Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER FORTY

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

“I-It hurts, my lord,” she groaned and Lykus crouched down to her aid,

“I’m very sorry, lady Marianne—I was careless, can you get up?” Lykus asked, speaking softly as he led her hand, helping her up. She slowly stood up but only staggered and fell forward.

“My ankle is in so much pain, my lord, I can’t seem to hold myself up,” she said, clinging to Lykus for dear life, making him more guilty than he’s supposed to be.

‘for Pete’s sake,’

“I suppose there’s no bother choice… pardon me lady Marianne,” he said before carrying her like a bride. “I’ll bring you to the physicians, he said, and she nodded solemnly. Lykus turned to me with a stern gaze, “Enjoy your meal, wife, we’ll find you later,” he said with a nod before turning his back to me and walking to the physician’s office.

I hummed before urging Polly to walk ahead, once we made some considerable distance she sighed loudly followed by an aggravated groan, “That wretched woman!” she screeched with restrained anger, her hands clenching before turning into a fist, “It was her who stepped in to put herself in that position!” she growled and I chuckled at her,

“So even you saw that, Polly,” I noted, and she huffed,

“My lady, my eyes were on her, solely, one can never know what that witch is thinking but her actions are as predictable as the seasons itself,” she hissed and I patted her arm to calm her down. As I thought, it really is better not to face them, and in the event that I will see them again. It’s better to be with someone who’s on my side.

We finally reached the kitchen, and it seems they were going through the final preparations. They were putting the meals on the plates and placing them on trays. Once some of them saw me, they smiled and nodded while some raced toward me and sighed with frustrated looks.

“My lady, what are you going to do about that woman?” one of the cooks asked, and the others agreed, visible frowns on their collective faces. Is there anyone else apart from Lykus who likes her around?

Polly clicked her tongue as she went inside, “Oh, you wouldn’t believe what that witch did now,” she began and the cooks, even the men, turned to her with a curious look, “She wore the lady’s clothes!” she announced and some gasped, but Polly raised her index finger, gesturing that was not the worst of it,

“And… and she said… it was loose on her—the nerve! To call our lady fat!” she yelled and an elderly lady cook slammed her napkin and apron down on the table.

I mean... I knew it implied that, but I'm very sickly thin enough as it is. What such a backhanded attack that was from our local witch, Marianne Heilman.

“I’ve had it with that wench!” she exclaimed, but her other helpers held her back.

“How insolent!”

“To insult our lady like that!”

They roared and fumed. I might be weird, but seeing so many people upset for my sake and honor felt nice, having known that they cared about me even if it’s just this, warms my heart… until I remember that it’s not me they’re raging for but the real lady Pelomina, still it felt nice.

“Everyone, calm down… that woman doesn’t live here, and sooner or later she will leave and we’ll be back to our peaceful lives,” I began, “And even if she does insult me, knowing that I have the lot of you to lift my spirits up, drowns out her attempts to bring me down,” I said with a shrug and they paused, sighing as they simmered down. Settling themselves and returning to whispers.

Still, I could hear them muttering complaints and clamors, making me chuckle. Clearly, I have people on my side when it comes to my disdain for her. One of the servants prepared my tray and carried it, looking at me with a huff.

“It’s alright my lady, we know that she also gives you a hard time as she does us,” she said as she nodded to me and Polly who escorted me once again, “Where will you be eating?” the servant lady asked and I gulped, where am I going to eat? I don’t think eating in my bedroom is a good choice and I couldn’t just pick a room. What if those two walk in on me—ah!

“The greenhouse,” I replied, and she nodded, no questions asked. I must really eat at that place a lot for them to think that it’s normal. It was a bit far from the kitchen, but once I saw the greenhouse itself…

I was expecting something smaller… like, way smaller than this—this isn’t a greenhouse anymore, it’s a green-manor! The sun gave it a sheen and once we followed the red brick-tiled pathways and got inside; the sight was to behold. I have never seen anything more colorful than this. From the hanging plants to vines, and finally, the potted plants of all sizes, greeting me with their radiant dyes.

I gulped since I’ve had my jaw dropped. This is the kind of floral garden I was expecting to see on those past school field trips that I paid for. I’d earn some big money if I put an entrance fee and make this open to the public. But right now, I’m glad I have all this to myself… for now.

There was a pair of cushioned metal chairs in the center of the place over an elevated rectangular deck of wood with a carpet, the table wasn’t big and it only fits two people, at max. Does the real lady Pelomina eat with Lykus regularly in this place? That’s a pretty nice thought, but at this moment, I'm more relieved and at peace that I don’t have him here with me.

I guess it’s not his fault. Maybe he and Marianne had some things they bond over, and I… I trust him, I think. Those words that he said to me before, or to Lady Pelomina Vaustero at least, are true and he’s just concerned for his friend. I sat down on the chair and the servant placed my tray on the table.

“Enjoy your meal, my lady,” she said with a bow, taking her leave.

I turned to Polly, “Ah, you should’ve brought your meal—” I began, but she shook her head immediately,

“My lady, we cannot eat with you, I’ve already snuck into the kitchen to eat a few bits and pieces, I’m not hungry at all,” she interrupted. Pursing my lips, I just nodded at her and gestured at the chair,

“Then you should take a seat, it’s uncomfortable to see you remain standing up as I eat,” I said and nodded.

