In a forsaken corner of the city stood an old forgotten cabin. Inside the wooden cabin that was dark, dingy and stinky, a figure was slouched on the floor like a piece of rag. The wind howled relentlessly protesting the injustice and brutality, but the cloudy sky seemed like heavens closed its eyes.
The sound of horse hoofbeats broke the symphony of the lamenting wind. A decent looking carriage moved through the dark night towards the cabin. The horses neighed as they were halted to stop.
Inside the cabin, the figure struggled to get up at the sound of a carriage stopping outside the cabin. Hope ignited in her heart; She was unwilling to believe… maybe, just maybe…...
The door was pushed open, and a well- dressed man and woman entered.
“Jason….” The figure called out in a feeble attempt.
“Not dead yet?” A disdainful male voice sounded.
“Why?” Mira raised her head painfully with every ounce of her strength. She had to know…. She had to know why the man she loved from the age of 10, the man who circled around her all day professing his love, the man who chased after her despite her parents marrying her off to another, the man who finally married her braving all odds would personally send her to the clutches of hell…
“Why?” A low female chuckle that made the hairs on your hand stand came from beside Jason. She moved from the dark to the lighted area of the dimly lit cabin “Did you really think so highly of yourself?”
“Did you really think Jas would want an ugly duckling like yourself if not for your father’s seal?”
“Alina??” Mira shook her head in confusion. ‘Why was her best friend here with her husband?’
“Darling, I told you she’s a fool.” Alina laughed melodiously as she snuggled into Jason’s arms. Her eyes were lit up with a vicious glint.
“You…. you told me you were going to…” Mira coughed a mouthful of blood as she turned a sorrowful gaze towards Alina. Her weak body couldn’t hold her soul any longer. She couldn’t understand why her best friend who told her that she was going to submit the petition to the king to review her father’s case was here.
“Let me enlighten you.” Alina smiled victoriously as she left Jason’s embrace and walked closer to Mira.
“Mira…. Mira…. Mira…. My dear friend.” She called in ridicule as she squatted in front of Mira.
“I and Jason have been together for more than ten years.” Her lips curled higher in ridicule. “Even when you were circling around him, he was warming my bed. But we needed the seal in your father’s hand for him to take over Zumerong estate.”
“Your stepmother, poor Ursula was actually just looking out for you. She probably knew my intention.” Alina shrugged “That’s why she scolded you and forced you to stay away from me.”
“As for you, you are a fool, that’s why you believed me and revolted against the one woman who truly cared about you.”
“The reason she used her life as bait to threaten your father and arranged for your marriage to that self-righteous bastard Jackson was because she saw us together in bed one day when she returned home early.”
“That bastard…. What did he see in you to be so infatuated that he only wanted you to be happy?” Alina’s eyes shown with jealousy and hatred. She thought of the moment he insulted her when she tried to throw herself at him. She didn’t love him; she just didn’t want Mira to be happy and wanted her to be left with her leftovers.
“Who asked him to forfeit a toast?” She laughed viciously although her voice was just a whisper, only the two of them could hear “That’s why I dragged him to the ditches…. Pity, he still didn’t know what’s good for him.”
Mira clutched her head as she heard Alina’s vicious comment. Her head was filled with images of a man blocking the attack of the vicious men who bought her here. He used his last breath to shield her before his lifeless body fell to the ground.
“No…no….no….” Mira clutched her head shaking desperately.
“Did you remember?” Alina narrowed her snake-like eyes in delight. The more Mira was in pain, the happier she felt.
“I got Lotta to drug him, that was why he was weak and couldn’t hold off those people…ha….ha…ha…. that idiot gave up everything for you…. ha…ha…ha…. Did you know that he was thrown out of his job because he took the blame for your treachery?” Alina narrowed her eyes viciously “I thought I would be done with you once the Slegh family scam was bought to light.” She looked disdainfully at Mira from between her fingers that she was admiring “But that idiot took the fall without implicating you.”
“Why …. Why did you do this?”
