Survive As The Brute's Wife-Chapter 164: Trust And Love

Alexandra patted his back. "I am sorry for not telling you everything from the beginning. I might have looked untrustworthy."

She thought of him as a little boy who needs to be protected, but she wasn’t protecting him. She brought him with her, deciding for him, separating him from his family, and then acted as if he wouldn’t mind working with the enemy just because he trusted her.

It’s like she never learned from her past life. No matter who she is, she has no right to infringe on someone else’s free will.

At least Marcus’ trust in her was true to her beliefs.

"Your Royal Highness, is Emperor Maximus the reincarnation of the Great King?" he asked, fiddling with his fingers.

Alexandra knew how tough it would be for him right now. He is the sole heir to the Zoros family. The Zoros family has pledged allegiance to the Lukyan family. As a member of the Zoros family, Marcus is bound to that oath too. But he has pledged allegiance to her. And she is against the one who betrayed her in her last life.

He will remember his grandfather’s advice not to betray his oath. But whose oath will Marcus keep? His oath or his family’s oath?

It would be a tough choice for Marcus.

"Which side will you choose, Marcus?" she asked. She felt bad for putting a twelve-year-old in such a tight spot, but he needs to learn about tough choices. He is going to make a lot of them in his life.

Marcus contemplated for a little while. And then his eyes glimmered in the blue moon.

"I will take your side, Your Royal Highness. I know you will stand on the side of justice. And you will protect everyone!" he said.

Alexandra smiled, and her eyes welled up. She rarely comes across such loyalty and devotion. Marcus is someone with so much love and that is why he could be so loyal to her.

"I will protect everyone, Marcus. There is no doubt about that. On the other hand, you will tell me if something is bothering you, won’t you?" she asked.

Iorhael looked at Marcus. "Is Calantar speaking with you, young man?" he asked.

Marcus’ eyes went wide but then he nodded. "Yes, Sir. I do get visions from her. Is she lying to me?" Marcus asked.

He hoped what he sees in the visions is false. He didn’t want to see the death of the Emperor. Princess Alexandra was very sad afterward. And then he saw the weirdest vision where he was...

A chill passed through his spine thinking of that vision. He hoped it will never come to that.

"Sadly, no. But next time you see her, tell her that you need not know your future. She cannot make you see the future without your consent. Will you do that for your sake?"

"Yes, I will," Marcus replied without questioning.

Alexandra was always surprised by Marcus’ ability to understand the nuances very well. He could sense it when the situation is dire and would do what is asked of him without any protest. He is kind at heart and he will change his ways when it is explained to him.

He is a smart child.

Marcus started yawning as it became late. Alexandra sent him to sleep first. After a little protest, Marcus went to sleep.

Alexandra looked at Iorhael. "Inanis is talking to Marcus in his alter form?" she asked. Inanis is someone genderless, unlike her father. At least that was her belief. She has met Calantar before and fell for her beauty. She almost gave Calantar a promise that she will be freed. Luckily, her mother was there to aid her and helped her see through the deception.

It is said, the darkness can and will wear brightness as clothes to deceive. That is what Inanis does. He wears the cloak of brightness and calls himself Calantar to deceive those who fall for his appearance. If Marcus fell for Calantar’s appearance, she will not blame him.

"Inanis is Calantar, Arimelda..." Iorhael looked at Alexandra. He held her hand softly and let out a sigh. He was concerned about her.

"You don’t remember? Goddess Alta told you who Calantar is..." Iorhael exhaled. "Arimelda, what did you do to yourself?"

"You can see it, right, Iorhael?" Alexandra leaned closer. "You can see that there is someone else inside me, right? Please, help me, Iorhael...I..."

"Someone else?" Iorhael sighed. "Arimelda, how can there be someone else inside you? "

"Oh, don’t say what he said, Iorhael," Alexandra was not impressed. Maximus said the same too, but she was the one who experienced firsthand the presence of another soul inside her. The spiritual bests can see it, but they are not offering any help. When she saw iorhael, she knew she will get the help she needed but even he is not believing her.

"Tell me what you did to yourself, Arimelda. You have forgotten your life. Why?" he asked.

"What I did to myself..." Alexandra wetted her lips. There is one stupid thing she did. "I sealed my memories and incarnated as a human baby three centuries back." She looked at Iorhael letting out a displeased sigh.

"Why? Just what made you do that? I never should have left you alone, Arimelda! You were the smartest among us two. How did you end up-"

"I wanted to have a complete experience as a human, alright?" Alexandra interjected him. She knew she went too far for having an experience, but what’s done is done and she regretted her decision now. "And, without my powers, I might not be as smart as everyone else believed I was."

Because she sealed her memories, she was so naïve and let herself get manipulated It was her fault.

"I hurt a lot of people, Iorhael. And I regret everything. But... I don’t regret one thing... I could find love." She said.

Her finding love, in no way, rationalizes the countless hurt she caused for others. But she would consider that as the silver lining. She didn’t want to accept that she was terribly stupid.

"Love... You always wanted that... So you don’t remember who you got bound with either, right?" Iorhael asked.

"What?" Alexandra blinked her eyes. "You wouldn’t have known Tubby. How... Don’t tell me, Iorhael. Did I know him from before and I forgot him?"

Iorhael set out for travel just before her past life. She was bored and no one could stop her and talk sense to her. That’s how she ended up taking the stupidest decision of sealing her memories.

"You did know him," Iorhael rubbed his forehead. "No wonder Aredil asked me to return... You’re so far gone..."

"Father sent you here?" Alexandra was shocked.

"I have a life back there, Arimelda. I found love too. But your father wanted me to return here. He was the one who told me that I will find you in my native place."

"Father?" Alexandra scratched her head. "I have no idea what he is planning. He once sealed me deep inside my conscience and I couldn’t get out to get control of my body. I don’t trust anybody anymore, Iorhael. Can I trust you?" she asked. "Oh, and congratulations on finding your love. You should have mentioned that earlier."

"Well..." Iorhael put his hand inside his pockets and pulled out a piece of paper. He handed it over to Alexandra and she got it.

It was a portrait of a woman. She looked more like an elf woman and she was sitting on a horse.

"She’s the Princess of Finsarin Elfs. I have no idea why she fell for me. We have two children. You can visit us if you want."

"She is pretty," Alexandra handed over the painting back. "Wow! You, the one who never believed in love, have a family now?"

"Yeah," Iorhael smiled, genty caressing the picture with his hand. After placing a kiss on the portrait he stored it safely in his pocket once more. "And wipe that jealousy off your face, Arimelda. You look terrible in green."

"Oh, please..." Alexandra topped her glass and swallowed the wine in one big gulp. "I was the one who valued love the most. Why am I still..." her voice shook. Her eyes started to water and she wanted to cry.

"Tell me everything that happened after I left, Arimelda. Trust me. I want to leave here as soon as possible too. I am not allowed to leave without solving your issue. I still do not understand why your father cannot solve it. All he has to do is just snap his fingers but he wants to..." Iorhael started to get a little less polite after getting a little tipsy.

"He hates me,’ Alexandra sighed. She didn’t know what else could be the reason. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Oh, no, but he loves you so much," Iorhael said. He meant it. The Dragon King, the creator of everything was politely asking him to help his daughter when he had every right to order him around. And for that reason, Iorhael believes that the Dragon King might be involved in the problems around Alexandra.

Alexandra explained everything without leaving a single detail.

"I know what went wrong, Arimelda," Iorhael said.