Chapter 1654: Seelima’s Eloquence (Part-2)

Seelima had always felt a competitive spirit against Alexander. There was little explanation behind it, perhaps it was because of their similar starting points, and the Queen Mother wanted to prove she was just as competent as Alexander, perhaps it was due to her higher position as Queen, perhaps it was something else ... whatever it was, whenever she met the young lad, she always wanted to one up him.

Hence when Alexander revealed his small trick, the regal lady cursed herself for getting hoodwinked by all the circuitous, extraneous talks. It made her want to rage.

Thankfully, the feared outburst stopped at that point- Seelima was an accomplished schemer as well and managed to ultimately rein in her temper- understanding she would gain nothing by lashing out.

So the clever woman quickly pivoted her strategy, neither confirming nor denying Alexander’s hypothesis but instead sharply posing, "So I take it my lord is not going to accept my offer?"

There was an inherent intimidation laced into her frigid tone, as evidenced by her formal address.

However Alexander did not come so far to back out only at the last moment, and firmly stood his ground, "Indeed, I do not think it is the right time. My lady should also let the chaos subside first."

"It is ’Your Highness!"The Queen Mother clearly was not impressed by the answer, as she first coolly corrected Alexander’s way of addressing- the man tended to use either interchangeably due to slip of tongue as well as to show his closeness to her.

It seemed this was not the time.

Then, having established her authority, the regal lady imperiously raised her fist and spat with eyes burning with fiery indignation, "It is precisely because there is great chaos in the court that I want to do this. This is our chance! With all the nobles already here for Mikaya’s wedding and now distracted... do not tell me Alexander you cannot use the threat of your army to make them accept this ritual!"

"....." The lord of Zanzan would have to admit, the queen of Adhania had every bit of ambition as he did. And quite a bit of skill to reach that state as well. Indeed, if these nobles could be cowed one way or the other... forcing Ptolomy to cut his palm was not an impossibility.

Alexander was beginning to see the outline of how Seelima planned to make the whole thing happen.

While seeing the man remain ambivalent, the Queen Mother furthered her case with a regal shift of her palms, "And do not talk to me about the political situation. I know the situation here better than you will in ten lifetimes! The turmoil in court is not a problem... it is a chance, our best chance for us to act! Those that will oppose us... will do it anyway. So better to kill them now than when they are out of reach!"

"So accept the ritual, Alexander. I only advise it for your own good... our own good! Accept it and you can take both of us as your own!"

Seelima’s imperious voice all of a sudden switched to a bone melting, tempting seductress as she cupped her breasts and lifted them right in front of Alexander, gently squeezing them in the most sensual way possible.

Thin steaks of milk began to immediately flow out of the turgid pink tips and he spotted her hungrily licking her thick lips in open invitation. Alexander felt his ears turn bright red, more so knowing the call was not only for her, but her daughter as well.

Both of them had remained unutilized, and given that she was so close, Seelima thought it would be a terrible waste to leave just like that. When she and Hellma came here all dressed like that... the intention was already set. So she wanted to use one last roll of the dice to convince the man with this offer.

And it was not like Alexander was disinterested either; he might have resisted the invite till now but clearly he was a ’man’. Hence the Queen Mother quickly modified her plan, ruthlessly throwing all she had to try and get her way- simple as this might appear, it was not something everyone could do. It clearly illustrated the kind of zeal and drive it took for a mere street urchin to become the empress of a superpower.

True to her thoughts, Alexander indeed felt his resistance teetering on the verge of collapse at the call, as suddenly even the princess on his lap felt so very hot. It took the man a herculean effort to tear his eyes off the beautiful fruits for one last time, as he desperately gritted through clenched teeth,

"...Then what about Pasha Farzah? I do not believe he will be too thrilled about this. I feel if anyone who truly deserves such an honor... it should be him, right?"

Alexander assumed even if he could ignore everything else- even if all the powers in the court could be cowed, the Lord of Matrak could not- he feared such a move might damage their alliance.

Obviously, such a small name tag was not worth losing his business over with Matrak.

"....Hahaha... and why does it matter what he thinks? It will all be over long before he returns to Adhan." The Queen Mother however charmingly blew all these concerns away as if they were not even worth considering, and reassured the man confidently, "You leave Farzah to me. I know that old bear ten times better than you. He will not be offended. Rather, he will only be pleased for his grandson in law- you will finally be the perfect suitor for his twin granddaughters."

"...." Alexander subconsciously raised his eyebrows at this point- for a split second, he had forgotten that he had just married Azira and Azura, thus missing this new angle.

"...But...there is a tacit understanding between us to share powe...." And then, even he did not know how it happened, perhaps it was those huge fruits swaying temptingly that distracted him, but his tongue slipped.

That last bit of biting on the tongue did nothing to change the meaning and as he looked up in some alarm for his mistake, he spotted the Queen Mother instantly flashing a naked, chilly glint.

This was absolutely ’critical information’ and it made her even more determined to pursue her own course of action.

"Oh? But is Matrak really willing to share with you?" Seelima’s query thus dripped with absolute suspicion and disdainful mockery, and she turned her eyes down at Alexander with almost pity,

"Alexander, do you believe they would also reject the ritual just as you are doing for them? Do you really think someone as ruthless as Farzah would reject such a gift just because of you! Ohh...

tut.. tut...you poor thing...that old bear has really wrapped his fingers around you, hasn’t he? And he did not even have to get naked and spread his legs."

"Ai..ai..ya... is that why you refused to fuck me? Are you perhaps into men? Do you want me to arrange some for you?"

"....." Alexander’s only reply to the open mockery was a set of pursed lips and silence.

While turning her lips curved like a scalpel, Queen Mother’s eyes now glinted with vehemence and she moved her honeyed tongue with the most sophistry,

"It seems you have become somewhat muddleheaded yourself Alexander. So listen to me well.. brat- Matrak will soon have- as you stated- Bahu. And once Mikaya gives birth to a son- they will have Rusti as well. That’s three... three of the twelve provinces of Adhania." The regal lady imperiously lifted her long, flashing her dainty fingers to emphasize the number, "And remind me... how much will you have? Some broken bits of Zanzan, a destroyed Tibias and....?"

The sneer in her arrogant tone was all too apparent.

"Tell me? That plan you hatched...the risk you are taking to draw Raisul’s army away from Bahu.. has Farzah offered to share some of the land in exchange? Hmmp! Of course not! I know that greedy bear all too well. He will strip you for your last coin if he can!"

"And yet here you are... bleeding your heart out for him. Oh... my, my, how generous you are Lord Alexander. Are you that fond of your grandfather in law? Or you are only cruel to me and my daughter?"

"...." Alexander once again stayed silent. But the Queen Mother’s new perspective did suddenly start to send alarm bells ringing inside his heart like few likes before. Alliances only existed between peers. So if Matrak were to suddenly put a lot more weight behind their words... Alexander could indeed see himself getting pushed around.

The colors of his thoughts were painted bright for Seelima to read. So with a great dance in her heart, she delivered her last strike of the hammer,

"Matrak has many more allies than you, Alexander. And the moment you stop being useful to him... that old coot will drop you like a nest full of ants. Believe me.. I saw it happen many times."

There was a certain sweet, melodious tone to the cautionary tale, before it turned ominous and worried, "And even if that does not happen... what will you do once Pasha Farzah dies? He is no spring chicken. Who knows how long until the Father calls him back? Who will you turn to then? Heh! Mirzah?"

"I... ’we’ sincerely advise you find other allies!"

"...Fine! You have convinced me, Your Highness!"