Survive As The Brute’s Wife - Chapter 114

“Your Royal Highness…” The guard by the door tried to stop the person from entering.

“Step aside!”

A loud bell-like voice was heard and Alexandra identified that voice immediately.

Theodora walked in with heavy footsteps pushing aside the Knight who was about to inform Alexandra about her guest. Alexandra waved her hand and the Knight stood by the door. Alexandra watched Theodora looking at the handmaid walking behind her. The handmaid retreated and stayed outside the room.

Alexandra nodded at the Knight and he left the room and closed the door.

“Welcome, Mother..?” Alexandra was confused about how she should address Theodora.

[Ah, I wish Flavia was here!]

“Mother?” Theodora let out a scoff and walked past her and towards the sofa. “Insolent ~”

“I didn’t hear you,” Alexandra asked as she didn’t hear the last part of what Theodora said. She knew it was some bad word. But if Theodora wanted to call her that, the least she could do is to have the courage to say it to her face.

Theodora stopped and turned at her. She then stared at Alexandra from top to bottom as if she was checking her out. She looked bewildered to hear someone talking back to her.

“Didn’t know Deberia could produce such a beauty,” Theodora turned her back to Alexandra once more.

“I am flattered to hear you say that, Your Royal Highness,” Alexandra decided to address Theodora the same way the Knight addressed her. “Coming from a great beauty-”

“Leave!” Theodora turned abruptly and walked toward Alexandra. “I know who you are and I warn you… Just leave.”

Alexandra folded her hands over her chest and looked at the woman who is taller than her. She was filled with hatred, well, it is hatred towards her, but it is not just that, is it?

[Ah… Protective instinct… the instinct of a mother to keep her children safe…]

“Why?” Alexandra raised her brows.

She didn’t care what is said about her or what others might perceive her as. She is not planning on destroying an Empire on a whim. That is not her.

“Why?” Theodora gritted her teeth and pointed at her as she was astonished by the aloofness of the woman standing in front of her. In those blue eyes, there was no fear, there was no respect; there was arrogance. She has never met someone who would hold their pride so well in front of her.

“You’re asking me why?” Her finger started trembling out of anger.

“Yes,” Alexandra’s voice was clear and gentle. She doesn’t have to shout to assert her dominance. And she didn’t even hate Theodora that much as she wished to. “I want to know why you think I should leave Maximus.”

“You dared to utter the name of the reigning monarch, the heir of the Great King?” Theodora raised her hand to hit Alexandra and she stepped to the side.

“Yes, that is his name, isn’t it? Maximus Rex Lukyan?” Alexandra shrugged and walked to the window. She already got bored of this pointless banter. She decided to check out the view from the window.

“There is a nice fountain there…” Alexandra’s lips curved to a smile and turned to look at Theodora. “And a beautiful gar~”

She stopped seeing Theodora’s glare.

“What are the duties of the Empress?” Alexandra asked. “Ah, never mind… I’ll ask Marcus,” she shrugged.

She purposefully brought up Marcus to rile up Theodora. She still haven’t stated her purpose of visit.

[Or did she?]

“How did you trap that boy, witch?” Theodora grabbed Alexandra’s arm and her eyes ended up at her chest. “He’s just a boy and you~”

Alexadra looked at her arm. Theodora’s fingernails were puncturing her skin.

“Tch!” Alexandra waved her hand and set herself free from the clutches of Theodora. “Trap him? You know he is just a boy and you…” Alexandra clenched her jaws as she got mad at her words.

[Why is that anyone related to the Lukyan family thinks that the only way a man and a woman could be close is if there is debauchery involved?]

“You should watch your words, Theodora,” she didn’t want to be patient with her anymore. “You want me to leave this place, is that it? Is that why you are here?” she asked. “Sorry, I am not planning on leaving. I like that garden. It would look much better with a couple of rows of white Hound’s trees…” she pointed at the window.

Theodora gritted her teeth seeing the aloof way that woman is stabbing her in her heart. By some way, that woman had learned that she doesn’t like Hound’s tree and planning on having a garden of them.

She really is the destroyer.

“Well done,” Theodora clapped her hands and Alexandra turned and looked at Theodora. Her face was bright like that of a celestial maiden and she was glowing with goodwill.

[What is going on..?]

Before Alexandra could get adjusted to this change in the aura of Theodora, she has already walked to her.

“I wondered what kind of person my son chose to become the mother of this great Emprire. I can now see your constitution. And I can see why my son is head over heels in love with you,” Theodora cupped Alexandra’s cheeks.

“I am so glad to welcome you to the Lukyan family… ” Theodora smiled so sweetly, Alexandra mimicked that smile subconsciously.

“Thank you, Your Royal Highness,” Alexandra  smiled back. If their meeting has taken such a turn, she would welcome it.

“Mother…” Theodora caressed Alexandra’s soft, velvety cheek with the back of her hand, still with her smile on. “you’re my daughter from this day onward…”

“Yes, it is an honor, Mother,” Alexandra smiled.

In the hallway, she could hear the guard announcing that Maximus is arriving. Theodora immediately took a step back and walked out of the room.

“I’ll send you a proper invite to my place. I have a lot to talk about!” Theodora said before leaving the room.

“Sure, Mother,” Alexandra smiled placing her hand over her heart.

The door closed and watching the closed door, Alexandra’s smile vanished.

[Ugh! What is that woman planning?]

—–

“What are you doing here?” Maximus blocked Theodora in the hallway.

“I just wanted to meet your wife. And I met her. Don’t I even have that right?” Theodora asked looking straight at Maximus’ eyes.

Her throat bobbled as she tried to swallow her fear. She knew Maximus wants to kill her. But even the Brute cannot kill his mother, right?

So is their bond. As the twisted umbilical cord connected him to her, their relationship has always been twisted right from when he was in her womb. The umbilical cord was severed when he was born, but the twists and knots never were untied.

She was one powerless woman who had ignored everything around her out of the deep depression that is tied to this place. And in her powerless state, she ignored a pitiful being who yearned for her embrace in his formative years. She lost her golden time with him as she was surrounded by darkness and now, there is no way to go back.

Both of them have different kinds of power now. She doesn’t have darkness around her now. She has someone who brought her the light. But her son… was left to his devices for a long time and he hates her.

She would never blame him for that. It’s just… it is her time to yearn for his love. All her hopes ride on that invisible thread of twisted cord that still connects them.

He can slap her, he can punish her. he is entitled to do that. She would gladly take that punishments. But she wants to see him succeed. And maybe one day, before she dies, she wants to hear him say a word from his heart.

Mother…

“And what do you think of Alexandra, Theodora?” Maximus asked, his face stiffened with disgust.

“She wants rows of Hound’s tree planted in the garden… You know what that tree means-”

“I have arranged a tea with Lady…” he looked away, squinting his eyes. “I forgot her name. The Ministers said that she is the best Empress candidate. What do you think, Theodora?” he fixed his eyes on her.

“Lady Rutilus would be much more apt for~”

“Tch!” Maximus scoffed on her face and walked past her.

Theodora watched the broad back of her son and closed her eyes.

What are your plans, son?

Theodora turned to her handmaid. “Find out who he is having tea with, and what changed his mind.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness,” the old maid walked away.

“Send Lydia to me,” Theodora said to the guard following her and walked towards the garden. She just wanted to take a walk to clear her mind.

—–

Maximus entered Alexandra’s quarters. He was very tired and he just wanted to lie down. The sun would set pretty soon and that made his desire to continue what they were doing in the tower earlier in the day.

«But she is mad at me…»

“What did she say to you?” Maximus asked hugging her around her waist.