The Blair Forest (7)

"What's the plan?" Helena asked hopefully, because she thought jacob would have some way to save them. But to her disappointment, jacob never said he would save them.

"Plan? I don't have a plan." Jacob was answering as naturally and calmly as possible and Helena hearing that, didn't sketch any reaction at first, she stood looking deep into Jacob's soul and asked:

"Are you serious?"

"Don't worry about the witch, she shouldn't attack us for the time being..."

"Wait, so you don't have a plan? So we're just going to stand around and wait for her to come?"

"Defense is sometimes the best offense. And don't worry about your safety, as you are the wife of the Duke of Paris, I will protect you. After all, I need to negotiate with your husband." After he finished speaking, Jacob looked at the other adventurers and mentally said:

'But the rest of you... It will make a good offering to the witch.'

"Sigh... Okay, we'll wait for her to come, but do you have any idea when she will attack?" Helena asked Jacob curiously and he answered while lying naturally:

"No, I have no idea."

"Hm, ok... Then I'll help the others now, then I want to talk to you alone about other matters."

Jacob nodded in response and after receiving his confirmation, Helena said goodbye to grace and walked towards the adventurers.

"You lied to her." Grace spoke as she watched Helena walk.

"Yes, but how did you find out?"

"I know you, so I know when you are lying and when you are telling the truth."

"Oh, talking like that you make me sound like someone transparent..."

"Don't worry about it, You're only transparent to me! To others you're an unknown."

"Hm, nice to know that."

After Jacob spoke, he and grace smiled at each other as they exchanged glances. Looks with no ulterior motives, it was more of a true friendship.

"Okay, but even though you are so transparent, you still hide a lot of things.... So how about you tell me why you lied to her?" Grace asked as she built a sound barrier around them.

"Are you that curious?"

"Of course! You know I'm a curious person when it comes to you and your decisions."

Jacob gave a slight smile upon hearing those words, but soon returned to his cold expression and answered her doubts:

"I lied because I need some people to die for me to get what I want."

Hearing those cold, emotionless words, Grace was a little surprised, but since this was not the first time, she said:

"Is it your ambition speaking louder than your ethics again?"

"If you really know me, then you know..." as Jacob was about to finish his sentence, grace interrupted him and finished by saying:

"That you have no limits? I know that... But I want you to know that he who lives by the sword will sometime die by the sword."

"Sigh..." Jacob was a little irritated, but nothing that made him lose his logic, and he retorted:

"Is it wrong for a man to make those choices in this world? A world where death and misfortune prevails? A world where they step on the small and help the big? I know that this side of me is not beautiful, but that is what makes me survive."

"Yes, I understand and that's why I decided to follow you on this Journey, but I just want you not to get lost in the darkness. Even if you don't realize it, there is still a light trying to pull you away from it all."

"I know that, grace... I know... But I can't stop now. I didn't come this far to go back."

"I know that too and that's the reason I'll always stay by your side no matter what, because it's always been both of us and always will be both of us. But you have to promise me something."

Curious about this promise, Jacob asked:

"Promise what?"

"I accept you walking through the darkness, but promise me that you won't get lost in it. I just want you to promise me that."

With a cold expression, but remaining a flame that should have already been extinguished in his eyes, Jacob answered truthfully:

"I won't get lost in the darkness, you have my word."

"Thank you..." Grace smiled upon hearing this answer and said while trying to change the sentimental mood that remained between them:

"Okay, now that we've resolved this little drama, how about we get something to eat ready? I'm starving."

"Oh, yes, that 'little drama' really made me hungry."

Grace giggled a few times and replied as she undid the sound barrier:

"Pffff, okay!!! I agree that we made a huge drama! But how about we go eat soon? After all, filling our bellies solves any problem."

"Damn, you're always right..."

With the outcome of that conversation, the two walked together to the fire that was already roasting the meat...

[...]

Author's note:

Needless to say, not every relationship is wine and flowers, right? This development was important to show the depth of Jacob and Grace's relationship.

"The size of the frustration depends on the size of the ambition."

"Women of valor will walk the path to the top at the side of their beloved. Women of no value, will wait for their beloved at the finish line."