The Rise Of The Unwanted Girl (Athena) novel Chapter 263

Chapter 263

Willow stared at the smelly shoe on the ground and let out a piercing shriek.

She had never been so humiliated in her life.

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She was the dignified Marchioness of Somers, yet here she was, being pelted with rotten shoes, wilted vegetables, and spoiled eggs.

Nona, terrified, rushed to shield Willow and urged, “Lady Willow, get in the carriage, quick!”

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Only then did Willow snap out of her daze and, under the frantic protection of Nona and the attendants, was practically shoved into the carriage.

The coachman whipped the horses into a frenzy, and the furious mob chased after them, hurling curses and pelting the carriage with whatever they could find.

Whatever was in their hands–stones, rotten eggs, moldy vegetables—was hurled at the carriage.

Each object struck the carriage with heavy, echoing thuds, making the whole vehicle shudder.

Willow cowered in the corner of the carriage, clutching her ears, her screams unending.

It wasn’t until the carriage reached Peace Street and the crowd saw the patrol guards that they finally scattered.

Willow’s face turned ashen, her eyes brimming with tears.

Nona stole a nervous glance at her and whispered, “Lady Willow…”

Without warning, Willow slapped Nona hard across the face with a resounding crack.

Nona seemed to have expected it; she didn’t dare make a sound, just kowtowed frantically, her forehead nearly touching the floor as she begged for forgiveness.

“My lady, I was wrong! I truly know my mistake–please, my lady, spare me.”

The thought of that filthy shoe made Willow practically boil with rage.

She pointed a finger at Nona’s nose and snapped, “You worthless wretch! How dare you! When danger arose, you didn’t protect me–you even had the audacity to hide!”

The stench still seemed to linger at the tip of her nose, making Willow’s stomach churn with nausea.

Nona, face streaked with tears, pleaded, “My lady, I didn’t mean to. Please, have mercy on me!”

Willow was nearly beside herself with fury, her eyes cold and vicious as she ordered, “Slap yourself. Don’t stop until I say so.”

Nona froze for a moment, then understood Willow’s meaning.

Sniffling, she choked out a “Yes,” then brought her hand down viciously across her own face.

With a crisp crack, her cheek flared crimson.

But Willow was far from satisfied. Leaning back against the carriage, her expression icy, she said, “Continue. I haven’t told you to stop. You’re not allowed to stop.”

“Yes, my lady.” Nona knew she wouldn’t escape unscathed this time.

She closed her eyes, swung her arm with full force, and slapped herself again and again.

As she hit herself, she murmured over and over, “It’s all my fault. I failed to protect my lady.”

Willow closed her eyes in satisfaction, savoring the intoxicating pleasure that power brought her.

As the carriage pulled up at the Osborne family estate, Willow opened her eyes, a deep frown creasing her brow.

She didn’t manage to get the medicine for Kelsey, and she had come back looking like a mess. She wondered what she was supposed to do.

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She didn’t even know if Michael had returned from the palace yet.

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12:16 PM

Chapter 263

With a heart full of unease, Willow felt utterly drained.

She glanced at Nona, whose face was swollen like a pig’s head, and raised her hand slightly. “That’s enough. Stop,” she ordered.

Nona’s cheeks were so puffy and numb that she could barely feel the pain anymore.

She knelt in gratitude, her face streaked with tears. “Thank you, my lady, for sparing my life.”

Willow shot her an irritated look. “We didn’t get the medicine. What are we supposed to do now?”

Nona rolled her eyes thoughtfully and offered, “My lady, you could always blame that wretched woman. Just say she made things difficult for you on purpose. Lord Osborne probably won’t bother to check the truth himself.”

Willow didn’t like the idea, but right now, she had no better options.

Willow lifted her skirt and stepped out of the carriage just as the steward hurried over, his face frantic. “Lady Willow, you’re finally back -something’s happened at the estate.”

The last thing Willow wanted to hear was that something had gone wrong. Her eyes widened. “What now?”

“It’s… it’s a messenger from the palace,” the steward stammered, clearly flustered.

“What? Then where is Lord Osborne?” Willow was so startled she nearly lost her footing.

Visitors from the palace never brought good news.

The steward, still anxious, said, “His Lordship hasn’t returned yet. The Queen sent her matron, and she’s waiting in the front hall right

now.”

Willow gasped.

If it were good news, Michael wouldn’t still be out.

The Queen sent someone–could it be for her?

Feeling a knot of unease tighten in her stomach, Willow finally reached the front hall–just as she feared, the Queen’s matron was already standing there, ramrod straight.

Willow’s scalp tingled as she stepped forward. “Matron, forgive my late greeting. May I ask what brings you here?”

Though only a servant, the matron served at the Queen’s side and showed not a hint of fear, even before Willow.

In a calm, measured tone, the matron announced, “By order of Her Majesty the Queen, I am here to admonish you.”

“Admonish me?” Willow’s heart clenched. ‘So it really is about me, she thought in panic.

She slowly knelt, her face full of helplessness. “I accept your admonition.”

“Lady Willow, you have acted without virtue or decorum, spreading rumors that led people astray and nearly caused disaster. Her Majesty decrees: as this is your first offense, you are to receive fifty slaps as a warning. Should there be a next time, there will be no leniency.”

As the matron finished reading the decree, Willow’s face turned deathly pale and she collapsed to the floor.

Would she even survive fifty slaps?

“Lady Willow, forgive me.” The head matron, face expressionless, stepped up to Willow and swung her arm in a wide arc, landing a resounding slap across her face.

Willow let out a sharp scream, clutching her cheek.

In her panic, she fumbled out a pouch of silver, trying to bribe the matron. “Matron, please, show some mercy.”

The matron’s eyes widened in shock, staring at Willow as if she were a fool.

How dare she bribe the Queen’s envoy!

Willow might not understand this was the Emperor’s decree.

Besides, there were people from the Heaven Hall here as witnesses.

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