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TWENTY-FIFTH CHAPTER
"Her enemy is my enemy as well"
North Pacifica, Ivywood
Marquis Bjorgman Mansion
Letter to " "
The Princess was poisoned. She is well and recuperating. The culprit is Tatiana Fischer and her family.
I shall await your orders.
-H
It was evening. The Overland mansion was dark and all of the servants retreated for the night having done all of their responsibilities. The corridors of the duchy were unlit, shadows lurked the dark crevices and the curtains swayed slightly with a light breeze. One room in particular stayed well lit.
Jack sat on his bed with his brows furrowed. The anger that surged when he went to the Fischer mansion still remained in his heart. He knew of Tatiana's affections for him but he purposefully turned a blind eye because he knew it was a political marriage. He thought of her as nothing but a friend and a partner. But who knew that friend he was referring to was someone who would turn her back on him and commit such atrocities to someone who he'd given his heart to.
He was aware of the wrong he had committed against Tatiana. She was just a woman who expressed her love, albeit in a very wrong and disturbing manner. He was supposed to be wed, but his heart had reached out to the broken woman in the Bjorgman mansion. He should've declined Anna's plea, but he couldn't. And the more time he spent with Elsa, the more his heart wavered for her. He was with Tatiana for years and their relationship never progressed the same way it had with Elsa.
Some might call it misplaced feelings that Jack had mistaken for love. But deep inside he knew that these were real and strong. The thought of her gone breaks him deeply. Seeing her happy makes him feel happy. He would pluck out the stars one by one if she so wished. He would conquer an entire kingdom for her if she so wished. And if she was willing to be with him, how happy would that make him feel? And just recently, she was finally getting better. The blue of her eyes were slowly regaining their past spark only to be taken away by those vile people. Once again Elsa's eyes closed and her life was in danger.
It was all because of him.
Jack felt useless when he knew about her attempted assassination. He felt small and incompetent. He loved her and vowed to protect her in his heart, but he couldn't even prevent her poisoning. He never thought Tatiana was vile enough to harm another person. But she did. And that was one thing Jack failed to predict.
"What is so interesting about the carpet for you to be staring so intensely at it, my lord?" Jack turned his head toward the door and saw Jamie walk in with a bottle of aged wine and two wine glasses.
Jack sighed and shook his head. He stood up and beckoned Jamie to sit. "You have quite the bravery to come into your lord's chambers without knocking."
Jamie chuckled. "I figured you didn't need the aide Jamie but the friend Jamie. So just once, pardon my rudeness."
Jack did not answer and only stared at Jamie with wide eyes. "You should stop beating yourself up, Jack. What happened with her highness wasn't your fault." Jamie said as he popped the wine bottle open. Reaching out for the glass, Jamie continued what he was going to say.
"I've been with you for a long time now, even looking at your interactions with the Princess, and I know you genuinely love her," he paused, handing Jack a glass. "Maybe a drink can help?" He said.
A low chuckle escaped Jack's lips as he held the glass in his hand. "I know I'm not in my place to say anything but, maybe annulling the engagement with Lady Fischer was the best choice."
"I do not regret breaking it off with her."
"I know, Jack." Jamie took a sip of the wine. "I know."
Jack stared at the red liquid in his glass for a while before taking a sip of the contents. He sighed and ran a hand through his already disheveled silver hair. "Are you worried about the Princess?"
Jack nodded.
"I'll go crazy if I don't know she's fine, Jamie." Jack placed the glass on the table and lowered his head. "She's the only person who I cared about this much. She makes me calm. And yet I worry if she's alright. And I miss her so badly when I'm not with her. What should I do? This pain is so great, I feel like I'm insane."
Jamie nodded his head at his master's concerns. After all, he already knew Jack had very strong feelings for the princess. He sees emotion in his master's eyes every time he's with her. It was just different.
Jack was a different person when it came to the Princess. The way he looked at her with so much tenderness. Even the most trivial things that he does is being considerate to the Princess. Jamie noticed how he would slow his pace when he was going on a walk with Princess Elsa. Even the way he spoke to her was different; a tender voice only dedicated to her. Something Jamie had never thought Jack was capable of. Jamie would never miss the twinkle of happiness in Jack's eyes every time he saw Elsa. It was like his master finally found the missing piece in his monotonous life.
He was grateful to her for that.
"Have you told her?"
Jack shook his head. "Now is not the time. But I wish I could whisper my love for her in her ears." Jamie watched as Jack clenched his fists and heaved a sigh. It seemed like his master had fallen heavily.
"I hate the people she hates. And her enemy will be my enemy. I will do anything to keep her safe. Even if that means laying down my life for her safety."
"You should value your life too, you know. I don't think the princess will like it if you throw your life away so recklessly. If anything, you're just probably doing something that would incur her hate." Jamie said nonchalantly as he reached out to pour himself another glass of wine.
Jack threw his head back in laughter, amused that Jamie was exactly the same. For some reason, Jamie just knew when would be the right time to comfort someone. And for that, Jack was happy and thankful. That he still had a close friend nearby who he can run to in times of hardship.
"So, my lord…" Jamie trailed off, placing his glass on the table. "What do you suppose we do with the Fischers?"
Jack closed his eyes and sighed. "My engagement with their daughter is gone. Make sure to withdraw all our sponsorships and investments with the Fischer family."
"Is that all you're going to do?" Jamie sighed. "You have gotten soft, Sir Duke."
Jack guffawed and walked toward his desk. He crouched down to open a small locked drawer and pulled out an envelope full of thick paper. "I trust you will make good use of their misdeeds, Jamie."
Jamie took the envelope in his hands and bowed to his master.
"I really don't want to be your enemy." He shuddered and Jack only gave him a pat on the shoulder. "You will hear good news tomorrow, your grace."
