Isadora blinked.
Jessamyn continued, "I am a pariah; hated by everyone for not following customs. Everyone called me names when I refused to stay in the Arkhipov residence after my husband's passing. They ridiculed me for pretense when they saw me in widow's weeds. They said I left his home because I wanted to whore around, that I couldn't keep my knees together…"
"But you respect your husband very much. I know that. Who cares what others say?" Isadora said.
Jessamyn scoffed. When the truth behind all her sufferings came to light, Joar was raging mad. He felt guilty he didn't protect her. He wasn't consoled even when she insisted that she was happy with him. When he fell ill, the thoughts of his "incompetency" as he put it, drained his energy. He asked her to leave. He didn't want her anywhere near his mother in case he died.
Since he had no brother and no heir, his estate was set to be passed to his cousin. Joar believed his cousin wouldn't take care of her and that's why he used a loophole in the law to leave that small piece of land for her. He made her promise that she would live there after he died—and find happiness; whatever happiness meant.
She didn't bother to tell anyone that she was fulfilling her husband's dying wish when she left his home. Even if she did, no one would have believed her. No one believed whatever she said in the past. She didn't care what others said about her when she followed his wishes. But rumors spread and words did hurt.
That was the reason she went into hiding after she started working for the council. She wanted them to find other topics to gossip about. They had forgotten about her until now.
"Imagine what they'd say now that I am marrying him—the same man who refused to marry me in the past? Joar wanted me to be free and now I am getting dragged back into the serpent pit. He knows I want to stay away. Hence his insistence…"
Isadora teared up. "I'm sorry…" she said. She didn't think about it this way.
Her lady will have to interact with the same people of high society who ridiculed her in the past. After started working for the council, her lady found some peace and purpose in her life as it kept her away from the high society. Now she was getting pulled back into the place that despised her.
It is terrible. If her lady is right and the Archduke is doing it out of spite, she wouldn't have his support and she would be dragged through hell every day. She was already frail and how would she hold on?
"Should we find a way to escape?" Isadora asked. She would do anything for her lady.
Jessamyn shook her head. "And go where? The council won't protect me. They want me here. Also…" She let out a deep breath in deep thought.
"Milady, do you have to work for the Council?" Isadora asked. "Can't you~"
"I'm done trusting the goddess, Isadora. She didn't save my baby; she didn't save my husband; she didn't save me from my abusers. The Council did," Jessamyn wiped her face. "I am going to get what I want no matter what. For now, I'll have to listen to the Council. I am not harming anybody."
Isadora leaned back as Jessamyn got down from the bed.
"He… Wulfhart might be gracious and help you…" Isadora said gathering up all the courage in her heart.
Jessamyn stopped and looked at her. "Gracious? Why should he be gracious to me? How can he help me?"
Isadora sensed that her lady was calmer than usual and that gave her the courage to talk. "He agreed to get the title back for His Lordship. Maybe he can help you. He is from the Theodulf family and legends say that~"
"Will he help me find my husband in my next life?" Jessamyn asked with her eyebrows raised. That was the one thing she wanted now. "Are you sure your Wulfhart can do that? I know, the Council can. They will give me the spell once I get them what they want."
Jessamyn opened her heart to Isadora. She had decided already and she needed someone else to affirm her that she made the right decision. She was unsure of everything. All she needed was one person who would tell her that she was doing the right thing. Just one person.
Isadora's eyes widened with surprise. Her lady was open with her. "But what do they want?"
Jessamyn leaned closer and whispered in Isadora's ears. "Lycaon Ulfhednar… They are waiting for his arrival. Once I bring him to them, I will get what I want."
A layer of mist formed on Isadora's eyes. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Surely, they are hunting mutts and so one of the original shapeshifters might be around, but Lycaon Ulfhednar, the messiah?
Lycaon Ulfhednar is prophesized to be this mystical shapeshifter who will have the blood of the gods. He will take the form of a powerful White wolf reflecting the moon. The animals will listen to him as he is their King. Humans will bow to him as he is their savior. He will appear when the Kingdom needs him and deliver the people from evil and with the daughter of the moon to his side, he will unite and rule the world.
"How are they sure he will appear in our lifetime?" Isadora asked.
Jessamyn leaned closer. "Because they've already found Gemma Luna—the bud of the moon."
Isadora kneeled on the floor. She couldn't believe she was living in a time when the prophecy would be fulfilled. "The daughter of Levana... Who is she?"
Jessamyn shook her head. She didn't know. But she had a guess. There was one with the divine attributes of the moon and an impeccable lineage—Cordelia Dahlberg, daughter of the Duke of Stolberg, also the rumored fiancée of the Crown Prince.
Currently, Ravensworth is under the control of Cordelia's maternal uncle Duke Lagergren. Jessamyn didn't know much of the politics behind everything. She never bothered to before. But when she looked into everything, her head spun with the details she gathered.
There seemed to be a close tie between the Crown Prince and Jerrick; now Jerrick confirmed it by telling her he could easily get their Barony back.
No one would have the audacity to get anything from the uncle of the future queen unless they had some agreement between them. She knew there was a reason Jerrick was quiet when the titles were taken from her.
The Lagergren family was known for their exquisite jewelry. They determined the trends and wearing their jewelry was considered a symbol of the upper echelons of the aristocrats. No one could enter that circle easily. Imogen was not accepted in that circle since she was considered new money, but that was only until the Lagergren family gained control of Ravensworth.
He acted as if he was noble, but Jessamyn knew what he did for his love. Imogen didn't stop him either but flaunted her new connections. Ungrateful swine!
Now he will exchange Ravensworth for something else to have Duke Lagergren back off. If he used force, there would be trouble for Ethan in the future.
Jessamyn had a lot to think about. Even so, she wanted to get back her father's land. That land belonged to their family for centuries. The Barony was Ethan's birthright as the male heir. She didn't want to be the reason he lost his birthright.
"Milady… may I say something?" Isadora asked.
Her lady was saying incredulous things and Isadora was only left with confusion. And yet, she wanted to express her opinion on the Archduke.
Jessamyn nodded, her eyes softening seeing Isadora's kind face. She knew Isadora truly cared for her.
"I think he is not intending to harm you. He will protect~"
"No, Isadora!" Jessamyn shook her head and turned to leave. "No one, not even you can convince me to trust my husband's killer."