Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

“A concubine?” Lykus repeated with a scoff, “Please, lady Heilman, I’m not some low-status man who beds another woman apart from my partner,” he replied, see while he did say something to refute what Marianne said but what doesn’t sit well with me was the fact he said ‘partner’ and not ‘wife’.

‘Because… why? He could’ve said wife,’ I’m not the wife, of course, but given that the real lady Pelomina isn’t currently present, I think she would agree that I’m allowed to be mad for her sake. How dare this woman even say that outright, right in my face?

“Oh, of course, your commendable morals do play a big part in putting you apart from those other men, my lord,” she agreed, and he just hummed, throwing another side-eyed glance at me.

But to suppress the growing feeling of dread that it bothered me to the point of fidgeting, I tried so hard to remind myself that she and I were almost the same. We both have a feeling for the same man who’s already married, given that I am in the body of that marriage partner, knowing full well that I am not the real wife should never sit well with me.

We a sigh, I just clung to his arm and tried to shut out the surrounding.

We found ourselves in the courtyard, where the servants prepared a long table overflowing with food. What’s with the banquet? Why serve this much for a single woman? How many of our rations will she consume? Is she eating for a whole darned village?

I tugged at Lykus and subtly gestured him to lean down, “My lord… what’s with this amount of food?” I asked, and he hummed,

“Lady Marianne prefers a wide selection of food, we didn’t get a prior notice, and she just came here unexpectedly so we couldn’t provide more,” he replied, and for the nth time, my jaw dropped. What is this man talking about?! I watched Marianne as she went over to the selection,

“Oh, my lord, this is just too much, why don’t you join me?” she asked before looking over to me, the bright smile going empty, “and the lady too, please,” she added.

Lykus sighed with a nod, “Well, if you insist, let’s go, wife,” he replied, leading me to the long table. He fetched both of us a place and filled both his and mine. He’s acting… cheery. Which is kind of weird. He seems to be so lenient to Marianne. Who is she in his life, exactly? And how could he stay friends with her when she’s showing such a brazen display of interest for him?

Does he not notice?

“Ah, my lord! I see you’re still fond of this dessert, I recall you loved when I made them,” she exclaimed just as he was putting food on my plate, holding a small saucer of what looked like fruit jam on bread. Lykus nodded,

“Yes, it was delicious, I instructed the cooks to learn how to make it,” he replied, but it looks like that wasn’t the response she was waiting for, so her smile momentarily fell,

“B-But, of course, they could never make it as I do,” she said again, baiting out a compliment from his at this point. Lykus, being clueless, debatable, nodded in agreement before putting more food on my plate, smiling at me ever so slightly,

“That should be enough for now,” he said softly, “Just tell me if you want more,” he followed and I nodded. He still cares enough about me at least. That’s a good thing. Right? I looked around, and I noticed that the passing servants were chattering among themselves. Throwing subtle looks and glares in Marianne's way, and that brought me some comfort.

It feels like I’m going against someone I don’t even know how to fight. Who is Marianne Heilman exactly? Lykus seems awfully lenient to her, and she seems to be upfront about her motives, but Lykus doesn’t seem to mind nor take note of it. And from what I heard, Lykus visits Marianne. I wonder if he went there alone or was he with the real lady Pelomina.

Another pair of servants walked past us, like the others, they were chatting and throwing subtle dirty looks at Marianne, I waved at them with a smile and their eyes widened for a second once they noticed me, but waved back with an equally bright smile.

That’s right, they all hate her, so technically I have a whole castle as an ally, apart from Lykus, but that is still debatable. I mean, he did say all that about me being the only one for him or him prioritizing me above anything so if I take his words for it, he’ll be on my side if this woman pulls up a funny trick against me, right?

“Do you need your personal attendant?” I heard Lykus whisper close to my ears that he startled me, and would you look at that, he noticed it and scoffed at me, “My… quite antsy, are you alright, wife?” he asked,

How come he notices that, but he doesn’t notice the backhanded comments this Marianne of Heilman makes?

I nodded at him, “I’m fine my lord, I just greeted the servants,” I replied, my words coming out stiffer than how I intended, but yes, I was a bit antsy with how this whole thing ensued. He raised a brow, his mouth opening to speak, but I just sighed and patted his chest, “I promise, I will tell you if I ever feel something apart from peace and joy,” I added and he smile with a nod,

“That would be appreciated, my lady,” he replied,

I scoffed at him. I guess I might’ve been worrying a bit too much. Maybe he really doesn’t notice how backhanded she’s being... he's a man, so I guess he wouldn't see things like that outright. Maybe they’re just really close friends. Then again, she doesn’t have to be so irked by me if that was the case.

