Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

We passed by the kitchen on the way to his study and the cooks bowed as he passed by, simply saying “To my study,” not stopping in his tracks, thus not making me stop on mine considering he’s kind of dragging me at this point.

“My lord?” I called again, he really looks like he’s upset but at the same time he’s making sure he’s restraining himself enough,

“Hm,” he sounded back, not even a word, huh? Not even a ‘wife’? He looks like he’s sulking.

“I’m very sorry… I didn’t mean to do that, I was just too immersed with the book, I could promise you, this will never happen again,” I said and he looked at me for a moment over his shoulder and sighed as he faced front again,

“You should, wife, your health is no trivial matter,” he began, I could already sense a brewing long lecture about this, but I don’t think he’s the type to lecture, maybe I just developed the defensive mechanism because that’s what my mother would’ve done he’s fussy that’s for sure. His face was easily back to its sour look. The familiar scowl took over his face again.

“Yes, my lord, I’m very sorry,” I said again, speeding up my pace so I can walk beside him and peek at his face, “Are you upset with me?” I asked with a small smile and his angry façade cracked with a smile that he tried so hard to restrain,

“That is unfair, wife,” he groaned, shaking his head at me, you could see just how he subtly bit his lower lip to stop himself from smiling and it’s kind of adorable to see he tries so hard to keep up the façade, makes me wonder if he was as weak for me as I was weak for him.

“Even steel would melt under that gaze,” he commented, averting his gaze from my face completely, and judging by how his cheeks rose, I think I managed to conjure up a smile, “Nevertheless, yes, I am bothered but it’s merely out of concern for you,” he followed and I hummed,

He’s right, that was a careless mistake. Even I would be upset if I got another episode of that painful spasm again just because I didn’t eat on time. Then again, I’m not much of a reader, but now I see how people just pass time with a good book. It’s almost addicting. I’d probably go back to reading that book until so late in the night.

“Also wife, why were you reading a children’s book?” he asked,

“Ah… well, it’s entertaining, and more than that, I found notes in there,” I replied, giggling midway. Just as I remembered a few takes from the angry writer, I could ask that same question to them. What is their problem with children’s stories?

In their defense, those were some very soulful stories, if I read that book as I child I’d probably grow up and want to be a lawyer instead of a musician, not that there’s anything wrong with music but I bet my mother would be a hundred times more proud if I ever told her that I wanted to pursue some high-status career.

Too bad I was too childish.

We finally reached the study. For a change, he didn’t bring me here to bully me. That was already mind-blowing on its own. He gestured to the small couch and moved all of the papers and documents off the surface of his desk and shoved them in the cabinets under,

I caught a glimpse of some letters and thick envelopes. He moved his ink and pen to the far corner, clearing up enough space for both of us to eat on. He huffed as he sat on his chair and soon enough a knock sounded from the doors,

“Enter,” Lykus called and the servants pushing in trays of food came in and placed two separate trays for both of us and bowed before excusing themselves.

I picked up the utensils as Lykus did and I breathed in the smell, “Ahh…” I sighed, my shoulders slumping down. I’m starving! How did I manage to ignore my hunger throughout that day? The book must’ve had some magical spell that reduces hunger the more you read.

‘This smells delicious!’

I brought a spoonful to my mouth, almost moaning once the flavors touched my tongue. That’s it. I’m wolfing this down. There was a portion of meat, soup, and vegetable stew, which was apparently not soup, bread, and fruits. A complete meal, this will be more than enough to fill my stomach to the brim—with…

I glanced at Lykus and watched as he ate slowly. Unlike when we were back in the tavern back in the town, I gulped down the food and tapped one of his knuckles, “My lord?” I began. He raised his brows at me as he waited for me to speak again, slowly chewing a spoonful of his food, “How many times have you eaten today?” I asked, and he huffed with a smile,

Gulping his food and chasing it with water before looking at me again, “What a very personal question, my lady,” he replied, is he playing with me?

“My lord, I’m also worried that you might haven’t eaten your fill today now that I know how much you truly—”

“Ah, it seems my wife is also quite fussy,” he interrupted, reaching his hand across the desk to gently cup my cheek, tracing his thumb on my lower lip and wiping the corners before retracing it again, “You had something on your lip, but yes, I have eaten my fill, don't worry," he replied as he dug in his meal again,

Meanwhile, I was stunned for a moment. ‘ARGH! HOW DARE HE?!’

