The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 656

Chapter 656

Usually, this mountain forest would be alive with birdsong and animal calls, but today it was sedly silent. Even the wind seemed sted by some unser force, leaving only the monotonous clunch of carriage wheels over gravel

Beside her, Kander was clad in black combat gear, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His sharp pane swept across the mountain ridges on either side, his be slightly furrowed. “The road’s unusually quiet today,” he murmured.

Not just Xander–even Athena sensed something was off.

Not a single bird chirped in the mountain forest. The unnatural silence was deeply unsettling

They exchanged a tense glance, their hands instinctively finding each other’s.

Behind the camiage, a hundred elite soldiers–clad in iron armor, with sharp blades hanging at their warts marched in grim, disciplined silence.

Ansel quickly rode up from behind and rapped urgently on the carriage window.

Athenaid open the carriage window. Pesel, with a grave expression, addressed Xander, “Your Highness?”

Ansel ddded to Xander and said, “Your Highness, something feels off in the mountain forest. Should we take a detour?”

There was only one road to the Cavendish Family Cemetery. If they took a detour, it would add another two hours to their journey.

They couldn’t afford to miss the hour. Xander gave a decisive order. “No need

“Darling” Athen pressed her hand against Xander’s arm disapprovingly. “We know something’s amiss–why press forward?”

Athena trusted Xander completely–he was a seasoned military commander.

Athena couldn’t believe Xander had missed such a glaring anomaly

Xander reassured her, “There’s a garrison at the Cavendish Family Cemetery. You don’t need to be afraid.”

Xander curved his lips into a confident smile at Athena. Seeing his unruled expression, she too finally relaxed.

High up on a nearby ridge, two figures lurked in the deme thicket–Nicolas and Willow, hidden from sight.

Nicolas, clad in a purple robe, his face twisted with malice, a cold, cruel smile curling at his lips.

Beside him, Willow tightened her grip on her bow, her eyes gleaming with greed and murderous intent.

From their vantage point high above, Nicolas and Willow watched as the carriage and its armed escort crept along below, their faces alight with manic confidence.

This time, Athena is doomed, they wondered. They had been waiting for this day for what felt like an eternity,

“Michael, we have to kill them, right? Willow cooed clinging to Michael’s arm and flashing him a sweet, ingratiating smile. “Athena has brought such ruin upon both our families–you’re not going to go soft on her now, are you?”

Michael was cloaked entirely in black, a black hat pulled low and a dark veil obscuring his face–only his predatory eyes were visible.

Michael slowly clenched his first, his voice dropping to a grim tone. “They have to repay the debt for my parents‘ lives. This time, I’ll man her payin blood

Overjoyed, Willow cooed, “Michael, once we’ve taken our great revenge, let’s storm Pidence City. Then you can reclaim your title as Marquis, shall wo?“

At this point, Willow seemed to envision herself already clad in the Queen’s regal robes, the crown adorning her head

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Chapter 656

Willow shook her head and continued coquettishly. “With all you’ve accomplished, how could a mere Marquis ever be enough for youd il ferre col make you a prince in your own right. Then, we’ll rule the emple together.”

Hearing this, Nicolas looked at Michael, waiting for his response.

“Titles and positions are nothing but chains to me,” Michael said coldly. “All I care about now is vengeance–nothing else matters”

Nicolas chuckled lightly and said, “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Willow watched the carriage moving slowly along the road, her brows furrowing in confusion. She turned to Nicolas and asked impatiently, “Nicolas, why aren’t we attacking now? With our ambush forces, we could take them all out in one go.”

Nicolas said coolly, “The hundred elite soldiers around Xander are the best of the best, if we strike here, the odds aren’t in our favor–and if we alert the nearby guards; everything we’ve worked for will be ruined.”

Nicolas’s eyes gleamed with predatory confidence. “Once we lure them into the Cavendish Family Cemetery and cut off their escape, they’ll be trapped like rats–completely at our mercy.”

“You’re truly formidable, Nicolas, Willow declared, chin litted proudly, her eyes gleaming with vindictive glee. “Once our cannons obliterate them, only then will this burning hatred in my heart be quenched.”

AD