Survive As The Brute’s Wife - Chapter 97

“I’ll wait for you then,” she said with her lips curving up. “Maximillian…”

As she was speaking, the maid got very close to them and she pushed him into the thicket and ran away.

“I am here!” she shouted.

He returned as Horatio urged him to not show himself then, so as not to stigmatize her honor. As he returned to Lethusia, his mother was not impressed with his visit to Deberia. And he was sure Horatio must have reported everything to his mother.

He didn’t mind as he was pretty sure they will have to accept her as his bride.

He tried to contact the Duke of Riza to get permission to marry his daughter. But his mother was stopping all his efforts which he found out a little later. He was the Emperor by then because his father had passed away, but his mother was the regent.  It was then he realized that the Kingdom is run by his mother and she has a little too much power in her hands.

He had many reasons to not like his “mother”. He never liked her before he learned about his past because he saw something he shouldn’t have seen, and heard something he shouldn’t have heard. His sentiment was reciprocated because he knew that his mother hated him too. After he got the memories of his past, he stopped worrying about it.

He never cared whether she was alive or dead, and he was fairly welcoming to the idea of her taking care of the administration since he was occupied in finding out the woman of his hearts.

And now that he has found her and after seeing that his mother is against Alexandra, he decided to act.

He knew he had to take the control back. And as he knew that Luke is here this life too, he wanted to let him see the devastation on the Empire he built by the one bearing the Lukyan name.

That’s why he got the support of the warmongers and went on conquering. It was not hard to convince those gluttonous pigs to support the “conquest for the glory of Lethusia”. Those rats needed something to chew on as they sat in circles and drank merrily. He promised them wealth and they took the bait. And he was able to gain some control in the court.

He knows the empire is in shambles and it won’t be long before the revolt against the Aristocrats starts. Hunger is a very powerful weapon. Starve the kids and the parents will gather the courage to do unthinkable things. They can bring down well-guarded forts with their bare hands and tear the flesh of the gluttonous pigs and bathe in their blood to feed their kids.

The Aristocratic rule must end!

And he has this other important mission. To elevate Alexandra above the throne of Lethusia that Luke created and watch that guy squirm in pain. It is part of the reason he left “Arioch” live. He should live to see the day the golden throne crumbles to dust.

He started his mission and luck was by his side. He was able to summon back Ithildin and he gained loyal followers who won’t question his motives.

At first, he wanted to meet her with the Hashomer in his hands. She did ask for it when he met her that day. But when he got closer to Deberia, and when the King surrendered so easily, he was overwhelmed with the desire to meet her first.

That night, after he killed that Princess, it was just a decision he made just like that. He just decided to meet her. He was expecting her to run to him with a big smile, calling him ‘Tubby’.

But nothing like that happened.

He had to see her pitiful state. She seemed to have no idea who she truly is and she had forgotten a majority of the details of their previous meeting.

Except for that kiss…

He wanted her to remember their past before using that Aion stone. He had no idea how to use that stone, but it happened. He still doesn’t believe it was just an accident. A lot of coincidences happened that night.

He thought that she might be playing a prank. But she was genuinely affected by the abuses and she needed a lot of support. He was healed by her in their previous life. And he tried to reverse it and it worked. He tried to bring her memory back and he could see that she is slowly becoming who she once was.

Everything was going well, except for the fact that he could not reveal to her that he is Tubby. He could skirt around, but when he tries to reveal to her who he is, he would get a headache making him blank out. He might be cursed for all he knows.

At times he would see wariness in her beautiful eyes that would hack his heart and at times he would see her being bedazzled at him. Oddly, it hacked his heart too.

She never acknowledged him as Tubby and it made him wonder if she is bedazzled by his appearance, which is not his appearance. It is Luke’s. He knew very well how mesmerized she was by Luke in the past life. She also was squirmish about touching a sword again and she addressed him as the heir of Luke.

He did not like it at all. He wanted her to fall for him for who he is – Her Tubby.

So all this time, he was thinking that once he gets the Hashomer and once he shows Alexandra that he can touch it, she would realize who he is. She would realize that he is Tubby and not Luke and they can talk about their relationship and the revenge against Luke.

But now…

“Lexa…” he stretched his hand and touched her shoulder only for her to whimper.

“I will do what you want me to do…” she said as he refused to take his hand away.

He despaired. Just some hours ago, she was standing tall with a wall of water, and glittering butterflies around. He was happy that she is back, but now, he lost hope.

She is sick somehow. And she is not a normal human to be treated by normal doctors. He didn’t even know who to take her to.

«Maybe if I wait and treat her gently, she could come to like before..?»

He let out a sigh. He wanted her to be in her peak strength before going to Lethusia. It is going to be a struggle there. To be precise, the palace is going to be bloodier than the battlefield she’s used to. Behind all that pomp and the glitters, there is only the rotten flesh and the dried blood of the losers. If she is not vigilant, she would be devoured.

He looked at Alexandra shaking and cowering.

«This won’t do…»

In her current state, she cannot face even his mother’s maid, much less that snake of a woman. Not to mention Arioch would be waiting to have his hands on her again. And the darkness he is commandeering won’t back off unless she is showing her true potential.

“I won’t ask much of you…” he patted her head. “Rest well…”

He made sure she is sleeping comfortably and walked to the window. Outside, the muddy streets were still lively with people. And he could smell the filthy smell of human excrements that overpowered the salty breeze.  He doesn’t prefer staying in inns for this reason. He preferred open places that are filled with the scent of grass and fields more.

He closed the window and walked to the bed. He lied beside her in his deep thoughts.

«Who can I ask for help?»

—–

‘Lexa…’

Under the pond, Alexandra heard the gentle voice calling for her and she opened her eyes. She looked up to see the surface brightening up. Her heart filled with great expectations as she was preparing herself to face Tubby.

When he calls her, she would be able to leave this place, after all!

But she couldn’t get to the surface. She moved her arms and pushed herself forward with her legs to get closer to the surface, but she couldn’t rise up.

‘Lexa…’

She heard him call her once more and she looked down to see chains around her ankles that were connected to a big block of rock that is stopping her from rising to the surface.

[Max…]

She tried to yank the chains off, but she couldn’t.

[This never happened before…]

She usually would be lying on her back at the bottom of the pond. Now she is tethered to the bottom with chains.

[How? Who did this..?]

She used her strength to get free of that chains, but failed.

The mesmerizing song that would make her fall asleep started to fill inside. Peace, she longed for, beckoned her.

[No! No! I cannot fall asleep!]

The more she pulled the chain, the louder and more enveloped the song became. She started panicking.

[I have to leave here….But how?]