Roxana's POV
"This is so wierd, i feel people glances everywhere. Wherever i go i hear whispers and strange looks, looks that are much different than the usual angry look ive been experiencing since our live fake fight." Margaux complained while hugging her knees.
I rolled my eyes playfully and kept braiding her hair. "Don't mind them. I added protection under you plus it seems to me that Adrastus, the Royal Swordsmith is also keeping an eye to you as per Hephaestion's request. You'll be fine."
"Yeah but I'm still curious. What rumour did you tell anyways? I can't seem to get atleast small glimpse of it since people move away when i walk by." She said, taking the hand mirror to look at me through it.
"Well the first rumor is.."
"There is more than one?" She was shocked and tried to turn around to look at me. I held her hair still making her squeal in pain.
"Hey!"
"Keep still would you, my braids would turn up bad if you keep moving." I scolded her and moved her head down so that i could pull her hair from the bottom to up.
"Fine fine, now if it pleases her magesty. She might as well tell me the rumours that has been lurking around the palace grounds for days." Margaux said sarcastically that i almost laughed.
"Mm-hmm. The first rumor i sent is about Parysatis secretly seducing Alexander behind my back. The second one i sent is a rumour in which she made Hephaestion as her back up lover. The third one.."
"There is a third one?" Margaux asked in shock. Honestly this girl, by now she should and must know how i normally react. I freaking do these things regularly and yet she is still surprised.
"Yes Sweetheart there is, now the third one is the rumour I made to clear your name." I said as i clip one part of her hair to the side to focus on the half to bottom hair.
"And its?" Margaux asked excitedly.
"Well my trusted aid sent the rumour where Parysatis set us up to fight and we only figured it out just by now. Something like that. She also added that we're already back to friends which is the reason of the gush around the palace. Half of people believe half don't. Same goes for the townspeople." I explained.
Margaux bit her lip and slowly nodded. "Okay in short we delayed telling the truth?" She said sarcastically.
"No i set us up into a position where we are a few steps above our enemies. Both to Parysatis and the Devil sisters." I said still fixing her hair.
"How?" Margaux asked making me raise my brows.
"Oh my, i can't believe i see my face in you but you're so dense. You sometimes make me feel stupid do you know that?" I chuckled.
"Bla bla bla, just tell me. My mind got no time to process." She rolled her eyes and played with the mirror in her hand.
"During our whole fight. I managed to gather who are the people loyal to me and people that are under Parysatis. Shockingly half of my maids are under Parysatis's wings. But then half of that half are only working for her because they are also into Hephaestion and Alexander, so looks like we've got more problems than three." I explained.
"Atleast they are just minor problems. Let's just focus on the three headed dog of Hades. They are the ones we should be careful about. Anyways, how about the other half?"
"They didn't believe in the rumours or the fights even though they are witnessing it upfront. Most of them are actually the loyal maids i had since i wad a kid. They know far better when it comes to my anger. When I'm angry i don't attack, okay scratch that, i attack but only by slap in the face then plan an evil scheme in which i will make others do my dirty work. I feel like they found it amusing for me to fight so they never talked about it. Plus if they will i think they are aware that it'll have consequences to my plan that is why they didn't move a single bit." I explained as i think of countless possibilities on my mind.
I've been a sweet princess, the perfect role model back when I was a kid and until now. I took care of my people greatly so their respect is so high when ut comes to me. It all just started to go down when i married Alexander and at the same time my kingdom is envaded by his army. New people arrieved and new slaves. I'm not a fan of it but whatever. No matter what happened i still am greatful. I've got to meet the man of my dreams.
"Ohh," it was all Margaux could say as she sighed. I kept silent and let her process whatever is running in her mind while i continued to braid her hair. After a few more braids, I pulled it up and finished it with one of my favourite tiara.
"Roxana!" I heard his voice roaring on the hallway making me groan.
Oh no, i forgot I'm doomed.
Margaux on the other hand flinched and made a dumb and awful pose after putting up her mask.
"Margaux whatever you're doing please stop, you look like you fighting constipation." I rolled my eyes and stood up.
I waited for the man to enter the room and truthfully and expectedly i saw him livid.
I chuckled and stepped towards him. I kissed his cheek, hugged him tightly until he calms down before i walk away slowly.
"I heard you called Abel instead of me. Abel. ABEL. What does that dwarf have that I don't? Why can't you just call me when you need me? I'm just here doing absolutely everything for My Queen and My Bestfriend but oh no, I'm deciding to send this 'warrior' dwarf to do the work because he's more capable." He ranted as he closed the door.
I laughed at his response while Margaux jaw dropped down the floor.
"Roxana who's this guy? And why is he acting like a baby?" She asked and pointed at the guy.
"Roxy who's this peasant girl doing here? This is a sacred place that is meant for royals. Not something a mere model should step on." He scoffed back while folding his arms.
"I'm a woman, Mr, a woman. And i am not a peasant, oh no Mr, i bet I've got more fortune than you." Margaux copied his position and shot a death glare at him.
Abram lookes up and down to her and sniggered. "I can see that." He said sarcastically.
Margaux gasped in annoyance and looked at me. I just smiled in amusement as i look at both of them interact.
"Margaux i want you to meet Abram, he's a childhood friend of mine and he is one of my best soldiers, he fights almost as good as Alexander and Hephaestion does but he doesn't want to join the war, he said in quote 'I want to stay by yourside, fight by yourside and be at call in time of trouble, anything for you,' end quote." I teased and pinched his cheeks.