“Because we are both fathers’ daughters and yet he only has you in his eyes…. So, I will take everything from him.” Her eyes burned with hatred “His days are coming to an end… ha…ha…ha… he is quite miserable in prison, did you know?” She feigned a sorrowful expression “He has been convicted of treason against king and country. No one can save him now.”
“No…. no…. no…” Mira shook her head in disbelief. She couldn’t believe her righteous and kind father would do something like this.
“Of course, he didn’t do it…. He has been too muddle-headed since Ursula’s death. It was easy for us to manipulate him to place his seal in all the wrong places.” Alina laughed.
“Do you know who killed Ursula?” Her lips curled up cruelly “You…”
“No…no….no….” Mira shook her head again. She hated Ursula due to Alina’s twisted advises but she would never kill anyone. “You’re lying… Ursula killed herself.”
“Ha…. ha….. ha….” Alina shook her head and sneered “You are too naïve…. Why would she kill herself? Heh! The bitch wanted my mother’s position…”
“That bitch was trying to save you with her last breath.” Alina clenched her fists in anger “Another miscalculation. She figured that she had been poisoned and hastily made the confession note so that no one would even suspect…. But the poison that killed her was the poison that you mixed in her milk.”
“No … no….no…” Mira shook her head miserably as she thought back to the fateful night “That powder…. You…. you told me ….. was sleeping powder…”
“I lied” Alina smiled.
“Oh god…oh god…. What sin!” Mira cried miserably; she feebly lifted her head to look at Jason “Why did you??”
“You are not worthy.” Jason turned his head in hatred “You are an unclean, unvirtuous women who can split your legs for anyone.”
Mira shook her head in disbelief. She didn’t believe that this was her beloved man speaking…. She couldn’t believe that she kept her chastity for this demon denying her rightful husband; the one who gave up even his life for her a few hours ago even after she ditched him mercilessly…. She deserved this… it was payback. She no longer felt miserable. She raised her tear-filled eyes to stare into his and asked with her voice filled with heartache “Have you ever loved me?”
Jason pursed his lips. He did… he loved the pure, innocent girl that twirled around him, chattering non-stop around him…. but he couldn’t tolerate her two-faced personality, he couldn’t tolerate her affair with another man while she was with him. He wouldn’t have known if Alina hadn’t enlightened him. He decided to pay her back 10-fold worse than she did to him…. However, he didn’t know that this was a trap dug by the soft-hearted person by his side…. he believed her whole-heartedly.
“Heh! I have been a fool…. But I deserve this! I deserve this for the way I treated my ex-husband.” Mira chuckled miserably.
“I have loved you…. but what did you give me?” Jason roared in anger. He couldn’t bear to see her eyes filled with disgust towards him, perhaps in a corner of his heart he still loved her. He couldn’t bear to see her suffer, that was why he agreed to Alina’s suggestion of taking her out of the equation, to put her out of her misery. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that Alina would bring her here and torture her…. Nor did he know that Alina had already gotten 5 men to brutally violate her.
“What did I do?” Mira laughed in ridicule, the pain in her heart evident in her eyes “I disdained the one man who loved me despite knowing I never loved him. I personally dragged the entire Slegh estate to hell so that you could be glorified.” Mira shook her head “I am truly a vile creature…”
“What about Jeffrey from the manor who came to learn at the Parson’s home with us? Did you think of me when you slept around with him and the other rich lords?” Jason scorned as he spit towards her face “All the while acting virtuous in front of me…”
Mira looked at him in shock before her lips curled up in disdain “And all of this was told to you by your virtuous lover?”
“Ha…. ha….ha….” Mira laughed hysterically “I have received my retribution… and so will you…. I will watch from beyond my grave.”
“Mira dear…. I won’t be killing you yet…. You are still useful.” Alina dragged her nails on Mira’s face before speaking a sinfully seductive tone “The high counsellor has taken a fancy to your lowly flesh. I will poison you and send you to his bed so that Jas can get the contract for the grains of the army barracks before we send you to meet your family on the other side.”
