Chapter 523
Athena’s carriage had just entered the gate of Xander Manor when she heard children laughing in the backyard.
Entering the yard, she saw Xander sitting on a stone bench under a crabapple tree, holding Bernie in his arms. He was also holding a rattle-drum, making the little one in his arms giggle.
Gracie, next to him, was holding a small wooden sword, running around the stone bench, occasionally reaching out to snatch the rattle-drum. The three of them were having a lively time.
This heartwarming scene improved Athena’s mood a bit.
Xander was the first to notice her strangeness and stood up with Bernie in his arms. “Why are you back so soon? Didn’t you say you were going to stay at the villa and talk with the princess a little longer?”
He stepped forward and saw that Athena’s face was a little pale, with a hint of fatigue in her eyes. He reached out to touch her forehead, but Athena gently avoided him.
Athena sat down on the chair next to her, her whole body exuding a sense of listless exhaustion.
Trina watched from the sidelines and couldn’t help but feel sorry for Athena. She stepped forward, curtsied to Xander, and recounted the whole story. “Your Highness, just now in the villa, Princess Diana kept the princess company in a kindly manner, and even specially ordered pear blossom cakes that the princess loves to eat, but the princess didn’t give her a pleasant look."
“Princess Consort asked her if she wanted to add some new clothes, and the princess said there was no need to trouble the Princess Consort; she was used to simple meals and could not afford the wealth of the royal residence."
“Princess Consort then offered to have a court physician come and take care of her health, but the princess retorted that Princess Consort must think her body unclean, afraid of sullying the royal residence. Every word was sharp, leaving Princess Consort speechless.”
“How dare she!”
Xander’s face instantly darkened. Bernie was startled by his suddenly raised voice, pouted, and nearly burst into tears. Xander quickly softened his tone, gently patted Bernie’s back, but the anger in his eyes grew even stronger.
“Does she know that Athena is her Royal Aunt? Athena treats her kindly, but she dares to be rude and disrespectful!”
He paused, his tone full of displeasure. “Besides, if Athena and I hadn’t arranged for secret guards to go to the Kingdom of Veyra to rescue her, she’d still be locked away in the palace, living in isolation and eating gruel!”
“Now that she’s back, instead of being grateful, she puts on airs with her savior. She’s really an ungrateful wretch!”
He would never allow Athena to suffer any grievances in his life. Diana was just a fallen princess returning from Kingdom of Veyra, and yet she dared to be so rude to Athena. She truly didn’t know her place.
Trina’s eyes lit up. What the prince said was just right.
Athena looked at his tense profile and knew he was defending her. The grievances in her heart dissipated slightly. She reached out and tugged at his sleeve, “Forget it, don’t be angry. She suffered for ten years in the Kingdom of Veyra, it’s normal for her to have resentment. Let’s not bother with her.”
“Normal?”
Xander turned to look at her, his eyes full of heartache, “Even if she’s resentful, she has no right to take it out on you! How many days did you busy yourself with before and after taking her back?"
“Renovating the courtyard and arranging personnel, and what does she do? Not a single kind word, only snide, sarcastic remarks!”
“Okay, don’t be angry.”
Athena stood up and gently smoothed his furrowed brow, “I’m tired and want to go back to my room to rest. I’ll leave the children in your care.”
Xander nodded, watching her turn and go back into the house, but the anger in his heart could not be suppressed. He handed the children to Trina and turned to leave the palace. Trina called after him a couple of times, but he stayed silent, his face dark.
No one knew what Xander had done while he was out, but when he came back, his face was much more relaxed.
Athena woke up an hour later. Trina told her about it, and while she was wondering about it, Nelson walked over in a hurry. Behind him was a maid.
“Princess Consort, Princess Diana sent someone to deliver something.”
Athena’s heart was shocked, and she knew what Xander had gone to do. He probably went to make trouble for Diana. Back when Diana wasn’t married yet, the person she feared the most was him. Now that he was the Prince Regent, the person Diana feared was still him.
Athena regretted returning with a displeased expression, as it made it seem like she was complaining.
“Come here,” Athena said.
The maidservant anxiously stepped forward, holding the item above her head, “Your Highness, this is a precious hairpin that the princess brought back from the Kingdom of Veyra, and she sent this servant to deliver it to you as an apology.”
Athena looked at the maid’s anxious expression and felt a twinge of regret. Although Diana held a grudge, she knew how to admit defeat. As for herself, she had let her emotions get the better of her, which made her seem petty in comparison.
She got up and walked forward, gently took the lacquer box, didn’t open it immediately, but said gently. “You can get up, go back and tell the princess that we are all family, and there is no distinction between us.”
“Yes, Princess Consort.” The maidservant nervously backed out, glancing at Athena before leaving. Athena was puzzled but didn’t think much of it and let her leave.
After the maid left, Athena felt more and more puzzled. She opened the box to find a pale gemstone hairpin, delicately carved at the top into a small begonia flower. Although not the best quality, the carving was exquisite, and it was clear that it had been carefully selected. Athena picked it up, but the hairpin broke in the middle.
Trina gasped, her eyes widened. “Princess Consort, how could she do such a thing?”
She gave a broken gift to someone. Surely this was meant to embarrass someone on purpose.
“Princess Consort, I’ll go tell the prince. Princess Diana is too much.” Trina turned to leave, but Athena stopped her.
She said with a tired face, “Forget it, if you tell him, it will cause a lot of trouble. I’m afraid that maid’s life will be gone too."
“Even if it escalates, what would it accomplish except adding another innocent life lost? It’s not worth it.”
Athena put the hairpin back in the box and gave it to Trina. “Take it to the storeroom and have it logged into the records.”
She was somewhat puzzled as to why Diana held such a grudge against her.
Three days later, the King planned to hold a grand party to celebrate Diana’s return. He wanted to tell the world how much he valued Diana. He didn’t want her to be wronged.
As soon as the news came out, the noble women and young ladies in the court rushed to the princess’s residence, competing to send her gifts. For a time, the gate of the princess’s residence was as lively as a market. The noble ladies of the aristocratic families personally came to the door or sent stewards to deliver generous gifts, and the silks, jewelry, and tonics were piled up in the side hall of the other courtyard, almost overflowing.
Athena was naturally going to send it as well, so she ordered someone to go to the storehouse and get the rosewood-framed silk painting screen sent from Southvale. She then selected a few more valuable items and had them delivered to the princess’s residence.
Unexpectedly, the gifts were rejected and returned. In front of so many people, Diana smiled and said, “The gifts from the Princess Consort are too precious. I will accept the good intentions, but not the gifts.”
The guests were in an uproar, as this was a blatant slap in the face to the Xander Manor. However, Diana didn’t care and a dark look flashed in her eyes.
She thought, ‘Athena is a hypocritical person. On the surface, she took care of me in every possible way, but in reality, she is an insidious villain. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have turned around and complained to Xander, causing him to reprimand me! She was so angry that she sent a broken hairpin over, suppressing Athena’s arrogance.’