The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 87: The Veiled Woman

Jessamyn looked at Jerrick’s face filled with expectation. His gaze, hidden behind a mask of composure, hid the cocktail of emotions swirling within him.

Jerrick tried to act composed in front of her. Beneath his stoic facade, a tornado of longing for the days he missed, surged, yearning to be expressed to the woman before him.

As he extended his hand, a silent plea echoed in his eyes, urging Jessamyn to cast aside her doubts and share this moment with him. With a flutter of hesitation, she agreed, allowing him to lead her onto the dance floor.

She might not want to spend her next life with him, but this lifetime, she had agreed to marry him. She might as well dance with him.

Jerrick, wearing a smile unfamiliar to those around him, escorted her onto the dance floor. Jessamyn’s heart pounded against her chest cavity, as the warmth of his hand reached her hand.

She attempted to rein in her racing heartbeat, reminding herself it was merely a dance, nothing more. Yet, despite her efforts, her emotions eluded her control. Once again, she felt a sense of detachment from her own feelings, as if they belonged to someone else entirely.

Her psychological problems might have worsened or she was getting possessed by someone else. Jessamyn couldn’t find any other excuses for what she was feeling.

As her heart was wavering with various thoughts, his concerned face from earlier came back to her memory. He was truly distressed hearing that she grew up without a mother.

Her heart lightened and this time, she knew she was feeling happy—it was her feelings.

"I must warn you, I’m not very good at dancing," Jessamyn admitted, fearing his judgment after keeping her lack of skill a secret for so long.

"I know," Jerrick said. He had watched her fumbling when she danced with Joar in the past. She also avoided dancing with anyone else.

Jerrick tried to smile but he couldn’t. Deep down, he longed to be the one dancing with Jessamyn, even as he held his wife in his arms, torn with the guilt of his forbidden desires.

Jessamyn didn’t notice the change in expression on his face. She bowed her head remembering the days she carelessly danced with Joar.

NO!!! She shook her head to not think about Joar. It felt like a betrayal when she thought about Joar at that moment.

Her confused heart struggled to settle.

Yet, when she gazed upon Jerrick’s face, all her reservations melted away.

Amid swirling dancers, Jessamyn and Jerrick found themselves on the dance floor. The music of the waltz filled their ears, guiding their steps. Jessamyn placed her hand in his, feeling a rush of warmth and anticipation.

His touch was gentle as he held her hand, his other hand finding its place on her waist. With each step, they moved together, lost in the moment, their hearts beating as one.

Jerrick was lost in her eyes. He had a lot to talk to her but he didn’t want to lose that moment. Their first dance!

Jessamyn’s heart was racing. It had been a while since she last danced and she didn’t want to step on Jerrick’s foot.

"Is your leg feeling better now?" She asked. He was in pain during the carriage ride and she wondered if he has gotten better now.

When she met his eyes, however, she was lost in those green orbs.

He leaned closer, his lips grazing on her earlobes. He lingered there, kindling her desire. Is he kissing me? Will he kiss me?

Getting turned on by his touches was easy for her. She touched her chest. It was not hurting this time.

"If I say yes, will you massage my pain away?" He asked, his deep voice reverberating in her ear causing butterflies in her stomach.

Carelessly, she leaned on his shoulder, her lips curved to a relaxed smile, a feeling nostalgic of the past. He always had the strength to hold her.

He was relaxed too, evident by his steady heartbeat. Following his lead, she swirled around.

All of a sudden, she heard the drumming of his heart against his chest. She quickly looked at him.

Like dark clouds hiding the sun, his earlier expressions had darkened. She followed his eyes to see a woman standing in the corner of the hall.

There was something about that woman who was cloaked entirely in black that warmed Jessamyn’s blood.

Her hand was on Jerrick’s chest and he was getting terrified. The fluffy feeling in her chest turned into the pain she lately got accustomed to.

"You will not die, Songbird," Jerrick said before he stepped back from her.

Jessamyn grabbed his coat unconsciously, with her eyes still focused on the woman veiled in black.

Like she was in a trance, she focused on the face of the veiled woman. The surroundings blurred and warped; her blood boiled and everything else froze as she focused on the woman.

You have no power over me! You can’t dictate my life this time, harlot!

Jerrick stopped, seeing Jessamyn staring at the woman of his nightmares. He sensed the air around them getting heavy and warped as she closed her eyes.

Others were dancing merrily as if they sensed nothing.

He didn’t want to be there anymore and tried to get Jessamyn. She stood unmoving as if she was nailed to the floor.

"Jessamyn..." Jerrick tried to bring her back. Just as he placed his hand on her shoulders he sensed a surge of power emitting from her.

With a gasp, he looked to the front to see the woman’s veil lifted up in the air, revealing the milky-white right eye.

He heard Jessamyn mumbling something under her breath. He tried to have a listen but he couldn’t understand a single word. He wasn’t even sure if she was speaking their language.

The more she spoke, the more the woman was pushed back. He noticed the veiled woman doing an attack spell with the movement of her fingers.

"Jessamyn!" Jerrick shook her shoulder to get her out of her trance.

But she fell back, eyes rolled in. Jerrick’s heart skipped a beat. Thinking that the veiled woman had done something, he looked at her.

But she was not there anymore.

Carrying Jessamyn, he left the hall.

William who was watching everything, smirked.

What I guessed is true! So, it begins...

-----

Isadora stood supporting her hands in her knees and panted. She looked back and she was very far away from the ceremony hall. She was not even sure where she was.

She has long left the broken pavement and around her were shoulder high reeds. She heard the river nearby.

Fear gripped her heart. She looked around but there was no one.

Her eyes clouded.

Where am I?