The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 76: Couldn’t Avoid

"Do you want..."

Jessamyn’s voice trailed as she tried to ask him what he wanted. He would say that the carriage belonged to him.

She longed to express her ease with Isadora’s company, yet she understood he wouldn’t consider her sentiments. He had gotten more adamant as he aged.

Considering his injured leg, she presumed he would find greater comfort in a carriage rather than on horseback. He could use another carriage... but... It is his carriage. He could do what he wanted.

She decided to let it go. She had her embroidery materials and before she knew it, the journey would be over. She need not fret over his presence.

As he placed his left foot on the stairs, the carriage tilted to the side. Jessamyn bowed and continued with her embroidery.

As he climbed the next stair, Jerrick’s weakened leg betrayed him, causing him to slip. His fingers grasped desperately for stability at the handle. Jessamyn noticed it through her peripheral vision.

With quick reflexes, Jessamyn set aside her embroidery and sprang to action, reaching out to steady Jerrick before he could fall further. Despite the confined space, she managed to wrap her arms around his arm, her heart racing with concern as she helped him regain his footing.

"Why can’t you be careful?" she shouted as she helped him inside. "You could have asked for help!"

She was supporting his weight, stopping him from falling back. She thought there would be someone else around, but there was no one. She was panicking to safely help him up, almost forgetting his impeccable upper body strength. "Is someone~"

Her call for help was interrupted by his touch. With the tip of his forefinger, he touched her earlobe making her wince. "You smell nice..." he took a deep whiff and his sharp eyes landed on her lips.

Only then did she realize she was standing awfully close to him. Her chest nearly brushed against his face, and his nose was almost nestled in the curve of her cleavage.

I walked right into this!

Jessamyn grimaced and let go of his arm with no second thoughts.

He quickly grabbed the handles and balanced himself. Jessamyn walked back to her seat.

"Had I asked, I wouldn’t have witnessed your care and your lightning speed," he chuckled and jumped inside the carriage, shaking it.

Jessamyn noticed the bulge of his muscles as he jumped inside. His chest muscles popped out revealing his thick arrangement of muscles.

"Is he being thrifty by spending less fabric for his shirt..." she mumbled as she picked up her embroidery hoop.

"Huh?" he said.

"Where is Isadora?" she asked.

"She wanted to be with Bernard," he answered.

Jessamyn mumbled something under her breath. She didn’t know whether Isadora herself was distancing herself from her or if Jerrick was pushing her away.

That day after Jerrick sent her out saying he needed to talk to Isadora about something, she asked her what they talked about. ’Nothing much’ Isadora said. ’He asked me to take care of his friend.’

Jessamyn thought that something was not right in this matter. Why must Isadora be the one to take care of the Grand Duke? She asked Isadora but she didn’t give her a clear answer. She didn’t even look at her when talking to her. Isadora was hiding something from her. But what?

"I’ll not let him put a wedge between us..." Jessamyn whispered. After Joar’s death, she only had Isadora by her side and these days, she felt like she had lost her. She didn’t want to be abandoned by everyone.

"What?"

"Nothing," Jessamyn let out a sigh and continued her embroidery as the carriage moved.

There was silence for some time before he leaned closer to her. "What are you making?"

Jessamyn could feel his breath on her ear. She scooted closer to the cushioned panel of the carriage. "You want to tell me something?" she asked and pressed her lips.

"No..." Jerrick said and scooted to the side and she continued with her embroidery.

While she continued her embroidery, she remembered the handkerchief she embroidered for him. She made it when she was grateful he saved her life but he quickly broke her heart.

Should I throw it away or give it to him?

She pondered as she embroidered. The carriage came to a halt and she was told it was lunchtime.

Jerrick stood up to alight from the carriage and she stuffed the kerchief in his hand. "I made it for you as a grateful gesture for saving my life."

She didn’t bother to look at his face and got down from the carriage first. Isadora was stretching herself and she walked to her. Isadora told her that she was in the luggage cart. Jessamyn was offended on behalf of Isadora but Isadora was happy.

After lunch, the journey continued. Jerrick returned to the carriage and Jessamyn didn’t spare a glance at him even though he was boring a stare at her face.

The journey continued and Jessamyn noticed Jerrick wriggling here and there while holding his injured leg. The long journey must have caused him uneasiness. She tried to ignore him but she couldn’t, after some time.

She had suffered through pain alone and she wouldn’t wish that loneliness on her worst enemy. Maybe she was too soft-hearted for the world, but she just couldn’t ignore people in pain.

She stopped the carriage and got the medicine from Jerrick. He looked at her oddly when she asked for the medicine he used for the pain, but then he gave her an oil.

Sitting by his feet, she rolled up his trousers and gently massaged the oil on his knees and leg. She could feel the misalignment of the bones as she massaged it.

Her heart clenched. She didn’t know medicine much, but it was possible he didn’t get proper medical treatment after the injury. Otherwise, the bones wouldn’t have aligned wrongly. With all the money in the world, why didn’t he seek proper medical attention after the accident?

So, Joar did not cause his injury. It was the fault of the physician who treated him. Does he know that or is he blaming Joar like the others too? Is that why he wants to take revenge?

Suddenly, she felt the dimly lit carriage getting warm as calmness spread. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Myna..."

She heard his voice. Cupping her cheeks in his large warm hand, he met her eyes. Jessamyn felt the warmth from his hands reaching her heart. His eyes were reddened and the corners of his lips were twitching out of happiness.

"My Songbird is still here..."

Looking into his eyes, she found herself gasping for breath as she was overwhelmed with a cocktail of emotions.

Was he that affected by what I said that day? Is he like me? A little humane act from me caused him that much happiness?