From Slave To Queen - Chapter 67: Chapter 67

Aliza had been worried that Athena wouldn't want to hear about Matthew, but when she saw Athena ask, she quickly replied, "It's pretty much confirmed, Miss. The list has already been submitted and is just waiting for official approval. I also heard that if all goes well, Mr. Monson might be transferred to the Artillery Battalion."
Athena's heart skipped a beat.
No sooner had rumors of a marriage alliance between the Monson and Mcgee families started circulating than news came of Matthew's impending promotion.
As for the Pidence Guards, their daily duty was simply to keep the peace in Pidence. Frankly, it was a cushy job, nothing demanding or important.
Day-to-day, they just caught petty thieves when needed and handled minor street squabbles. Honestly, they hardly have any chance to make a name for themselves.
But the Artillery Battalion was a whole different story.
The Artillery Battalion bore the vital duty of defending the Pidence. It was the linchpin of the city's security.
Should foreign enemies invade, the Artillery Battalion would become the Emperor's deadliest weapon, leading the charge to repel invaders.
It was the last and most formidable line of defense for the capital, holding pivotal importance.
Once one joined the Artillery Battalion, a single military achievement could skyrocket their career, and limitless possibilities for advancement awaited.
Eloise truly spared no effort for her three sons, tirelessly pulling strings and scheming behind the scenes on their behalf.
"Miss Monson?" Athena snapped out of her thoughts to see Aliza looking at her with anxious concern.
Athena curved her lips into a gentle smile and said to Aliza, "In that case, we should celebrate properly."
Her tone was deceptively gentle, giving away nothing of her true thoughts.
Aliza and Siena's faces instantly lit up with beaming smiles, their eyes sparkling with excitement.
They looked as if they had already become Matthew's mistresses, about to rise to prominence overnight alongside him.
They were completely oblivious to the deeper meaning behind Athena's gentle smile.
That night, Athena turned in early.
In the dead of night, she was gently awakened by Trina whispering, "Miss Monson, wake up."
Athena's eyes snapped open, her gaze instantly sharp and alert.
Trina stood by the bed, giving Athena a subtle nod. A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved Athena's lips.
Then she rose and, with Trina, slipped quietly out, their footsteps light as whispers in the night.
Near the side gate, a figure knelt on the ground, with two stern-faced old women standing guard.
Seeing Athena approach, the two women hurried forward with fawning smiles. One of them said, "Miss Monson, we've got her!"
Athena stepped forward, looking down at the maid imperiously. "Look up," she commanded.
The maid sobbed helplessly, refusing to move. The matron paid no heed, grabbing her hair and yanking her head up.
At the sight of Athena's face, the maid turned deathly pale and stammered, "Miss Monson…"
Athena recognized the maid. She was a third-tier servant from Willow's residence, though the name escaped her.
"Your name," Athena demanded.
She stammered, "My name is Danielle Barker, Miss."
Athena turned to the two matrons and demanded, "What have you found out?"
Obsequiously, one of the matrons replied, "Miss Monson, this wretched girl is being very stubborn. She only admitted that Lady Willow gave her some things and allowed her to go home to visit her relatives."
Seeing Danielle clutching a bundle, Athena motioned for Trina to swiftly snatch it away.
Opening it, she found it packed with silver coins and several pieces of jewelry, all items Willow wore regularly.
Danielle was terrified out of her wits. "Please spare me, Lady Athena! I swear I am telling the truth. These things really were given to me by Lady Willow!"
Athena gave the scattered jewelry a sharp kick. She demanded, "Only a thief would sneak out at midnight. What other explanation is there?"
Danielle was struck speechless, stammering, "I..."
Her eyes darted as she scrambled for an excuse. "I... I just thought if I left tonight, I could get home a bit sooner, Miss," she stammered.
Trina snapped, her voice full of anger, "What nonsense! Who needs a small fortune just to visit family? Just these silver add up to a small fortune, not even counting all this jewelry. If you ask me, you clearly stole these!"