“Alina….” Jason frowned. This was not what they agreed.
“Jas” She called softly, putting on a pitiful expression “I know you are kindhearted … but we need this badly….” She pursed her lips feigning distress “Our kids are on the way. We can’t let anyone bully them. This is the first time the contract has been opened to commoners. We have a chance…. we must…. ..” She bit her lips “Never mind. We won’t …. but….have you thought about how we will live?” She continued with a sorrowful expression “We still don’t have the seal and the bastard didn’t name you as his successor.” A sob escaped her lips “If she didn’t ….. then why did he resign his post and give it to that scum, his step-nephew?”
“Let’s go.” Jason pulled her into his embrace as he comforted her. He made up his mind as he was reminded of the last straw. He hoped to take his father-in-law’s position after his resignation and then frame him but who would have thought that he would name Ursula’s orphaned nephew as his successor and resign?
Mira watched their display of affection with resentment. She held her head high till they left the room.
She slouched back on the ground crying miserably as the door closed. Even with the downpour of rain, Jason heard her miserable wails. He felt a strange pang in his heart and looked back at the closed door in doubt ‘Was he wrong? Did he go overboard?’
Mira wasn’t lamenting her fate…. She deserved it…… she was regretful of the lives she wronged with her blind faith… She regretted every action; she swore she would make amends in her next life…. She prayed for a chance to right those she wronged before deciding not to be a steppingstone for the scum man and woman. She smashed her head against the wall apologizing to her step mum and Jackson whom she had wronged the most.
Lighting struck down on earth…. It struck the cabin, and it cracked mid-way…. Striking straight at Mira, but was blocked by the pendant on her neck, a crack appeared on the flawless stone. Mira didn’t know any of this… her consciousness was slowly slipping into the darkness. Blood dripped down her forehead and into the crack in her pendant…..
Mira felt a small light lighting her path in the darkness. She wondered if she was being guided on the way to hell for her deeds. She stepped in the path lighted by the small light. She was ready… she deserved it….Her life flashed past as she followed the small light engulfed in the darkness around her… Everything made sense to her. The seal that the wicked couple was talking about was not her father’s seal of authority as the ‘Head of Trade and Book of hereditary rights’ but the seal that belonged to the Zumerong estate. The Zumerong was one of the oldest and most prestigious families in the old world, but due to a political unrest, the family had to leave the city under the cover of the night some 15 years ago and no one had heard about them ever since.The Zumerong seal was given to her father by his best friend who was the heir apparent to the estate for safe keeping until they returned. He didn’t want the seal to fall in the wrong hands if they met with trouble on their way. He
Jackson pursed his lips. He didn’t know whether to believe or not. He had also read about rebirth and reincarnation in ancient texts…. But they were all myths…. No one had ever reported or seen anyone proof.“I don’t want you to make a hasty decision.” Mira smiled. “I will give you a small proof.”Jackson raised his eyebrows skeptically; it would be a lie to say that his interest was not aroused.“Give me the parchments, unlock the door and hide behind the curtain. Don’t make a sound.” Mira’s lips hooked up with a knowing smile “If I am not mistaken, Jason should be coming in anytime. He will come in apologizing for all the pain he put me through.”Jackson felt that her smile was becoming brighter and more charming. He stared half dazed in her smile.“He will pretend to be very happy when I tell him about you agreeing to null the marriage but then become sorrowful as he tells me that this was not right time and that he finally has a chance to be appointed as one of the advisors at the
On the way back, Mira told Jackson that she wanted to stop by the village supply shop and buy something for his aunt and family. She had borrowed some money from her father but didn’t tell him.“Let’s do it another day.” Jackson couldn’t wait to get home and be alone with his wife. The other reason was, he didn’t have enough money in his pocket. Everything he had saved up for the month was used up for her at the healer’s place.“That’s okay…. Just a quick look…. Please…. please….” Mira blinked pitifully.“Alright.” Jackson couldn’t bear to refuse. He planned to ask the shop keeper to open a borrower’s account for him. This was common in this era. Most people would have this sort of borrower’s account against their household with the supply shop, the butcher, the milkman and so on… There were only few individuals who could pay as soon as they bought something, others would pay it off slowly or when they got their wages or sold their harvest.Mira also wanted to look at the items in the
