Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER NINETEEN

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

I worked my way towards my chambers and threw the book to my bed, exerting the last of my reserved strength. There’s a lot of work needed in this body, even carrying a book was straining enough. I wonder if there’s a specific trigger for that pain, nevertheless I should really avoid straining myself.

I don’t exactly know when it’ll happen,

After that, I somewhat speed-walked my way out of the castle, proud that I’m actually getting the hang of mapping through the seemingly endless rooms and hallways until I reached out front where a carriage was settled right at the doors, Lykus was standing outside the carriage having a chat with the ancient equivalent of a driver, who was already settled in his seat.

Once Lykus saw me he hummed and opened the doors, waving his hands at me as if to say ‘Hurry up’, I walked a bit faster of course, as the lord commands, I am merely a weak, fragile, decoration, to do his rightful bidding.

‘Just you wait… after that coronation thing is over, you get to live in this place all alone,’

He wouldn’t need to waste his time buying stupid, extravagant dresses or do the most by having a normal conversation with me, most of all he wouldn’t have to worry about his wife seeing someone else behind his back because he will then have no wife, and we’ll all just live happily ever after. Now that we’re going into the city, maybe I could grasp how the value of currency circulates.

I’ll be needing money, of course, that’s a given. However, I do need to worry about my mode of transportation and what I should take with me.

Ugh, achieving peace and freedom could be so mentally and financially taxing.

Once I settled in on the carriage. He also got in and the whole thing lowered under his weight. His side of the chair was visibly bigger. Good thing I chose the correct seat.

He closed the door and tapped on the roof of the cabin twice. Once he did, the cart started moving. I’m not even going to deny the fact that this was a fun experience. I could see the scenery pass by through the glass. The moment we passed through the gaze I had this illusion of peace.

This is not half of the relief I’ll feel once I actually leave the castle for real, but to see the gates from the distance made me feel like there’s a really strong chance that it’ll be soon. I could almost taste it. There’s a long road from the castles and to the outskirts of town, the path is adorned with flowering bushes that gradually decrease as the road stretches on.

The next scenes were agriculture, I could see pastures of cows and sheep, everything was green and despite the windows being shut, I could feel the air being cleaner and fresher than the air I breathe in the castle, I closed my eyes and inhaled, what more if the windows were op—

‘… the windows opened,’

I opened my eyes to see that Lykus opened the windows and leaned back on his chair sighing, “That’s better, it’s so hot in this cabin, we couldn’t have you overheating and holding us back now can we, Lady Pelomina,” he said with a sneer.

That’s it. Moment’s ruined.

If I could turn off my need for air, I would’ve already. How could he ruin a whole experience with just one sentence? Is that the gift his fairy-godmother gave him on his first birthday? To be the death of all the simple joys of life? That’s not very magical, and enchanting of her.

I didn’t even reply to that; it doesn’t seem to need one, if I said anything back then we’ll have to talk longer and I’ll have to endure holding a discourse with him in which one of the main requirements is being passive-aggressive and saying backhanded comments that initially doesn’t sound so bad but it was really filled with ill intent from the start. And here I thought he was starting to be more tolerable.

We entered the more commercial parts of town where stalls and establishments are on every corner and alley, there are some buildings where their first floor is the commercial area and the second floor is their residential quarters, apart from clotheslines hanging and anchors on the taller building, there were streamers made with little flags of different vibrant colors.

The people were everywhere, the chatters and the noises from the loud conversations and bargains are coming from every direction, meat stalls, flower stalls, a bakery and a separate stall for bread, teen boys walking around with flower carts, women walking around with a basket and a street show of puppets surrounded by a few children.

What is this… this is so freaking scenic, it’s so… exhilarating.

The carriage walked further and apart from the pop of color from the steamers and flowers, everyone seemed to be dressed well, the middle class of this world perhaps, although we slightly steered away from such a lively setting and we arrived as a shop, a boutique if you will.

