The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 34: Nostalgic Piece of Embroidery

Jessamyn clenched her teeth as the pain intensified. The physician told her the pain was not real; it was in her mind.

But as the pain surged, she couldn’t differentiate if it was real or not. It felt real. She was scared for the moment it would reach that peak where her chest would start to burn.

"Milady! Are you well?"

Isadora’s voice boomed in, dissipating the darkness surrounding her.

"Are you suffering any discomfort?" Isadora shouted as she ran to her.

"Yes! I am fine!" Jessamyn shouted as loud as she could.

Yes, I cannot let this ailment of the mind get to me! I cannot make Isadora worry.

That spark of determination was enough for the pain to retreat. She looked to her side to see Isadora running at her at full speed. She heard the rumble in the basket.

The child!

"Give me your handkerchief," Jessamyn asked the proud man sitting on the horse.

Jerrick looked at her as if she had lost her mind.

"I need to wipe off the blood. Your handkerchief! Now!" She held out her hand and asked, no, commanded him. She still had blood on her face.

Jerrick furrowed his brows, baffled. Still, his hand was already in his pocket to give her what she asked for as it was his proclivity.

Jessamyn quickly grabbed the kerchief. As she got it, Isadora reached her. Jessamyn smiled at Isadora to assure her. Isadora was not convinced and checked her.

As Jessamyn was about to wipe her face, she was stopped.

"Wait," Jerrick said as he checked his pockets. Then he pulled out another kerchief. "Use this one," he said.

Now, Jessamyn was curious. Who carries two handkerchiefs?

Naturally, she took a closer look at the one in her hand.

"No! Pass it back!" he shouted and tried to pluck it from her hand.

Now, Jessamyn’s curiosity doubled. His shout startled the horse and it moved away leaving a chance for Jessamyn to look closer.

The fabric looked old and worn out. The embroidery on the borders looked familiar. She saw the ’J’ embroidered at one corner of the handkerchief in green—the color of his eyes, with a jasmine entwined in the design.

Her heart pounded. She took a closer look at the embroidery at the border.

"You can have it," she returned the kerchief to him. She couldn’t even look at his face.

It was her embroidery! She always embroidered jasmine to mark her embroidery; it was her signature. That one was the kerchief she sent to him when he was at the war because he had written with great sorrow that he lost the one she gave him. He was holding on to the one she gave him when he left for war as a good luck charm and was distressed when he lost it. So, she sent him another.

That was the last kerchief she embroidered for him; her last gift to him. He didn’t even reply to the letter she sent with the kerchief.

Why is he having it with him still?

Jerrick cleared his throat and stuffed the kerchief deep into his pocket. "Here, use this," he threw the other one at her.

Jessamyn caught it and wiped her face. Isadora managed to get water from somewhere and helped Jessamyn. She could sense the weirdness around. It was not because of the two decapacitated bodies lying in a pool of blood but something else.

Her lady was not acting the same. Wulfhart too donned an odd expression. There seemed to be some shared thoughts between them and yet they weren’t talking. Intriguing!

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft thud. Jerrick guided the horse to turn. Isadora turned to the side to see Bernard kneeling. "Punish me, Wulfhart, for I have failed," he said.

Isadora’s heart skipped a beat. True, her lady ran into danger, but she was saved without even a scratch on her body. What was he apologizing for?

"You let her walk alone," Jerrick said, now facing him. He spoke clenching his teeth. "You weren’t alone, were you?".

"No, Your Grace. I was with Isadora in the spice market," Bernard said.

Jerrick let out a chuckle; not one of amusement but the one that created knots in the stomach. "Heh! So, you were with Isadora at the spice market, leaving Lady Jessamyn to fend for herself. Tell me why I should not kill you right here, right now?" He raised his voice.

Isadora’s heart skipped a beat. Bernard can’t be blamed!

"It was I!" Isadora interrupted. "I stole~"

Jessamyn was shocked seeing the aura around Jerrick turning dark. His shoulders were stiff as if he was out for more blood. She didn’t want Isadora to get hurt. But looking at Isadora, she sensed that Isadora was more worried for Bernard.

"I stole Bernard’s coin pouch and ran away!" Jessamyn shouted, interjecting Isadora. She decided to take all the blame.

What will he do to me, heh!

A crowd started to gather around.

Jerrick gulped as he looked at the three of them deeply. Bernard was kneeling, Isadora was standing beside him with her eyes wide, and Jessamyn was standing in front of Isadora with not an ounce of fear on her face.

"You stole Bernard’s coins?" Jerrick raised his brows. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

He returned from Montrose; his heart perplexed. When JayJay informed him that Myna was in danger, his heart almost stopped. Thankfully, he was right on time to save her.

He was mad at everyone. Jessamyn was lying motionless on the bed for a week and Isadora found it a good idea to bring her to wander around in the market. The foolish Bernard blinded with love brought Isadora to introduce her to his mother leaving Jessamyn alone.

And this one... He couldn’t believe she was not the least bit ashamed to say that she stole a knight’s money. And how confident she looked as she lied!

Then again, it was Jessamyn. What else could he expect from her?

Annoying brat! Look at those eyes! She’s going to be the end of me!

"You stole all my money. I had to steal," Jessamyn proclaimed loudly.

Isadora covered her mouth with her hands to stop herself from laughing and Bernard’s eyes were locked on Isadora. Jessamyn blocked Isadora and looked at Jerrick defiantly.

Jerrick didn’t feel good at all. Why does it look like those three are getting along together like a team? If they are close, then, what about me?

More importantly, what made her think that she needed money to buy anything here? When did she become a nincompoop?

Jerrick saw the crowd murmuring among themselves and waved his hands. The guards in the market took control of the situation and dissipated the crowd.

Isadora tried to help Bernard up but Bernard kept on kneeling. He was waiting for Wulfhart’s permission.

Jessamyn couldn’t maintain her eye contact with Jerrick and bowed her head. "His coins spilled there..." she pointed and looking in that direction, she remembered the important thing.

The child!

"Stop! Leave it!" Jerrick thought Jessamyn was running to pick up the coins and shouted.

Jessamyn ignored him and got to the basket.

"Hey, there, dear..." Speaking in a soft voice, she opened the lid. The half-conscious child groggily looked at Jessamyn. "Aww, poor baby... You’re safe now..." She picked up the child.

Jerrick furrowed his brows.