Survive As The Brute’s Wife - Chapter 157

Flavia turned at Julius and shook her head. Julius could see that Flavia is asking him to back off. As usual, he would never understand the dynamics between those two. And just like always, he retreated.

Flavia asked Julius to back off because she knew Maximus has not fainted, but he is acting cuddly as he used to when he was young. She barely felt his weight on her shoulders. He must have missed having someone around him all this time. She regretted not barging in earlier.

She regretted following her husband’s advice. He is not some Emperor she needs to be careful about. This is the boy she raised. She loves him and he loves her.

Flavia hugged him and ran her fingers through his greasy hair. “When was the last time you bathed? Should I prepare you hot water?” she asked. “You stink.”

Maximus said nothing and leaned on her shoulder for some time.

“You trust me too much, Flavia. Do you forget who I am? I have Theodora’s blood coursing through me. Why do you even…” his soft voice, trailed off.

Flavia smiled. She could sense that he is trying to sound scary to drive her off, but he is failing miserably. She wanted to ask him about the “I am the reincarnation of the Great King and I am evil” nonsense he is spouting these days. But she wanted him to clean up first. He really stinks.

“You think I won’t hurt you?” Maximus asked.

Flashes of lightning lit up the room and one bolt of lightning fell on the sofa. The sofa started to burn. Julius, the lovely husband, lunged at Flavia to protect her. It was his first instinct.

But Flavia pointed at the fire. Julius rolled his eyes and went to put off the fire. A fire in the castle right now is not needed.

“Stop this!” Flavia hit his arm. “Don’t burn the room.”

Julius’ heart stopped hearing the sound of the slap. His wife hit the most powerful man there is. He got too stunned to move as he stared at Maximus for observing his reaction. Soon the lightning strikes stopped. And calmness returned.

Once again, Julius sighed. He truly doesn’t understand the dynamics between those two.

The Emperor who is been scary these days and doing unexpected things is acting like a toddler in front of his wife.

How can he fathom this? He shouldn’t be surprised each time, but he does.

“I miss her, Flavia. I want her.” Maximus said softly raising his head.

“If you stink like this, which woman would want to stay near you?” Flavia was not holding back. “I left you alone for ten days and you’re stinking worse than a pigsty. Go wash yourself and come back,” she said, pushing him towards the bathroom.

Julius saw Maximus letting himself be pushed around by Flavia and sighed once more. He called for the maids and asked them to clean the room. He knew his wife would do it next. So he started supervising.

He rolled his eyes hearing Flavia shouting at Maximus to shave his beard and trim his hair. But Maximus was not listening.

When Maximus returned after his bath, he looked clean but still unkempt. Flavia was nagging him non-stop but he was not budging. He did finish his dinner.

After dinner Flavia cut some fruits for Maximus and Julius stood by her side passing her everything she would need.

Maximus saw this little interaction. His heart hurt. He and Alexnadra should be living like this. They should be able to communicate with each other using their eyes.

«But she is not here!»

Humans are social animals. They need to socialize and communicate with others so that they have a happy life. After he got her back, he lived his life with Alexandra as the center. And her absence left a huge gaping hole in his life, leading him to an existential crisis.

He still couldn’t understand why she left him. And it hacks his heart with every breath he takes and with every second that passes, he feels his soul getting ripped apart. It hurts so much that he doesn’t want to breathe anymore. But sadly, he couldn’t stop himself from breathing. And he doesn’t bleed like normal.

«Where did you go, love? I cannot live and you are not letting me die. Where did you go leaving me to suffer like this? Come back… I’ll listen to every word you say…»

“Did she tell you something?” Flavia asked, breaking Maximus’ thoughts. Julius was silent as always.

“No, it was sudden,” his words struggled to come out. But then he remembered that day. He was in his thoughts and spoke what he had in mind, but she looked displeased. She wanted to tell him something.

«But she chose to not talk to me and meet Lady Zoros for Marcus’ sake! And… she was very sad she showed her powers to everyone…»

He remembered her saying that she feels like a court jester performing for the entertainment of others. But that was not the case. She induced fear in the heart of the Ministers and no one dares to talk one word against her.

“She left a letter for Julius,” Flavia said and Maximus let out a smirk.

It seems like she had time to leave a letter for Julius. She has time to talk to Ithildin even now, and Kefir can visit him time to time.

«She only hates me… NO! She does not hate me. She does not want to talk to me. She does not like to show her powers. But she has to.»

“What did she write?” he asked, fisting his hands.

He got jealous of Julius. He has his wife with him, he is going to become a father, and Alexandra talks to him. He has it all.

“Just that… she always knew that Julius does not trust her. She wrote him that she would never hurt a human and… she asked Julius to take good care of you, and to stop you from getting angry.”

Maximus said nothing and stared at his hand. He did get angry a lot after she exterminated  Morfan. She was trying to talk to him, trying to engage with him, and trying to tell him something. But he was not listening.

His mind was occupied with the vision he saw. Did he hate her for the vision? Is that what made him mad?

No, he didn’t hate her. He got afraid for her.

He always had a feeling that the feeling they share would be temporary. She is not of the earth. She would leave to the heavens once her time comes. And before that, he wanted her to fix everything that went wrong in their past life and ruin the name of Adonis Lukyan.

And so, he didn’t want the vision to come to pass immediately. He wanted her to act sooner. And so he started to push her although she was not feeling it.

By getting scared and by trying to avoid the vision from happening, did he inadvertently drive her away?

And now that she is not here, he finds himself very calm. He misses her terribly but he is not getting mad. When she was near him, she was like the bright source of light that casts a dark shadow in his soul. He got aware of the darkness and he let it rule. He wanted her to enact revenge.

He can do it, but he wanted it to be her. She needs the praise. She needs recognition.

«Ah, now I know… She left with Arioch to do what I want her to do! How did I not see it? She brought Marcus with her! She brought Marcus with her!»

He wanted to scream in joy, for he has figured out the reason she left him. Is that what Kefir meant when he asked him to be prepared to have his wish granted? Why can’t the summoned beasts be less cryptic?

«Would it have killed him to tell me that Alexandra is planning on avenging Adonis Lukyan? That she has finally taken my pleas to heart and decided to show herself to the world?»

Maximus looked at Flavia. She was smiling at him, probably because she sees his smile. The little love he received from Flavia cleared his mind and helped him think.  He hugged her, giggling.

“Thank you, Flavia!”

«My Lexa did not leave me!»

But his smile vanished in a moment.

And if so, will the last prophecy he saw will come to pass? The one where she kills him?

But this is what he started. If his death is what will end it, then so be it.

He thought of her plans. Julius and Flavia looked at each other and shrugged. Maximus was in deep thoughts.

“Julius,” Maximus broke the silence after a while. “Send a message to our spies to stop lingering in the plains of Sinarin and ask them to wait at Samah Arav,” Maximus said, his voice is crisp.

Julius was surprised. Maximus was under the impression that the Princess is in the Plains of Sinarin and asked for the spies to watch every movement of Arioch. Arioch is there but he is eluding them as always. And he didn’t know why Maximus wants the spies to wait in a place where nothing is.

“Yes, Sire..” He bowed and accepted his orders nonetheless.