Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER FIFTY

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

‘I’m sorry?’

Am I a… Relative? Of the Queen? Just what in the fresh heck of a situation did you put me in Pelomina Vaustero?! A relative of the QUEEN?!

“Lady Pelomina, is something the matter?” the queen asked, turning to look at me halfway, I nodded at her with what I felt like was a smile, I could at least hope that it looked like one because honestly, it just felt as if I reflexively showed my teeth, you know, like a weirdo.

“I-I’m fine, your majesty, I just happen to recall… something from what you said,” I replied, and she huffed with a smile,

“Ah, yes, I would also catch myself daydreaming of a time when my husband bathed in glory,” she replied again with a nonchalant shrug, but it sounded more like a bitter memory than a simple reminiscence, in fact, it felt as if she was mocking what a ‘has-been’ the king has become.

‘Or am I just overthinking this whole thing?’

“You better enjoy your husband’s company now, you’ll miss it, you’re in that age where Lord Lykus and you had to make an extremely crucial decision,” she paused, I peeked over her shoulder to take a glance at the somber look on her face,

Instantly, the air around us changed. I just got a hold of things recently. What sort of importantly crucial issue do I have to face next? Can’t I deal with the minor-little importance fusses first? Can’t I just try to climb my way up the difficulty ladder? What happened to our own pacing?

“And… what might that be, your majesty?” I asked.

A small smile danced on her lips as she chuckled, “Well… What else might it be?” she paused, stopping in our tracks and turning to me, pointing her finger at my stomach, “A child, my dear Pelomina, an heir…” she trailed off.

‘...hah?’

I trotted off to follow her once I noticed she continued walking ahead. A moment lasted when I couldn’t feel my legs with how utterly confused I was. That is the big decision we’ll have to make. That’s it? Why is everyone so hung up about a child? Who’s having a child?

Frankly, I never heard about this issue from Lykus. It was always other people who brought it up. Maybe they’re the ones who should have a child. They talk about having children as more of like a project with an imminent deadline. Not the first time I’ve heard of it, but most of the time it was Lykus who answers those questions, but he’s not here right now—what-how do I—

“My, my… Pelomina, I didn’t intend to put you in such a predicament, this is less your decision than it is your husband's,” she followed.

‘… hah?’ “I… I'm sorry?”

“Pelomina, despite this being one of the very few instances we’ve met, I consider you a close family, so heed my words,” she paused, and now I just noticed that we reached a wide-open balcony, revealing the starry night sky. Nevertheless, while my eyes had briefly wondered, my focus remained clinging to the queen’s words.

Things had just got very serious very quickly, in more ways than I could ever anticipate.

“Leave him,” she said, barely loud enough just to be audible.

I felt my teeth clench with nerves, my heart skipped a beat at how her eyes suddenly pierced mine. She’s not giving me advice…

It felt like a warning. An order.

“I don’t… your majesty I—I don’t quite understand—Why?” I asked, shuffling closer to her, “Is there something wrong? I—are we in danger?” I followed, looking around to see if anyone else was listening, because why would she have to lower her voice with such an urgent tone?

She gulped and looked behind me. Sure enough, a group of men and women in equally grandiose clothes walked the length of the hallway. They chatted amongst themselves before they saw us, bowing deeply at the queen which she gracefully acknowledged with a curt nod. The men disappeared into a room close to the balcony.

Once that I was over I turned to the queen once again and this time, I could feel just how stiffly she stood, I could see how clenched her jaw is and just how irrevocably displeased she is contrary to how she presented herself.

Okay… what is going on here—wait, are those the same people from the room we were just in? What is going on in here—

“Leave, Pelomina, I’m telling you to leave, run…” the queen hissed through clenched teeth. Her whole body seemed to tremble with anger as her poker face wavered. She reached over to her side, lifting the bunched up, cascading silk-like garments which I thought was a design, and pulled out a hefty-looking pouch, and while I hardly heard it, I could tell the clinking sounds within the pouch were coins, money.

Shoving the pouch into my hands while looking behind us to check for more incoming people she breathed out shakily, “My fate is sealed… but yours isn’t, trust no one and leave,” she said, placing her hands on my shoulder and taking steps to push me away.

By now more men have been coming our way. This time I firmly recognize them to be from the room where we met the king. Would that mean that I would bump into Lykus along the way?

Yes! Lykus! I need Lykus right now.

I don’t know what the queen is talking about, but as much as I trust her, I also trust Lykus. Frankly, I doubt I’d be able to accomplish anything without his help.

