The Queen Mother closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her eyes were full of exhaustion and compromise.

She knew that Athena was determined to get an explanation. If she didn’t agree, this matter would only get bigger, and in the end, she and the duke’s estate would suffer.

“Forget it,” The Queen Mother waved her hand, her voice a little weak. “Do as you say. Jude will be stripped of his title as heir and demoted to a commoner; Ruth, go to the Xander Manor in three days to apologize, hand over all the dowry to Gracie, and compensate her with a thousand taels of gold.”

Athena then slightly curtsied, her tone finally easing a little. “Thank you for your fairness.”

The Queen Mother said nothing more, but waved her hand, signaling them to step down. Athena supported Gracie and slowly walked out of the hall.

“Athena, thank you for standing up for me.” Gracie cried and was about to kneel, but she was injured.

Holding her arm, Athena helped her up. “Now that you have the letter of divorce, you are a free person from now on. Live your life well.”

There was no joy in Gracie’s eyes, only ashes. “How can someone like I deserve to live well? When my injury heals, I will go to the family church to pray to bless you to live a long life.”

Athena looked at her in confusion, “Why go to the church? You’re not the one who did wrong. Do you think you’ve committed a heinous crime just because you’re divorced?”

Gracie’s tears fell. “Divorce is unacceptable in this world. I can’t implicate others in the family because of me. If their reputation is damaged, it will be difficult for them to marry. Going to the church is the only way for me to protect my innocence and not implicate my family.”

Athena frowned instantly upon hearing this. She reached out and gently wiped away the tears on Gracie’s cheeks, her tone full of incomprehension. “Silly child, how did divorce become unacceptable in this world? Jude is at fault for domestic violence, Jenny for condoning it, and Ruth for instigating it. You’re the victim. You don’t need to feel sorry about that.”

She helped Gracie walk to the corridor outside the hall. Pointing to the blooming crabapple flowers in the distant palace wall, she said, “Look at those crabapples. Even if a few petals are knocked off by the wind and rain, they can still bloom again. You’ve just gotten rid of a terrible marriage. Why don’t you deserve to live well?”

Gracie lowered her head, her fingers clenched tightly around her skirt. Tears continued to fall. “You were born noble, and the Xander Manor has immense power, so naturally, you don’t need to care about other people’s opinions. But I’m different. I’m a daughter of a prominent family, and there are more than a dozen sisters in the family waiting to be married. If they are criticized because of my reputation as a divorced woman and cannot marry into good families, then I will be a sinner of the family.”

“A name is built by how you live, not by what others say,” Athena interrupted her with a firm tone. “You are a victim recognized by the royal family, not some immoral woman. If anyone questions it, then they are questioning the royal family’s decision. I would like to see who is so bold as to question the royal family.”

She paused and then said, “Furthermore, the Xander Manor will support you. You are someone protected by the royal family. If anyone dares to criticize you, they are criticizing the royal judgment and making an enemy of the Xander Manor. Do you think anyone would dare to gossip?”

Gracie abruptly looked up, a faint glimmer of light finally appearing in her dead eyes. “Is this… is this feasible? I’m afraid…”

“There is nothing infeasible.” Athena held her hand, her palm warm and strong. “If I were afraid of these rumors, I would have died long ago and not lived to this day.”

These words struck Gracie’s weak spot, and she covered her mouth. Athena continued to advise her gently. “As for your sisters, I will have Prince Xander step in and send generous gifts to your family, and ask His Majesty to bestow several imperial decrees of marriage, ensuring that each of your sisters marries well. At that time, who will remember the divorce? Everyone will only envy that you have the support of the Xander Manor, and envy that your family is valued by the royal family.”

Gracie sniffled, her tears gradually stopping, and looked at Athena gratefully. “Thank you, I will not go to the family church.”

Athena smiled with relief. “That’s right. Let’s go back to the manor. I’ll have the kitchen stew the food you love to drink to nourish your health.”

Just as they arrived at the gate of the palace, they saw Geoffrey and his wife waiting at the gate. Seeing the two of them come out, they hurried to greet them.

“How is it?” Geoffrey asked anxiously.

Gracie’s voice choked as she called out, “Dad, Mom, thanks to Athena, I’m able to reconcile smoothly.”

Hearing her words, Geoffrey breathed a long sigh of relief. He nodded with red eyes and gave Athena a salute. “Thank you, Athena.”

“What are you doing?” Athena hurriedly gave him a hand. “We are all family. Why say such polite words?”

Ruth also had tears in her eyes. “If you hadn’t helped, Gracie wouldn’t have been able to reconcile so smoothly. I will never forget your great kindness.” Speaking, she also curtsied to Athena.

Athena soothed them for a while before they tearfully took Gracie back to the mansion. After returning to the Xander Manor, Xander rushed to greet them. He quickly stepped forward and took Athena’s cool hand, warming it in his palm. He looked at her with concern. “You must be tired after spending so much time at the Serenity Palace today. The kitchen has stewed chicken soup. Drink some while it’s hot.” He handed the warm pot to Athena and brushed the dust off her shoulders, his movements unbelievably gentle.

Athena looked at him with a smile, her eyes full of satisfaction. “Why are you being so attentive, dear?”

“How can I not be?” Xander helped Athena sit down, then went behind her to massage her shoulders. He raised his eyebrows, his eyes full of pride. “The title of Serene Princess is not just for show. If you hadn’t intervened, how could Gracie have divorced so smoothly? The duke’s estate is a pack of wolves. They would have skinned Gracie alive. I can’t interfere in the affairs of the inner courtyard, which only makes you suffer.” As he spoke, he quickly picked up the warm pot and handed it to Athena. “Drink it while it’s hot.”

Before going to Acridon, Athena didn’t have a good rest. After coming back, she was dragged to deal with these chores again, and Athena has lost weight. Xander felt extremely distressed.

Athena took a few sips of chicken soup and felt more comfortable. “No matter what, Gracie is from the Xander Manor. If she is bullied, the Xander Manor will also lose face. Whether it is for personal or emotional reasons, I can’t ignore it.”

“Today, I confronted the Queen Mother and forced her to sign the divorce agreement. I’m afraid the Queen Mother will also be dissatisfied with the Xander Manor in the future.”

Xander sat down opposite her and reached out to gently massage Athena’s legs. “It is inevitable that the Queen Mother will be dissatisfied. After all, the Miller family is her family, but if she wants to make things difficult for the Xander Manor in the future, I will not sit idly by. Unless she wants to completely fall out with the Xander Manor, the Queen Mother can still maintain a presentable facade.”