Survive As The Brute’s Wife - Chapter 108

The boy looked at her with his big green eyes twinkling. He didn’t look very strong as he still was a child and his hands looked soft like he has never done hard labor in his life. But she could see that he has some training in swordplay as she saw the callouses. His bright face brimmed with hope and he had determination.

“To protect, Your Highness,” he said with his eyes widening as if he was waiting if someone would ask him that question. “To protect those who are dear to me.”

“Oh, dear! What a spectacular child!” Alexandra patted his shoulder. “How old are you to have such an honest wish?”

“I am twelve, Your Highness,” he said. “but I am man enough!”

“Hmm…” Alexandra’s lips curved up. She was impressed by this boy’s patience and resilience. He endured everything Maximus did all this time to learn swordplay.

“You are leaving the one you serve to further your desire, Marcus,” she asked him with her eyes squinted and her voice deep. Her soft demeanor by now is gone and she turned her questions to an interrogation.

“It’s in his blood!”

Maximus was the one who answered.

“Traitors!!”

Alexandra turned to look at Maximus and he looked menacing with his jaws clenched and his hands balled to fists. His eyes met with hers for a moment but then he averted them as if he was ashamed and turned his back to her.

She understood the meaning behind his words. And she understood why she hated the Zoros family.

When Maximus told her about the fate met by her grandfather, she was too distressed to think about it deeply. But for Luke to humiliate in the Townsquare, he must have had support from someone local. Her grandfather was a drunkard, but he was well-liked by the villagers. They wouldn’t have humiliated him unless someone else turned them against him.

[So it was the Zoros family…]

She knew the Zoros family hated her grandfather for taking in the bastard of their family. They must have waited and when Luke offered them a chance to take against her grandfather, they took it.

[And this boy is a descendant of the Zoros family among other things… Should I hate him?]

She looked at him keenly. He was bowing his head and looking at the floor, still on his knees. He was not defensive of what Maximus called his family; he appeared ashamed.

“You called me Drovarys. Why do you know that name?” she asked.

This life, she didn’t hear anyone referring to her by that name. After Luke called himself to be Drovarys, that name appeared to have disappeared from the vocabulary of the people. She is referred to as the “Hero” now.

So why did he use that name?

“Your Highness…” the boy looked at her and his big eyes were filled with confusion. He opened his mouth but then he closed it and bowed his head and started nervously fiddling with his fingers.

“Speak your mind, Marcus,” she spoke in a soft tone to comfort him. He looked distressed.

“I don’t know… All I remember are those voices in my head saying that I should follow the Drovarys and-”

“Stop lying, Marcus!” Alexandra got angry with his lies. She could see him. He is a healthy boy. There are not going to be voices speaking to him.

“Let me throw him down the mountains for the vultures to feast on the last heir of the traitorous Zoros family,” Maximus lunged towards the boy.

Alexandra held Maximus’ hands to stop him. The boy fell flat on the ground and started to tremble fearing that his life would be taken.

“Speak, Marcus!” Alexandra bent and gently caressed the boy’s head. He looked pitiful. “This time, the truth.”

“Tr-uth?” the boy looked up and gulped. His eyes ended up at Maximus and then he started to tremble.

“I promise to protect you, Marcus. So don’t be afraid,” Alexandra spoke to him in a soft voice.

She has lived through many lives and seen a lot of things. She has seen the goodness in humans and the utter vileness that can come out of certain people. Some are born evil and they cannot be changed.

But should their children bear the brunt of what their ancestors did?

She has not thought that way until this life. She curses evil people and she always curses their generation too. Because some men justify their evil by saying that they did it for their children. And she has seen people turning extremely violent to protect their children. And some don’t mind hurting other children to protect their offspring.

Guess, that was the reason she would curse a person and their offspring.

But looking at the boy in front of her, she didn’t think that she was right with that thinking. Why should the children suffer for the sins of their fathers? Shouldn’t their decisions be the deciding factor for their life?

And so, she meant it when she said that she would protect him.

“Lexa, you’re offering him protection?” Maximus was not pleased with that. “Do you know who he is? Do you know what his~”

“Yes,” Alexandra interjected him and turned to look at Maximus with a smile. “I know, Maximus. I know. And still, I gave him my word. Unless he breaks my trust, he will be under my protection. I ask for you to give him up to me,” she said to him.

Maximus looked at her with astonishment. He shook his head and pointed at her to say something but he then pressed his lips swallowing his words and turned away letting out a scoff to let her know his disappointment with her.

[Ah… My Tubby… He lets me do what I want!]

“I will tell you the truth,” Marcus took in a deep breath to gather his courage and looked at her. “The Chief Priest of the Temple there…” he pointed at the Temple on the top of the hill. “He told me that my family is cursed because we spilled innocent blood and betrayed someone with a good heart… to gain power…” he looked down, his eyes filled with fear.

“And?” Alexandra asked.

Maximus’s eyes ended up at the Temple. It seems like the Chief Priest is doing this to everyone. He helped him get his memories back too and…

«He is getting more and more suspicious!»

“He… asked me to follow the Drovarys so I can find my peace…” Marcus looked at her.

“That’s so rich coming from a twelve-year-old!” Maximus grunted. “What do you know about finding peace? And how do you know who she is?”

Marcus said nothing to Maximus. How can he say that the Emperor confirmed it for him now?

He looked at Alexandra. “I found a sword in an abandoned dungeon under our castle. It was named ‘Atonement’. When I asked the meaning of the word, my grandfather told me a story of a man who betrayed his neighbor for a high position in the Emperor’s court… That man killed himself and called it atonement.”

“Oh?” Alexandra was happy with the way Tubby’s father ended his life. She looked at Maximus and he appeared to be pleased too. “What else did your grandfather say?” she asked.

“My grandfather?” Marcus raised his brows surprised by her question, but he continued. “He advised me not to betray the one I follow. He told me that those who betrayed can never be at peace. It would be a curse that rules their mind and erodes their bones.  And…” he gulped.

“And, what?” Alexandra asked.

“And he told me that the Lukyan family is not free from the curse of betrayal for they had betrayed a very powerful mage…” Marcus gulped looking at Maximus fearing that he might say something.

“Do not fear. You have my word,” Alexandra consoled him.

[As if Tubby would be offended by it.]

She looked at Maximus and she saw his surprised look turning to that of a smirk. She rolled her eyes.

[OF course, he still doesn’t trust him… he has severe trust issues!]

“I,” Marcus continued. “I was told to stay by the side of the Emperor for the savior will stand by his side. I made the connection and…” he bowed his head.

“After seeing how you saved Flavia, I know that you are the Drovarys and I plead with you to let me follow you.”

“You don’t want me to break your curse? You just want to follow me?” Alexandra asked.

This boy is much smarter than she gave credit for…  She loved him more.

“Yes, Your Highness. I want to follow you. For when I am near the light, darkness won’t take effect,” he looked at her and his eyes were pleading.

Alexandra laughed. “Did you hear him, Max? Can you see how smart he is! When you were his age, you were eating mud and-”

“Shut up!” Maximus stopped her from talking further.

But she is right. He never was this smart in his previous life. If he was, he wouldn’t have let Luke near them.

“You can follow me,” Alexandra helped him stand up. “I’ll have the blacksmiths forge a special sword for you once we reach the Royal City.” She patted his shoulder. “From today onwards, you are Marcus – My Paladin!”

“Paladin?” Marcus’ eyes turned wide with surprise.