"Parysatis," i clenched my fist upon hearing that name. I already have Drypetis under my nose and now this woman?
"Love, that is a very long time ago. I never confronted her once about it i promise, you're the only person in my heart." Heph took the paper from Adrastus and went near the fire.
"Don't. Give that to me." I opened my palm and he gave it to me defeated.
"Margaux-"
"Adrastus look inside the pile for more letters coming from Parysatis. The rest will be thrown into the fire." I instructed and folded the paper.
Adrastus immediately did what i told him to do and after searching and looking at each single letter, he gave me 7 more letters, all from Parysatis.
"Are you angry my love?" Heph looked at me. I sighed and smiled at him.
"Not really.. I'm just jealous, I'm fine though. It's just that.. she's beautiful, has title and land and so are the other princesses." I admitted and looked away.
"Margaux how many times will i have to say to you that Strateira and Drypetis will be marrying Alex and not me? I have nothing to do with them and Parysatis, she wants power and fame just like what Roxana has. If you want proof you can ask Alexander, he receives the same kind of letters after i rejected her. He threw them away but i it's impossible that he didn't keep atleast one, i used to tease him about it." He explained.
I raised my head and looked at him, "She wrote to Alexander too?" I asked in disbelief.
"Yeah,"
I sighed and looked at Adrastus. I folded all of Parysatis's letters and put it in my pocket then scooped the pile of papers and scrolls on the floor and threw them in the scorching fire. The remaining letters in the floor was tossed in the fire too by Adrastus.
"Thank you so much Adrastus, and as much as i really want to watch all of those to burn, i have some errands to attend to. Heph?" I turned around to look at him.
Heph just chuckled and offered his hands. I accepted it and bid goodbye to Adrastus.
"Oh and Adrastus?" I stopped and turned around just as we are about to leave.
"Can you make me my own sword?" I asked. I want to learn how, just in case.
Adrastus smiled and nodded. "How do you want me to design it?" He asked pulling a hammer and tossing it up and down.
"Just something that would associate me and Heph together." I smiled and looked at Heph who has a wide and proud smile.
"You can count on me," he saluted. I laughed in response and clinged unto Hephaestion.
"I'll give you our payment personally later Adrastus, i want to talk to you about something." Heph smiled.
I gave Heph and Adrastus a suspicious eye. Heph winked at me as he guides me outside like a perfect gentleman, my judging eyes still never left him.
"What did i do?.. again?" He asked nervously.
"Promise me that the talk you conducted with Adrastus doesn't involve you getting angry at him for what i did." I crossed my arms.
Heph laughed and wrapped his arm around my waist. "No worries sweetheart, our topic would be different else and I'm not that unreasonable, trust me okay?" He smiled and kissed my temple.
I smiled and took off Heph's necklace then put it back in my pocket. I bid goodbye to Adrastus walking back towards the palace.
To avoid attention, we both walked at the back entrance of the castle where we both saw Alexander and Parysatis talking to each other.
"Huh?" Was my first reaction upon seeing them. Oh so what, when she failed seducing my man he went to him instead.
"Shh love, let them be." Heph whispered.
I kept my mouth shut about it and allowed Heph to once again pull me away from the scene.
"I wonder what Roxana will do to her because of this." I rolled my eyes.
"Hmm," Heph shrugged and enterwined his hands with mine then pulled me inside his room.
I looked around and sat in his bed. "What exactly are we doing here?" I asked.
"I dunno, I'm here to get the payment for Adrastus and i figured that you might want to look around for more clues about your suspicions about me. I have nothing to hide my love so hopefully you rummaging through my room would help that." Heph explained then showed me a bag full of golden coins.
"Oh, I'm really sorry i doubted you." I sniffed and ran to him for a hug.
"It's fine, i understand what you're going through but please, don't over do it. It hurts me thinking that i might have not be a best partner because of this."
"Aww, i promise that I'll never think that way again. I'm sorry Heph." I burried my face in his neck making him chuckle. He combed my hair and then kissed me on the lips.
"I need to return to Adrastus. Keep safe my love." He bid goodbye and went out. I let out a deep sigh.
I'm not in the mood to look around anymore besides, i need to inform Roxana about what i saw.
I went out of the room and straight went to Roxana's room.
She's not here Draco. Where could she be?
Have you checked her other room?
Other room what?
The room she shares with Alexander.
Oh right, that room. I scurried to the other side of the chamber.
"Roxana? Hello?" I knocked then opened the door. To my shock it wasn't Roxana who is inside but Alexander and he's..
"Oh my gosh your naked!" I quickly turned around.
"Hello Agapè, nice seeing you again." Alex chuckled as i heard footsteps coming near me.
"P-please change." I stuttered and was ready to run.
"You're no fun Athena Margaux." Alex held my shoulders and turned me around. My eyes straight looked down so i covered my eyes immediately.
I'm so sorry Heph! I promise I'm only yours!
"Let me go, I'm looking for Roxana have you seen her?" I asked my eyes still covered.
I heard Alex sigh and forcefully takes off my hands from my face. I shit my eyes tightly.
"Roxana is in the maids chambers as per what Parysatis told me." Alex explained.
"Parysatis.. may i ask how are you associated with her? You two seem close." I asked, my eyes still closed.
"Hmm, she likes me.. kinda." Alex whispered.
"Kinda?" I asked.
