Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER THRITY-NINE

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

“W… What?” I gasped weakly, and she sighed as he looked at Marianne, who was wiping her clothes with a cloth by the table.

“You’re obviously not in good condition to receive guests,” he replied, and I scoffed, looking away with a smile.

Oh, but I am.

I am in a good condition to receive guests. Welcomed guests, that is. I think he’s the only one who could tolerate this personality of hers. His actions are way past obliviousness. It’s just plain ignorance now.

I hummed as I looked back at him, “Am I bothering the both of you?” I asked, but my mouth immediately clamped shut. I didn’t mean to slip up with that first and foremost, I mean… I did think he’s being too easy on her, but I didn’t want to guilt him and make—

“What are you trying to imply?” he asked in a low voice and I froze. What… What’s with that tone? He’s angry? I stepped back a little once I saw the subtle irritation on his face and looked away. That’s it, I shouldn’t have said that, that was too much. I let out a shaky breath, looking at anywhere else other than him and ignoring his question,

I don’t think I should say more about this topic. I watched the passing servants and—Polly! There she is. How do I get her attention without calling out to her—AH!

I gulped, I hope this works, “I-I’m sorry, my lord.. perhaps it’s because the potatoes didn’t taste good, it must’ve put me and my stomach in an irate mood,” I said, loud enough and just as I hoped, Polly’s head whipped to my direction, taking a moment to analyze the situation before fumbling with her hands and leaving other the servant she was with to come to my rescue.

“O-Oh, my lady, are you unwell? Let me escort you to your bedroom,” she announced, offering her arms for me and I nodded, but Lykus raised his hand at her,

“No, I can do it,” he interrupted,

I in turn cleared my throat to stop him, I still couldn’t look him in the face so I just kept my head down, “Ah, my lord, i-it’s Polly’s job to attend to me, meanwhile, you should keep lady Marianne company,” I refuted,

“Wife—”

“Polly, let’s go,” I interrupted, and she bowed at him before we started walking away. That’s fine. It’s fine. It doesn’t matter. I need to drill it in my head further that his affairs are not my business. I’m not Pelomina Vaustero, I’m Pelomina Capiz, and I should start acting like who I am.

In a sense, I could use this time to focus on more important matters. I turned over to Polly who was looking at me with concern on her face, “My lady… I get so upset whenever that woman comes over, but moreover when she browbeats you!” she said in a hushed scream and I scoffed,

Smiling again at her notion, I’ve sure missed her. We haven’t been together lately because I was with Lykus. However, when the servants were looking for me yesterday, did she not enter my room to find me?

“Oh, Polly where were you yesterday?” I asked and her face immediately switched from angered to flustered until her face was red with embarrassment,

“M-My lady, why would you ask that question out of the blue?” she answered, looking away and fanning her face. Oh, it seems like I’m presented with tea, a.k.a, gossip. I hummed at her and had my face straight ahead, looking at her in the corner of my eyes,

“Hmm… how curious, I suppose something interesting happened yesterday, Polly,” I commented, and she nodded with a giggle, cupping her face with one hand as we walked.

“… Sir Avela, invited me in an afternoon stroll…” she began, her voice getting high-pitched before she stopped to take a breath, “… we were out until evening, he bought me a new dress!” she gushed before sighing with a satisfied smile, “I could wear that dress every day~” she finished and I chuckled with how blissful she looked. Glad one of us is feeling happy,

Maybe I should learn who the knights are. I have no idea who sir Avela is. Does she have her eyes set on him for a long time now? Is he a good guy?

‘oh, speaking of dresses,’

I cleared my throat, “That sounds romantic, Polly,” I replied and her face turned even redder,

“My lady, please! I am already flustered enough as it is,” she gushed, and I could help but giggle along with how she was acting. She’s like a teenage girl in love—speaking of which, how old is Polly? And how old is that knight, exactly? Considering how she looks, I suppose she’s of legal age now. Or I hope so.

“S-So, how did the dress look?” I asked, and her eyes glistened,

“It’s beautiful my lady, at par with that of the rich townswomen, sir Avela was so generous, and to think that it cost more than how it should!” she gushed and my ears perked,

“Oh, how do you say so? How much do dresses normally cost?” I asked. She could chalk it up as the curiosity of a noble who never had to worry about money, but with this conversation, I’d learn how to gauge just how things cost or at least have an estimate.

I’ll have to pull through with my escape. That’s the plan for the start. I just need to attend the coronation and I could proceed with my not-so-well-thought-of plan. Polly huffed and cleared her throat. It looks like I’m in for a complete walkthrough,

“Well, my lady, it starts with the simplest, something even less that was we servants wear, is roughly 2 silver coins, the ones we wear generously enough from the lord, is 8 silvers, but that dress…” she trailed off with a dreamy look, “that dress was worth 25 gold coins!” she exclaimed, “Never in my life did I think I would own a dress worth that much,” she followed,

… is… is that too much? It does sound like a lot... gold coins?

