Chapter 13
After coming out of his lab, Harrow found his way to his office. There, he saw Veronica—Nightingale—sitting at the desk, her brow furrowed as she sorted through papers and scribbled notes. She hadn't noticed him yet, too absorbed in the mountain of work left for her while he had been secluded in his lab.
"Veronica," Harrow called softly from the doorway, "how's the work going? Sorry I left it all on you."
Veronica didn't look up. "Humph. As if you actually care."
Harrow scratched the back of his head, feeling a slight pang of guilt. "Ah, come on, I do care. I was just...busy with something important."
Veronica finally glanced up, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Important, huh? Too important to help run your own town?"
Harrow chuckled nervously, sensing the frustration in her voice. "Okay, I get it. I left too much on your shoulders. Do you...want to know what I've been working on?"
Veronica leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "Tell me if you want to. Or leave if you don't. I don't care either way."
Harrow sighed, walking further into the room. "You seem angry. Did something happen while I was holed up in the lab?"
Veronica gave him a quick glance before looking away. "No, nothing happened. Just dealing with the fallout of the battle, the rebuilding efforts, the injured townsfolk—oh, and the fact that my husband's been missing in action."
Harrow raised an eyebrow, sensing the mix of frustration and loneliness behind her words. He took a deep breath. "Look, I know I've been distant, but I had to prepare something crucial for our survival. If the Church comes again, we need every edge we can get."
She didn't respond, her face still hardened with irritation. Harrow decided to change tactics, moving closer and sitting beside her. "Let me help with the work now. We'll finish it together."
They worked in silence for a while, but Harrow could feel the tension slowly dissipating between them. As they sorted through documents and finalized plans for the town's recovery, he found himself thinking more about their relationship. She had been thrown into this marriage because of political machinations, and despite everything they had gone through, he realized he hadn't treated her as a true partner. He had to do better.
Once the work was finished, Harrow leaned back in his chair and looked at her with a soft smile. "Veronica, I've been thinking...I haven't been the best husband, have I?"
She raised an eyebrow at him. "You think?"
"I'm serious," Harrow said, his tone a bit more sincere. "I've been so focused on the town, the battles, and the witches that I forgot something important: you."
Veronica's eyes softened slightly, but she didn't say anything. He took that as a sign to continue.
"I want to make it up to you," he said. "Starting now. I want to spend more time with you, be more present. But first, I have to make one more trip—just one—and then, I promise, we'll have time together."
Veronica's expression shifted to curiosity. "What trip?"
Harrow leaned closer, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "I'm heading to Border Town. There's a witch there named Anna. She's... special. I think she could be the key to helping us stand against the Church."
Veronica tilted her head. "How do you know about her?"
Harrow grinned mischievously and winked. "I have my ways."
Veronica's eyes narrowed in frustration. "Are you serious right now? You can't just leave me in the dark like that."
"I can't explain it fully," Harrow replied, "but trust me, she's worth recruiting. She'll be a huge asset to us."
That was the last straw for Veronica. She stood up and glared at him. "You know, for someone who claims to want to spend more time with me, you sure know how to ruin the moment." Without another word, she shoved him toward the door, frustration and exhaustion finally bubbling over.
"Hey, hey!" Harrow exclaimed, stumbling toward the exit. "Come on, don't be like that. I was just trying to make things exciting!"
Veronica gave him one final push. "Go sleep somewhere else tonight. Maybe that will give you time to think about how to act like a proper husband."
Harrow sighed, rubbing his temples as the door slammed behind him. So much for a romantic evening. For three days, he tried to make amends with her—apologies, small gifts, even attempting to cook once (which was a disaster). But nothing seemed to calm her frustration.
On the third day, as he packed his supplies for the journey to Border Town, he knew he'd have to work even harder to regain her trust and affection. This time, though, he was sure that recruiting Anna would be the next big step in securing their future.
Armed with his sword and whip, while donning his blue overcoat he mounted his carriage and prepared to go out, he glanced back at the town, wondering if Veronica would still be angry when he returned—or if she'd understand why he needed to take this final step before their real journey could begin. With a determined look, he spurred his horse forward, heading toward his next destination.
The road ahead was long, and Harrow knew it was just the beginning of the battles to come.