Drypetis's POV
"My Chiliarach.." I smiled from ear to ear. It worked! Now that i copied Margaux's style of clothing and body language, i can now focus on how i copy her voice. With that and a viel, he'll surely mistake me for her. You're mine now Chiliarach. I tried to reach out to him but he backed out immediately.
"Your highness, I'm deeply sorry for my action." He stopped me right there.
I frowned though deep inside, i am jumping for joy. "It's fine, I don't mind.."
"I must go. You should sleep too, princess. Sleep shouldn't be deprived from a beautiful lady such as you. Have a great evening or morning i might say." He bowed down and walked fast until he's out of sight.
"Ahh, I'll surely love doing this. Strateira would be really happy for me." I hummed and walked the opposite way.
Margaux goodluck witch.
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Margaux's POV
"Alexander.. I- uh.." i bit my lip and looked away. What the heck! Why is he proposing!? What's happening?
"It's okay, I'll give you time for figure it out. I already asked for your brothers blessing since he's all you got. He gave me his approval to me and to.. Anyways choose wisely, and please remember me.. remember the things weve been through. You know that I've been waiting on this for so long." He pleaded and placed the ring in the middle of my palm.
Remember? What the heck do you mean!? Draco yes or no, am in a body of a dead person who happens to have the name exactly like mine!?
I gulped in response as i look at the ring, it's beautiful but.. my heart.. it's beating for someone else.. it's for Heph. Oh no.
"I- i need enough time to think this through.. How much time would you give me?" I asked nervously. Draco!
Mademoiselle you know that i can't enter there. Figure this out on your own, I'm sorry Mademoiselle. Draco whispered and cut the link.
I inhaled deeply as Alexander examines my face.
"Till we arrive in Susa." He then said after a minute then stood up to straightened his shirt.
Susa? SUSA!!
"Wait, wait, wait, what do you mean arrive in Susa?" I asked. Please don't, please no. The Susa weddings.. Drypetis, Strateira, Parysatis..
"You'll be travelling there together with Drypetis and Strateira. You'll wait for us there until we come back from the battle and that is when I'll be needing your answer." He said. I wanted to sink at that thought.
"How about Roxana? Parysatis?" I asked.
"Roxana won't go. Parysatis, she has better things to do." He shrugged.
"Margaux?" I heard a familiar voice knocking at the door.
Hephaestion! "Come in." I fixed my posture and looked at the door.
Heph peeked inside and looked at me then Alexander.
"Your turn brother. Good luck. Don't force her answer, we both must wait until we arrive in Susa." Alexander walked towards him, patted his shoulders and bid goodnight.
As soon as Alexander was out of sight, i immediately ran towards Heph and hugged him tightly.
"I can't.. I can't say yes to him." I sobbed and gave him the ring Alexander gave me.
"It's fine, just tell us your decision as soon as we arrive." He kissed my forehead and kneeled down.
"Margaux, all i can say is I'm sorry.." He started. My mouth gaped as i look at him in horror.
"A-are you giving up?.." i asked starting sob.
"No wait, shh. Let me finish, here hold Alexander's ring." He gave back Alex's ring before looking at me in the eye.
"So that's it? You're giving up?" I said in between cries.
"No, no wait." Heph hushed me down and placed another ring on my other hands. I bit my lip and looked at him.
"You asked for Draco's blessing too?" I asked.
Hephaestion nodded and placed both my hands together.
"Margaux, the reason why I'm saying sorry is because of what i did years ago." He said.
Years ago?
"Remember when i told you that you always focus on Alexander?"
"Yes? What about that? I'm still sorry for that, even though i really don't know why i would do that to you.." or the woman who you really fell inlove with.. urgh Margaux focus!
Hephaestion chuckled and kissed my hands. "There is a reason for that. And that is because i kept pushing you away. I have always been.. a huge disappointment.. atleast to you. And when you admitted to me that you liked me i pushed you even further away."
"I said i liked you before!? What do you mean push you away?"
"I kissed other girls in front you to push you away knowing that Alexander liked you as well. I have always been attentive to everything he wants and do everything in my power to give it to him even though it means setting aside what i truly felt. My mind back then was clouded with dangerous thoughts, a thought of death and crown, a new land my home will be proud of. A new piece of land we can call home and only through Alexander can i achieve that goal hence my life decisions." He said and kissed my hands again.
"Hold up wait. You kissed other girls in front of me?" I asked unbelievably, "Set that question aside, and I'm asking this with genuine curiousity, can't you be a leader on your own troop?"
"One cannot trust a man who's truly a mystery, a stranger. Can't trust a man with an unknown family background, a man who has jaded view to the world." He explained as i nod.
