Chapter 267
Athena was caught off guard by a sudden pull, lest her balance, and toppled backward.
Just as Athena was about to hit the ground, a figure flashed past and caught her just in time
With a piercing shriek, a maid was sent flying
Jessa stepped in front of Athena, fixing a cold glare on the person she had just send flying. She snarled, “How dare you lay hands on the Viscountess, jõu lowly wretch!”
The maid crashed to the ground, too weak to even try getting up.
She opened her mouth to speak, only to cough up a mouthful of blood.
A pair of embroidered shoes appeared before the maid’s eyes, the lustrous pearls on the toes gleaming dazzlingly
The maid’s eyes widened in horror as her blood splattered onto the priceless Oriental pearls
she saw Lizzie’s icy face.
Looking up the s
“Worthless! How dare you soil my shoes!
“Your Highness, spare me! Spare me, Your Highness the maid cried out desperately
With a cruel smile on her lips, Lizzie crushed the maid’s hand under her embroidered shore as she strode toward Athena “Drag this wretched wretch away and execute her!”
The maid let out a piercing shriek, “Your Highness, Your Highness, spare mel Aaah Her desperate cries echoed as she was dragged away.
In mere seconds, a vibrant life was extinguished
Lizzie didn’t even bat an eye, as if she had just killed a stray animal rather than a human being.
Lizzie halted in front of Jessa, a cold, razor sharp smile on her lips. She sneered, “And who the hell do you think you are, daring to lay a people!”
va hand o
on my
Athena quickly pulled Jessa behind her and cured deeply to Lizzie. “Your Highness, please forgive Jessa. She acted solely out of loyalty to protect me. f any offense was given, implore your magnanimous understanding”
Lizzie let out a cold, mocking laugh and shook her head. “Mercy isn’t my virtue. Your maid dared to offend me, so she must pay with her life. Guards, drag this wretched girl away and have her beaten to death!”
Jessa clenched her fists. If Athena hadn’t held her back, she would have punched Lizzie right in the face.
“Your Highness, please wait!” Athena hastily pleaded. “Jessa has offended you, but I am willing to bear the punishment in her stead.”
“My Lady!” Jessa gasped in shock, about to speak when Athena gave her a subtle shake of her head.
If Jessa said anything now, it would only make things worse.
I’m the Viscountess, Athena thought. ‘Lizzie wouldn’t dare harm me directly.
“Besides, Xander was still at Saint JeroClinic
Lizzie burst into mocking laughter, as if she’d just heard the most absurd thing. She sneered, “Athena, you’d actually take punishment for a mald
Athena took a steadying breath. “Yes,” she replied, her voice even
17:06 · Wed, 16 Jul.
Chapter 267
Lizzie’s face broke into a smug smile. Her eyes gleamed with mischief as the deliberately thrust out her f
With a mocking smile, Lizzie said to Athena. “Sinta you’re so devoted to your mand, I’ll grant you – Layor Clean my shoes, and rule by ma
By making Athens clean her shoes, Lizzie was clearly humiliating
Jessa clenched her until
nuckles whitened, her eyes blazing as the glared at Liz She declared, am responsible Punch me
want–but fore the Viscountess out of that”
Jessa stepped forward, planting herself squarely in front of
Her eyes were utterly fearless.
Though Jessa was Athena’s bodyguard, she exuded an overwhelming killing intent.
Lizzie dramatically clutched her chest in feigned terror, her eyes wide with mock outrage. “How dare you, you netched maid, get so close to met Are your trying to assassinate me?” she snapped, “Guards! Seize her and beat her to death!”
Just as the guards moved to seize her, a tall figure suddenly appeared right in front of Lizzie.
Ferris gazed at Lizzie’s startled face, the corners of his lips curling into an almost imperceptible smile.
Ho plucked the handkerchief from Lizzie’s hand, then knelt down to meticulously wipe the blood from the Oriental pearls on her shoes.
