The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 123: A Noble Sentiment

"Is that..." Jessamyn muttered, unable to contain the swirl of various emotions in her heart.

Her eyes filled with tears, and she covered her mouth with her hands, overwhelmed with sorrow and disbelief.

Tied to the shade of a tree was a brown horse, its once-proud stature now a mere shadow of its former glory. The horse had a distinct white mark between its eyes, shaped like a jasmine, a feature that had once made it stand out.

Joar had once told her that the jasmine-shaped mark on the horse’s forehead was the reason he had chosen him; he couldn’t walk away from that horse after noticing the mark.

The horse had been wild and untamable, a powerful creature that defied control by anyone except Joar. Yet, with a single command from him, the horse would transform, his wild spirit calming instantly. He would circle Joar, nuzzling him affectionately, as if he were a small, eager puppy, forgetting his immense size and strength.

In his prime, the horse had been a sight to behold. His coat had shone with a deep, lustrous brown, his dark mane flowing like silk in the wind. His muscles rippled under his glossy coat, a testament to his strength and vitality. Jessamyn often found herself captivated by his movements, the way he would prance and strut, exuding an air of unmatched majesty.

Dressed in his full regalia, the horse was the very embodiment of grandeur. The richly embroidered caparison draped over his back, adorned with intricate patterns and vibrant colors, had accentuated his regal appearance. The bridle, inlaid with bronze and gemstones, had framed his proud face, highlighting the striking jasmine mark.

When he wore the full regalia, including the plume that crowned his head and the bells that chimed with each step, the horse had looked every bit a noble steed, worthy of a warrior like Joar. Jessamyn had often been left awestruck by the sight of him, a majestic beast that seemed to embody the very spirit of nobility and strength

Now, the traces of majesty she once admired in the beast were gone. His ribs jutted out starkly, a heartbreaking testament to his starvation. His dark-brown mane, which had once flowed with a rich, glossy sheen, now hung limp and lackluster, tangled and dull. The horse’s coat, once sleek and well-groomed was now matted and dirty.

"Jos-Jostein..." Jessamyn’s voice broke looking at the horse standing with its head bowed, facing the ground. There was hay in front of him and he was chewing slowly.

"Go..." Jerrick smiled with his head tilted.

Jessamyn looked at him with bewilderment.

"I didn’t buy the horse. It just didn’t feel right..." he said, turning to gaze at the pitiful creature. A soft smile curved his lips.

"He still belongs to Hector. Do you know? We named him Hector because of this brown horse. He’s a noble steed, worthy of a warrior like Hector. I asked Alderic for permission to bring him with me so I could take care of him. I thought you would appreciate that."

Jessamyn blinked her eyes, lost for words. She thought she had lost her chance to see Jostein but now he was saying that she could keep Jostein with her.

Did he really mean that? Jessamyn got doubtful.

"He needs recuperation and a treatment plan to get him back to his rightful self. There are good physicians in the city and I asked them to take care of them until he gets fit to ride. After that, he can ride his way to Roche. You can bring him if you want. I’ll bring you here again," Jerrick said.

Jessamyn couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She held her breath as the guilt she had been trying to suppress surged back with a vengeance. She had thought Jerrick was stopping her from seeing Joar’s horse after she had vowed to take charge of him. Even Alderic had believed it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask Jerrick if he minded taking care of Jostein. The idea had seemed preposterous to her as well.

But here was Jerrick, without hesitation, having taken responsibility for Joar’s horse. She recalled how he had mentioned not wanting to pay for the horse, not because he didn’t care, but because he didn’t want to own him. He wanted to foster Jostein, to care for him without claiming possession. It was a noble sentiment, one that touched her deeply. She wouldn’t have wanted anyone else to own Jostein either. He was Joar’s horse.

Her heart swelled with a mixture of gratitude and sorrow. She looked at Jerrick, her eyes shimmering with unspoken emotions. The weight of her misconceptions pressed heavily on her chest, and she felt a deep pang of remorse for having misunderstood him.

She even bit him. Jessamyn didn’t hesitate to apologize. Yes, she was troubled by her conversation with Joar’s mother, but she didn’t have to show it to Jerrick.

"Jerrick, I am sor~"

"Go," Jerrick smiled at her, interjecting her apology as if he didn’t want to hear that, as if there was no need for her apology. "He’s a smart horse. He’ll recognize you."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but this time they were tears of appreciation. She felt her heart soften, the icy walls of grief and misunderstanding beginning to melt away.

Jessamyn tried to speak but he pushed her from the back toward the horse. Jessamyn’s eyes landed on the horse. The horse’s eyes, which had once sparkled with vitality and spirit, were now dull and lifeless, clouded with pain and resignation.

She stepped closer, her heart aching with each step. The horse barely acknowledged her presence, too weak and broken to react. She reached out a trembling hand, gently touching his bony neck, feeling the roughness of his unkempt coat. His skin twitched under her fingers, a weak response to her touch.

"Jostein..." she said, her voice barely above a breath. "Oh, Jostein!" she said again, this time a sob pushing her voice to a shout.

The horse glanced at her, his eyes brightening as the layer of tiredness seemed to lift. He snorted softly and stepped closer, his movements tentative yet hopeful.

"Jostein..." Jessamyn whispered, her voice trembling with emotion as she placed her hand on his face, right on the jasmine-shaped mark. She gently caressed him, her fingers tracing the familiar contours with a tenderness born of long-held affection. "I’m sorry, I didn’t visit you..."

Her touch seemed to awaken something in Jostein. His ears perked up, and he leaned into her hand, nuzzling her palm with a gentle insistence that spoke of recognition. Jessamyn’s heart ached as she felt the warmth of his breath against her skin, the bond between them as strong as ever despite the passage of time and the hardships they had both endured.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them back, focusing on the moment. She felt a profound sense of relief and regret, knowing that she had let him down but also feeling an overwhelming gratitude that he was still here, still willing to trust her.

"I’m here now," she murmured, pressing her forehead against his.