Chapter 261
Chapter 264
Before anyone realized, dark clouds eclipsed the von plunge the Osborne residence into deep gloom.
By the time Michael dragged his fatigued body back to the residence, night had completely.
The Osborne residence was so quiet one could hear a pin altop. The steward hurried forward, hot before he could sprak,
Earlier that day, Emperor Arthur summoned Michael to the palace and abrolutely fore into him.
Even the Queen wasn’t spared from the Emperor’s weath
Even without the steward saying a word, Michael knew exactly what har
“How is Mother?” Michael asked.
The steward, looking dejected, replied, “Lady Kelsey showed slight improvement after taking the medicine, but remains
Michael already knew the true severity of Kelsey’s condition Yet, upon hearing the steward’s words, his heart plummeted.
Willow had failed to secure the medicine for his mother
Michael paused in his tracks, weighing his options.
He would have to go himself to secure the medicine.
After kneeling before Emperor Arthur for half a day. Michael’s knees were in such agony he could barely bend them.
Each step sent sharp, needle–like pains shooting through his legs.
The attendant, heart aching, quickly supported him and urged anxiously, “Lord Osborne, please, let me tend to your wounds first
Michael gently shook his head. “It’s fine. Mother’s condition can’t wait.”
Gotting his teeth against the pain, Michael hauled himself onto the horse. With a sharp bug on the reins, the galloped toward the Saint Jero Clinic.
A long line stretched endlessly outside the Saint J Clinic.
The courtyard was packed to the brim–Athena was nowhere to be seen.
Michael, burning with anxiety, stopped a passerby and demanded, “What’s going on here? Why such a huge crew?”
The passerby, looking haggard and furious, snapped, “What else could it be? It’s all thanks to the ‘brillant job of Lady Willow. If not for her, the epidemic would’ve been contained long ago, and we wouldn’t be suffering like this”
Aher the passerby finished speaking, only then did he notice that Michael was dressed in luxurious atte
He eyed Michael warily. “You’re not one of the Osbornes, are you?”
Michael’s heart clenched, Instinctively, he shook his head. “No.. no, I’m not.”
In the past, when people spoke of the Osborne family, it was always with admiration and reverence
But now, the Osborne family had become parahs–like rats scurrying across the street, despised by
d by all.
Now everyone was out for their blood.
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Chapter 264
Bitterness welled up inside Michael it was all my fault; he thought
Michael wondered if everything had turned out differently if he had
But there was no undoing the past. He made his
He quietly stood at the back of t
waiting to get his medicine purd like everyone cha
Seeing this, his attendant quickly stepped forward and urged, “My Lord, let me take your plate inline You’re still injurent.”
Michael shook his head firmly. “No need. I do it myself”
“I can’t even find the courage for this, Michael thought bitterly, ‘how can ever face Albania again?”
The attendant frowned deeply. “My lord has suffered so mucht he thought
Yet Michael didn’t feel that way. Instead, a flicker of joy ignited in his chest, followed by something even more dangerous–hope
Michael thought so many misunderstandings shouldn’t have come between Athena and him.
He longed for a fresh start with Athena.
As the bee gradually thinned, Athena’s figure drew nearer.
Michael watched as Athena treated each patient with gentle kindness, a warm smile never leaving her face.
Her face was weary, yet her eyes were alight with spirit.
It seemed as though she had returned to the carefree Athena of her childhood days
When Michael appeared before Athena, she merely gave him a cool, fleeting glance, then examined him with clinical detachment before preparing his
medicine.
Throughout, she treated him just like any other patient.
Michael tried several times to strike up a conversation with Athena, but never got the chance.
it wasn’t until Michael stepped out of the Saint JeroClinic that he truly realized how wide the chasm had grown between him and Athena.
Athena’s eyes no longer followed me–now she had Xander standing guard by her side,
Behind Athena, Xander sat in quiet vigilance.
Occasionally, Athena and Xander exchanged a few words, likely discussing the patients‘ conditions or possible treatment plans,
perhaps something
There was no romance between them, yet an oddly undeniable harmony existed.