I stood still on my spot while he went around the table. I still think this amount is absurd to be served for one woman. Even if I add on to the fact that I and Lykus are joining in, it’s still too much! This was six times what Lykus ate in the tavern we had dinner in.

I continued to eat in peace and I overheard them talking in hushed conversations; it doesn’t sound like anything I should listen in, and I’ll lose my cool if I just act affected by all of this, I trust Lykus, sure he might be oblivious to her advances but if he knew he’d probably reject her outright, wouldn’t he?

I mean, he did shoot down the mere suggestion of taking in concubines for the sake of heirs after all. I could only imagine how the real Pelomina would react to that, the blatant disrespect and disregard for her presence, the audacity. The only thing I have as entertainment is watching the passing servants scowl at her, then smile at me once they realized I was watching them.

I even giggled at the few because, while others ever so slightly looked, some were evidently glaring and mocking her.

“E-Ehem, my lady…" I heard her call out, so I snapped my eyes at her,

“Yes?” I said with a hum,

She furrowed her brows at me, “Is something funny?” she asked, looking behind her, but the servant passed way long before she did. I shook my head,

“Oh, no, it’s just… the passing servants were making me laugh,” I replied, I didn’t lie and even if that’s not the whole story, I’m not obliged to tell her and she’s not entitled to know all of it.

She did a high-pitched scoff, “My lady, do I bore you? To have your attention elsewhere is… rather rude, is it not?” she asked, tilting her head at me, playing coy with a disdained expression, looking at Lykus like she was the villain after purposely picking a fight with me.

‘What else does she want? Lykus is already looking at her, why do I have to see my husband—no, forget it,’

Lykus looked at me with furrowed brows but unlike her militant expression, his was a look of concern, “Are you certain you are well, wife? I could lead you back to your chamber if you want to rest,” he offered, and my eyes immediately widened to Marianne and the smirk that took over her face.

“Oh~ I recall that the lady does have a weak constitution, that would be for the best,” she agreed to Lykus, turning to him with almost a convincing look of genuine concern. She’s a professional. She should try out acting. She’d make a freaking fortune.

I shook my head and raised my hand to stop Lykus from coming closer, if I leave now, who knows what this woman will do once I’m out of the picture, it didn’t put my heart at ease that she’s more than eager to have me gone, she’s thrilled.

“I’m fine my lord, I’m simply… easily amused,” I replied, gulping as the smirk melted from her face. Why is she so aggressive?

“Oh, but my lady we don’t want to strain your body, my…” she trailed off, clicking her tongue as she placed a hand over her chest, “it’d be bad for you to be involved with a lot of… physical activity, leave that for us we won’t mind if you need a moment to rest,” she added and I gripped the fork on my hand.

‘She… did not just freaking say that,’

I might be overthinking, yes, but the way she said ‘physical activity’ was unnerving. I shook my head at her, “No, I am fine, I’ve been in good health recently,” I replied through clenched teeth, “Moreover, and I would appreciate it if I were left to make my own decisions with my body, if that’s alright?” I followed, and her cheerful façade was replaced with a stunned look that quickly turned into a scowl for a quick millisecond.

She gasped, “Ah, my lady, it seems I have offended you… is my presence becoming a bother for you?” she asked,

I smiled before replying, “Of course not,” I said with a smile, but she was scheming something else. She maintained a look of worry on her face as she approached me and began taking my plate from me,

“Then perhaps I could brighten your mood, let me choose food for you,” she offered. Now that her back is turned to Lykus, she let the grin slip, and I bit the inside of my cheek and kept holding on to my plate.

“N-No, it’s fine, I can choose the dishes on my own,” I argued, tugging the plate back to me, but she was insistent,

“Wife—” I heard Lykus call out and in that split second of putting my guard down, she jerked the plate off my hands and made a big show of the food falling on her and ruining her clothes. She gasped and stared at the mess she did to herself and looked at me with a frown.

Lykus dashed to my side and placed a hand on my shoulder. Marianne looked at me and sighed deeply, “As I thought the lady is upset with me…” she said and I gasped as I looked at Lykus, but he wasn’t looking at me, she was looking at Marianne, concern on his face.

“Perhaps I should just leave,” she said, but Lykus cleared his throat,

“No, please, we can provide a change of clothes for you, the servants could lead you to the bath,” he said to her before looking at me with a troubled expression, gently pulling me off to the side, “Wife…” her began and I immediately felt bad,

“I didn’t mean to—”

“I think it’s best if you return to your chambers for now,” he said.

‘… what?’