The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 70: The Question

William was not happy with the subtle condescension on Jerrick’s face. "Enlighten me, Jerrick," he quipped. "How does one find solace in celibacy after the passing of a beloved wife? One would have expected the floodgates of passion to burst forth, yet it appears you have chosen the path of abstinence, resembling more a monk in contemplation than a man of worldly desires."

Jerrick pressed his lips and averted his eyes, knowing William was provoking him. He was not celibate all the while, was he? She came and just her scent was enough for him to break all the vows he made.

His hands gently reached to the back of his head. Her touches were still fresh in his memory and his ears reddened reliving her touches.

"Ah, you broke your celibacy with Jessamyn, didn’t you?" William chuckled.

"You must be feeling better," Jerrick glared at him. "For you to utter her name to me so adventurously..."

William was not bothered by the suffocating essence of death spreading in the air. He probably was one of the very few who could get away with teasing Jerrick and he would utilize his chance.

"I do!" William grinned. "If Jessamyn were not meeting me every other night, I might have anticipated you having a veritable torrent of dalliance with her... However, I consider myself blessed for her company~Ah!!" He screamed and ducked to avoid the dagger aimed at his eye.

"Dalliance? I am marrying her!" Jerrick scoffed.

"Jerrick!" William whined. "I may not die but it hurts. Stop using me as your target board..."

"You have the Theodulf blood, but you’re not an immortal, William," Jerrick scoffed. "I know of at least a hundred ways to kill you."

William plucked the blade stuck to the headboard and wiped the impression of the dagger on the wood with his finger with a pout. He wouldn’t want any damage on the headboard because of a dagger. However, if his dagger caused damage, it would be welcomed.

William took in a deep breath and realized that his breathing was laborious no more. He felt rejuvenated. He looked at his skin and the bite marks of those venomous snakes had disappeared too.

"I am intimidated by your medical knowledge," he said, jumping from the bed. "I may thank you, but then I realize you let me suffer for two days for no reason..."

"What’s there to be intimidated by the wisdom left by ancients? I can offer you copies of the texts from our Theodulf library, but you’re not interested." Jerrick said pouring himself a glass of whiskey.

His grandfather might have lost his title and lands, but he sealed the Theodulf family library so that no one other than his family could access it. Jerrick’s father revealed that secret to him and he found the vault filled with the knowledge of the ancients.

He was interested in medicine and spells, and so, he had explored only that part of the library. There were still thousands of untouched books.

As for the other thing William mentioned, he could have offered him the remedy earlier, but who asked him to spend time with his songbird? He even bragged about it. Jerrick was glad he waited.

"Are there guides to unlocking the mysteries of the bedroom activity?" William winked cheekily.

Jerrick scoffed. "You haven’t learned it all with all the experience you have?"

"Dear boy...Don’t you know?" William leaned to Jerrick’s ear. "The mastery of intimate encounters is an art that demands cultivation throughout one’s lifetime..." he chuckled. "This is why you’re still a boy..."

Jerrick pushed him away. William with a victorious chuckle walked to the dresser and changed after wiping himself.

"She sent a raven seeking help to find out your identity... There was some other information too which I couldn’t decrypt," Jerrick said placing the glass on the table.

"You stopped it?" William asked pausing by the dresser.

"No," Jerrick said casually. "Not my problem."

"She thinks I am Lycaon Wulfhednar..." William chuckled wearing his shirt. "She calls me Great One and I call her Crossbow lady. She possesses an admirable penchant for enjoyable company. Too bad you can’t~"

William paused hearing the screech of the chair Jerrick was sitting on.

"Should I stop?" William asked.

He might have crossed a line or appeared to be rubbing salt on Jerrick’s festering wounds. He has already angered Jerrick by saying he would marry Jessamyn. He had a feeling Jessamyn was desperate for a connection, but William was not willing to hurt Jerrick to give Jessamyn what she needed.

"...No," Jerrick said after a short silence. His hand was gently tracing the sword on his waist. "She’s sad and jealous. She thinks she has no one. Be the big brother."

William’s smile reduced as he tied his shirt. He let out a deep breath. "She is hurt..." That much was sure.

Jerrick said nothing. William observed the stoic man standing with his shoulders dropping as if he were weighed with guilt.

"Did she tell you anything?" Jerrick asked. He was hurt to know Jessamyn was sharing her sorrow with someone else to let them know she was distressed. But at least she was sharing and that probably was good.

William thought about what she said about Imogen first and foremost. "She does not like Imogen."

"She’s being petty," Jerrick scoffed and tried to walk away.

William could sense that Jerrick was unwilling to talk about Imogen to him. He figured Jerrick would know about Emily not being Jessamyn’s mother. He knew every single detail about Jessamyn, after all.

But if Imogen were what Jessamyn said she was, then Jerrick wouldn’t know about the secrets about Imogen. Jerrick didn’t care enough about Imogen to investigate her deeply.

William saw Jerrick walking away and he wanted to tell him one thing before he married Jessamyn. He wanted them to be happy with this second chance they’d gotten.

"I don’t think the rumors were true, Jerrick. She was not writing to Hector when the war was going on."

Jerrick stopped. "You asked her that?" Jerrick’s fists clenched involuntarily at his sides, the muscles in his jaw tensing as he fought to rein in the raging storm threatening to consume him.

"...Yes...?" William answered truthfully even though he knew Jerrick was angry. "Isn’t that why you refused to marry her in the past?"