Survive As The Brute's Wife

The day of the ball arrived and Felixa was prepared for a couple of days. She was surrounded by fragrance and was pampered with beauty treatments and cosmetics.

Her hair became smooth and silky, and more lustrous. Her skin became smooth and softer, and the scars became very light and barely noticeable.

She loved getting pampered but she was kept from Maximus and that made her mood sour. And she didn't know why she isn't taught any of the basic skills like dancing, greeting, and other stuff noble ladies should be well-versed in. Flavia told her that there is no need for her to stress herself.

And on the day of the ball, she was not interested in even taking a bath. But she couldn't refuse Flavia and ended up doing everything Flavia asked her to do.

She had lunch early and was prepared for the ball until the sun went down. She complained to Flavia that she is having abdominal pain. Flavia told her that it might be her menstruation pain and asked her to call for her if she needed her.

Although Felixa didn't know what she should do in that dance ball that is arranged in honor of Maximus, she was happy that Flavia would be near her.

"You look very pretty with your smile," Flavia said holding her cheek. "Maximus won't be able to take his eyes off you the whole night!" she kissed her forehead. 

Felixa smiled. Joy filled her heart as she is called pretty by Flavia. She knew Flavia is saying this out of the love she has for her, but it made her happy nonetheless.

[Will Maximus say that I am pretty too?]

After looking at the child-like appearance that day, Felixa never bothered to look in the mirror. But she was curious to see her appearance. Although she felt like she is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, she felt comfortable.

When she looked at her dress, all she sees is glitters and golden brocades and embroidery on beautiful white silk. She was wearing jewels with glittering gems which she didn't care enough to learn the names of, and gold.

She remembered loving gold in her previous life. And looking at her dress, she remembered that the dress she chose for wearing to the victory ball with Luke was white too. She never got to wear that dress and she threw it out in a fit of rage.

Curious to have a look at her appearance, she walked to the mirror, lifting her skirt that flowed to reach the floor. Standing in front of the mirror, she was stunned. Her appearance changed a lot from the last time she looked at the mirror.

Hair golden as the rising autumn sun, forehead smooth and glowing like the crescent moon, eyes wide and big like almonds, a celestial nose, small, plumpy lips the color of strawberry, neck tall and smooth like a marble pillar…

Except for the height and the length of the hair, she looked exactly like how she looked in her past life. Her long hair was done in a complicated braid and glittering vines ornated the hair giving the appearance of stars adorning the evening sky, and she looked more feminine than her past life.

[It's me… It is me! How..? How do I have the same appearance as my previous life? That's right… Tubby found me out pretty easily… So if the three of us share the same appearance… What is going on? Is Max Luke in the past life?

And more importantly… Is this my body? If so, who is wispy? Why don't I remember anything?]

The sound of the door knocking made her snap out of her thoughts. Flavia with a sly smile left the room collecting the other maids. Felixa looked at Maximus entering and the deep thoughts that clouded her mind dissipated.

Wearing a black suit with golden embroidery, golden braids on his shoulders, and a bejeweled bet with his sword hanging at his right side. She knew they hang the sword at their left when going to war and since this is a celebratory ball he is symbolically hanging his sword on the right side of his waist to tell them that he comes in peace with no intention of starting a fight and that he is trusting them too.

[Well, he is an Emperor and diplomacy shouldn't be hard for him. And… he is handsome…]

When she was observing him, Maximus was observing her. His heart started to flutter and his knees got weak seeing the beauty in front of him.

"You look like the summer morning encapsulated in the form of a woman," he said and walked to her. "Like the morning sky that holds the starlight and brings joy and prosperity…" he placed his hand on her cheek.

Felixa pressed her lips and looked at him. The bottom of her heart started to get warm and she wanted to smile freely. She observed him because he looked very handsome. With his dark hair and dark attire with gold accents, he looked like clear summer dusk that still trapped the sunlight.

But looking at his impeccable face, she remembered the image of Luke kissing another woman. And that created bitterness in her heart. She couldn't put a pin on what this feeling is.

"As sharp is the sword hanging on your waist is, so polished is your silver tongue you honed in your harem, Your Majesty," she did a curtsey that bordered on mockery and walked past him.

"Lexa!" he grabbed her wrist and she stopped not wanting to look back at him.

"Let go. It's getting late," she said clearing her throat.

Maximus didn't understand what she meant for a good amount of time. He only understood the word harem and then he guessed what her problem is.

"Are you jealous?" he asked and watched her freezing. But as he watched, her ears started to redden and her neck.

«She's blushing…»

Felixa was stunned.

[Jealousy? Is this jealousy? Am I jealous? Why should I care what he does with all those women in his harem?]

"I am not… jealous…" she mumbled. She chided herself as her words lacked the conviction to convince even herself.

"As I said on our first night…" he held her hand and walked closer to her. Felixa gulped not wanting to look back. Bending to her ears, he whispered, "You are the only woman I consider as my wife. I don't flirt with random women."

[Flirt? He agrees that he is flirting?]

Felixa placed her hand on her chest that was beating rapidly.

[Calm down, Felixa… You know he does not mean what he says. Wait till he finds someone with a high status suitable for him… and then you'll know that his words mean nothing…]

She thought this way to comfort herself. But that thought only made her sadder.

"Lexa," Maximus walked to her front and stood in front of her.

Even with the towering figure casting his majestic shadow on her petite frame, she didn't find the need to be scared.

"I'll show you how much you mean to me," he said lifting her chin to face him.

[His eyes…]

Felixa held his cheek and nodded. Hooking her hand around his arm, they walked out of the room. "Your father will attend the ball with us…" Maximus said as they walked to the carriage.

Felixa shrugged. She didn't have any feelings towards that man and she didn't care what happens to him.

And that's why when her "father" tried to talk to her, she ignored him and walked forward with her chin up.

"For a b*stard to act this uncouth in front of a noble… how the times have changed…"

She stopped hearing the hate-filled voice of her said father. Maximus stopped as she stopped and he turned to face that guy. Felixa didn't even want to look at that man's face.

[What makes him say this to his daughter born of his first wife? Worthless worm!]

"Your Majesty," Claude Zemfir kneeled in front of Maximus. "I want to expose the secret I've kept in my heart for yeaers… Please permit me to speak freely…"

Felixa turned to see the stern expression of Maximus and her heart skipped a beat. After seeing him act sweet and smug around her, she almost forgot that he is called "The Brute" for a reason.

"I'll take your silence as acceptance of my brazen request…" Claude spoke as if he was humble with his voice bordering on wailing. "I want to protect the dignity of the greatest emperor and the heir of the Great King…"

Felixa gulped as she sensed Maximus' body tensing up. She expected the rolling thunders to be heard any time soon. 

[Should I stop my "father" from speaking further? Eh… Nah…]

Felixa shrugged. She didn't care what happens to him.

"This woman… this woman does not have a single drop of nobility in her… She… she is the daughter of the gardener the previous duchess had an affair with. To maintain the dignity of this household that flourished throughout the ages, I had to accept her as mine.  This was basic knowledge among the servants at that time but…"

"Shut up!"

Felixa turned with a shout.

"Stop speaking nonsense about my mother!"

Her nose flared and chest heaved. Wispy had suffered all her life and she survived somehow.. But when this worm that thrives feeding on the excrements of vultures dared to talk about Wispy's mother, Felixa couldn't bear it.