Jackson went to the nearby woods to get some wood as soon as they got home. He had to solve the problem to the hen’s cage since they had already bought the hen.Mira started to prepare supper. It was nothing special. Just some roasted vegetables and porridge. That was all they had.Mira sat thinking about how she could make money while the porridge cooked. She remembered how she had learned to sew in her past life after she divorced Jackson and had gotten married to Jason. At that time, it was more a passing fancy for her to kill time as Jason was never home; he was always meeting up with people in the big city and at the king’s court.Heh! She was too naïve… he must have been holed up with Alina. Mira shook her head to free herself of the thoughts of the vicious couple. Thinking back to the sewing lessons she learnt, she didn’t know if she had really learnt anything worthwhile. She had to try to see if it was any good.She was very good at embroidery… Ursula had taught her well since
Jackson slowed his pace for Mira as they walked to the collection point for the carriage. The usual 5 minutes’ walk took them 15 minutes, but they still had plenty of time before the carriage departure. Being early meant they got a seat in a comfortable position in the carriage.Jackson usually did not waste money on carriage ride. He would walk; it would take him an hour and a half to get to his office in the Slegh estate following the shortcut through the fields and streams. But today, since Mira was coming along, he decided to splurge and take the carriage. It would cost him 3 silver pieces each.Mira handed 20 pieces of silver to Jackson as she knew he didn’t have any money on him. She left the 30 pieces with her as she wanted to see if she could find something in town to make money.“Sleep. I will wake you when we get there.” Jackson put his arm around her shoulders pulling her into his embrace. He knew she was tired. The trip to the city in the carriage would take an hour.Mira
Jackson felt a heartache as he saw all the stuff, she bought but he didn’t have the heart to scold her. He only sighed inwardly as they walked to the carriage pick up point.They sat in the carriage quietly on the way back. Mira gave Jackson the buns she bought for him and dozed off as she was really tired. Jackson’s lips curled up as he ate the buns his wife bought for him. He was really hungry as all he ate since morning was the half egg and slice of bread at breakfast. He woke her up when they reached the stop near their home. He carried all the items while Mira carried the basket with needles and threads from the corner shop.“Let me tell you an exciting news….” She paused as she remembered the money she spent and sighed “Actually there is one good news and one bad. Which do you want to hear first?”“Bad news.” Jackson pursed his lips. He didn’t want to hear as he thought she was going to tell him that she regretted her choice and wanted to go back on her word to live a good life
“You’re here.” Almera smiled as she saw Mira waiting at the door.“Um.” Mira nodded.Almera invited her into the office and poured a cup of tea.“No one else has come?” Mira looked around curiously. The last time she came. It was earlier than this but there was a doorman at the door and a few salespeople at the front.“Friday is a day everyone starts late.” Almera smiled amiably as she sipped her tea.“What brings you back so soon?”“I finished the work you gave me. So, I wanted to check if it meets your satisfaction, or you wanted me to change anything.”“Finished?” Almera hooked her eyebrows suspiciously.Mira quietly took the completed cloth and placed it on the table for Almera to inspect along with the unused thread “I didn’t use the brown as I changed my mind. The others are…” Mira paused as she smiled sheepishly “I didn’t know how much I would need so I unwound them for washing… so they look a bit unkempt, but I swear they are not dirty.” Mira completed awkwardly in a low voice