At this moment, the person Michael envied most in the world was Xander
He could stay so close to Athena, share the same space with her, and even be at her service
Clutching the medicine, Michael left, bitterness weighing heavy on his heart…
Athena watched Michael walk away, a complex, inscrutable glint flickering in her eyes
Trina asked in confusion, “My Lady, why do you even care what happens to him? If I were you, I’d never have given him the medicine.
Athena gave a soft chuckle. “I don’t care if he lives or dies, but Lady Kelsey still serves my purposes.
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Chapter 264
Athena thought Kelsey should know something.
Athena gave Kelsey themedicine notant of kindness, but to make her oder bar a Bazar,
Tripa let out a sch “Ah.” “No wonder,” she sail, nodding in understandi
Trina stole a glance at Xander across the room, where he was quietly directing his attendants with practiced H
Ever since Athena entered Saint Jero Clinic, Xander had been steadfastly by her side.
Xander was distant and reserved with everyone except Athena, who alone could drawind his same brodelness.
Trina shook her head, her eyes sparkling with deviation, pushing, “My Lady, if only you could marry Pines Kandar
Athena hurriedly clapped a hand over Trina’s mouth, darting a bative glance at Kander, Seeing he remained oblivious, she exhaled in relief.
Athena turned back and shot Tring an exasperated look. “You little rascal, must you blurt out every the
Trina playfully stuck out her tong
tongue and eagerly defended Xander. “Prince Kander has it all–looks and point. What man in the capital wouldn’t dream of marrying him? Honestly, My Lady, if you married him, no one would ever dare to bully you again.”.
“Alright, that’s enough. Get to work,” Athena said hastily, worried Trima might blurt out something even more outrageous. She quickly assigned her a
task. “Go and distribute all these medicinal herbs.”
Trina looked at the table piled high with medicinal herbs and sighed wearily. “I’ve been working nonstop for three days and nights–when will this ever
end?”
Even though Trina grumbled, she wasted no time getting to work,
Athena couldn’t help but chuckle and shake her head at Trina’s antics. “Oh, this girl”
sing her aching lower back, Athena couldn’t help but smile to herself. Even though I’m sore, I couldn’t be happier, she thought.
Rubbing
It was exhausting, but worth every second
The epidemic was finally under control. Athena thought with relief once the last batch of medicine was distributed, she could rally get proper
Xander glanced over at Athena, his gaze sweeping over the entire scene just in time to take it all in.
Xander summoned Ansel and ordered, “Everyone has been working tirelessly these past few days. Pass on my orders reserve several tables at Fortune Pavilion for a feast to reward everyone.”
Your Highness.” Ansel acknowledged the order and was about to leave,
But Xander called out. “Trina has served exceptionally well–reward her with 350 thousand dollars.”
Originally, he planned to reward her with 700 thousand dollars. But then he realized that for a young maid like Trina, such a large sure would attract fr too much unwanted attention.
So he settled on 350 thousand dollars instead.
Ansel was taken aback. “Why single out that girl for a reward?”
Ansel thought, “Prince Xander said Trina had worked especially hard, but hasn’t everyone here worked their fingers to the bone? Why single but just that little maid for a reward? Isn’t that peculiar
Xander thought for a second, then shrugged, “Fine, then. Everyone gets 350 thousand dollars.”
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Rewarding only Tima would dras too much attention.
Ansel drew a sharp breath, staring at Kander in shock. “Your Highness, are you truly serious?
150 thousand dollars was no small fortune a servant
There were easily twenty or thirty people working in Saint Jemn Clinic
Just this one reward from Xander amounted to a whopping 101.5 mndlion dollar.
Even with the prince’s vast fortune, this was downright squandering the family fortune.
Ansel’s face twisted in distress as he looked at Athena, his eyes full of reproachful resentment.
there were a mistress of the household, Xander wouldn’t be so extravagant.
Athena was taken aback, “What’s he playing at? she wondered.
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