Survive As The Brute’s Wife - Chapter 113

Alexandra turned and walked inside as she didn’t want to watch Maximus’ back anymore. He followed her pretty much immediately.

“You should get used to this, Lexa. Soon it’s going to be you-” he touched her cheek with the back of his hand and she slapped his hand away.

“I do not want this, Max… You are not doing this for me!” she said.

She couldn’t understand how he could not listen to her words when she is making it obvious. She is using simple words and she is sure he is hearing her.

Yeah, he is hearing but not listening.

“I can see you’re hurt to be here, Lexa. But this is necessary. We can find what we lost only where we lost it. So-” he paused as he heard footsteps approaching.

Alexandra stared at him, not understanding what he is saying. She did understand his words. But what does he mean by ‘what we lost’?

[We lost our time together. We lost our love. Don’t we have it now? What more should we find?]

“Sire, we need to…” the ministers who approached paused since Maximus was not looking at them.

Alexandra let out a sigh. “You will have your duties to attend, Your Majesty. I’ll find my way out.”

She did a curtsy and walked out of the hall, not knowing where she should go.

Maximus watched her figure disappear at the end of the hallway. He searched for Julius among the crowd. Knowing that Maximus is searching for him, Julius stepped forward.

“Make sure my wife’s stay in the West Wing is arranged properly and bring her there, with respect,” Maximus ordered Julius and Julius left with a bow.

“And Julius!” Maximus stopped him. “Ask Flavia to prepare some sweets for Alexandra… She loves sweet things,” he added.

He understood that Alexandra is mad at him for bringing her here. And she doesn’t like the plans he has for her. But he will come around.

He looked at the Ministers. “Has the preparation for the Coronation been completed?”

The ministers each looked at each other and in the distance, he saw Lord Zoros walking in. Every minister looked at Lord Zoros as if they all were planning something.

“Speak!” Maximus fisted his hands. He knew these pesky ministers would be rebelling against him.

“The Minsters worry that His Majesty is spending a little too much on the Coronation.” Lord Zoros was the one who spoke as Maximus expected.

“A little too much?” Maximus scoffed. “So how do you suggest we cut the cost?”

“That…” Lord Zoros cleared his throat. “They all agree that the coronation of the Empress need not be conducted right now. As His Majesty knows, there are a lot of potential candidates who are from our great nation who knows the culture of our great nation. If you give the highest honor a woman can get to a woman from another Kingdom, the trust people have in you will reduce…” Lord Zoros waited for Maximus to intercept him or throw his ususal temer tantrum, but Maximus was staring at Lord Zoros intently.

“And rumors are that the Destroyer has picked the forbidden sword and to have someone from that Kingdom to have the honor, is unacceptable,” Lord Zoros added.

“The highest honor a woman can get in this Empire is the title of the Empress?” Maximus asked, controlling his anger.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” All the ministers bowed.

“Being the wife of the Emperor is the highest honor that could be bestowed on a woman. So we should carefully choose that woman.”

“Oh?”Maximus raised his brows. “I seem to be forgetting a lot these days. Can someone remind me what is the rule when an Emperor has no male heirs?” he asked.

“That…” All the Ministers looked at each other as they searched for an answer.

“By the blessings of the Great Dragon King and the goodness accumulated by the Great King, the Lukyan Dynasty never faced such a grave danger, Your Majesty!” Lord Zoros bowed. “And we all hope the blessing of fecundity never leaves the LUkyan family.”

“So be it!” All the Ministers seconded.

Maximus said nothing and with a smirk walked to the front while the minsters followed him. They still haven’t gotten the answer they want.

“So whom do you suggest?” Maximus asked knowing that these vultures expect him to do that.

There was silence for some time and Maximus although couldn’t see, could hear that the men were murmering among themselves.

“Who?” he stopped, turned, and asked.

“Lady Lucilia Trifer would be the perfect candidate.” One of the Ministers said.

