0002: THE DAMSEL AND MY PENDANT
1006 Words
“What? You want a divorce?” Caelum stared wordlessly at Emily as the night air blew into the room.
The desperation and frustration on her face weighed down heavily on him. The pain in his legs could not compare to that in his heart as he watched her break down. “You shouldn’t say things like that, Emily.” He sighed. Wasn’t a divorce simply going too far? He was almost close to his goal.
This was the most he could do in his state. “Knowing too much right now is not good. I promise to explain everything to you when I’m done. Trust me.” He moved his wheelchair closer to her.
“Don’t come closer, Caelum.” Emily felt a swirl of emotions wash over her. He sounded genuine, like he really cared. Yet, his secretive ways told her another story. A million theories flew around her mind as to his reason, but there was no pleasant conclusion.
“I want to know, Caelum!” She cried out, her hands grabbing a fistful of her hair. “Are you in trouble? After all, everyone has ridiculed me since we got married. What more are you hiding that would disgrace me more? You’re making it worse with your sneaky behavior. Do you even know the rumors flying about?”
A frown graced his brows. “Emily, don’t listen to the rumors. You and I know it’s not true. You know people will always talk,” he tried to persuade her, but she shot him a glare. Confused, he questioned, “What rumors are those, anyway?”
“Yes, of course they will talk. They might as well be right!” She lashed out, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “How can I be sure that you’re not spending my hard-earned money on some mistress out there, huh? Rumors travel fast, you know!”
“Are you playing me for a fool? Because that’s exactly how I feel right now!” Her voice was barely above a whisper as she asked.
Her words ruffled Caelum. To put it mildly, he was deeply hurt. How could she think so low of him? He wondered, hurt sinking his morale.
“I might be disabled right now, Emily, but I’m not an unfaithful man. Loyalty is my core value,” he started, wheeling himself even closer to her.
She stared up at him with a tear-stained face, her hand clutching something to her chest.
"Emily, you're my wife. We might not have gotten married under the perfect circumstances, but I am committed to you," he urged her, his voice laced with concern and care.
Her eyes burned into his eyes, conflicting emotions swirling in them.
"Listen, Emily, I will repay you all the money. I would tell you what I am doing if I can, but right now, I can't. I won't cheat on you. I care about you—"
"Just stop it!" She snapped angrily. Her chest rose and fell as she glared at him. Her fingers clutched tighter on the object on her chest, which seemed to fuel her anger even more.
"Listen, a man who I have to provide for is not worthy of being a husband. Talk less about being my husband." Her voice was firm, with a slight falter. "I need a man capable enough to take care of me, too. I deserve a hero, too!"
Her words struck his heart like spiked whips.
"Look at this," she spoke, finally revealing what was clutched in her hands.
It was a beautiful pendant with intricate details on its edges hanging on a thin chain. It gave off a simple yet elegant appearance. "Do you know where I got this?" Emily uttered, swinging the chain.
Caelum didn't have much time to think about it, though. He was lost in the familiarity of the jeweled stone.
"I got it from a brave man, a hero, who rescued me from being killed in a terrible battle!" Her sharp, cold voice sent him crashing back to the present.
"I want a man like that, Caelum. That's the kind of man I want, Caelum, which is why I can’t love you. You are not him, and you can never be!” Emily’s words crashed against Caelum’s ears, and he seemed to be thrust back to when he was at the front of the war.
That pendant hanging on her neck was a key that unlocked the memory that remained hidden in his memory.
It was the crux of the war against the first band at the borders. He had driven his sword down the chest of an assailant and he caught sight of a lady crouched in a corner of the field.
The elephant grasses behind which she hid scarcely protected her.
"Cover me!" He ordered at his soldiers, moving stealthily towards her. The pendant, a family heirloom, swung on his neck as he advanced towards her.
Suddenly, an enemy appeared in front of him. "Run!" He had yelled at the scared lady as he lunged at the approaching opponent. He saw as she hurried to her feet, feeling relieved before facing the enemy.
"Thank you," her voice faintly floated into his ears.
The battle had ended in the victory, but to his dismay, the pendant on his neck had mysteriously disappeared.
He rushed back to the border to find the pendant, but there was no sign of it anywhere. Its disappearance zapped him of energy, giving the second band of opposing soldiers an advantage. It was a family heirloom, and its sentimental value was worth over twenty generations. He was disappointed in himself to have lost it in the war—or so he thought. Now, as he stared at the pendant that swung like a pendulum from the chain in the hands of the damsel he had rescued, he felt a surge of energy.
She was the one.
How had he not seen the pendant on her for the three years of their marriage?
- Writer
