The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 360

Chapter 360

Nicolas stood frozen in shock, completely at a loss for how to respond.

Alfred’s family had been farmers for generations. It wasn’t until his father’s time that they finally gained a government position.

Although Alfred now held the rank of Minister, deep down, he still carried the temperament of a farmer.

His mother was even less like the typical noblewoman who spent her days sipping coffee and tending to her health.

She had pulled out all the flowers and plants in her courtyard and replaced them with vegetables and grain.

Sometimes, when the mood struck, she even dressed like a farmwoman and went out to sell produce.

Growing up in that household, Alfred had been deeply influenced by his upbringing. Though a scholar by training, he lacked the usual pedantic airs of his peers.

In fact, he had once famously scolded three court officials in one breath right in court.

Even the sharpest–tongued censor couldn’t win an argument against him.

Nicolas had assumed that a man like Alfred could be bought off with some incentives. He never expected to be scolded so viciously that he could barely lift his head.

“How dare you! You dare insult the heir of a noble house?” Nicolas bellowed, finally reacting and trying to assert his title to regain control.

But not only did Alfred show no fear, he even grabbed the broom leaning by the door and struck Nicolas with it, roaring, “I’m not just going to curse you. Today, I’m going to beat you, too! If you’ve got the guts, go tell the King to confiscate my estate and throw my whole family in prison!”

Nicolas had never imagined things would spiral out of control like this. Clutching his head, he scrambled to escape.

As he fled, Alfred continued cursing after him, “What kind of trash comes barging into my home just to throw his weight around like this? You think I won’t report you to the King tomorrow?

“Engaging in factionalism for your own gain, and you’ve got the nerve to act justified?”

Alfred chased Nicolas all the way to the gate, still fuming. He spat, “You dare use my daughter’s injury to threaten me? You think I’m scared? And that so–called miracle medicine–how dare you utter such nonsense? Open your eyes and take a good look. That balm is barely worth 700 dollars, and you tried to pull a fast one on me?”

Nicolas’s face turned an ugly shade of grey with rage. He couldn’t even get a word out.

The Alfred household lived so modestly that even a thief would leave in tears, and that explained why Alfred was so stubborn and unyielding.

The King would not even believe it if someone tried to frame Alfred with a crime.

And this was exactly why Alfred had managed to remain untouchable for so many years.

Arthur valued that very quality in him, which was why he entrusted Alfred with the Ministry of Finance. That office controlled the nation’s entire budget.

Of course, Prince Fermin wanted Alfred on his side as his position alone made him a prize worth pursuing.

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Chapter 360

But Nicolas had never expected to hit a wall that hard, and let alone be physically thrown out of someone’s home.

When have I ever been this humiliated?‘ he wondered, standing outside the gate, so furious he wanted to curse but couldn’t come up with anything.

And so, Nicolas swallowed all his anger and frustration, got into his carriage, and left in a hurry.

On the road back, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

He punched the carriage wall in a fit of rage and growled, “That damn old fool, how stubborn and insufferable, just as expected.”

In the carriage, Nicolas composed himself again and moved on to his next stop.

He had thought the Beren family would be an exception, but the Deputy Justice of the Federal Bureau responded with the same vague attitude.

After learning the reason for Nicolas’s visit, the Deputy Justice neither welcomed nor rejected him.

He drank plenty of coffee, shared a long conversation, yet never once revealed his stance.

When Nicolas was about to leave, the man even stuffed the balm back into his hands.

Nicolas was completely puzzled. Only then did Alfred’s words suddenly come back to him: “That balm is barely worth 700 dollars.”

Nicolas paused, a sense of unease creeping in as he thought, ‘Something’s not right here…

With growing urgency, Nicolas hurried off to the Royal Inspector’s residence.

The Royal Inspector, however, received Nicolas with surprising warmth. Yet when Nicolas produced the Snowveil Balm, the official showed not the slightest hint of surprise.

Instead, he pulled out an identical bottle and said to Nicolas, “Viscountess Athena already visited yesterday and personally brought this Snowveil Balm for my daughter’s use. How…thoughtful of you, Lord Nicolas.”

Before the Royal Inspector could finish speaking, Nicolas sprang to his feet and bolted out the door.