He carelessly tossed the handkerchief aside and said, “Your Highness, why trouble yourself over some lowly servant? With your royal wedding approaching, shedding blood would be a bad omen”
The moment Lizzie saw Ferns’s breathtakingly handsome face, the fury in her eyes melted away, replaced by a lovesick gare.
With trembling fingers, Lizzie slowly reached out to caress Ferns’s face, her eyes glazed with adoration “Terris,” she breathed, “you finally stopped ignoring me.”
Ferris Book Lizzie’s hand and said, “Your Highness, allow me to escort you back to the palace” Without waiting for her response, he strode forward with
purposeful steps
Lizzie’s eyes sparkled with joy, all thoughts of troubling Athena completely forgotten
Utterly smitten, Lizzie followed Ferris for a few steps, then turned back and arched her eyebrow at Athena in a provocative, taunting gesture
Lizzie’s smile widened triumphantly when he saw Athena’s shocked expression
Then, clinging affectionately to Ferris’s arm, she disappeared into the distance with him..
Athena stood frozen in place, her eyes wide with utter disbelief
She remained in a daze, e even after Ferris and Lizzie had disappeared from sight.
Jessa’s heart ached seeing the Viscountess like this. “My Lady, shall we head back?” she gently suggested.
“Ferris is he really getting married? Athena asked, the realization slowly setting in, her voice trembling. Jessa saw her eyes will up and gave a guscle
nod.
Jessa stood by Athena’s side, at a loss for how to comfort her
Jessa knew little about what went on between Athena and Fers.
All Jessa knew w
was that Athena and Ferris bad almost gotten married. She guessed Athena must have had strong feelings for him.
“But Ferris and Athana were never meant to be, Jessa thought.
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Chapter 267
from the very begening, their paths were i
Hever
Their paths were destined to diverge father and farts
But Jessa was mistaken. Athena wasn’t hea
But it wasn’t just that Ferris was getting manie
was the fact that he was marrying Lizzie
How could the notorious Lizzie ever deserve someone as prer and
Besides, Lizzie was vicious by nature. If Ferris maniedber, he’d be trapped in a living!
if Ferris were marrying a respectable woman, she’d give them hier blessing
But of all people, it had to be Lizzie
Athena turned around to head back, and just as she did, she spotted Kander standing not far away.
He stood motionless beneath the banyan tree, his silhouette nearly merging with the darkness,
His gaze tested calmly on Athena, his expression tinged with quiet desolation.
“Prince Xander?” Athena stared at him in surprise. “How how long have you been standing here?*
“I’ve been here since you came out, Xander replied, his voice a little husky–perhaps from the wine.
His eyes, usually as brilliant as stas, were now clouded with quiet melancholy
Athena’s heart skipped a beat. There was something in Xander’s eyes that really tugged at me
Before Athena could say a word, Xander broke the silence with his gentle voice, “Are you feeling sorry for him?
Athena was surprised by Xander’s perceptiveness, but she saw no harm in admitting it.
Athena nodded wordlessly. “I just want him to be happy,” she said.
Sometimes, Athena wondered what she truly felt for Ferris.
But she couldn’t make sense of it
She couldn’t bear how much he had suffered–all she wanted was to protect him.
Athena and Kander walked slowly down the quiet street, the only sound in the stillness being the soft rhythm of their footsteps.
Athena nervously but her lower li
lip and stole a glance at Xander only to find his gaze already locked onto hers.
“Something on your mind?” Xander paused, his gaze resting on Athena with quiet expectation
Athena took a deep breath, Gathering all her courage, she finally managed to ask, “Could you… possibly help him?”
Seeing the lost expression on Athena’s face, Xander’s brow furrowed slightly.
Under the cover of night, Kander’s deep voice murmured by Athena’s ear, “Atheny, just because you think something is bad doesn’t meant everyone else feels the same. You’re not Ferris–how can you he is enjoying thi
