Roxana's POV
'My lord, how have you been? I've seen you, you're going through much misery and as much as i want to ease that pain, I'm afraid that Roxana might get in the way. As I've heard that the "Queen" has been doing it again, raising up her so called borders, using her wife and queen card to wrap you around her fingertips. We get it my King, you are her husband but you are for everyone.. including me. Please forgive this attitude of hers for me. She's just.. a little bit jealous, an unsuitable attitude for a royalty i might say. She's not acting appropriately so i would understand if you had have enough of her. Your always welcome in my home, my palace.
My King, if you ever got exhausted of understanding her mistreatment, i hope that you will find it in your heart to drop by. For I have prepared the best place where you'll get the best unforgettable experience just for you, my lord.
-Parysatis'
"Ugh seriously!? Now this is stupidity! Who does she think she is!? And 'my lord?' ohh wow he worships my husband now." I mocked and threw the letter to the wall. It bounced back and landed on the floor.
I was about to stand up and put the paper on one of the burning torches when i got into some little bit of sense.
Self control.. self control. I can't destroy the letter, Parysatis would doubt me if she ever noticed that this letter is crumpled by the time she figures it out that it's gone. Self control self.. your a Queen, act like one.
I took a deep breath and looked at the open window while hugging a pillow. I hid my random burst of shouts through it to avoid attention from my servants.
The moon is at it's peek, It's almost midnight that means..
On cue Margaux entered the room. I pushed the pillow off my lap and was about to jump and hug her when she glared at me.
Geez, I pouted, sat down and patiently waited for her to come over.
"I'm pretty sure i hit you hard today and i apologize for that." She said as I clipped my hair up. She looked guilty as she looks at my bruises.
"It's fine, it doesn't hurt as much anymore." I reassured her. She shook her head and kissed my forehead. I let out a small laugh and brought her towards the window where there is a small bedlike chair for me to relax unto.
I sat on it while Margaux kneeled down at the ground. I tried to pull her up and tell her to sit with me but she really was eager to clean my bruises especially on the legs cause our 'commotion' a while ago at the gardens forced us to use sticks to swap each others butts.
I'm pretty sure i hurt and hit her harder since my stick was longer and thicker but her recovery, dang, it's super fast. It makes me jealous on how she recovers fast on these things.. after a day or two her bruises are already gone!
"No, you can't be okay with it, you should've hit me harder." She groaned, almost crying.
I sighed and held her chin up. "Sweetie I'm pretty sure that I hit you as hard as i would allow myself, harder than it is supposed to be. What do you mean hit you harder? I could if your Parysatis but you aren't. Plus I'm fine, i already told you." I reassured her.
Margaux sighed and continued cleaning my bruises.
"You know i still can't believe that this has been going on for about a week yet no one decided to tell our men what is happening between us." She tried to shift the topic.
I giggled and looked at the ceiling. "Yeah, me too. It's either they are afraid to talk to our hubbies or they just want to continually watching us fight non-stop for their entertainment."
"Yeah, funny mindsets." Margaux laughed at that thought. "But still.. that doesn't change the fact that i left alot of bruises on you. I recover fast, you don't." Her laugh turned into a timid smile making me frown.
I looked at my bruises. Indeed she did hit me hard. Which is fine honestly but Margaux is really bummed about it. But she knows that she can't really do much of it because we have to keep this act. This act that will make our enemies way closer than before which will result to our win. We promised to not hold back and if possible bruise each other.
As they said, keep your friends close but keep you enemies closer.
"Margaux I'm fine i promise, please let this be the last time you talk about this, you should know me better now, i am strong not a weakling. I am a Queen. And I LIVE for my title. Plus don't burden yourself, this is my plan after all. I can handle this, i can handle the pain." I reassured her one last time.
Margaux let out a defeated smile and finished her clean up. "Okay.."
"Uhmm, let's talk about something else then. How are you and Parysatis? And.. what is that thing on the floor?" She asked looking at the lone letter on my floor while she pushes back the cute basket of her herbal medicines aside.
"Parysatis's letter." I shrugged as i watch her grab the letter.
"Really? I don't remember this being part of the pile i just gave you." She raised her brows. I shook my head and smiled brightly.
"Well.. since Parysatis and i got 'closer' it made her less attentive to my intentions, she let her guards down which is stupid by the way. Anyways i found out where she hides her important stuff and I've been sneaking one piece out each time i visit and return what i had just taken out the day before. There's nothing much interesting things for me to see aside from the fact that she lacks knowledge of various things not to mention the numerous kninky stuff that is way too yucky for my to touch or even read but then i encountered that. THAT thing by far triggers me the most so i had to take it." I said and groaned.
"Uh-huh." Margaux raised her brows as she opens up the letter to read it.
