CHAPTER 122: HER STORY

{Music Recommendation: Don’t let me go ~ Raign}

Jenna watched the young woman’s jaw tick and fists clench, and she agreed in that moment that misery did in fact enjoy retinue. Why would she cry her eyes out alone in the room, when the one who had caused it all sat outside like a prim woman knitting with a smile on her face?

Even if she burnt herself with words, it was all good, Jenna thought, because she wasn’t burning alone.

"I’ll clean it so it doesn’t fester, then wrap it up." Lady Rachel rummaged through the box she had returned with, still holding Jenna’s hand.

Lois dropped the knitting needle and wool she’d been holding. "Matron, I will return to my room now."

"No, you will not," Rachel remarked bluntly without looking up, her eyes still on Jenna’s palm.

Jenna twitched her lips, trying hard not to laugh as the girl’s fury showed on her red cheeks.

"You will stay back and finish knitting."

Jenna wanted to ask Lady Rachel not to stop the girl. She needed to take a walk into her room and yell, and that would have been great to watch, Jenna mused in her head.

Lois grumbled under her breath but still sat down, picking up the wool as she focused on knitting.

Done with wrapping Jenna’s palm, Lady Rachel gave an approving hum. "Make sure you don’t dip it inside water... though I’m worried about how you’d wash."

Jenna waved her hand. "I’m not that weak... I’m sure I can wash myself just fine," she said with a cheerful voice. Stretching her body to the side, Jenna decided she had had enough for the day.

Met the other women, cried, eaten, sent a letter to her workers, and even had her revenge. It was safe to return back to her room and rest. She gave a satisfied nod and turned to leave.

"And you too, young woman, sit down." Rachel patted the space next to her. "You both did ruin my work, now sit down and help fix it."

Jenna didn’t have a problem with that; returning to her room meant she would be lost in thought again. She sat down beside the woman.

"Have you ever knitted before?" Lady Rachel asked once Jenna had sat down.

Jenna nodded. "But not as perfect as you," she complimented. Glancing over at Lois, she noticed the young woman was also good at what she did. Jenna gave an approving nod.

"Perfect?" Lady Rachel let out a wry chuckle. "That’s a stretch... Lois, rather, is the perfect one. Last time she gifted a man—"

"Lady Rachel!" Lois hissed, stopping the woman from saying anything further.

Jenna noticed the color on her face; it wasn’t from anger but a pink blush of shyness.

"Fine, fine, I won’t say..." The woman laughed, shaking her head.

Minutes passed as they worked in silence. Jenna relaxed her back on the chair. She loved the silence, the motion of the needle flowing in and out of the wool, the patterns it left behind. And most importantly, the sky.

The blue had darkened, outlined by scattered hues of fluffy clouds and a part that shone brighter being pierced through by the afternoon sun. It was indeed a beautiful scenery, and Jenna’s eyes were getting heavy with sleep.

Jenna’s head was tilting to the side, her eyes already closed with sleep, when a voice jerked her up.

"Matron, someone from the council is here."

Rachel folded what she was knitting, picked up her cane, and left without a word.

Jenna rubbed her eyes tiredly and sighed, her gaze following to see where Lady Rachel was going. Curiosity tugged at her the moment she heard of the council. They had dropped her off here and hadn’t said anything yet.

"You don’t have to strain your eyes," Lois muttered flatly.

Jenna snapped her head around; she noticed the girl was still focused on her work.

"The council is here to deliberate on your choosing." She replied calmly, though it carried that faint bite she never seemed to hide. The young woman had caught Jenna’s wandering gaze.

Jenna raised a brow, touching her chest. "My... choosing?"

"Yes. Yours," Lois replied without hesitation. Dropping the wool, she leaned back and folded her arms across her chest. "Lady Rachel mentioned it in passing. It’s a complicated case. One that has never been seen before. The whole lot of them are probably wringing their hands, choking on their own importance, trying to decide what to do with you."

Jenna gave a small nod, as though brushing it off. But the truth was— her curiosity burned hotter. If she could walk over to them and eavesdrop on the council’s words, she would have. The thought of others deciding her fate while she sat idle didn’t sit right with her. More so, she wanted to know how many others knew about her situation.

