Survive As The Brute’s Wife - Chapter 129

“I’ll show you the layout of the forest later,” Maximus held her hand. “There is a spring flowing through the forest which is the main source of water for the beings in the forest…” he looked at Alexandra knowing that she understood what his plan is.

“All we have to do is mix my blood and some cleansing spells in the source of the spring and the monsters will get healed,” she kissed his hand and looked at him. “You brought me to our old farm to investigate the folklore about the Dagwood Maiden, didn’t you?”

Her clear blue eyes mesmerized Maximus as the night breeze caressed their pleased soul. He smiled and nodded. That was his intention. “I also wanted to help you remember our past,” he said.

He remembered Arioch being there that day. He wanted to ask her what happened when she was with Arioch, but he didn’t find it in himself to ask her about that man. She is with him and she is his alone. He didn’t want her to remember that guy.

Although brief, Alexandra noticed the darkness swirling in Maximus’ eyes. She knew it is regarding Arioch. He couldn’t move on from the past, while she is willing to.

She too was not willing to forgive Arioch. She wanted him cursed and to suffer for all eternity. But she wanted to help the people who are held hostage by Arioch before getting to him. Those people need deliverance.

“I met Arioch that day,” she purposefully brought that name although she didn’t want to speak of him.

“What did he say?” Maximus asked. Alexandra could feel the distance between them increasing.

“Not much,” Alexandra shifted closer to him. She held his hand and placed it on her thigh. He might not want to talk about Arioch, but she has to. She cares for Maximus. And she would do anything for him to have peace in his heart.

“He made me believe that he’s Tubby and then he ran away… as usual…” she shrugged.

Maximus’ hand that was weakly staying on her thigh, got warm as she said that. She could feel him getting closer to her.

“Did you… What did you think of…” he deliberated what to say next for some time. Alexandra was only curious as to what he might be wanting to ask.

With furrowed brows, she watched her husband’s impeccable face getting to all colors in the light of the lamp.

“…Him?” After a silence of what seemed to be an eon, Maximus asked and Alexandra blinked her eyes.

“What should I be thinking of him?” she looked away through the window as she rehashed that moment. “He looked exactly like you and I was glad I found the one man who truly cared for me. I thought that I wanted to find my Tubby and like always he had come to me. But…” she turned back and looked at Maximus.

She laughed seeing the green face of her dear Tubby. She recognized that look. Tubby always donned the same look near the weeks that followed their death during their past life often. She thought that he was just angry.

But now she could see that it is jealousy.

“You’re adorable, Tubby,” she leaned towards him for a kiss and he scrunched his nose. She found him very cute and she kissed the tip of his nose.

“Continue with your but,” he said. He was angry for some reason, but when she said ‘but’, his anger dissipated.

“His behavior… Always showing me his back… I had my doubts. And when I was rescued from the Brume Thicket by him…”

Maximus listened to her keenly as he wanted to know what happened after that. He wanted to know where they went. He wanted to kill Arioch.

“He…The Darkness… Inanis, Maximus!” Alexandra realized what happened in the Brume Thicket.

She remembered the tree that attacked her. He is one of the oldest creatures that live in the world and he was friends with the Darkness. It should be with Arioch’s help did that creature could get to her. Arioch was the one who trapped her in the Brume Thicket and he pretended to save her.

As for the tree, she couldn’t beat him and she banished him to the Brume Thicket in the beginning. Even in their last life they came across that tree and she couldn’t handle him. For the tree to not harm her when he hated her…

[What is Arioch planning? Is he planning on setting free Inanis?]

“Arioch will try to get him. I know,” Maximus let out a sigh.

“He is planning on setting him free, Tubby,” Alexandra’s eyes widened. Her hands subconsciously caressed the sword ring on her finger.

“I won’t be able to control him this time around, Max,” Alexandra started to perspire. “I would need my father’s help but…” she held Maximus’ hands. “He cannot get that Orb, Max.”

Maximus patted her head to help her compose herself. He thought she is all-powerful, but he didn’t think even she would have tough enemies to handle.

“It is safe, Lexa. Don’t worry,” he assured her. “It is in the Temple of the Dragon King in the city. There are powerful mages guarding the entrances and the Zoros family’s guards will be patrolling all the time. Arioch won’t get close to it.” He said.

He had a lot of doubts and he wasn’t sure. Firstly, he didn’t trust his mother or Lord ZOros. And then the servant of darkness Arioch is keeping would be stronger than the mages of the temple, he assumed.

But he tried to keep Alexandra worry-free.

“But he doesn’t have to go there to get it,” she looked at him. “Zoros family, you said?” she raised his eyebrows. “I could sense traces of the dark mage on Theodora, Max…”

“…” Maximus’ heart skipped a beat. Her blue eyes that twinkled as if she holds the secrets of the universe had deciphered a well-kept secret. There is no way anyone would have told her the secret. No one knows. Not even Flavia.

«How did she find out?»

“How did you-?” Maximus was stunned but then he let out a scoff. “Never mind.”

Alexandra let out a sigh seeing Maximus’ bewilderment. “Well, You are not responsible for what your mother did, Max. And neither does Marcus. It is better that I have Marcus by my side. At least he will be safe,” she said. “I have no idea what that dark mage would do to him if he gets him.”

[Theodora won’t let Marcus suffer. And the Orb will get to Arioch’s hands. That cannot happen.]

“I don’t care for his safety. In fact, I will kill him myself!” Maximus said with a pout and Alexandra smiled. “I am being honest, Lexa,” he said and lied on her thigh.

Alexandra continued caressing his hair.

“I do understand Theodora, Max. It’s not like there was not a reason for her to-”

“She is the Dowager, Lexa! She should have been open about it. She didn’t care for anything or anyone but her. And now everything is complicated.”

“I see…” Alexandra didn’t say more. She could sense that Maximus is troubled. He must have been very confused and felt betrayed.

“Theodora… I saw her sneaking a bowl of soup she cooked for Marcus. She toiled in the kitchen and cooked him soup…” Maximus spoke, still lying on her lap, pouting like a wronged boy.

“Oh, that’s terrible,” she said. She must have never shown such gestures of love for him and it must have hurt him.

She was shocked when she saw him slapping Theodora, but she could understand the hurt he feels.

The moment she looked closely at Marcus, she realized that Marcus is MAximus’ little brother in this life. His father was not alive when Marcus was born and that only means that Marcus is Theodora’s son.

Theodora’s and Lord Zoros’ son.

In her book, what Theodora did is not wrong. Theodora was not married to anyone as the Emperor had passed away. And she is free to love any man as she pleased. But maybe because she didn’t want to lose her position as the Dowager and the regent of the Empire, she didn’t accept Marcus’ birth to the public.

[She is a little arrogant and selfish! She is not very motherly, isn’t she?]

Alexandra caressed his hair to let him air out his grievances if he wants to. She was willing to listen and solve his troubles if he wants to.

“How did Lord Zoros made everyone believe that Marcus is his son when-”

“He has a wife, Lexa,” Maximus looked at her with disgust ruling his face. “He told everyone that Marcus is his wife’s son when he is… And now…” he hesitated before speaking.

“What?” Alexandra got curious.

“Lord Zoros had two elder sons. But somehow after the birth of Marcus and after Marcus was introduced properly into the society as his son, the two elder sons died of a mysterious illness,” Maximus gritted his teeth.

“What?” Alexandra was shocked.