Chapter 198 - From Boy to Maiden, from Maiden to Lady

"I thought you would wait, to make sure she is worth."

"Or ... Would you give it to someone else?"

"If you continue to act as if you are better than the others, my dear, I may have to dote on others more than I dote on you ..."

"This is the first time I ask you for something."

"I know, I know ... My terrible, temperamental, and brilliant son ... But look ... Be generous to your siblings ... They went out there to defend your right to a new bride..."

"I will be grateful to all of them."

"Are you looking forward to me going? Ah, I see ... You have things to do…" he snickered with an unpleasant voice to Alexa's ears. "But I see it won't be long before she gets well. Then she'll be ready for me to make her one of your kind..."

The entire conversation was making her stomach churn, but nothing was worse than what she had already overheard.

"Say I want to enjoy her... warmth… After that she will be as cold as I am. And there's also a time when she will be like a wild beast to be tamed, even worse than Emmeline is right now..."

"I was completely wrong about your ability to be patient… But time will correct that. I already told you it takes some time, and it varies from person to person. Recovering memory and identity is not as simple as you think. I will teach you how to 'sew a soul' back to a dead body in the future. And if you think Emmeline was a failure, I'll see if you can overcome your master. "

No. Definitely, the conversation could get even worse. The 'Master' returned to the side of the cot, and ordered imperatively,

"Get up."

Alexa obeyed, groping for things and the cold stony wall to help her stand in front of him. The Master's hand touched her face over the plaster and slowly peeled it off her face. At the same time that she was curious, Alexa wasn't eager to see them.

The 'master' seemed quite the contrary, however.

"She has something that intrigues me."

"I am also intrigued, so I took her," said the other undead.

"That energy ..."

"Maybe I'll study her, before we make her immortal ..."

"That's wise. She reminds me… You."

"Me?" The barely controlled harsh voice let slip the arrogant temperament. At that moment, when her eyes were almost unveiled, the laugh of her 'fiance' revealed his identity to Alexa.

Alexa squeezed her eyes shut tightly, feeling shattered, destroyed.

Although it all made sense now, from deeds to words, she didn't want it to be true!

'No, please, please, don't be true! I want to wake up now!'

°°°

In the days following the rebellion caused by the Dallassenos' supporters, Alexa anxiously awaited the visit of her family members, while she remained confined and hidden within the walls of Demetrios Saskia's villa.

Her family friend sheltered her gently, and her servants looked after her as if she were the young miss of the house. Demetrios Saskia was a widower and his children were all a.d.u.l.ts. His fabulous fortune was made in business with the Egyptians and also with the Venetians. He was a personal friend of the emperor ... and also a friend of the current Dallassenos traitors.

Alexa felt her heart shrink in hatred, and every strange sound in the house made it pump faster and louder. She feared that the imperial soldiers would arrive and invade the villa, and they would slaughter the people who hid her. She had no news of her own people.

A few days later, Uncle Saskia came to the courtyard where Alexa rested with the servants. She was throwing grain at the pheasants, lost in dark thoughts, when he entered followed by a slave carrying a chest. She recognized that chest.

"Lex, how are you?" The gray-bearded merchant sat beside the damsel on the stone bench.

"Uncle, I yearn for news about my family. Any news. Several days passed already. Tell me where they are. I will go to them. I'm smart, and quick. I will go alone and they will never know I was here!"

Demetrios Saskia's eyes smiled, but it was a sad smile,

"I won't do that. Because it's not that smart. Don't you trust the men in your family? Aren't they also Dallassenos? Well, if so, you should know that everything is being arranged. Don't be hasty. Justice sometimes takes the corner paths, Alexa."

"Does it take the corner paths?"

"Yes. It means that it often deviates from the fastest path, and that it also walks in the shade. But it will arrive, eventually," he winked kindly at the child in front of him. That, at least, was how she felt close to him.

"It's all my fault… My family fell out of favor just because I spoke to Michalis… I should… I should…" she let her tears roll freely over her face.

"Should you have died in the general's tent? The result would have been the same, Alexa. The past can't be changed. But look, we saved some things from your old home ... I found some interesting things at the market this morning, too."

"Thank you, Uncle Saskia. Are they selling any slaves from my house on the market?"

