The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 386

Chapter 386

Such a woman, in his eyes, was nothing more than a useless dodder vine, and he believed that they’re utterly incapable of stirring up any real trouble.

Nicolas released his grip, his expression smoothing into its customary composed mask.

“Being cooped up in the estate all day must be stifling,” Nicolas remarked, his tone laced with feigned concern. “But as one of the ladies from the Duke’s Estate, you can’t go out without attendants. If anything were to happen, how could I possibly answer to your father–in–law?”

With a wave of his hand, Nicolas summoned several attendants and commanded, “All of you are to accompany Lady Fiona. Should any harm come to her, I’ll have your heads.”

Nicolas’s voice was laced with menace, sending chills down the spine of everyone present.

Every hair on Fiona’s body stood on end as she stared at Nicolas, who gave her a deceptively gentle smile. A chill crawled up her spine, leaving her trembling uncontrollably.

He was both testing and warning her.

With the entire Wynn family behind her, she couldn’t afford to entertain even a single rebellious thought.

Fiona’s face turned ashen as she nodded fearfully before stammering, “Yes, my lord. I understand.”

Nicolas, pleased with her submission, reached out and gently patted her head. With feigned gentleness, he said, “You may go

now.”

After Fiona left, Nicolas returned to Willow’s courtyard.

As soon as Nicolas stepped inside, Willow’s agonizing screams pierced the air as she screamed, “Let me die, just let me die! I can’t take this anymore…”

All Eloise could do was hold Willow in her arms and weep, utterly helpless.

Seeing Nicolas walk in, Willow reached out her hand to him, her face contorted in agony, and pleaded, “Nicolas, save me, save me! I’m in so much pain…”

Nicolas’s heart ached as he gripped Willow’s hand, his gaze turning murderous as he glared at the maids. “What kind of incompetent fools are you?” he barked. “Can’t you see that Willow is in agony? Where the hell is her medicine?”

“She’s already taken the medicine,” Eloise said, her voice nasal from crying. “Willow’s leg bones are fractured, and she’ll need months of bed rest to recover. The doctor also said the first ten days or so will be the most agonizing, and there’s nothing for it but for her to grit her teeth and bear it.”

Nicolas’s eyes reddened as he murmured under his breath, “She just has to bear it?”

Nicolas thought bitterly, ‘My sister, Willow, was raised like royalty. She has been pampered and cherished her whole life. But now, because of Athena, she’s lying here with a broken leg. Who knows if she’ll ever fully recover?

‘Damn you, Athena!‘

Willow clung to Nicolas’s hand, her face twisted in agony as she sobbed, “Aconite powder, Nicolas! Please, give me the aconite powder now!”

“No, absolutely not!” A flicker of panic crossed Nicolas’s face as he refused, “That stuff is highly addictive if you take too

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intch. You can’t keep relying on it!”

When Willow endured the whipping before, aconite powder was the only thing that could dull her pain.

Nicolas had witnessed firsthand just how potent this drug was.

While it could numb the pain, the addiction that followed would hollow a person out, leaving them a mere shadow of themselves.

Nicolas took over from Eloise and pulled Willow into a firm embrace as he gently consoled, “Don’t be afraid, I am here.”

Willow sobbed, “Nicolas, I’m begging you. Just this once! I can’t take the pain anymore.” No matter how Nicolas tried to reason with her, Willow refused to listen.

The agony from her broken leg was so unbearable that Willow felt like smashing her head against the wall.

In the end, Nicolas relented with a weary sigh. “Fine, just this once,” he said, unable to refuse her any longer.

With the estate physician adjusting the dosage, he reasoned to himself that there shouldn’t be any real problem.

Moments later, the aconite powder was brought in.

Willow gulped down the aconite powder in one go. Within moments, the pain subsided.

Willow lay limp as a rag on the bed, yet her mind clung stubbornly to her marriage. Gasping weakly, she insisted, “Nicolas, Mother, my wedding date must not change again. Even if I have to crawl, I’ll make it to the Osborne family.”

“But your injury hasn’t even healed yet!” Eloise exclaimed, her face a mask of utter surprise.

“It is just one day, and I can tough it out,” Willow said through gritted teeth, her eyes locked on the aconite powder. “This stuff works miracles. With it, getting through the day won’t be a problem.”