THE SECRET (The Power Of Love Conquers All)
THE CHAPTER 20

"Come in." orders Ailean again. His voice sounded more violent than he intended.

"What's wrong?" ask Ailean. As Jacelyn did not move a single step from where she stood. Ailean forced Jacelyn's face up by holding the back of her hand under Jacelyn's chin.

"I don't want to go in."

Jacelyn looks so pathetic. Ailean tried to hold back her smile. "Why not?" tanyakanya.

Jacelyn shrugged her shoulders. Ailean squeezed Jacelyn's jaw gently. Jacelyn knew that the man would not let go until he got a definite answer from her.

"I just don't want to go where I'm not accepted" whispered Jacelyn.

Ailean's smile was filled with gentleness. Suddenly, Jacelyn felt like crying. Both of his eyes had started to glaze over. "I'm really exhausted tonight," he reasoned.

"But that's not why you want to stay out, is it?"

"I just explained to you... I feel ashamed" said Jacelyn. "I know I shouldn't take heart, all Stewart people hate Northumbrians. And most Northumbrians hate Stewart, even Stewart's border, and I hate all that hate. That's.. stupid, Ailean."

Ailean nodded in agreement. All the slurs went to Jacelyn. It was hard to keep feeling hurt when he wasn't arguing with the woman.

"Did Carmous scare you?"

"It was his anger that scared me" Jacelyn said. "That's the most absurd thing. Or, am I overreacting again? I know I'm too tired."

Jacelyn's exhausted. Ailean did not pay much attention, otherwise she would have noticed the dark circles under Jacelyn's eyes before her. Jacelyn clasped Ailean's hand as she felt humiliated, and still had not let go of her to date.

Yes, Jacelyn looked tired, defeated, and extremely beautiful in Ailean's eyes.

Suddenly, Jacelyn straightened her shoulders. "You need to get inside. I'm quite happy to wait for you out here."

Ailean smiled as she pulled her hand from Jacelyn's grasp. "But I'd be happier if you came in with me" he said.

Ailean felt like she had finished discussing this matter. The man wrapped his arms around Jacelyn's shoulders, squeezed slightly, then pulled the woman with him towards the entrance.

"You said you might overreact again" Ailean said as she pulled Jacelyn with her. The man completely ignored the fact that Jacelyn was acting like a stiff board. Jacelyn is so stubborn. However, Jacelyn's behavior made Ailean feel happy. There had never been a single woman who dared to oppose her, but Jacelyn was completely different from all the women she had ever known.

The woman glared every minute, or so it seemed. Ailean thought Jacelyn's reaction was completely honest. Jacelyn was not trying to impress her, and Jacelyn also seemed unlikely to back down or even succumb to her. It was strange, but Jacelyn's unusual attitude seemed to set her free.

Ailean felt no need to behave like an Emperor in power in front of Jacelyn. The fact that Jacelyn was an outsider seemed to destroy all the boundaries of tradition that were emphasized to her as a leader of the country.

Ailean had to force herself back to her disturbing questions. "When did you first overreact?" tanyakanya.

"When you kissed me."

They had already reached the threshold when Jacelyn admitted to that. Ailean immediately stopped and restrained the woman. "I don't understand," he said. "How do you overreact?"

Jacelyn could feel her face heating up. He lifted Ailean's arm off his shoulder. "You obviously look very angry at me. And it makes me angry too. I shouldn't have cared about her." Jacelyn added while nodding firmly.

Jacelyn did not want to know Ailean's reaction to the outspoken confession. He rushed in. The old woman he saw came forward to greet him. The woman's smile seemed sincere to Jacelyn, and the slight tension she felt on her shoulders disappeared as she returned the woman's smile.

Margaretha was a beautiful woman. His eye brows curved and the arch at the corners of his lips added to the woman's charm. It has green-colored eyes in a golden color, and thick brown hair that is decorated with slight gray stripes. He styled the hair by braiding it. Although Margaretha was thirty centimeters taller than Jacelyn, Jacelyn did not feel intimidated at all. Kindness emanates from the woman.

"Thank you for letting me into your house" Jacelyn said after bowing respectfully.

Margaretha wiped her hands onto her white apron before replying bowing respectfully. "If you want to sit at the table, I'll finish preparing our dinner."

Ailean happened to look up. He looked at Jacelyn once and knew something was wrong. The woman's face looked pale. And he looked like he was panicking from something. Ailean was just about to get up from her chair to find out what was bothering Jacelyn as she realized the woman was staring at the wine jar.

What is possessing that woman exactly?

"Jacelyn do you want to drink a little..."

Jacelyn shook her head immediately. "Wouldn't the water feel more..A refreshing after a long day of travel?"

Ailean leaned back in her chair. What they drank seemed so important to the woman. Ailean did not understand why at all, and she felt that it was no big deal. Jacelyn clearly looked very upset. If the woman wants them to drink water, they will drink water.

"Yes," Ailean agreed. "Water will feel fresher."

Jacelyn's shoulder immediately sagged in relief.

Sgaire was also aware of Jacelyn's reaction. "We had to get up early, Carmous," he said, though his gaze was fixed on Jacelyn. "We won't drink wine until we get home."

Margaret heard the conversation as well. He rushed towards the table carrying a pot full of fresh drinking water. Jacelyn brought more glasses.

"Sit down and rest" Margaretha told Jacelyn.

"I'd rather help you" Jacelyn said.

Margaretha nodded. "Take that chair and sit by the stove. You can stir the meat broth while I cut the bread."

Jacelyn was relieved. The men were discussing now, and from the wrinkles on their faces, he predicted that what was being talked about was an important matter. He doesn't want to disturb. And most importantly, he did not want to sit next to Carmous. Because the only empty seat is at the end of the table, to the left of Carmous.

Jacelyn lifted the chair from near the wall toward the stove following Margaretha's instructions. He realized that the woman continued to steal a glance at him. Margaretha obviously wanted to talk to her, but had to think about how her husband would react. He kept staring at the dining table to see if Carmous was watching them.

"We rarely have guests" whispered Margaretha.

Jacelyn nodded. She saw Margaretha peeking back at her husband, then back at him.

"I wonder why you want to go to Stewart's house" whispered Margaretha again.

Jacelyn smiled. "My friend married a man from Stewart Kingdom and asked me to come help her give birth to her first child" she replied in a voice as low as Margaretha's.

"How did you meet your friend?" Margaretha wanted to know.

"A festival at the border."

Margaretha nodded. "We also have a festival here, even though it's in the fall instead of spring."

"Have you ever attended her?" jacelyn asked enthusiastically.

"We went there while Shaista was still living with us" replied Margaretha. "But since Shaista got married and left the house, Carmous has been too busy to leave" she added, shrugging her shoulders. "I've always had a good time there."

"I heard that Shaista was married to Sgaire's sister" Jacelyn said. "Has the wedding just been done?" tanyakanya.

"No, it was four years ago" replied Margaretha.

Sadness was evident in Margaretha's tone of voice. Jacelyn stopped stirring the broth and turned away from the stove so as to give the woman her undivided attention.

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