The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 331: Trying To Manipulate

Jessamyn stood there, her eyes fixed on the man she once trusted with her life. Her master spoke in a voice thick with false concern, carefully weaving his words as if crafting a delicate trap.

He claimed to worry for her safety and the well-being of Ayberia, but Jessamyn could see through him now. The years of loyalty, of believing in him, had eroded under the weight of the truth. He couldn’t mask the malice that darkened his eyes, no matter how convincing his words were.

She listened, her expression calm, almost trusting, but deep down she felt the cold grip of suspicion tightening around her heart. Jessamyn had never considered herself a particularly clever woman, yet it was impossible to miss the danger lurking beneath his words.

The goddess herself had granted her visions of what was to come, but even without them, she would have known her master was not to be trusted. The Council’s plans might have been shrouded in secrecy, but their intentions were clear as day to her now.

They were scheming, and Jerrick was at the center of it all.

He had laid out the council’s plot in a way that was almost laughable in its transparency. They wanted Jessamyn to lure Jerrick to a "safe place," a location designated by the council under the pretense of protecting him from Altania. The council wanted him to hide while the danger passed, and in return, Jerrick would help the council rise to power by replacing the church of the goddess Levana in Ayberia. They wanted the council’s authority to become the new religion, claiming it was for the greater good.

Jessamyn’s lips twitched into a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Of course, they knew of her past hatred for the goddess, of the bitterness she harbored after everything that had happened. They were playing on that anger, offering her a deal they believed she would accept.

It was, on the surface, a simple exchange—a tempting one. But she wasn’t a fool, and it offended her that they thought she might be.

Jerrick, the Lycaon Wulfhednar, one of the most powerful warriors alive, needed to hide? Did they think she would fall for that? They either underestimated her intelligence or overestimated their own deception.

Her master droned on, confident that his half-baked plan would lure her in, but Jessamyn remained silent, letting the mask of astonishment slip across her face.

"I trust you, Master," Jessamyn said, her voice soft and filled with false wonder. "If what you say is true, my husband is key to the future of Ayberia. I will do what you ask. Let me convince him."

Her master’s eyes gleamed as if he had already won. "I know you will do the right thing for your family, Jessamyn. Your loyalty has never been in question."

Jessamyn nodded, feigning reluctance. "He’s a proud man, though," she said, a note of uncertainty creeping into her voice. "It will take time to persuade him. He won’t accept help so easily, especially not from the council. Give me time—keep the barrier up until then. For now, just let me through. Let me speak with him, alone."

Her master regarded her for a moment, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. He was weighing her words, calculating. Jessamyn kept her face neutral, hiding the anger bubbling inside her. She needed to play this right, to pretend she had no other choice but to follow his wishes. Her master’s hesitation was palpable, and she knew she needed to push him in the right direction.

"I don’t want anyone else coming near us," she continued, her voice quiet but firm. "If my husband sees anyone else—especially if Elaine shows up—he’ll think the council is trying to manipulate him. He won’t trust me. He’ll turn against your plan."

At the mention of Elaine, something flickered in her master’s expression, and Jessamyn seized on it. He was thinking it over, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of deceit. Jessamyn remained steady, though her heart raced beneath her calm exterior. If he agreed, she might just have a chance.

Finally, he nodded. "I’ll keep the barrier up for now. But Jessamyn, we don’t have much time. Altania is closing in on Ayberia, and we need your husband’s help. You have one week."

One week. Jessamyn’s pulse quickened at the thought, but she forced a grateful smile onto her lips. "Thank you. I’ll do my best to bring him to you."

Her master’s gaze drifted to her swollen belly, his lips curling into something that resembled a smile, but there was no warmth in it. The malice she had sensed earlier flickered again, sharper this time, and Jessamyn instinctively placed a protective hand over her unborn child. She knew exactly what the council wanted—her son, her heir, posed a threat to their plans. They didn’t want him to be born.

"How far along are you?" her master asked, his voice deceptively casual.

"A month until the baby is born," Jessamyn replied, forcing her tone to remain light. Inside, her panic swirled. She couldn’t let them near her child, not ever.

"Ah," he murmured, his eyes lingering on her belly, calculating. Slowly, he reached out, his hand extending toward her as if to touch the place where life grew inside her.

Jessamyn turned swiftly, stepping back before his hand could make contact. Her heart pounded in her chest, the danger radiating from him like a toxic cloud. She couldn’t afford to let him touch her—there was something deeply wrong about the way he reached for her child, a darkness that sent shivers down her spine.

"I wish you a safe birth," he said, retracting his hand but not his malice.

"Thank you," Jessamyn replied, forcing another smile. Her mind raced. She needed to get away from him, to protect her son from whatever the council was planning.

Without further words, her master turned toward the barrier. With a wave of his hand, a long tear appeared in the shimmering wall of magic, just wide enough for Jessamyn and her horse to pass through.

Holding the reins of her horse, Jessamyn hesitated for a moment. Jostein, her loyal companion, snorted and pawed the ground, sensing the malevolence in the air. He was reluctant to move forward, and Jessamyn could feel the same hesitation tugging at her own heart. What lay beyond this barrier? What dangers awaited her on the other side?

She couldn’t think about it now. Her mission was clear—reach Jerrick, protect her son, and survive the council’s trap. Taking a deep breath, Jessamyn tugged gently on Jostein’s reins and urged him forward. The horse resisted at first, but with a quiet, soothing murmur from Jessamyn, he stepped through the barrier with her.

As they passed through the tear in the magic, Jessamyn felt a cold wave wash over her, like stepping into a frozen lake. The world on the other side felt... odd.

Jostein let out a low, anxious whinny, and Jessamyn stroked his neck, trying to calm him.