DEADLY INFATUATION-1

(A/N: Conversations in [ ] are used to present thoughts of characters)

Alexandria was a little antisocial. She would be polite and humble if someone talked to her but she wouldn't try to meddle in other's business or gossip with other ladies. Since Alexandria was still unsatisfied with Roman even after the marriage, so they didn't consummate their marriage.

She straightaway refused Roman and Roman was a little upset at first, but he respected her wishes and admired her even more. Alexandria was unlike other women, who tried to curry the favor of their husbands by giving birth as soon after the marriage and surrounded their husbands like bees.

When the wedding procession entered the Capital, everyone had mixed feelings of sadness, happiness, anger, jealousy, admiration and what not.

But what was more surprising was that Senmira didn't come to the General's residence to throw a tantrum and accuse Roman of insulting her and breaking her heart.

There was no news from the Duke's residence. Everything was peaceful and very tranquil. Roman enjoyed these days full of peacefulness. He tried every way to please Alexandria from giving her pieces of jewelry to the books about war, defense skills, and weapons.

A different section in the huge library in the General's residence was turned into a small but cozy study for Alexandria to enjoy her books and avoid disturbance.

There were no in-laws in the house to please and no scheming concubines or siblings. Thus Alexandria passed her time by reading books and occasionally talking with Roman.

She was still reluctant but after receiving Roman's sincerity there was a tiny, a very tiny change in her behavior and she was not as guarded in front of Roman as she was earlier.

Since the news of the marriage was kept a secret, the servants and maids in the General's house were unaware of this marriage and were completely clueless. Neither any preparations were done before-hand.

They only got a few hours to decorate the Manor to welcome the bride. But they didn't like their new mistress very much.

Alexandria was aloof and quiet, which was often misunderstood as arrogance. She hardly scolded the servants and didn't create many problems for them. But what was more surprising was Roman's behavior. He tried to woo his new bride at any cost. It almost seemed that he was crazy after her.

A few servants and maids, who had seen Roman since childhood, were actually happy with this change in his personality. Roman acted distant and emotionless but now there was someone who could change him and bring out expressions and more words out of him.

But what scared them was that Alexandria was even more aloof and quiet than Roman. Now, it would a tough task for Roman to make his wife love him.

But everything was not as peaceful as everyone thought. Duke Kinsley couldn't see his daughter crying over that heartless General anymore. The reason why Senmira was not creating havoc was that she was unwell.

She had lost weight and developed a high fever due to excessive thinking and crying. Though Kinsley knew that it was unfair for Roman but years of living in money, fame and prestige had made him haughty too!

[A mere General tried to offend a Duke by upsetting his favorite daughter? Hmph!] Duke Kinsley won't allow it. He will make the General marry his daughter by hook or by crook.

Before Roman's marriage, Duke Kinsley was rather keen on marrying off his daughter to Roman. Reason?

No in-laws to please, concubines and wives of siblings to scheme. Senmira would have lived a carefree life in luxuries and peace. He would have pressured the young general into not taking any mistress and provided more money and prestige to the General's manor.

Afterall who didn't love money and who didn't want to be relatives with a Duke? Only an idiot! Duke Kinsley was in a dilemma. He knew that his daughter was unreasonable and he could not force General Roman to marry her but at last, he couldn't see his daughter so miserable.

After one month, everything was still as peaceful as before. But the Duke's Manor has started scheming to let Senmira enter the General's manor. Senmira and Lilian were good friends. (Lilian is Roman's brother, William's concubine-chapter 9).

So, as soon as Senmira got well, she rushed to General William's residence to meet Lilian.

William worshipped his big brother Roman. No one could have admired General Roman more than his real brother, William. William knew that he was not as good general as Roman was. So, no jealousy was involved among the brothers.

Everything was good between the brothers. Roman even gifted a beautiful manor to William as a wedding gift when William married Lilian.

But women's jealousy has never brought forth anything good. Lilian was also an admirer of Roman. She knew that she could never have Roman but she could have been his concubine.

But at the time of her marriage, Roman was out of the Imperial City so she had to marry his younger brother, William, on the insistence of her prime minister father and Roman's mother Catherine.

Naturally, when Roman married a nobody like Alexandria, she was also resentful and Senmira was a good weapon to target Roman and Alexandria.

Duke Kinseley held a grand feast and invited all the important officials with their families. General Roman had no excuse to avoid the feast. Moreover, he wanted to take Alexandria out and introduce her to other women so that she could have friends too.

The newly coronated Emperor Andrew was busy in cleaning his Inner Palace with his mother, kicking out his father's cunning concubines and their children after his death. Only loyal and useful people were kept. Rest were disposed or sent away.

Emperor Andrew's father, Emperor Andre died the previous year but the old man had collected a lot of beauties and fathered a number of children. Even the ministers were tired of Andre's behavior.