Mira proudly handed her pouch to Jack as soon as they reached home.“You should keep it.” Jack pressed it back into her hand. “It is the wife’s job to take care of these affairs.”“Really?” Mira asked skeptically.“That’s how my parents did it.” Jack shrugged as a matter of fact and then pulled his pockets inside out “I don’t have any money now. But when I do, it will be yours to keep.”“I made you a pauper, didn’t I?” Mira lowered her head guiltily. She knew he had to take out all his money and also take a loan to buy this place.“I think it is a good thing.” Jack held her waist with one hand and with the other, lifted her face with a cheeky smile “Don’t we have our love nest ready for us?”“You… you…” Mira pouted as she gently hit him with her fists on his chest.“Let’s make the most of it.” Jack chuckled as he lowered his head and captured her lips. He deepened the kiss and ravished her senses, riding the storm with her all the way from the front room to their bedroom. Jack pulled
Thomas and Orseus stepped on their toes as they leaned over their father’s shoulders and read the scroll along with them; tears rolled down Cornelius and Baldwin’s cheeks as they saw the scroll in their sworn brother’s hand and read greedily.Their tears didn’t stop even though they finished reading the letter. The guilt of not being there when their sworn brother needed them the most was eating into their soul; they listlessly handed the scroll to Jack and Mira.“So now we have to find Esmeralda to cure Uncle Jerome.” Orseus pursed his lips. He called out to Jerome as Uncle Jerome smoothly, he had no difficulty as he grew up hearing these two names, Alex and Jerome; to him, they were family, more closer to him than Uncle Alaistair and his sons.“If we have guessed correctly, we don’t have to go anywhere searching for her.” Cornelius shook his head and added with an air of mystery “She is much closer than we think.”“Are you saying that the healer that we go to is, this Esmeralda that
“If only we knew….” Harry sighed regretfully “Then we could have followed that man’s trail and found Alex sooner.”“You think too beautifully... Alex would never lead a trail if this was his contingency plan.” Baldwin sneered before his expression turned serious “But we may have stumbled upon some unexpected luck in finding Alex.”“Did granduncle Zumerong shed some light?” Orseus asked, leaning forward eagerly.“Heh!” Corenlius scoffed “They were kept in even greater darkness than us.”“Then are you talking about the man who lives at Mer waters?” Thomas asked hesitantly; he really didn’t know why his father and godfather were so confident, just because he trained with Jack?“Son, you don’t know.” Cornelius shook his head “Leal can never be separated from Alex; wherever Alex is, he will follow, whether it is in life or death.”“There has never been a more loyal shadow.” Baldwin too sighed regretfully.“Then what are we waiting for?” Almera looked around curiously; Mira leaned forward a
Jack and Mira, along with the rest of their group, dragged their exhausted bodies and reached Southamberston palace at the break of dawn. Without making any noise, they all went to their respective rooms without any fuss. Everyone had a room at Southamberston palace even though they each had cottages specially prepared for them; both Martin and Oden went to the rooms that were prepared for them instead of their cottage.Early morning was unusually noisy with many unfamiliar faces around the breakfast table and yet it was as if no one noticed the familiarity of the unfamiliar faces at the table; the only exception was the three unfamiliar unfriendly faces as they sat through the farce as though they were watching a show and not part of it.Almera and Katherine joined them shortly after breakfast, as noisy as ever with Almera complaining that her husband didn’t love her anymore and that he was in love with his first wife, the estate responsibilities and that she always came second.Firs
Jack and Mira rushed back without stopping; their pace was originally fast, but it became even more rushed after they received John’s message which wasn’t much, just a short line written in a shaky hand ‘Matthew and Harry are back with three visitors’.Don’t misunderstand the shaky hand, it wasn’t fear… It was just John trying to write in his best hand. But unfortunately, it was bound to be misunderstood, due to John’s years of acting, acting timid, which was more believable for his son and nephew, more believable than his daring persona.Thomas had just entered his palace when his page rushed in and announced that he had a note from Southamberston and passed the note. It was the same note that was sent to Jack, written in the same shaky hand, 'Matthew and Harry are back with three visitors’. However, it evoked an entirely different expression from Thomas.Thomas stood up excitedly as he reached for his cloak that he had just hung up; he wrapped it around as he walked and called out to
