The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 175: Legacy

As the wolf approached Jessamyn, her heart started to pound. She could get torn up by the wolf, and no one was there to help her. And yet, she found strength somehow.

She had a feeling he wouldn’t hurt her because he cared for Jerrick; unless Jerrick used him to kill her, but he wouldn’t.

"Isadora..." she said. The wolf stopped in his tracks. "You are adopting her as your sister because Jerrick asked you to. What do you owe him? You are not keen on marrying. Are you not scared of letting your line die with you? Or, do you have an heir already?"

Jessamyn staked her questions, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions within her. The wolf’s eyes glinted in the moonlight, a mix of curiosity and amusement.

"Isadora is dear to you," the wolf replied, his voice resonating in her mind. "And to him. She is dear to me too. It is not about owing him; it is about honoring the bond we share."

Jessamyn thought about it. She couldn’t understand everything he said. "But what about your lineage? Your legacy? Aren’t you afraid of it ending?"

The wolf’s gaze softened, a flicker of ancient wisdom in his eyes. "Legacy is not solely carried through blood, Jessamyn. It is carried through deeds, through the impact we have on others. I may not have an heir in the traditional sense, but my legacy lives on in those I protect and guide."

Jessamyn’s frustration bubbled over. "Your hedonistic rant might sound like altruistic wisdom and beguiling for some, but it sounds repulsive and selfish to me. You are the last of the Theodulf line, and yet you..." Her voice trailed off as she heard him chuckle.

"You sound like Jerrick..." the wolf mused, amusement coloring his tone.

"Then we are both right!" Jessamyn scoffed, folding her arms tightly across her chest. But the wolf didn’t stop laughing, and with a pout, Jessamyn sat on a nearby rock, feeling her serious concern being brushed aside. His laughter rang out, a strange, melodic sound that only seemed to deepen her exasperation.

Jessamyn frowned, trying to process his words. "So, you’re not afraid of your line ending?"

"There are many ways to continue a legacy," the wolf responded, his voice now gentle. "Adopting Isadora ensures that the values and traditions I hold dear are passed on. It is not about fear; it is about ensuring that what truly matters endures."

"Why don’t you marry?" Jessamyn pressed, her frustration giving way to desperation. "You don’t have to love someone to marry them. Everyone’s doing it. Marry someone, have an heir. How hard could it be?"

The wolf’s eyes darkened, a shadow passing over his face. "Have you heard of the lore about the Theodulf curse?"

"The curse of the witch who lost her eye for cursing Brennan Theodulf?" Jessamyn asked; curiosity piqued despite her irritation.

"Yes."

Jessamyn bit her lip, trying to recall the details. "If I remember correctly... It was something about a grave accident and... Them not finding love ever. Or was it... I don’t remember clearly. What is it?" she asked, feeling the weight of the wolf’s gaze upon her.

"You never will have a child with the one you love," the wolf said softly, the sadness in his voice palpable.

Jessamyn’s heart ached at the sorrow she heard. "That’s... tragic," she whispered, feeling a pang of sympathy. As she had read, the ones the members of the Theodulf family always left them in cruel ways. Some died, some cheated, and some were rendered infertile.

The wolf nodded, his eyes reflecting a lifetime of pain and loss. "It is a curse that binds me. To love is to ensure the end of my line. To marry without love is to live a lie. I chose the former and... that’s the end of it."

Her mind swirled with the implications of his words. "You lost your love?" she asked, empathizing with his pain. She knew how terrible it would have been for him.

But he is a man, Jessamyn thought, he has a duty to secure his line. Even she didn’t realize the double standard she was projecting. Wasn’t love a similar feeling for both men and women? If she wanted to choose to live the rest of her life thinking of her love, why couldn’t a man do the same?

Yes, Joar wanted her to be happy and move on. But if she could choose, she would stay single for the rest of her life.

"But...It’s the Theodulf line! You could still have children, even if..."

"Even if I do not love their mother?" The wolf’s voice was gentle but firm. "What kind of legacy would that be, Jessamyn? A legacy built on deceit and duty without the foundation of love? It would be a hollow inheritance."

Jessamyn felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "I’m sorry," she said, her voice breaking. "I... didn’t understand."

"You still don’t," the wolf said, his tone gentle but firm. He could see that she was still unconvinced.

"Your ancestors took that burden to ensure..." Jessamyn couldn’t even finish her sentence, the weight of history pressing down on her.

"I am doing my part to end the curse, Jessamyn," the white wolf said, his voice a blend of resignation and resolve.

Jessamyn bowed her head, fiddling with her fingers. She couldn’t act sanctimoniously in front of him, although her heart still ached for the legacy of the Theodulf family. They were one of the greatest families with a rich history, and it hurt her to think she would witness the true end of that exceptional line.

Bloodline alone might not ensure the passage of legacy, as he said, but the Theodulf family’s unique ability to change into wolves—what would become of it? Should that renowned family’s legacy end like that?

"Speaking of leaving your legacy... Jerrick has no heir..." The white wolf’s words cut through her thoughts.

Jessamyn swallowed hard, feeling the question lodge in her throat, turning her breath into a coughing fit. She should have expected him to turn the question on her. She composed herself, her heart racing, and looked up to find the wolf watching her intently. He wasn’t going to let her evade this.

Her mind raced as she considered the implications. She felt a special bond with Jerrick, but the thought of becoming the mother to his heir, of intertwining her future with his in such a profound way, was overwhelming.

She was scared. Her past experience with pregnancy didn’t give her confidence either.

The silence stretched, heavy and expectant.

"Jerrick... He’s..." Jessamyn began, her voice faltering.