Survive As The Brute's Wife

But before she reached the ground, she felt someone grabbing her arm.

"Careful!" she heard the familiar voice behind her. Maximus held her arm and pulled her to her feet.

[Ah… Max…]

"Yes," Felixa's hands started to shake and her heart started to beat fast as if she got caught doing something wrong.

But she still turned to look at the man clad in green. Turning his face away, he pulled up his hood and walked towards the storeroom along with the other vendors walking with him. He tried to look back but he was covered by the others.

[Should I follow him? But…]

Felixa knew she cannot do that when Maximus is near her. But she could feel the nagging urge in her to go behind him and find out who he is. It was like the itch in the tip of your nose that needed to be dealt with immediately. But she couldn't do it.

Not knowing what to do, she tried to pick up the pieces of the teacup.

"Leave it. Don't hurt your hand," Maximus picked her up and walked towards the residence.

Maximus was saying something to her but her eyes were still on the group of vendors walking with their carts. She lost that man for a moment but then she caught the man wearing green clothes again.

[Is that really Tubby?]

Her eyes watered.

[Did I find him?]

A strong gust of wind blew and knocked the hood off the head she was following with her eyes. Excitedly, Felixa rubbed her eyes to have a good look.

But…

The hair looked the same but when that man turned back, she could see that he did not resemble Tubby at all.

Disappointment filled her heart and she buried her head in Max's neck.

[So I saw wrong… Tubby is not here…]

Her heart got heavy and it was hard to breathe.

"Don't feel bad. It is just a teacup," Maximus patted her head.

She looked up and saw the concerned face of Maximus and pushed herself to smile. Her heart was sad but she found solace by staring at Maximus' face.

[He looks exactly like Luke…]

She didn't know why she got disappointed with that fact.

Maximus sighed in his heart. She gets startled for simple things even though he showers her with care. But he could sense that she is getting better. Every time he sees her like this, he'd have an urge to kill her entire family. But he cannot; not yet.

«I should concentrate more on her recovery. It won't be long before she becomes lively as she once was!»

A couple of days passed. She didn't see the pageboy or that man again although she tried to have a look at the vendors entering the gates. The white cat and the translucent bird disappeared too.

That morning Maximus woke her up earlier than usual and told her that he is taking her somewhere. When she asked he just smiled mysteriously.

Flavia helped her dress in a dress suitable for traveling. Felixa was surprised to learn that Flavia is not joining her.

[Where is he taking me?]

When asked about Pricilla, Flavia only gave vague answers making Felixa a little worried for her. The previous night Max brought some books and Felixa conveyed to him that she forgot how to read. He looked stunned for a moment before telling her that most of those books won't need reading comprehension and for the rest, he will teach her.

Felixa agreed not knowing what's in the store for her.

"I just want to have a look at the stables," Felixa walked towards the stable while Flavia was not very pleased.

Felixa just wanted to have a look at the horses. Horses are amazing beings that are loyal and dependable. She never got closer to the stables for days now and since there is a chance she wanted to have a look.

She used to have a horse in her past life who stayed with her, facing all the wars and battles with her. He was very loyal and would follow her around everywhere.

Rufus was his name.

"But we were asked to wait… wait, Felixa…" Flavia had to follow the excited Felixa. She didn't stop her because Maximus told her that she is allowed to go anywhere and also because she didn't want to dampen Felixa's mood. She doesn't get excited often.

Felixa opened the wooden door of the stable but she could feel the resistance in opening the door. A ray of light split open the darkness inside the stables and up popped Julius' face.

But before she could react to Julius, she heard the loud, cocky voice of Maximus that was filled with hatred.

"I will get the Hashomer at all costs, Lord-"

Before he finished his sentence, Julius slammed the door shut in her face.

[Hashomer..? Did I hear right?]

She didn't remember much about the sword she had in her past life. When she remembered her memories, she recognized her sword but when she thinks about the appearance of her sword, she couldn't get a clear image of it. And from what she heard from Flavia, the Rose Knight was known for "his" very magical sword that held great powers. And that sword's name was Hashomer.

[Why does Max want that sword?]

She didn't feel right. Everything he did till now…

The heart is a weird thing. It gets happy by simpler acts and it doesn't take much to break trust. The betrayal she faced in her past life, the uncertain way she is "alive" now, the memories of pain and abuse, and the void left by loss… It all made her more skeptical.

[What if he approached me for a reason? Did he figure out who I am?]

She didn't know who Max was talking to but he came out of the stable very soon with a strong black colored horse. Looking at her, his expression lightened and he smiled.

"Can you ride?" he asked and she shook her head.

She loved riding, but she didn't think this body can take it.

"We are not going in a carriage?" she asked as he got on the horse and asked her to get on it.

"No, the path is not suitable for a carriage," he held out his hand.

Suspicious as she is, and filled with uncertainty, she still held his hand as he pulled her up. She can say 'No' to a lot of people including Flavia, but to him, she could never say no.

[Pathetic… He could very well be taking me to get the Hashomer or leave me in a dangerous place! And yet why can't I… Ugh!]

Sitting in front of him, in his embrace, she fell asleep unknowingly into a deep sleep. She felt a cold wetness on her earlobe and opened her eyes.

[This place… Is this…]

Her eyes widened with shock as she looked around and her heart started to pound. A lot of questions arose in her head but still, the corner of her lips twitched to a smile.

[I'm here…]