The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 195: True Heir

Jerrick fixed the baby hair falling on her face with a smile. His heart was full. "My wife..." he whispered before kissing her forehead.

He couldn’t help but stare at her face for some time before getting off the bed to get his robe. Covering himself with the robe, he closed the window so Jessamyn would sleep more deeply.

The gentleness on his face was replaced with a menacing scowl as he looked at the divider. "Why haven’t you left yet?" he asked. "Haven’t you seen what you wanted to see?"

His eyes narrowed at the shadow moving inside the other room. The soft jingles followed as the woman walked to the door, but she stopped.

"It’s a waste..." Celena said, her sharp eyes landing on Jerrick through the gap. "The intended issue has not come to fruition."

"The intended issue?" Jerrick raised one of his brows. Fisting his hands, he observed her keenly.

"It’s such a waste an heir was not conceived by your union when we are eagerly waiting. She was ripe. Why did you hold back?" Celena asked.

Jerrick gnashed his teeth, as rage boiled his blood. "You’re getting more and more annoying," he said, promising in his heart to kill this nosy woman.

"How are you going to kill me?" Celena walked closer to the divider. "With your sword or... your family’s spells? I probably deserve it," she chuckled softly.

The shadow of the partition fell on her face, exposing only her lips that had a maleficent smile on them.

Jerrick pulled the curtains on the divider to close, unwilling to engage with the scheming woman anymore.

"We have been waiting for your heir ever since we found out Jessamyn was your true mate..." Celena said. "I won’t die without holding the true heir at least once in my arms..."

"True heir?" Jerrick pushed the curtain aside. Her words caused an unease in his heart. He already had a son, who was supposed to be his heir. He was burnt to a crisp. Thinking about that incident shook his heart.

His first instinct said that this woman had a hand in the accident that took the life of Imogen and his son.

With a chuckle, Celena walked out. Jerrick’s eyes landed on Jessamyn and his hands trembled a bit. Keeping his sword beside the bed, he curled up spooning Jessamyn. Only when she held his hand could he fall asleep.

-----

Jessamyn couldn’t sleep for long as she was aware that she was at the palace. Jerrick was already awake and he was setting the table for breakfast.

"Did I wake you?" he asked, walking to her with a smile. Something was missing in his smile.

"No, I’m fine," Jessamyn smiled, covering herself with the blanket. She couldn’t look at him in the eye.

Seeing her reluctance to step out, Jerrick went out sending in Isadora with a few maids, to help her get dressed. Jerrick too came back dressed, and he sent away all the others.

The room was silent sparing the sound of the cutleries. Jessamyn observed Jerrick and it looked like he was in deep thought. If she dared to assume his expression, he looked sad and angry.

Jessamyn wanted to ask what bothered him but she was scared to. She was convinced that he knew about the secret trip she took with the white wolf and he was mad at her for that. The grand duke might have told Jerrick the truth.

She wanted to address it to him and tell him that she regretted going with that wolf, but she couldn’t gather the courage to do so.

"I want to visit Cordelia," she said.

She had no idea how long he was planning on staying in the capital city. But after the debacle with the crown prince earlier, she thought it would be better if she met Cordelia and explained everything in person before the news reached her through others.

"Why?" Jerrick asked. He couldn’t maintain eye contact with Jessamyn and looked away.

"I have to talk to her about the~"

"Whatever," Jerrick said interjecting her. "You are not happy I revealed the truth to Louis."

Jessamyn gulped at the intensity of his glare. "I know you did what was best for me. I trust you. I am not meeting her to apologize."

Her answer must have satisfied him for he didn’t ask her anything after that. Jessamyn said nothing and finished her breakfast, her mind occupied with how to break the news to Cordelia.

Jerrick arranged a carriage for her. Just as she was about to leave, she remembered one important thing.

"That woman came to the room before you did," she said, stopping by the door.

Jerrick, who had been adjusting his sleeves, looked up at her, his eyes narrowing. "Which woman?" he asked, though a hint of dread was already creeping into his voice.

"The mistress," she clarified, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jerrick’s demeanor changed instantly. He stood up, his posture rigid, and walked toward her with long, purposeful strides. The air seemed to crackle with the intensity of his anger. His expression turned from concern to rage, his jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened, narrowing to slits as if he were trying to contain a storm within.

Jessamyn saw the transformation and felt a chill run down her spine. She cowered slightly, leaning against the door for support. The sudden shift in his mood was terrifying, and she felt a knot of fear tightening in her stomach.

"She dared come here?" Jerrick’s voice was a low growl, each word dripping with barely restrained fury.

Jessamyn nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes, she... she came in and spoke to me."

Jerrick was now only a step away from her, his towering presence overwhelming. His breath came in harsh, ragged bursts, and she could see the veins in his neck pulsing with anger. He reached out and placed a hand on the doorframe, his knuckles white with the force of his grip. His other hand found its way to her shoulder, gripping her tightly but not painfully as if he needed the contact to anchor himself.

"Did she say anything to you? Did she threaten you?" he demanded, his voice trembling with suppressed rage.

Jessamyn swallowed hard, her eyes wide. "No, she didn’t threaten me. She just... she just talked. But her presence alone was enough to unsettle me."

Jerrick’s eyes flashed with a mix of anger and protectiveness. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but his chest heaved with the effort. "I will deal with her," he said, his voice deadly calm. "She will never bother you again."

Jessamyn nodded gingerly.

"Are you scared of me?" Jerrick asked, his brows furrowed out of sadness.

"N-no!" Jessamyn managed to say.

Jerrick let out a deep breath and took a step back. Jessamyn bowed her head and left the room. Isadora was waiting for her and they got in the carriage.

-----

"Jessamyn might be responsible for the death of Imogen and my son, William," Jerrick said with the sunlight casting an eerie shadow on his face.