"Yeah, she sends me letters to express her love. She still does it but i don't read them." He shrugged as i felt him back out.
"Uh where are you going?" I asked.
"I don't know. Open your eyes and you'll see." He chuckled.
"Ha! No way." I rolled my eyes under my eyelids.
"Too bad. I look hot." He shrugged. I heard him put on some clothes making me jump for joy inside.
"Now you can look." Alex tapped my nose.
I opened my eyes and he is fully clothed. Nice.
"Your smile i truly beautiful." Alex smiled and held my waist.
"H-hey!" I shouted and pushed him off.
"You've been with Heph for too long. You have to spend time with me too you know." He looked at me straight in the eye.
"I'm sorry but you already have a wife and two future wives." I scoffed.
"Actually i have three future wives." He smiled.
"Ahh, so you're marrying Parysatis too?" I raised my brows at him.
"Parysatis? No." He laughed then hugged me tighter. "I'm marrying you." He whispered.
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Roxana's POV
"Do you understand?" I asked firmly after giving them tasks, tasks in which would help me spy under the princesses nose.
"Yes your highness." They all bowed making me smirk.
"Good." My smile was triumphant. What is mine is mine.
"Roxana!" I heard Parysatis call. I turned around to see Parysatis running towards me, panting.
"Yes?" I asked, my brows raising towards her actions.
"Remember what i told you about Margaux? She's doing it again!" She shouted.
"Oh puleese Parysatis, Margaux will never flirt with my husband." I shrugged her off and looked at the maids.
"Oh really? So the King hugging her back, being more responsive to her that to you or the flirty princesses doesn't atleast trigger you?" She crossed her arms.
I bit my lip and looked down. "She'll never do it. I trust her."
"Ha! Don't act so naive Roxana cause you aren't. Are you sure you haven't catched just a single glimpse of something that might prove my accusations? Think deeply Roxana, what do you remember!?"
"Well i.. I-"
"Go on, think." She glared at me while stomping her feet.
I closed my eyes and tried to remember, they are close.. closer than what it seems. Alexander always tells me that it is nothing. That they were nust friends. Heph proved that too..
"Th-they are just best friends. Margaux will never do that to me." I turned my back on her.
"Ugh!? Seriously!? Roxana they are cheating on you! She is much more worse than Strateira and Drypetis."
"No! She'll never do such thing!" I shouted back at her.
"Ha! So you don't believe me, well maybe this can change your mind." She rolled her eyes and stood in front of the maids.
"Those who saw the King and that stupid whore together, flirting with each other step in front." She snapped her fingers impatiently.
"I saw them." One stepped forward.
"I saw the king pulling Ms. Margaux to your bedroom. I think they did the nasty." Another one stepped forward.
"N-no.."
"I saw them being sweet to each other the other day here in the castle."
"I saw them kissing."
"I saw them taking a bath together-"
"No!" I shouted and looked angrily at Parysatis. I closed my eyes as i remenise my last talk to Alexander about Margaux.
'Alexander tell me the truth. Who is Margaux in your life!?' I shouted at him.
I looked at the window and she is being guided up the horse by Hephaestion.
'She's my best friend.'
'She's my best friend' don't pull that crap on me, I'm not stupid!' i shouted at him as tears started to fall in my face.
'She is but she's in love with Hephaestion and not me. Remember what i told you after i married you?' he asked. I looked at him and allowed him to hug me.
'Uhm..'
'I told you i have a friend, a friend that has brought me to you..'
'A friend who encouraged you to be who you are today, a friend who stayed with you through your worst, a friend you consider as your sister..' i finished.
'Exactly.'
'She's her?' i asked.
'Yes she is her.'
'So.. so..'
'So spare her from your jealousy, cause without her i might have not met you. She's the reason why we are both together.' he kissed me then looked at me in the eye. 'Why don't you befriend her, she's alot more than just a grumpy sweetheart. You'll see.' he patted my shoulders and pulled me up towards our bed.
'Are you sure?' i asked unsurely.
'Yeah, but so that you won't get more jealous. You both look alike.' he said as he kisses my temple.
'Look alike!?' i pushed him away. My doubts starting to fill me again. 'Is that why you married me? Because i look like her?' i asked as a huge lump forms inside my throat.
'What? No. I married you because i love you. But my point to that is maybe you two.. are sisters, the proofs are off the charts when we base it on looks and attitude. But the background.. it's truly dull. It's unclear.. as if they didn't both exist.. no records, not a single bit.' he explained.
'Sisters? Okay, you are not tricking me.' i pushed him away and walked out.
Alexander ran to stop me and hugged me from the back.
'No, but i have a speculation.. hear me out..'
I calmed down after hearing that. He told me alot about what they both faced with each other. And each story pushed my doubts away. And plus with the fact that she might be my sister.. i might be unto something.
"B-but.. you know she could be my long lost sister.." i whispered.
"Ha! Sister my ass. If she's your sister then so be it but it doesn't pull up an excuse to steal your husband from you." She stomped her feet once again.
I looked down and closed my eyes. No..
"Don't believe me yet? Cause i saw Margaux just now. She's heading to your room and.. isn't Alexander there too?" She smirked.
My eyes turned dark as i ran up the stairs. There is only one way to know the truth.
Parysatis followed with the maids who testified with her.
"Margaux, you better prove them wrong or else.."
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Up Next: CHAPTER 25; Proof