The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 138: Unspoken Truths

"Cordelia," Louis whispered, his voice barely audible over the rhythmic pounding of the horse’s hooves.

Cordelia turned her head to face him. As the splashes of moonlight danced across his face, everything around her seemed to vanish. She could see his chin clearly from her angle, and the sight of his Adam’s apple bobbing as he gulped drew her focus.

She couldn’t remember the last time she had looked at him this closely. She missed the days when they were always together, with nothing standing between them. They had never called themselves friends, knowing from childhood that they were destined to marry. Still, there had been a level of comfort and an attraction that always drew them together.

"We don’t talk anymore," Cordelia said softly, her voice tinged with sorrow.

Her heart ached for the days when they had each other. She knew it was her fault that they had lost their closeness, and the thought tormented her.

At times, she felt she didn’t deserve him anymore and braced herself for the inevitable announcement of his betrothal to another noble lady. There was no shortage of eligible candidates for the crown prince.

She knew it was coming. How could he want her when she had confessed a fondness for someone else? He must have hardened his heart against her, which was why he no longer spoke to her. Silently, she endured the torture, unable to breathe freely without knowing his true feelings.

Was this love? Had they ever truly been in love? If they had been, when did it end? Or had it ended? Her feelings for him had only grown stronger, but what about his? He was holding her so gently now as if he didn’t want to lose her. So why didn’t he talk to her anymore?

Her mind was plagued by questions that kept her awake at night. At every official ceremony, seeing him with that woman tore at her heart. She wanted to rush to him and hug him, not caring what others might think. But one fear held her back: what if he believed she was trying to secure her position as the Crown Princess?

If he thought that, or even hinted at it, she would be devastated. So, she kept her distance out of fear. But being this close to him now, she couldn’t help it. She longed to hear his voice more, to spend time with him, to hold his hand once more. And more than anything, she wanted to kiss him.

"We don’t," Louis answered, his eyes dimming as he looked at her. And when we did after a long time, you lie to me...

"Louis," Cordelia said, overcoming her fear of riding the horse to turn and face him.

"What?" Louis’s lips curved reflexively as she stared at him, her eyes full of admiration, as if he were a piece of art.

"How are you faring?" she asked. It had been so long since they truly talked; that she decided to start with the basics.

"What?" Louis chuckled, confused by the simplicity of her question.

"No, I am asking you. With everything happening around you, how are you faring?"

The smile on Louis’s face froze. His hand holding the reins trembled. When was the last time someone asked me that?

Nothing came to his memory. It was such a simple question, a question most would ask as they greeted each other, a phrase that was so common, and yet coming from her, and looking into her eyes filled with concern, his eyes misted out of nowhere.

He wanted to hug her, to bury his head in her shoulder and cry. He didn’t know why he felt this way, but it had been a long time since someone had hugged him. No one gave him a long hug. He had never been comforted in the arms of a woman, never had a mother’s embrace.

From childhood, he was expected to act with the dignity of a prince, forced to give up the basic joys of a child.

Louis felt a tear escape and hastily wiped it away, turning his face away from her. "I... I’m managing," he said, his voice cracking slightly.

He swiftly turned her to face the front. "And how are you faring?" he asked, safely protecting himself from her eyes that could talk.

"Like any spinster who has overstayed her welcome... Treated like a burden in—" Cordelia cleared her throat, cutting off her own words. She didn’t want to talk about her struggles with him. He might think she was urging him to marry her or blaming him for not marrying her yet.

"I see life differently now," she continued. "Tea parties and shopping sprees don’t give me the pleasure they used to. I don’t even think my friends are really my friends anymore, and... My view on certain things has changed. The people I admire have changed..."

"You’re growing up," Louis said softly. "I too have learned some lessons." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

His words hung in the air between them, a bridge over the chasm of time and distance that had grown. Cordelia’s heart ached with the unspoken truths and the shared history they both carried.

As they continued their ride through the forest, the moonlight casting a silvery glow over the path ahead, Cordelia leaned back into Louis’s embrace. Both of them had a smile on their faces.

They reached the city and Louis brought her to the Dahlberg Mansion. Cordelia stopped him. "I know a way to sneak in. Do not get closer to the mansion."

Louis could only smile. She sneaked out and now wanted to sneak back in. "Help me down," she pouted, and Louis got down first to assist her.

"Jump," he said, holding out his arms.

"I can’t..." Cordelia shut her eyes tightly, fearing the height.

Louis held her slender waist and helped her down. She held his shoulders. When he put her down ever so gently, Cordelia felt his warm breath on her face and his lips graze her forehead.

Holding his arm, she looked into his eyes. "Talk to me often, Louis..." Her voice cracked as her eyes watered. "I miss—" she bit her lips and sniffed.

Louis’s heart pounded at her reaction. She looked so alluring, he wanted to bring her back to his home and lock her there forever. He wanted to talk to her too and do a lot more with her.

"At least as a friend..." Cordelia added. After this little taste of intimacy with him, she didn’t want to lose him ever again. She wanted to be with him in any way possible.

Louis’s expression changed. "Friend?" he asked, his voice laced with anger.

Cordelia choked, seeing his angry face. Before she could act, he held her wrist and dragged her toward the mansion.

"Louis," she cried. "What are you doing?"

He didn’t respond, his grip on her wrist tightening.