The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 86

Chapter 86

She said, “Michael never intended to kill them all. It was you, Lord Nicolas, who gave the order to silence everyone. When it comes to ruthlessness, who can be more ruthless than you?”

She didn’t pity those who bullied her at all.

They deserved to die.

But what she couldn’t accept was being made the scapegoat for Nicolas’s ambitions.

Athena thought to herself, “Though I don’t know all the details, I’ve pieced together most of it.

“The Emperor must have caught wind of something, but with no living witnesses, he could only give a symbolic punishment, making the two kneel before the palace hall, to calm the troops.

“As for Eloise and Willow going to plead with the Empress, they must have promised her some benefit in exchange. Otherwise, the Empress would never get involved in this mess.

‘What I can’t figure out is, what could Willow possibly offer that would sway the Empress?‘

Eloise and Willow’s faces paled instantly, and Willow bowed her head even lower.

A flicker of guilt flashed in Eloise’s eyes. She seemed to want to say something to Athena, but ultimately swallowed her words.

Seeing this, Athena’s suspicion only grew stronger.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside, breaking the tense silence.

A royal servant in blue chief steward’s robes strode into the room.

Henry quickly stood up to greet him. “Mr. Kemp, to what do we owe this honor?”

Fred Kemp offered Henry a polite smile, though his cold, calculating gaze landed squarely on Lady Athena. “I come by order of Her Majesty the Empress. Ms. Athena Monson is to come forth and receive the order.”

Athena let out a quiet sigh and walked forward to kneel before Fred.

Two young servants stepped up, gripping her arms and forcibly pulling out one of her hands.

Another young servant approached, holding a tray on which a row of silver needles gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

Seeing this, Willow clutched her chest, gasping for air. Eloise hurriedly called out, “Help Willow inside!”

But Willow, her face as white as a sheet, shook her head. “Mother, hurry… save Athena!”

Eloise’s eyes were red with tears. “The Empress ordered this punishment. Who would dare intervene?”

They clung to each other, covering their mouths as silent tears streamed down their faces.

Henry furrowed his brows and turned away, unable to bear watching.

Nicolas looked at Fred in surprise. “May I ask what Her Majesty intends by this?”

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Chapter 86

Fred gave a cold laugh. “Just watch, Lord Nicolas. Let this serve as a warning to your family.”

With a wave of his hand, one young servant began reciting the rules, while another took a slender needle and thrust it mercilessly into Athena’s finger.

The brutal torture nearly made Willow faint from terror.

Though she couldn’t bear to watch, Willow glanced at Athena, who was clenching her teeth so hard they might shatter. Aside from a single muffled groan, she made no other sound.

When the torture ended, all five of Athena’s fingers were a pulpy, bleeding ruin.

Her face had gone deathly pale. Fred looked down at her coldly and sneered, “Ms. Monson, remember well Her Majesty’s so- called mercy. Because of your recklessness, both the Marquis’s and Duke’s families were nearly ruined. From now on, you’d better think twice before you speak.”

Athena finally understood, Michael served under the Crown Prince. If he were punished by the Emperor, it would be like crippling the Crown Prince.

Athena thought coldly, ‘No wonder the Empress is so furious. She must see me as a trouble maker who brings ruin.

‘But is that really the case?‘

Athena, her face deathly pale, knelt on the ground. Her voice trembling, she forced out, “I… thank Your Majesty for this… lesson…”

‘Could Willow and Eloise be behind the suffering I endured today?‘ Athena wondered, her eyes rimmed with red.

She fixed her gaze on Willow, only to see that Willow couldn’t meet her eyes and quickly ducked behind Eloise.

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