Survive As The Brute's Wife

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Alexandra bunched the trousers around her waist and fastened the pants with a belt as it was a very loose fit for her thin waist. It hung around the legs in folds.

The short-sleeved tunic reached her hands. But it was warm and she fastened it with another ornate belt. Through the light from the oil lamps, she saw something dark on the dress she wore and she picked it up. 

[Blood!]

Some of the blood from her legs had stuck on her dress and it contrasted on the white cloth. 

With no second thoughts, Alexandra poured oil from one of the lamps and lighted it. On the hard mud floor, her dress started to burn vigorously. 

"Alexandra! Fire!"

Arioch ran inside. He stopped seeing Alexandra with a stick in her hand and burning her clothes. He said nothing but observed her. Alexandra stood there and made sure every bit of her clothes is burnt to ashes. 

Arioch then brought her to a place with a raised platform. There was a chair - the only wooden chair in the whole place which is for Arioch. They brought a stool for her.

The big hall was filled to the brim with people. They were all mumbling and muttering among themselves.

"This is an old acquaintance of mine," Arioch addressed the people. "You too can get acquainted with her." 

The moment he started to speak, everyone became quiet and Alexandra watched them trying to come forward to talk to her. 

Alexandra saw some of those people who have lost their limbs and with scars in their face trying hard to get close to her and her heart broke for them. 

She stood up and walked to them. Arioch stood behind her.

"Behold, the people whose life got destroyed by the Brute!" he extended his hand. 

The entire place started to get louder with chants like "Death to the Brute!" and many cursed the Brute.

She saw the hatred in those eyes that peeked out from having nothing. She wondered what will happen now if she introduces herself as the Brute's Wife. 

She saw a little baby suckling on his mother's breast and still crying for he got no milk. Everyone looked so stricken with poverty and yet there was hatred. 

Hatred for the warlord who wrought destruction on them - The Brute!

Hardening her heart she went through the people. She saw the children that were left fatherless, the mothers who lost their sons, the men who were thrown away by their King because they got injured and no more of use to them, and a lot of civilians who lost everything because of an unexpected war that fought to nurture the pride of those who lived in stone castles.

Some were from Lethusia and they cursed their Emperor for the high taxes imposed on his people that made them flee their villages. The only people who are well paid in these times are the soldiers and the money for them are to be coming from the farmers and merchants who couldn't handle the burden of the taxes imposed on them. They had lost their livelihood and ended up here.

Not to mention the monsters that are running rampant with no one to control them.

They all cursed The Brute for ruining their peaceful life and relegate them to live under a cave like loafers.

[Max... What have you done...]

Meeting them all and listening to their grievances made her sick to the stomach. She understood the plight of the lower and middle class of the society for she used to be one. She didn't want to listen to them, but she forced herself to seeing their eyes that were longing for listening ears.

And those hatred always got replaced with hope when they talk about the Hero. The Hero who would appear in front of them with the head of the Brute dangling in his hand and raising his sword that is dripping the blood of that monster who ruined their lives.

They wanted the Brute's blood!

As she walked  among those people, she noticed someone wearing a dark hood, following her from a distance. She felt some evil lurking in the shadows and it made her heart palpitate with fear. A layer of perspiration formed on her forehead and a chill passed through her spine.

At a flash, a memory of her walking through a lush garden came to her mind. The garden was lush, but her heart was hurting beyond her capability to withstand pain. A darkness surrounded that garden and she couldn't find her way out.

She was crying out for Kefir but she couldn't even sense him and...

*Gah*

She gasped as one child pulled her down to touch her face, snapping her out of her memory. When she got back up, she saw the hooded figure had disappeared. She could breathe freely again.

[What was that about?]

She turned to look at Arioch and he wiped his eyebrow with his thumb. Noticing  her, he smiled at her.

"Are you tired?" he rubbed her back. "Let's go eat."

Alexandra nodded half-heartedly. 

She was not in the mood to eat the delicious spread in front of her. This is the first time after she woke up here, she didn't feel like eating when there is food in front of her.

"What of them? How do you feed that many of them?" She asked. 

Those people didn't look like they are fed with the same delicacies on the table in front of her. 

"The youngsters scour food..." Arioch answered taking a bite off the thigh of the turkey. "They see the sufferings of their family and they are very responsible."

"They steal, Tubby?" Alexandra asked with her eyebrows furrowed. 

Scour? There is wilderness surrounding this place, Where would they scour for food?

"Steal?" Arioch laughed. "How else will they get food, Alexandra? They are not getting their fill from the taxes like your husband does..! And don't call me Tubby!"

Alexandra pushed the plate in front of her away and stood up angrily. She didn't know why she could show her unsavory side to Tubby while she always gets meek around Luke.

[And Max...]

Arioch fisted his hand and took in a deep breath regretting his behavior. She should be coddled and as much as he hated to do it, he has to. He needs her!

"Alexandra...." he walked to her and tried to place his hand on her shoulder but she moved away.

"I am his wife, Arioch," she said with a sardonic smile. "Don't touch me!"

"That man..." Arioch let out a sigh. "You know who he is, right?" he circled around and stood in front of her. 

"He haven't changed, Alexandra... Did you see those who were discharged from their duties just because they were hurt? Do you know how many are from the Brute's army..? The orphans of the political prisoners are still crying for their fathers' return, Alexandra. How will I tell them that they are all dead? How..." His throat closed. 

"Yes, they fight for the other side. But aren't they humans too?"

Alexandra's heart skipped a beat thinking of those people. She was someone who used to not shy away from the frontlines. She didn't think twice before killing or maiming the soldiers attacking her.

But they would have had families. 

She never realized that until Tubby talked to her about it. In the past, when she decided to use her summoned beasts for war seeing the struggles of their soldiers, Tubby told her that the other side are humans too. 

And now Arioch says the same.

But she failed to see it then. She only saw the tears in Luke's eyes. And she did what he wanted to do. 

She realized one thing from her past life. She never had an opinion of her own. Even if she did, she never gave her opinions weight. She followed other people's expectation of her most of the times. 

Luke's opinions to be precise!

When she was very young, a very important responsibility was thrust in her hands in the form of a sword. But she wanted an easy life. She didn't realize the weight of the responsibility. She didn't want to carry that burden. 

Tubby knew the responsibility of the burden and he wanted to lend a shoulder to help her carry the burden. But for her, Luke seemed better because he reduced her burden. 

With Tubby, she had to be the one above all, with everything on her shoulders. But Luke stood to her front and blocked her from everyone's view. And she loved that. 

It was where she went wrong. 

Whoever it may be, each will have to carry their own burden heavy or light they may be, or whether you are willing to carry it or not. If you shirk off the responsibility you were given, you will face the consequences. 

And for her who shirk off a very important responsibility, she wrought trouble to herself and those around her. And if her guess that the monsters came to because of her, she had caused trouble for everyone just because she wanted to live a comfortable life. 

[What should I do?]

"Why did you bring me here, Arioch?" she asked.

Arioch held her hand. His determinant green eyes focused on her.

"Take on your responsibility, Alexandra.. Get the sword and do what you have to do. Bring down the Brute!"

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