The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 605

At Pidence City.

Ever since the Osborne family fell from grace, the Queen had been living o

(on benterhooks.

These days, she dared not show her lace before the King, terrified of angering him and implicating fermin

Only after Lizzie’s wedding did the Queen finally breathe a sigh of relief.

One day,Fermin went to the palace to see the Queen

Inside the palace chambers, the Queen and Fermin sat together, speaking in hushed tones.

Termin’s face darkened with fury. He spat, “That bastard Nicolas. To think he was actually a remnant of the previous empire, hiding in plain sight and nearly dragging me down with him!”

The more he thought, the angrier he grew. He couldn’t believe that Nicolas had played him.

Seeing how utterly furious Formin was, the Queen said coolly, “Why are you still keeping tabs on the Osbornes? Surely you don’t and rescue them.”

expect Nicolas com

“Mother, don’t you know? Nicolas has always doted on Willow and can’t bear to let her suffer the slightest bit of injustice. I don’t believe he’ll just stand by and do nothing while she’s exiled,” Fermin huffed angrily.

The Queen wasn’t entirely clear about the relationship between Nicolas and Willow.

All she knew was that Nicolas had been rather protective of Willow.

The Queen scoffed, “He probably just values Willow for her ingenuity. Surely you didn’t expect him to actually fancy her?”

The Queen thought coldly, ‘Feelings are mere illusions. They are intangible and fleeting.

“There’s no such thing as genuine love

Just like between me and His Majesty. We were head over heels in love back then

But now

The Queen’s eyes dimmed at the thought of Arthur’s cold indifference.

Arthur hadn’t set foot in her chambers for more than half a month.

Fermin cast a disapproving glance at the Queen, thinking, ‘She’s the Queen already, yet she still spends all day obsessing over romance.”

Fermin slammed his fist down hard on the table, his face livid with rage. “No matter what, I won’t let that bastard get away with this ”

The Queen cast a cool glance at him and said in a measured tone, you’re going to do it, do it cleanly and thoroughly. Leave no loose ends.”

She loathed the Manson family to the core since they dared to harbor remnants of the previous empire. She felt that they deserved nothing less than death.

By mid–June, the scorching sun beat down mercilessly.

Across the barren wasteland trudged a ragged procession.

Men, women, and children of all ages shuffled along their hair matted, faces smeared with dirt, and dressed in filthy, tattere

-1/2

10:12 Mon, 28 Jul WGO

Chapter 605

Shackled at the wrists, they shuffled forward with heavy steps.

They were all hollow–eyed and sallow–faced from hunger, barely clinging to life. It looked as if they might drop dead at any moment and ne

The scorching sun baked the ground, leaving Willow weak and dizzy.

Sametimes, Willow wished she could just end it all.

“At least then I wouldn’t have to endure this torment anymore, Willow thought bitterly,

At first, Willow would quietly sob to herself, but after taking s

several lashes, she didn’t dare make a sound anymore.

No matter how unbearable things got, Willow could only gril her teeth and tough it out

One misstep, and they’d be beaten within an inch of their lives.

For three full days, they hadn’t eaten anything. Their lips were cracked and peeling, and their throats felt scorched.

“Sir. Please, give me some water…” Nona’s parched, hoarse voice rasped weakly beside Willow’s ear

Willow turned, her eyes burning presence.

with a venomous glare at Nona. However, in her pathetic state, she couldn’t muster even a shred of intimidating

At times, Nona would even deliberately trip her up, causing her to fall

Nana shuffled up to the officers, her eyes pleading and her voice trembling with desperation. “I haven’t had a drop in three days. Please, sir, have ment Just a sip of water. I’ll do anything you ask.”

Her words were so explicit that the officers couldn’t possibly misunderstand her meaning.

Earlier in the journey, as they passed through towns and villages, the officers, wary of public scrutiny, didn’t dare to cross the line

ow, in this desolate wilderness, they cast off all restraint.

But now,