Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER THRITY-SEVEN

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

After that awkward yet somewhat romantic night, we ended up chatting until late that he had to escort me back to my bedroom himself.

He gave me a kiss goodnight too… It was just on the forehead—BUT I FREAKED OUT TOO MUCH THAT I STAYED AWAKE FOR HOURS BEFORE I FELT EVEN REMOTELY DROWSY.

The power that man has over me is not one to be tested the following morning, just as the sunbeams made their way into my room and through the curtains. I groaned as I sat up. The minute I recalled the events from last night, a smile already cracked on my face. I hate feeling like a lovesick teenage girl, but I can’t help it!

‘That man was given gifts, and he put those gifts into good use.’

I hurriedly got up and stretched. It’s still pretty early. My body must’ve gotten used to waking up this early. I slept late last night, but I still got up at this time, and considering I’m a bit sleep-deprived, I still looked dazed and dreamy, don’t I? I sighed as I walked to the vanity and looked at the mirror,

Yep, just as I thought.

I look stupid! Soon enough, I heard footsteps coming from the corridors, followed by a knock. “Come in,” I called over, and the three attendants are here once again, they were chatting among themselves with sour expressions before they looked at me and their faces lit up with mischief.

“Well, I’m glad someone’s day is starting better than the rest of ours,” Java noted, placing a hand on her hips. Eustace joined in, clicking her tongue as she walked over to the wardrobe.

“I have to say, that blissful and dreamy look on your face is a sight for sore eyes, my lady,” she commented and Java hummed, nodding in agreement, setting the usual water-filled basin on the vanity’s desk and gestured for me to take a seat. I raised a brow at them because for once, they’re not arguing about who’s in charge of picking the dress for today,

Something feels weird too. What’s got them so annoying first thing in the morning?

“Did something happen?” I asked and Eustace scoffed, visibly infuriated, shaking her head with a frown, as did Java. Keion, albeit not visibly frowning, sighed and clicked her tongue, which is still already kind of surprising.

“Something?… oh I’ll tell you, my lady,” Java began, squeezing the water out of the rag she’ll wipe me with much more force than needed, “not something, but someone, that woman better not stay for more than an hour,” she went and I raised a brow,

“Woman?” I asked, “what woman?” I turned to Java, who started wiping my arms. She hummed, and Eustace clicked her tongue repeatedly,

“I assume you already know who we mean, my lady,” Eustace quipped,

“It must’ve slipped my mind, but I’m sure I’ll recall if you describe her,” ‘I won’t’ but they don’t have to know about that. To my surprise, it was Keion who spoke first.

“It’s the lady Marianne of the Heilman household,” she said. Her tone was stiff and cold. What sort of atrocities did this Marianne lady commit to having even Keion act unwelcoming and contentious to her? She sounds like bad company but I can’t really say, I’ve never met her before, but it seems like the real lady Pelomina is expected to be upset about the situation too, so I’ll just play alone.

‘I wonder what she did.’

“That woman—Ohh! When I get man hands on her, I don’t think she even likes the lord,” Eustace said, gripping the fabrics of the dresses with sheer anger,

‘Hold up though, wait… what?’

Java huffed, “She was all, ‘no~ sir Vaustero is far too great of a man to be with me,’ but as soon as the lord Lykus was announced as the lord of Temog she’s changed her opinions completely!” Java exclaimed, now wiping my skin too roughly, driven by her emotions,

But now… now I’m also getting quite bothered. As far as the story goes, this Marianne seems to be aiming for my man—not mine, technically, but she has her eyes on Lykus. We’re married! He’s already married! To me—no, to the real Lady Pelomina Vaustero.

“What… is she doing here?” I asked, Keion and Eustace huffed,

“Well… It seems that since lord Lykus came back from war, she wants to visit the lord and see for herself if the lord is of good health, a bunch of rubbish—we have physicians for that sole purpose and their word is much appreciated than hers,” she ranted and I hummed. Looks like I’m up for a challenge today. She sounds really bad.

“She comes here looking all pretty and dressed up as if she’s visiting the king,” Java added, “As if that would make her more beautiful,” she spat and I almost snorted at that.

