The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 817

Chapter 817: Chapter 817 Being Taken Care Of
To Alice’s surprise, the flight attendant didn’t reprimand Hera or ask her to move. Instead, she bowed respectfully and returned Hera’s ticket with both hands, her smile unwavering.

“Thank you so much for showing your ticket, Miss Hera Ainsley,” she said warmly. “I actually came to inform you that your seat has been upgraded to first class, along with seats for your friends. A few of your bodyguards will also be moved up to business class to take your seats.”

Hera blinked, a bit taken aback. It wasn’t unusual for frequent flyers to receive upgrades through accumulated points or airline courtesy, but this felt different. The upgrade extended not only to her but also to her companions and even her security team. How did the flight attendant even know she had brought bodyguards with her?

Sensing Hera’s cautious expression, the flight attendant quickly added an explanation.

“Please don’t misunderstand,” the flight attendant said gently, sensing Hera’s hesitation. “We received instructions from higher management. They informed us that you would be traveling with friends and bodyguards, though they didn’t specify the exact number. So, we’ve prepared upgraded seats for the four of you, along with four of your bodyguards.”

The explanation left Alice stunned. Her expression faltered for a moment before she quickly composed herself and stepped forward, masking her curiosity behind a serene smile. She maintained her gentle, white lotus demeanor as she prepared to question the flight attendant, careful not to cause a scene or draw unnecessary attention.

“Excuse me, miss,” Alice said politely, her tone soft and seemingly curious. “Is this upgrade related to the IGI Expressions competition? If so, may I ask if my seat is also being upgraded?”

She wore a look of innocent confusion, as if she were merely seeking clarification. But beneath the surface, this was the only explanation she could rationalize—why else would Hera, who wasn’t even part of the competition, receive such special treatment, along with her friends and bodyguards? Was it because Hera was a rising star now? Was she being treated differently due to her growing fame?

Dozens of questions raced through Alice’s mind, but more than anything, she wanted to make her presence known. If Hera was moving to first class, there was no way she was going to sit back and let herself be left behind.

“I’m sorry, miss, but this isn’t related to the competition. The upgrade was a direct order from the airline owner’s son,” the flight attendant said before she could stop herself. Her eyes widened slightly, realizing she’d said too much. She was only supposed to mention that it came from higher-ups, not reveal the identity behind the decision. Now, she’d likely get scolded for letting that slip.

Hera, however, was already piecing things together. ‘Owner’s son?’ she thought, brows slightly furrowed. There weren’t many people she knew who fit that description—wealthy enough to influence an entire airline and close enough to her to care about her travel comfort. Then it clicked.

There was only one man who matched all the criteria: Xavier. The heir of the Montague family, whose family owned Montague Airlines. If the flight attendant had let that slip, then it made perfect sense. If Xavier wanted her and her friends upgraded, the airline would make it happen—no questions asked.

And as it turned out, Hera’s suspicion was spot on. How did Xavier know how many friends she was bringing? The answer was simple—he, along with Luke, Dave, Rafael, and Zhane, had been actively chatting in their group chat.

It just so happened that the organizers of the IGI Expressions Competition had booked Hera’s flight through Montague Airlines, which belonged to Xavier’s family. When Zhane saw the airline’s name on Hera’s ticket, he casually mentioned it to Xavier. That was all Xavier needed to step in and make arrangements.

When Rafael shared that he was sending Minerva along so Hera wouldn’t have to travel alone, Xavier added another upgraded seat to the list. Later, he learned Athena and Liz had also booked tickets for the same flight, so he expanded the upgrade to include the four of them.

As for Hera’s bodyguards, everyone in their group already knew she rarely traveled without protection, so Xavier had their old seats reassigned to her bodyguards—just in case. They weren’t sure exactly how many she would bring, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

Since the flight from their country to France would be a long one, Xavier didn’t want Hera to feel uncomfortable. Initially, he assumed she would take her private plane, like she did when they went to Barcelona.

But when Zhane mentioned that Hera intended to follow the organizers’ plan and board the commercial flight they had booked for her, Xavier immediately grew concerned. Fortunately, the flight happened to be with Montague Airlines—his family’s airline—so making special arrangements was within his reach.

Xavier personally called the airline to ensure everything was handled perfectly. He didn’t want any mistakes, like the wrong passengers being upgraded while Hera was left behind. Although business class was already quite comfortable, first class offered significantly more privacy and convenience.

The seats could recline into fully flat beds, the meals were higher quality, the washrooms were more spacious, and most importantly, each seat came with privacy covers. That meant Hera could rest without worrying about being seen or disturbed.

What concerned Xavier the most, however, was the thought of Hera sleeping in public with strangers nearby. With a face as stunning as hers, he couldn’t shake the fear that some lecher might stare at her while she slept—and that was something he simply wouldn’t allow.

Coincidentally, there was an older businessman seated in business class who turned out to be quite the lecher. When he noticed Alice, he began staring at her and even attempted to make advances. Feeling uncomfortable and unsettled, Alice found it difficult to relax, let alone sleep. She ended up turning away and trying to hide herself in her seat to avoid his gaze.

If Hera had been seated there as originally planned, she might have experienced the same discomfort as Alice—or even worse.

After realizing that this was Xavier’s arrangement, Hera calmly followed the flight attendant, with Athena, Liz, and Minerva close behind. But just as Minerva was about to move, Alice reached out and caught her wrist.

“Minerva, are you avoiding me? C-Can I come with you guys?” Alice asked in a soft, pitiful voice. “I don’t know anyone else here… It feels lonely traveling alone.” She was clearly trying to tug at Minerva’s emotions—and it worked. Minerva looked down, her long lashes fluttering as uncertainty clouded her eyes.

“I…” she began, but before she could say anything, Athena swiftly slipped an arm around Minerva’s shoulders, startling her enough to nearly make her jump.

“Miss Quinn, please don’t say that,” Athena said sweetly, her smile sharp. “The flight attendant said the upgrade was only for the four of us. Or… are you suggesting Minerva give up her seat for you?”

Hera, who had stopped and turned around, added in a calm voice, “Minerva, come here.” She reached out her hand with a gentle smile.

Then she looked at Alice and said, “Sorry, Alice, but Minerva’s brother, Rafael, entrusted her to me. And she’s still recovering from her injuries—so it’s best she stays with me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know how to explain it to my Rafael.” Hera winked mischievously, clearly enjoying the dig.