I internally screamed as I tried and failed to act normal. My movements became stiff because my whole body was tense trying to restrain the gushing and butterflies rampaging inside my stomach. These are no longer butterflies, these are pterodactyls.

“I’ve also asked for Limwei’s input, it seems that they’ll afford to make bigger portions regularly now that we’ve hunted enough and I suppose I’ll start to eat my fill,” he informed and I hummed and nodded at him, his words entered one ear and out the next, I hardly comprehended it and it took all of the time to focus on his words so I wouldn’t just end up hearing gibberish.

“T-That’s great,” I replied, bringing another spoon to my mouth, I could do this, I could act normal. It’s just… I usually just have bad experiences with crushes and all. I don’t know how this act cool thing just happens, I have zero experience in the dating field,

“Wife?”

“Hmm—yes?”

“Are you alright?” he asked, his brows furrowed with worry.

I blinked at him. Did he notice that I was mentally and internally freaking out because of his small gestures? “Yes, I am… alright, I am well, why wouldn’t I be well? I’m feeling great, my lord,” I replied, although that may just be a tad bit much for a simple question, too late, though he’s already looking at me weird,

“Well… you’re bringing an empty spoon to your lips, is the soup too watery? Is it bland?” he asked.

‘Why can’t the ground just swallow me whole?’ I thought this was a magical fantasy world with dragons and stuff. Are you telling me that there are no sentient forms of land that could sense when you embarrass yourself to the point of wanting to crawl into a hole and perish? Sounds fake.

“No, the soup is savilicious—ah, no it’s delicious, a-and it’s savory, mhmm~ just—my lord, this is amazing I am just… ah, speechless,” I replied, there was no going back from here, at this point, I accepted the fact that I am and will always be awkward and embarrassing that I’m done. I give up. This is who I am now.

A walking facepalm.

I just shut my eyes and tilted my head back, ‘savilicous’… I panicked. I didn’t decide quick enough if I wanted to say savory or delicious and my quick-witted, resourceful organ of a brain, ended up mixing two words together, because saying one word at a time is just too much, isn’t it? Ugh!

“... pft… Pelo, you truly are a joy to be around,” I heard Lykus laugh as he said so,

I gave him a forced smile and a stiff chuckle, “ha-ha… I’m glad you… see it like that,” I replied, reaching over for a glass of water and maybe drown out the feeling of wanting to cry into my pillow and asking the stars why I came out like this. Even in my actual world, I’m not very good with romance stuff, I’m confident in anything except that.

Heck, I could perform in front of hundreds and, if we’re lucky, thousands of people during gigs. I could engage a crowd, but whenever factors like intimacy come into the equation, it was like I was dumbed down to incompetence. Maybe that’s why my past crushes never went well.

“How else would I see it?” he replied, oh no, he’s going to say something mushy again—

“My eyes had long only seen you through rose-tinted glasses that sometimes I question myself if I’m still in sound judgment when it comes to you,” he followed, and my chest tightened. He sighed with a frown as he set his utensils down, “I hate the man I become when even you becomes someone prone to my anger, I could never repent for how I treated you the second I came back,” he finished.

‘I’m not fighting it anymore! I’m not denying my growing feelings for you!’ Why are you still trying to invoke intense emotions from me?! I gave up! Just take my darned heart!

I sucked in a deep breath and buried my face into my palm, I could feel the heat rising to my whole face, I must be as red as a tomato, I breathed out heavily, peeking at him through the gaps of my fingers, “Are you certain you would still feel that way even when I’m the most inelegant and graceless woman you’ve ever met?” I asked. It was cheesy, yes, but if he says yes to this, I might just combust.

He froze with a surprised expression at my question before looking away. Too cheesy? Oh, he just made this whole experience more embarrassing than it already is. With my hands still pressed on my face, I bent down slowly until my head rested on his desk. I pushed my luck with that one—

“Wife…” he began, I could hear him chuckle, I peeked at him again to see such a warm expression and a dreamy smile on his face, “You’re the only woman for me, and I doubt anything would change that,” he assured, it seems even he was a bit flustered form saying that,

Finally getting a taste of his own medicine, and it feels great to know I was able to make him feel as mushy as he does to me.

‘This is really getting out of hand,’