The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 277: Her Trust

"We saw her starting to turn," Jerrick pressed, his tone edged with both curiosity and disbelief. "There’s no stopping it once it begins. We both know that too well. How did Isadora stop her shift?"

He couldn’t shake the image of Isadora’s eyes, once human, glowing with a feral gold as her claws began to form. It was a process that couldn’t be undone, as irreversible as the march of time itself.

Jerrick had scoured the ancient texts in Theodulf’s library, searched through every obscure tome and forgotten spell. They all said the same thing: a shifter’s transformation was absolute, a fate sealed by the first pulse of broken heart. No enchantment could halt it, let alone reverse it.

But William only shrugged, his expression still tinged with amazement. "I was just as shocked as you. Isadora somehow exerted complete control over her shift. She managed to halt it herself, almost as if she willed it to stop. Once we reached the edge of the forest, the change reversed—her claws vanished, and her eyes returned to normal. She told me she believed in her lady’s word when Jessamyn assured her you’d save Bernard. There was no need for her to mourn or to give in to despair. After that, she collapsed and slept for two days straight. She only woke up this morning."

Jerrick’s eyes narrowed in confusion. He was rarely at a loss for words, but this revelation left him speechless. "You’re telling me Jessamyn’s words alone stopped Isadora’s transformation?" His brow furrowed deeply, the pieces of the puzzle refusing to fit. It defied everything he knew—everything any shifter knew.

William nodded, his gaze steady. "Not just her words, Jerrick. I believe it was Jessamyn’s unwavering trust in you. That trust resonated with Isadora. Jessamyn must have spoken of you with such conviction, so deeply rooted in belief, that Isadora mirrored that faith. Jessamyn’s confidence in your ability to bring Bernard back from the brink of death gave Isadora the strength to defy nature itself."

The weight of William’s words settled over Jerrick like a heavy cloak. He knew Isadora had always believed in him. But this—this was different. Jessamyn had influenced Isadora in a way that went beyond mere loyalty. Her quiet faith had woven itself into Isadora’s very soul, empowering her to defy the impossible.

Jerrick’s thoughts spiraled inward, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. He should have realized sooner how deeply Jessamyn’s presence affected those around her, especially Isadora.

"So," William continued, breaking through Jerrick’s reverie, "What about Bernard? Should we consider postponing the wedding?"

Jerrick’s gaze snapped back to William. "No, that won’t be necessary. He’s holding up remarkably well, all things considered. And Isadora will be there to support him. She’s already shown more strength than any of us anticipated."

For a moment, silence lingered between them, thick with unspoken thoughts. Jerrick’s mind returned to the reality they now faced—his secret was out. The council would know soon enough. Rumors would spread, carried on the lips of spies and informants. The truth that he was cured, that the blood of Theodulf lived on, would no longer remain hidden. And worse, Roche’s reports would reach far and wide.

"My secret’s out now," Jerrick muttered under his breath, almost as if speaking to himself. "No one’s going to believe it was some miracle cure. They’ll say the blood of Theodulf runs through me again. The words of the onlookers would have confirmed it by now. The council knows there are two of us."

William’s expression darkened. "Jessamyn’s plan to throw the council off our scent using Elena—it’s failed. They’ll realize she was trying to deceive them."

Jerrick’s eyes flicked toward William, catching the subtle tension in his posture. "And what about Elena?" Jerrick asked, his tone sharpened with curiosity. "Has she changed her mind?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Elena’s loyalty to the council had been plain from the beginning. She had gone so far as to lace Jerrick’s meals with nuts under the guise of testing his resilience. But beneath the layers of manipulation and deceit, Jerrick wondered if William’s feelings for Elena had grown more complicated.

"No," William replied, his voice tinged with regret. "She’s made her stance clear. I don’t like it, but I can’t deny that I ruined everything before you even revealed your true strength. Jessamyn’s plan relied on me acting like she was my intended mate, to mislead the council. But by indulging Elena’s advances—by letting myself be swayed by her—I threw it all away. The council saw right through it."

There was a raw honesty in William’s words, a rare moment of self-reflection. He wasn’t one to dwell on mistakes, but he knew this one had cost them dearly. He didn’t want to say that he couldn’t help it even thought it was the truth.

Jerrick’s jaw clenched. "Jessamyn’s right to be worried. The council isn’t going to sit idle. They’ll have plans, especially now that they know Jessamyn deceived them."

William’s eyes met Jerrick’s, solemn and unyielding. "Your lives are in danger—hers most of all."

A deep frown etched itself into Jerrick’s face as the implications sunk in. Jessamyn had likely known all this, even before he did, and yet she hadn’t said a word. Instead, she’d kept it all to herself, bearing the burden silently, even as it tore her apart from the inside.

"I’ve seen the old seer lingering near the castle," William added, lowering his voice as if the shadows themselves might be listening. "She’s been watching Jessamyn for the past two days. She can’t get through the castle’s protective wards, but she’s there. Jessamyn has to be aware of it."

Jerrick’s hand tightened into a fist, his knuckles whitening. That explained why Jessamyn had been so withdrawn, why she seemed to hover close to him whenever she could. She knew the threat was near and was seeking solace in the only place she felt safe—in his presence. Together, they could face the seer, but only if they confronted this darkness head-on.

He rubbed his forehead, trying to push back the tide of guilt and protectiveness rising within him. Whatever lay ahead, he knew one thing for certain: he couldn’t let Jessamyn face it alone.

He would tear down every wall, break through every barrier she put up, until she trusted him enough to let him in. The past, the future—they could deal with it all later. Right now, all that mattered was the present, and in the present, Jessamyn needed him more than ever.