Survive As The Brute’s Wife - Chapter 156

Alexandra walked to the small creek running through the tunnels to wash her feet. Theodus followed her. She could sense that Arioch is following her, and so she couldn’t talk much. So they talked about mundane things.

“You are not going to die, Theodus,” she said.

Theodus paused all his movements for a moment. His silky long hair waved in a gust of wind that passed through the tunnel. He blinked his eyes and wetted his lips to compose himself. Although he had prepared himself for death, hearing that he need not die made his heart filled with hope.

But then it hit him. He cannot trust this person completely. It is to protect his heart.

“Do not get my hopes up, Alexandra. The one standing in front of you is not the one you remember from the past. I have no hope to spare. And I cannot handle another disappointment. So…”

Alexandra let out a sigh. She wanted to tell him that it is her promise. But she kept it in her heart. The one in front of her is a broken being. She didn’t want to raise his hopes without knowing what the future holds.

But she vowed in her heart to reunite him with his family.

She wanted to ask if he is married. If he is married, and if he has a child, she did the cruelest thing by separating a father and his child. She wanted to ask him, but then she couldn’t. The guilt was too much to bear.

Oh, the disregard she had towards Theodus’ life…

In the past, she didn’t understand why Theodus’ father Glarald Wynsalor punished Theodus for what she did.

Now she knows why. And she dreaded visiting that man. If given a choice, she would not meet him. But she has to. For Theodus and herself too.

With the heavens closed for her, she only has the elves she could depend on. Although the other soul in her is keeping quiet these days, she didn’t want to take a chance.

Wispy has got to go!

—–

“No, sit,” Julius stopped Flavia from getting up.

He got the plates from the table and brought them to the kitchen. Flavia placed her hand over her slightly protruding belly. She should be only three months pregnant, but since she is a chubby woman, she has started to show.

Or it could be just that she is getting fatter by sitting around, she wasn’t sure.

“I’ll wash them later! Do not touch anything!”

Flavia smiled hearing her husband’s voice. Ever since they knew they are going to get pregnant, Julius is not letting her do anything. She is not allowed to move around.

But she is getting bored a lot these days. When Alexandra was here, she would pass time by taking care of her. And now she has nothing to do. She is someone who is used to doing one thing or another but she is not doing anything anymore. She thought she might go mad by sitting around.

“I’ll go see if Maximus has eaten,” Flavia stood up.

“He’s a grown man. He can take care of himself. And…” Julius hesitated to speak further.

“Is he sick? What is it?” Flavia got anxious by her husband’s hesitation.

She tried to meet Maximus for the past few days, but he was always busy. And now, her desire to meet Maximus has grown. She was worried he is sick. Alexandra leaving him would have greatly affected him.

A lot of people are saying a lot of things. Although she didn’t like what Alexandra did, she didn’t want to judge her. A married woman leaving with another man in the middle of the night is a very shameful act. She believed that Alexandra had a valid reason to do that. She trusted her.

Not to mention, the destruction of the golden throne, the fall of the temple of the Dragon King, and Alexandra leaving all seemed like bad omens for Flavia. That is what everyone is saying. But she wanted to hold hope. Alexandra is someone who brings peace and not destruction.

But people are saying that she is the one who destroyed everything. That can’t be true. And even if she did, there should be a reason their human brains cannot comprehend.

She was told that Theodora is not herself these days and after Alexandra met with her, she has become mad. She heard that Theodora is not taking bath and she is crawling like an animal on all fours.

She also heard that the last person Alexandra met was Lady Zoros.

Lady Zoros who was in hiding for years after the death of her sons is said to have gotten better. She arranged a tea party and invited Flavia. But Julius didn’t find that it would be appropriate for her to go to a tea party. She wasn’t very interested in attending tea parties. And so she didn’t go.

Flavia believed that Alexandra is responsible for the change in attitudes of the two women. And for her to leave Maximus immediately after that… Not to mention, Young Lord Zoros is said to have been taken as a hostage by the runaway Princess. But Flavia knew Marcus need not be kidnapped. He must have followed Alexandra very willingly.

And many women escaped the harem that night the Temple fell. Flavia was surprised by that. More than a hundred women and their maids left the harem, llleaving no trace using the opportunity of the fall of the temple.

People say that Marcus was the one who gave them the order to leave. And some say they saw the flying lion in the Harem and the Princess was the one riding it. She picked up Marcus from there.

Flavia did believe that Alexandra helped escape the women. She is someone who would do that.

But where did she go?

With everything around her in confusion, she at times couldn’t even feel happy for her pregnancy. But that mood will be like a passing cloud. She is so very thankful for her pregnancy and she is praying for the safety of the baby in her belly every day.

“He is not himself… He might…” Julius pointed at her belly. “…hurt you.”

Flavia let out a sigh. “I am meeting him!” Flavia said. This time she informed her decision. She was not going to listen to her husband.

Maximus would never hurt her!

Julius flowed Flavia. He is worried for Maximus too. He told them to prepare for war, but there is no other orders from him. They are getting information that the barbarians are uniting for war and they could use sanctions to control the flow of money to them. Also, they need trained horses for war. But Maximus does nothing.

He looks detached these days.Maybe talking to Flavia will help. But he didn’t want to leave Flavia alone with Maximus.

Flavia let out a sigh seeing Elrich standing by the door with the dinner tray.

“He didn’t eat yet?” she asked and Elrich nodded with a sigh.

Flavia knocked on the door. She sent away Elrich after getting the tray from him. Julius stepped up and held the tray for her. She cannot carry heavy things.

“Maximus! It is me! Open the door!” Flavia shouted after there was no reply from inside after a while.

Flavia kept on knocking on the door incessantly. Even Julius got annoyed by the sound.

“Flavia, let’s leave. He’s probably asleep. He doesn’t want to be disturbed,” Julius tried to get Flavia back off. He feared Maximus might kill them annoyed by the noise.

“Maximus! Open the door!”

Flavia was taking none of it and kept on banging the door. In the end, her persistence paid off and the door opened.

“Ah, the stench!” Flavia waved her hand in front of her mouth. “Ugh! I am going to puke. What the-”

Julius closed her mouth with his hand to stop her from speaking further. As always., his lovely wife forgets that she is talking to the Emperor and acts as if she is entering her teenage son’s room. He hoped Maximus does not mind it.

Flavia pushed Julius’ hand away. “Why are you keeping the room so dark?” Flavia clicked her tongue and lighted the candles in the room. The room was filled with dust and clothes were sprawled everywhere.

The porcelain vases and the decorative furnishings were all broken and were left there. She could see dried drops of blood around and her heart filled with sadness.

He hurt himself!

Maximus walked away from the light and stood in the corner, watching through the window.

“Come here, eat!” Flavia said, walking closer to him.

He was only wearing a black robe on his shoulder. His face was covered with hair. He hasn’t shaved for a while and his unkempt long fringes fell over his eyes covering half of his face.

Although Flavia couldn’t see him clearly, she could say that he has lost a lot of weight.

“Maximus,” she placed his hand on his arm.

Julius stood close to Flavia to protect her in case Maximus snaps on her.

“Son,” Flavia’s voice shook. She couldn’t even see his eyes and her heart couldn’t bear to see the boy she raised in this position.

Maximus slumped on Flavia’s shoulder. Flavia wrapped her arms around his shoulder to hold him.. Julius reached out to help Flavia.