Jessa noticed the distressed expression on Athena’s face and called out worriedly, “Viscountess, are you alright?”

Even when facing the toughest challenges, she had never looked this heartbroken before.

Athena gazed at Jessa, her eyes red-rimmed with unshed tears, and slowly shook her head.

She had never imagined her childhood playmate would meet such a tragic end, and worse, that it would somehow be connected to her grandfather.

Athena pushed down the churning emotions within her and commanded Jessa, “Follow me!”

She had to go to Wendral Mountain and see it for herself.

Jessa, seeing she couldn’t dissuade Athena, had no choice but to step behind her.

As they were leaving, she pulled a whistle from her robes and blew it sharply.

In an instant, a host of shadow guards materialized at her side.

Jessa’s face darkened as she commanded, “Belle must not come to harm. If anything happens to her, you won’t live to see another day.”

The shadow guards dropped to one knee, their faces hidden behind masks. In unison, they responded, “As you command.”

The sudden appearance of so many shadow guards left Trina and Marquita wide-eyed in shock.

They had never witnessed such a spectacle of force before, and were even more amazed by Xander’s thoughtfulness and meticulous care.

Though absent, his people still protected Athena.

Marquita’s eyes brimmed with emotion, unshed tears glistening at the corners.

“My young lady has endured so much hardship,” she thought. "At last, she finally has someone to protect her."

Leading out from the backyard was the magnificent chestnut horse Athena had won, with a lightning-shaped blaze on its forehead.

Athena had named it Bolt.

Athena stepped forward and gently stroked its head, murmuring encouragingly, “Bolt, I know it’s asking a lot, but when we get back, I’ll treat you to the finest oats, will you?”

Bolt, incredibly perceptive, seemed to understand every word Athena said. The horse murmured affectionately against her palm, its nostrils flaring with excitement.

Its hooves kept pawing at the ground, clearly champing at the bit to go.

Athena chuckled softly, then gripped the reins and, in one fluid motion, swung herself up onto Bolt’s back, landing squarely in the saddle.

“My young lady, do be careful,” Marquita, overwhelmed with concern, hurried over and stood protectively in front of Athena.

Trina rushed to Athena’s side, clutching the reins as tears streamed down her face. “My lady, please, let me come with you!”

Hearing their pleas, Athena shook her head. “With Jessa by my side, I’ll be perfectly safe. Trina, Marquita, your duty is to look after the household and ensure Belle’s safety. Is that clear?”

Knowing they were utterly helpless and would only get in the way, Trina and Marquita could only give solemn nods and replied in unison, “Understood.”

“Go on, Lady Athena. I’ll hold down the fort here,” Marquita said as she handed over the travel bundle to Jessa. She urged, “The cold is no joke, be sure to keep warm. I packed extra layers.”

It pained Marquita to see Athena go, especially knowing she had never crossed the manor’s threshold into the world beyond.

Jessa watched as the two women, eyes red from worry, kept fussing over Athena, and her head was spinning.

“Wendral Mountain is only about ninety miles from Pidence City. If we’re quick, we’ll be back in three to five days. It’s not like we’ll be gone for months. You’re worrying way too much,” she said.

Besides, Jessa would never let anything happen to Athena. Otherwise, she’d have hell to pay with Xander.

With a careless flick, she tossed the bundle behind her, where an attendant deftly caught it.

Jessa tightened her grip on the reins and said to Athena, “We must leave the city immediately. We need to reach Lochmere before nightfall, or we’ll be stuck camping in the wilderness.”

Athena gave a curt nod. “Let’s go.”

Then, Athena and Jessa, followed by several escorts, galloped out on horseback.

Marquita and Trina watched until Athena and her entourage disappeared from view, then finally turned back toward the courtyard.

With a resounding clang, the main gate was tightly locked, barring entry to all.

In a nearby corner, two lackeys witnessed the scene and hastily ducked back.

