Chapter 12: The Drop
Jessamyn sent away Lynae claiming that she needed rest. She stayed still for some time to ensure no one was disturbing her.
Her eyes ended up on the painting in front of her. As the sun went down, more light filled the room. This room must be West-facing.
He was sitting on a cushioned chair with his legs crossed and Imogen was standing behind him holding the baby in her arm.
She hadn't noticed Imogen in the painting before. She walked closer to have a look.
Edward…
She remembered him mentioning that name. Her eyes were drawn to the boy dressed in a fluffy white outfit.
The boy had blonde hair like his mother and green eyes. Both the parents had green eyes after all. Her lips curved up seeing the chubby little boy with round cheeks. His lips were just a small red dot on the painting and his nose was almost nonexistent. His round cheeks and big eyes made his entire face in the painting.
How cute!
Her face reddened out of smiling too much. Children brought such joy.
Her hands unconsciously rested on her abdomen. The smile on her face disappeared and her eyes clouded with tears.
She looked down on her outstretched hands. She still felt the softness on her hands; her now empty hands. She still remembered the face of her baby, cold and limp, in her arms. Under the bright moonlight, she gave the first and final embrace to his lifeless body. He was too little; he fit in her forearm. She couldn't see the color of his eyes, but she knew—had he grown up, he would have resembled his father.
She stifled the wail originating from her gut. She didn't have the privilege to lose herself when she was here. It was not a safe place for her to let out her inner pain. She would be taken advantage of if she showed her vulnerability. She needed to be brave.
Isadora!
Jessamyn quickly collected herself as she distracted her thoughts. Letting out a deep breath, she patted her face to gather herself. After swallowing her despair, she opened the window and looked out.
That side of the castle was mostly empty. She had heard (Emily forced that information on her) that the Archduke built a rose garden and a lake with blooming lotuses for his wife Imogen.
After all Imogen Loyola was an elegant flower that bloomed from a muddy place. She loved those pretty flowers that had thorns. Everyone believed Imogen was suited more to be the flower on top of the hill.
And to their beliefs, Imogen did become the Archduchess, rubbing shoulders with the royal family.
Jessamyn couldn't see any garden or lake through this window. It was a little unbelievable for her. She would have thought that man would have loved to have that garden that reminded him of his late wife in his view all the time.
But then, what would she know about him?
The near-gale wind swayed the tall pine trees at the far end. Jessamyn thought she saw a small vine-covered cottage in the distance, safely hidden in the trees.
Once upon a time, when she was just a girl with hopes for her future thinking that a man would rescue her from her sad life, she had a cottage in mind. She thought that was all she wanted to be happy—the man she loved and a small cottage for them to raise their family.
She tried to have a good look but the trees were thick and the subsequent gales didn't give the clear view she desired.
Eh, what am I even looking for? He did not build a cottage in his castle remembering his promise to me!
She poked her head out at the next window. It was closed. If Isadora was still kept in the next room, she wanted to at least talk to her. She wondered why her window was closed. Isadora loved the chillness of late autumn and would have opened the windows, if she was okay.
Jessamyn felt like something was not right. She decided to check on Isadora. She examined if she could find her way to the next window.
The stone lintel of the next-floor window was a little protruding. Jessamyn wanted to try her luck and got down; not before removing her shoes. She needed some extra grip.
She scooted cautiously on her toes on the narrow space closer to the next window. She almost reached the next window. Her heart was pounding out of excitement. She was not scared of heights. She loved climbing as much as she loved embroidery.
The situation, however, was not stable for a long time. A gust of wind ballooned up her skirt, causing her to lose her balance. Her hair loosened and fell in her eyes offsetting her balance. She tried to grip her fingers tightly, but she couldn't. She ended up falling. Her heart skipped a beat. She tried to find a grip anywhere although she didn't have any hopes.
Down, down she fell. Her limbs got tired in a few seconds as she tried her best. She tried to cling to something while trying to slow down her fall. The hard surface of the wall scratched her palms and feet but she didn't give up. She didn't want to break her limbs.
Finally, she managed to catch the arch of a window. Her arms had gone tired but she held onto dear life. She took a peek down. She let out a sigh of relief seeing the ground just eight feet below her feet.
She could jump down.
She was about to when she heard the barks of dogs. Big scary guard dogs surrounded her and barked their throat off.
"Shh…Be silent!" Jessamyn tried to shush the dogs but that only made them louder.
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Inside the cigar room…
"What are you going to do about Lady Jessamyn?" William asked.
Jerrick tilted his head and looked at William with a smirk.
Both of them turned to the side as darkness covered the window. Through the stained glass, they saw a silhouette of a woman's skirt fluttering and flailing feet. Followed was the sound of barking dogs.
William was shocked, he had to gather himself to confirm what he was seeing.
Am I seeing a woman hanging on the window?
"What can I do with her?" Jerrick let out a deep breath and walked to the window. He was calm as if he was used to seeing this.
William followed Jerrick to the window hiding his shock.
-----
Jessamyn's attempts to silence the dogs failed. "I'm going to kill you all!" she gritted her teeth at the dogs. The three dogs barked incessantly. She prepared herself to face the guards of the castle.
Her arms were shaking out of exhaustion and she knew she couldn't hold on for long. Her face reddened out of stress and perspiration formed on her porcelain skin. She expected the guards to save her from the dogs.
Every second felt like an eternity as she waited for the guards.
Why aren't they here yet?
She didn't have to wait long as help did arrive in another form. Or... it might be danger, knocking on the door.
Or in her case, danger, opening the window.
Her heart almost dropped to her guts hearing the window open. Clutching the arch with her shaking hands, she bowed her head to see who opened the window.
"I'll be damned…" she mumbled meeting with those green eyes shining with mirth.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone