The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 102: Not A Friendly Chat

Jerrick let out a deep breath. He saw two hollows in the place of that figure’s eyes, and another one just where the mouth ought to be.

"Who are you?" Jerrick asked.

"I am Joar... Joar...Uh- Joar... Umm..." the figure stuttered.

Although Jerrick couldn’t see his expressions, he could see that he was confused and had forgotten his name.

It’s a pity, Jerrick thought seeing the current state of Jerrick’s soul. He had forgotten everything about himself and yet was holding onto the land of the living without getting his soul corrupted. There was no darkness associated with his soul and serenity ruled his presence.

"Sh-she calls me Joar... My wife... Jasmine... I’m...Joar... You’re Jerrick...I know you..."

"Arkhipov," Jerrick gave a lending hand. "You’re Joar Arkhipov. I am Jerrick. We called you Hector back in the military... We fought together."

Jerrick did wonder how Joar’s soul that had forgotten his own name, remembered his name. If he only remembered what Jessamyn talked to him about... Does she talk to him about me?

Jerrick cleared his throat to not delve into that thought but couldn’t control the small happiness rising in his heart.

"Joar Arkhipov... Hector..." the figure muttered for some time.

Jerrick watched the smoky form condensing further turning into a fleshy tone as time passed. He sat by the nearby rock and watched it happen in front of his eyes.

The transformation was slow but steady. The hollows in Joar’s face began to fill in, becoming more defined and human. It was as if recognizing his name and past had anchored him back to reality.

Joar’s form continued to solidify, and his features became clearer. The mist that had once enveloped him dissipated, revealing a man who seemed both familiar and changed. His amber eyes, now visible, held a mixture of confusion and recognition.

"Jerrick Theodulf," Joar said, his form clearer and his eyes sharp. There was a smile on his thin lips, a sign of gratefulness. "I hear you’re marrying my wife?"

"You heard right," Jerrick pressed his lips. He had a lot of questions to ask like how the other side was like and how he knew what was happening at this side and many more.

But now was not the time and he was not here for a friendly chat.

"You come here with her scent. What do you want?" Joar asked, his tone laced with something sinister. "My blessing?"

Jerrick smirked. He did allow her scent to spread on him because he was planning on meeting Joar. He was waiting for this confrontation. He might have married her in the past, but she was going to be his forever.

"Why would I seek blessing from the dead?" Jerrick asked. "I’m here to warn you to break the hold you have on her."

"Break the hold I~" Joar chuckled. "Do you remember the conversation we had before the jousting match, Jerrick?" He smiled.

"I won. She didn’t spare you a look. Not even a glance... My Jasmine...Mine alone," With a smirk, he floated above and climbed on the horse statue over his tomb. Holding its reins, he looked at Jerrick.

Jerrick didn’t let his words affect him. After remembering the past, he appeared to have gained his wits. "She didn’t. You won. And you’re dead. Now it’s my chance."

"Why are you limping around still? To garner her pity? It won’t work. She’s too loyal for her detriment. She loves me. You’re the one who gave her first heartbreak. She’s not going to accept you that easily." Joar smirked.

"She doesn’t have to accept me. I just want to give her happiness." Jerrick averted his eyes.

"You say that after taking her to bed. And, what about the wife you love?" Joar asked.

Jerrick did not like the way Joar mentioned Imogen as if the love he had for her was somehow fake. "She passed away..."

"Did she now?" Joar scoffed rubbing the neck of the horse statue tenderly. "What a pity... I pity you..."

Jerrick didn’t remember ever having this long a conversation with Joar before. "Let her go, Hector. She deserves to be happy."

"That she does," Joar agreed. "But... Why? Because you shared a bed once?"

Again, Jerrick was bewildered by Joar’s knowledge. He didn’t know how to answer.

"I hear her..." Joar cupped his ears and closed his eyes. "Her apologies... regrets... helplessness... I feel it all...And yet I... I’m stuck here..."

Jerrick gulped. He was not standing in front of a human and yet he could sense the pain Joar was feeling regarding his inability to help Jessamyn from where he was.

"Did she try to kill herself after that... incident?" Joar asked.

Jerrick nodded. "But changed her mind..."

"Ah..." Joar smiled. "This would be the second time you pushed her to death. And probably the second time I stopped her."

Jerrick’s face got long with a frown. "Second time?"

"How long has it been, Jerrick?" Joar asked. "Since... since I died?"

"Seven years."

"Seven years...?" Joar sighed looking at the ground. "That’s longer than our marriage. She should... let me go..."

"You...You think so?" Jerrick asked, shocked.

"Yes," Joar met his eyes. "I do not deserve her loyalty to this extent. It makes me..." he clutched his chest.

"Did you hurt her too?" Jerrick asked.

Joar’s eyes darkened as despair clung to his dreary face. "I didn’t help her when she needed it... I... She’s not like others. She finds it hard to ask for help. After her father ignored her, it’s... she...doesn’t believe in complaining... I...I didn’t know... I didn’t protect her... I don’t deserve her unwavering loyalty."

Jerrick’s heart skipped a beat. He didn’t know what Joar talked about but felt guilty for what he said to Jessamyn that day.

He blamed her for not talking about her troubles with him and went on to blame her for not truly considering him as an important person in her life. He never tried to understand the reason behind her behaviors. He thought he loved her and yet he judged her the same way others did.

He too believed she was getting punished for what she did and never thought there might be more. Had he asked, she might have told him the truth. Or if he had investigated back then, he would have known the life she had been leading in that castle.

He was not completely unaware. He knew of the "punishments", he had seen what they fed her, and yet he turned a blind eye. His focus was only to get a status for himself, and never to truly understand what she felt.

And now... it’s late.

Well, maybe it was not late.

Jerrick looked at Joar with his eyes focused. "Then, let her go, Hector. Let her be free."

Joar chuckled. "Let her? Are you under the impression that I am holding her back? I do not. I do not wish any harm on her. I wish her every happiness. I do not want her to join me any time soon. I made that clear to her. For what will I hold on to her? I want peace. I want to rest in peace..."