Survive As The Brute’s Wife - Chapter 106

Alexandra looked at the big mansion that appeared to be carved out of a big boulder rather than built using individual stone. In other words, it was a very fancy tunnel that was well-furnished and carved to form a big house.

The entrance was a big iron door with statues of horses that touched the ceiling of the hall. The pillars all had intricate stone works and grand stairways led to the second floor of the mansion.

Ithildin left them at the door and Maximus dismissed him. They stepped in and Alexandra could sense the pleasant temperature inside the mansion and it was very quiet. Not eerily quiet but it had a peaceful calmness.

“Sirius!” Maximus called and his voice was carried around the entire mansion without any echoes.

Alexandra was amazed at the acoustics of the place and was curiously looking around. She found it weird that certain parts were covered with cloth and everything out here was blunt and unpolished. Even the floor.

She thought of asking Maximus about this weird construction, but she sensed a dark cloud hanging over Maximus’ head. It appeared that he is not very happy to be here.

“Your Royal Highness!”

A small bunch of people ran towards them and the one leading them was a man who appeared to be in his sixties. And the maids and servants behind him also looked old. They all looked surprised to see him here and the old man in the lead cleared his throat.

“Welcome, Your Majesty,” he bowed placing his hand over his chest.

[Highness?]

Alexandra found that address a little odd. She figured that Maximus hasn’t visited this place for a long time. The last time he came here must be when he was a Prince.

“Prepare lunch for us,” he said and grabbed her hand. She winced sensing it was ice-cold.

“Is the Peony Room clean, Sirius?” he asked walking past them.

“Yes, Your Majesty. All the rooms are always kept clean anticipating your arrival,” Sirius said with his head bowed.

Maximus didn’t speak more and holding her hand, got on the carpeted stairs. Alexandra turned back to see the little group of people was smiling gleefully. They were visibly happy to see Maximus return. She figured that they were left here to take care of this property but wasn’t in contact with many people here.

They were happy to see new persons appear in their place. But they looked at her curiously to know who she is. Maximus was very fidgety and he wanted to go to the “Peony Room” for whatever reason. Well, she knew why he wanted to go there urgently, but she wasn’t very appreciative of him dismissing these poor souls who are happy to see him.

She stopped and turned to look at them.

“I am his wife. My name is Alexandra,” She smiled at them.

The servants all blushed as she engaged with them but as if they suddenly realized that if she is his wife then they should be giving respects to her and they all scrambled for a moment.

“Don’t stand on ceremony. You can call me Alexandra,” she smiled at them. They looked at her pretty surprised but their eyes ended up on Maximus.

Well, he is their boss. His decision would be final.

“Do what she says,” Maximus said and walked up the stairs.

She saw them muttering among themselves excitedly. She vaguely heard what they whispered.

‘Is she the one he used to talk about?’

Alexandra joined Maximus. She stared at his side profile. It was stiff. Maybe he realized her stare, he turned and looked at her.

“I want to show you something,” his face lit up and he dragged her up the stairs. After passing through several hallways, they reached circular wooden stairs.

Alexandra could see that he is in a good mood and followed him. there had to climb a lot of stairs but she could do that.

Reaching the top of the stairs, they reached a watchtower and from there they could have a very good view of the Holy Mount, the Holy River, and even up to the plains far away. A little high up was Chief Temple for the Dragon King. She could see a thousand stairs path that leads up to the temple. That temple used to be a pilgrimage site in the past. She didn’t know if commoners are allowed there anymore.

A lot has changed since the last time she was here.

The view was pretty, but she was not very impressed by it. She is someone who flew to the heights the eagles reach. She has seen a lot of views. And in her Father’s place, she has seen the entire universe.

She turned and looked at Maximus and he had a slight curve of his lips. It appeared that he holds fond memory of this place.

“I lived here,” Maximus said and she leaned on the railing.

“Here?” she was surprised.

She thought as the sole heir to the throne, he would be raised in the Royal city of Lathlin.

“Do you remember your mother, Alexandra?” he turned to look at her and she thought for a while.

“Yes,” she answered. She doesn’t remember much about her mother this life, but she remembers her mother from her past life and her mother.

“Theodora…She never liked me…” he said and leaned beside her. “Theodora is my mother from this life. You will meet her soon.”

“Oh?” she nodded. He had no feelings for his mother and it surprised her. Even if it is because of his past life…

“Your mother died when you were young, right Tubby?” she asked. That’s what she remembered.

“Yeah…She left me with that family and…” he stopped and looked at her. “You were very different these past few days, Alexandra. What happened after you took the sword?” he asked.

“After I picked the sword?” Alexandra rubbed the ring on her finger. “You met with my Father, and he~” she stopped seeing him furrowing his brows. And she sensed a spell is active on him.

[Ah, father has put a spell of forgetfulness on him… Binding me inside, making him forget his meeting with him… What was he planning?]

Her eyes ended up at the Temple above and she shook her head in disapproval. She feared to do anything more as she didn’t want to be bound by some other spell and she controlled her anger towards her father.

“I’ll talk about that later,” she decided to first listen to Maximus’ story.

“Ah, yes,” Maximus could see that she is trying to change the topic, but he didn’t care about it much. She is back and that’s all that matters.

“Theodora never liked me and she despised my presence. So I was sent to live here in solidarity.”

“Alone?” Alexandra raised her brows and her voice turned soft. Her hands subconsciously reached for his hand. “How old were you?”

“I don’t know… Maybe around two?” he looked at her. “I grew up in this place…Until my Father died…”

Alexandra didn’t know what to say. In his previous life he couldn’t enjoy motherly love because his mother died, and this life even if he had a mother, he didn’t receive the love.

“Don’t pity me! Flavia was with me all the time,” he smiled and bopped her nose.

“That is good to know,” she let out a breath. She has felt the love of Flavia too and she was glad Maximus got to feel the motherly love too.

“Why did your mother… not like you?” she asked as he seemed to be accepting that fact without any regrets.

“She has another man in her heart. Someone who is not my father. And I am my father’s son and so…” he shrugged.

Alexandra is not very well-versed in matters of the heart. She wouldn’t understand the complexities of the relationships humans weave around themselves. But regardless, a mother should love her child. She thought this is an unwritten rule.

“The Chief Priest said that the Lukyan men are cursed to never receive a woman’s love,” Maximus looked at her and smiled playfully. “I wonder who would have put such a curse on the Lukyan family.”

Alexandra giggled. It was she who cursed them after all. But she didn’t include motherly love or familial love in her curse. She only meant romantic love and companionships.

[Did I do a mistake? Did I include all love a woman can offer? Is that why Max never received motherly love?]

She felt bad. She rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb.

“Speaking of curses, I should break the curse I put on the Lukyan family,” she looked at him.

She loves him and is married to him. She cannot have her family cursed by her.

“Let’s get to that later,” Maximus dismissed her. “I have a lot to say to you, Lexa…” he pulled her closer to him and hugged her around the waist. He wanted to imprint her sparkly eyes in his heart forever.

“I cannot even say it aloud, but… I love you, Alexandra…” he said holding her cheek.

Alexandra felt the atmosphere around them getting tense. Her chest tightened as he leaned closer to her face.

“Say it…” he placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Say my name… Once more… the name only you are allowed to say.”

“Tubby… I love you,” Alexandra said and he closed his eyes and rested his forehead on hers.

“I thought I would never hear you say this name…”