The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 624

Chapter 624

The voices of the people reached Kurtis’s ears, and he was moved to tears.

He gently pushed Athena back a little to take a good look at her, his eyes full of surprise. But the first thing he said was, “Where has the used to laugh all the time gone?

Eyes never lie. Though Athena appeared radiant on the surface now, the innocence in her gave had long vanished. She had clearly suffer

Kurtis’s eyes filled with guilt. “It’s all my fault. Itailed to protect you.”

Athena, tears still falling, shook her head. “No, it’s not your fault.”

Kurtis’s eyes turned wet. He choked out. “My dear child, you’ve been through so much.”

At that moment, everyone nearby was in tears.

Then someone shouted, “General Kurt, don’t worry anyone dares to bully Duchess Athena again, they’ll have to step over our dead bodies first

“That’s right! Back then, you sold your land and house to make sure soldiers received their pay. Without that, who knows how many of us would have starved or frozen to death? You’re old now, so protecting Duchess Athena is our responsibility!”

The crowd grew more and more passionate. Many raised their hands and declared, “Yes, we’ll protect the young lady from now on

Athena looked around, surprised by the people’s reaction. They were really standing up for her.

It had been so long since she’d felt this kind of care and support.

Kurtis pressed his palms together and bowed deeply to the people, repeating his thanks over and over,

“This is only right. Not just because she’s your granddaughter, but because the young lady is kind and righteous. She’s treated so many people with her medical skills, even giving free medicine to those in need. We’re not ungrateful. We must repay her.”

Others echoed, “That’s right! We’ll all protect her”

Such a scene was truly rare,

Athena didn’t even know what to say. All she could do was follow Her grandfather’s lead, bowing repeatedly to the crowd in thanks

wouldn’t ha

“General Kurtis, if it weren’t for you giving our family military pay back then, my son wouldn’t have survived!” A burly man led his family forward and

bowed to Kurtis

Startled, General Kurtis rushed forward to help him up with both hands. “No, no, your inur

The man looked at Kurtis’s weathered face and cried, “You were a loyal servant of the King, yet you suffered such injustice.”

Years of hardship on the frontier had loft Kurtis dark skinned and thin. Even his legs had developed problems.

But Kurtis just smiled calmly. “It’s fine now. It’s all in the past.”

Just then, a few men’s voices were heard. “Father”

Athena tumed and saw three men hurrying toward them

The one in front looked to be in his forties, with a full beard. Beside him was a woman and a young girl

Though they were simply dressed and had tidied themselves up, they still looked wom and weary

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Athena’s eyes lit up, and the called out,

The man besitated, staring cosa

eplied, and tears roll

Richter Perkins had once been a rising star at the Ministry of Revetur. But that

r a few years, his hair had turned

• looked far older than his wor

Richter smiled with joy and nodded repeatedly. “You’ve grown to mud

He quickly pulled! woman beside him forward and said,

The woman was his wife, Claudia, and the young girl was Freja

They both looked at Athena kindly. Freya

anglowing, “Frep, Aunt

Athena recognized them immediately. The embraced them tightly, tears flowing “Freya, Aunt dia, pa tray bor

Claudia gently patted Athena’s back reyes red. “There now, don’t

Athena nodded, her voice choked with emotion. “Temas

was younger and visited her grandfather house, it was always Clad

When she was

She would always bake almond pastries for Athena and Freya to share by the pond, laughing and playing

Those memories surfaced clearly in her mind now

Claudia, too, had suffered greatly

atly over the years.

Her skin was now sun darkened and roug

r hands covered in scans ande

Back then, she had been a noble lady, the daughter of the Minister of Res

But after the Perkins family fell, Claudia’s family cut ties with her out offer

Richter looked at his wife with gui

sorrow. “You’ve suffered so much make it up to you.”

Nothing was more precious than a love that endured hardship.

Claudia wiped away her tears and smiled

Acheerful voice came next. “Athena, didn’t you notice here too??

Behind Richter stood Julius Perkins, the second son of the Perkins family.

He was thirty–five, in his prime. But his face was lean and tanned, and he limped when he walked

Athena’s eyes widened in disbelief. She stared at him and murmured, “Uncle Julius, your leg”

Julius waved it off with a smile. “This leg? A wolf got a bite of it. That’s all

“What kind of woll could do this? Was there no doctor?” Athena blurted out in her shock

But as soon as she said it, she regretted it

Julius had once been a martial champion, but he was now a cripple. That had to hurt him more than anyone

Chapter 624

If a doctor had been available, he wouldn’t be in this condition.

Though he acted carefree, Athena knew he minded it deeply

Julius had always resembled her grandfather the most. He used to say he wanted to fight on the battlefield flow, how ironic that he could no properly

Richter’s voice was heavy as he told Athens, “He was injured while saving me and Father. If it hadn’t been for him, both of us muld’ve been eaten by

wolves.”

“Richter, it’s all in the past. No need to bring it up.” Julius laughed heartily, full of cheer.

But that laugh carried a bitter note, and Athena’s chest ached with pain

“Alright, why is everyone

e crowding around here? Whatever needs to be said, say it at home. A cold voice cut

Trevor Perkins, the youngest of the Perkins brothers, looked impatient and surly. His expression was full of hostility

Athena felt a deep sadness. Trevor had once been the most cheerful and playful of the brothers. Years of exile had turned him into someone different.

But when he looked at Athena, the hostility in his ey

Leyes

faded slightly.

He tried to smile at her, but after several failed attempts, he finally muttered, “Athena, it’s good to see you again”

AD