The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 199: What She Wanted To Do

Jerrick leaned closer and placed his hand over her arms. "Imogen, yes. If she returns, what will you do?"

He leaned to rest his chin on her knees, and Jessamyn leaned back. A thick smog of darkness rose from the bottom of her heart and his touch stung.

Why, she had no idea. Maybe, she did. She didn’t like to hear that name from his mouth.

"I’ll do what you ask me to do," she said. What else should she say? It was an odd question he asked. Imogen was dead. How would she return? What was his intention in asking her this question?

"Whatever I ask you to do?" Jerrick asked. His brows twitched a little and she saw his eyes growing darker.

She hummed as that was all she could muster. What else did he expect from her? That she would throw a welcome party for her?

Wait... is that what he expects me to do?

"I’ll return her rightful place by your side and leave," Jessamyn said.

Even saying that took a lot of her energy and her mouth turned bitter. She turned her face to look out the window. Jerrick said nothing and the sound of silence filled the room.

He was still holding her hand and she didn’t like it. Slowly, she managed to get free from him and walked to the window.

Jerrick was indeed in his own thoughts. He had realized that he only loved Jessamyn. He had hopes that Jessamyn was warming up to him and there was a possibility she would fall for him again.

But she still thinks that the rightful place beside him belonged to another woman. Then what is her rightful place?

He watched her standing by the window. He didn’t even realize that she had gotten out of his hold. He walked to her side and she moved to the other window. When he followed her, she pretended she didn’t notice him and walked out of the room.

He asked her if she wanted to share a bath, and she told him that she was not in the mood for a bath. At dinner, she butchered the meat on her plate as if she was butchering an enemy.

She managed to drink an entire glass of wine.

He didn’t like to see her like that. He sent a maid to inform her to be ready for bed. It was the second night of their wedding. Whatever her issues are, they need to resolve them and share their warmth as a married couple.

He missed her.

The maid came back, hesitant, and passed his wife’s message: She has a headache. She wanted to be alone.

A headache!

He naturally got worried for her. The wedding stress might have gotten her along with the lack of rest. She also drank a lot. He prepared a herbal tea for her and went to her room.

He was blocked from entering her room. BLOCKED!

It was a common practice in their kingdom for a wife to refuse to share the bed. After all, she was the mistress of the house and she had that right. It was the husband’s duty to leave the wife alone to have her time alone.

But that’s not us!!!

If she had a headache, he was not going to force her to sleep with him. He was only planning on staying with her in the same room to take care of her. All he wanted was to hug her to sleep. Why would she refuse to let him have a look at her?

He glared at the maid, but she didn’t budge. It was not the Theodulf castle. They were in the capital city. The maids were all temporary workers. He didn’t want any rumors to spread and left her room dejectedly.

What is wrong with her?

Jessamyn indeed was not feeling well. She was burning with anger and a bitterness she couldn’t explain. She didn’t want to be anywhere near Jerrick.

She thought about this sudden change in her mood. Although it happened after Jerrick asked her about Imogen, that couldn’t be the reason. It was a hypothetical question. Dead people just don’t return out of nowhere.

She picked up her crossbow and staggered into the forest. On the way, she picked up a small axe left in the garden. She was so mad, she couldn’t sleep and she needed to let out steam.

She threw the crossbow down and swung the axe at an unsuspecting tree. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

What will I do if Imogen returns? Heh!

She snorted as she chopped off a branch. She pointed the axe at another branch and tilted her head.

I’ll imagine this is Imogen’s head and...

With a swing of the axe, the branch fell to the ground. Looking at the fallen branch, she chuckled evilly.

This will be you if you return, Imogen! Do you think I’ll welcome you? You’d be dead before Jerrick knows you’re there!

"Jerrick, do you see?" she chuckled, stomping on the branch.

This will be your dearest wife if she returns!

Her head hurt and she stared at the broken branch on the ground. Tears collected in her eyes and she swayed.

She hugged the tree trunk for support. "I’m sorry..." she rubbed the tree. "I’m sorry I killed your love... I’m sorry, tree..." she cried leaning on the tree.

She wanted to kill Imogen but she wouldn’t do it for real. Jerrick would hate her if she killed Imogen. She would have to do what she told Jerrick. She would have to leave if Imogen returned.

Jerrick only loves Imogen.

"Accept my apology, tree..." she sniffed and climbed on the tree.

Everything looked blurry as time passed and she had a splitting headache. Sitting on a strong branch, she leaned on the tree and closed her eyes.

"Oi!"

She heard a familiar voice and opened her eyes. A white wolf was standing under the tree, looking at her.

"Who are you?" she asked, her vision blurring thanks to the extra wine she had at dinner.

"Get down," said the wolf.

"Great one?" Jessamyn smiled widely. "I was looking for you!"

She tried to get down. She turned and holding on to the trunk, slowly managed to get a grip on the trunk. But as she lowered her next foot, she placed it on her skirt, making her slip.

"Ah!" She yelped.