"This is most wondrous," he smiled and dimples appeared on his cheeks. Without letting Felixa wonder, he added, "You saying my name…" his voice shook a bit as his hand reached for her cheek.
His thumb reached for her lips but he pulled back. A ripple formed in his amber eyes as he tried to smile.
Felixa felt like he is swallowing a lot of his emotions at times. In a way, he reminded her of herself. Like she feels alone here, he is feeling the same, hiding who he is from others; as he tries to hold on to the past he lost.
But she might be wrong. She might be trying to find meaning in something random. She is scrambling to find something to hold on to even if it is just a mirage right now. That's how vulnerable she is.
"Then I will say it more, Max," she smiled.
And looking at her, he stood silent for a moment. And then with a sharp intake of breath, he extended his hand.
Not knowing what to do, she held his hand. That act made him pleased as she saw the dimples on his cheek once more.
The moment she held his hand, her heart that had calmed down, started to beat erratically once more.
[Not this again… It should be the spell!]
She took deep breaths as she tried to walk at his pace as she didn't want to get dragged by him. He had long legs and was strong. So he walked fast.
She, on the other hand, has to take two steps in place of his single step. Before reaching the end of the hallway she experienced shortness of breath; her pace slowed.
Maximus slowed down realizing it. "Am I walking fast?" he asked. "Forgive me, Lexa," his eyes were filled with concern as a furrow line formed between his eyebrows. "I'll walk slower."
"You don't have to apologize for this, Max."
She didn't get why he keeps on apologizing for every little thing. As she was speaking, Maximus noticed Julius approaching him.
"One moment," he said placing his hand on her back and walking to Julius who seemed to be wanting to report something.
Felixa didn't want to listen to them and looked around. The wooden pillars that arched to the roof along the hallways looked magnificent.
"You look fine," hearing the hushed voice of the man, she looked at him.
"Father," she didn't bother to smile at him. She felt no emotions looking at him and felt detached. She did wonder why he was still wearing the dirty clothes from the previous night.
"Come with me," he grabbed her wrist.
Felixa protested as she was not interested in going anywhere with him. Her father stopped and turned to her. She noticed him taking a good look at her thin wrist. She saw the flash of guilt in his face. But then that little twitch of his eyebrow vanished almost immediately.
"I have to"
"Claude!" Maximus walked to them and Felixa got her hand out of her father's grip. Maximus' tone of voice was not gentle as it was when he talked to her.
"Why don't you join us for breakfast?" Maximus asked Claude and took her hand in his hand, softly.
Claude Zemfir noticed the gentleness of his act and was stunned for a moment.
This is the daughter he didn't care for and she is now getting pampered by the one they call the Brute.
He should be happy that his daughter has intrigued the Brute but he didn't feel good.
Maybe it was because he could feel the hostility the Brute has towards him. In just a day, he lost control over his ancestral home. They were asked to leave the main building of their mansion last night while the soldiers and Knights of the Brute encroached their comfy abode.
They weren't even allowed entry to the servants' quarters or to take a change of clothes with them. And even their servants were denied access inside the main building.
They had to sleep in the horse stables. His wife was complaining the whole time and he couldn't sleep in that cold place. Thankfully Lucy pointed out at the corner where there was a bed-like setting in the corner of the stable. It was made by arranging hay and sitting on it made him feel warm.
'Felixa used that as a bed,' Lucy told him, although he didn't understand why his daughter was sleeping in the horse stables when she had a room in the mansion. He looked at his wife for answers and she shrugged and curled her lips. Then she got angry at him and took that bed for herself, and still complained that it smelled like his dirty daughter.
All the while, the daughter he ignored was…
Fisting his hand, he tried to bring a smile to his face. He wanted to ask him to let them back inside their home. No matter what, he is now the father-in-law of the Brute and he should have some face in front of others. He cannot be seen in dirty clothes.
But he was blessed with the back view of the couple walking in front of him. The Brute did not care for his answer and is walking his merry way with his daughter. He tried to walk closer to them but was stopped by a couple of Brute's knights. He gulped and followed behind quietly.
This sticky situation he is in now got on his nerves but there is no way he would win against the Brute. So he has to take everything silently.
Felixa was seated beside Maximus at the table. Some others were joining them. A couple of priests, her father, and some other well-dressed nobles.
"Don't care about them," Maximus whispered in her ear. "And don't forget what I told you last night."
"Yes," Felixa nodded.
She knew he was talking about the blood on the sheets. She did not get why that is very important. But if he says it is, then it should be.
She wasn't sure why she trusts someone who gave an order to chop her head off and laid siege to their fort. But she did.
"You still haven't confirmed that you are the one who gave me the stone," she whispered back.
The food hasn't been served yet and she didn't want to look at the faces of the gloomy-looking men. Maximus looked so much better.
"Let's talk about that another time," he said leaning closer to her ear. She saw the jovial smile on his face and bowed her head.
At that time, she heard some chattering and saw the vestal virgins holding the blood-stained sheet. One of them tried to talk to Felixa but an older one stopped her.
"May the Mercy of the Heavens be upon us. Our great Emperor, anointed by the Heavens to rule over the realm, has united with a chaste woman," They all said in a chorus. "May his fruits of loins be plentiful by the mercy of the Supreme and the prosperity of the realm be everlasting!"
They proceeded to sing a song while waving an incense burner around Felixa. Then the priests came and did some prayers and splashed her with the Holy water. Felixa blinked as she didn't care what was done.
[Give me food, already!]
The old vestal virgin came to Felixa and asked her to stand up. She had a piece of burning camphor in her hand and made a circling motion thrice around her.
"I see a sword through thy heart…devouring the lives of two souls…" her voice was eerie. "Be careful of thy heart, mistress. For thou hold the key to the Heavens," she spoke in a hushed voice as she did the last circle.
Felixa took a glance at that woman. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard that.
[Is this my past or future? And the key to the heavens? Heh!]
She decided not to mind her words. She was in no position to care about her heart. She has to nurture her body first.
[Where is food?]