Gosh, i never realized how i miss this guy until now.
"So you do remember my promise and yet you chose to ask help from a dwarf!" He angrily accused like a needy partner.
"Abel is more stealthy that you'll ever be plus you've done enough, you've been fighting for my kingdom since the day you finished your training. I want you to rest." I sighed and caressed his cheeks.
"Aherm" Margaux cut the moment and stomped her feet loud.
Abram shit her death glare while laughed. "Yes yes sweetheart we'll get there. Abram i want you to meet Margaux, she's Hephaestion's other half and my newly found bff." I said while walking towards her. I pulled her by her hand and placed it in Abram's palms that i also pulled up.
"Nice to meet you." They both said in unison before pulling off from each others grip. Both making a puking sound after.
Babies.
Abram fixed himself up and looked at me. "Even so Roxana, I'm here, you always tend to forget about me and i get it. You have duties as a Princess, duties as his Queen to this rising empire not to mention you're also the wife of the most dangerous man while I'm a mere guard but please, use me. That is what I'm here for, to serve you. Don't leave me just behind." He said and pulled my hands up.
I smiled sweetly at him and kised his cheek.
"Silly, i never forgotten about you but i have always wanted you to be safe so i tend to make others do my work insted of you. I value you as much as you do to me. Please undertand, plus i also know that you have a special someone in your life, you told me about her once. Did you finally got her?" I asked in pure curiosity. Abram is such a good man, he has the looks as well. He's been reigned as the 'most handsome man' by his colleagues.
"I didn't and can't, she's married." Abram sighed and let go of my hand.
"Ohh, do you want me to terminate their relationship? I have the power." I suggested. Abram flashed a sweet smile at me before kissing my forehead.
"It's fine, really." He said in a sad tone.
"How about this, you heard about the upcoming Susa weddings right?" I asked. Abram clenched his arms and looked at me.
"How dare he marry another girl, aren't you enough? I can treat you better than he ever will." He snorted.
His words touched my heart that iy made me smile. "Aww that's really sweet thank you," i smiled and hugged him.
"Mm-hmm," he hummed and hugged me back. "I heard about that, what about it?"
"Well your coming with me, you'll protect me and keep me under cover." I flashed a wicked grin.
"Your going to break Alexander's word? We'll that's the first. Count me in." He chuckled and let go of me.
"Yeah, i seriously don't want to do it. I want to be the most perfect woman he'll ever meet. Maybe through that way he wont turn his head to other women." I sighed. "But then i have to, i need to stop that wedding. It's all for power after all, not love. I have a great chance of stopping it."
"Well you can always count on me. When do we go?" He asked.
"After Margaux and the rest have gone. We'll take another path. A much shorter one." I explained then looked at Margaux.
She currently has a clueless face while looking back and forth from me and Abram.
"Roxy, are you sure she's Hephaestion's other half?" Abram eyed suspiciously.
I laughed and punched him playfully. "Yes she is now go. Your duty is still not over." I shood him away as he whines like a baby.
"Alright fine. See you anytime soon." He stole a quick kiss in my cheek then ran off.
"Psh," i smiled uncontrollably.
"I can't believe you call me dense." Margaux snorted out of no where making me look at her. I raised my brows at her as she walks towards the table where i left the paper I've been working on this whole week.
"What's this?" She asked and held it up. She unrolled the paper and a bunch of random scribbles welcomed her.
"Well.."
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Margaux's POV
"Well, I've been creating new letters exclusively just for us to use. I just finished it and i want to teach these to you so that we can communicate without anyone finding out what the heck we are talking about." Roxana explained.
Huh smart though something is oddly familiar..
"Are you sure you didn't copy this somewhere. It's kind of familiar, like I've seen these somewhere." I said as i try to remember how these 'words' are familiar.
"Hmm, maybe because itsy derived from the shapes of our roofs and anything i can see outside the window?" She said cluelessly.
"No not that.." these letters looks like the ones my aunt used to put in her ancestry room.
"Well my aunt is an archeologist and-"
"What's an archeologist?" Roxana cut me off.
Right.. i forgot.
"My aunt is a farmer. And she has.. she has.." i gulped upon realization.
My aunt had papers, papers exactly like these in her ancestry room where she gives thanks to her ancestors. This paper, this paper looks exactly like what is displayed at the middle of the room.
"Could it be?.."
"Could it be what?"
The last time i met my aunt was atleast five years ago. We had such great mother and daughter bonding. Heck she acts more of a mother than my real mom will evee be but then suddenly, i received a letter from her telling me to not return and show my face to her. I don't know why but it left me heartbroken.
"Margaux?"
My aunt considered the person who wrote the paper.. this paper as her ancestor. Does that mean that..
I looked at Roxana then back to the paper.
Is that why we look alike? Could it be that i came from her lineage?
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Up Next: CHAPTER 32; Papyrus Scroll
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Ps. Here's a little teaser for the upcoming chapters. See this as my sorry gift gor bieng offline for almost more than a month. Enjoy
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"Drypetis!"
"Stra- ahh"
"H-help.. HELP!" Strateira looked at me with pleading eyes.
I bit my lip hard a took a huge step.. backwards.
Strateira nodded her head and cried as her sisters hand slipped through her palms.
No one is around. I could've helped to save her. But i didn't.. I'm a monster..