Chapter 75
The carriage carried Athena all the way to the Xander Manor.
Trina was left waiting in the outer courtyard, while Athena followed an attendant into the inner quarters.
The butler, Nelson Bates, had already been waiting at the door. Spotting Athena approaching, he immediately hurried forward and said, “Miss Monson, at last you’ve come!”
His face was etched with anxiety, and of course Athena knew exactly what Nelson was so worried about
“Has Prince Xander had another attack?” she asked.
Nelson was at a loss, wringing his hands in distress. “He was doing fine just a few days ago, but today his illness has relapsed.”
Ever since Xander started taking the medicine from Athena, he had indeed improved for a while. But today, the illness came raging back with a vengeance, and Nelson was at his wits‘ end.
Athena maintained her composure and reassured Nelson, “Don’t worry. I’ll go in and check on Prince Xander.”
The crystal pill could only temporarily suppress the toxin in Xander’s body. When its effects wore off, the symptoms would naturally relapse.
Athena entered the room with her medical kit. The moment she stepped inside, she saw Xander lying on the bed, his face as pale as a sheet, with beads of sweat the size of peas trickling down his forehead.
He gritted his teeth, his face twisted in excruciating pain, as if he were enduring unbearable torment.
Athena hurried over, set down her medical kit, and carefully checked on Xander’s situation.
After a moment, Athena’s face settled into a grave expression.
To her dismay, Xander’s condition had deteriorated yet again.
Fortunately, Athena had come prepared. She had spent the past few days in the manor carefully formulating medicine for Xander.
It would take five full days to formulate the medicine to suppress the toxin.
Athena quickly pressed the medicinal pill into Xander’s mouth.
But at this moment, Xander was already semi–conscious and in no condition to open his mouth.
Athena’s face tightened with worry as she leaned toward him and said urgently, “Forgive me for this.”
After saying that, Athena quickly grasped Xander’s jaw, forced his mouth open, and slipped
pill
inside.
The pill dissolved instantly on contact.
Athena called out to Nelson, “Prepare the medicinal bath at once!”
“Yes, Miss Monson,” Nelson’s voice came from outside, his footsteps fading down the corridor.
In the chamber, seeing Xander’s breathing gradually stabilize, Athena leaned down and pressed her ear against his chest tu usten to his lung sounds.
His breathing was coarse, rapid, and raspy.
Without hesitation, Athena reached for Xander’s chest. Just as she was about to unbutton his shirt, a vise–like hand clamped down on her wrist.
Xander, who had been barely conscious just moments ago, abruptly snapped open his eyes.
1/4
Chapter 75
Athena gasped in shock, her eyes snapping up instinctively.
Only then did Athena realize that Xander, who had been barely conscious just moments ago, had abruptly opened his eyes.
His eyes, which had been sickly and dim just moments before, now gleamed like an unsheathed blade, razor–sharp and fixed on her, filled with ferre vigilance and barely restrained aggression.
An invisible pressure washed over her,
lewer weak–kneed.
“Prince Xander.” Athena winced at the sharp pain in her wrist, frowning.
‘If he was unconsciously lashing out, he might injure me,‘ Athena worried.
Athena called out twice, but he remained unresponsive.
Her heart sank.
The toxin clouded the mind, driving victims to
sh out unconsciously.
uldn’t tell if he was conscious or still in a daze.
For someone as vigilant as Xander, his defensive instincts would be even fiercer.
Killing Athena would be as effortless as breathing for him.
Just as the thought crossed Athena’s mind, Xander’s grip on her wrist abruptly tightened with crushing force, as if intent on shattering her wrist bones.
The vice–like grip made Athena cry out in pain. Her free hand flashed with a silver needle, plunging it straight into Xander’s pressure point on his
shoulder.
Almost instantly, Xander’s crushing grip went slack.
His hand went limp and dropped weakly to his side.
Athena rubbed her throbbing wrist, only to discover five dark purple finger marks imprinted on her skin.
Athena gasped in pain, instinctively clutching her hand. She couldn’t help but mutter to herself, “What terrifying strength! If I hadn’t reacted quickly, my hand would’ve been done for.”
Athena cast a cautious glance at Xander. Seeing that he
was completely still and unresponsive, she finally allowed herself to relax a little.
Athena cautiously waved her hand in front of Xander’s face. When he still showed no reaction, she finally let out a sigh of relief.
‘What a terrifying man!‘ Athena thought to herself.
In three quick moves, Athena stripped Xander bare.
Before long, Nelson came in and announced respectfully, “Miss Monson, the medicinal bath is ready.”
Athena maintained her composure and instructed methodically, “Nelson, help me seat Prince Xander in the medicinal bath. I need to perform acupuncture on him.”
Her tone was composed and professional, her gaze clear and focused, there wasn’t the slightest trace of hesitation or im
or thoughts.
Upon hearing this, Nelson’s eyes brimmed with admiration. Suddenly, he dropped to his knees before Athena with a thud and said with heartfelt sincerity, “Miss Monson, please accept my deepest respect.”
Athena gasped in shock and quickly reached out to steady Nelson, her face flushing with alarm. “Nelson, what are you doing? I couldn’t possibly accept
this!”
“You absolutely deserve this, Miss Monson!” Nelson exclaimed, tears streaming down his wrinkled face, his voice trembling. “You risked your own
Chapter 75
reputation, thinking only of saving our prince. Such a noble act, I have nothing but the deepest respect for you.”
Hearing what Nelson said, Athena finally understood.
Men and women were expected to keep their distance, even sharing a seat could set tongues wagging.
Let alone Athena being alone with a bare–chested Xander, even for medical treatment, it would still spark scandalous gossip
But just now, Athena hadn’t given it a second thought.
She thought, ‘All I cared about was treating him.
‘Besides, it’s not like my reputation could get much worse anyway!
Athena smiled casually. “To a doctor, there are only patients, no men or women.”
Athena’s straightforward manner made Nelson a bit embarrassed. With a sheepish smile, he admitted, “I suppose I was being too narrow–minded.”
Athena smiled back at Nelson, her heart swelling with gratitude.
Afterwards, with Nelson’s assistance, Athena carefully guided Xander into the medicinal bath.
Athena unfolded her cloth pouch, revealing a neat row of slender silver needles.
Athena retrieved her silver needles and began inserting them into Xander’s body.
The room was eerily quiet, broken only by the occasional splash of water and steady breathing.
Nelson was so tense his heart leapt into his throat, barely daring to breathe.
As the silver needles were continuously inserted, Xander’s previously pale face gradually regained some color, and the deep furrow between his brows began to ease.
Athena’s tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed. Wiping her forehead with her sleeve, she gave Nelson a reassuring smile and said, “The toxin in Prince Xander’s body will be gradually expelled with the help of these silver needles. If we persist for just over a month, the toxin will be completely gone.”
Nelson looked at Athena with undisguised awe in his eyes. “Miss Monson, you’re nothing short of a godsend to us!”
Every other doctor was helpless against it, but Athena succeeded where they all failed.
He felt that she was truly a miracle healer.
Athena made sure to leave behind enough medicine to last Xander for five days before finally taking her leave from the Xander Manor.
The healing session had taken a heavy toll on Athena, leaving her in need of several days‘ recuperation.
Exhausted, Athena slumped against Trina’s shoulder the moment she boarded the carriage and fell fast asleep.
The moment Athena stepped into her family’s manor, the butler rushed over, his face full of worry.
Seeing the butler’s panicked expression, Athena’s heart skipped a beat. Sure enough, the next second, the butler blur terrible has happened, Miss Monson!”
it in a flurry, “Something
- 214.
