Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

“What do you mean, a letter?” I asked as Polly handed me over an envelope with pretty laces, beige in color and wrapped in green ribbon. It even had a seal, “who is this form?” I asked, looking at how fancy the paper and the whole thing looked, it must be from someone with good standing.

Polly’s eyes widened at me as she gestured to the back of the envelope, “What do you mean my lady, don’t you usually receive letters from the Verdessi manor?” she asked with a confused frown, she definitely thinks there’s something wrong with me.

‘Oh no, think of excuses quick!’

“Ah yes, it must’ve slipped my mind, I’m acting pretty winded recently,” I replied, chuckling lightly and clearing my throat. She was quick enough to agree with a vigorous nod,

“Indeed, my lady, so must I cancel this invitation as well?” she asked as she offered her hand for the letter again. I frowned at her suggestion. ‘again’? No, actually, that would make sense, I suppose. I couldn’t just leave the house to attend a gathering that I’m invited to, one because of my poor health and two because that would be risky.

‘What is this invitation for even?’ I thought as I read the words, ‘Ball’?

A ball? I’m not sure what the timeline is anymore, castles and a ball? I suppose the place is actually more advanced than I thought it was. “This isn’t mandatory, right?” I asked, what if it’s one of those passive-aggressive invitations that sounds genuinely eager to have you attend but doesn’t pressure you to come? But everyone knows that not attending is rude as heck? There are many cases like that, but Polly only snorted before waving me off,

“My lady please, they can make it seem like a threat, but that means nothing against you,” she replied with a chuckled.

‘Ah… comforting’

She then placed a thumb on her chin, nodding as she counted silently with her fingers, “Right, if I am not mistaken I would say that this is the seventeenth time they invited you to this event,” she informed and I tilted my head.

I guess Lady Pelomina must’ve been consistent with her declination if that’s the case. How commendable for them to still try to invite her, or do they just send her letters for formality? I opened the letter as I sat on the edge of my bed. I’m able to read fast enough to comprehend what the letter entailed,

“… invite… ball… infamous lady… outstanding… remarkable… lord Lykus… royal… coronation of the prince?” mumbling the most notable words out, a coronation for the prince’s succession of the throne as the new king. Well, that seems like a pretty big deal.

“Oh my… uhm, that sounds mandatory,” she noted and snorted as I turned to her, it does sound like it’s mandatory. Will this letter be the exemption for all the past letters that they let her pass up and not respond to? Do we have to? Why does it have to be now when I’m nearing the crux of my plan at the few lingering moments until it’s time?

This is bad timing if I’ve ever seen one. I groaned as I threw the letter on the vanity and plopped down on the chair, resting my elbow on the desk, connecting my hands at the fingertips as I breathe deeply with shut eyes. From the background, I could feel Polly shifting on her feet and fidgeting.

“My lady, if you’re that against of attending… I suppose the lord could do something about it,” she began, and I hummed, pursing my lips out.

Should I go ask Lykus? Should I go ask my ‘husband’ that hates me so? Simply because of a doubt, a misconception, when he thought I was doing something behind his back. Doing nothing but torment me during the past few days if not outright avoid me. And the few minutes that we passed each other, he still has something crude to say.

Should I ask him for a favor?

‘No, that’s silly…’

[12 hours later]

I watched how the Lykus, followed by his knights, paraded back into the castle. The candlelight still did their appearances justice, and their armors remained shiny. Lykus was quick to get off his... dragon. I’ll stick with ‘dragon’ for now because there is no better way to describe that creature.

He gave Lily’s rein to the medieval equivalent of a valet, the other nights striding along to a clearing, probably to return the horses to the stables. I’m not that interested in the stables, first, because I know people will notice if one horse goes missing, second, I don’t even know how to ride one, and third, I can’t fit a horse through a hole.

He strode back inside the castle, not noticing me this time until he was close enough and he raised a brow at me, I did a quick curtsy, and he nodded, he must’ve been tired seeing as he didn’t take the effort to go off and nitpick about my posture or how I’m waiting for him or literally anything else,

‘Right, okay… that’s good. Maybe he’s a bit more tolerable when he’s tired?’

He continued walking inside, the other servants avoided him at this time and it seemed like this was the norm with him in this case, I debated whether I should follow him but honestly, herd behavior is compelling and he seems serious, so maybe I’ll just wait into the corner when he’s back to his normal snappy self—

“Pelomina,” he called, pausing at his steps and turning to look back at me,

“Yes?” I answered,

He frowned at me, “Do you have business with me?” he asked, gesturing at the path he just took, “You were following me, weren’t you?” he asked,

I gulped as I raised my hands in a defensive position, yeah, this mood is definitely something I don’t want to involve myself with, “Ah, no… it can’t wait, please get some rest first,” I replied, shaking my head subtly,

I could hear him somewhat growl from this distance as his expression soured, “Follow me,” he said and since he’s not saying it out like a suggestion, I did as he told and he led me to, you guessed it, his study.

There’s no other venue for us to talk apart from this study? What does he do here, honestly? If he spends most of his time training with the knights, then what is this for?

He gestured at the chair in front of his desk and plopped down on his own, leaning back and stretching his neck back with a deep groan followed by a sigh, “What’s your business with me?” he asked, not looking at me and keeping his eyes shut,

“Are you sure you want to deal with it now, it’s not a very pressing matter,” I began, he looks too tired to be dealing with anything, I may hate him but I’m not a cold, heartless, unfeeling person, unlike someone.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and made a circling motion with his hand, “It’s fine, quickly,” he replied,

I huffed and cleared my throat, straightening my back. I guess I should just go outright and say it. So much for being considerate. “I was wondering if you’ve received any letters or news about the prince’s succession to the throne?” I began, in returned he hummed as he finally lowered his face to meet mine,

“Are you here to gossip?”

“No, I received a letter that said so,”

He sighed at my answer, visibly displeased and upset, “So the king finally surrendered his throne to someone who’s nothing more than a newborn faun,” he narrated, looks like he’s the one who wants to gossip, “Well… what is your issue?” he asked,

I gulped down, gripping the fabric of my clothes, “Must we make an appearance at such event?” I asked,

He shrugged, “Unfortunately so,” he answered and opened a drawer from his desk, pulling out stacks of parchment paper, a pen, and ink, then without a word he started scribbling on his desk. The room was silent and I was fidgeting as I waited for him to tell me to leave,

I don’t want to ask permission to leave because he might not be done speaking with me so I waited as I wrote, I could hear the way his pen scratched against the paper. I wonder what his writing is like. Maybe it’s like one of those really big and hardly readable ones, those that looked like calligraphy initially but just look like messy cursive.

“You could read it after I’m done if you’re curious,” he noted not raising his eyes from the paper, and just then did I notice that I was stretching my neck in a not-so-discreet manner to look at his paper.

“N-No…I’m sorry, it’s—you don’t have to lord Lykus, I’m just curious…S-Should I take my leave now?” I asked, averting the situation again.

He raised his eyes up to me, bored and exhausted, “Do you have any other business with me?” he asked,

“N-No, not anymore, that would be all,” I answered.

He then gestured to the door, “Then you’re free to leave,” he replied and I inhaled and nodded, giving a curtsy to him as I leave his room and close the doors lightly.

“Whew… some progress, he’s still rude but at least we can hold a conversation now,” I whispered to myself as I walked away, I postponed my escape plan, I could’ve pulled through with it, yes, but after having that kind of news and knowing the premises of that event I suppose I could hold off.

Something in my gut tells me I need to go to that gathering.