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Chapter 9 - The Grand Duke

Did he get the Royal Decree already? He is marrying me.

Jessamyn's heart sank as she lost the last speck of hope she held. She unconsciously looked at Jerrick. He sighed at William Jerald Kaiser. Jessamyn noticed Lynae curtsying and she gathered herself. 

William ironed his messy platinum-blonde hair with his palms. Jessamyn quickly did a deep curtsey. Ethan bowed his head. 

"It's my honor to meet you, Your Highness," Emily too did a flamboyant bow. 

Jessamyn and Ethan were embarrassed to see Emily quickly fixing her hair and clothes as if she were a young lady waiting to be picked by the most eligible bachelor. 

Well, The Grand Duke of Ayberia was indeed an eligible bachelor. As the legion Commander of the Royal Navy, his courage had no bounds. As the brother of the King, his wealth too was immeasurable. Only his virtue was a little amiss. 

He was thirty-five and was never married. He was not celibate though. He was a womanizer. If one would believe the rumors, for the Grand Duke, the marital status of the woman mattered not. He didn't mind anything else as long as they were a woman. 

Still, he's not going to sleep with you, Emily! If you are suffering from female hysteria, visit a doctor. Don't make such an embarrassing face in front of a royal! 

Jessamyn rolled her eyes. Whatever others might say about the Grand Duke, Jessamyn respected him. He was the only one who talked on her behalf after her husband died. He was willing to defy the King for her sake. He attended her husband's funeral although he had to travel for days.

"Excuse my language. I didn't expect you all here," William chuckled nervously. 

"Black lady…" Jessamyn mumbled under her breath. 

Is this the nickname for me in high society these days? That's an improvement from what they called me in the past—shrewd.

She was disappointed that she was known for what she wore in the high society too. But maybe it was not bad.

Jerrick nodded at William and walked to the door. Emily tried to speak.

"Shush, Mother. Do not say a word!" Ethan shouted. "You are an embarrassment!"

Even Jessamyn was surprised by her brother. He never loses his cool like that. She thought he was mad at her and expressed it to his mother. 

"You are the brother!" William got to Ethan. His droopy blue eyes were closed to a line as he smiled. Wrapping his arms around Ethan's shoulder, he followed Jerrick to the cigar room.

Jessamyn got up the stairs. Bernard was still guarding Isadora's room. Gathering her courage, she walked to the door. 

She was about to reach the door when Bernard blocked the door. "You are not allowed. No one is allowed until Wulfhart says otherwise."

Jessamyn looked at Bernard as he spoke in a monotone voice as if he had memorized it. 

"I will take a quick peek and go back to my room. You don't even have to open the door fully. I~" 

"You are not allowed. No one is allowed until Wulfhart says otherwise," Bernard repeated.

"I just want to~"

"You are not allowed. No one is allowed until Wulfhart says otherwise... You are not allowed. No one is allowed until Wulfhart says otherwise... You are not allowed. No one is allowed until Wulfhart says otherwise... You are not allowed. No one is allowed until Wulfhart says otherwise..."

Each time he repeated it, he got louder and Jessamyn covered her ears. He had a thunderous voice.

She quickly got inside her room. Lynae followed her inside and closed the door. 

"I told you he was the Archduke's dog," Lynae said. 

Jessamyn scoffed. "What does that make you and me?" 

"We are his slaves. By the way, you made the right decision," Lynae said with a smile.

Jessamyn turned her face. Was that the right decision? She was not sure. But she had to stand by it. 

"Should I add anything else in my report to the Council?" Lynae asked. 

The White Wolf she saw popped into Jessamyn's memory. She needed to inform the Council of that development. Till now, she hadn't met that wolf. Even if the Council knew of its existence, she needed to formally report its sighting. 

But something stopped her from reporting it.

"Nothing…" Jessamyn shrugged. 

She looked at her silk gown. "Where are my clothes? Can you bring them to me?" she asked. 

Lynae looked at Jessamyn pitifully. "I apologize, but I can't. If I may…" she wetted her lips. "It's not bad to be his wife. You should get used to this."

Jessamyn scoffed. "How did he manage to get the King's permission for this marriage?"

Her titles were removed because she refused to stay in my husband's home as a widow. In their Kingdom, widows were required to stay in their husbands' homes even after their deaths and mourn for their husbands. 

When she left her husband's home soon after his funeral, it caused a stir in the high society. Demands to force her to stay in her late husband's home got stronger. When she refused, the Dowager Countess--the mother of her late husband suggested that her title be removed. Since she went to her parents' home, their title was removed too. 

Their Kingdom had weird traditions. Widows remarrying was unheard of. usually, widows who even dare to look at another man would be stoned to death. 

How come she was allowed to marry again, that too to the Archduke of the Kingdom? They would consider it a shame befalling an entire Kingdom if such a thing happened. 

But then it hit her.

"The Council..." she let out a deep breath. 

The Council should be the ones whispering in the King's ears if such a thing happened. 

What does the Council want from me?