The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 39

Chapter 39

She thought, ‘If others can do it, why can’t I? Why should Aliza be allowed to be a concubine, but not me?‘

Athena remained calm, her expression unchanged, and she gently advised Siena, “She’s a house–born servant, and Lady Eloise intends to keep her here. There’s no need to stir things up.”

Siena looked at Athena, surprised. She couldn’t believe that Athena wasn’t only ignoring it but was actually condoning Aliza’s

actions.

Before she could fully digest this, Athena’s voice broke the silence, cool and detached. “People strive to rise. What’s wrong with trying to secure a future for yourself?”

Siena’s eyes flickered, a thought crossing her mind. She thought, ‘If Aliza can be a concubine, why can’t I? She’s no more beautiful than me.’

“My lady, I’ll go check if the soup is ready,” she said, as if suddenly coming to a decision.

Athena waved her off. “Go ahead.”

Once Siena had left, she made her way toward the kitchen but quickly veered off to follow Aliza.

In Ivory Grove, Matthew lay in bed, his head wrapped in bandages, his face pale. Yet his eyes were wide open, simmering with barely contained anger.

Sitting beside him, Willow dabbed at her eyes, her soft sobs filling the room.

“She really is heartless,” Matthew muttered. “I’m lying here, wounded, and she doesn’t even have the decency to come check on me. What kind of cold–hearted person does that?”

But as soon as he saw Willow’s pitiable state, his voice softened. “Tomorrow is your birthday. I’ve already prepared a gift for you.”

With that, he propped himself up on his elbows and called out, “Andy, bring me the gift I prepared for Lady Willow.”

Willow quickly wiped her eyes, looking at him with excitement. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. “What did you bring me?”

A moment later, a servant entered with a small box. Matthew gestured toward Willow. “Give it to Willow.”

Nona handed the box to Willow.

With a gleam of innocent joy on her face, Willow eagerly opened it, only to find… a stone.

Her smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure, gasping in fake surprise. “Wow, Matthew, what a beautiful stone.”

The stone shimmered with light, displaying a rainbow of colors, resembling a heart–shaped crystal. But in reality, it was just a plain piece of crystal, with no real value.

Matthew, oblivious to the finer details, was completely unaware of what mattered to a young woman.

He had found the crystal during one of his travels.

1/2

It had caught his eye because it sparkled so brightly in the sunlight, so he thought it might make a nice gift for Willow. He had no idea it was far from what she would have expected.

“If you like it, that’s all that matters,” he said with a relieved sigh. “I was worried you wouldn’t like it.”

Willow looked at him with admiration. “How could I not like it? As long as it’s from you, I love it.”

Matthew let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. But as he watched her, his thoughts drifted to the past.

When they were children, everyone compared him to Nicolas. Their parents constantly told him to study harder, but it was never enough.

Only Willow had never judged him. She had always told him to live for himself, to enjoy life because it was short.

Now, looking at Willow–so sweet and innocent–he couldn’t help but think of Athena. She had once been as charming as Willow. But he wondered, ‘How has everything changed so drastically?‘ He hardly recognized her now.

When Athena had grabbed his throat with such force, he had seen pure hatred in her eyes.

What puzzled him further was that, despite her smaller frame, he couldn’t overpower her. He had been paralyzed, unable to move, when she had done it. It didn’t make any sense.

“Matthew…” Willow’s soft voice pulled him back to reality. She was watching him intently.

He smiled faintly. “What did you say?”

Willow’s eyes briefly darkened with disappointment, her eyes reddening once again. “Have you grown tired of me? Is that why you’re ignoring me…”

She looked at him with such vulnerability that he quickly shook his head. “Of course not, you’re my sister. I could never be bothered by you.”

“Then what are you thinking about?” she asked, her voice soft.

Matthew hesitated, his thoughts momentarily lost. He finally responded, “I was just thinking that you’ve grown up so fast. You’re at the age when you’ll soon be married.”

Willow’s face flushed, and she shyly murmured, “Matthew, are you teasing me?”

He chuckled softly. “I heard the Osborne family wants to replace Athena with you?”

Willow lowered her head, her fingers tightening around her handkerchief as she nodded slowly. “Yeah.” She said no more.

As he noticed the subtle shift in her demeanor, Matthew’s gaze softened. “If that’s the case, why aren’t you happy?”

2/2

五

AD

Comment