The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 83

Michael’s eyes were bloodshot with rage, burning with the desire to slaughter them all, every last one who had humiliated and abused Athena. And that was exactly what he did.

Jed felt his blood run cold as Michael advanced toward him, longsword in hand.

“General, please, you mustn’t! You mustn’t!” Jed cried urgently. “If you execute these men who’ve fought and bled with you through thick and thin, it’ll shatter the army’s morale. They’re just a few women, why go to such lengths for people who have nothing to do with you?”

Jed couldn’t fathom why Michael, always the epitome of composure, had completely lost control today.

Jed thought, “This was so out of character for Michael.

Michael’s dark eyes burned with fury.

He sneered inwardly, his contempt palpable, “Just a few women? How could Athena be just an ordinary woman? She is the most important person in my life.

‘But what exactly did those damned bastards do to her?

They trampled her underfoot, reducing her to nothing, utterly at their mercy, forced to endure every humiliation.

When they were in a good mood, they’d toss her a scrap of food, when they weren’t, she’d suffer endless torment.

Just picturing Athena on her knees, desperately begging those bastards, made Michael feel as if a knife were twisting in his heart.

He couldn’t bear to think if Athena had also suffered at their hands.

With a sudden, guttural roar, Michael erupted in fury, swinging his longsword and cutting down two men in one swift

motion.

Blood sprayed violently, splattering across Michael’s face.

At this moment, he was like a demon unleashed, his eyes blazing with nothing but frenzied bloodlust.

In the blink of an eye, Michael slaughtered three men in rapid succession.

Jed snapped back to reality and rushed forward, desperately grabbing Michael around the waist in an attempt to bring him back to his senses. “General, please! Don’t lose yourself!” Jed pleaded, his voice trembling.

But Michael was like a man possessed, deaf to all reason.

He was completely out of his mind, like a man possessed, wishing he could kill every last one of them.

Just as the situation spiraled out of control, Michael’s head suddenly slumped to one side.

Jed looked up in terror, only to see Nicolas standing there with a deep frown.

His hand was still poised from the blow that had just knocked him out.

“Lord Monson, “Jed’s voice choked up, as if seeing a savior. “General Michael, he…”

Nicolas silenced him with a sharp gesture, his piercing gaze sweeping the area to ensure no one was listening. In a low,

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commanding voice, he said, “Not a word of this leaves here.”

Then, Nicolas made a swift slashing motion with his hand across his throat.

Nicolas thought coldly, ‘Dead men tell no tales.‘

Jed’s eyes widened abruptly as Nicolas fixed him with a steely, unblinking gaze and said in a grave voice, “What’s done is done. Do you really want to see Michael face the Emperor’s wrath? They’re just a few soldiers, their deaths mean nothing. But if this isn’t handled properly, your general will pay the price.”

Most of the women sent to the military camp for forced labor perished there.

If Athena’s case hadn’t been exposed, this whole scandal might never have come to light.

Over the years, no fewer than a dozen women have perished in that military camp.

Those at court who’d been watching Michael like hawks would surely seize this opportunity to exploit the incident to their advantage.

They might even seize upon this incident to make Michael the scapegoat, or worse, have him thrown into prison.

After a brief moment of thought, Jed’s eyes took on a resolute expression. He declared firmly, “This was all my doing, General Michael had nothing to do with it.”

Nicolas gave him a respectful nod, his eyes filled with admiration.

Jed said firmly, “The General saved my life. I’d walk through hell for him without a second thought.”

With that, Jed gripped his sword and marched toward the remaining men.

Nicolas turned away, unwilling to watch any longer. He heard only a few dull thuds as bodies hit the ground. Then, all was silent.

Jed acted with swift precision, ordering his men to dispose of the bodies in the remote mountains without a trace.

Then, to cover up the truth, Jed officially announced that several soldiers had deserted from the army.

Every detail was handled flawlessly, leaving no trace behind.

However, eventually, whispers of the incident reached the Emperor’s ears.

Michael and Nicolas were summoned to the palace, where they knelt in punishment before the Heaven Hall.

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