Survive As The Brute’s Wife - Chapter 144

“Was she pleading for the sake of her Mistress? Or was she pleading for her life? You should have let her know that she is guilty by association and her head is the next to fall followed by her Mistress’…”

Alexandra watched him going on and on about it. He appeared to be pretty happy about the fact that she went against his mother and somehow was under the impression that she would kill Theodora.

[Is this the same Tubby who tried to stop me from hurting others in our past life? Ugh!]

Alexandra gritted her teeth to stop herself from speaking. With each word that Maximus uttered, her anger rose and rose.

“…Why are you looking at me like that, Lexa?” he asked.

Alexandra was silent. There was his familiar smirk dancing on his face, but the darkness that started to rule his soul made him look evil. And his trouble sleeping is apparent on his face.

“I am in a hurry now, Max,” she tried to leave the place.

She felt guilty. Guilty to have turnedTubby into this… person who has no sympathy. And she was angry Tubby gets himself ruled over by his dark thoughts. No one is doing that for him Rather than being content with what he has and being happy, he is choosing to dwell on the past and be vengeful.

“To his house?” Maximus’ face turned darker. “Will you kill Lord Zoros for me?” he asked.

Alexandra clenched her jaws. Even she has learned how this Empire is operating by now. Each feudal Lord serving the Emperor is governing their fief. They solve the smaller issues themselves while they come to the Emperor’s council to raise big and important issues that involve the welfare of their fiefs and the Empire. They solve the disputes among themselves, the judiciary system has branches all over the Empire and if they cannot solve it among themselves, they go to the Imperial Judiciary board. Military Houses are directly working under the Emperor and that’s how this big empire is getting governed.

As for Lord Zoros, she doesn’t like him for hurting his wife. But that aspect of him doesn’t mean he is not a good man. His family has the largest military in the Empire. He is securing the borders and is a very well-liked and well-respected man amongst his peers. With the loyalty he commands among his peers, he can overthrow the Emperor if he desires the throne.

But his loyalty cannot be questioned.

Alexandra wondered if part of the reason he is that way was he listened to his father’s teachings that he cannot be a man who betrays. Marcus had many good stories to say about his grandfather and Lord Zoros might be following his father’s footsteps.

As for Theodora, she did wonder if part of the reason she chose Lord Zoros to be her lover was that he is the most powerful man in the Empire sparing the Emperor himself. But Alexandra didn’t want to think more about that because Theodora did the cruelest thing to Lady Zoros’ sons.

Theodora might be thinking that in case Maximus is overthrown by Lord Zoros, her son Marcus would be the Emperor in the future even though no one would know that he is her son.

But it matters not now.

“You do know Lord Zoros cannot be killed for the peace of the Empire, Maximus,” she said forcing a smile. She should not be telling him this. He already knows it.

“Heh!” Maximus snorted. “Why not?” he said, his sharp eyes focusing on her as they are spears coming from her heart. “What’s so good about peace? Don’t you know, chaos brings out the Hero? Shouldn’t there be chaos first before you show yourself and redeem the people?” he said and held out his hand.

Closing his eyes, he then tilted his head at the ceiling. As Alexandra watched his face emitting pure wickedness with astonishment, his lips curved to a relaxed smile. But that smile creeped her out.

“Can you see it, Coxcomb? When there is chaos all around when the commoners are hungry and in need, you, the savior will rise above. In your mighty ride of the winged lion, you will appear and solve the crisis with your powers. And every knee shall bend before you and every head will bow to you in reverence… Can you see it, my dearest?” he opened his eyes and looked at her.

“I can, dear Coxcomb,” he walked to her with his eyes turning dark with shadow. He placed his hand on her cheek. She shivered with the coldness of his big hand and he proceeded to cup her cheeks with both of her hands and made her look at him.

“I will make that happen. I will.” He said and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

Alexandra was stunned frozen. This man—Tubby, the gentlest person she knew—is saying this. She is sure that he is Tubby. He even uses the name only he uses. And using that name, he is telling her that the people should suffer for him to see her as the savior.

He is saying that the sufferings of the poor people in the Empire, the suffering of his citizens– the people who depend on him and rely on him to make wise decisions to facilitate their peaceful life—is nothing in front of his need for vengeance that he is holding from his past life.

It’s not the darkness that makes him think this way. He has been planning for this from the beginning. The wars he started, the women he killed, the name he gained as “The Brute”, it all are for this reason- For vengeance.

The darkness he had in his soul was not a byproduct of him getting a reincarnated life. It is because he corrupted his soul by his vengeance. He let vengeance ruin his soul and now Inanis latched on to him.

[How did I not see it?]

Alexandra looked down. Her words had never reached him. She has been telling him that she needs not be the savior. She just wants to correct her past mistakes and become his wife.

But he does not let her be just his wife.

He creates problems for her to solve, knowing she can solve them, and now he wishes that she would solve them.

Isn’t that patronizing?

She is the all-powerful daughter of the Dragon King. She made sure this realm exists. She is Arimelda. And she chooses to live her life as his wife, but he is planning something else for her that she doesn’t want?

Who is this measly human trying to create problems for her to solve as if she is a child? What is he thinking?

Alexandra got angry. She looked at the back of the man walking in front of her and she didn’t know what to say to him.

She was hurt. And her hurt turned to anger.

She looked at her wrist which was gently wrapped around his big hand. She was dragging her, but even while dragging his act was gentle.

He stopped and she was standing in that majestic hall of gold. The big pillars, the large windows that the sunrays passed through, the big throne of ivory and gold in front of her…

She is in the throne room.

The memories of the last time she was here came to her mind. It hurt. But not because she thought of the humiliation she suffered, but because of the man standing in front of her with the same smile that she has been seeing on him lately.

“Lexa,” he held her hand. “Do not be afraid,” he said and embraced her.

His misty scent enveloped her and his warmth spread around her. It is him, alright. He sure is the man she fell in love with. There is no denying it.

But…

“I don’t know what Luke did to you the last time you were here, but as long as I am the one sitting on that throne, you can surely believe that I will never treat you badly. You are free to sit on that throne and stomp on anyone who speaks against you. Don’t care who they are. It doesn’t matter if they are Ministers. You can get back at them for stomping on you the last time. So, don’t be afraid to get here…”

His voice was smooth and soft, the same as she has always known. But rather than appreciating the care, she was offended.

“Your Ministers are not the ones who stomped on me, Tubby,” she said, slowly getting out of his grasp. “They are different people. Nothing is smiliar to the ones from before except for the titles they hold,” she said, trying to reason with him.

He will surely understand, right? If she explains to him once more… He didn’t understand the previous times, but if she does it once more, he will.

“Who cares?” he said, shrugging and holding out his hands. “Look around, Lexa! Look! It’s all yours. You can do anything to want to”

“I don’t want to hurt others anymore, Tubby,” she said, softly. “You were right then. I shouldn’t be using my powers to hurt others. I should be using it to do good as always.”

“It’s regarding Arioch, isn’t it? You love him still! You love Luke!” he said making Alexandra’s heart crush.