The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 100: Jerrick’s Visit

Holding the glass tighter in her hand, Jessamyn leaned forward, waiting for Jerrick to add something to that. She was expecting him to say that he was pulling her leg.

But Jerrick said nothing of that sort. He stared at her, waiting for her to say something.

"You’re not jesting?" She raised her brows.

"Nope..." he shook his head. "Bernard is 23."

"There’s no way..." Jessamyn shook her head in disbelief. "You are saying that Bernard is younger than you..."

Jerrick nodded.

"...and younger than me...?"

Jerrick kept on nodding.

"Isadora is 21!" Jessamyn was still in disbelief. "He’s only a couple of years older than Isadora?"

"Yes."

Jessamyn didn’t want to question Jerrick anymore. She didn’t think he was lying anymore. Why would he lie about Bernard’s age? She still couldn’t shake off her disbelief.

"Wait... is he a descendant of the giants of the Iron Mountain? Do giants still live?" she asked. Maybe he looked older because of his height and the features of a giant.

"His father was a half-giant and so, yes, Bernard is a descendant of giants," Jerrick said.

Jessamyn was stuck in awe. "I thought the race of giants went extinct. So, they live..."

She was happy. If the half-giants procreated among themselves, there is a possibility for the return of the giants.

Then her thoughts turned toward Isadora. "Now I feel bad for Isadora..." Jessamyn mumbled. Isadora was a small woman. How will she manage to handle a quarter-giant? She shivered imagining Isadora delivering Bernard’s baby.

"Bad? Why?" Jerrick asked.

"Well, he is big and Isadora’s small and it would be hard to..." Jessamyn’s voice trailed off. She hadn’t seen any giant babies before but how big would their heads be?

She respected Bernard’s mother. How tough might have been for her to give birth to Bernard?

Jerrick ended up laughing. "I knew you would go there..." he said, still laughing. "Your lecherous mind would lead you there, I knew..."

"What?" Jessamyn’s perplexed gaze ended on Jerrick as she wondered what he meant. Seeing his smirk, she realized what he might have meant. Her cheeks burned out of embarrassment. "I was talking about having a baby, not...Ugh!" She scoffed and stood up.

Jerrick wanted to stop her but then noticed that she had finished her plate and didn’t bother her. Stomping her feet, she walked to the window and stared outside.

"Bernard is someone in want of love and Isadora is someone with exceeding love. I think they are a good pair," Jerrick said.

Folding her hands over her chest, Jessamyn turned to look at him. He looked serious. "I hope so..." Jessamyn nodded. "I want Isadora to be happy. That’s all."

After dinner, Jerrick brought her on a house tour. It was entirely of a different style from The Theodulf Castle.

"The furnishings are old..." she observed. "You styled it in the vintage style..."

Also, there weren’t any pictures of Imogen in the house. It didn’t look like She noticed his son’s portrait among the other portraits on the stairs.

"This house was one of the properties owned by my great-grandfather," Jerrick said. "Most of them are the furniture he used. The Royal family had seized this property and later it was owned by the Dahlberg family but I bought it from them..."

"The last Theodulf?" Jessamyn asked but then regretted saying that out loud. No one would like to be rubbed in the face that their family was affected by cheating. "You have a good relationship with the Dahlberg family," she said.

How come he never knew Lady Cordelia?

Jerrick chuckled and said nothing. There weren’t any traces of sadness on his face and Jessamyn was relieved.

"Here’s the bathtub..." he said opening a room at the end of the hallway. "Check the temperature before getting in."

Jessamyn was awestruck as she entered the room, her gaze immediately drawn to the massive marble tub that dominated the space. Its grandeur was undeniable, more reminiscent of an ornate fountain than a mere bathtub. The tub was crafted from pristine white marble, its surface smooth and cool to the touch, veined with delicate streaks of gray and gold that caught the light and shimmered like gentle ripples on water.

The edges of the tub were intricately carved with floral motifs and mythical creatures, adding an air of artistry. At each corner, elegant marble columns rose gracefully, supporting a canopy that draped down with luxurious, semi-transparent curtains, offering both privacy and a sense of enchantment.

In the center of the tub, a wooden partition with an intricate floral pattern had been added, dividing the space into two distinct sections. The floral design was delicate and elaborate, with vines and blossoms intertwining gracefully, giving the impression of a living garden frozen in time. The water itself was crystal clear, reflecting the ambient light and creating an illusion of sparkling jewels.

The divider looked like a recent addition. She didn’t know why Jerrick had installed it when he shared the bath with Imogen, his wife.

The room was bathed in a soft, warm glow from strategically placed candles in ornate holders, their flames flickering gently and casting a dance of light and shadows across the marble. The scent of jasmine and lavender filled the air, mingling with the fresh, mineral fragrance of the water, creating an atmosphere of serene luxury.

"Which side do you want?" Jerrick asked.

Jessamyn was perplexed.

"You take that side. I’ll take this side," Jerrick said and proceeded to undress. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Jessamyn quickly averted her eyes and scuttled to her side. What is going on?

She needed the bath and was tempted by the enchanting bath. She observed to see if he was peeking at her and after assuring he was minding his own business, she undressed and took a dip. The bath indeed was fabulous.

She looked at Jerrick through the partition. She could see the waterdrops glistening on the skin of his powerful shoulders and back. She didn’t want to get caught staring at him and looked to her front.

He must have adjusted his position. She heard the water slosh and the ripples travelled around and kissed her porcelain skin.

Jessamyn could only sigh in exasperation. It was harder to be that close to him and yet to stay apart.

Nothing of prominence happened after that as Jerrick appeared to be in deep thought. She left the bathroom after some time and Jerrick was still inside the tub staring at the ceiling.

Jessamyn changed to a nightgown and she fell asleep before she knew it. She was tired.

-----

Jerrick looked around the garden. The jasmine flowers were in full bloom in the night spilling their fragrance everywhere.

His eyes landed on the tombstone in front of him. Amidst the other details, the name was written.

Joar Arkhipov, Count of Rohan, Tribune Commander of the Royal Cavalry, Cherished son, Beloved Husband.

He let out a deep sigh.

"You’re still here, aren’t you, Hector?"