Yes, My Alpha: Mother of an Empire

Chapter 98

As the march continued the Alsike mountains were closer than ever. The sun in the sky slowly started to turn red. Because of the slow start, it was possible it'd be night fall before they made it through the mountain. But with Darius's condition it was really hard to do too much...

"Solomon's path." Ophelia heard Barnabas speak as they approached the path up the base of the mountain. The army came to a brief stop as Darius moved to the side to speak privately with LeRoy and Duval. "They really like Solomon Clovis don't they?" Ophelia grumbled, "Well he is their founder, I suppose it's reasonable." Barnabas spoke from a top of his horse. 

"You know should our beloved Commander become Emperor there's a chance quite a few things will be named after him... Who knows maybe this will be renamed to Darius's path one day." Barnabas spoke Ophelia considered the name for a moment before Barnabas spoke again. "Or you know, it could be named after whoever is sitting beside him on the throne..." The old Duke teased.

Ophelia shot the old man a dirty look, knowing instantly what he was implying. "Outside of looks I do not see how Spencer is related to you." Ophelia snipped, Barnabas grinned, his eyes crinkled and his smile lines became clear on his otherwise smooth face. "Charlize takes more after me in temperament." Barnabas replied proudly, "My mother would always get after her for being so adventurous. I never saw the harm, she was no different than how I was." Barnabas shrugged as he spoke, "She got caught in some bramble bushes near the estate as a child and ended up with a scar on her forehead. My mother nearly passed out, six years old and she started to weep about her value being ruined on the marriage market." Barnabas kept talking looking like he enjoyed speaking about his children. Ophelia didn't know how to respond when the old man started going into a story about Charlize nearly at a drop of a hat.

"I never understood why it was always about being a lady for Charlize but Spencer was never adventurous enough for her." Barnabas continued, "Should you ever get to experience the joy of being a parent, you'll realize very quickly that children tend to grow in whatever way they want-- or should I say meant to be. They tend to come out with personalities even at birth. You can guide, prune, and teach all you want, but who they are as a person isn't going to change." Barnabas let out a long sigh, "Listen to me ramble on--." Barnabas cut himself off, "I'm really starting to sound like an old man now." The older alpha chuckled sounding more amused by his aging than frightened.

Ophelia walked beside Barnabas and his horse listening to him. Darius was off to the side speaking with Duval and LeRoy, several times he looked over as if checking to see if Ophelia was still there. Ophelia noticed because she had done the same thing. "I don't mind hearing you ramble general." Ophelia spoke, "I'm a better listener than speaker." Barnabas chuckled when he heard this, "That so? You seemed to handle yourself just fine when you sat at the round table the other day." Barnabas replied with a grin. "Though I should probably change my phrasing about what you were handling..." Barnabas leaned down speaking lowly, Ophelia looked from Darius over at the old duke. 

Barnabas grinned, "It's always so interesting to see how younger folks behave." He said meaningfully. Ophelia felt her face burning, "It was being held there against my will." Ophelia hissed through gritted teeth. "Really? Cause you seemed to pull your hand away just fine--." "So why is it called Solomon's path?!" Ophelia spoke over Barnabas just as Lionel rode up. He had been pulled aside by one of his officers very briefly.

"Oh giving the kid a history lesson?" Lionel questioned as he rode up, "Something like that." Barnabas replied with a chuckle. Lionel didn't seem to notice the teasing tone to Barnabas's voice and grinned at Ophelia. "Well I know why they call it Solomon's path, would you mind listening to a history listen from me kiddo?" Lionel questioned with a grin on his lips. He looked excited to tell Ophelia, she couldn't find the heart to say no.