Survive As The Brute’s Wife - Chapter 116

“Who dares to lay hands on Princess Alexandra?” Marcus stood there with the little sword he had drawn and pointed at the face of the maid who tried to push Alexandra.

“Princess?”

A lithe figure clad in the softest of silks stepped forward. With a broad forehead and dark curly hair arranged to a neat bun, she glowed with beauty.

“That’s me!” Alexandra placed her hand on Marcus’ shoulder and stepped forward. “The one who arrived riding with Maximus today on the winged lion,” she elaborated.

A well-dressed woman in here… She knew who this is might be.

[Bah! I won’t be polite with Tubby’s wives!]

The woman’s face contorted even when she tried to hold her womanly decorum.

“Ah…” her pink powdered lips trembled as she tried to hold her prideful smile. “Forgive me, Your Royal Highness, if not I am running late to meet his exalted Majesty for tea, I would chat with you more,” she strutted past Alexandra with a whoosh and a flare, making Alexandra grumble.

“If not I am running late…” she imitated that woman with her high-pitched voice certainly to mock that woman, trying to cover her jealousy.

Marcus, clever as he is, was still uninformed of the heart of a woman. Not understanding the jealousy exuded in his mistress’ tone, thinking it as his mistress’ attempt in mockery, he laughed, although he didn’t find it to be that funny.

Alexandra, a little ashamed to have acted on her whims, decided to return to her room although she wanted to follow that woman.

[Tea? She can have her tea! I will have my wine with Maximus tonight! And then we will… and then we will…]

Images of them tangled together like copulating snakes came to her memory, and made her face blush.

“Come, Marcus… Tell me. Where is Flavia?” she asked, trying to keep her mind out of that togetherness.

She was but a maiden in love. And all her thoughts rounded around Maximus and their “exploration” of each other. It was something she never thought about. And now, having the man she chose to be her groom, near her, loving her, wanting her, that’s all she thought about.

She even forgot about the other “soul” who is living as a parasite inside her body. Kefir would have had more details of the person inside her. Neither did she care for the desolate people living under mud caves, waiting for their savior to rescue them. She walked with a shy smile, thinking of the strong arms of the man in her heart, forgetting about her troubles.

And so is the plight of the strong. They are given so much, after one point, they forget to watch their back. Their pride forms a curtain over their eyes covering them from their responsibilities, their heart swelled with joy, and they forget to watch where they are going.

Alexandra went back to her room. The sun was fastly reaching the horizon waiting to sign off for the day and the resplendent castle was illuminated to the merriment of everyone in a bright way.

Human beings do love the comfort of brightness.

She walked to the room and awaited her was a plate of fresh cake and sweet-smelling tea.

[Who cares about Maximus when I have my sweets!]

Alexandra, still thinking about Maximus while trying not to think of Maximus, took happy bites of that sweet cake and with each sip of the tea wondered what Maximus might be chatting with that woman.

She didn’t forget to ask Flavia and Marcus to share her snacks and tea. Flavia by now have gotten used to her gimmicks and has set her heart to Alexandra’s needs of treating her as an equal. Alexandra was so thankful the reverence she saw in Flavia’s face after she was saved by her is replaced by her usual motherly smile.

Flavia was now advising young Marcus to take a seat with their mistress and share her plate. The boy with careful consideration and reluctant optimism took the seat.

—–

“Come in!” Maximus looked at the door. A stench entered his nose which he hated. The stench of a woman who prepared herself to face him.

They all think that applying powder and spraying themselves with perfume would make him turn at them. But he hated the scent of cosmetics. The cosmetics his mother is very fond of. It gave him the urge to regurgitate the contents of his stomach on the face that carries the cosmetics.

For his heart was pleased with the gentle fragrance of the rose he loved to hold in his arms.

“Sit,” he pointed at the woman whose name he still doesn’t know. This woman seems to be smart, she is bringing her maid inside to have a witness.

He didn’t care.

“Your uncle said that you have the blessings of the Great King,” he smirked. He then pointed at the tea in front of her. “Drink… and let’s see if the Great King wishes for you to become the Empress.”

That cup of tea is poisoned. And he signaled it to that woman. Judging by how pale her face is getting even through the powder and rouge, he can surely tell that she understood that it is not just a cup of tea.

It should be her decision whether she drinks the tea or not.

“My uncle?” she looked at him… that nameless woman; nameless, at least to him.

“Do you hate me that much?” she then looked at him with a wry smile, with the corners of her lips trembling as if she had accepted her fate. “He offered us a lending hand when we were in trouble and in exchange he sent me here. Is it my fault to want to survive in this place?” she asked, her eyes filled with tears and exasperation.

“Then chose wisely,” he said. “I will never force you.”

The woman stayed silent for a while, staring at the cup.

“I met her,” she said, still with her head bowed. “That woman who took the ride with you… the one who summoned that beast,” she looked at him with a proud smirk.

See! I was hiding my magical ability till now! I know that beast was not summoned by you! It was she! So, now let’s trade…

“Oh?” Maximus said, fully well understanding the meaning behind that proud smile. “You can choose not to drink the tea and spread the news.” He shrugged.

It would make his job a lot easier anyway.

And he observed her face… that dainty little face getting stripped off the pride… Like a child seeing his sand castle by the shore getting washed away by an unexpected high tide.

«Ha! As expected!»

—–

As for Alexandra’s little tea party, their time went smoothly. As Marcus with his childish wonder explained about his experience on the battlefield, a commotion was heard in the hallways.

Flavia ran to the door to find out what the commotion is about.

{That woman died, and Theodora is accusing you of cursing her. They are coming for you, Arimelda! Be prepared.}

Kefir, whom she didn’t think would double as her spy, spoke to her in her mind.

[That woman? The one who had tea with Max?]

Alexandra questioned back and she saw the white cat nodding back at her.

“What utter nonsense!” Alexandra stood up and walked to the door.

A bunch of Knights wearing blue surcoats was running towards them with an emblem sewed on their hats that she didn’t recognise. The guards of her place with black surcoats were blocking them.

“No one can enter without the Emperor’s orders!” The head guard barked and that stopped the youngling who led the posse. But an older guard with feathers decorating his hat stepped forward.

“We are here under the orders of the Empress Dowager!” he said and opened a scroll with a dramatic flair.

“That is the insignia of the Dowager!” Flavia whispered in Alexandra’s ears. “Although Maximus has the ultimate power, the Dowager has control over the residence. That is an order for searching your room, Alexandra. I think there is some sinister plan behind this.”

“What are you fine sirs planning on finding in my room?” Alexandra stepped to the front.

If that girl died and there are guards to “search” her premises this soon, they are going to “find” some sort of poison in her room. The same poison that killed that beautiful woman who fancied having tea with Maximus.

And there is proof of her previous encounter with that poor woman. Jealousy would be announced as her motive. Although she knew Maximus would never let her getting caught in such a pathetic scheme, she was irritated by this place already.

[Who cursed this place to not have peace again? Ah, that’s right! It’s a little old me! Ugh! I should do a cleansing first thing in the morning or the last thing in the night, so that I can have some peace!]

“We won’t be sure until we search, would we?” the captain as others address him, the one with the feathers in his hat, cocked his brows.