“Oh?” Maximus looked at the Minister and the moment their eyes met, the minister bowed his head as if he was ashamed.

“That’s your niece isn’t she, Lord Trifer?” Maximus scoffed. He then looked around. “You all are okay with this?”

“Yes,” the Ministers answered in a low voice.

Maximus turned with a smirk. Those pigs are regretting that they didn’t say the names of the girls  from their family.

But don’t they have reasons to not willingly give up the names of their loved ones to him?

“Ask Lady Trifer to meet me in the office for tea,” Maximus said. “I’ll see if she would be acceptable.”

Lord Trifer’s face brightened up with a smile, but something seemed odd.

“Acceptable, Your Majesty?” Lord Trifer asked trying to control the shiver in his hands. The other ministers were glaring at him out of jealousy, but he didn’t find the need to celebrate just yet.

This is the Brute he is talking to. And what is acceptable to the Brute?

“Yes,” Maximus turned and his cape swished as he turned. “Shouldn’t the one who gets the title of my wife be acceptable to my tastes? Aren’t I the one who should suffer that woman on the bed?” he shrugged and all the men gulped seeing the glow in Maximus’ eyes. “Or should I get permission from my honorable Ministers for my preferences on the bed?”

“…No, Your Majesty…” Lord Trifer spoke after a long time. No matter what it seems like the Emperor is not straightforward. He is planning something.”My niece, although well-versed and very-”

“She can always refuse my invite. She has the freedom to choose…” Maximus smirked. “After all, I am not a tyrant. I listen to my Ministers!” he shrugged and walked away with his cape fluttering.

Lord Trifer knelt on the ground as his knees went weak. He didn’t know what to make of this. His heart said that The Emperor is planning something sinister and he should send a letter to his niece to refuse the order. But on the other hand…

On the off chance that the Emperor is meaning what he says and there is a possibility that his niece could become the Empress, then…

The risk is worth it, isn’t it?

Lord Zoros called for one of his men. “I don’t see Marcus anywhere. Where is he?” he asked.

“Milord…” the man hesitated for a moment before he answered. “The Young Lord knelt in front of Princess Alexandra and the Princess accepted the Young Lord as her Paladin.”

“Paladin?” Lord Zoros’ heart sank. “What is she thinking?”

—–

“Marcus, you can go home and meet your family… You’ve traveled a lot and you’ll need rest. Go stay with your family for a couple of days until I give you a sword,” Alexandra told the boy.

“No, Your Highness,” the boy refused. “I swore to follow you and I will do it until you release me of my duties.”

“What can I do with you!” Alexandra petted his soft blonde hair and forgot about her anger toward Maximus.

[He is so cute!]

She looked around the big room. Everything was made of silk and fine lace and velvet. And all the items of furniture were made of solid woods. Everything was exquisite. And this place was the farthest from the Throne room.

“So where are the other women at?” Alexandra asked.

She didn’t want to happen upon them in the hallways.

“Other women? The maids?” Marcus asked.

“No, no…” Alexandra felt a little stupid to talk to a little boy about this. “Never mind.” She waved her hand.

“Flavia!” she shouted suddenly remembering. “Where is Flavia?”

“I’ll find out, Your Highness,” Marcus left the room and Alexandra let out a sigh.

She walked around and there was an inner chamber where the bed was at. It was a big bed with wooden pillars that reached the ceiling and thick curtains were hanging around. Although they called it a room, she figured that there are many rooms in this place allotted to her. Opposite to her room was Maximus’ room as they said. And she thought the other rooms that they passed through on their way here must be the rooms of the other wives he has.

There were a lot of rooms.

But oddly the hallways were without any foot traffic considering the number of people that might be living here. There should be maids and servants swarming the hallways if there are many living here.

[Or are those rooms empty? And where are the servant’s quarters?]

As she was wondering, there was a knock at the main door of her room.

[Who might that be…?]