"And you're.. you're these things?" I asked.
Hephaestion nodded. "As i said my mind was clouded with various evil thoughts, a very unsuitable behavior and way of thinking for a leader. Alexander on the other hand has his mind straight. His decisions and thoughts are on point, yes he does think somehow and someway like i do but he knows how to hold his grudges and where to put them. He speaks we follow, he commands we follow, he plans we follow."
"Ahh, so look so highly of him that you were willing to sacrifice alot just to make him happy. What changed, why going against him now? With me?"
"Me and Alex fell for you at the same time and as much as i regret doing such actions displeasing you, i know i wouldn't have the motivation i have now in order to just fit your exact ideal man." He continued as if i didn't speak.
"I know i was rude, i was twice as terrible as anyone. As a matter of fact I'm more ruthless than him, i kill with no mercy and no care about titles, they were the least of my concern, an enemy is an enemy, campaign and land was on the top of my priorities. And that i am sorry of, for it took over my prescription in life, affecting the person i am mostly in love with."
"What exactly are the things you did to me that affected me?" I asked.
"Those memories are better left unsaid. But if ever you remember anything, and i know that this is long overdue, i just want you to know that my actions we're made because of pride and me being proud. I truly regretted it and will do anything in my power to make up for those missed times. Don't forget, i have always been loving you. I'm yours and I will willingly change for you.."
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Alexander's POV
I stealthily entered my room in hopes that Roxana decided to sleep besides me and I dont want to wake her up but as soon as i entered i saw the bed the in the same position as i left it earlier this morning.
"Hoping to see your gorgeous wife one last time before the battle?" I heard Roxana's seductive tone as she hugs me from the back.
"I missed you." I took her hand and kissed it. "Come back to me please."
"Please? After deciding to marry two women other women, you honestly think I'll came back to you?" Roxana laughed sarcastically and pulled of her hands from me.
She closed the door and walked straight to the bed.
"Your in a much more conservative dress thess past few days, weeks, i lost count." I looked at her from head to toe.
"It's not my fault that i request no lovey dovey time for my husband who might have touched another girls private areas." She snorted and took off her dress till she's naked.
I bit my lip as i force myself to take control of my urges.
"Darling, i already learned from my mistake. I barely touched any other girls." I pleaded. Suddenly a scene where i almost forced Margaux into bed came to my mind making me feel guilty.
"Don't take me for a fool Alexander. I am not stupid and you know that." She crossed her leg and smirked.
"Roxana, love, i-"
"Alexander, can i ask you something? And please answer me truthfully." She said in pure seriousness.
"Ask away." I gulped in response. Only you, only can make me feel nervous. Even in my proposal to Margaux earlier, i never felt it, you truly are different Wife.
"Did you ever love me?" She asked making my mouth drop open.
"When you married me, you treated me so greatly that i fell inlove. I know your story, atleast most of it. I never questioned you, nor did i stop myself from supporting my husband. You have your mind straight, you have a great plan and you also have a choice." She said and stood up. She held my hand and looked at me.
"You made a vow to me, to love me, to be loyal to me but where did that go? You choose to throw me out of your life. As i said i am not stupid. I can feel that your love faded, or did it? Alexander where did i go wrong? Is it because of my personality? I know for a heck lot that Strateira and Parysatis are more worse in that department. When you want something, you get it because that is who you are. Alexander.. when you married me and did that vow.. is that all a joke? Did you just do it for more power? Did you ever love me? Or am i just a pawn to your newly built empire?.."
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Margaux's POV
'Drypetis what did you do!?' I heard Roxana shout as she look at the burning figure.
'I-I don't know.. I-I swear i wasn't aiming for her. She.. she got in the way!' she spoke and dropped the lamp to the fire, making the fire grow larger.
'You'll pay for this. You'll receive the same fate.' Roxana spoke dangerously before laughing manaically.
Drypetis looked at her in horror as she ran frantically out of the place.
After a few minutes of laughing Roxana dropped down to the ground and started crying, looking at the fire in between her sobs.
'Oh Roxana, what happened?' I asked. She didn't bother to answer looked at the fire watching it crawl towards her.
'What's happening!?' i shouted and tried to hold her. Immediately Roxana's figure and everything around it except the fire turned into dust.
I looked at the burning fire in pure horror. A body is burning.. who's body?
I carefully walked towards it hoping that this will give me the answer to my questions. Standing before it, there i saw a familiar face.. my face..
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Up Next: CHAPTER 30; 'Safe' Travel
Ps.
Roxana or Margaux?