Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER TWENTY

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

He huffed and crossed his arms, “I don’t know what makes you think I’d trust your words on this matter,” he replied.

Well, I guess he earned some points for that. I’m not sure if the actual Pelomina actually had an affair, that’s a fact. I’m not sure if the reason he asked me that is because it’s in relation to her ability to speak, another fact. However, from what I understood what he said, he must’ve meant that as long as someone else could vouch for me…

He’ll consider my name being cleared?

Look, it’s not a big deal. I could live the rest of my few days with him still thinking that. How long will that coronation event even take? I didn’t look close enough to read the date. I was distracted by the thought that I’m going to an actual castle and that I’ll get to witness some royal things in the flesh.

I just felt like I need to attend it, a weird gut feeling or a desire to involve myself in bigger things—I mean, I’m in a different world. Come on. Anyone would’ve done the same. Imagine how delicious the food they’ll serve will be. I have things I want to do in this world too,

But unfortunately… fostering a good relationship with him isn’t on my itinerary.

And even before I decided to clear up the misunderstanding by having him go around the castle to ask around if there was ever a time I was having an intimate relationship with whomever, the woman came back pretty soon, pushing a rack of clothes with her, the volume of these dresses almost covering her whole figure.

Maybe her timing was correct because first I need to do an investigation of my own first. What if I—no, the real Lady Pelomina Vaustero truly had an affair with anyone? I could just ask Polly, but I have to think of the proper way and execution to go about it.

The woman emerged from the back and dusted herself before approaching me. Although her face was back to its calm and stern expression, the aftermath of her crying session left its traces across her face.

She gestured at the rack, “Please choose what you would like to try on,” she said, and even though it was me that she asked this question too, Lykus also looked at the selection with arms over his chest, a thumb on his chin, looking intently at the dresses.

When he noticed me staring and gave me a side-eye, tugging at his clothes and straightening his back, an awkward moment of him clearing his throat to top it off, “She says chose, what’re you looking at me for?” he said and I snorted, trying to stop myself from laughing at his little awkward moment.

‘What’s wrong with this guy?’

I did as the woman told and traced my fingers across the texture of the textile. Some are silky, while some are a bit coarser. I’m not exactly an expert on dresses, but all of these look so beautiful, adorned with laces and bright gems, even with all the intricate embroidery.

I would love to try them all on but…

“Ma’am… I love them, but...” I trailed off as I feel the texture of the dress against my fingertips. What are these made of? They’re so thick and sturdy looking. “They seem so heavy and I don’t trust my strength that I’ll be able to hold up in an event wearing these,” I replied.

They all looked hard to wear. It might make it difficult for me to move around.

She blinked and nodded as the realization struck her, “Ah, of course…” she trailed off, looking around the shop, her fingers over her lips in deep thought,

I didn’t mean to stress her out this much, but that’s a ball, and there’s probably a lot of standing around and loitering about in the castle. She left our area and started combing through the racks of dresses hanging from both sides of the wall, “My lady, I don’t think any lighter dresses… but I do have this material that… it would be better if I just show you, please follow me,” she said, beckoning me over to follow her as she went to the backdoors.

I looked at Lykus and he only nodded at me, “Are you not going to come with us, my lord?” I asked,

He inhaled for a moment and huffed as he started walking. That’d be a yes. Is he usually this involved whenever Pelomina bought dresses? I mean, at least he’s not making terrible comments about it but he seems awfully invested in this whole ordeal. We followed the old woman to the back door, and I was partly right. She did have a little area where she’d take the measurements and there was also a body mannequin close by.

Apart from that is a long selection of garments and fabrics in rolls, in a variety of colors and textures, she took one roll of fabric up from its pile, spreading it out for closer inspection, when we walked closer to her, she showed us the fabric, gesturing for us to give it a feel,

“It’s rather thin and somewhat opaque, but if you were to layer two of them, it’ll be enough, and it’s light,” she informed and Lykus furrowed his brows as she felt it with his index finger and his thumb,

“Isn’t this too thin?” he asked, and the woman nodded,

“It is, but as I said, my lord, if we layer it, it won’t appear so,” she explained, making Lykus huff at her.

“I think this is just perfect, it’s light and beautiful,” I chimed in and the woman smiled at me,

“Then this will be our choice, please follow me and tell me what design you’d like,” the woman instructed, giving a sneer to Lykus.

She’s one gusty woman, that’s for sure. Instead of the usual cowering stance people take whenever Lykus is in their presence, she almost seems like she was challenging him. How daring of her. I like her already, although I’m still pretty shaken up about how she cried for me earlier.

She made me stand straight and spread my arms out, taking the measurement of every nook and cranny of my body, after listing the measurements down she fetched a sketchbook and handed it to me, gesturing for me to flip through it and from the corner of my eyes I felt Lykus walked closer until he was peeking at the sketchbook over my shoulder.

Ugh. Look, I’d hate to say this, but this is weirdly adorable. Is he meticulous about these things or does he just want to be involved in the whole dress-picking thing because he doesn’t want me to wear anything revealing?

‘Let’s test that theory…’

“I would like this,” I said, pointing to a fitted dress with an off-shoulder neckline, and the bodice was slightly tugged at the center, with short sleeves, it had no special nor extravagant design it was just a plain dress that would probably cling to the figure of whoever wears it.

Almost immediately, I heard a snit from the large man behind me. “Why that?” I heard him mutter. The woman and I both looked at him, and he shifted his gaze between the two of us, crossing his arms.

The woman went over to me and looked at the sketchbook, scoffing at the dress I chose before looking at Lykus again through half-lidded eyes and a proud smirk, “What’s wrong my lord, it’s a beautiful dress,” she noted and Lykus squinted to her,

“Isn’t that too revealing?” he pointed out before looking back on the fabric that the woman showed us, “And with that fabric no less,” he followed,

The woman sniffed, “Well, it’s the lady’s decision, she might just want to feel light yet beautiful which is why she chose this dress,” she defended, I bit my lip to stop myself from smiling because I would love to see Lykus being told off.

Lykus on the other hand only scoffed loudly, puffing his chest out and gesturing a hand to me, “Her skin is thin and sensitive, the kingdom has a cold climate, and besides, she doesn’t need that to be beautiful, she could wear rags and make it look ethereal, chose another one, something that serves the purpose of clothing,” he ranted, crossing his arms.

…

…

‘uh, what did he say?...’