‘

He never had to beg Athena for anything before.

Back then, a single glance from him and she would have poured out her whole heart for him.

Now, he had to swallow his pride just to face her icy disdain. The humiliation burned like acid in his throat.

Athena idly tapped her fingernails against the box, deliberately drawing out the moment.

She replied nonchalantly, “Lord Nicolas, what a joke. Nothing comes for free, you know? With so many mouths to feed in this house, and it’s not like I’m running a charity here with endless money to spare.”

“Name your price,” Nicolas replied as he squared his shoulders. At that moment, he had decided that if Athena weren’t going to give it for free, he’d buy it.

“700 thousand dollars,” Athena enunciated slowly, deliberately drawing out each word.

Nicolas nearly choked in outrage. “What kind of medicine is this expensive? Why would it cost 700 thousand dollars?”

Athena chuckled derisively, “If it weren’t effective, why would Lord Nicolas come begging for it? You could always ask the royal doctors to concoct it, couldn’t you?”

Nicolas was rendered speechless, his throat clogged as if stuffed with cotton as he thought grimly, ‘If those royal doctors were any good, why would I be here swallowing Athena’s contempt?

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700 thousand dollars, that’s a fortune.

‘But without the Snowveil Balm, those noble ladies‘ faces would be ruined beyond repair.

‘And if Fermin’s plan to win them over fails because of this, he’ll surely make me pay dearly!

Nicolas gritted his teeth, jaw tight with suppressed anger. After a brief moment, he produced a 700 thousand dollar cheque from his pocket and stated, “Fine, here’s the money.”

Athena didn’t take the cheque. Instead, she shook her head subtly and clarified, “I meant 700 thousand dollars per bottle. There are ten bottles in this box, and that makes 7 million dollars in total.”

“You-” Nicolas shot to his feet in fury as he jabbed a finger at Athena.

Just as he was about to unleash his anger, he was met by her icy gaze, and the words instantly died in his throat.

Athena smirked, “What’s wrong, Lord Nicolas? You can’t even scrape together a measly 7 million dollars? Has the once- mighty Duke’s Estate truly sunk this low?”

Nicolas’s face turned livid with rage. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out nine more 700 thousand dollars cheques from his pocket and slammed them onto the table.

“I can afford 7 million dollars,” he snapped.

With that, he grabbed the medicine box and stormed out.

Trina watched Nicolas storm off in a huff. Only then did her gaze fall upon the cheques, her eyes sparkling with pure delight.

As she tucked the cheques away, Trina chuckled gleefully, “Lady Athena, you’ve already sent the ointment to all the other noble households. If Lord Nicolas ever finds out, I am sure he will pop a blood vessel!”

Athena’s lips curved into a faint smile as she responded, “To investigate my maternal grandfather’s case, I’ll definitely need the support of these young ladies. Now is a golden opportunity to build connections.”

At the thought of this, Athena’s lips curled in cold amusement ‘As for Nicolas…

Chapter 359