The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Then, she staggered out of the room on unsteady feet.

The disappointment in Athena’s eyes made Nicolas’s heart skip a beat.

He wondered, ‘What is she even disappointed about? Willow had gone to such lengths for her, yet she still treated Willow with such hostility.

‘Is this how a rational person should think?‘

Nicolas was about to say something more, but Eloise grabbed his arm and gently pulled him back. She shook her head slightly, silently urging him to stop.

Under their bewildered gazes, Athena slowly made her way out of the courtyard.

Just outside the courtyard, Trina was pacing anxiously.

Seeing Athena stumble out, Trina rushed forward to support her. “Miss,” she said anxiously, “they wouldn’t let me in!”

Suddenly, Trina noticed Athena’s hand, still bleeding profusely. She drew a sharp breath and gasped, “How… how did you get hurt this badly?”

The excruciating pain made the world swim before Athena’s eyes. Seeing Trina, the last shred of her tightly–wound composure shattered completely.

Athena slumped heavily against Trina, her voice barely above a whisper. “Take me back.”

Though young, Trina was surprisingly strong.

Trina immediately braced Athena’s weight against her own body and carefully guided her toward Snowdrop Wing.

“Don’t let Grandmother know,” Athena gasped before darkness claimed her.

When Athena finally came to, she found herself lying in her own chamber.

Trina kept watch by her bedside, her head nodding drowsily.

Hearing a stir from the bed, Trina immediately rushed over, her eyes lighting up with joy. “Miss Monson, you’re awake?”

Athena gave a faint hum, her gaze sweeping the room. Noticing that Siena Hotham and Aliza Crofton were, nowhere to be seen, she quietly asked, “Where are the others?”

Trina looked hesitant. Athena’s tone grew sharper. “Speak.”

“Mr. Monson has caught a chill. They’ve gone to bring him some medicine,” Trina said, biting her lip and lowering her head.

Trina expected Athena to fly into a rage, but to her surprise, Athena just gave a faint, knowing smile and said nothing more.

Trina blinked at her in confusion, only to hear Athena say indifferently, “A wild sparrow that can’t be tamed will always fly away. Good riddance.”

“Miss Monson, aren’t you angry?” Trina asked softly, her voice tinged with confusion.

Athena said coldly, “Why should I be angry over two disloyal servants?”

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Trina gave a soft nod and gently helped Athena sit up.

Her fingers were wrapped in bandages, and even the slightest movement brought excruciating, bone–deep pain.

Athena winced, her brows knitting in pain. Trina, thinking she had caused her mistress pain, hurriedly urged, “Miss Monson, please drink your medicine.”

As soon as Trina brought over the bitter medicine, Athena wrinkled her nose in distaste.

Hearing Trina’s muffled sobs, Athena couldn’t help but look up at her.

She looked up to see Trina, her face streaked with tears, gazing at her with heartfelt, aching concern.

“It’s not you who got hurt, so why the tears?” Athena chuckled weakly. Though Trina hadn’t been with her long, she was utterly devoted to her.

Trina always put Athena first in everything, and since she was personally assigned to Athena by Margaret, Athena naturally felt closer to her than to any other servant.

Trina wiped her tear–streaked face and sobbed, “I’d rather bear these wounds myself, my lady. Your health was already so frail, and now, after such cruel punishment, not even the strongest could endure it…”

But in fact, there was more Trina wanted to say, words she kept buried in her heart.

The physician warned that after three years of brutal–hardship in the military camp, if Athena didn’t receive proper recuperation, she might develop chronic conditions.

Just like her knee, even after it healed, the old injury would still flare up whenever it rained, sending fresh waves of pain through her all over again.

As for her hand, the punishment was especially insidious, it left barely a mark on the surface, but the pain cut straight to the bone.

Not even a strong young man could endure it, let alone a frail woman.

Not a soul in this family cared for her, only Margaretdid.

But Athena did not want her to learn of this.

Trina was just a maid, her words carried no weight. She wanted to help Athena, but was powerless to do so, and that helplessness made her burst into tears.

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