The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 397

Chapter 397

At these words, both Nicolas’s and Henry’s eyes widened.

Henry sprang to his feet in shock and roared, “Nonsense! Mother has always been in good health. How could she just collapse like that?”

He was convinced the physician was spouting utter nonsense.

With a desperate look, the physician swore, “Sir, I would never dare deceive you. If Lady Margaret does not receive proper treatment, she…she won’t last another fortnight.”

“How…how could this be?” Henry stammered, collapsing into his chair, his eyes glazed with helpless confusion.

At that moment, Henry was consumed with bitter remorse.

‘If I’d known, I would never have agreed to poison her. If this gets out, I’ll be branded a monster who killed his own mother!‘ Henry thought desperately.

Nicolas also grew anxious. “Then…then even the imperial physicians can’t cure her?”

The physician looked troubled and said respectfully, “I can’t say for certain myself, Lord Nicolas. Perhaps you could invite Dr. Harding to take a look.”

Nicolas immediately summoned a page boy and barked, “Make haste! Fetch Dr. Harding now!”

Half an hour later, Dr. Harding arrived, carrying his medical kit.

Dr. Harding first went to examine Margaret. Afterwards, he bowed respectfully to Nicolas, his face full of regret. “Lord Nicolas, her condition is beyond my skill to treat,” he said apologetically. “It would be best to seek counsel from a more capable physician.”

Nicolas stared in shock. “It was just a poisonous mushroom…how did it come to this?”

But little did Nicolas know that Margaret had always been frail. Had it not been for Athena’s medicine barely keeping her alive, Margaret would have long since departed this world.

Though the mushroom’s toxicity was low, it dealt a devastating blow to Margaret’s already frail constitution.

Everyone was caught in a dire dilemma. If they didn’t let Athena take Margaret away, the elderly lady might truly take her last breath. However, if they let Athena take Margaret away, there was no telling what would become of the duke’s estate’s reputation.

Nicolas turned to Henry, only to find equal helplessness in his eyes.

Even the two granduncles dared not utter a word. They had no say in this matter.

“Well, Lord Nicolas,” Athena challenged, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “still struggling to make up your mind?”

Nicolas clenched his fists, as if steeling himself for a momentous decision. “Lady Margaret cannot leave the duke’s estate,” he declared, his voice hardening, “but you…you must stay.”

Athena scoffed at his twisted logic. “By what authority and under what reason do you plan to keep me here?”

They’re just using pretty words to put me under house arrest. Athena thought.

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Chapter 397

“With Lady Margaret gravely ill, it’s your filial duty as her granddaughter to stay by her side and care for her.” Nicolas stated.

Nicolas’s scheme was clear. With Athena’s medical expertise, he intended to keep her confined by Margaret’s side under the guise of care. He would then be able to effectively keep Athena under house arrest within the duke’s estate. That way, he could finally teach her a lesson.

However, Nicolas had forgotten that Athena was no longer the meek little girl who’d dance to his tune.

“Didn’t you just say I wasn’t part of the Monson family, Lord Nicolas? Now you’re suddenly admitting I am? Isn’t that going against your own words?” Athena sneered.

Nicolas’s face flushed with embarrassment, but he refused to back down. “With our two granduncles as witnesses today, I’ll let you return to the duke’s estate, but only if you swear never to harass Willow again and sincerely apologize to her.”

This was the furthest Nicolas was willing to go.

Athena let out a bitter laugh. “You’ve got some nerve.”

She rose and started to leave, when Nicolas’s sharp command rang out from behind her, “Guards! Stop her!”

From the moment Athena set foot in the duke’s estate, her fate was sealed. Escape was never an option.

Several guards blocked Athena’s path, but her own bodyguards instantly closed ranks, forming a protective circle around

her.

Tensions were at an all–time high as both sides stared each other down. A fight could break out at any moment.