Survive As The Brute’s Wife - Chapter 104

“Max…”

Alexandra’s watery eyes gazed coyly at his amber eyes as the tip of her nose touched his. His big hand was holding her jaw as she hung from his strong arm that had wrapped around her waist. He was wearing a robe that had slipped off his shoulder as her hand traced on his neck to his shoulder. His exposed chest spread warmth to her heart. Her chest felt like it would burst out.

They’ve been kissing for a while now and she could sense the others around the area. Under the bright sunlight, not minding the prying eyes of a legion, an Emperor is losing himself and exposing his back to potential danger and is kissing a woman.

It wouldn’t be taken well by others.

She didn’t think she should care either.  She missed him and she wanted to kiss him for a while now. When he pressed the back of her head to taste her lips once again, she joined him pretty willingly and wrapped her legs around his waist to have a good balance. His hand started to rub on her upper-thigh that sneaked out from the cloak he covered her with.

His kisses intensified and it appeared that they are not planning on stopping any time soon. Both of them had shed their cloak of rationality and let their bodies follow their carnal desire.

She was feeling warm all over. Maximus has warmed over too. She sensed her body temperature rising as her skin came in contact with his skin, and it made her uncomfortable in her lower abdomen; also between her legs, she started to feel some pressure building up.

Something intense; something novel; something that turned her senses awry.

She wanted to cool down, but she didn’t want to leave the embrace of Maximus.

[What is this torture!]

—–

Flavia pulled aside Julius who stood there stunned seeing the brazen act of their Emperor and … this woman… this mysterious woman who just saved his wife. Flavia sent away the curious soldiers poking out their heads from behind the rock partition and drove them away.

After getting driven away by the woman who should have died in the boiling water, and with the dry river bed in front of them, the soldiers were sheepishly looking at each other and shrugging and non-verbally communicating with each other. Flavia knew that they are talking about the brazen act of their Emperor, without talking.

Flavia turned to her side. The wall of water near them was still standing. She looked at her hand. She remembered the unbearable pain all over her body as her skin burned. But she felt peaceful thinking about it. She didn’t find a shiver passing through her spine rehashing that traumatic incident, but she was overwhelmed with peace.

It was as if someone had barricaded the fear and the negative impact of that incident from her mind, and replaced it with peace.

And he knew it is that little girl who looked so meek and helpless when she met her. And it made her wonder how much more power she is holding in that fragile body of hers.

It was then she also realized that the girl is much more powerful than Maximus. When he was little, Maximus couldn’t control his mana and would often destroy everything around him. She has felt his strong mana. It would have a little taste of sourness to it and at times it would scare her to be in his presence, especially when he has nightmares.

But the mana from Alexandra was so pure. It was pure and tasted like freshly fallen snow. It had no taste and no odor. But she felt the strength. It was nothing like Maximus’. Maximus would be a novice and would lose instantly against this pure mana.

But it didn’t make her afraid. It wasn’t scary. It was… divine if she should use the right word. It was pure, peace-inducing, strong,  and calm – it was divine.

Divine? No human can be divine! Who is she? Is she even a human?

Her heart fluttered thinking of this. The wall of water is growing and it seems like she still hasn’t allowed the water to flow. She could only imagine the look of astonishment of the people who live in the path of this river, watching the river go dry out of nowhere.

What an impressive girl!

“I was about to jump in and join you, love,” Julius whispered in her ear. He truly was prepared to do it. He would not live without her.

She turned and looked at her husband. “All I could think was how useless was I to bar you from passing your legacy. I should have left so that you are free to have a child with another-”

“No,” Julius clutched her hand hard. “No!” There was nothing else he could say.

He’s been taking his wife everywhere he goes to stop her from hearing other people hurling insults at her for not having a child. He is not going to actively hurt her by bringing home another woman. Is having a child that important?

Flavia let out a deep breath. Her husband’s resolve hasn’t wavered even a bit in these past twenty-five years. She didn’t believe he would change any more.

“We owe her one,” she said and held his hand. “Never forget that.”

“As you say,” Julius said and Flavia hit his arm. He turned and smiled at her. “What?” he raised his brows.

“You didn’t have to say it like that..!”

“Like what?”

“Like you are not thinking the same..?” Flavia looked at Julius and he turned to look at the wall of water.

Yes, he is thinking the same. Yes, his wife is smart. Yes, his wife knows what he is thinking.

“Has the water frozen?” he stepped from the riven bank to the river bed to have a closer look.

The other soldiers have seen that too and they all looked at the water with awe. The water of the river that is supposed to be boiling has started to freeze; at an alarming rate too! By now the outer layer of the wall has crystalized to ice acting as a dam for the incoming water.

A layer of mist formed around and they all started to feel the cold around them as if they were standing on a snow covered field. Julius was stunned. Even in winters, this area would never get very cold. People who grew up here would have never seen snow in their life.  He looked above to see the dark cloud accumulating and they started showering snow.

The men were all stunned and they all looked at each other.

“Witch,” he heard someone mutter.

“She must be using dark magic to freeze the water of the holy river…”

“Destroyer…”

The murmurs started to gain intensity.

What could be done to curb this disturbance?

“Brothers!”

They all stopped speaking and turned to look at the source of the voice. The only one who would address them this way would be their Emperor.

“Get out of the river bed and stay away from the shores. The boiling water would melt the ice and that would cause a flash flood…” he waved his hand and asked the soldiers to get to safety.

Alexandra from the other side heard it.

[Why would there be a flash flood?]

She looked at the frozen wall of water and she flexed her fingers. The ice melted and she slowly made the water descend. She even put a spell on the water to warn anyone who is standing on the riverbed wondering where the water has gone. This is the longest river and a lot of people would be stunned as the water has stopped.

With a roar, the water started to flow again. The initial layer of freezingly cold water was followed by the usual flow of the Yerakrak river.

“I remember the prophecy of the previous Chief Priest…” Maximus pointed at the top of the mountain. “I lived there when I was very young…The Chief Priest, he said that when the Holy River freezes over as the fawn looks up at the eagle…” he pointed at the sun rising at the horizon.

” A new dawn will break on Lethusia!” he raised his hands high above and looked up at the sky.

The Chief Priest said no such thing. But if Luke could manipulate others using lies, he had no qualms in using the same tactic to protect Alexandra.

Well, she needs no protection, but he wanted her to live in peace.

Maximus smirked as the soldiers started to shout in joy. These are the men who follow him to battle. Of course, they would listen to him. They trust him that much.

Alexandra emerged from behind the rock, clad only on Maximus’ cloak. He turned and pointed at her.

“Behold! The harbinger of Prosperity! Princess Alexandra!”

The men all shouted and Alexandra walked and stood closer to him. He was raising one of his hand and with his other hand he held her hand. As she watched his side profile, she saw something – She saw love.

His love… His love that pushes him to do all these unnecessary things for her.

[Princess Alexandra? Hmm….]