The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 213: The Stranger

The carriage ride was silent for some time as Jessamyn busied herself with her lacework. Jerrick found the silence uncomfortable. He wanted to talk to her, to break through the wall of quiet that had settled between them.

"Mynah..." he called her, his voice barely above a breath.

She had expressed that she didn’t like it when he called her that. But he couldn’t help it. She had said that the girl he once knew was dead, but he didn’t want her to be. He wanted her back.

"Mynah..." Seeing that she was concentrating solely on her work, he called again, this time a little louder.

"Mynah!"

This time, he almost shouted, feeling annoyed that she was ignoring him. He knew he was acting like a needy toddler, but he couldn’t help it. He wanted her to focus on him more.

"I heard you the first time," Jessamyn said with a sigh, her fingers never pausing in their intricate dance with the needle and thread.

"Mynah..." Jerrick scooted closer to her, almost squishing her materials. He stopped when Jessamyn glared at him.

"What do you want?" Jessamyn asked, setting aside her materials carefully. It was clear he wouldn’t let her work unless she listened to him. She didn’t want to be disturbed again.

"Jessamyn," Jerrick’s smile widened, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Do what you did in the carriage that time."

"Do what?" Jessamyn furrowed her brows, genuinely confused. She had no clue what he was talking about.

"That! The other day when we were... You know," he said with a cheeky smile, flicking his fingers seductively.

Jessamyn’s face turned crimson as she realized what he was referring to. He was talking about that time when she had explained to him the historical treatment for female hysteria, a conversation that had turned unexpectedly intimate.

Shaking her head, she picked up her needle again and turned her face away, trying to hide her embarrassment. Jerrick’s abdomen tightened at the sight of her blush.

"Mynah... Once more. I forgot your explanation. Show me once more to remember..." he begged, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.

Jessamyn glared at him, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Stop it, Jerrick..."

Her protest only seemed to encourage him. He stood up, closing the distance between them.

"Jerrick, stop this!" Clutching her materials to her chest, Jessamyn glared at him. But she couldn’t maintain her stern expression after seeing the adorable, pleading look on his face.

Jerrick sat beside her, his eyes locked on hers. "Please, Mynah. Just one more time," he said softly, his hand gently brushing her cheek. "I want to see that expression on your face once more."

Jessamyn’s heart pounded as she looked into his eyes. "Didn’t you see it many times last night?" she mumbled, rubbing her throat as she felt stuffy. She couldn’t meet his eyes anymore and looked out the window.

Jerrick chuckled, nudging his nose against her cheek. His warm breath tingled her skin, sending shivers down her spine.

"Will you stop this?" she protested, but her words held no weight as she found herself leaning into him naturally.

"I want to see it again... with you on top," he murmured, pressing his lips gently against her cheek.

Jessamyn’s abdomen tightened as his deep voice reverberated in her ear. "You didn’t let me on top last night, and now you want it?" she pushed him back slightly, glancing nervously at his guard passing by the carriage.

His men were around the carriage, and all this man could think about was that! Also, whenever they were together, he made sure he did all the work and left the screaming part to her. Now, out of nowhere, he wanted her to take charge?

"Mynah, get on top..." he leaned closer, his voice a low, enticing whisper.

Jessamyn’s pulse quickened. She felt a mix of embarrassment and excitement swirling inside her. She glanced around nervously, knowing they were not alone. "Jerrick, your men are just outside," she whispered urgently.

Jerrick quickly closed the curtain. "Now, they can’t see us," Jerrick reassured her, his eyes dark with desire. "I just want to see your face, the way it lights up when you’re..."

"Jerrick, please," she interrupted, her cheeks burning.

He sighed but didn’t move away. Instead, he brushed a lock of hair away from her face, his touch tender and lingering.

Suddenly, the carriage came to a halt, jerking Jessamyn and Jerrick from their tender moment. Outside, the shouts of the guards pierced the air, their voices laced with urgency.

"Stop right there!" one of the guards yelled.

Jessamyn sat up straight, her heart pounding. She exchanged a worried glance with Jerrick, who immediately moved to the window, pushing aside the curtain to peer outside.

"What’s happening?" Jessamyn asked, her voice trembling.

Jerrick’s face tightened with concern. "Stay here," he instructed, his tone firm as he opened the carriage door and stepped outside.

Jessamyn’s anxiety spiked. She peeked out the window, her hands gripping the edge tightly. She saw a group of guards surrounding a lone figure on horseback, their swords drawn and ready. The figure, cloaked in a dark, tattered robe, seemed unperturbed by the threatening display of weapons.

She observed closely to see a bundle he held closer to his chest moving slightly.

Jerrick approached the scene, his commanding presence immediately drawing the attention of the guards. "What’s going on?" he demanded.

"Your Grace," Filbert responded, "this stranger was trying to approach the carriage."

The cloaked figure slowly lifted his head, revealing a pair of piercing eyes beneath the hood. "I mean no harm," the stranger said, his voice calm but with an undertone of urgency. "I am in dire need of help."

"He’s an Altanian!"

Jerrick’s guards covered him and drew their swords.

Jessamyn watched the tense situation from inside the carriage. His hood shadowed his face and Jessamyn looked closer.

The man lifted his hands in a surrendering motion. "I come in peace. I need help. Please..." he begged, his voice shaking.

Without his hands covering the bundle, the blanket unfolded revealing a woman. Seeing the pale woman and the man begging, Jessamyn’s eyes widened.

"Help her!" the man begged, again. "Save her life."

Jessamyn opened the door to the carriage where a man stood guard. "Your Grace, please stay inside," he said.

"Jerrick!" Jessamyn called.

Jerrick waved his hand and the guard moved aside leaving her way with his bead bowed. Jessamyn rushed to the stranger, but Jerrick stopped her.

"Do you know him?" Jerrick asked.

Only then did Jessamyn come to her senses. She was meeting that man for the first time. Just because she saw him in her vision didn’t mean that man knew her.

"No," she said. "Let’s listen to what he has to say," she said, her eyes trained on that man.