Survive As The Brute's Wife

Maximus fisted his hands. Closing his eyes he then relaxed his hand and placed it on his heart that is hurting.

The first feeling he has hearing that news is the feeling of loss. This is not the first time he is feeling this way. He had the same feeling before. But he didn't understand what it was before. Now he does.

«I will fight for you this time, my love…»

"If he was here… then…" Theodus asked seeing Maximus' face getting cleared of the sad feeling.

"He must have opened the portal. And that means…" Maximus looked at Theodus.

It means that Arioch got this help from the dark lord. He always wanted to get help from the dark side as he believed that those with no morals and those with nothing to lose would be the strongest. Alexandra usually would agree with whatever he says but, in this issue, she voiced her opposition.

She strongly believed that darkness cannot be powerful and anyone who calls himself the lord of the darkness should not be trusted.

That guy had to pretend to agree with her just to not lose her.

But in his previous life, Maximus found out the betrayal of that guy. He was working with the Dark Lord behind Alexandra's back. And he stabbed her in the back pushing her to…

«I should not let him hurt her this time…»

"She's in danger…" Maximus looked at Theodus and he shook his head.

"Keep me out of her issues. I will never fight with her," Theodus turned to leave.

Maximus didn't stop him this time. He wouldn't push Theodus too much on this issue.

"Three hundred years may not seem like a lot for elves… But it is a lot, Max. I saw someone with elf blood a couple of days ago.  He refused to engage with me since I am obviously shunned from home… He was so familiar… those eyes… I didn't even know if he was Ailwyn…" Thoedus rubbed his forehead. "He was so little when I left and he would have grown up to be an adult now… I missed watching him grow, Max. And I miss…" he clutched his bow tightly.

"You will get back home, Theodus. It is a promise," Maximus said, this time from his heart. "And don't feel pressured to help me. You've done enough. If he has her, I know where he will take her."

"Are you sure the sword will accept her this time, Maximus?" Theodus turned at him. "Without that sword she's… Not every child of the dragon king will be accepted by that sword, Max. She had a great responsibility but she ignored it all for… What?" Theodus threw his hand in the air.

Maximus said nothing. He played a hand in everything that transpired back then. And it was not all for good.

"You go out. I'll see if I can put that one to sleep. He'd be mad his army is sent to rest," Theodus closed his eyes and murmured a spell.

Maximus was let out and he ended up in the garden of the Palace of the Deberian King. The ball was still going on and Julius was searching for him.

"Sire..."

Julius bowed in front of Maximus and he didn't understand the anxiousness in Maximus' face.

"Lady Fe-" he gulped. "Princess Alexandra… Some said she was on a flying lion~" he shut his mouth seeing Maximus' terrifying glare.

"Which hallucinating b@stard saw a woman flying on a winged lion? Bring him here…" He said and took a step forward.

Julius understood that Maximus didn't want this news to spread. He started his calculations in his head to handle this situation in the best way possible. They will have to give capital punishment for blasphemy to one of the soldiers who came forward and only then this issue would be buried.

Maximus didn't want others to know about this all yet. She hasn't gained her full strength yet and naturally announcing her as the Drovarys will bring enemies from all planes to her.

But then he felt like he was hit on the head with a hammer.

«Am I really doing the right thing? What am I doing differently? For one reason or another, I am trying to hide her true calling from the public! I am trying to keep her behind a screen, even if that is a screen of protection! No… I cannot do this!»

He stopped and turned to Julius. "Let those who speak, speak. The truth will come out one day or another and everyone will see who she is, anyway," He said although he said it half-heartedly.

He still wanted her to be safe.

Julius bowed his head as it is his habit but every word Maximus said slowly started to sink in his heart.

"Is she the Hero..?" he muttered in his breath. "Is she the one who would bring the end to Lethusia?"

"End?"

Maximus' deep, vibrating voice made Julius shiver. He didn't think that Maximus would have heard him.

"She'd be the dawn, Julius. And be careful with your behavior around her," he said in a  warning tone and walked briskly.

"Prepare the carriage!" His voice echoed in the empty halls.  "We are going to Mount Begida."

Julius stood frozen hearing that.

Mount Begida is forbidden for anyone from Lethusia to enter. Certainly, the Emperor of Lethusia is forbidden by the Church to enter that cursed place.

The Dowager Empress would end anyone who would enter that forbidden place. Julius didn't dare to speak with conviction that the son of the Dowager – The Emperor would be forgiven if he breaks her rule. 

"But, Sire…" Julius tried to reason with Maximus who doesn't listen to anyone but himself.

But he was blocked by none other than his dear wife.

Flavia ran to Maximus and Julius gently patted her back to calm her panting. He didn't understand why she should be running with her not so athletic body. His heart started to pound thinking that it might be something of dire importance.

Maximus stopped to listen to her too.

"Where is she? Where is that little girl? She was complaining of stomach ache and…"

"She was kidnapped, Flavia. By Arioch."

Flavia covered her mouth that gaped widely with her hands. "That poor baby!" she exclaimed. Her eyebrows trembled and her eyes watered.

Julius didn't understand how the "Hero" would be "Kidnapped" by the leader of the resistance.

She must have left on her own accord to fulfill her destiny or whatever! After all, Maximus and she were destined to be standing on opposite ends of the battlefield right from their birth! That is, if she is the "hero".

He sighed seeing his gullible wife getting angry at Arioch and pleading with Maximus to save that "pitiful baby girl" before she's hurt.

`Life is always hard for me!` he thought.

-----

Alexandra looked at the flowing river in front of her. The horse became tired after it galloped for long and so they were resting by the river.

She sat with her knees together and legs crossed on a rock. The stream was flowing under her feet and she liked the feeling of the flowing water on her feet. Some little fish came and circled her feet.

She bent and checked the scratch would on her legs that were made by the attack of that ugly tree. The wound had dried and although it didn't disappear, she could see that it is healing swiftly.

"Here," Arioch passed her a couple of yellow-colored fruits that almost resembled mangoes.

"Are these mangoes?" she asked looking at him with a smile.

She did feel hungry and she appreciated Arioch's thoughtfulness. She thought he was going away for refreshment but he had gone to collect food for them.

"I am not sure. But they look delicious, right?" Arioch smiled. He then removed his clack and covered her legs.

"Thanks," Alexandra nodded.

She didn't know if it is still considered unbecoming that a woman shows her ankles. Or maybe it is because he is a man of the past. But whatever the reason is, she did not mind much.

"Eat," Arioch asked her and she nodded at him.

She waited to see if he eats first but he waited for her to eat first.

"Finish first. I couldn't find more," he said pointing at the one fruit he had.

Alexandra smiled as he is looking out for her. She finished one fruit and she already felt full.

"It tastes like mangoes," she said and passed the other fruit to him. "I feel full."

"Let's keep this for the travel," Arioch stored it in his pockets.

Alexandra sat listening to the soothing sound of the flowing river.

"I heard that you are married to him?" Arioch asked.

"Yes," Alexandra nodded.

She was surprised that he knows this much considering he is the most wanted person in the realm.

"Did you…" he looked at her hesitating to ask something and Alexandra couldn't guess what he wanted to ask her.

"Are you sharing bed?" he asked.

Although Alexandra is not very sharp, she didn't appreciate this from Arioch. She turned her face not wanting to say something sharp to him.

"Stay with me, Alexandra," He said. "Don't do the same mistake as the last time…"