Athena suppressed the amusement in her eyes. "Lucky's injuries have stabilized, so Margaret likely won't blame you. But sneaking out with all these stolen valuables, your employer certainly won't protect you for this."
Then, Athena's voice hardened as she warned, "Stealing means having your hand chopped off. Think carefully, which would you rather face?"
"Mercy, Miss! Mercy!" Danielle pleaded desperately, but the sharp-eyed matrons swiftly gagged her with a rag, cutting off her cries.
"Lock her up in the woodshed," Athena ordered the two matrons. "Keep a close eye on her, don't let her escape."
The matrons responded immediately, hauling Danielle away as easily as if she were a rag doll.
On their way back, Athena instructed Trina, "Send word to Ivory Grove that Danielle has been intercepted."
Trina nodded in understanding and instructed the matrons to discreetly relay the message to Ivory Grove.
Athena returned and slept peacefully through the night, while over at Ivory Grove, Willow lay awake until dawn, tossing and turning in restless agitation.
At first light, Athena made her way to the main hall.
Willow was clinging to Eloise, her eyes swollen and red from crying. Nicolas and Matthew were there as well, their faces set in grim, stony expressions.
As Athena appeared, Eloise gently patted Willow's hand in reassurance, silently urging her to remain composed.
Nicolas and Matthew stood as if ready to defend Willow, their cold, unfriendly gazes fixed on Athena as she walked in.
Seeing their relaxed demeanor, Athena found it amusing. She smirked and said, "Lord Nicolas, Lord Matthew, you both must have plenty of free time today, no duties at the ministry?"
"Stop with your damn sarcasm!" Matthew exploded in fury, glaring daggers at Athena. "Why did you stop Danielle? What false charges are you trying to pin on Willow?"
His tone was so venomous, it was as if he wanted to tear her limb from limb.
Trina shot Athena a worried look, the odds were clearly stacked against her.
Clearly, Eloise and the two Monson brothers had all taken Willow's side.
No matter what the truth was, they were determined to back her up.
Seeing Matthew losing his temper, Eloise swiftly shot him a warning glance, and he subsided slightly.
But the look Matthew gave Athena still burned with smoldering resentment.
Eloise smiled warmly at Athena, her voice laced with false concern. "Athena, was it you who detained Danielle? Willow has already explained, the girl's uncle is gravely ill, and out of pity, Willow gave her some silver and allowed her to visit home. Why must you keep making trouble for her?"
Athena sat down, fixing Willow with a knowing, slightly amused look. "Oh? Is that so?"
Willow, her eyes red-rimmed, nodded eagerly and pleaded, "That's exactly what happened. Please let Danielle go at once."
"If this was truly just a family visit," Athena demanded coldly, "why sneak out at midnight? Wouldn't it have been better to leave openly at daybreak? She's just a young maid traveling alone with so much silver, weren't you afraid she'd be robbed?"
Before Willow could respond, Nicolas stepped in to defend her. "It was probably just a minor oversight, nothing serious."
"Since you all insist on this," Athena said coolly, "why don't we bring Danielle here for a direct confrontation?" She gave Trina a meaningful look, while a distinct flicker of panic briefly crossed Willow's eyes.
Before long, the two matrons dragged Danielle in.
She was shoved down to her knees, her face etched with panic as she looked at the assembled members of the family.
When Danielle saw Willow, her eyes pleaded for help, but Willow deliberately turned her head away, pretending not to see her.
At that moment, Danielle remembered that Athena had told her Willow wouldn't stand up for her.
The hope in Danielle's eyes flickered out. Athena stepped forward, blocking her view, and demanded, "One last time, did you lure Lucky to the rock garden?"
Hearing Athena's question, Willow lifted her cup with deliberate grace and took a measured sip.
Her expression remained perfectly composed, betraying not a flicker of unease.
Yet, in the very next moment, Danielle's voice, trembling with tears, rang out.