Change Of Heart

William saw Jessamyn running to the door leaving her ointment-stained footprints on the carpet. Jerrick asked her to stop but she didn't even hear him and rushed to the door.

It reminded William of the fateful jousting tournament. It was one of the most terrible accidents the Kingdom had ever seen after the game was regulated a century ago. 

Although the stakes were high since both men were competitive, no one expected a ruthless match. Something went wrong on Jerrick's side as his horse slowed down before the impact, but Joar didn't stop. Joar's lance broke, bending Jerrick's chest plate; Jerrick's helmet came undone before he was unhorsed; Jerrick's horse broke its leg and landed on Jerrick.

Jerrick didn't move until everyone surrounded him. Others were afraid to touch him but it was William who pulled Jerrick from under the horse. 

When Jerrick woke up, his eyes looked for someone in the crowd while coughing up blood. His wife was beside him but he was not looking for her.

Finally, William noticed his eyes landing somewhere at the distance. Then Jerrick closed his eyes, tears dripping down his cheek. Everyone might have thought he cried out of pain, but William knew it was not his body that hurt but his heart. 

When everyone rushed to Jerrick's side, Jessamyn was by Joar's side. With tears streaming down her pretty face, she patted down Joar to see if he was hurt. She didn't spare a single glance at Jerrick who was surrounded in commotion. 

Her eyes were only on her husband—the man who used excessive force on an opponent who happened to be the one who broke her heart in the past.

William was upset at Joar for taking a game that seriously, but later they'd made up over drinks. That was water under the bridge.  

William looked at Jerrick. Just like that day, his eyes were on Jessamyn, waiting for her to look at him, but just like that day, Jessamyn was not looking at Jerrick. It was obvious he was not her first priority.  

It might be hard to accept and frustrating, but the truth was naked—Jessamyn had no care left for Jerrick. 

Although William couldn't blame Jessamyn for her, his bias toward his friend made him pity Jerrick.

William did not know their past. Jerrick did a cruel thing by breaking his promise to her. If not for Joar, her life probably would have been destroyed by rumors. But that didn't mean she could hate him that much. 

Speaking of rumors, there were rumors that Jerrick didn't honor his promise because Jessamyn had been writing to Joar at the same time, she was writing to Jerrick. He didn't want to judge her by rumors as rumors in high society were not always true. Most times they were spread out of jealousy.

But this particular rumor had credibility since she married Joar a month after Jerrick married Imogen. 

 William let out a deep breath. He didn't want to judge another person when he knew nothing about them. He was not there when it happened and it didn't affect him directly. So, it would be best for him to ignore it. 

But like any other human with affection and biases, his heart ached for Jerrick and in turn, he hated Jessamyn a little.

- 

"Milady!!" 

Seeing Jessamyn Isadora jumped from Bernard's arms. Bernard stared at his now empty arms and then wiped his hands on his shirt. 

"Milady… I missed you…"

Isadora hugged Jessamyn. The impact almost made Jessamyn lose her balance but she couldn't help but smile hugging Isadora back. 

"You are fine…" Jessamyn was relieved. For a moment, she was truly worried wondering what cruel fate Isadora might have gone through for her to be carried. 

"I was worried for you, Milady…" Isadora cupped her cheeks and looked at her. "Gracious Moon, you look pale!! Did you catch a fever? My poor lady… You should keep yourself warm…" Isadora's eyes clouded. "I'm sorry you are suffering… We shouldn't have come here…"

Jessamyn hugged Isadora to console her. Poor Isadora couldn't bear it if anything happened to her. She was the only person who loved her truly next to Joar. 

"I am fine now, Isadora… Don't cry for me…" Jessamyn patted her back. "Come with me," Jessamyn whispered. "We have a lot to talk about."

Both of them left the room. Jessamyn thought Jerrick would stop her but he was whispering something to William and she took it as a chance and left the room. 

William observed Isadora. She too didn't care about anything else the moment she saw Jessamyn. They were in their world.

"She is… Isadora?" William furrowed his brows. She looked like…

"She is-was her maid. Now she…they work together," Jerrick explained to William.  

He waved his hand at Bernard seeing the two women leaving. "Give her a pair of shoes," Jerrick said before Bernard closed the door. 

"Maid?" William raised his brows.

"She was sold to the Hovershire slave market by her father when she was very young…" Jerrick gave a meaningful look.

"Her mother?" William raised his brows. 

"There are no records, but… You too see it, don't you?" Jerrick asked. He wanted to show Isadora to William for a reason. Looked like it worked. 

William sighed. "How old is she now?" Eighteen? Nineteen?"

"Twenty-one," Jerrick answered. 

"Great Kaiser's ghost!" William exclaimed. "How many are there?" 

"My guess is… We will be surprised till the end," Jerrick shrugged. 

"Well, now you can't let her out of your sight, can you?" William asked taking a seat. He needed a seat.

Jerrick nodded. 

"Jerrick," William pulled his sleeve. "Don't do this…"

"Do what?"

Jerrick looked at William with a smile. It was an odd expression on William's face. Truly, he too was shocked when he first saw Isadora, but why would William look like he was about to cry?

"I love you. You know that, right?" William pulled his sleeve. 

Jerrick let out a deep breath. Is he drunk already?

"I know…" 

"Don't marry her… Even if she's the best bet to know what the council is planning… Even if you want to keep that other girl near you… Even if you…" William bit his lips. His cheeks were blushed red and he squinted his eyes. "Even if you don't love her, don't marry her… Please…"

Jerrick smiled dryly. 

"Don't give me that ugly smile… Tell me. Why do you want to marry her? You didn't for a reason ten years ago? What changed now?" William asked. 

Jerrick's smile vanished.