The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 398

Chapter 398

Athena fixed Nicolas with a cold, unyielding stare and spat out each word, “If you want mutual destruction, I’m all in.”

With that, she snatched the longsword from a guard’s scabbard and leveled it at everyone in the room.

Athena’s eyes blazed with nothing but murderous intent.

Every face in the room paled in shock. No one had expected Athena to actually draw a blade.

Henry, still trying to rein in Athena with his paternal authority, bellowed, “Are you out of your mind? How dare you point a

sword at us?”

“You’re the insane ones!” Athena glared at their hypocritical faces, her composure finally shattering. “You were the ones who backed me into a corner! You were the beasts scheming against Grandmother! You were the ones who were so deluded that you thought you could control me. You’re nothing but hypocrites through and through!”

With every word Athena spat out, the faces in the room darkened.

Nicolas’s eyes bulged even wider, his face stark white with fury. “Our granduncles have thoroughly investigated and confirmed it. Grandmother’s poisoning was nothing but a misunderstanding! Why do you refuse to believe it?”

Athena glared at Nicolas and spat, “You’re utterly pathetic and ridiculous. You’ve lived in your web of lies for so long that you’ve probably convinced yourself that Grandmother ate that mushroom by accident. Where is your conscience? How has she treated you all these years? And how have you repaid her kindness?”

Athena’s words pricked Nicolas’s conscience, yet he couldn’t bring himself to admit it.

If he admitted it, it would be tantamount to admitting Athena was right, that they had deliberately harmed Margaret.

Henry shifted his eyes guiltily and snorted coldly. “Put down that blade. Surely you don’t mean to kill someone?”

“Even if I kill someone,” Athena roared, “it’s you who drove me to this!”

With a swift sweep of her longsword, Athena strode for the door.

One foolish guard dared to block her path. In one fluid motion, Athena swung her blade, gashing his forearm. Blood spurted from the guard’s arm, rapidly pooling on the floor.

The remaining guards, seeing Athena meant business, recoiled in terror, and no one dared to approach.

As Athena pressed forward, the guards instinctively fell back.

The tense standoff continued all the way to Starling House, with Athena single–handedly going against the entire duke’s

estate.

Athena stormed into the courtyard, sword in hand. At the sight, Gwen blanched in terror. “L–Lady Athena, what are you….?” she stammered, her voice trembling.

“I’m here to take Grandmother away,” Athena told Gwen, her tone firm. “Pack her things. We leave now.”

Gwen stood frozen for a moment, but the steely resolve in Athena’s eyes snapped her into action. Without another word, she hurried off to pack their things.

Athena stood at the doorway, sword in hand, ready to cut down anyone who dared stand in her way.

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Hot on her heels, Nicolas and Henry rushed over. The sight sent them into a fit of rage.

Nicolas’s fury erupted. “Outright defiance! You’ve gone too far!” he roared. “Let’s see you walk out that door today.”

The guards surged forward, sealing off the doorway completely.

Just then, a light chuckle cut through the tension. “My, what a lively scene at the duke’s estate.”

Although it was light laughter, anyone could hear the lethal intent beneath it.

“Ah, Lord Nicolas, are you staging this grand spectacle for my princess?” Xander drawled, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Nicolas felt a chill run down his spine. He turned slowly, only to see Xander advancing steadily into the courtyard, the Aegis Guards in formation behind him.

A faint smile played on Xander’s lips, but his eyes remained cold and dangerous.

The lethal aura around Xander only subsided slightly when he saw Athena.

Xander tilted his head slightly toward Athena. He saw the strong grip she had on the knife, and her expression that looked like she was ready to go down fighting and take her enemy with her.

Instantly, the cold amusement in Xander’s eyes vanished and was replaced by raw fury. “Who dared to push my princess to such a state?”

Chapter 3YY

Chapter 399