Survive As The Brute’s Wife - Chapter 142

“Do you know what this is Lydia?” Alexandra asked the maid.

Alexandra held out her hand. A ball of blue flame was burning in her hand. But the flame didn’t affect her or her clothes and hair.

She held the vine that entwined around the archway and the plant caught on fire. The blue flame spread across quickly even though it was a fresh plant, and the archway started to burn blue with the flame.

But miraculously, the plant was not getting burnt. There was no smoke or awful smell. The leaves waved as if they were getting caressed by the breeze. The fire looked cool but felt warm; not hot. And it instilled fear on anyone who set their gaze on it.

The Dark Mage held inside the cage, started to scream unable to bear the intensity of light in front of him. He has never seen her like this.

This flame… how could she handle it?

Lydia looked at the woman in front of her glowing like a torch of silvery flame. She didn’t dare to stand for she knew where she has seen this type of flame.

In the Temples, only the creator—The Dragon King would be holding this flame as depicted in the paintings. It was said that no one could handle this flame since it is a divine flame that purges evil. And everyone has evil in them so no one would be worthy to handle this flame except for the creator.

That’s what she was told.

“This… This is the…the Holy Flame…” Lydia said with her eyes wide. She wondered if she is in the presence of the Dragon King himself.

Alexandra nodded with a chuckle. And then her attention turned to Theodora.

“Riddle me this, Theodora,” Alexandra spoke softly and yet it induced fear in the heart of Theodora and terror showed in her face. Her knees went weak and she knelt on the ground. Theodora was in contact with the dark mage for a long time and she has a dark soul. She wouldn’t like the flame of purification.

“If I—the one holding the divine flame is the witch, what should the one who killed innocents and sought the help of the Dark Mage be called?”

“I…” Theodora trembled. She supported her hands and tried to stand. But she didn’t have the strength to do that. Even in her fear-filled state, she still didn’t give up on her pride.

“Are you going to kill me?” she stared right at Alexandra’s eyes. Theodora’s eyes were focused as if she was challenging Alexandra but at the same time, the little smile hanging by her lips gave Alexandra the impression that Theodora might want death.

Alexandra thought about killing Theodora. She didn’t have to push herself against her will to do that. She wanted to kill her. But, there is a voice inside her that stopped her from doing that.

[I am Arimelda—the guide. I am the one who loves humans and helps them to improve their lives. I cannot go around killing humans. I won’t!]

“I do want to kill you, Theodora. But I won’t,” Alexandra said.

She wanted to say that she is a waste living on earth but she held back. She has heard those hurtful words and maybe no one deserves to hear them. Certainly not the woman who went through all the pain to bring her Tubby to this world.

Honestly, that was the only redeeming thing she saw in Theodora. She is Maximus’ mother. She gave birth to him. And so, she won’t kill Theodora using her hands.

But that doesn’t mean she would let her wander around without facing any repercussions for her actions. She will suffer for the hurt she caused to innocents.

“Oh?” Theodora still couldn’t handle the presence of Alexandra and couldn’t stand up. Even in that situation, she couldn’t help but sneer. She always knew the path of the heroes. They cannot kill others because of their principles. A bunch of fools—them Heroes!

Being a villain is better for survival.

“You will do that yourself!” Alexandra added, and her lips curved to a smirk. “Your beauty will fade, your hair will wither, your nails will form claws, your skin will lose its luster and turn into leather. You won’t be the Dowager Queen worshipped for your beauty. You shall become the crone no one likes to behold. The same women who pander to you now will spit on you then. Kids will throw stones at you. You will beg for death but death will escape you. You will be spared the same mercy you left for your enemies. You—Theodora—will have no redemption. I, the eldest daughter of the Dragon King, will see to it! I will ensure justice prevails!”

Humans are fragile. Sometimes death would be the better alternative for someone than living. Someone proud like Theodora will gladly choose death to lose her privileges. She can break her pride to shills and make her beg for death.

Theodora fell on the floor on her face unable to bear the powerful aura of Alexandra anymore. Dread filled her dark soul, unable to fathom the words spoken to her.

Lydia still was kneeling with reverence. She didn’t feel the brunt of Alexandra’s power like Theodora did. Instead, she felt peace.

Alexandra’s attention turned towards the dark mage in the cage. She thought about him for a moment. She can kill him with the flames. If Morfan could be killed by her flames, she could easily kill the dark mage.

But…

She let out a deep breath and the fire vanished. The heavy feeling around the place got lifted. Theodora ended up fainting. Lydia went to help her.

With a snap of her fingers, Alexandra sent the dark mage to be imprisoned in the Temple along with the Choshech Orb.

[Let those two have the company of each other!]

Alexandra turned swiftly to leave. She had a lot of things to do.

“Marcus,” she called the boy. She saw him squatting on the floor in the distance. Poor boy cannot end up like Maximus.

She wanted to meet Lady Zoros immediately. That lady could have gotten back at Theodora and her husband by loving Marcus and making him call her ‘Mother’ from his heart. She could have gotten the best son there is and she could have flaunted that she is the one taking care of Theodora’s son Theodora.

But she did understand why Lady Zoros couldn’t do that.  And who knows? Theodora would have had Lady Zoros killed just like she tried to kill Flavia.

And Flavia’s pregnancy should be kept a secret. Theodora would not allow Flavia any happiness. And Julius should be protected too.

[Maybe I should turn Theodora crazy with a spell… I should think about it. But before that…]

“Please help us, Your Royal Highness!”

Alexandra’s thought was intercepted by the pleading voice of the maid. Alexandra turned to see Lydia kneeling on the stone pavement with her head bowed and hands clasped.

“What do you need?” Alexandra asked. She sensed that the maid is going to tell her something important. She stopped taking care of Theodora and has run to her.

“I…we…” Lydia gulped.

Alexandra folded her hands over her chest to wait for the maid to compose herself.

“I was sent to spy on the Dowager by the Lady of the Heathriff family,” Lydia said. She looked at Alexandra to check her expression. Alexandra donned a stoic expression.

“You can kill me for doing his despicable thing, but we were left with no choice. We were brought here without our consent and we are captives here. I can say… we don’t want this life. It’s not… It is our families who dumped us here, and some are here for the sake of their Kingdom… But…Not everyone thinks the same. Some do want the throne of the Empress… But we… us…um…Lady Heathriff… she…”

“Lady Heathriff wants to get out and her family is not supporting her?” Alexandra asked.

She liked the direction this talk is going. It seems like the maid is talking about wanting to escape. If it is just one woman leaving this place… she would be happy. She can go and be free with her people.

“Tell me who her lover is and I-”

“No!” Lydia grabbed Alexandra’s feet out of nowhere making her startled. “Milady is not an adulterer. She does not have another man…”

“Please let go of my feet, Lydia! I don’t like this!”

Alexandra got out of her hold. The fear in Lydia’s face made Alexandra confirm her suspicions. There is no way she will agree to thinking of another man when she is in the Brute’s Harem.

But this is good news for Alexandra.

“I see… So does you Lady want to return home then?” she asked Lydia.

“No,” Lydia shook her head. Her eyes were shifting and she couldn’t meet Alexandra’s face. She bit her lips and fiddled with her fingers.

Alexandra felt bad for thinking only of herself. It seems like the maid has more to say. She decided to listen.

“You can trust me, Lydia,” Alexandra held her hand. “You have the word of the daughter of the Dragon King.”

Lydia looked at Alexandra and with a slight nod she let out a deep breath. Her eyes got focused and she started to speak.

Alexandra’s lips curved up.

[I know what to do!]