Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

I didn’t do anything else for the whole day. No, let me rephrase that, I didn’t do anything that would involve, remotely, Lykus. Go to the kitchen? No thank you, he also eats and I don’t want to come across him. Go to the garden? Again, no thank you, I don’t want to suddenly see him and because we’re outdoors, if he sees me there, we’d end up having a conversation.

Which is why I resorted to the decision of not leaving my room. I’d rather do something important, like gossip with Polly who was more than eager to talk to me about almost anything, and knowing this, I seized the opportunity.

“Polly, do… you remember Yulsey by any chance?” I asked, I used ‘remember’ rather than ‘know’ because if Yulsey is like a best friend to me, then like Lady Marianne, he would’ve visited me once or twice, right?

Polly sighed and rested her chin on her palm with a dreamy smile. Oh, what’s this? “Well… my lady, mage Yulsey…. Is an unforgettable man,” she said, and I tilted my head at her, pursing my lips,

“Really? How so,” I asked,

She hummed and started counting her fingers, “First, he speaks so gently and is kind, regardless of who he’s talking to,” she said, moving on to the next finger, “He’s unbelievably forgiving and gentlemanly,” she added, moving onto the next one, “He’s thoughtful and sentimental,” she added and moved onto the finger, “and last…” she trailed,

“He’s so beautiful! His wavy blonde hair and supple lips, with those captivating blue eyes…” she swooned, and I snorted,

“More beautiful than sir Avela?” I asked, and her back straightened.

“W-Well, sir Avela is on a different level of beauty… he’s more of a roguishly good-looking man,” she defended, now I feel kind of bad that I have to snap her out of her dreamy state like that. But at least now I have an idea of what to expect from Yulsey. I’m kind of worried he’ll see through me and I’ll have everyone mad at me.

And understandably so, I was pretending to be their beloved Pelomina Vaustero all this time.

But he sounds like a peaceful guy, but I feel like I’m missing something…

“Is that all?” I asked Polly, and she looked at me with a frown,

“What do you mean, my lady?” she said, leaning closer to me and I shrugged,

“Any other observations or reasons why he’s an unforgettable man?” I led on and she pursed her lips and looked in the distance, visibly deep in thought.

She gasped and clasped her hands with wide eyes, “Well, he’s a great mage! Isn’t he the crown prince’s advisor and has high ranking amongst the ‘Candle’s Cradle’?” she said, but it was more like she’s asking for a clarification that I obviously cannot give her.

Firstly, what the heck is a candle’s cradle? It is like a fraternity? An organization of wizards? Ain’t that neat? Just what I wanted, a high-ranking close friend of Pelomina who overpowers me and can easily blow my cover and make me pay with my life. He does sound nice and all, but who knows what he’ll do once he realizes I’m not his friend?

“My lady?” Polly sounded and my hands shook the moment she pulled me back to reality. Looking at me with wide eyes and a questioning grin, “Is something wrong?” she asked, and I waved her off, shaking my head as I pulled the blankets over me.

“Nothing is wrong… I am just excited to get this all over with,” I replied, looking out the window and rethinking my life choices. I need to work hard and find some stable ground to rise from. From this point, being in the castle limits my movement and—

“Get over… what, my lady?” Polly asked again.

‘Oh, crap—’

“T-The coronation! It’s a very stressful event, you see, with the people a-and the traveling…“ I reasoned out and she nodded with every point. Thank goodness she’s easily swayed.

...Actually, no, we have to fix that, eventually. Then again, how am I supposed to fix that when I’m already planning to leave? Should I write a last and final message for her before I leave? Maybe I should. Thank goodness I taught her how to read.

“You’re right, my lady, that is why I wish you the best of luck,” she said with genuine worry. It really warms my heart how loved I am—or lady Pelomina is, for that matter. I’ve never been surrounded by people who love and care for me this much, but that’s understandable. I’m in the modern technological world.

Like hell will there be someone who’ll treat me like a darn princess if everyone is so absorbed and sick of their lifestyle—heck, everyone in my world probably wants to be a princess. To be loved and valued so much to the point where it makes you disregard any negative thing that happens to you because the people who love you make it worth the pain.

‘... that’s a rather dangerous world, isn’t it?’ Now that I think about it, it doesn't seem that good. To be treated like a princess, at the expense of what? What would I be able to overlook if I was treated so well?

I guess I would never know. It’d only be bad for me to find out now. I don’t think the direction I’m sailing towards bears fair weather conditions for me. I need to focus more on how to convince Yulsey that I’m Pelomina and not a 26-year-old average Asian woman who makes a living out of her voice and with, usually rowdy, instrumental accompaniment.

