CHAPTER 137: THE PROMISE

Jenna pulled the dress with force from Lois, "What I did?" she repeated, her sharp tone a disguise that shrouded her fear.

"You’ve been acting really strange, Lois." Jenna continued, tucking in the dress she’d picked with the others. "Do you have something to talk about?"

Lois scoffed, shaking her head. Without saying a word, she walked to the end of the room near the largest dressing table. Folding the sleeve of her dress, Lois pushed the table with a heavy grunt.

Jenna watched in silence what the young woman was doing. It didn’t seem like she knew about her and Rhane, but at the same time, it was as though she knew something very important.

Done with pushing the table, Lois stood up straight then pointed at the wall for Jenna to see.

Jenna followed her hand, when her eyes stilled on the tiny hole around the wall. Jenna’s heart dropped to her stomach, her grip on the clothes faltered but she didn’t drop them.

"You see this?" Lois pointed at the old water marks around the wall. "We couldn’t get it fixed after a season of heavy downpour. So Lady Rachel and I decided to hide it with the table..."

"I was going to leave the dressing room after taking the powder I’d come for." Lois continued, now closing the distance between her and Jenna.

"But then I heard a voice... not clear but I’d heard your name..."

Jenna’s face scrunched up in disgust, had the girl been listening to everything she did with Rhane? She squeezed her palm tightly, her nails dipping into her skin.

"No!" Lois shook her head, "I left after I took the powder..."

Jenna didn’t believe her, the young woman was out of control! She had lost her mind.

"But you know how curious I can be," Lois chuckled, folding her arms on her chest. "I wanted to see the man for myself... you denied him when I asked but I wanted to catch you in the act."

Sniffling, the young woman continued. "Who knew my nose would get irritated with the smell of a pile of old dresses." Lois rubbed her nose, letting out a weary sigh.

Jenna opened her mouth to talk, but Lois cut her short.

"And don’t even try to deny it, that window hasn’t been opened for as long as I’ve been here. Your lover escaped from there."

Jenna glanced at the window, the wind from outside took that moment to swoosh into the room and blow her hair sideways. Jenna closed her eyes, inhaling deeply.

Now that explained where Rhane had left from, it had been itching Jenna since he left.

"Lois, you—"

"Do you really love him that much?" Lois interrupted Jenna again for the second time in one day.

Jenna chewed her inner lip so she wouldn’t smack the young woman across her pretty face. It was her only saving grace at the moment, her slim pale face and small eyes.

Lois sucked in a deep breath, this time she was smiling. "You should have said so when I asked earlier!" She pointed at Jenna.

"Any woman would also love a man that beautiful, his long hair and smooth skin... now I understand why you panicked earlier. All the maidens had their eyes on him." Lois remarked with a knowing gaze.

"Don’t mind their words, it’s not every day you see a man that gentle, soft-spoken and has the beauty of a woman with the aura of a prince."

Smooth skin? Beautiful? Gentle... Jenna’s mind trailed. None of these traits belonged to Rhane even if he was reborn twice.

"I— Lois..." Jenna searched her mind for what to say. Did Lois see Rhane as someone beautiful? There had to be a mistake in identity, Jenna thought to herself.

Rhane was anything but beautiful, or even gentle. He was handsome but not beautiful. It was a masculine kind of handsome, the aura of a Viking god more than a prince.

"When I saw him come to visit you before the gathering, I knew very well you were smitten by him." Lois nudged Jenna’s shoulder. "Was that why you avoided the question when I asked?"

Saw... who did—

"Hart?!" Even Jenna was startled by her own voice.

Lois snickered, covering her face. "You’re hopelessly in love, Jenna darling."

Jenna’s jaw dropped open. For a breath, she stood stupefied. Jenna didn’t know whether to feel relieved that Lois had mistaken Rhane for someone else, or even angry that she had thought her to be in love with Hart. Hart?! Of all people?

"If you’d told me, I wouldn’t have had to sneak back to see him," Lois said, shrugging. "Being in love isn’t something to be ashamed of Jenna,"

Jenna agreed. In fact, she supported that fact. But thinking that the young woman referred to her love as Hart left Jenna mortified.

"Oh... ah..." Jenna sputtered, "It’s all in the past." She chose a simpler response.

Lois gasped dramatically, "In the past?" She stomped her feet on the ground like a toddler.

