The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 135: Dire Situation

Cordelia’s grip on Jessamyn’s hand tightened, her fingers trembling slightly. Jessamyn sensed her hesitation and assumed her fear to face Louis.

But Cordelia corrected her.

"Will you attend the next tea party I host?" Cordelia asked, her voice soft but urgent.

Jessamyn blinked in surprise. "Uh... Yes. If I am in town, I will," she replied, taken aback by the seemingly trivial request at such a serious moment. The man who had just beheaded someone without a second thought was waiting for her, and yet here she was, lingering over tea party invitations.

"And can I write to you?" Cordelia continued, her eyes pleading.

Jessamyn nodded, still watching Prince Louis from the corner of her eye. He stood there, his hand outstretched, waiting for her.

"I am so glad I found you today," Cordelia said, pulling Jessamyn into a tight hug.

Jessamyn patted her back, feeling the shift in Cordelia’s demeanor. The initial fear when she saw Prince Louis seemed to have dissipated, replaced by a calm acceptance.

Perhaps Cordelia could see the truth in Louis’s eyes, the unspoken promise that he would not harm her.

"Reveal your heart to him, Cordelia. It’s not too late," Jessamyn whispered in her ear before gently pulling away from the embrace.

Cordelia nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Jessamyn stepped aside, allowing her to approach Louis. The prince’s stern expression softened as Cordelia neared, his hand still extended, now trembling slightly as her hand hovered above.

Cordelia paused, her hesitation obvious. Her fingers twitched slightly before they made contact with Louis’s hand. The prince held her hand gently, a wild contrast to the way he handled the sword. Jessamyn watched the scene unfold, feeling a rush of emotions.

Aww... this must be the first time they are holding hands! First love sure is amazing! Jessamyn’s heart fluttered.

She didn’t think the men would gossip about Cordelia’s true feelings, about her love for Louis rather than Jerrick. It seemed they were united in their brutal efficiency, and their shared ability to kill without hesitation.

No woman would approach the crown prince to tell him Cordelia’s feelings. It was up to Cordelia.

Jessamyn felt a lump form in her throat. Love, in its purest form, had the power to conquer even the darkest of fears. She silently prayed that Cordelia’s bravery would lead to a brighter future for them both and the kingdom.

Ayberia needed stability.

The prince gently guided Cordelia to his horse, his movements careful and considerate. He then tried to help Cordelia up onto his horse, but she hesitated, clearly scared.

Jessamyn watched with a smile, remembering how terrified she had been the first time Joar tried to get her on a horse. He later bought her a pony, and once she got used to it, he taught her to ride a horse.

Horses are intimidating at first, but once you get used to them, they become your best friends. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Louis patiently tried to reason with Cordelia, his focus solely on her. Jessamyn wanted to applaud the prince for his patience. He seemed to forget that anyone else was there, concentrating entirely on Cordelia.

When he realized she wouldn’t budge, he mounted the horse, and then, with one firm but gentle yank, he lifted her, much like a mother lifting a toddler. Cordelia was on the horse in an instant.

Once Cordelia was securely seated, Louis’s arms encircled her protectively. With a gentle nudge, the horse began to move, carrying them away from the scene. Jessamyn could see Cordelia’s tension easing as she leaned into Louis, finding comfort in his embrace.

"What are you smiling at?" came Jerrick’s voice, pulling Jessamyn from her thoughts.

Jessamyn turned to him, her smile widening. "Just reminiscing. Watching Cordelia reminded me of my first time on a horse. I was terrified, just like her."

Jerrick chuckled, his eyes softening. "Were you? You were always so fearless. It’s hard to picture you being scared of anything."

She shrugged, the memory bringing warmth to her heart along with a sense of exhaustion. People always assumed that she felt nothing, and perhaps that was the reason they thought they could say and do whatever they pleased to her. Jessamyn had learned to hide her emotions, to cloak herself in an armor of indifference, but the truth was far different.

Her mind wandered back to all the times she had been misunderstood, her silence taken as a sign of weakness or indifference. Each slight, each careless word, had left a mark, deepening the resolve she carried within her.

Joar was not there with her for her to share her thoughts. For now, though, she would continue to play her part, to be the strong, unyielding Jessamyn that everyone expected.

"We all have our moments. It’s what makes us human..." She said and walked to the tied men.

Jerrick hummed in agreement. In the dim light, he didn’t, his gaze drifting to the retreating figures of Louis and Cordelia. "Do you think she’ll be alright as the queen? Isn’t she too dumb?" he asked.

Jessamyn sighed, a mix of worry and hope in her eyes. "I don’t think she’s dumb. She has a strong spirit. And with Prince Louis by her side, she’ll find her way. He cares for her."

She stopped in front of the decapitated body, a wave of nausea washing over her. She didn’t think she would ever get used to this. Decapitation was something she couldn’t bring herself to do, no matter how many times she had been forced to fight for her life. She had tried once, in the heat of an attack, but it was too difficult, too gruesome.

The armor on the man’s body gleamed in the moonlight, looking expensive and finely crafted. Only lords could afford such armor. Jessamyn prayed it was stolen; the thought of nobility being involved in such heinous acts made her stomach churn.

"What happened here?" she asked Jerrick, her voice wavering. She hoped he would tell her the truth, despite the gravity of the situation.

"A war started," Jerrick replied, his tone grim.

Jessamyn turned to him, her eyes wide with shock. "Who is he?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jerrick patted her cheek gently, noticing how pale and cold she had become. "He’s the son-in-law of the Commander General of the Altanian Army..." he said, picking up the severed head.

"Why did the stupid prince kill him then? This situation could have been handled a hundred other ways that wouldn’t have led to war!" she shouted, her hands trembling. She couldn’t understand how Jerrick could remain so calm in the face of such a dire situation.

"The Prince didn’t kill him. I did," Jerrick said, his voice steady. He drove a dagger with his emblem on the hilt into the eye of the decapitated man, the act both deliberate and final.

Jessamyn’s heart sank to her stomach, her ears ringing with fear. "Why?" she whispered, her voice shaking. "Why are you taking the blame?"