Whenever he would see a beauty, whether she was decades younger than him or some minister's daughter, he would make her his concubine. The ministers were terrified for their daughters.

The ministers were afraid of Emperor Andre's lusty and illogical behavior and Empress Lauren's wrath. The fight among the brothers for the throne was intense, but Empress Lauren was not a weakling. She fought with the concubines, killed the ones who created drama and obstacles for Andrew and Andrew didn't allow any of his step-brother to surpass him.

Empress Lauren was totally disgusted with her husband's man-whore behavior. Roman's father, General Patrick helped Andrew a lot, to gain the throne. Thus the friendship between Andrew and Roman grew a lot.

At last, Empress Lauren poisoned her old Emperor husband, Andre, to avoid having more beauties in the Inner Palace and helped Andrew to ascend the throne.

Andre treated his Empress Lauren and son Andrew unjustly. So, both the Grand Empress (Emperor's mother), Lauren and Emperor Andrew were busy and didn't come to the feast in Duke Kinsley's manor.

It was a good thing for Duke Kinsley, otherwise, his plan would have trouble being executed. Soon in the evening, all the honorable guests were present in the banquet hall in the duke's manor, including the newly wedded General Roman and Alexandria.

It was Alexandria's first public appearance but she surprised everyone. She was dressed in a beautiful navy blue gown and her hair into a simple braid. She didn't drown herself in jewelry. And she resembled what one could say- simple yet elegant. With her straight posture, elegant walk and quiet nature.

She didn't look like a rural nagging, clingy and ill-mannered wife. Some young unmarried ladies were biting hard on their handkerchiefs to control their envy and anger. The fire of jealousy was blazing in their eyes after seeing General Roman taking care of her as if Alexandria was a glass doll.

There were not many restrictions on men-women interaction in the Helian Kingdom, thus married couples were allowed to sit together. Alexandria was feeling rather bored and in her mind, she was thinking about what Lilian had told her the previous day.

Lilian visited Alexandria for the first time. Alexandria liked Lilian though she was wary of her timidity and politeness. Alexandria felt rather tired of listening to the rumors of her husband attracting bees and butterflies to the extent that they were ready to commit suicide for Roman's attention.

When Lilian arrived at General Roman's manor, her eyes glittered with amazement at the beauty and humongous size of the manor. [I could have been living here if not for that old witch Catherine's insistence to marry William.] Lilian's heart filled with bitterness, resentment, and sadness. This was her first visit to Roman's residence in her whole life, William never took her with him whenever he visited his elder brother.

But she could have never imagined the magnificence of this majestic mansion.

Alexandria, on receiving the news of Lilian's unexpected arrival went to receive her. "Sister Lilian, it's so nice to meet you. This younger sister wanted to come before but was preoccupied. I hope that big sister would forgive me" Lilian instantly acted like an obedient younger sister.

"Rest assured, sister Lilian, there's nothing to worry about" saying this Alexandria quietly led Lilian inside.

[What an arrogant attitude. Despite being a lady, she is so unwilling to talk to others. What if others took offense to it? How could General Roman marry someone like her, a rural girl?] Lilian disdainfully thought and sneered behind Alexandria's back.

Both of them talked of common things, though Lilian was talking most of the times with Alexandria only speaking when necessary. After two hours, Lilian took her leave. Alexandria couldn't find anything wrong with Lilian, nor did she look like someone who was smitten by Roman.

But sometimes in her eyes, there were flashes of resentment whenever they talked about some particular topics. So, Alexandria decided not to put her guard down until Lilian showed her true nature.

Alexandria was lost in her thoughts when she saw someone approaching her and Roman. The guests were not seated and the banquet had not started yet. From the time they had entered the residence till now, a lot of people have approached them to congratulate them but she observed that the girls that came with their parents to greet them, were looking Roman with heart in their eyes and acting shyly.

[Bitches!] thought Alexandria. [Not even six months have passed and they are trying to already attract Roman's attention.] Although Alexandria didn't love Roman yet, he was still her husband, how can she allow other women to become his mistress?

But Alexandria didn't realize that she had slowly, started falling for Roman, and all these thoughts were thoughts of jealousy and insecurity.

When Alexandria saw who it was, there was a beautiful girl of about eighteen or nineteen approaching them. She was dressed in a fine golden silk gown with her long hair decorated with antique jewelry.

[We have not been seated yet, and these pretty ladies have started approaching Roman already. Let's see what this one wanted to say!] Alexandria once again complained in her mind.

"Congratulations General Roman and big sister!" the girl's voice was honey sweet and pleasant to hear.

"Thank You, Lady Senmira!'' General Roman respectfully replied.

[Oh! so this is the most infatuated butterfly, Senmira. Instead of calling me Lady, she is calling me, sister. For what? To show that we are close or to show that she will soon marry Roman? Bitch!?] Alexandria fumed.