A Threat To Survival

"It was I-"

"What a lovely couple," Maximus clapped interjecting Pricilla.

Elrick glared at Pricilla and gestured for her to stop talking. Pricilla shook her head and her eyes rimmed with tears.

He might be a fun-loving guy with a carefree attitude but one thing he takes seriously is his position as a Knight. He cannot lose it.

Maximus' lips curved to a mocking smirk looking at Elrick trying hard to protect his wife.

«Where was his sense of duty when he left his post without protecting my wife? And now he dares to rub it in my face that I should have protected my wife better? How dare he! Aren't I the Emperor? Shouldn't my words be respected? But he dares to mock me?»

Maximus' imposing aura made the air heavy. In the air, grey sparks with a lining of red, like flashes of ribbons, formed, mimicking his mood.

Julius kneeled in front of Maximus. This is how Maximus gets when he gets enraged. Not a lot of people are entitled to see him like this. Not a lot lived to tell the tale.

Elrick saw the hair on his skin standing on edge as if something is trying to pull it out. He looked at Pricilla shivering and holding her chest. His heart hurt seeing her like that and he wanted to give her an assuring hug.

But when they are in the angry presence of the most powerful man in the realm, it is better to not move even a muscle and accept whatever he commands.

"Your Majesty, I accept responsibility for-"

"Shut up!" Maximus screamed and a bolt of lightning fell right near the window they were at.

Pricilla whimpered and Elrick clenched his jaws. Julius dared not to look at Maximus' face. He wished his wife would be safe at least.

-----

Felixa sat at the table in the library. Her hand stung and her face contorted in pain. She checked the laceration mark on her hand and clicked her tongue.

"What a pain! All I wanted was to read a book! Right, cat?" she looked at the white cat sitting on the table.

After Pricilla left, she decided to find something or anything about magic and if possible about her past life. If the people in Deberia consider the Knights as Heroes, there must be something about them kept hidden in literature or even as folklore.

With the Zemfir family's wealth and how resplendent the mansion is, they must have an organized library even if it is for flaunting their wealth and status as an esteemed Noble family in Deberia. She had a feeling there might be some details she could gather in the library.

But she didn't know the way to the library. She couldn't figure it out from Wispy's memory possibly because she never was allowed inside the mansion. And so she was left on her own.

Just as she was about to step out, she saw the white cat and followed it. Through the hallway, it led her. As she almost reached the library, she was blocked by none other than Lucy.

"Your father asked me to pass a message to you," she said and Felixa turned to leave not willing to engage with Lucy.

But Lucy held her arms forcefully. "We fed you and you should return us the favor! Bring us food!"

Felixa laughed at how shameless Lucy is to lie so brazenly.

"What are you saying, Lucy? You starved me! Did you forget already?" she scoffed.

"You…"Lucy pressed her lips and her entire face trembled.

The rage in Lucy's face, her fisted hands, and her gritted teeth were all too familiar.

"Want to beat me up?" Felixa smirked and it angered Lucy more.

She wants to, but she can't! She is the Brute's Wife!

Lucy's hold on Felixa's arm tightened to the point of hurting her. Some habits are hard to break after all. For Lucy, hurting Felixa has become a habit.

Felixa could sense Lucy's fingers holding her arm didn't have her usual strength. Her fingers were trembling and she saw Lucy's eyes were clouded.

[Is this what starving for a day does to her? And how long was Wispy starved? Did anyone care for her?]

"Are you hungry, Lucy?" Felixa asked in a soft, concerned voice.

"Yes, Lady Felixa," Lucy's rage disappeared immediately as she thought she might get something out of Felixa if she acted nice.

"I want to help, Lucy…" Felixa's eyes dripped with compassion and helplessness. "I really do! But…"

The 'but' in her sentence made Lucy's pitiful expression turn angry once more. She figured that after that 'but', the words coming out of Felixa's mouth aren't going to be helpful.

And she was right!

"It's not my decision. I cannot break the orders of the Emperor," Felixa shrugged. "You of all people could understand this, right?" she smirked.

'It's not my decision. I am following the orders of the Duchess'- Lucy used to say this to Wispy when she begs for food. It is time for her to have a taste of the same medicine.

With a scoff, Felixa held Lucy's wrists as she cannot permit Lucy to hurt this body anymore. This body is precious and needs to be protected.

She still didn't have more strength than Lucy but she sunk her fingernails in Lucy's flesh using all her strength and with a hiss, Lucy let go of Felixa.

"You wastrel!" Lucy held her wrists marked with Felixa's fingernails.

"Say that again," Felixa took a step forward and Lucy took a step back. "Who is the wastrel?"

Felixa took another step and Lucy stumbled back with her back pressing on the drapes hanging by the window.

Lucy's face twitched with anger seeing the woman who used to whimper to the sound of her shoes now opposing her.

Just because the Brute bedded her she got this courage and acts haughtily? Heh!

"You think you're something just because the Brute took you to bed for a night?" Lucy sneered. "Why would he need you? And if I tell him about your witchcraft, do you think he'll let you live? You're not worthy to live and you-"

"Enough!" Felixa covered her ears with her hands.

Lucy's words were pretty similar to the sneers she used to hear in her dreams. And she hated it. She didn't want to hear it anymore.

But she heard her subconscious sinking lower and she started to feel like sinking.

[No!]

'Lexa… I will protect you. And you will live as you wish.'

Maximus' words that she heard in the grove that she thought she forgot, echoed in her ears once more. She never will forget those words. After all, those were the first words filled with warmth that she heard, after waking up here.

[I am not going to lose his protection!]

"Are you going to tell the Brute about my magic?" Felixa asked raising her eyebrows. "What do you think that will achieve?"

"Why don't I try?"

It was Lucy's turn to be haughty and she loved having one over her mistress. After all, her mistress is a wastrel and a waste of existence.

She doesn't deserve respect!

"If I am to die of hunger, I am dying only after sending you to hell first," Lucy smirked.