The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 58: Encouragement

Jessamyn couldn’t sleep peacefully as she was disturbed by many nightmares. Her head throbbed with pain and she woke up before lunchtime.

She massaged her forehead while lying on the bed. The curtains of the bed were pulled down and she felt a cold breeze seeping through the gap.

She saw Isadora sitting by the window with the kerchief she was embroidering in her hand. She looked adorable while concentrating so hard on the task at hand.

"You haven’t finished that yet?" Jessamyn asked peeking her head out of the curtain. She thought Isadora had already finished with that kerchief. She thought she would have already given it to Bernard. Maybe she is making another?

"You’re awake, Milady," Isadora quickly stood up.

She took a quick step forward but then stopped observing her face. Jessamyn’s heart clenched understanding the caution Isadora practiced. She remembered she acted rude to Isadora earlier.

"Come here," Jessamyn patted the bed gesturing for Isadora to sit beside her.

Isadora smiled seeing that Jessamyn’s mood had improved. With a skip to her step, she got to Jessamyn.

"Milady, are you feeling well?" Isadora asked pressing the back of her hand on Jessamyn’s forehead.

"I am..." Jessamyn held her hand and kissed it. "I need to apologize to you~"

"No, Milady," Isadora hugged her. "Don’t..."

Jessamyn leaned on her shoulder for some time. She wanted to cry but she held back.

"Show me your embroidery," Jessamyn asked.

Isadora with a pout gave her the embroidery she was working on.

"It’s... what happened to the one you were working on earlier?" Jessamyn asked. She had started a new one. "Are you making another one?"

"I..." Isadora bowed her head and rubbed the back of her neck. "Milady..." she put her hand in her pocket and showed her the pendant Bernard gave her.

"That’s magnificent, Isadora," Jessamyn truly loved the design. She too noted the engravement on the pendant. "Bernard gave it to you?"

Isadora nodded. "He said he will give me a chain to add to the pendant when the time is right."

"That’s... noble of him," Jessamyn said.

She was glad Bernard was starting the relationship with marriage in mind and he revealed his intention early in the courtship. She found a new respect for Bernard in her heart and was happy for Isadora that she had found a man who respected and valued her.

Isadora deserves nothing less.

Jessamyn’s thought skipped to the lord of the castle she was a "guest" of. In the past, he never gave her such a promise and yet she trusted him that he respected her. He showed her that he never valued her.

Now, he showed his intent to marry her, and still, he didn’t respect her. He expressed openly that he only valued her for her body.

The only man who respected her and valued her as a treasure was no more. The ring he gave her as a promise to marry her and the pendant he gave her on their wedding day were all confiscated by his mother. She didn’t even have a picture of him left with her.

She was left only with memories of him and that was enough for her. Surrounded by hurt, she missed him dearly.

Her descent to darkness was interrupted by the muffled sobs of Isadora. Her heart fell seeing Isadora in tears. "Isadora, what’s wrong?" Jessamyn hugged her and patted her back.

"Milady... I... Look at this..." She gave her the first kerchief she embroidered. "And now look at this!" She pointed at Bernard’s gift.

Jessamyn understood why Isadora was crying. Isadora was talented in many skills, understanding others and kindness being some of them. But surely, Isadora was not very talented in embroidery. Although it was good for a first attempt, she understood why she felt lacking in front of Bernard’s gift.

Isadora’s tears alone revealed how much Isadora liked Bernard. Jessamyn chuckled and let Isadora lie on her lap.

"Silly girl..." Jessamyn gently caressed Isadora’s hair allowing her to compose herself.

"Milady, you’re the best. Please, embroider a magnificent cloak for Bernard for me. I am ashamed of my skills..." Isadora said amidst her crying.

Jessamyn chuckled. "What do you think will make him happy? A kerchief from you or a cloak by me? Tell me, you know him well..."

"I don’t know him all that well, Milady..." Isadora said looking at Jessamyn pitifully. Her cheeks were red and Jessamyn couldn’t predict whether it was because of her blushing or her crying. But she looked cute.

"Silly, you know him enough to accept his gift and get bothered by it," Jessamyn pinched her cheek.

"But Milady..." Isadora buried her face in Jessamyn’s lap. "I only know him for a few days... I...I know nothing..."

Jessamyn tenderly caressed Isadora’s hair. "It doesn’t matter how long you know him, Sweet Isadora. His intent and how he respects you is all that matters. You may know someone for a decade before they stab you in the heart and someone else whom you’ve known just for a week might value you more than the world. So... It doesn’t matter how long you know him."

Isadora stayed in her embrace for some time before she gathered her courage. "What do you suggest, Milady?" she asked.

Jessamyn kissed her cheeks. "He is a smart man to know your value. You’re kind and loyal, pretty and mature. He knows not to lose you. If you tell him how you embroidered the very first thing for him, I bet he will be honored, and will know his place in your heart."

In courtship, when a man shows his intention, it is incumbent on the woman to reveal her intent. She has a choice to accept him or reject him.

Jessamyn thought Isadora’s intent would be apparent in the first kerchief she embroidered—the one she made for him even before he gave her the pendant.

Isadora sat up and stared at the kerchief she embroidered. "I did embroider every single detail thinking of him..." she mumbled.

"There you go..." Jessamyn pushed her back.

"Now?" Isadora’s eyes widened. "Milady, I lack the courage to~"

"Go!" Jessamyn pushed her. "He should be around here. Give it to him. Now!"

Jessamyn got to the door and peeked. As she expected, Bernard was standing at the end of the hallway. Maybe he heard the door opening, and he turned.

Jessamyn quickly pushed Isadora out.

"Go!"

Hiding behind the door, Jessamyn watched Isadora taking careful steps forward. She hoped that everything went well for Isadora.

Noticing Isadora, Bernard walked toward her. Isadora halted midway.

Jessamyn sighed. If she was dressed, she would step out, but she was not.

"Isadora, go!" Jessamyn encouraged her. In her excitement, she almost stepped out.

But she stopped, sensing an intense glare on her.