"Don't crumple it, i still have to return that tommorow." I flinched at that thought. "Seeing the devil tommorow again.. i hate this setup."
"You can do this. We can do this." Margaux said and held my hand.
I smirked and nodded. After all these things one way or another, a person in between Parysatis and Strateira will surely say goodbye to the world.
"How about you? How did your day go after our next fight at the hallway." I asked and looked at her. She just finished reading and she was rolling her eyes.
"Well that was the most witnesses we had since the start of our 'fight,' but i noticed something. It's a bit.. disturbing." She said and stopped.
I sat straight and looked at her. "What? Did either one of the princesses do something stupid again?" I asked.
"No, they've been lielow these past few days. But that is not the root of my worries but the fact that they seem to be more.. attached, attentive i might say on whatever i do, on my every move." She said and sat down besides me.
I patted my lap and allowed her to rest her head in my legs while i took a comb from the side and started to brush her hair, first taking off her viel.
"And this bothers you so much?" I asked.
"Yes but it's.. it's just so wierd! Their eyes are just so spycam, cctv."
"Spycam? Cctv? Margaux are you fine? What are those words? Is that a foreign language? At what kingdom?" I asked curiously.
"No.. no just uhmm.. i meant they look at me like a hawk. Like their eyes are like memorizing me in someway!" She explained. I bit my lip and continued brushing her hair.
"Uh-huh, what else?"
"Just yesterday i saw Drypetis holding alot of viels and i recognize them, they are the same shape and color as what i used recently. It's seriously disturbing and it makes me uncomfortable." She shared her thought.
"They're onto something. I.. uh, for once I can't come up with any idea on why they would do that but keep watch and keep safe. Anything related to those two is something to be alarmed about." I warned her then put back her viel.
"I think you should get some rest, you can't stay too long here. Any time soon one of the roaming guards might see you, and they'll not take you sneaking here in my chambers as a simple joke." I hugged her tight and kissed her on the forehead.
"Tomorrow, we should take a break. Let's do our best to not pass each other. You'll take the left side of the castle and i take the right." She suggested.
I hummed and nodded my head. "That would be nice, i still have to prepare for Parysatis, she's coming over tomorrow.. again." I groaned.
"Chin up your highness, you keep an eye at her while i keep an eye with the Daredevil Twins." She laughed and walked slowly out of tge door.
"Goodnight Sweetie," i smiled genuinely and gave her a flying kiss.
"Night." She whispered before closing the door gently. After a total minute of silence i set myself ready for my brand new plan. A plan that even Margaux won't be aware of.
The original plan goes on stripping the titles of the Princesses and Parysatis to loose their worths from the public and our husbands lives then turning them into our personal servants. Yes, back in the ground in which they truly belong but not after receiving that news, I'm sorry but each one of you has to go. One by one.
And I'm starting with you, Parysatis.
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Hephaestion's POV
"Did you deliver the news to her highness?" I asked the servant standing before me. I am roaming around the kitchen as i look around for anything interesting.
I smiled immediately when i saw a keg of beer in the corner. I took one clean mug and filled my mug with beer until it's full.
"Yes General!" He said firmly.
I bit my lip and nod, i hope you took this well Roxana.. "How did she take the news?"
"Rather calmly to my surprise Chiliarach." He bowed his head.
I hummed and nodded at him. "Dismissed." I simply said and turned my back.
"Sir," another servant came inside the room as i welcome myself towards one of the comfy seats on the table corner. I took a deep breath and turned around.
"Yes?" I asked and took a huge gulp.
"Her lady just got out of her highness room." He informed.
"Did you manage to keep all the guards on duty out of her way?" I placed down the mug on the table and looked at him, dead shot in the eye. The servant gulped and nodded.
"Yes, General. She's back in her own bedroom.. actually on her brother's bedroom." He said, his voice turning into a mere whisper.
I gripped tight on the mug and looked at him. I took a deep breath and shook my head.
"Dismissed." I simply said as i chug down my whole mug of beer.
I need this to push me into motivation. I let out a deep sigh as i walk back and forth. I poured myself another batch of beer as i impatiently wait for Adrastus to come over.
"Brother. Still awake i see. What's keeping you up?" Suddenly Alexander barged in then dropped his sword down the table.
"I'm ready, I'm going to ask her." I said as i took a clean mug and filled it with beer until full and presented it to him.
Alexander gladly accepted it and we both presented a toast.
"I would do the same. Let's ask it together, what do you think?" Alexander smirked at me.
I glared at him and took a huge gulp from my mug completely ignoring his suggestion.
"Carefull now, we cannot be under the influence of alcohol when we still have to go out for war." He teased as he chugs down the whole mug full of beer. I refilled it and pushed it to his side.
