"Flavia, will you please teach me the customs and etiquettes of Lethusia?" Felixa asked Flavia helping her wash up.
The morning birds were chirping away happily and the sun rays slipped in through the big windows. It was a new day and Felixa found herself anew with new hope that sprung in her heart overnight.
Having rested peacefully, Felixa could reach a decision.
When she woke up in the morning, the Brute was not in the room and she didn't see the hostile bird either.
She is currently walking through a dark forest on a moonless night. She cannot look far away, and she has no company either.
But the little information she has is in her hands is flickering like a little candlelight. As she gathers more information, the candlelight will get brighter showing her way. And so, that's what she will do.
She might not know much about Palaces and politics but she can learn. She must learn to be able to survive here.
The Brute seems to be gentle with her and if she acts as a suitable woman for him, she might have a good chance at survival. He did say he has other wives and if she is lacking then his favor towards her may wane.
[I owe it to Wispy to maintain her place in his heart!]
"It's good that you ask," Flavia was excited to know that Felixa is willing to try and become a suitable bride for Maximus.
"I will teach you," Flavia said and Felixa's face brightened. "But before that..." Flavia placed her hand on her shoulder gently. "You should take care of your body first. His Majesty called a doctor for you. Once your body gets stronger, we can start on your studies."
Felixa froze for a moment. The lady in front of her was filled with love and concern. She could see it in her eyes and it made her heart get warm. And that aura Flavia emitted was very familiar and yet distant for her.
She tried to find out what that feeling was but she couldn't.
And she was grateful that the Brute has arranged a doctor for her. She wondered how to bring that up but that issue is settled now. It made her relaxed.
[I should make myself stronger.]
"How should I address His Majesty in private?" Felixa asked.
Flavia is willing to teach her things and Felixa was not feeling shy to learn things that she didn't know about. She needs to learn a lot to survive.
"In private?" Flavia's eyes widened. And then a sweet smile crawled on her lips. "Isn't it something you should decide?"
Flavia didn't know what to think of this couple. This morning Maximus came to her and rather shyly asked her to teach Felixa the matters between a man and a woman.
It was fun for her to watch him with his entire face blushing as he tried to talk to her about it. The last time he blushed this much was when he was seven. He accidentally wetted his bed and he didn't want anyone to find out about it which resulted in him blushing beet-red.
After that, this is the first time Flavia saw a deep blush on that hard face.
As much as Flavia wanted to tease him, she didn't. She made it clear to him that he cannot see her as a woman until she gets better physically.
With how hard he held the hilt of his sword and how he clenched jaws and his veins popped, Flavia understood how hard it is going to be for him. He agreed to it; as he must. And right then she understood how much this girl means to him.
And this girl..?
Flavia didn't understand why she wanted to know about the Rose Knight. He asked about the Rose Knight once too. She was surprised then. She told him about the Rose Knight and he disappeared with the Aion Stone.
And he left it with this girl, who asks about the Rose Knight too.
What is the connection this couple shares with the Rose knight?
Could this girl be the Hero the people from here talk about?
No!
Flavia shook her head. Because the Aion Stone wouldn't have chosen the one who would bring the end of Lethusia to be the bride of the Lethusian Emperor.
"I should?" Felixa didn't notice Flavia's pondering and bowed her head.
She felt like that would be impossible. She didn't want to converse with him a lot. He mocks her and she does not like that.
"But I don't even know his name," Felixa spoke in a hushed voice. She didn't know if she could ask for his name.
"You don't know his name?" Flavia widened her eyes.
He knows everything about her but she knows nothing? What a naïve girl!
"Ask him. He'll be pleased," Flavia said. "It's fine to do that. You're his wife!"
"Oh?" Felixa took in a deep breath. She still wasn't very inclined to converse with him unnecessarily.
"But Flavia, can you teach me other ways to please a man? One that involves less talking? I fear my words won't bring much delight to His Majesty. I am not very smart," she decided to ask about it in a roundabout way.
Flavia swallowed her laughter.
What should she do with such an innocent girl?
As they were talking, they heard the door knock and Felixa got up seeing Maximus entering the room.
"Felixa, if you're ready, we can..." his parted lips started to curve to a smile. "You're pretty today," he walked to her. "Thank you, Flavia," he nodded at Flavia and gestured her to leave.
Felixa bowed her head. She didn't know why his compliment made her face go burning hot.
[Pretty? Am I?]
She was looking at the oak flooring like it was amusement as she couldn't gather herself to look at his face. She heard the sound of leather against the floor and to her view came to his shoes.
She wanted to look up but she couldn't and so she stayed that way. She didn't know if she had gone over-sensitive but she could hear his breathing clearly. His breath was warm and even and as it fell on her earlobes she felt a tingling...
[Wait, what? Why is he breathing on my ear?]
Her question was answered by his action. His soft lips pressed on her neck, just below her ear.
With a yelp, she jumped. But his hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer. Her hands ended up on his chest and her eyes met with his. His breathing seemed to get heavy and she could feel his heart starting to beat faster. And so was hers.
"What are~"
She tried to speak but those golden orbs left her mesmerized and tongue-tied. With her abdomen against his crotch, she felt her chest getting heavy.
"You have a birthmark there," he pointed at the place where he kissed her.
[He kissed me!]
She bit her lips and turned to her side unable to meet his eyes.
"And it looks like a bug hovering over a flower," he bent again. "Very inviting…"
Felixa felt the fringes of his hair falling on her head. His warm, minty breath fell on her face as his lips inched towards that spot once more.