“Shall we head back then?” He asks not looking at me and I feel my heart squeeze in my chest just thinking about it. I shake my head quickly knowing if I'm not in the ballroom no one will notice anyway, especially not Herschel at this moment.
“How about we go for a walk…” He trails off his face looking as if he were debating his next words carefully.
“Outside?” He finishes and I take a deep breath in slowly before letting it back out in an attempt to calm myself.
“Under the caeruleum tee like.. Like before” He suggests softly speaking as not to overwhelm me again. I nod slowly, wiping my face again, no longer caring about the makeup any more.
After making it to the caeruleum tree I spot the initials carved there, my breath hitches and I turn around, Mr.Walsh spots the same thing despite how dark the grounds of the Duketom are. I shiver slightly as the wind blows before I smell the same dust smell as before when Mr.Walsh’s suit jacket is placed on my shoulders, this action is followed by a large sigh before I am pulled into another hug.
“You know if you caught a cold I would never be able to forgive myself.” He chuckles softly and my mind drifts back to the prince and what he said about the way Mr.Walsh couldn’t take his eyes off me when I was walking into the ballroom at the beginning of the night. My eyes drift back to the ring on my finger, the one Herchel gave me earlier that very day. I can’t bring myself to take it off just yet, I’m surprised when I hear a voice and Mr.Walsh’s arms fall from around me.
I look up to see a familiar silhouette running towards us, It was Herschel. It was hard to notice when he was attached to the Princess but he was dressed in his formal guards uniform which included epaulets and a sword.
“Ady what the hell?!” He yells as he makes his way to us, Mr.Walsh steps in front of me blocking his reach.
“Get out of my way you creep” Herschel glares at Mr.Walsh as he crosses his arms standing his ground.
“Ah so I see you do know proper english then Mr.Stott” My teacher says simply and Herschel Grits his teeth at his acknowledgment of Hershel’s speech change.
“Get away from her!” Herschel yells and I can’t help but zone out in that moment, wondering why I don’t stick up for myself and not just let Sullivan or any other man come to my rescue, before I can think much more on the fact I realize Herschel has taken out his sword and was pointing it at the other man in front of me. I make my way in front of Mr.Walsh quickly coming to the end of the broad sword myself. I have seen Herschel train through the window of the house while studying in the library and I know exactly how skilled he is with each weapon he owns and carries of course his broad sword is his favored and most skilled weapon choice.
“What did he do to you?” He asks not lowering his sword from my chin and I can find the courage to glare back at him the way he is me.
“Nothing Herschel” I put my hands up slowly and he glares fiercely between me and Mr.Walsh he’s breathing heavily.
“Lair!” He yells like a dog barking, loud and sharp in a way that rattles my brain and causes me to get dizzy for half a second, his tone and demeanor is familiar in a way I can’t place that shakes me to my core.
“I’ll kill him Adilyn I swear to god.” I can’t figure out how to deescalate the situation. Something isn’t right.
“How.. did you know where we were?” I ask softly and he huffs like a wild bull ready to charge at the right word.
“The Duchess asked me to look for you after she saw you leave. You have been gone for over twenty minuets do you know what people think you are doing, Adi? How could you? With… with him?” Mr.Walsh snorts in disbelief.
“How could she? Hypocrisy at its finest.” He rolls his eyes until the sword is pointed back in his face.
“Teach I swear to god if you don’t shut up I will gut you.” I move his sword down feeling anger boil inside me,
“How could I? Herschel, you were kissing the princess! You have no room to talk to me in such a way.” My words come out more hurt than angry and I watch Herschel’s face shift from anger to confusion.
“You… you saw that?” he asks, lowering his sword and I feel the pressure of tears brimming behind my eyes.
“Of course! You.. you were doing it out in the open, you know she’s betrothed yes?” I ask, crossing my arms as I hear him put his sword away.
“Adi… can we talk somewhere more private?” He asks and Mr.Walsh answers for me taking his jacket off my shoulders.
“No need, I’ll leave you two.” He walks towards the house just happy to not be held up at sword point anymore.
The air is still as Herschel and I stand in silence for what feels like forever, He doesn’t look at me instead keeping steady eye contact with the ground.
“I’m sorry” he says finally and I’m taken off guard that he doesn’t try to explain himself.
“For the princess and.. For teach back there and the princess.” he scratches the back of his head nervously. I feel my chest swell with anger.
“You’re sorry? How could you only say you’re sorry?” I ask, holding back tears that beg to be let go, I won’t cry this time. I feel the wind blow and can’t help but shudder, Herschel sighs deeply.
“Adi you have to believe me, I only did it because I saw you dancing with the prince you have to forgive me.”
I roll my eyes crossing my arm, I can’t believe he would pull out such a pitiful excuse. I sigh looking up at him,
“The prince is betrothed to your dear Princess Odette, my mother made me dance with him.” I huff and he takes one of my hands.
“I know that the Princess told me honestly Adi I would never have done such a thing if I had known you MUST believe me.” Desperation rings through his voice as he presses my hand to his chest with an earnest look on his face.
“My dearest Adilyn, you can trust me, I am the only man you can trust, remember? You can’t trust that teacher infecting you and… touching you.” I pull away from him at this point, confusion etched on my face.
“He never touched me, Herschel.” I say softly and Herschel walks closer, looking concerned.
“Adi I saw him touching you, trying to poison such innocence. Honestly you have no choice but to forgive me since your virtue is now in question you have no choice but to forgive me, Adilyn I’ll save you.” He falls to his knees hugging my skirts, and my heart breaks for him. I know he speaks the truth, no one has ever loved me as Herschel has.
“Yes Herschel… I forgive you.” I hear myself say softly although I can't recognize my own voice anymore as I stare into the distance, past the Dukedom, Past the hills. I see the stars winking down at me mischievously. I don’t regain myself as I am ushered back into the ballroom, the rest of the world is muffled and I feel like a ghost in my own life as the party bustles and Herschel tells my father of Mr.Walsh's “Transgressions.” The man in question is not instantly banished for that would be too much drama, My father brings the story to the king. The king commemorates Herschel and makes plans to knight him as he’s always wanted. My mother calls me a whore and screams about how i’ll never be married until Herschel says he’ll sacrifice himself for my benefit. My father commemorates him and plans to give us the House in Cantus after the wedding. It’s not until that night when I am left alone in my bed that I am finally able to regain myself and take liberties with everything that happened, the day washing over me like a freezing wave and I go to sleep that night feeling quite sick.
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