The Rise Of The Unwanted Girl (Athena) novel Chapter 4

Chapter 4 The One To Blame

Before Athena could say a word, Nicolas stepped forward, blocking Margaret’s view.

“Athena! Are you doing this on purpose?” he snapped. “Three years weren’t enough to teach you some manners? Still playing your little games? You’ve really let me down!”

“I told you to present yourself properly. What are you wearing?” His expression was full of disapproval, his tone unconsciously laced with the stern authority of a Justice Ministry official.

He looked at her like she was standing trial. “If you’ve got complaints, direct them at me. Why come here and put on a show in front of Grandmother? Are you trying to make her feel sorry for you? Do you want to upset her so badly she falls ill?”

Athena almost laughed out loud.

She raised an eyebrow, her smile cool and detached. “The clothes? Lady Eloise picked them out. What did you expect me to wear—what I came back in from the military camp?”

That shut him up. For a moment, Nicolas was at a loss. She had called Eloise “Lady Eloise”—not “Mother.”

Only then did it hit him: ever since Athena returned, she hadn’t regarded him as brother once either.

A flicker of unease crept into his chest. The harsh words caught in his throat and never made it out.

His gaze narrowed, a thought nagging at the back of his mind. ‘It’s only been three years… how did she waste away like this?’

Eloise quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “That was my oversight. Don’t be too hard on Athena.”

Nicolas stepped aside, allowing Athena to enter.

Margaret’s eyes lit up the moment she saw her.

“Come here, come,” she called, voice trembling slightly. “Let me take a good look at you.”

That warmth, that longing in her eyes—Athena felt her nose sting. She stepped forward and let Margaret take her hands and look her over from head to toe.

“How did you get so thin?” Margaret pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly, voice choked with emotion. “My sweet girl… you’ve suffered. It’s all my fault. I’m too old, too useless… I couldn’t protect you…”

Athena knew how things had gone. Back then, Margaret had stood by her, even if it meant alienating the rest of the family. Her health had already been fragile.

The fact she’d made it through these years at all was a miracle. If not for the empire’s strict laws, no one knew what would’ve happened…

She wrapped her arms around Margaret, and whispered through a tight throat, “Grandmother.”

Just one word—and Margaret broke down completely, tears streaming down her face.

Off to the side, Eloise watched the reunion, a pang of bitterness tightening in her chest.

Athena had been home for some time now… and still hadn’t called her “Mother.”

She dabbed at her eyes with a silk handkerchief, playing the part of the grieving parent.

Willow stepped up, gently hugging her. “Don’t be sad, Mother. Athena’s home now.” Her voice was soft, comforting, obedient.

Eloise looked down at her beloved Willow and felt deeply comforted.

She nodded, eyes still wet, but a faint smile tugging at her lips. She thought, ‘At least Willow understands.’

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