CHAPTER 153: BY HER DRESS

{Music Recommendation: Carry You ~ Ruelle & Fleurie}

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Rhane dragged his feet out of the hall, his vision was still blurry but the pain in his stomach made him push ahead, leaving the room before anyone noticed how weak he’d become.

Once he was outside the place, Rhane sat beside a pillar with his hand holding up his head. The heavy rain outside wasn’t helping things, in fact it increased his urge to sleep and the pain in his stomach.

Rhane groaned, forcing himself to sit up. He knew very well it wasn’t sleep that came for him, with an injury infected and open. If he dared to close his eyes in that agony then it was going to be forever.

All he had to do was hold on until Jenna came. It was no use hiding his pain from her anymore, at the moment he needed help. Percy had followed Nikolai upon his instruction, and might not be able to return.

The only person who could help him in that moment was Jenna. And he had seen her looking in his direction, any moment she should be with him. All he had to do was stay awake until she came for him.

"It’s him...yes...it’s him."

"Let’s go and meet him..."

Some maidens that had just trouped out of the hall found Rhane sitting down with his eyes closed. And they pointed, blushing and giggling while they held hands.

"Will he-"

"Let’s go- Excuse me sir..."

Rhane opened his eyes slowly, then he turned his face staring at the women.

"Ah!" They gasped in unison, shuffling with their dresses before one of them boldly spoke to him.

"We...we wanted to...commend your accomplishments so far...you’ve been the best man."

Rhane could no longer hear them clearly, their voices sounded muffled and so did their faces but he just gave them a quick nod.

"Mm," he hummed, hoping that would be enough to get them on their way.

The maidens stayed, though in fear of the young man before them, but like moths with fire they refused to leave. Charmed by the nonchalance of the day’s champion.

"If you’re still clear-headed...we would want to share another wine with-"

Rhane stood up and hissed, he couldn’t digest the mention of alcohol. It made him want to throw up but his actions were perceived wrongly by the young maidens who now recoiled, taking steps away from Rhane.

Staggering away from them, Rhane decided to let the women have theirs since they wanted it. While he went ahead to find somewhere better to wait for Jenna.

He’d gone a little distance, towards a quiet passage when he bumped into someone, instead of falling to the ground when his legs almost gave up the person held his arm.

"Thank you," Rhane murmured, about to continue on his way but his hand reached first for the dress.

Jenna. He knew the dress very well, it was Jenna’s little blue dress that he’d only thought of helping her out of. Also, for some strange reason, the body didn’t seem like her own.

"Jenna..." Rhane slurred, this time his eyes turned and everything around him doubled. The clashing of the rain against the pillars and stones didn’t help at all.

Rhane felt handicapped, he couldn’t see clearly or hear, and if he tried to speak it only got heavy but what bothered him was Jenna turning her back on him.

"Je...nna..."

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"Jenna..."

Lois squeezed her palm tightly, she didn’t understand why this man was saying another woman’s name while holding her dress. Was it because he wanted to drive the dagger straight into her chest, or did he enjoy taunting her?

Did he know about her feelings for him?

Lois bit her lips, anger bubbling inside of her. She wanted to run inside and cry her eyes out, every woman now looked like Jenna to him.

She had followed him after the contest out of guilt. Lois watched everything closely, she saw when Rhane was about to lose. And she waited patiently for it to happen but to her utmost disappointment and surprise, Rhane had Gerald and the entire room tricked by swapping his drink under everyone’s nose.

And it stamped in, Lois realized that this man wasn’t just brawn and menace. There was brain in between the height and bulk of flesh. Rhane was a mystery, and Lois had always loved mystery.

She’d seen how smooth he played his game of mind. Even at the brink of defeat, making Lois wonder just how far this man was willing to go just to have Jenna. He wasn’t giving up.

When the game ended, all Lois could do was stare in awe. The greatness of one man and how he turned the tables at his own will. It was like the tournament was made for him and not him for the tournament.

It was less a contest he entered, and more a stage that existed solely to herald him.

This made Lois even more attracted to him with the passing of seconds. But the guilt ate her up from within, she almost made him lose something he was working so hard for. Just because she wanted him for herself.

