Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 197: Scene CXCVII

’HnGh! No... No...!!’ — Gripping the skirt of her dress, Ewelina ran desperately as chaos encroached on her whole spirit, numbing her senses as sadness menaced conquering her heart and soul. Unaware of the places she was running through and indifferent to those who could see her rush far from the celebration she was supposed to stay at.

And as she ran...

"Archduchess?"

"!? Huff... Gilead... Begone. I am not to deal with you now." — Ewelina spouted out of breath, glaring at the guard so her conflict would not be recognised by his unwanted eye. Who even as she glared... stood in her path unmovable to her visible displeasure. — "... What is it? Move, I said."

"... What happened?"

"It’s nothing for you to care about. Move." — Passing forcefully by Gilead’s side, Ewelina stomped, dismissing him from her presence. Nonetheless, the woman’s steps were to be halted by the question the ignorant yet honestly concerned guard conveyed as he watched her back.

"..... Did you learn about it?"

"... Learn about what."

"..."

"What is it that I learned about? What is it that you are aware of... and I am supposed to learn about, Gilead?"

Menacing, Ewelina’s sadness was gulped down so whatever the man knew was told, pacing back to stand before him with clear demands flaring in her brown hues observing the stunned guard.

And so, the alert woman noticed how in his bewilderment, Gilead’s hand fidgeted with the pouch hanging from his belt. Mentioning it immediately as no small action was to be deemed as meaningless in a nervous man.

"... What do you have there that your hand protects it?"

"... Milady..."

"Gilead. It is obvious I am to learn eventually of it. Tell me what it is before I go back to openly despising you."

"... Haah... cursed be my tongue." — Grumbling to himself, Gilead gritted his teeth as his hand took the pouch to do as the woman said. Concerned, he unfolded his hand. Wishing you be careful when no opportunity to do so was to be granted. — "This... well-!? Wait!"

Taking it from his hand, Ewelina opened the leather, finding the ring she could recognise was her father’s... that one Cole had stolen against her mother’s wishes and she had watched decorating his hand got years with sadness.

"......"

Time... felt endless just as how her soul felt its existence as it always came back to a life of hurting.

The ring, polished, marvellous in brilliance and carrying a gem craved with her mother’s house emblem was clenched by her hand, aching with the helpless force of rage and sorrow ignited from the deepest of her soul. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"... Cole should have this. I know he had this the last time I saw him." — Forcing the words out of her throat, Ewelina stated. Asking with a scratching sound for the answers she needed to clarify. — "Why is this in your possession?"

"... Archduchess-"

"How did you get this?"

"... Ma’am-"

"I AM ASKING YOU A QUESTION!! SAY IT!!"

"....."

"....... Say it, Gilead.... my soul is telling me as it aches... this truth, I need... I need to learn it."

Stunned by her own torn yelling, Ewelina’s trembling voice now spoke softer... requesting weakly how the ring had gotten to the guard’s hand.

"... From Sid."

"!?... Sid?"

"Sid took it from their rests. The night of your wedding, your husband expelled them from the barbican to die."

"..... T-the night... Of my wedding?"

"Yes. That very night."

"..."

"!? Ma’am? Ma’am!"

"Do not follow me."

"-..... haaah damn it!" — Halting his every motion at the strict and even gruesome sound Ewelina uttered in her order, Gilead watched her leave. Regretting his hast words and useless curiosity that made him come before her... for after the encounter with Dina... — "What now?... Who I want to be loyal to might dismiss me from her lands at this rate... agh! Fuck!!"

Troubled, the path she walked in hast stomps was observed until she disappeared by the northern guard. Nonetheless, his concern at his misplaced intervention was left on the side, for the woman who with unexpected roughness in her grace had earned his honest respect and wishes to loyally serve her admirable character... had visibly kept herself forcefully composed before him while within a certain storm of sorrow was evolving fatefully.

"... Whatever else she learned... the Ma’am’s not fine."

The frown in the man was left helpless in concern, for in his hands there was nothing he could do to aid the Archduchess she decided to serve instead of use.

Meanwhile... she who experienced a wrecked spirit... felt her eyes itch from her unwillingness to let tears take shape. Going determinedly to the chambers the king had given to summon the physician with the aid of the door’s guard. Ignoring that the response she would receive would give an immediate answer to her petition... for the schemes of the princess had been thorough in aiding her spirit to break.

"Summon the physician." — Ewelina told the servant.

"? I apologise, the royal physician is not at the palace today."

"... I said call him."

"... Your Illustrious Grace, he was summoned at the city’s borders... A call will be given. Yet do allow me to inform you that he came to the Archduchess’ door before leaving."

"Did he say anything?"

"A letter was left. We have left it inside-"

"Alright, thank you."

*Bang!* — At the information, Ewelina entered her chambers without care for politeness. Feeling dubious of every little detail in her encounters after leaving the feast, yet a letter from the one she needed was indeed waiting for her on a brilliant tray.

From the door she had shut close, her back supported itself to quickly find the letter a few steps ahead... yet right after...

"......"

Her respiration was fulfilling her every sense with blank stare... for the chambers were beautifully decorated, with closed red curtains that continued to cover the floor with roses, as candles and warm flames illuminated a romantic chamber.

Nevertheless...

*Tap... tap... tap...* — Ewelina’s steps and heart ignored what would have made it race by delightful surprise. Cold and hardened for what a simple letter could tell was far more interesting than the reasons behind a wonderful ambience for her mind at this time.