Chapter 208 - Soft and Delicate (1/2)
Maxen scratched the skin above his eyebrows. His eyelid fanned as he blinked, making a mental note to keep Queen Isla's morning meetings with Olivia in moderation.
Hearing his wife mimic his mother's expression didn't sit well with him. His thoughts were a mess over the endless possibilities of Queen Isla's mannerisms rubbing off on his darling wife.
What if Olivia would pick up other habits from Queen Isla? Habits that he didn't like to be on the receiving end of?
For example, how Queen Isla wouldn't budge until she got from Maxen what she wanted or her constant ”reminders” of matters she already said for the hundredth time. What about the way she always had the last say in everything, including his choice of cologne?
Seeing King Alistair fawn and patronize the queen was nothing foreign in The Highlands, and Maxen knew in his heart how little power his father had over his mother. Growing up, he witnessed how the mighty king wagged his tail like a puppy craving for his mother's attention. In gist, the guy was whipped.
He didn't want to end up like that—someone who's wrapped around his wife's finger. He still wanted to keep as much as an ounce of power he possessed all for himself.
Maxen shuddered in his spot as an image of him bending to Olivia's every whim flashed before his eyes. Shaking the image off, his cheeks wobbled and his shoulders rolled to relieve him from the tension of that afternoon's rollercoaster of events before facing his wife.
Opening his eyes, it darted towards Lance Go who was slowly coming down from the shocking pain that paralyzed him in his seat. Maxen tutted, ”Tsk. I bet your mama never spanked you. My mama did, and it made me tough.”
”Just kill me, Maxen. You won't get anything from me.”
”Oh trust me, we will. If not me, I bet Olivia has her ways.”
”How could you do this to her? How could you show her this cruelty? Keep her away from this. She doesn't deserve it.”
Maxen's jaws ticked. He rolled his tongue over his teeth as his eyes burned with a seething glare. He didn't like how Lance sounded like a knight in shining armor. ”Well, if you didn't try to kidnap her, none of this would have happened.”
”I don't intend to kidnap her. I was here to ask her if she wanted to come back with me.”
”What made you think she would take the hand of a fugitive? Just because she gave you everything you asked of her before doesn't mean she would still accept you. She's smarter than you think she is or what she let you on.” Maxen smirked at how Lance Go let out a heavy sigh full of regret.
Dipping his hand in his pocket, Maxen tipped his head to the side to meet Lance's eyes and thanked him, ”I should thank you though. If you didn't break your engagement with her, I wouldn't have married an amazing girl.”
Maxen pulled his hand and snapped his fingers upon remembering something. Calling forth a soldier, he uttered his command, ”Make sure to quench his thirst before I get back. It'll be fun to see him pissing himself later.”
A corner of Maxen's lips tugged up, disdain painted his face as his eyes flitted to Lance Go. He didn't feel an ounce of pity towards the man whose face contorted in pain.