There was no one around in the library; except for the cat, that is.
"Cat, was it you?" she looked at the cat, and once again it gave her a look that she interpreted as sardonic.
Was it the intended meaning of the look? Or was it just her predisposed inference? She didn't know. But she felt that the cat is judging her and is disappointed in her because she came short of its expectations.
"You have a nice voice…" she spoke to the cat more, trying to figure out if those words were spoken by the cat.
As she was trying to figure out the cat, the words spoken by the cat sunk in her heart as a part of her brain started to analyze those words.
[The spell is broken? Spell? The spell that is keeping Lucy hidden – that spell? Gadzooks!! I am a nincompoop! Rather than perusing the words spoken, I was insistent on knowing who said it!
So what should I do now?]
As she was wondering, she heard some shouts from the hallway, followed by flashes of lightning.
And then there was the thunderous voice followed by a bright flash of lightning.
"Shut Up!"
[Max? Max is here?]
Her heart skipped a beat. And it was not out of fear, but out of that other familiar intense feeling. Hearing his voice, she thought she could get out of this bind.
[But the usage of magic… will it make him suspect me?]
She had doubts, but she was already out of the door. Her heart was filled with blind courage. This time she remembered his word; his promise to her.
'Your life will never be in danger because of me again.'
He is the Emperor and his word would be final. And he cannot kill her. Other than death any punishment would be acceptable.
[Or I could pretend to be shocked seeing Lucy's dead body and keep my mouth shut. Maybe I can faint for added flare..?]
With a hundred more thoughts, she stepped out.
The tense atmosphere in the hallway made her feel cold. Flashes of ribbons that appeared as lightning but not as deadly as the lightning, exuded from Maximus. Looking through the window, the sun was there but everything looked in a tint of grey as if something is holding the warmth from reaching inside. And the place smelled like something was burning; not a pleasant scent at all.
The large back of Maximus blocked half of the hallway. She peeked to see a woman kneeling behind a man. Another familiar man was kneeling at a distance and some soldiers were approaching them.
[Pricilla? Why is she kneeling?]
"It is your responsibility, Elrick!" Maximus shouted making another lightning fall from the sky. "You weren't watching my wife leading to her~" he cleared his throat and flung his cape to turn.
But a pair of hands grabbed his boots keeping him from walking away. Felixa clutched her skirt hearing the gut-wrenching plead of Pricilla. Her tear-filled eyes, her face drenched with tears – they were all painful to watch.
"It was I who led my husband away from his post. Punish me, Your Majesty. It was-"
Felixa might be slow on the uptake at certain things, but she caught up to the happenings here very quickly.
[That man was supposed to guard me. But he was not there when I left my room. He left his post because he was talking to Pricilla – his wife(?). She calls him husband, so why did she tell me that she is unmarried? Well, that's not important now! I don't like to see Pricilla crying… she's a friend.]
"Max," she walked near him.
She could see that the man kneeling at the distance looking at her with a warning glare. His face turned paler the nearer she got to Max.
"Lexa!" Hearing her voice, Maximus turned at her. "Here you are," His thin lips curved to a smile and he took a step at her.
"I was looking for you."
The flashes of lightning that were lighting up the noon sky were gone and the warmth of the sunlight outside reached the hallway. The air started to feel light and the trees looked like they are washed in a rain shower. The hallway filled with the fragrance of spring blooms.
What sorcery is this? Is this the Brute..?
Julius stared at the back of the tall man he knew from when he was just a snotty brat.
When was the last time he smiled like that?
Elrick on the other hand, wanted to hug Pricilla but it would be inappropriate in this situation and so he held himself back.
With a sigh, he grabbed her attention and when her eyes met with his, he blinked with a soft smile.
I am fine, so don't worry…
He thought in his heart and hoped his words reached her.
Felixa saw Max's smile and bowed her head. He didn't seem angry at all but his smile made her heart pound.
"I am sorry for making you search for me, Max," she spoke in a hushed tone.
[Oh, gather yourself!]
"I wanted to use the library and I left the room. I should have asked for your permission first. I didn't know that I am under guard," she added with a slightly displeased tone, her voice crisp and sure.
"I…" Maximus was lost for words.
His heart broke seeing his wife with her bowed head and a pitiful look. And he could see that she is misunderstanding him.
«Is she thinking that I am holding her as a prisoner? But that is not my intention! I just wanted her to have protection in my absence!»
"You can move anywhere you please. You don't need my permission for that. Elrick was there to protect you but he left his post. There are a lot of dangers around you. See, we even found a corpse right here in this hallway… I wanted you to be protected since I cannot be with you all the time," Maximus then gave the lengthiest explanation he has ever given in his life.
Julius wanted to roll his eyes.
If only he could do a detailed explanation, no, a half-detailed explanation of his thoughts more frequently, a lot of wars can be avoided!
And Max? He lets her call him Max? Has he become half-a-man he once was?
"Oh? A corpse? Where?" Felixa feigned surprise and tried to look around but his broad chest covered her view.
"I don't want you to see it and end up getting scared," Max said placing his hand on her cheek.
"Yes," Felixa smiled and nodded. "I understand, Max."
"Good," Maximus puffed his chest out of happiness. It seems like his wife is not misunderstanding him anymore. And her cheek is soft.
"But," Felixa took a step back. "Pricilla told me that she's…"
Felixa walked towards Pricilla.
Maximus looked at his hand hovering in the air with no softness in his grasp at all. All he felt on his hand was… nothing!
«She left me hanging and is walking to Pricilla?»