In that moment, Lois decided to redeem herself. To apologize to Rhane and move on with her life. The opportunity had come when Jenna left with her father.

Lois ran out of the room through another door, she watched Rhane in secret. He had left the room just to sit alone.

What was going on in his head? Lois had thought to herself while watching him. Did he know she had something to do with everything? Was he going to hate her now and never speak to her?

Even when some ladies approached him, Lois saw how they skittered away in fear. And that same fearful aura made her freeze, made her rethink about apologizing. She decided to let it go.

It was on her way back inside that Rhane had bumped into her. Lois felt her heart fly out into the rain and get soaked.

He knows! She had screamed with her eyes bulged. Lois prepared her mind and heart, for she knew no man would ever speak so softly to a woman who almost caused his defeat. But instead...

"Jenna..."

He’d called Jenna’s name! Was this his way of punishing her?

Lois inhaled very deeply, tipping her chin forward before she turned. "You don’t have to-"

Rhane fell forward, his hand landing on her shoulder.

"What are you-" with her eyes wide with fear, Lois tried to make meaning of the situation. She raised her hand up to push Rhane,

"This is very inappropriate of you- good lord! You’re burning more than a pyre!" The woman gasped, touching Rhane’s face.

"You need to be treated, let me get the physician."

Rhane groaned, "Jenna...not the physician...don’t bring them."

Lois bit her inner cheeks, everything about this man piqued her interest. Why didn’t he want a physician...was he hiding something? The more she had a glimpse, the farther she wanted to walk in.

Looking around the quiet passage, Lois decided to move to a darker place. Not just because she was trying to help Rhane hide his moment of weakness, but also she didn’t want to be disturbed by anyone.

By Jenna.

Gently pulling Rhane to a corner, Lois helped him sit then she sat beside him. Untying a horse skin that was on her waist.

Lois didn’t know what they fed him but she was sure water could help. She brought the water close to Rhane’s lips then fed it to him.

The sky rumbled, everywhere had darkened and the rain poured with the intensity of raging fire. It wasn’t stopping, and didn’t look like it was. The kind of rain that kept people trapped...kept people longing for their warm beds.

Lois’ gaze softened as she stared with care at Rhane drinking from her horse skin. She’d never thought a moment like this would come so fast. After everything she did, thinking she didn’t have a chance. The same man now sat beside her.

When Rhane pushed his head back and stopped drinking, he closed his eyes, a wistful smile curling his lips. He grinned, with blood covering his teeth.

"I didn’t want to meet you this way, Jenna..." Rhane’s voice deepened, followed by a growl. "Tell me, were you going to cry for me earlier?"

Lois opened her mouth to reply, she wanted to let him know how worried she was for him. And also seize the opportunity to apologize, after all, she had helped him so that would settle it. But on another thought, Lois realized something.

This man had been saying Jenna’s name since he saw her. Did he think—

"I so much love the dress on you, little rose." Rhane rumbled, writhing in pain as he struggled to speak.

The dress! Lois almost jumped out of the place at this finding. This man thought she was Jenna because of the dress? But it didn’t make sense...her voice, her face...her body...it was nothing...

Lois looked closer, it was then she noticed that Rhane’s eyes were slowly closing and his fever had only increased.

"Please speak to me Jenna...I’d stay awake if I...." Rhane’s head fell forward and his chin rested on his chest.

Lois frowned, "Excuse me..." she pushed him, "Excuse-" feeling a wetness on her palm. Lois felt her heart sink.

Taking a closer look, she saw that Rhane was bleeding.

Lois chewed her lips, it dawned on her that the young man had passed out.

"This won’t do..." Lois said out loud, she knew she needed to get the physician but before then...

His lips...

Lois swallowed hard. She didn’t know when she’d get this opportunity. Accusing a man of sexual harassment after a kiss led to an offense punishable by stoning. Especially if the maiden was a virgin.

Maybe this was destiny. Lois chimed internally. Everything that had happened which led to this moment. Maybe... she brought her face closer.

"Master Rhane!"

Lois threw her hands up in the air, "Please help us..."