"I used to have a man too," Lois continued. Her voice had lost its edge, softening into something distracted. "But he didn’t return after courting me for two days."

Jenna blinked, scanning her face, not sure whether to laugh at the bluntness of it or keep quiet. She stayed still, choosing to listen.

Lois exhaled tiredly, a bitter-sweet chuckle slipping from her lips. "Two days. That’s all I had with him. He looked at me like I stepped out from the brightest stars. He said my smile gave him reason to live..." her voice trailed.

"Like I was the only thing he wanted to see when morning came... But he disappeared after two days. But I waited. I told myself men get lost, get delayed, get sick..." she glanced at Jenna.

"Guess what?"

Jenna shook her head. "H-he died?"

"He married another," Lois replied sardonically, turning her face away from Jenna.

Jenna squeezed her palm; she wasn’t sure what to say as consolation.

"I’d have been happier if he left with nothing... but the idiot made others believe I was not fit to be a woman because I had countered his words once. My father’s gate covered in webs... while I withered in the room, waiting for a sensible man to burst it down and choose a witty woman." Lois grimaced, flicking the wool that sat on her lap.

Jenna knew immediately that the young woman didn’t need consolation.

"So, what did you do?" Jenna asked softly.

"What do women ever do when the world asks them to quiet the great ideas in their minds?" Lois tilted her head, her eyes finally shifting to the sky. "That’s how I ended up here. My father believes I’d be sharpened enough if I’m here."

Jenna scoffed. "Is it working?"

"By hell, it is." Lois raised her hand, and both women threw their heads back, laughing at it.

When their laughter died down, Jenna bit her inner cheeks. She felt a little guilt rankle her mind for the words she used on the woman earlier, but it didn’t last. Jenna had also cried, so it made them even.

"I say good luck to you and the man that has found favor with you." Lois gathered the wool and stood up. "Pray he doesn’t leave you in two days to marry another."

Jenna snickered. "For his own life, he wouldn’t." She spoke with blunt confidence.

"You never truly know a man," Lois replied before she turned and walked away.

Jenna watched as the distance between them increased. She had judged the girl by appearance, the same way people did to her. Just because she did fit into the beauty standard of what men wanted, didn’t mean she was the happiest woman.

And that was the only guilt Jenna decided to bear. She had done to another what was done to her, and for that, she felt sorry.

Thinking about Rhane, she wasn’t sure how the choosing would be. If the love he spoke of would fade after he had seen a woman like Lois, or things would go differently. Jenna didn’t know at all what the future held for her and for Rhane.

Pushing her hand to her side, Jenna stood up from her chair, ready to go back to her room.

Entering the house, Jenna pushed the door of her chamber open, her thoughts still muddled with Lois’s words. She was halfway inside when a shadow stirred in the hallway.

She turned slowly, her hand still on the knob.

"Mistress," the young boy she had given the letter earlier stepped out.

Jenna pointed at him. "Um... Percy?" She pressed her lips.

The young man straightened awkwardly. "Forgive me, my lady, I didn’t mean to frighten you."

Jenna waved him off dismissively. "What are you doing here?"

The young boy’s gaze darted left and right before settling on her. "I was leaving tonight. To send the letter, as I promised. But..." He hesitated, lowering his voice even more. "On my way, I heard something. The council was speaking. They said that Lord Rhane would be arriving at Master Brown’s house tonight."

It was getting closer, Jenna thought. Soon she would know her fate, but it scared her so much. She wanted so badly to be chosen by Rhane.

"Do you want me to send anything to my master?" the young boy asked. He’d heard of what happened earlier in the dining, but didn’t want to pry if the lady didn’t wish to tell.

Jenna shook her head. "No..." she squeezed her clear palm. "No," she repeated, softer this time. "If it’s Rhane, then he already knows where to find me. I’m never missing from his sight."

It wasn’t true. Deep down, Jenna wanted to rush into her room and write a letter pleading with Rhane to come and get her, to never forget his promises to her. But at what cost? She wanted to be his choice no matter what, not because she begged for it.

"There’s nothing else to say," Jenna said finally.

The young Percy studied her face for a long moment, as if weighing whether she truly didn’t have anything more to say. His lips pressed into a thin line, but he nodded.

"As you wish, my lady."