I ate, and we chatted occasionally, both of us impressed with how the plants and flowers grew. I should study up on this topic more. It’s expected of me. After all, I don’t want them to—wait. No… It’s not important. I can’t live my life pretending to be Pelomina for who knows how long. I’m getting carried away again. I wish the coronation day could just arrive so I could move past all of this.

I don’t know anymore. I just want to go back, I guess. Go back to my own world, where I do the things I want again… even if I don’t have an attendant to take care of me or a whole squadron of servants who cook delicious food for me. I would still choose to be able to act like myself and be in good health.

Speaking of, I haven’t had another episode of that yet. I’ve been using my strength lately. I even drank beer, I wonder what triggers it exactly. After I finished eating, she told me to leave the tray and the servants would fetch it, like usual, and I followed. She knows more than I do, after all.

Since we have nothing else to do, we just walked around the garden she was still pretty hung up by what happened with Marianne but I was able to distract both her and myself from that walking irritation with the notes from the book we were reading about earlier and both of our moods immediately brightened up until we were back to laughing and chuckling.

I even made her recall that little moment with sir Avela—Oh maybe I could even get her to show me who he is, “Polly, would you like to see sir Avela now?” I asked and her face turned beet red, her fingers fidgeting as she giggled.,

“M-My lady, I… I don’t think my heart would be able to handle seeing him now,” she replied, and I chuckled, well it’s fine. It seems like she’ll really combust with how flustered and dazed she is at the moment. After quite a long stroll, we decided to get back to the castle. Surely, I don’t have such terrible luck and come across them again.

As we were walking through the halls, I was planning to take a bath again, it was getting pretty dark and I don’t want to wait until it was night or I’ll get too chilled. A guard saw us from the distance and started walking in our direction,

“My lady,” he began with a curt bow, “The lord asks you to head to the drawing-room next to his study,” he said and Polly frowned,

“Right now?” she asked, and the guard turned to her with a nonchalant shrug,

“The lord said it’s to her convenience, however, he does expect you there, my lady,” he said and Polly nodded to him, so did I and with that, he left.

Polly looked at me with furrowed brows, “Do you want to head there now, my lady?” Polly asked. I nodded, only because I have nothing else to do and I’m not in the best state to use my brain for some ‘Mission Impossible’ level escape that I was in the delusion of being able to commit.

She huffed and nodded at me and we were heading in that direction, for some reason, just knowing I’ll see the two of them together really bummed me out. But that’s normal, right? It’s because I did crush on Lykus a little and seeing him with another woman who’s actively trying to latch her claws at him is… depressing.

And I didn’t know what sort of twisted image I expected when Polly opened the door… but it definitely wasn’t this.

Lykus with his back turned to us, cupping Marianne’s face to his, her eyes closed. A kiss? No—No, it’s not—

“Wife?... ah, you’re here,” Lykus said once he turned around after noticing Marianne looking at me and Polly. I felt my knees buckle, but I just gripped Polly’s arm to keep my ground. Polly was visibly enraged and you could see her eyes become bloodshot and her jaw trembled with how much she clenched it,

… I could only imagine what I looked like, because when Lykus stood up to walk and meet me, he froze. His cheerful face became etched with shock and frustration, his eyes shifting quickly between Marianne and me, “Wife, it’s a misu—”

“My lady, you might’ve misunderstood the situation!” Marianne exclaimed, putting on a ‘woe is me’ expression, not getting up from the couch as she straightened up the clothes she was wearing.

‘… I… I just want to leave,’ I gulped, trying to breathe calmly, but the veins on the back of my hand were showing as I held onto Polly with both hands. My eyes fell to the ground, trying to convince myself with the empty words I chanted earlier about not caring or not taking it personally.

Trying to hold on to the fact that it was Pelomina Vaustero who should be upset and not me. I took a step back when Lykus stepped closer,

“Wife—”

“I… I still feel nauseous, I-I should get back to my room—P-Polly, help me,” I announced, shutting my eyes and facing away from the scene, better they think of it as a health condition and not emotional weakness.

“Are you alright, I could—”

“It’d be best… if you stay here, my lord,” I interrupted again. How is he going to help me? I don’t even want to see his face right now. I don’t think he’s the right person to offer help, “I would like to have peace and quiet my lord, I hope you understand,” I finished and with that, we left.

I tried not to remember the scene, but it was all that I could think about. Beside me, I could feel Polly tremble as she looked at me with pity, ‘No… not her too,’

“My lady… My lady, I’m sorry I brought you there…” she whimpered with tears welling up in her eyes and I gulped, swallowing the large lump forming in my throat. I don’t want to get choked up over this. Now even Polly was feeling guilty over something that wasn’t even her fault. It’s fine… I’m fine…

“It’s fine, Polly,” I cooed at her, “It’s not your fault, it’s me who agreed to go there in the first place, and I’m fine… I just need to lie down,” I replied and she nodded. Once we reached my chambers, she hastily opened the door and prepared the bed, even going as far as to help me get on.

She sniffed and hiccupped as she looked at me, “My lady… please don’t be sick because of this,” she cried and I hummed, nodding at her,

“I won’t be, you can leave now, Polly,” I said, and she bowed deeply before she left, shutting the door with a soft click. Leaving me lying flat on my bed, staring at the ceiling with turbulent waves of dread washing over me.

‘… I’m just glad I didn’t cry,’