“I–okay…” I trailed off, nodding to her as I briskly trudged away, I managed to look back at her a couple of times and I caught her sighing heavily, seemingly raising a hand to bid me farewell but stopped when another batch of noblemen appeared in front of me, we passed each other with subtle nods while I struggled to keep at my pace.

I tried to count, guess—heck, hope that I find that room again just so I could take Lykus away from this place immediately. He probably worries about me enough that I could convince him to leave in the state I’m in.

In my trance, I still managed to discern and recognize Yulsey’s face among the passing nobles, just noticing now that they were increasing gradually and the wide hallways start to get a little congested. I paused to check if he also saw me but it doesn't look like he did. No matter, I’m sure he’s busy anyway, he wouldn’t mind if I didn’t say goodbye to him, right?

Because right now that is the least of my worries.

But I could tell that I must be close to that room—AHA! I found it! I’m almost pretty sure this is the door, and that would mean that this is also that same room. I dusted myself and knocked, I might be in a hurry but there’s no way I’d just barge in there.

My chest caved as I breathed out, now catching my breath before knocking a second time, there was no answer. Can’t they hear me? Even with the number of people now passing this previously empty hallway, they would’ve still heard it from the inside, it’s not like these people were stomping their feet out here to drown out the, pretty frenzied, knocking I was doing.

I was practically banging on the door.

“My lord?” I called from the outside, and as ironic as it was, the only ones who heard me were the passing nobles. Oh, come on, how could they possibly not hear me? These doors are not made of titanium, and even if it was, I bet they would still be able to hear me being this darn close.

I balled my fist again, ready to bang louder on the door, but just as I was about to swing a hand to stop it before it made contact with the door,

‘Lyku—’ “... Yulsey,” I whispered.

Looking at his towering figure, he lowered my hands and held my shoulders, the worry so deeply etched on his face.

“Pelomina—what are you…” he trailed off, looking at the door, like it meant anything, “Must you really bang on the doors?" he asked with a chuckle shaking his head as he went on, "Do you know how worried I was to see that you were the source of that noise? I thought you fell or—”

“Yulsey, it’s alright if I open the door and barge in, yeah?” I basked,

“Huh?—wha—why are you… N-No! Of course not! What is the problem, Pelo—I-I could knock for you,” he said, struggling to do just that before fixing his collar and knocking on the door with two knuckles, looking down with a sigh and looking at me with a confused smile.

It took a couple of seconds before he also frowned at the door, before knocking a second time. I crossed my arms, “See, they can’t hear us—wait, you have some power around here, why don’t you just—”

Before I could finish my sentence, we heard a soft click from the other side of the door, followed by a hushed squeak, the door stands ever so slightly ajar, just enough for an eye to see Yulsey through the gap, not me though because I’m not on the side of the wall,

“Oh! Lord Yulsey… wha… what brings you here?” asked a woman’s voice, once that’s quite familiar, actually.

Yulsey, frowned at the situation, looking up and down the gap of the door, “Would I need a reason to access one of the palace’s quarters?” he asked back, albeit it was definitely a jab to her, he delivered it gently and with a smile.

‘But honestly—I know I’ve heard this voice before,’ I couldn’t put my finger on it…

“W-Well… your lordship,” the woman stuttered out, “I—the situation right now is not something I could—”

“... Lady Heilman? Is that you?” Yulsey interrupted, looking at her under his brow. You could tell that there was a hint of contempt in his voice.

‘Heilman?... Where have I… Heilman..?’

“Wait… Heilman—Marriane?!” I gushed, in a split second I heard a thud, Marriane tried to close the door on us but luckily Yulsey was on alert and wedged his food so it didn’t close completely while I, with the very little bodyweight I had, pushed the door open and alas it did…

“... Lady Marianne…” it was Yulsey who voiced it out. The room was just as dim as I’ve seen it before, if not dimmer, and there, on the couch from the far back, lies Lykus. My husband. Barely covered by the blanket that was already slipping from his unconscious body.

Immediately, I felt like I was plummeting. A cold feeling rushed through me as if ice-cold water was dumped on me. It left me lightheaded that I had to catch my head and hold on to close furniture to keep my footing.

It… doesn’t seem real. The room was spinning and I am… angry. So very angry, confused… and devastated.

Yet I felt so numb.

I couldn’t hear anything, but I was deafened by sounds I couldn’t even comprehend. I couldn’t feel anything, but my whole body ached and felt heavy, like leaving the pool after a long swim. It felt like my eyes were playing tricks on me. This… couldn’t have possibly happened—

“Heilman—what have you done?!” Yulsey yelled so loud that it pulled me back into reality, “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!” he roared again but I couldn’t find him in the room, my focus was off, and mere seconds from that…

Everything went black.