Back at Southamberston, by late afternoon, a travel weary Matthew and Harry had arrived back at Southamberston with three additional unfamiliar men who were covered from head to toe, leaving only sharp eaglelike eyes.Without Harrison’s calm balancing act, the household was on the verge of being thrown into chaos when Beth walked in, in a hurry, ushered in by one of the maids who was flustered.The chaos resulted from the fact that there were three strangers who looked suspicious; the imaginative minds of the young staff who worked at the castle had worked themselves up with a theory they had concocted.Their theory was that the two elders who had gone to relax were held hostage, and they were unable to escape and were brought back here for the young Duke to save them; but the young duke wasn’t here; even Lazarus and Harrison weren’t here.The young maid who ran over to call Beth and gasped, almost out of breath “Lady…. Lady… Lady Beth, the elders have been held hostages by three sinis
Jack and Mira set off in the afternoon along with their men since there was nothing left for them to do here, at the manor and considering that they had been away from the duchy for almost a week.They first made a stop at the healer’s place as per Jack promise to Cornelius and Baldwin; however, there was still no one at the cottage. Jack quietly took the scroll that he had prepared previously and jumped over the wicket gate. He walked around the cottage a few times and returned as though nothing had happened.This was his agreement with the healer; he never understood why she was so paranoid, but he had always respected her rules in her place. When he returned, he no longer had the scroll in his hand. He had placed it in their usual place, inside one of the potted plants, one that looked just like the many potted plants that were placed in the backyard and yet she would correctly identify the one with message scroll.Out of curiosity, he had watched her once as she walked in through t
Everyone had rested at the manor after their late-night discussion and was up at the break of dawn, filled with vigor and new hope for answers to their decade long search. Somehow, they all had the feeling that they were closer to their quest, closer than they had ever been….After breakfast, everyone dispersed as quietly as they had arrived leaving behind Oden and Martin who were going to follow back with Jack and Mira.Corenlius and Baldwin decided to go by the healer’s cottage once more before heading back; Jack accompanied them while Mira stayed back to sort out and implement the plans she had previously discussed with Jack for their manor.However, both Cornelius and Baldwin were destined to be disappointed; the wicket gate was still locked, and the cottage desolate as ever, without any signs of life. Both Cornelius and Baldwin had a defeated expression as they considered what to do next.“I will come over once we have finished our plans for the manor and check on them.” Jack open
“Godfather, why was your interaction with the commander who came to our aid a bit weird?” Jack asked once he remembered their encounter with the cavalry that had rushed to their aid.“Che!” Cornelius sneered the disdain on his face couldn’t be more pronounced “Did they think that I Cornelius Richard the fourth am an ornamental fool to have sat firmly on the throne for the last decade?”“Didn’t you also note the abnormality?” Cornelius hooked his eyebrows towards Jack.“Whose they?” Orseus asked with a curious smirk, looking at his father who was riled up.“Who else, other than the Sorens?” Thomas shook his head helplessly as he answered even though he knew his good brother did not need an answer to his question.“Why would them helping us through the crisis annoy his highness?” Martin asked Jack in a whisper; even though it was a whisper, other than the woman who were not trained, everyone else heard him.Everyone’s gaze consciously or subconsciously turned to Jack to hear his response
Jack led everyone to their basement room under Mira’s workroom after dinner so that they could quickly get to the bottom of the reason for the waterworks. However, even before they all got into the room the doorbell rang.“10 gold coins that’s Martin.” Jack winked as soon as he heard the bell before shrugging “It’s a wonder he didn’t rush back with Harrison.“Your grace, he wasn’t there.” Harrison informed with a nonchalant expression although his lips were twitching non-stop “He was at the smithery when the carrier pigeons came in.”“Makes sense.” Jack chuckled as he walked towards the door.“10 gold coins that’s my pain.” Baldwin shook his head.“Mine would if he could sneak out…. but that’s going to………” Cornelius’s complacent expression has already started to crack; he hadn’t even completed his sentence when he heard Mira exclaim “Your royal highness…”Cornelius shook his head helplessly rubbing his forehead wondering if he was to eager to enjoy life and whether his son was ready fo