"Brother you already have Roxana, why take Margaux too?" I asked. Alex face straightened up instantly as he looks at me in awe.
"Cause Margaux is the symbol of my affection and you know that. You are aware on how she uplifted me, in every moment, down or up, she was there to guide me, us from then till now. I shared all my successes with her and all my troubles but not until recently where you discovered her with erased memories. You pulled her away from me." He said.
I looked at him and pushed away my beer.
"Tonight, both of us are proposing. One of us will surely get the Yes while the other.. No. What happens if you get the no?" I asked.
"I'll take it. As long as she's happy. But that isn't my concern right now. True she's been attached to you ever since we both found her again but the heart never lies. She is for me. So buckle up cause you might get the No." He shrugged.
"Uh-huhh, you know that I'm a real competition so buckle up the same. Don't take me for someone easily to back down. I did everything i could do to make her fall in those short time span. Her choice will be affected since her feelings might have changed too." I smirked at him. Alexander shook his head and took a sip from his beer.
"Either who she chooses, he must be obligated to take care for hwr and make her happy for the rest of her life while the rejected one shall remain friends. As how it all started." He said and i nodded.
"Though just i case, when she decides not to say yes to you, you should reconsider my offer of you having Drypetis as a bride. With her and her sister as our wives we'll officially be brothers by law." He said and raised his foot to rest it on top of the table.
"I will, but just in case she decides to sa No to you, you should reconsile with Roxana. I think you momentarily forgot how amazing she is as a wife. And you really have alot of things to sort out with her. As you said, the heart never lies, i have a strong feeling that you've been seeing the wrong side this whole time." I smiled timidly and looked at him.
His brows are meeting are ge looks at me. "What do you mean by that?" He asked.
"Don't sweat it, we still have a proposal to make." I smiled and lifted my beer to take a sip.
Alexander laughed wholeheartedly for the first time and raised his beer as well. We both dranknit all in one go and dropped the mug on the table at the same time creating the big 'thug' heard throughout the hallways.
"Ahh, that feels good. I need to sleep even for a couple of hours. It's past midnight and sleep is a must and Margaux us probably already asleep so no waking her up just to propose. You should rest as well. That would be your last drink for today Chiliarach., that is an order." He laughed and took the sword with him.
I sighed and looked at cieling.
"Oh and Brother?" Alex came back, popping his head in the door frame.
"Yes?"
"May the best man win her sweet 'Yes,'" he smiled then closed the door.
I chuckled and shook my head.
As on cue, Adrastus came from the back door of the kitchen. All ashy and smoke smelling.
"Yer Highness, i have it. All ready." He said and just dropped down the sword on the tae then carefully placed a beautiful ring on the middle of my palms
I smiled in awe as i toss the ring. "Thank you Adrastus, she'll love this one for sure."
"She better be. The man who forced me to do it is deepy madly in love with her." Adrastus laughed. I chuckled and took the sword out from its sheeth.
"That is good. Fine quality. Adrastus, you've outdone yourself again. Thank you." I smiled and swung the sword through the air.
"Here, keep it." I smiled in content as i slid the sword vack to it's cover.
"Huh? Aren't you supposed to give this to her yourself?" He asked.
I shook my head. "I'm entrusting her to you. You'll be on stand by and watch her, be careful that bo one harms her along the way as she travels to Susa. On the way, please feel free to teach her how to use it. She's been bugging me about it but i haven't gotten a good and enough time for me to even teach her the basics so it all comes down to you. Can i trust you on this?" I asked and hekd his shoulders.
Adrastus smiled and nodded. "Absolutely. Now go catch that gal. If she's still awake."
"She is still awake and I will definitely get her." i smirked and rushed out of the kitchen.
I walked past the terrace to avoid loud footsteps when i saw a familiar figure.
"Margaux!" I shouted, ran, and hugged her from behind. She was oddly stiff but gave in after a few seconds.
"I missed you." I said as i bury my head to her neck. She flinched a little bit later on moved her head to the side allowing me for more room to nuzzle in. I took a deep breath at her.
Wait a minute.. that's oddly weird.. smells different..
"Margaux did you change perfumes?" I asked and turned her over.
"Hey," Drypetis smirked and held my hand while i took seconds to process things. To my shock it isn't Margaux who i hugged. I forcefully took off my hands from her hand and took a step back while looking at her from head to toe.
Wow, her body and style of clothing looks exactly like Margaux. The only difference is the face and the no viel thing.
That's creepy.
"D-drypetis.. what a lovely evening. I'm sorry i have mistaken you for Margaux." For the first time i stammered. Drypetis bit her lip and looked at me in a seductive manner.
This is not good.
"Lovely evening to you too, my Chiliarach."
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Up Next: CHAPTER 29; YES and NO