“That tramp ran off to the Viscountess’s place," one of them spat. "If we don’t get her back, Madam will skin us alive. Go report now!”

It turned out that ever since Belle stepped into Athena’s manor, she had been under surveillance.

The lackeys, not daring to waste a moment, rushed back to the Beckham residence.

The two lackeys, in a desperate hurry, nearly collided with Leonard the moment they reached the front gate.

He had just stormed out of his wife’s courtyard, his face ashen with fury.

“The gall of her! I’ve kept her well-fed and comfortable, and she actually dared to run away!” he shouted.

Leonard stormed in, seething with rage. The two lackeys froze in terror, not daring to breathe as they stood aside.

He glared at them, both confused and furious, and barked, “Where is Belle?”

The terrified lackey dropped to his knees with a thud, stammering in terror, “Lord, please don’t be angry! Madam just scolded Belle a bit, and she ran…”

“Just a bit of scolding? Do you take me for a doddering old fool?” Leonard barked.

“Spare me, sir! This isn’t my fault!” the terrified lackey pleaded.

Leonard had always known that his wife mistreated the concubines, but because exposing it would tarnish his reputation, he chose to turn a blind eye.

He simply looked the other way, unwilling to risk his own image by speaking out.

Now that one of the concubines had fled, this family scandal could no longer be concealed.

After some deliberation, he decided he must have Belle brought back.

Leonard’s brows knitted into a furious knot, eyes blazing with anger. At this moment, he still hadn’t realized the gravity of the situation.

In his mind, that foolish Belle was just being childish, throwing a tantrum and running off because she felt wronged.

He composed himself, then barked, “Go. Bring that woman back to me now!"

“Spare me, Lord Beckham!” the lackey pleaded, trembling. “Belle has fled to the Viscountess’s mansion, I was utterly powerless to stop her!”

Leonard’s eyebrows shot up, a creeping unease surging within him.

Leonard collapsed heavily into his chair, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. “Someone, bring me Seren now!” he yelled.

Seren was the maid who spent the most time with Belle.

Moments later, a scrawny young maid, trembling like a leaf, was ushered before Leonard.

The maid, pale and shaking, stammered out the truth before he could ask. “Forgive me, my lord. Miss Belle…she went to the Viscountess. Said she had something to tell her. That’s all I heard, I swear I don’t know more.”

“Snitching?” A cold dread crawled up from the soles of Leonard’s feet.

He prided himself on being an upright official, with no skeletons in his closet.

He struggled to think what secrets Belle could possibly expose. Unless it was that incident from years ago.

A cold sweat broke out on Leonard. The thought hit hard. "Does that bitch know? About the murder?”

He turned to the lackey, forcing his voice to remain steady, and asked, “Is the Viscountess at home?”

Outwardly, he feigned composure, but inwardly, panic gnawed at him.

He silently prayed that his worst fears wouldn’t come true.

The lackey shook his head blankly. “Soon after Belle went in, the Viscountess left the city with her people.”

“She left the city? Which way did she go?” Leonard demanded, his voice urgent.

“She... she went northwest, my lord,” the lackey stammered.

With a resounding crash, the cup shattered on the floor.

No longer able to maintain his facade of composure, Leonard stumbled toward the door in frantic strides. “Someone! Saddle my horse at once, I must leave the city!"

Athena and her retinue galloped at breakneck speed down Peace Street, their horses‘ hooves pounding against the cobblestones. Startled townsfolk scattered in alarm, diving out of the way as the mounted party tore through the thoroughfare.

Someone gasped, “Oh, isn’t that the Viscountess? Why is she galloping out of the city?”

“And she’s brought so many people with her! They all look so rushed. I hope nothing is wrong,” another onlooker added.

The street chatter caught the attention of the tavern patrons.

When Michael looked up, he caught only a fleeting glimpse of Athena’s fading figure.

After a moment’s thought, he pulled out a silver coin, tossed it onto the table, and rushed out after