The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 110: Short Lived Happiness

Jessamyn’s breath caught as she heard the figure approaching her.

"Milady..."

Jessamyn let out the breath she was holding till then, hearing Aldric’s familiar voice. Patting her beating chest, she stood up. "Handled?" she asked.

"Yes, Milady," Aldric held out his hand to help her out of the littered alleyway. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Jessamyn saw two men in hoods squirming in pain leaning on the wall. When their eyes ended on her, however, they snarled, baring their teeth.

Jessamyn blinked. What was that about?

Alderic furrowed his brows, suspicious of their odd behavior. Approaching them, he asked a series of pointed questions but received no answers. Instead, they snarled at Jessamyn, their aggression palpable as they attempted to lunge at her.

With swift precision, Alderic struck the bridge of their noses with the hilt of his sword, silencing them momentarily. Blood dripped from their noses, but their glares remained fixed on Jessamyn, full of malice.

Jessamyn, though accustomed to violence, couldn’t help but be amazed by the unwavering resolve of men like Alderic. Their no-nonsense attitude in the face of bloodshed and danger was both terrifying and awe-inspiring. She watched, her heart still pounding, as Alderic maintained his vigilant stance, ready to protect her from any further threat.

"They don’t look like they are from Ayberia, Milady. I don’t know why they pursued you..." Alderic said walking to her, hiding Jessamyn from their view.

"Where’s the third one?" Jessamyn asked not seeing the tall one there. She knew why they pursued her, and so did Alderic; they wanted to kill her.

"There were three, Milady?" Alderic asked, his brows raised in surprise.

He searched around, trying to find the third one Jessamyn saw. "Maybe he got scared and ran away," Aldric said with a smile, to not alert her.

Jessamyn caught on to his ponderance. It would have been better if the third one was caught too. Now, that man escaped and would inform the one who wanted her dead. He might still pursue her. She needed to be careful as long as that man was around.

"What are you going to do with them?" Jessamyn asked. She hoped he wouldn’t kill them after she left. They might have information.

"I’ll leave them with the authorities. They were after you, and so if the Archduke interfered~" he paused and cleared his throat. "Did you come here alone, Milady?" Alderic asked.

Jessamyn smiled, seeing the concern that arose from his heart. Joar’s men treated her as an extension of him and respected her as they respected Joar. She understood Alderick was offering his company since she was in danger.

"Right now, I am... I came here with Jer-uh-His Grace... He must be somewhere nearby..." her voice trailed away.

She felt a pang of guilt for having mentioned Jerrick to Joar’s loyal squire. Surely, he must think her disloyal for not staying with Joar until the end. She braced herself, expecting his face to twist with disgust.

Instead, Alderic’s expression softened, and a warm smile spread across his face, genuine and heartfelt. His unexpected reaction filled Jessamyn with a sense of relief and gratitude, easing the burden of her guilt.

"Congratulations are in order, Milady... I am glad you have a chance at happiness once more... It was...appalling the way they treated you. Be happy, Milady. It’s what Milord would have wanted for you," he said.

Jessamyn tried to smile noticing how honest he sounded. The corners of her lips twitched as her eyes reddened.

Is he right? Is this what Joar meant when he asked me to find happiness?

"Are you well, Aldric?" she asked, smiling from her heart. "What brings you to Elodia? And how is Jostein?" she asked.

The last time she had seen him was seven years ago. Joar had left him a substantial settlement, and Alderic had planned to settle in the countryside with his family.

Also, since Joar’s cousin wasn’t fond of horses and treated them unfairly, Alderic took it upon himself to take Jostein—Joar’s favorite horse with him. Jessamyn only learned about it a year later. She tried to contact Alderic but couldn’t.

Alderic’s smile faltered as she asked her the question. He looked down, clenching his hands together tightly, the weight of unspoken burdens evident in his posture.

"That, Milady..."

"Be frank, Alderic..." Jessamyn nodded her head. He appeared to be needing help and she wanted to help him in any way she could.

Alderic explained how he lost their home in the fire last summer. Their yields weren’t great either leading them to a tough life.

"With three young children and a wife... I didn’t have the heart to use Jostein as a farm horse. He is a battle steed. I couldn’t contact you, Milady... On my way to Elodia, I heard of the rumors of your engagement. I wanted to meet you, but I didn’t know it was feasible...."

Alderic was weighed down with guilt and couldn’t even meet her gaze. Jessamyn understood the heavy burden he carried; he was here to sell Jostein.

Her heart was burdened thinking of Jostein. Joar raised him as a son and with care. Jostein pranced around in the Arkhipov Castle as an uncrowned king in the past. It was terrible the state he was in.

Despite her own feelings, she couldn’t be angry at Alderic for his decision. He had cared for the horse all these years, despite his own poverty. That was true loyalty. How could she blame him for wanting to sell the horse to feed his children?

No, she couldn’t. In the end, human lives were more valuable than those of animals.

She was grateful she met him at the right moment.

"You can always find me, Alderic. If you can’t get to me, meet my brother. We will help you get back on your feet. For now..." Jessamyn got money from her purse and gave it to him. "Buy something nice for your wife and kids..."

Alderic looked at her with a mixture of emotions. Jessamyn quickly stuffed the coins into his hands. "Where is Jostein now?" she asked, her heart yearning to see the horse her husband had raised with so much love. She wanted to take him with her.

"I’ve left him with a seller. I haven’t made the sale yet. I was about to finalize it when I spotted you, Milady," Alderic said. It was impeccable timing.

"Splendid!" Jessamyn almost wanted to jump with joy. "Go, bring him to me."

Alderic nodded, relief washing over his weary face. But then he stopped and looked at her with concern. "Milady... You’ll leave the horse with Lord Beaumont?" he asked.

Jessamyn shook her head firmly. "I’m taking Jostein with me. I cannot part with him!"

Alderic blinked, hesitating to say more. "Milady... It won’t be..."

At that moment, Jessamyn understood what Alderic meant. She wasn’t going to her house; she was going to Jerrick’s house. Jerrick would never allow her to bring Joar’s horse into his home.

Her smile faded, and her face fell. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on her heart.