Not the calm and composed, silent and serene persona I’m seeing Pelomina in. As far as I know, she's gentle because she’s sickly, but even when I’m lively and acting outright annoying, the servants have a tolerance for me. I wonder if I—No, if Pelomina has somewhat of a lively vibe too.

Everyone just seems to love her. I won’t pretend like I haven't ever thought of just keeping things as they are.

This is a dream… and dreams are never real. The nicer the dream, the more it’s going to hurt once you wake up and realize that you’re living in a lie. I didn’t mean to make this so depressing, but I’ve also been in a very sullen mood.

Polly sighed and stood up, her ankles raising as she stretched and looked out the windows. As far as I know, it's how people tell the time. It's not that clocks weren't around or nonexistent, so to speak, but it was an easier way of telling time.

“My lady, I think we should get you food now, are you hungry?” she suggested, ending with a question.

I sat stretched up and sighed, looking outside the window. It's really starting to get dark—actually, scratch that, it’s already dark. I guess I could eat earlier, then sleep early because, as far as I recall, the coronation is tomorrow. I’m not really hell-bent, per se, to look good in front of people I don’t even know, but I wanted to look decent at least.

Decent enough that when they saw me, I wouldn’t occupy their minds. I want to be a background character just decent enough not to receive positive or negative attention. I just want to be there and after a few hours maybe, be out of there.

“Yes, I suppose both of us should get out meals—”

“You first, my lady, and then I~” she trailed off in a sing-songy tone, “we’ve talked about this, servants cannot eat with nobles,” she lectured like I’m some persistent child in kindergarten. I hummed with a nod, chuckling at her and peeling the covers off of me as I got up and followed after her. She opened the door for me, which is so sweet of her, and escorted me to the kitchen.

On our way there, we saw the immediate and easily recognizable frame of Lykus’s broad back and shoulders. Oh, come on, we have to turn back, gotta turn back, need to turn back—

“Hm? Wife… fetching your dinner?” he asked, I looked up to him and nodded, and he began walking towards me humming as he stopped two feet away, “Then join me in my study, we have something to discuss for the coronation tomorrow,” he said and I nodded again,

I saw his eyes dart to Polly and throw a very obvious look of contempt to her, “You may leave now, maid,” he spat and Polly ever so lightly trembled as she bowed to him and at me. Once she left, Lykus offered his arm to guide me and I simply couldn’t refuse.

I don’t want him to think that I’m avoiding him. That’ll bring me the negative attention I so dreadfully refuse to be affiliated with. We walked slowly, and he never said a word, and neither did I. Honestly, it was favorable. We walked a few more ways until we reached the kitchen.

The servants were already waiting by the door, Lykus didn’t even stop on his steps when he said the words “Hers and mine to my study,” in a low voice, and with that, as the servants rushed and scampered to meet his demands, we were walking in a rather slow pace, which is fine.

We’re not going anywhere, obviously.

Once we reached his study, I sat on the couches before he could even say anything and a mere second after that the servants came carrying our food and giving them to us accordingly, once the food was served and the servants left the moment of tension began.

We’re going to… converse.

He picked up his utensils and hummed as he spoke, I focus my eyes on my food soon after that hum, “We’ll be leaving tomorrow,” he began I suppose he meant the coronation,

I nodded, “Yes,” I replied, and he raised a brow at me and resumed eating before gulping on his drink and clearing his throat.

“Wife, I sense that you’re not exactly relaxed with me, is it because of the rumor?” he asked and I shook my head as I looked at him with a dumb expression that I wish was convincing enough,

“Not relaxed? No… my lord, I just happen to be very tired,” I countered and his brows furrowed at me, I gulped down my food, “Perhaps the thrill and rush from the past days are catching up to me, is all,” I followed just to further support my pled and he breathed out through his nose and gave me a nod.

“That… is good to know, I don’t want to pile up on the stress I already gave you,” he replied, slicing down his food, “I don’t know what I’m to do when you’re upset with me to the point you’re inconsolable,” he said and I let out a chuckle that sounded and felt way too stiff,

“My lord, worry too much, please rest assured that I am not upset with you…” I replied and he sighed,

“Then… would you be interested in trying out the dress we bought? Consider it as final fittings before tomorrow,” he said with a relieved and warm smile to me, “Humor me and let me be selfish, I would like to be the first to see how beautiful my wife looks with that dress,” he followed and I nearly choked on my food.

‘Hm… There it is, but no, not anymore, I’m a day away from my escape,’

I smiled and nodded, “Of course, my lord,”