The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Although Xander didn’t release Athena, he also didn’t tighten his grip.

Seizing the opportunity, Athena cautiously pried his fingers off her wrist, one by one.

When the last finger finally slipped free, she let out a quiet breath of relief. In just those few seconds, her wrist had turned red and tender.

Even this ill, he was still that strong. It wasn’t hard to imagine how fierce he must have been on the battlefield. No wonder his name alone struck fear into enemy ranks.

Athena took a small pill from her sleeve and held it out to him. When he didn’t object, she gently slipped it into his mouth.

The pill dissolved the moment it touched his tongue, and a flicker of surprise passed across his face. His expression softened slightly–no longer as harsh or guarded as before.

“The crystal pill,” he said, eyeing her carefully. “Who are you, really?”

The crystal pill could counter nearly any poison and delay its effects. Only one person in the world had ever possessed it- Edwin Lipsey of the Herb Hall. But Edwin had died years ago, well past a hundred.

The girl standing before him clearly wasn’t him. Which left only one explanation: Athena was his successor.

Athena hadn’t expected him to put it together so quickly. She answered honestly, “Your Highness already knows, don’t you?”

Xander gave her a sidelong glance, a faint, mocking smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “So the miracle doctor I’ve been searching for all this time… turns out to have been right under my nose.”

“I only ask that Your Highness keep it a secret,” Athena said quietly.

He scoffed, cold and dismissive. “I don’t take kindly to being manipulated.”

Athena gave a helpless smile. “My situation is… complicated. I hope Your Highness can understand.”

If the Monson family found out she was the divine physician who’d disappeared three years ago, they’d never let her Knowing them, they’d squeeze her dry for every last bit of value she could offer.

Xander lowered his gaze, silent in thought.

1. go.

After a moment, he looked back up at her, voice cool and calm. “Cure me, and I’ll grant you one wish. Whatever it is—I’ll make it happen.”

Athena shook her head quickly and patted the box in her hand. “There’s no need for that, Your Highness. I treated you out of admiration and respect, not for any personal gain. Besides, you’ve already paid me.”

Xander’s eyes flicked to the box, then away. “That came from my mother. Not me.”

He paused, then added, “I don’t owe people favors. And what I give–you don’t get to refuse.”

Athena blinked. She thought, ‘Well, alright then.‘

“Very well. Thank you, Your Highness.” She gave a faint smile, then continued, “This the crystal pill will only delay the poison’s progress–it won’t cleanse it entirely. I’ll need to treat you every five days to draw it out. But…”

She hesitated, glancing at him with slight unease. “It’s… not easy for me to leave the duke’s estate freely. I’ll need a reason.”

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Chapter 66

“Every five days, I’ll send someone to fetch you,” Xander said matter–of–factly. “Under my orders, no one will dare stop you.”

His tone was absolute–calm, but commanding.

Athena let out a bitter smile. No one would dare defy Xander’s command, that much was true. But if this kept up, it wouldn’t be long before people started asking questions about who she really was.

She stood there for a moment, brows furrowed slightly, trying to think of a way to cover her tracks.

Just then, Xander spoke again, “Your embroidery isn’t bad. The seamstresses here are clumsy. I’ll say I’ve asked you to help

train them.”

Athena was taken aback–he was giving her an excuse to come and go freely.

“That works. In that case, I’ll take my leave.”

She exhaled quietly, feeling the tension finally ease. Still, one thought lingered in her mind. ‘How does he know I can embroider?‘

Xander waved her off, signaling she could go.

Chapter 67