The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 311: Her Son’s Presence

Jessamyn struggled to hold on to hope, but her resolve was wavering. Panic surged through her as she attempted to move, only to find her legs suddenly heavy, almost as if they were bound by an invisible force. She gasped, her heart pounding in her chest as she staggered.

"Your Grace... are you alright?" Hamilton’s voice was filled with concern as he reached out to steady her, his strong hands keeping her from falling.

Jessamyn could feel something constricting around her legs, preventing her from moving forward. "This can’t be happening," she whispered, her voice trembling as she instinctively placed a protective hand over her belly. The life growing within her was a beacon of hope, but fear gnawed at her from all sides.

She couldn’t allow herself to be captured, not by that woman. Jerrick’s mother would stop at nothing to keep her prisoner, and Jessamyn knew the lengths to which she might go.

She could hear the soldiers trying to restrain the woman, but she was too powerful, slipping through their grasp with terrifying ease, her gaze locked on Jessamyn as she advanced with determination.

Jessamyn’s breath hitched as she realized she was out of options, cornered and desperate. Just as the world seemed to close in around her, something miraculous happened.

A soft, ethereal glow began to emanate from her belly, warm and soothing, wrapping her in a protective embrace.

She stared down at her glowing belly, her hands trembling in disbelief. What was happening? The soft light radiated from her, filling her with a calm she hadn’t felt in days. It was as though the light was shielding her, offering her the strength she so desperately needed.

But she wasn’t the only one who noticed. Hamilton, who had been trying to support her, suddenly fell to his knees. His expression was one of awe, and he bowed deeply, pressing his forehead to the ground.

"Your Majesty," he whispered, reverence in his voice. "May you bring peace to the nations."

Jessamyn’s heart skipped a beat at his words. Majesty? There was no king here. What was Hamilton saying? Her eyes widened as the realization began to dawn on her, her gaze dropping to her glowing belly.

Could it be?

No way. Just no way.

The constricting ties she felt around her legs suddenly vanished, and she found she could move freely again.

The light from her belly pulsed once more before rippling outward, cascading over the soldiers and Jerrick’s mother like a wave. Jessamyn watched in stunned silence as they all collapsed to the ground, unconscious, felled by the mysterious force that had emanated from her.

She looked down at her belly in wonder. "Are you doing this, my son?" she asked softly, her voice quivering with both fear and awe.

A gentle kick from within was her answer, a wordless confirmation that sent a shiver down her spine. Tears welled up in her eyes as a rush of emotions overwhelmed her. Her unborn child, the tiny life she had vowed to protect, was protecting her in return. The thought filled her with a mixture of pride and disbelief.

With newfound strength, Jessamyn began to move, her steps light and swift, as if she were a child again, running through the meadows without a care in the world.

The fear that had gripped her heart moments ago seemed to fade away, replaced by a serene determination. She wasn’t sure where she was going, but she could feel an invisible presence guiding her, leading her away from danger.

Within the hour, the towering walls of Elodia came into view, their imposing silhouette etched against the darkening sky. She marveled at the speed with which she had traveled, realizing she had covered the distance far faster than she should have been able to.

"Where should I go now?" she murmured, sensing that her son somehow knew the answer.

She remembered the countless times Jerrick had spoken to her belly, telling their unborn child to protect his mother. She had always smiled at his words, touched by his tenderness, but never had she imagined that their child would truly be able to help her. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

A part of her felt a pang of sadness that her son, not yet born, was shouldering such a burden. But more than anything, she was filled with awe at his strength.

How incredible is my son? she thought, a tear slipping down her cheek.

The glow from her belly had faded, but a deep sense of peace still radiated from within. Jessamyn slowed her pace, walking with more caution as the day began to fade into night. Winter’s approach made the days shorter, and already the sky was growing dark, the first stars beginning to glimmer faintly overhead.

She knew she didn’t have much time. The soldiers would make their move under the cover of darkness, and she needed to act before they could regroup.

Yet, as she moved through the forest, every time she veered off course, she felt a gentle nudge, as if her son was guiding her, keeping her on the right path.

Finally, she emerged from the trees and found herself at the base of the city’s walls, standing before a patrol of Ayberian soldiers. She hesitated, knowing that not all of them would recognize her. What if they didn’t believe she was the Archduchess? Her heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to remain calm.

A tall soldier spotted her from a distance and rushed toward her, his expression hardening as he drew near. Jessamyn raised her hands in surrender, hoping to avoid being shot by any arrows.

As he got closer, recognition dawned on his face, and he halted, his stern expression melting into one of surprise. "Your Grace," he said, dropping to one knee and bowing deeply.

Jessamyn’s eyes widened in relief and surprise as she recognized him. "Alderic!" she exclaimed, a smile breaking across her face. It was Joar’s loyal squire, the one who had protected Jostein for years and who had once saved her life as well.

What were the chances that she would find him here?

"What are you doing here?" she asked, still catching her breath. She had assumed he was farming now. What was he doing in Elodia? Had he been drafted into service again?

Alderic’s eyes mirrored her surprise. He seemed just as shocked to see her, for she was supposed to be far away at Theodulf Castle, safe from the dangers of war. Her presence here, so close to the front lines, was not only unexpected but dangerous.

"I need you to find a way for me inside, Alderic," Jessamyn said, her tone urgent but firm. She knew the chaos that would ensue if others learned she was not safely ensconced in Theodulf Castle. She could only hope that Bernard had reached the castle and was managing the situation there. If William was there and healed, he might be able to help too.

But without knowing the actual situation, Jessamyn dared to hope. She had come this far, guided by a power she had never imagined possible, and she wasn’t about to stop now.