“uh… Polly, how much is… no nevermind—”

“Oh, of course, how silly of me, it’s alright my lady, I could explain, you see, a dozen bronze make a silver, a dozen silvers make a gold coin, and ten gold coins, my lady, make a Daya,” she paused with a gasp sighing dreamily, "I've never touched a gold coin in my life, much less a Daya, oh but to see one in the flesh is enough!" she explained and now that she put it into perspective, 25 gold coins is a LOT. I gasped at her, and she nodded with a knowing smile.

“I know, my lady,” she said,

“Then… sir Avela must’ve really fancied you, Polly,” I said and her face reddened again. I chuckled at her speechless state. Finally reaching my chamber, she sat me down on the bed and sighed.

“Don't mind that but back on the issue at hand, in this room my lady, that woman cannot harm you,” she noted, taking a seat on the bed stool and sighed, “I really don’t like that woman, she’s rude to everyone except the lord,” she hissed and I snorted,

“It does seem like that, huh,” I replied, noticing the green book by the end of my bed. I shouldn’t, but it seems like a good way of stress relief. I have Polly to accompany me and we’re both going to be aware of our surroundings, a few pages wouldn’t hurt.

Polly saw the book and gasped, “Ah! What a big book, my lady,” she exclaimed with a surprised smile, and I nodded,

“Oh my Polly, you’re going to love the content of this book,” I began and the smile slowly faded from her face, replaced by a sheepish grin,

“O-Oh, but… I can’t read, my lady,” she replied, and I pursed my lips,

Alright, then it’s decided, “Polly, how about I read this to you now as I teach you how to?” I suggested, and her eyes grew wide, her mouth agape when her jaw dropped. Her eyes shifting between me and the book,

“B-But... wouldn’t it be bothersome to teach a servant like me—”

“Nonsense, shall we then?” I asked, and her eyes lit up, nodding firmly.

[A few hours later]

“My lady… my lady, my head hurts,” she groaned, despite her complaints, she’s actually progressing well! I chuckled as I shook my head at her,

“Aren’t you curious what the note says, it’s very romantic…” I said, and she looked at me with half-lidded eyes and took in a deep breath.

“Of course, I would like to know, my lady,” she said before clearing her throat, “… and… s-she… le-looks! Looks lo.. lo… lov~li..er, lovelier… t-than… spr… spre—spring!” she finished and looked at me with a dreamy smile, “Oh how sweet, to be loved like a man like that, oh to be the reason why poetry was written, ah~” she gushed and squealed.

And she has a point. To know that you were someone worth writing poems to is a blissful feeling. It not only puts butterflies in my stomach, but it would also make my head swirl.

“Ah—but it’s time for you to have a meal, my lady,” she noted and I hummed as I looked at the window. High noon, she’s right. I nodded at her and shut the book. Polly smiled at me as she offered her arm, “We could continue reading later my lady,” she said and I nodded, glad that I made her interested in learning.

But time sure did fly.

We walked out of my room, and we’re heading towards the familiar path to the kitchen. Once we were pretty close, we saw Lykus and Marianne walking ahead of us so I slowed my pace. I really don’t want to extend our interaction past that. I’d get in and out of my head again and get caught up with my emotions.

Unfortunately and unavoidably so, Marianne saw me when she faced Lykus, “Oh, my lady, there you are,” she noted and Lykus looked over his shoulder to see me before approaching me without a word.

‘Look, I already regret what I said earlier. Please let’s just let this day pass—’

I stepped back a little by instinct and gripped Polly’s arm a little too tight as I nodded to him. “My lord,” I greeted with a small bow, still not looking at his face. I’m just repenting is all, and he paused halfway to me, humming in response.

“Are you heading to the kitchen for lunch, my lady?” she asked, and I looked up to see the triumph on her face as she gestured at the dress she was wearing, “I was given a dress that was said to be worn by you before,” she began and if that was meant to annoy me it hardly did,

‘but boy… she pushed through’

“I’m excited, I feel like I could eat a lot because this dress is pretty loose on me,” she followed and I could feel Polly tense up and inhale a sharp breath. I subtly patted Polly’s arm to tell her to calm down, which is weird coming from me, but knowing Polly was here gave me some confidence.

“That’s great, lady Marianne,” I agreed, and she smirked at me,

“Would you be joining us then, my lady?” Marianne asked. Although her tone was kind, her face simply said the opposite. She’s confident to do so because Lykus was looking at my face rather than hers.

‘It’s fine, it’s fine… Lykus is not my husband, I’m mere in the body of his wife,’ I reminded myself and sighed. I shook my head at her, “Unfortunately, I suppose I should just eat separately, I won’t be able to hold a conversation. I’m feeling a little dazed lady Marianne, forgive me,” I replied with a small smile. I nodded at her and bowed at Lykus before walking away and past them.

“Wait, wife—” I heard Lykus call out after some footsteps, but just as I turned I saw Marianne purposely step in front of him and he ended up knocking her down a little,

‘a little’

But this woman started whining and groaning like her ankles broke, “Oh! Oh~ it hurts,” she whined, and I groaned internally. I hope this woman leaves within the day, at least.