Survive As The Brute’s Wife - Chapter 153

“Marcus, who am I?” Alexandra asked.

“You are the Drovarys, my Lord, and the one I serve,” Marcus answered very enthusiastically.

“So, you know I am-” she stopped.

She thought of giving an example by saying that although she is not a human but a demigod, she treats humans with the same respect, and Marcus should learn from that. She wanted to tell him that treating Marcus as her equal gives him happiness and so he should be spreading happiness too.

But she knew this comparison will backfire.

Marcus does not want to be treated equally. She had to try hard to have him sit and eat with her. He is raised getting taught with the etiquettes of an aristocrat. According to him, he should be bowing to those who are of higher status than him, and he will accept the salutes of those who are of lower status than him. He finds that natural.

So, she decided to use another method.

“Marcus, do you love your family?” she asked.

“Yes,” the boy answered with his eyes wide. Alexandra felt guilty seeing the sadness in his expression.

He is missing his family.

“Do you have aspirations?”

“Yes. I want to be a great warrior like my father!”

“Okay. Do you feel sad when you don’t get what you want?”

“Yes. I do.”

“Do you want to be loved?”

“Absolutely. Who doesn’t?”

“What are the things that make you happy? For me, it’s the wheat fields dancing in the wind, the happy laughter of playing children, the sound of distant thunder, horses, and many other things… What are the things you enjoy?”

“Me..? I love the rain… I love cake and…” Marcus thought deeply. “I love my mother and father,” he said with a blush. Alexandra smiled.

“What color is your blood?” she asked, patting the boy’s head. He already got bored by her questions and confusion ruled his face as he couldn’t understand why she is questioning him.

“Red,” he answered nonetheless. He respects her too much to not answer her.

“Good boy,” she patted her head. “Now will you agree that having aspirations, wishes, favorites, and warm blood makes you a human, right?” she asked.

“Yes.” He nodded.

Alexandra smiled. She turned to see Lumina is returning with her friends. They were all screaming in joy and some naughty kids were pushing each other playfully. Their chatters brought a liveliness to that muddy, lifeless abode.

“Now, tell me, Marcus. Do you think they have aspirations? Things they love? What color is their blood? Think about this, alright?” she patted his back seeing him in deep thoughts. “If you and they are buried without your clothes, and if they dig you up after some decades, will anyone be able to differentiate your status as an aristocrat and a commoner? Aren’t you all the same underneath?”

Marcus was in deep thoughts. And he couldn’t speak because he was so busy with his thoughts.

Alexandra asked him to think about it later and brought him to the big hall. She trained him there and some other interested kids would join with their sticks. And she would teach them all the basics of swordplay.

The kids would be very impatient. They would want to weild their sword and jump into the battlefield immediately. Arioch asked her to teach them the basic techniques to survive on the battlefield. He probably wants to use kids in his battle too.

But she refused. Kids need an order for them to grow up into responsible adults. Skipping steps never gives the desired results in the long run. Laying a stronger foundation is important for their growth.

She loved teaching kids and talking to the elders. She didn’t reveal all of her powers, but she would heal the ones who are sick and taught them basic medicine. This is what she used to do whenever she lived with the humans. This is what she loved to do. To improve the lives of the humans who are desperate for help.

But her previous life… she strayed too far from her goals. She gave too much importance to her childish and stupid love.

In this life too, she is giving importance to love—her love for Maximus—and her decisions are based on her love.

But Maximus is not Luke. And she is doing this thinking about everything. So she will not regret this, she is sure.

She remembered Maximus’ outstretched hands this life. When he gave her his hand and pulled her out of the hole, he gave her a promise. He is now unable to keep up the promise. She decided to

That day, since she promised Lumina, she taught swordplay while telling the kids stories of Lathlin. For these kids, the Royal City of Lathlin is the distant land of milk and honey—the place that will solve all their troubles.

But they are wrongly believing that they should eradicate Maximus and get the throne for Arioch for them to reach the promised land and enjoy the benefits of the land.

Although Alexandra could see the level of manipulation Arioch has put these poor people through and the hatred these people have for The Brute, she didn’t dare to say that Maximus will listen to their woes and spare them a place in the royal city.

He did say he wants to kill anyone and everyone who are associated with Arioch.

But she can help them. And she will give Maximus what he wants in the process.

After spending some time with the kids, Alexandra decided to take a walk around. Marcus followed her as always.

“I can understand what you meant, Your Royal Highness,” he spoke, his little face serious. “But if I treat everyone the same, won’t the ones who have to listen to me rebel against me thinking that I am a weak person? Won’t my kidness be misconstrued as weakness?”

Alexandra was amazed by his question. Although he is just a boy, he is very smart. And as the heir of a military family, he is born with great responsibility. If he cannot take his role properly, that will lead to many serious consequences.

It is a difficult dichotomy. Kind people are misunderstood as weak, passive, and indecisive. They are considered not giving their best and slacking off by helping others.

He is right. His kindness will be mistaken as weakness. Some will become lazy, some might dare to dissent and some may even vie for his position.

She wondered how she could explain the nuances perfectly to this kid.

The balance between being kind and being weak is very delicate and can be managed. He should know that he should act in a way that the ones around him should know that his kindness cannot be taken for granted. His kindness will be lost if it is abused. That they should be taking him seriously. But it shouldn’t be too extreme to the extent that makes him unapproachable.

There is one person who they both know who can keep the balance.

“You were with Maximus for almost a couple of years, right?” she asked.

“Yes. Although he didn’t…” Marcus scratched the back of his head nervously. “His Majesty didn’t like me, but I like him very much!” His face brightened up.

“Yes, I know you like him,” Alexandra petted his head. Poor boy does not know that Maximus is his half-brother. And she thought it would be better if he never knows.

“Have you observed him then?” she asked. The boy nodded. His entire face became red as if he was caught doing something inappropriate.

“That’s good. I know everyone calls him the Brute, but do you think he is kind?” she asked.

“Umm…” Marcus thought for a while. All he remembered about Maximus immediately was the times he threatened him that he will kill him.  But with others…

“I once saw him getting a severely hurt soldier—a footsoldier from the enemy lines. He would share his food with others if the younger soldiers are hungry and he will sit and talk with the soldiers if they are not too scared of him…Yes, he is kind.” Marcus nodded. “But if anyone breaks the rules, he will become very mad and…” Marcus paused.

“I see… He is kind. He treats everyone the same. But everyone respects him too because he gets fear-inducingly mad if people disrespect his kindness…” Marcus grinned as he figured it out. “I need to learn a lot from His Majesty.”

“Good boy,” she rubbed his head.

“Your Royal Highness, you are very smart,” he smiled at her. “I have tutors who teach me all these principles that I need to learn. But they never explain it as you do. Your teachings are easy to learn. I wish I can stay with you and learn from you all my life,” he said.

Alexandra chuckled.

[All his life? Silly boy… He’ll forget me once he finds a girl with pretty eyes.]

Marcus kept on asking a lot of questions and Alexandra answered him in the best way she could. A lot of people came to her for their ailments and she treated them. Slowly, she has gained the trust of the people and their love.

This is where Arioch failed. Even now, these people will do what Arioch wants out of fear of retribution. But if she asks them to gather courage and give them a reason to fight for, who will they follow? Who will win in the end?

Fear? Or Love?

As they were walking back, they got information.

Theodus is here.