The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 322: Human Or Hero

William’s heart ached with a pain that threatened to tear him apart as he watched Jessamyn leave. Every fiber of his being longed to reach out, to stop her, but he knew he couldn’t.

The path she was walking was not his to walk with her. The weight of the promise he made her was the only thing keeping him grounded, the only thing that allowed him to break free from the spell circle that held him captive.

"Why does it have to be this way, Jessamyn?" he whispered into the darkness, his voice barely audible. The echo of his question seemed to hang in the air, unanswered.

As he stood there, trapped within the remnants of the spell, fragments of the future he saw flickered before his eyes.

He saw her death. It came to him in jagged glimpses, a cruel echo of the way Jessamyn had described it. But was it real? Or was it a twisted illusion conjured by the spell? He couldn’t be sure.

His chest tightened at the thought. He prayed—fervently, desperately—that Jerrick would find a way to change it, to protect her. William knew he wasn’t the one meant to be by her side now. His role was different, and no matter how much he wanted to be there with her, to shield her from harm, his duty lay elsewhere.

"If all else fails, let’s meet in our next lives, Jessamyn," he murmured, his voice breaking. "I wish I’ll be your brother in the next life, where things will be simpler... where I can be there for you in ways I couldn’t in this one."

Tears slipped down his face, hot and unchecked. He drew in a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The weight of his emotions bore down on him like an anchor, pulling him into the depths of sorrow.

The sound of rustling behind him jolted him back to the present, and he hastily wiped his eyes before turning to see Cordelia approaching. Her footsteps were soft, hesitant.

"What happened to the guards?" William asked, his voice rougher than he intended. He needed to regain control, to focus on what was next.

This hidden chamber, at the end of a tunnel leading from the Queen’s chambers, was unknown to most. Had it not been for Jessamyn’s son guiding her, she would never have found this place. It was likely that Louis had sent Cordelia here to protect her, knowing the secret of its location. There should have been guards.

"Lady Celena must have sent them away. There were some when I first arrived..." Cordelia’s voice wavered with fear.

William stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on her back. He could feel the tremble in her body, the weight of her fear pressing down on her. "With the King dead..." William sighed, the truth of the situation weighing heavily on both of them. The capital city would be in chaos, and Cordelia’s life was in grave danger.

"Louis... Protect him," Cordelia said, her voice breaking slightly. Her gaze flickered with worry, but there was a resolve there too. "I’ll stay here. Louis will expect me to be here."

Though scared, Cordelia knew she had to be brave. She didn’t want to hide or flee. She wanted to stay where Louis expected her to be, even if it meant risking her own life. There was a quiet strength in her decision, one that William couldn’t help but admire.

William nodded, respecting her choice. "Don’t worry. I’ll protect our King," he promised.

With that, William set off, his heart heavy with the responsibility of finding Louis and ensuring his safety. He left Cordelia in the tower.

Cordelia watched him turning into a white wolf and disappear into the shadows, her hands instinctively resting on her belly. Her child kicked softly, a reminder that despite everything, life was growing inside her.

-----

Meanwhile, inside the palace, chaos was unfolding. The battalion, led by Hamilton and his superior officers, had made their way inside. The air was thick with tension, and every step echoed through the eerily silent halls. Hamilton’s heart pounded as he followed orders, his mind swirling with unease.

He hadn’t expected this. None of them had. When they first entered, Hamilton was shocked to hear his superior’s harsh command to kill everyone they encountered—women, children, civilians—it didn’t matter.

The brutality of it turned his stomach. How could they be asked to slaughter innocent people? These weren’t soldiers they were fighting; they were defenseless, trapped in the palace as everything around them crumbled.

Hamilton’s thoughts turned to Jessamyn’s words. She had warned him, pleaded with him to make the right choice. But how could he do that now? He had a pregnant wife waiting for him at home, counting on his return. He couldn’t play the hero, couldn’t risk defying orders and becoming a target himself.

Not with his child on the way.

His breath quickened as they moved through the palace, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. The lack of guards puzzled him, as if the palace had already been abandoned.

But as they split up to cover more ground, Hamilton found himself drawn to a large, grand hall at the end of a corridor. The heavy door creaked open, revealing a group of women huddled together, their eyes wide with terror.

Time seemed to stop.

Hamilton stood frozen in the doorway, his heart slamming against his ribcage. These weren’t soldiers. They were mothers, daughters, sisters. Innocent lives, trembling in fear, their fate resting in his hands. His mind screamed at him to do something, but the voice of fear whispered louder.

If he defied the orders, if he protected these women, it would cost him everything—his life, his family, his unborn child. He couldn’t afford that. But could he live with himself if he turned a blind eye? If he allowed these innocent lives to be snuffed out?

His hands trembled as he slowly sheathed his sword. His superior’s orders rang in his ears, but he couldn’t follow them. Not this time. Not here.

Stepping into the room, Hamilton whispered, "Stay quiet. Don’t make a sound." His heart raced as he glanced behind him, making sure no one had followed. His voice was barely audible as he reassured them. "I won’t let anyone harm you."

He motioned for the women to stay hidden, positioning them behind large tapestries and statues that lined the hall. His hands were shaking, and the weight of what he was doing threatened to crush him.

But this was a line he couldn’t cross. Not when innocent lives were at stake.

As he turned to leave the room, he knew he was playing a dangerous game. His superior would soon realize the hall had been cleared without any casualties. But for now, he had bought these women a few more precious moments of life.

Hamilton closed the door quietly behind him, his heart pounding in his chest. The weight of his decision bore down on him.

He couldn’t be a hero. But he could be a human. And in that moment, it was enough.