The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 97: Confused Heart

Jerrick gently closed the door so as not to disturb Jessamyn. He saw Isadora walking to him with a filled water jug.

He got the jug from Isadora. Jessamyn might need it. Isadora peeked behind him to check something.

"Is Milady still asleep?" Isadora asked. "I would like to ask her what she wanted for dinner..."

"How did you get here?" Jerrick asked, furrowing his brows. "Ah, Bernard," he answered his question, feeling stupid for even asking that question. Only Bernard would dare to bring someone here without asking for his permission first.

"Is there a problem?" Isadora asked.

"Heh," Jerrick scoffed. She would act polite in front of him at times and at other times, she would talk to him as if he was a stable boy. Brat!

"You’re not staying here. Don’t you have a perfectly lavish room in the tavern?" he asked.

"But Milady is here and so will I," Isadora answered as a matter of fact.

"To what?" Jerrick leaned to her face. Isadora pressed her lips and met his eyes. "To catch me doing something with your lady?" he smirked. "Is that why you keep on entering when we both are in the same room? Naughty naughty Isadora... Are you a pervert?"

Isadora’s heart skipped a beat. "Wh-what do you mean...? Pe-perv-me-? Wh-why-Ehem~" she cleared her throat. "Something with?" she straightened up as she found the right thing to say. "I- I am guarding my lady to see if you are doing something to my lady... without her~"

"Consent?" Jerrick raised his brows and scoffed. "You think I am the one who acts without consent?"

Isadora gulped. Once again, the scene from the forest played in her mind, racing her heart. Truthfully, her lady was not an innocent being in that matter.

"Still, Milady needs~"

"Do not even try to enter our room when we are together after we get married unless you want to see something you only read in the books..." Jerrick straightened up with a smirk ruling his face.

Isadora’s face went beet red out of embarrassment. "I do not understand what books you talk about..." she turned her face. She very well knew what kind of books he talked about. "I do not read such books."

"Ah, that’s your lady. There was a time when all she read were books of erotic nature," Jerrick chuckled.

"Milady?" Isadora’s eyes widened. "No way she did." She couldn’t believe what he said but she was intrigued to know more at the same time.

"She’s not reading those books now?" Jerrick’s lips curved. "Hmm..."

"You lie about Milady," Isadora said, hoping he would explain further.

Jerrick did not take her bait. "Move aside," he pushed her to the side. "I need to cook...And by the way, go back to the tavern."

"Now?" Isadora ran behind him. "We are in the middle of nowhere and there aren’t any servants in this big mansion. I can be of help."

"If I needed someone, there will be someone here already... So... Ask Bernard to bring you~"

"Why are you always mean to me?" Isadora asked, her throat closing with her emotions. "I try to help and you~"

"Oooh!" Jerrick turned and faced her. "Are you going to cry?" he chuckled. "Or... Will you run to complain to Bernard? Tell me... What are you going to do?"

Isadora’s eyes watered and her lips trembled as she was about to cry.

Jerrick could only laugh seeing Isadora cry. "Are you sure you don’t want to stay in the tavern with Bernard? Would you rather stay here? With your lady?" he asked.

Isadora’s tears dried up immediately.

Jerrick raised his brows and his lips curved to a smirk. Her face turned red and he knew something had happened between them.

Oh, it’s easy to manipulate her!

------

Jessamyn sat up and leaned on the headboard rubbing her hungry belly. The last she remembered was in the carriage with Jerrick. It was before lunch then.

She looked out the window and it was dark outside and she shivered rubbing her arms. Her eyes widened as realization hit her. She was wearing clothes—pretty heavy ones the last she remembered.

Why am I in my underwear?

The last she remembered, she was in Jerrick’s embrace, sitting on his lap. Jessamyn checked herself and there was no discomfort anywhere. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

She sighed in relief. She didn’t trust herself when she was in his presence. She didn’t want to do something she would regret later.

She stared at her hands as they were warm. She looked to the side to see the folds of the sheets revealing the presence of someone else there earlier.

She placed her hand over the sheets to find them warm. She knew it must have been Jerrick. His scent still lingered on her.

She could only sigh. She was getting very comfortable with his presence and... maybe it was not the worst thing in the world. They were going to get married, after all. They needed to be comfortable with each other.

Her eyes lingered on her hands. They were unusually warm. She didn’t understand why that was.

That cute cub I saw in my dreams... It reminded her of Jerrick and their first meeting. She did find him on the streets and brought him with her only for him to run away from her to be with the woman she hated.

She leaned back, closed her eyes, and placed her hand over her heart. Earlier, he asked her to leave her pain and suffering with him and he would take care of everything for her.

She didn’t know him for keeping his word, that was for sure. But she still couldn’t take her mind off the sincerity she saw in his eyes.

She was scared to put his trust in him still and yet her heart wavered having a support. If his words were true, and if he meant it, then she might get a comfort in him. She needed a shoulder to lean on.

She pondered about the dream which she remembered nothing much of. But she remembered the variation of that dream. After a long time, she saw peaceful greenery in her dreams without them vanishing or getting covered in grey.

Are colors returning in my life? Is he really going to cover the darkness in my life with his colors?

Jessamyn jumped down from the bed daring not to think about it. She was the cursed one and so she didn’t dare to foresee happiness.

She heard a neigh of a horse in the distance and she felt like she was slapped hard on her chest.

What am I doing? Why am I thinking of happiness when I should think of getting to my beloved Joar?

But then Jerrick’s painful expression came to her mind. He too was distressed and needed comfort. Would it be too bad if she was a comfort to him?