The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 166: The Resemblance

"Now I know why Wulfhart took Filbert and not me!" Bernard exclaimed, holding Isadora’s waist with a bright smile.

"Why?" His smile was contagious, and Isadora couldn’t help but smile along with him.

"He left me so I can be with you. He knows only I can protect you well," Bernard said confidently.

"Or he might want to have Lady Jessamyn for himself," Isadora replied skeptically. She didn’t think Wulfhart would care that much about her.

"He didn’t have to leave you with me for that," Bernard countered.

Isadora shrugged. It did make sense. Wulfhart could have sent her with the Grand Duke or anyone else. He left her with Bernard.

"See, I told you," Bernard said, holding her cheeks and squishing them playfully. "He cares for you and that’s why he teases you."

"Whatever," Isadora rolled her eyes, though a small smile played on her lips. She did want to get back at Wulfhart somehow, but she didn’t think she could. She wasn’t that talented. "I do not want to talk about him. However, I know for sure, you are the only one who can protect me so well. Well, Milady protects me—"

Before she could finish, Bernard covered her lips with his. He didn’t want to let her speak about her lady.

Isadora leaned into his kiss and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, melting into his embrace. His kiss was passionate and possessive, conveying all the love and protectiveness he felt for her. She responded eagerly, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him closer.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless. Bernard rested his forehead against hers, his eyes soft and filled with love. "I will always protect you, Isadora," he whispered. "No matter what."

"I know," she replied softly, her eyes shining affectionately. "And I will always be here for you, Bernard. You can rely on me."

"I will..." Bernard held her cheeks and kissed her forehead. With a smile, he looked into her eyes.

"You have such pretty eyes, Isadora... They are so..." Bernard trailed off, his gaze lingering on her face.

"So, what?" Isadora asked, a playful smile tugging at her lips. She loved the way he complimented her eyes and wanted to hear more.

"Pretty. They are so pretty. Is it because of the sun? They’re so pretty and green... Just like..." he pressed his lips together and cocked his head, looking suddenly taken aback.

"What?" Isadora furrowed her brows, noticing the odd expression on his face. The corners of his lips twitched as if he had seen something strange. "What is it, Bernard?"

"Your eyes are pretty similar to Wulfhart’s. I’m surprised I never noticed it before..." Bernard still couldn’t come out of his awe.

Isadora blinked, her smile faltering slightly. "What? How can that be?"

Bernard nodded slowly, his eyes wide with realization. "I swear, Isadora. It’s like looking at Wulfhart’s eyes, only yours are softer, kinder... feminine."

Isadora felt a strange mix of emotions swirling inside her. "That’s... odd..." She rubbed her cheeks as she remembered the past. "That reminds me... When Milady first saw me, she looked deep into my eyes. From then on, she treated me as her equal..."

Bernard looked at her, curiosity evident in his gaze.

"Do you know what that means, Bernard?" Isadora asked her itch for gossiping getting satiated.

"She liked your eyes, just like I do," Bernard answered.

Isadora let out a deep breath, sensing that Bernard hadn’t made the connection she intended to reveal. Bernard surely was not a suitable partner for gossiping. Maybe female brains are wired differently to make those connections. Men’s brains must think about war, food, and sex. Nothing more.

"Bernard, think about it," she said patiently. "Why would Lady Jessamyn treat me as an equal just because of my eyes?"

Bernard frowned, trying to follow her train of thought. "Because... she saw something familiar in you?"

"Yes!" Isadora exclaimed a hint of excitement in her voice. "Something familiar. What if she saw the same thing you did? What if she noticed the resemblance to Wulfhart?"

Bernard shrugged. It was good that Isadora had Wulfhart’s eyes then. It had likely aided her in having an easier life. Fate was kind to her.

Isadora’s thoughts were entirely different. Clutching her hands over her chest, she looked up, a blush forming on her cheeks.

"Lady Jessamyn never forgot Wulfhart. She never hated him. If she did, she wouldn’t have treated me so well... I always had a feeling that Lady Jessamyn never forgot her first love. She couldn’t forget her husband for seven years after his death. How will she fall out of love with... that too, first love is powerful. She never fell out of love with Wulfhart."

Bernard didn’t understand a thing of what Isadora said. If he were bold, he would have told her that she was writing a romance novel in her head, projecting her own feelings into the mix, but he was not bold when it came to her. Instead, he nodded, agreeing with her.

Isadora continued, her eyes dreamy and voice soft. "It’s so romantic, isn’t it? Holding onto a love so strong that it transcends time and circumstances. Maybe that’s why she saw something special in me. Maybe she sees Wulfhart in me, and that’s why she’s so kind."

Bernard, still somewhat confused but touched by her passion, squeezed her hand gently. "If that’s true, then you’re very lucky to have such a strong connection to both Wulfhart and Lady Jessamyn."

Isadora nodded with a wide grin. "Ah, now I miss Milady. It feels like I was away from her for a long time..." she pouted.

Bernard was staring into the distance, lost in thought. Isadora leaned against him, her heart brimming with joy as she enjoyed his company.

"I love you for you," he said softly. "Not for any other reason."

Isadora’s heart skipped a beat as she looked into his blue eyes. "I know... Me too..."

Bernard turned to her, his expression earnest. "I think Lady Jessamyn liked you for your kindness, not for your resemblance to Wulfhart."

Isadora choked up hearing him. "I know... It was something... I just let my wild thoughts out loud, that’s it. I do not believe that I am just my appearance..." She hugged him tightly. "Oh, Bernard... Thank you..." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Her eyes watered, touched by his words. She had thought he was a little slow at certain things, but this man had been thinking about what she said and wanted to correct her to boost her confidence.

"I love you!" she exclaimed, her voice thick with emotion.

Bernard held her closer, his warmth enveloping her. "And I love you, Isadora. Always."