Chapter 162

Faced with Athena’s question, a crack appeared in Xander’s perpetually icy expression.

"My intentions couldn’t be more obvious. Does she really not see it, or is she just pretending not to?" Xander wondered.

Nelson had already tactfully withdrawn from the room. Inside, only Athena and Xander remained. The lingering aroma of coffee and a faint, cool fragrance drifted through the air, and the mood was just right.

Xander nervously clenched his fist, trying to steady himself. He thought, "It’s now or never. I have to tell Athena how I feel."

Just as Xander was about to speak, Athena absentmindedly adjusted her sleeve, revealing the emerald pendant at her waist—the distinctive emblem that belonged solely to Ferris.

The emerald was of the finest quality, translucent and lustrous. Its design bore the distinctive emblem of the McGee family. Xander’s words caught in his throat. This emerald pendant was exclusively given to those who would marry into the McGee family.

He couldn’t believe that Ferris actually gave such an important emblem to Athena. The light in Xander’s eyes slowly died out, his expression freezing solid.

Athena noticed his distraction and softly called, “Prince Xander? What were you about to say?”

“Does Ferris treat you well?” Xander asked.

Athena was momentarily confused by Xander’s strange look. Still, she nodded truthfully and said, “He treats me really well.”

He treats me so well it almost makes me ashamed. I feel like my love can’t fully reciprocate his devotion. I must go the extra mile for Ferris, Athena thought to herself.

Xander’s expression darkened. “So you’re truly this desperate to marry him?”

“Once he returns, we’ll get married. We’ve promised each other,” Athena said brightly. Her dark eyes shone with determination. She was resolved to marry Ferris.

All I nearly want is a bone, Athena thought.

Xander fell silent for a moment, then let out a bitter chuckle. “Then I wish you true happiness,” he said, the words tasting like ash in his mouth.

Xander’s face remained expressionless, but Athena caught a fleeting feeling of sadness in his eyes, gone almost as soon as it appeared. She couldn’t help but feel surprised. Someone as noble and untouchable as him… has his own troubles? she thought. She could heal their body, but not...

“Thank you, Prince Xander,” Athena said with polite gratitude.

Seeing Xander’s gloomy expression, Athena spoke with a physician’s concern. “Your Highness, though your illness has healed, pent-up emotions can cause internal imbalance and lead to various ailments. Please try to ease your mind.”

Xander let out a quiet sigh, his gaze on Athena growing complicated. If only she knew, she’s the very source of my torment.

If this conversation went on any longer, Xander feared he might lose control and keep Athena by his side against her will.

Xander gave a slight nod, his voice cool and detached. “Noted.”

Athena raised an eyebrow in surprise. He’s actually being compliant? she thought, amused by his uncharacteristic acquiescence.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Athena took her leave. As Athena was leaving, Xander reminded her, “Practice your skills diligently when you return. No slacking off.”

Athena had been dragged into a full day of hard labor; she wouldn’t dare forget now. She nodded hastily. “Yes, Prince Xander.”

Nelson arranged for someone to escort Athena back to the southern district, then doubled back to the Xander Manor. Xander took out a command token and tossed it to Nelson. “Dispatch a squad of shadow guards to follow Ferris,” he ordered.

Nelson looked slightly surprised. “Your Highness, what do you mean?”

“Though he’s brought enough men, better safe than sorry. I’d feel more at ease if my own people followed him, just in case,” Xander said.

Xander’s voice was so calm that Nelson thought he’d lost his mind. He thought, Sending his own men to protect his romantic rival? What kind of man would do such a thing? But Xander was no ordinary man.

With a heavy heart, Nelson accepted the command token.

Just as Nelson was about to leave, Xander added coolly. “Send some men to the southern district as well.” He thought, It’s not that I don’t trust Ferris, it’s those people at the Monson family I can’t trust.

Athena thought she had escaped the power struggles, but little did she know she was teetering on the brink. A mere beckoning would pull her right back into its depths.

Nelson’s initial surprise gave way to excitement. Bowing deeply, he declared, “I will carry out your orders at once, Your Highness!”

The woman I love... of course I'll be the one to protect her, Xander thought.

Then Nelson brought up another matter. “The engagement between the Monson family and the Osborne family has been postponed. Willow has been crying at home every day. Looks like the Osborne family might be making new moves.”

Xander let out a soft, sardonic chuckle and tossed the used handkerchief onto the table. He looked up, his smile turning cold. “Michael may be brave on the battlefield, but his judgment is clouded and he’s shackled by his family. If...

Fima cradled Cedric in her arms as she entered. Seeing the deep furrow in Nicolas’s brow, she quietly approached and asked in a gentle voice, “What’s troubling you, dear?”

Cedric had been frail since birth, always harder to care for than other children. With the weather turning colder, he caught a cold again. He cried and fussed all day, wanting only his mother when he was sick. Fiona had to hold him from morning till night, and she’d grown noticeably thinner from exhaustion.

Nicolas was already deeply troubled, and when he saw Cedric crying uncontrollably, his brow furrowed in frustration.

Nicolas was about to dismiss Fiona with the child when a sudden inspiration struck him. “Has Cedric been this fussy all week? Give him to me,” Nicolas said, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

Fiona’s heart leapt at this rare tenderness, and she quickly passed the baby to him.

The plump baby carried the sweet, milky scent of infancy, and Nicolas felt his stern heart soften ever so slightly. Cedric was sickly and listless, not as lively and adorable as other children. Still, he wasn’t without his merits.