Survive As The Brute’s Wife - Chapter 87

“Don’t give up on me, Rose… Please…” His voice started shaking and she felt coldness on her shoulder. “Choose me…”

Alexandra by then had melted. His tears made her heart turn to a puddle. And she started to consider what he is saying.

“What do you want me to do?” She asked.

Only after she said that sentence did she realize that she had said this sentence a lot to Luke. And each time, he would give a “suggestion” that she might or might not follow. But he would make sure that she knows that only if she takes his “suggestion” could he be happy and be assured that her heart is true with him.

She understood why it was tough for Luke to not accept her love. He told her that she doesn’t need love. She has everything that anyone would envy her for and she has no use to have someone beside her as a family for her to be happy. She can be happy by herself since she has everything. And so, she wanted to prove to him that she needed him to be happy. She made sure he knows that she values him a lot more than he thinks she is.

Each time his “suggestion” would involve her breaking her vow and something that would make Tubby get mad at her. Tubby would advise her not to do what he “suggests”, but she, in her desire to prove Luke, would do as Luke “suggests”. She would be happy seeing the smile on Luke’s face for his suggestion is accepted, but she had felt that emptiness in the bottom of her heart as if she is losing a part of herself to be replaced with nothingness each time she does something against her consciousness.

“Maximillian did something horrible, Rose,” Luke stood straight and spoke holding her shoulders. “Did you know he’s been summoning beasts in secret?”

“Summoning?” Alexandra was shocked.

She didn’t know that. But in her heart, rather than believing Luke, she trusted Tubby. Even if Tubby had summoned a beast, he would have told her. That skylark cannot help but show off. How could he have kept such a big thing to himself?

Impossible!

“You don’t believe me, do you?” Luke shook her and Alexandra shook her head.

With the situation here, she didn’t think it would be nice to speak what’s in her mind.

“There is proof, Rose… He was always with an agenda. There was a reason he was close to you. These days, how many times did you have to put him in his place? It must have all been for taking the throne. He wants that throne, Rose,” he pointed at the shiny golden throne that Tubby always mocks in secret. “He was seen with-”

“Why do you think he hides it, Luke?” Alexandra couldn’t bear Luke’s voice this time. She felt like rather than throwing baseless accusations, Luke should be telling her what Tubby did that is wrong.

“Even if Tubby could summon beasts, they would have no power against my beasts. I have Class- I beasts and no one can beat them. His mana is very lower compared to mine and-”

Luke shook his head and his face got more serious. “He is colluding with the Uilaeg Elves, Rose. You know those self-absorbed grass-eaters always wanted to rule over the humans. With the help of Theodus-”

“Don’t bring up Theodus, Luke,” Alexandra immediately stopped Luke. “He lost his home to help me, to help us! If he didn’t help us to open the Brume Thicket…” she cleared her throat. That is one of her greatest regrets— sending deissenters to wander without rest.

Her tone of voice got harder as she talked. “So don’t-”

“Oh, Rose! Oh, dear Rose…”  Luke looked at her like she is some silly little girl who said something that skips her intelligence level; like how an adult would look at a senseless chile. But his tone was soft.

“You still don’t realize it?” he patted her head in a patronizing way. “It is exactly why Theodus has agreed to help Maximillian! Theodus wants a way back home and if he meets his father with the promise of conquering the human realm, his father would definitely take him back! You know how selfish Glarald Wynsalor is! Even Theodus spoke about his father’s love for silver and blue gems; gems that can only be found in human settlements…”

Luke kept on talking more and Alexandra by now wondered if Luke might be telling the truth as everything he said made sense. Tubby was almost fed up with her and it was no secret that he hated Luke.

He might have- No way!

“Tubby fought with us, Luke! He kneeled before you and swore an Oath to serve you! If he wanted that throne, he would have had plenty of chances back then. How many times did he save you-”

“He fought for you!” Luke shouted and pointed his finger at Alexandra. He then took in a deep breath and turned his back at her and rubbed his neck.

“He fought with you! He protected you! He did everything for you! And now…” Holding his hand behind his back, he met her eyes and bent to her eye level.

“He covets you…” his voice turned sinister and she saw his face twitching. “He wants what’s mine…”

“What?” Alexandra knitted her brow and took a step back. “What are you saying?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know, Alexandra!” he let out a scoff, his face crunched with disgust. “I know you kissed him.”

“He kissed me, yes! I won’t deny that. What is wrong with it?” she asked.

She didn’t like his tone of voice. And he mentioned her as his when he doesn’t want to confirm it in the presence of others.

“What is wrong with kissing another man?”  Luke scoffed and with his jaws clenched, he pushed his face at her.

“Yes, pray tell,” Alexandra folded her hands over her chest. “Pray tell me how you kissing another woman in front of me is different from that one time Tubby kissed me? Didn’t the promise we made each other get invalid the moment you touched another woman? Where did I do wrong?”

Luke was lost for words. Maybe because he didn’t expect that she would speak in this tone to him. She was mad. After accusing Tubby straight to her face, he dares to complain about her morality. And she might not accept it, but she was hurt by Luke. She was hurt to see Luke kissing another woman and so she asked what she asked.

“Rose,” Luke’s tone then turned patronizing. But she saw the hardness near his ears and realized that he is speaking hiding his anger. She got provoked too.

“Is this another “revolutionary thought” that dundy taught you? Did he tell you that a man having many women and a woman doing the same is the same thing? Say, if the woman does have many husbands, who will claim the child?” he asked.

Alexandra didn’t understand a lot, but the tone of voice angered her pretty much more.

“You can have as many women you want, Luke. I won’t stop you. I won’t fight for you. I will give up on you. I already have. So let’s not talk about it again,” she spoke controlling her anger. “Let me free. I want to go back to my village.”

She felt the power building up in her, especially Kefir was getting very angry and was raring to get out. She was holding Kefir back since she knew if he gets out, he would flatten the Palace. Many lives would be lost and she would be considered as going against the King.

She decided to talk about what she came here to talk about. If Tubby is in danger or if he is having stupid thoughts, she has already decided to take him with her. He will listen to her and will follow her wherever she goes.

They can live life as they lived when they were young – like siblings.

[But that kiss…]

She suddenly felt some flutters in her heart.

“Rose, no…” Luke’s tone turned soft almost immediately and he hugged her. “How can you even think about leaving me? Who do I have?”

“Luke, please…” Alexandra got out of his hold. “You have your advisors and your family. Let’s face the truth… Even if I reveal my gender, there is no way I would be allowed to marry you.I will never be the Empress. I might have considered living in the shadows for the rest of my life just to have the honor of having a glance at your face just once a day…” her throat closed as she said that.

She used to think that it was enough. It was enough for her to take a glance at his face just for her to survive.

But… Now it seems like she cannot watch him with another woman. And the danger is looming over Tubby. It is the best decision for her to leave and take Tubby with her.

“My love…” Luke held her cheeks and made her face him. His eyes were clouded and filled with affection.

“There still is a way… There still is a way for you to become the Empress… but for that, you will have to make sure Maximillian leaves you forever. I will forgive him for conspiring against me. And… ”

He looked at her for answers.