"When you both can’t get enough of each other, even for a moment? He was here earlier and still came around to see you." Lois hummed. "If you ask me Jenna? It’s not all in the past... there’s still a strong feeling there."

Jenna nodded, "Thank you, Lois." She decided to end the conversation. There was no point correcting the impression when it was going to save Rhane. Lois thought she found out the big secret, when she hadn’t even cracked the nut.

It was best to leave it that way. Jenna nodded to herself.

"Let’s get things cleaned up, then." She said in reply, gathering up the remaining clothes.

Lois, this time, didn’t refuse. She packed some of the dresses Jenna couldn’t carry, trotting behind her as they left the room.

"He’s quite a heartthrob, your Hart."

Jenna cringed, gritting her teeth.

"I think out of every man that gathered today he’s the best—" Lois paused for a moment.

Jenna turned her head to the side, wondering why the girl stopped.

"Best for you," Lois said with a daffy smile then made her eyes look even smaller.

Jenna gave her a dismissive shrug, if only the young woman knew better. Not that Hart wasn’t good enough, Jenna wasn’t just fascinated by his soft beauty.

Meeting Rhane made her realize that something was even more enchanting than tenderness. It was wild, raw and possessive yet roughly soft. Inexplicable. Of course Lois would never understand it. And Jenna was going to leave it that way.

"Over here," Lois pointed at where dirty dresses were gathered. She turned to help relieve Jenna of the load.

Dropping the clothes, Jenna glanced outside of the house. The sky was blanketed by grey dark clouds, the weather looking sleepy. It was dusk.

She had been in Rhane’s arms, hoping time would never move but nature rebuffed. Jenna rubbed her arms together, dispelling the cold chills. She stared at the stars, wishing for Rhane’s safety.

"Everyone is excited for tomorrow... which man would be taking the win." Lois said, her eyes shifted from the stars to Jenna’s face. "I only hope that no man would get hurt, no matter what."

Jenna hummed, it was her wish too. "I’m sure it’ll end as it should." She dusted her hands, then wiped them on her dress.

"I’ll be going to sleep," Jenna informed with a tired yawn. "It’s been a very long day."

Lois agreed with a smile, "It is but I’m glad..." she rubbed her chest, as if remembering something, she giggled.

"What?" Jenna asked with a narrowed gaze.

Lois pressed her lips, giving it a thought before she said. "What does it mean when your heart skips at the sight of someone— no, not even that... just mere thoughts make you feel like there are little birds dancing in your stomach? What could it mean?"

"Umm..." Jenna scratched her hair, "Well if you’re not afraid or it’s not your enemy... maybe it’s someone you admire and want to love?" Her voice was laced with uncertainty.

Lois blushed, then she turned and laughed. "I knew it!" She laughed again.

This time Jenna was even more perplexed. The girl wasn’t just crazy, she was also strange. But also she was acting different. Rather than her stiff cold attitude which Jenna found to be quite bothersome. The girlish side of her, was even more better.

"Jenna!" Lois continued after she had stopped laughing. "I’ll tell you my wish now... I shouldn’t else it won’t happen but I feel you understand me very well."

No. Jenna disagreed strongly. In fact, she wanted immediate rescue.

Lois’s face burned even brighter shades of red. "I wish that your lover wins the tournament and takes you as his beloved!" She exclaimed.

Jenna found herself smiling, "That’s... thank you, Lois." She didn’t expect it from her.

"And I wish I’ll have the courage to go where my heart lies."

Jenna twitched her lips, maybe the young woman acts strange and pries into people’s space but she was just a lovely young woman looking for love.

"Yes Lois! Let us all boldly have the love we deserve!" Jenna affirmed. "Regardless of what people say."

Lois exhaled tiredly, still with a lingering smile on her lips. "Goodnight Jenna, I’ll be praying hard for your man to win."

As they both walked back to their separate rooms, Jenna remembered something and stopped the girl.

"Why didn’t you tell Lady Rachel of what you saw?"

Lois sucked her teeth, took Jenna’s hand and squeezed it. "Who knows? One day I might need one such favor from you. Promise me you’ll do that..."

Though the girl had thought Rhane to be Hart, she still did not expose her. It was enough goodness and Jenna wished to repay it someday.

"I promise..." Jenna said in reply.