The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 172: Anticipation in the Still Night

Jessamyn felt a pang of guilt as she watched him walk away, his steps heavy with resignation. She wanted to say something to ease his pain, but she knew any words would sound hollow.

But then, she didn’t want to feel guilty, after all, he didn’t love her either. He talked about a possibility and not a fact. Why was she the only one feeling guilty?

The pain in Jerrick’s eyes haunted her, a reminder of the hurt she had caused. But she couldn’t allow herself to feel anything for him. Not now, not ever.

She sighed, watching him leave. He stood by the door, his hand resting on the threshold rubbed his injured leg, and then with a slight limp walked away.

Jessamyn observed him, her resolve wavering already seeing him hurt. He couldn’t stay out in the open in this condition. She ran behind him and caught up with him.

"If you’re not going to stay in the Beaumont Castle, stay here, in the guest room. Do not stay in the open, please. At least, stay in a tav~".

Jerrick stopped and turned to face her. "Guest room?" he asked interjecting her, before she finished her sentence.

"Yes, I’ll stay in my room. You don’t have to stay in the open," she said.

"I’ll take your offer, then..." Jerrick said, releasing the tension line between his eyes. His back straightened and he wiped away the perspiration on his face with the back of his hand. His eyes became clear.

Only after seeing the smirk on his face did Jessamyn realize what she had done. After telling him that she wanted to be alone, and even after he offered to leave, she asked him to stay with her.

"You won’t even realize I am here," Jerrick said, walking in with a skip to his steps.

Jessamyn let out a deep sigh. She had no one to blame but herself. Perhaps, in time, she could learn to accept his presence. Maybe they could find a way to coexist, to support each other in their own ways. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

She couldn’t deny that there was some sort of connection between them.

With her head bowed, she walked in.

That night and the next morning, just like he promised, he did make himself scarce. When she cooked for herself, she cooked for him too. The food disappeared with no sight of him. He even washed his clothes and cleaned the bathroom. She was surprised to see the sparkling-clean bathtub.

There were signs of him around her, but she couldn’t see him. It made her smile. It was a bittersweet comfort, knowing he was there even though she wanted to be alone.

Maybe she didn’t want to feel lonely.

That night, sitting by the windowsill, she read a book as she couldn’t fall asleep. Since the temperature was nice, she had opened the window. Even the mosquitoes that usually annoy her at night were absent and she enjoyed the breeze that brought in the scent of jasmine.

She felt at peace as she leaned on the window. The candles flickered in the breeze and the pages of the books on her lap turned freely in the wind. Her brushed hair fluttered in the wind, caressing her face.

Before she knew it, she fell asleep. Just as she was about to drift into deep sleep, she felt a familiar presence beside her.

Sleep slipped her and she became alert; not out of fear but out of curiosity. He gently got the book from her hand and fixed her hair. The breeze was strong and he ran his fingers through her hair and braided it.

I didn’t know he could braid hair!

Pretending to be deeply asleep, she observed what he did.

After braiding her hair, he appeared to be standing in front of her, doing nothing. Jessamyn’s palms sweated as she felt his stare on her.

How long is he going to stare at me?

He did stop staring at her for some time. She heard him walking away. Her heartbeat stabilized and the air felt lighter once he walked away. By the noise, she could infer that he was snuffing out the candles.

As the last candle was snuffed out, Jessamyn remained still, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn’t shake the feeling of Jerrick’s presence, a mixture of comfort and unease.

Then she felt his warmth beside her. His breath was on her ears. It was hard to not react and she was glad the candles were out; he wouldn’t know that she had goosebumps all over.

He carried her to the bed and gently covered her with the blanket. The bed sank beside her and there was silence for some time. She knew he was staring at her.

She could have stopped it all just by opening her eyes. But she didn’t open her eyes. She didn’t even think about opening her eyes. Maybe she was comforted by his presence.

He placed his big warm hand on her cheek, his thumb brushing gently against her skin.

Jessamyn’s heart raced, and she focused on maintaining the illusion of sleep, her breath slow and even. The warmth of his hand contrasted sharply with the cool night air, sending a shiver down her spine.

Jerrick’s touch was surprisingly tender, filled with a depth of emotion she had been accustomed to lately. It was awfully similar to love, but both of them weren’t willing to accept it for what it was.

"You cannot love me, ever..." he muttered, his deep voice, almost vibrating in the still of the night.

Jessamyn held her breath.

Jerrick’s thumb lingered on her lower lip, the rough pad of his finger contrasting with the softness of her skin.

Jessamyn’s heart hammered in her chest, her resolve to feign sleep wavering as a wave of warmth spread through her entire body. His breath, warm and tinged with the faint scent of mint, brushed her face, making her skin tingle.

The bed creaked softly under his weight as he leaned closer, the sound barely audible in the stillness of the room. Jessamyn could feel the heat of his body radiating towards her, an invisible thread pulling her towards him. His proximity was intoxicating, and she fought the urge to open her eyes and meet his gaze.

Slowly, almost tentatively, Jerrick’s lips brushed against her forehead. The kiss was light, a whisper of a touch that sent shivers down her spine. He lingered there for a moment, his breath warm and steady, before he began to trail soft kisses down the side of her face, each one a question, a hesitation.

When his lips finally reached the corner of her mouth, Jessamyn’s breath caught in her throat. The tenderness of his touch was at odds with the intensity of the emotions she felt swirling between them. She could feel his hesitation, the silent question he was asking her with every gentle caress.

Time seemed to stand still as he paused, his lips hovering just above hers. The air between them was charged with anticipation, every nerve in her body attuned to his slightest movement.