After the wiping was done, Eustace was more than eager to put me in this beautiful dress. It’s peach-colored and somewhat fitted around the torso, down to the waist where it started fanning out, embroidered with golden thread. It had a low neckline, and the shoulders were bare, the sleeves were puffed up and cuffed tightly at the wrist.

It’s flowy, and it comes with a white lace choker that’s shaped like an upside-down triangle, with the tip right at the crevice of my collarbones, and a white corset was added last. Not hidden under the clothes like usual. They must’ve been used to how loose I want it so it just hugged my waist lightly. The moment I put it on, Java sat me back down and gestured for Keion to start on my hair, who already have her hands full with hair ornaments.

“Oh, my—”

“That is why… we’ll be showing her that’s she fighting a losing battle,” Java said, nodded at me and Eustace hummed as she did some final touches on the dress I was wearing while Java wiped my face clean, both of them working so well and not getting in Keion’s way as she did my hair.

I’m honestly more impressed that they’re able to work this well together.

After all was done, I was more than excited to see what I look like. I could see my face and torso in the mirror, but I want to see what I look like now that everything was put together. Once I did, I was in awe.

“Wow… this is amazing!” I cheered, spinning in place and watching how the small frills at the bottom swirled. It was mesmerizing. My hair was adorned with floral ornaments in the braids on the sides of my head and the rest of my hair was still down. Eustace, Java, and Keion hummed and nodded at me with approving looks, and to think they did this quickly.

“Well, I’d like to see the look on her face once she sees you in this,” Java commented and with that, they escorted me out and just as we walked a few halls, we found Lykus walking beside a woman,

‘This must be her,’ I thought with a gulp, looking at my three attendants for some moral support, which they gave with a determined nod. I took a deep breath,

“M-My lord?” I called out, and he spun on his heels, the corners of his mouth curling up as he saw me, pausing in his steps as he reached his hand out to me, his eyes squinting and trailing down from my head to my toes, his brows raised,

“Wife, what’s the occasion?” he asked.

I shook my head, “There’s no occasion, I suppose… I just want to try my other dresses, it just happened to be today,” I replied fighting the urge to say ‘no biggie' by the end, but that doesn’t sound nonchalant. He hummed with a small nod and gestured to the woman,

“Lady Heilman has come to pay us a visit,” Lykus introduced, so I turned to face he—oh my goodness. Java was right, she’s really… dressed up. She was wearing an off-shoulder white lacy dress along with some tight arm-length gloves. She looks like she’s dressed up for a darned imperial wedding.

Her blonde hair was in a half-updo and I think she also put some make-up on. She’s… she’s really set out here to steal my man!

‘Also, I feel a bit underdressed now,’

I gave her a curtsy, and he returned the gesture with a bright smile, “My~ it’s lovely to see you again, my lady,” she greeted with a coy giggle, “The lord and I were just chatting about you, you look absolutely beautiful, and I should say you have good taste, I have the same dress,” she added,

‘oh no, she better not—’

“But I decided against wearing it, thinking it’s too… humble,” she said with a small shoulder shrug and Lykus hummed as he looked at me again,

“I supposed you have a point, lady Heilman,” he agreed and my jaw dropped.

‘EXCUSE ME?!’

She chuckled, flipping out the fan that I didn’t know she has and covered her mouth with it as she laughed, “Of course, I know that the lord has an extravagant taste,” she began, starting to walk again,

Lykus placed my hand on his arm and nodded at her as we also started walking. She chuckled before speaking again, “which I’m sure you’ll pass down on your heirs in the future, then the world will have more of those glorious men of your caliber to grace us,”

Lykus cleared his throat, “The topic of heirs… is a conversation not to be rushed, we have plenty of time in the days to come,” he replied, glancing at me once and I felt something ache in my chest.

Marianne giggled, “of course, of course, I’m just merely saying, my lord…” She trailed off, looking at him with a smile as her gaze went over me, “Lord Damsol also has a sickly wife, but produced one with the help of a concubine,” she followed.

… this is going to be a long and intolerable day.