The building has a glass wall to put a few beautiful dresses on display, “huh… ’Lady Illescent’s’,” I whispered, reading the name of the shop. It must be one of those really well-known luxury brands because unlike the other shops we passed by, people weren’t crowding in here. In fact, we might be the only ones who’ll get in.

Lykus was the first to get out, waiting for me to follow him before she slammed the door close. ‘what’s his problem’ I thought as I watched and followed him storm inside the shop, the little bell by the door frame ringing.

The place itself has such a regal feel to it, with redwood floors and emerald-colored walls, a decent-sized chandelier in the center, and both sides of the building filled with dresses that were neatly hung, further ahead was a counter and behind the counter is a double door, perhaps that’s where they store the more expensive dresses, or maybe where they take the measurements?

A few seconds after that and a lady with salt and peppered hair in a bun came out of the backdoors behind the counter, wearing a deep maroon dress that glimmered almost like silk. It has no extravagant embroidery or the like. It’s also very sparse with the lace and her corset was visible, yet it’s in a matte black color. She looked like how an evil stepmother should look like.

She has a stern look on her face as she lowered her head to us, a brow raised at Lykus, “Lord Lykus, how pleasant to see you again so soon,” she noted to him to which Lykus only scoffed, she then looked at me and nodded, “Welcome lady Pelomina, I hope I could serve you properly this time as well,” she noted and I nodded,

“Yes, thank you,” I replied with a small curtsy, she looked prim so I also lowered my head, even this lady seemed nice to Pelomina so the least I could do is retain her good relationships if I can’t fix her broken ones. However, when I looked up, I got to see the woman’s surprised expression. Her mouth was agape ever so slightly and her eyes grew wide.

“Oh, my...” she gasped, her eyes shifting between me and Lykus who was smirking at her for some reason, she then walked over to me in haste that she had to grip her dress up a little, her hands were frozen on mid-air like she wanted to cup my face but she’s hesitating to do so.

Finally, though, she decided that she will cup my face with that stern façade of hers melting into a teary face of joy, “How… How did this happen? My lady… you finally spoke,” she said. I got a little anxious when she asked why because I really have no clue. Other than her voice being too mellow and soft, there’s really no other issue about the actual speaking part.

“Forgive me but I also don’t know…” I replied, and she sniffed and hiccupped before pulling me in a hug, I could feel her hands shaking as she sobbed, but instead of being a happy cry... this one was so heartfelt, so sincere, one would even be worried that she might not be crying tears of joy, it was like she was mourning.

‘Then again, this is how older people cry regardless of whether they were happy or not,’

She pulled away and wiped her face; I turned to Lykus, thinking—no, hoping that he’ll have some sort of clue why she acted like this but he looks as confused as I am, he was looking at me with a confused frown.

“Why is she crying?” I mouthed to him,

He shrugged, “I thought you know,” he mouthed back,

By the time that the woman gathered her composure, her face was already so red and her eyes had gone puffy, luckily, she has a handkerchief with her, she wiped her tears and blew her nose, pulling a stool from the side and placing it close to me, “Please, my lady… take a seat,” she said,

I did as she said and she bowed again before looking at Lykus, “I will be bringing the new dresses, please wait here,” she said and we both nodded, not saying anything until she left.

Lykus and I exchanged glances, “That was… very intense,” I began, clearing my throat. I didn’t mean to strike a conversation with him but the woman had a very peculiar reaction to me being able to speak.

Lykus huffed and sneered, “At least your infidelity made someone happy. Does it make you think that it’s worth it?” he asked.

‘There it is…’

“My lord…” I trailed, off, thinking if this is even worth it, instead of anger I’m seeing more attitude though, I will respond nicely to neither but if he’s doing more thinking now than just letting himself be flooded with anger over scenarios, he thought of by himself in the first place, then maybe if I defend myself now I’ll get through the surface until I finally get through him,

“My lord, I did no such thing,” I finished, thinking that maybe now he’ll actually comprehend my words.