Chapter 80: Maximus born
Xerxez felt no enchantment, no hint of a magnetic pull to love again. He had no affection for any woman. But then, the last maiden to dance stood up, and she captivated everyone. Her beauty and grace were dazzling, her every move a magnet for the eyes of every man at the celebration. Xerxez was frozen, transfixed by the maiden’s lovely face on the stage. He couldn’t tear his eyes away, and slowly, his heart began to fall for the gentle woman. He remembered their last encounter, long ago, but he never truly knew her.
"Who is that woman?" Xerxez asked his fellow kings. He tried to hide his embarrassment by drinking from his cup, but the gulp of sweet, fresh wine was still audible as it went down his throat.
"That’s Maviel, a formidable female warrior and the eldest daughter of King Driother," Vhaltimoos replied, seizing a large chicken leg he had been eyeing. He licked his lips in anticipation before sinking his teeth into the fresh, steaming roasted chicken before them.
"King Driother’s daughter?" Xerxez stopped drinking abruptly, and a little wine spilled in his shock. His ring clinked against the glass.
"Yes—what’s wrong with you? We’ve been going back and forth to Thartherus for so long, it’s impossible you haven’t seen her! ... Or maybe you haven’t sobered up yet. Oh, if I were you, I’d find another woman to make you happy. Do what I do. If you like, come to Vhorlandroos, and I’ll find a woman for you there." Vhaltimoos’s cheeks were as red as grapes from the copious amount of wine he had consumed. Chicken grease smeared his mouth and even his beard, with bits of meat still clinging to it.
"Don’t provoke Xerxez into being a womanizer like you," said King Harios, slowly eating his grapes. Even with an abundance of food on the table, he ate with reserved elegance. "And I think he no longer needs to look for a woman." He smiled, as if hinting at something.
"Are you insulting the women of Vhorlandroos?" Vhaltimoos retorted coarsely, pointing the chicken leg at Harios. "Hey, the women of Vhorlandroos are beautiful!" he boasted, his mouth still full of food. He was so drunk that the chicken leg accidentally hit Harios’s face, and he barely understood Harios’s innuendo.
"You’re the only one who says that," Harios said, wiping his face of the slightly spicy and delicious-smelling grease. He just sighed at his drunken companion.
Once upon a time, Maviel desired nothing but to be loved by Xerxez. But when she heard the king was getting married, she was deeply disappointed. It was as if she had been shot through the heart, almost driving her mad and causing her to faint from regret. She thought she had no chance of ever winning Xerxez’s heart. So, she decided to join and serve in her father’s military, helping the soldiers in training and creating traps. Her father saw Maviel’s determination and made her a leader of the troops. The king was also amazed to see his daughter’s skill in tactics and combat, which earned Maviel recognition from the soldiers. But because Maviel was used to wandering in the forest, she developed a fondness for horseback riding. Whenever she had the chance, she would go out alone to gather white flowers in hidden places. And whenever she saw those flowers, she would remember Xerxez.
But now, the formerly brave warrior was like a blooming flower, radiantly beautiful. She was demure in her pursuit of love but fierce in the face of war. A person’s character truly changes when faced with love. So, in the name of love, she freely awakened her heart, which felt as if it were drowning in the depths of the sea.
After her dance, everyone in the audience applauded. Her father introduced Maviel to the many guests. But while she was still on stage with her father, she affectionately sought out Xerxez with her eyes. She saw him staring at her and returned his gaze. They stared at each other as if they were oblivious to their surroundings. Driother approached his fellow kings.
"What do you think of my daughter’s beautiful dance?" King Driother’s face was filled with unmatched joy, and he clapped enthusiastically. "That’s my eldest daughter. She truly inherited my talent." His friends smiled. "What do you say, Xerxez?" Xerxez was stunned, as Driother had asked him directly.
Xerxez truly found Maviel’s face beautiful, and so he tried to woo her. They met secretly behind the palace, in front of the garden. In that moment, Maviel confessed her true feelings, and so did Xerxez. Their hearts beat as one. In a gesture of their deep love for each other, Xerxez kissed Maviel with a kiss that came from the depths of his true feelings.
It wasn’t long before their secret was revealed. But instead of delighting King Driother, it felt like a slap in the face. He was even more enraged to learn that his daughter was marrying Xerxez, his fellow king. He complained that of all the young men he had hoped his daughter would marry, why did she choose the widowed Xerxez? At first, he could not accept the lovers’ situation, as he considered it bad luck.
Driother had no choice but to support his daughter, Maviel. He gave his daughter’s hand to the loving Xerxez because he knew that Xerxez would love her even more than he did, and he knew she would be truly happy. Driother trusted Xerxez, which is why he would become his daughter’s husband. Maviel would be happy, and he would not regret it. Driother agreed to unite the two in love. It wasn’t long before Xerxez and Maviel were married. Driother truly did not regret his decision, as he saw his daughter was happy with Xerxez.
...
A few months later, Maviel became pregnant. Xerxez was overjoyed when he found out she was pregnant. A father’s happiness is truly complete when he has a child with his wife, who fills his sense of masculinity. However, Xerxez’s feelings were the opposite of Pyramus’s. He often held back his emotions because he felt he no longer had a place in his father’s life, especially in Xerxez’s new world, his new family.
He couldn’t accept having a half-sibling and absolutely did not want his father to have a new wife. So he would run away and be by himself. He would always go to a tree, one with lush, green leaves, where every breeze brought a fresh scent. The place was peaceful, with birds singing and soft grass swaying with the wind.
Xerxez understood Pyramus’s feelings, and even Maviel was sad about the father-son situation. But it was difficult to make the child understand, so they let him be, as they knew that one day Pyramus would understand. Maviel was kind, so Xerxez was confident that Maviel would win Pyramus’s heart and that one day, he would accept her as his mother.
Maviel was kind, and they were certain she would ease Pyramus’s heart. Maybe not now, but they knew his heart would change. Months passed, and a new prince was born from Maviel’s womb, a healthy and robust baby. Everyone was happy when the baby was born. Maviel’s entire family came, bringing gifts. That day was different; it seemed to compel everyone to smile whenever they saw the baby. Compared to the day of Pyramus’s birth, this day was different. There was a grand feast and celebration. Everything had been peaceful since the baby was born. As the two of them looked at the baby, their smiles came naturally, as if they couldn’t explain the blessing before them. Maviel immediately thought of the name ’Maximus’ because it symbolized courage and peace for others.
"Maximus—Maximus is what I’ll name him, my love," she said to Xerxez.
Xerxez had no complaints, as he liked the name, and it was fitting for a future king. So, from that day on, the baby’s name was Maximus. A symbol of peace, kindness, and a good heart. When they introduced the baby to the world, he was warmly recognized as the son of the king of Thallerion.
Their lives were peaceful. Under Xerxez’s rule, the land of Thallerion prospered even more. It became vast and powerful. Most importantly, since the baby was born, the palace has been filled with abundance and happiness.
One day, Maviel requested a small feast and celebration for their son. Because he loved his wife and their child, he did not object. Instead, he went along with his wife’s request, but he said he would make the occasion exceptional and special. A father will do everything to make his child and wife happy. But nothing could replace the joy in Xerxez’s heart. So, if this was the way, he would do everything. The next day, all the palace staff prepared. They decorated and adorned the palace with beautiful ornaments. Since Maviel loved white flowers, those were the ones used for the celebration, their color a perfect match for the clean and polished palace. It was a truly grand celebration, a thanksgiving for the blessings because they were lucky.