The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 192: Inebriated Archduke

William had to carry Jerrick on his shoulders to stop him from falling. "I’m fine! I’m fine!" Jerrick patted William’s shoulders, then held his cheeks and smiled boyishly. "I love you, William."

The others who were supposed to be in the room entered. Lady Celena, too, walked in, and Jessamyn stared at her.

"My wife!" Jerrick chuckled, stumbling toward Jessamyn. He was in a night robe too.

Jessamyn smiled, not knowing what else to do. She was already nervous about everything, and him being drunk was the last thing she wanted.

"My wife..." Jerrick almost stumbled, and Jessamyn caught him. Her eyes widened the moment she met his gaze. His eyes were clear. He was not drunk.

He leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "My wife, I’m here."

Jessamyn’s heart skipped a beat hearing his deep voice in her ear. "Should I send them all away?" he whispered, pretending to rub his forehead. She nodded. "Can you?" Of course, she would love some privacy.

"Say no more," he whispered.

Jessamyn ended up leaning against the wall near the window, watching Jerrick’s performance unfold.

Jerrick turned to the room, his steps exaggeratedly wobbly. "Everyone!" he announced, waving his arms dramatically. "I have a confession to make!"

The courtiers and nobles exchanged puzzled glances. Lady Celena’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Jerrick clutched his chest, swaying like a ship in a storm. "I am deeply, profoundly... tired! Yes, exhausted from all this... ceremonious stuff!"

William, trying to keep a straight face, nodded. "Indeed, the archduke needs his rest."

"But we must be here for the ceremony," one of the courtiers protested.

Jerrick staggered towards the man, blinking owlishly. "Ceremony? What ceremony? Oh, right! The one where we all... um... dance in our pajamas?"

The courtier looked horrified. "Dance in our—"

"Yes!" Jerrick continued, grabbing the man’s hands and attempting a clumsy waltz. "Join me, good sir! Dance with the Archduke!"

That poor man staggered back out of fear almost toppling the lamp. Jerrick didn’t mind him and stared at his hand keenly for some time. "Sword!!!" he shouted out of nowhere. "That’s what I’m missing. Bernard!!! My sword!!!"

The moment he mentioned his sword, some of the nobles in the room slowly slipped out of the room along with the women.

Lady Celena stepped forward, clearly not amused. "Your Grace, this is highly inappropriate. It’s the King’s~"

Jerrick let go of the flustered courtier and spun toward Celena, nearly losing his balance in the process. "Lady Celena!" he declared, staggering dramatically. "Have I ever told you... you have the most... bewildering..." he paused.

Celena’s eyes widened along with her eyes and Jessamyn noticed the twinge of blush forming on her cheeks.

Jessamyn fisted her hands to balls. Why is he standing this close to that woman? Doesn’t he know what she thinks of him? If he acts this way, won’t she think that she has a chance with him?

"... hats?" Jerrick finished his sentence finally.

Celena blinked. "Hats?"

Jessamyn furrowed her brows. Did he just say hats?

"Yes, hats!" Jerrick insisted, waving his arms again. "Big, bewildering hats! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must... uh... confer with my lovely wife about... hat-related matters. In private!"

Jessamyn bit her lip to suppress a laugh. Lady Celena opened her mouth to argue, but Jerrick interrupted, swaying his way over to her and patting her shoulder. "Lady Celena, Lady Celena, Lady Celena... You must leave at once and find the perfect hat! For the dance! In your pajamas!"

Celena’s eyes flashed with irritation. "But—"

Jerrick leaned in close, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper that everyone could still hear. "Trust me, you don’t want to miss it. It’s going to be... legendary."

With that, he straightened up—or attempted to, anyway—and clapped his hands. "Alright, everyone! Out, out, out! The pajama hat dance starts in five minutes in... um... the courtyard! Yes, the courtyard!"

Just at that moment, Bernard entered with Jerrick’s sword. "My sword..." Jerrick readily held the sword in his hands, unsheathed it, and waved it around while staggering.

The courtiers, thoroughly baffled but unwilling to argue with the apparently inebriated archduke, began to file out. Lady Celena lingered, her eyes narrowed.

"Lady Celena," Jerrick slurred, pointing at the door with his sword. "You simply must go find that hat. I’m counting on you."

William stood casually by the door and the Crown Prince made his appearance.

Finally, with one last suspicious glance, Celena exited the room. Jerrick closed the door behind her, locking it with an exaggerated flourish. He turned back to Jessamyn, a triumphant grin on his face.

He covered her with a blanket. She was wearing a thin robe and he didn’t want her to catch a cold. He nodded at Bernard and he stood by the door.

"Why are you here?" Jerrick asked Prince Louis while sheathing the sword.

Prince Louis looked out at the hallways and quickly closed the door. "I have a favor to ask."

William pulled a chair to sit. Jerrick stood beside Jessamyn and looked gently at her. "Do you want any snacks?"

Jessamyn shook her head. She looked at Prince Louis hoping that it would change Jerrick’s attention, but Jerrick was still staring at her face.

"I want to marry Lady Cordelia. Celena won’t like that. I need your help," Prince Louis said. "Uncle, yours too," he looked at William.

Jessamyn almost jumped in joy. Finally, Lady Cordelia’s wish was granted. Prince Louis wanted to seal their love in marriage. Good for her! 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Jerrick didn’t even look at Prince Louis and kept on staring at Jessamyn. Her joy was apparent on her face and he let out a sigh. It appeared that he should have helped that puny boy whether he liked it or not.

His wife, for some reason, wanted that marriage to happen and so, he will.

Prince Louis was not happy with Jerrick blatantly ignoring him. He fisted his hands. "I found a purple hood in the forest, and a..." he cleared his throat. "corset belonging to Lady Jessamyn..."

Jessamyn’s heart skipped a beat. The Crown Prince knows my secret! She couldn’t remember what the corset was about, and it took her some time to remember her encounter with the leeches and what followed.

She bowed her head in shame. Why is this happening to me?

"Ha!" Jerrick turned to look at Prince Louis with a menacing scoff. He held Jessamyn’s hand gently to assure her. "Are you trying to blackmail me?" Jerrick asked.

Jessamyn sensed an aura of death around Jerrick. Please, do not kill the Crown Prince...