The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 134: Broken Hope

Lady Cordelia was startled to hear the arrow go off. "Whoops! The crossbow went off accidentally," Jessamyn smiled awkwardly and stood up.

At that moment, the serene silence of the forest was broken by the distant sound of hooves pounding against the earth. The rhythm of a galloping horse grew louder, a powerful heartbeat that echoed through the trees.

Jessamyn and Cordelia turned their heads toward the source of the noise, their breath hitching in unison. The tension in the air thickened as if the entire forest held its breath along with them.

Then, a voice pierced through the night, resonating with an intensity that sent shivers down Jessamyn’s spine. It was deep and abysmal, filled with worry and urgency. "Cordelia!"

The name hung in the air, carrying a weight of desperation and fear that tugged at Jessamyn’s heart. She could hear the anguish in that single word, the kind of fear that could only come from someone who cared deeply.

Cordelia’s face transformed. Her eyes widened in recognition and her pale cheeks flushed with a mix of relief and agitation. "He’s here!"

Jessamyn could see the emotions flicker across her features—hope, fear, and something deeper, something more profound.

Love!

"The hood..." Jessamyn sprung into action. She didn’t want to be caught with Lady Cordelia wearing a Purple Hood in front of the Crown Prince. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Jessamyn threw the hood and her crossbow into the bushes behind. She noticed that the wolf was not there anymore. Although he was insensitive toward Cordelia’s feelings and tortured her by screaming in her head, she felt bad for shooting at him.

The figure on the horse emerged from the shadows, his presence commanding and fierce. As he drew closer, the moonlight revealed his face, etched with concern and determination. His eyes locked onto Cordelia, and in that moment, Jessamyn saw the unspoken bond between them, the invisible thread that connected their hearts.

The Crown Prince was worried for Cordelia and came looking for her in the forest alone, without any guards. He probably didn’t want it known that Cordelia went missing and to protect her honor he came looking for her himself.

Jessamyn didn’t want to think good things about the Crown Prince but it was obvious.

"Cordelia!" he called out again, his voice cracking slightly with emotion. The sound was raw, a stark contrast to the controlled demeanor he tried to maintain as he noticed Jessamyn.

Cordelia clutched Jessamyn’s for support. "I’m here!" she called back, her voice trembling. "I came out for a walk."

"Here?" Prince Louis’ voice revealed the annoyance he felt. More than an annoyance, he sounded confused. "With..." His eyes ended on Jessamyn.

"Your Royal Highness," Jessamyn did a mandatory curtsey trying to divert his attention toward her. Surely, no one would believe it if they said that they "came for a walk" in the Great Green Forest knowing the situation here.

At that time, a shadow emerged from the side, stepping into the clearing. It was Jerrick, his presence commanding and reassuring. His sword was sheathed and although he was fighting for long, Jessamyn saw no weariness on him.

He approached with a calm confidence, his gaze assessing the situation.

Prince Louis’s face fell as he noticed Jerrick’s arrival. His eyes flickered with a mix of confusion and sorrow as if the presence of the Archduke had shattered a fragile hope within him.

Jessamyn’s keen eyes caught the subtle shift in his expression—the way his shoulders slumped slightly, the flicker of pain in his gaze. It was as if he believed Cordelia had ventured into the forest to meet Jerrick and she lied to him.

The air seemed to thicken with unspoken tension. Cordelia, noticed the change in expression on Prince Louis’ face, as she looked at Jerrick. Her expression softened, but Jessamyn could see the confusion and worry in her eyes as well.

Instinctively Cordelia stepped closer to Jessamyn. Prince Louis stood silently, his eyes darting between Cordelia and Jerrick. The sadness in his eyes was unmistakable.

Jessamyn didn’t know what to do to mitigate the tension.

"What are you doing here?" Jerrick asked Prince Louis. Without even expecting the answer, he turned, gesturing for Prince Louis to follow him.

Prince Louis spared a glance at Cordelia and joined Jerrick. Cordelia froze on the spot.

"He’s mad at me..." she whispered.

Jessamyn held her hand and followed them. She wanted to know what Jerrick wanted to show Prince Louis.

There were four men, one of them a burly man wearing armor, tied on the ground. Jessamyn noticed five carts nearby with cages, and inside the cages, girls were packed like sardines. Her heart fell seeing the young girls in such a terrible state.

The sight was heart-wrenching. The girls, most of them barely more than children, clung to the bars of their cages with haunted eyes. Their faces, streaked with dirt and tears, bore expressions of fear and desperation. Some of them huddled together for comfort, while others sat motionless, their spirits seemingly broken.

She was about to get to the girls when she felt a tug. It was Cordelia and Jessamyn stayed with her. Jerrick picked up the lamp to let Prince Louis who was assessing the situation have a clear view of the face of the man wearing armor.

"Is that..." Prince Louis’ eyes widened observing that man.

"Yes," Jerrick said.

Prince Louis’ hand reached for his sword in his waist and he walked to the armored man. He clutched his hair to make him look at him.

That armored man spit on Prince Louis’s face. Without even flinching, Prince Louis unsheathed his sword and with one swift move of his blade, that man’s headless body slumped on the floor.

Prince Louis threw the man’s head on the ground and wiped his face and hands before throwing his kerchief on the floor.

"Handle the rest," Prince Louis said and Jerrick nodded.

He then walked toward the women.

Everything happened so fast, that Jessamyn’s breath got caught in her throat. She couldn’t even blink and only Cordelia’s deathly grip was keeping her conscious.

He just cut off that man’s head as if it were a mushroom and is walking toward us!

Jerrick was not even minding Prince Louis and somehow that gave Jessamyn some courage. It meant that the prince was not a danger to her.

"Lady Cordelia must have lost her way. We found her getting chased by those men," Jessamyn explained.

She didn’t have any hopes that Cordelia would explain any time soon. However, she noticed clarity returning to Prince Louis’ face. He noticed the two horses tied to the tree nearby and Cordelia’s dirty feet.

Ah, he believes me!

Jessamyn let out a sigh of relief. Prince Louis looked at Jessamyn from top to bottom as if he were checking for something. His attention then turned to Cordelia.

"Let’s go," Prince Louis held out his hand.

Cordelia’s grip on Jessamyn’s hand tightened.