"We didn't see any. There was no one there when the soldiers burned it."

Alexa dragged the sandal on the floor, drawing a semicircle, while thinking.

"What will happen now?"

"You must have faith, Alexa! You can never be discouraged! Your father sent you here for a reason, and I am happy that he trusts me with his most precious treasure! Things need time to settle, but you will see your relatives again!"

Alexa wanted to believe that Uncle Saskia was not saying all that just as a form of empty comfort.

That afternoon, after Demetrius Saskia's house had spent a lot of time with the doors closed, the patios were washed, and the kitchen went on working endlessly for a banquet. The servants knew nothing, and she had no answer until the maid came to fetch her from her room.

'Young Miss, the Empress is here to see you!'

Alexa couldn't be more surprised.

Gathered in the banquet hall, the Empress, in discreet clothes and accompanied by few people, sat with Uncle Saskia for a banquet.

It was a secret meeting!

Alexa threw herself to the ground when she saw her, with teary eyes and a stomping heart.

"Girl, calm your heart. I'm so happy to see you!" Eirene, the empress, made Alexa look up at her, and the girl saw a triumphant smile on the woman's face.

The maiden was so confused!

"The Dallassenos are very important to me, Alexa. I will not turn my back on those who are loyal to whom they must be loyal. My son, the future emperor, extends his hand to the Dallassenos!"

These words were being repeated to Alexa, not by chance, and the maiden was smart enough to understand Eirene's choices.

"Yes, Your Majesty! Yes!"

"That perverted pig who calls himself a general is suffering in a bed, with only half his face. His hours are numbered, and if the demons want, they can drag him into the darkest corner of hell!" snarled the Empress, still holding Alexa, whom she helped to sit beside her. Alexa grabbed the woman's hands, exclaiming feverishly,

"Your Majesty, that man, he didn't touch me, he couldn't do it, Your Majesty! He didn't touch me! It was a scam!"

"As I suspected! My poor girl! That old serpent accepted the fact, trying to deceive his own mind and refrain from allowing the disgusting perversities! But I was sure that ... He couldn't last so little ... with something he really has little appreciation for," she sighed, and Alexa felt again dirty when remembering everything that happened.

But a sarcastic smile came to Alexa's lips when she imagined that he would never have the blissful prize of a good death! She would do her best to make his soul be lost forever, never finding his way! She was childish this way, at that point.

"The Dallassenos brothers are being hunted for the attack on the general, and Bryennios is under arrest. But does Your Majesty suppose you will be able to reverse this, for the future wellbeing of Constantinople?" asked the most powerful merchant in Constantinople politely.

The Empress took her wine, and in an accomplice gesture, gave Alexa her glass,

"I need time to maneuver, but Bryennios will be safe and I will ensure that he's not put to death. The noble Dallassenos brothers, who killed their only sister after the general r.a.p.ed her, to clean up the family's honor, will have to remain as fugitives for a while. Poor family."

Demetrios shook his head, regretting the fact,

"What consoles me is that our Empress watches over those who are loyal ... If a man's l.u.s.t hadn't caused all this!"

"Not a man, a pig!" Eirene's face became a mask of hatred under the torchlight.

"My Eternal Empress, my humble services are at your disposal. I will work to bring what is necessary to Constantinople. All the wheat, weapons and supplies as possible. I want the empire to be strong when our future emperor rises to the throne!" Demetrios Saskia spoke, with a slight smile. "And if the Empress extends her benevolence upon this house as she keeps her protection upon the Dallassenos, I dare suggest something to Your Majesty. If it is very offensive and small of me, you see, I am a rude and vain man. Flog me because I will deserve it."

The Empress, who was stroking Alexa's shoulder as if the maiden were a pet kitten, asked,

"At the very least I must listen to your petition, Lord Saskia."

"My daughter, she is beautiful, healthy and smart, young, and a maiden. She can learn to be a lady, who will do her best for her husband. If her husband were from the imperial family, she would be the most loyal servant of the Empress."

Saskia's words puzzled the Empress for a moment,

"Your daughter?" but then her hand stopped the caresses, and she looked at the girl sitting next to her.

And she smirked,

"Oh. Your daughter."