Jenna wasn't sure why she did what she did, but watching the young man bow made her feel scared. How was she able to command a man twice her size?
"T-hat... um. I mean yes," she nodded. "That's all," Jenna squeezed her hands together.
Rhane lifted his face and stood straight. He didn't say anything else but just stared at Jenna.
"Um... let's go," Jenna stammered, taking the lead back to the tailor's shop. Her ears burned red with shame. She didn't know why her guard was suddenly up. It made her sound like she was jealous or something.
Being jealous? Why? Jenna asked herself. For a man who might get his memory soon and be on his way? Jenna cursed herself mentally.
The tailor, an old man in his late seventies, sat behind a machine stroking his grey beard with his hand.
"Archie, this is my servant. The one you'll be making a fine shirt for," Jenna introduced, moving to the side so the man could see Rhane properly.
"Not Percy?" Archie asked, but when he saw the young man behind Jenna, he raised his brows, a familiar look in his eyes. "Your servant?"
Rhane stared back at the man. He moved one hand behind him.
"Yes, I found him on the road... he needed help. And also, Archie, he doesn't remember his past," Jenna continued, failing to notice the little exchange between the two men.
"You know people around here so much, right? Just maybe if you can... ask them if they know anything about the Hendrick family."
Archie hummed, a small smile on his lips. "Hendrick, eh?"
"Yes, Anne Hendrick," Jenna replied, only to hear a laugh from the tailor.
When Archie stopped laughing, he tutted. "Jenna... Jenna... you're a good woman. I wonder why the wolves always lurk around you."
Rhane raised his brows, his head moved to the side.
"But not all wolves eat their prey, right? Some sing them a lullaby and watch them sleep," Archie completed, picking out an old parchment from his shelf.
Jenna shrugged. "So are you going to help or not?"
Archie raised his face, a quick glance at Jenna then at Rhane. "If a man needs a shirt, then I have to get it done. We can't have him soaked in the rain."
"Thank you so much, Archie," Jenna beamed. "I knew I could count on you."
Archie cleared his throat and smiled. "But I'll need to take his measurements alone... if that's okay."
"Yes, it is. It is," Jenna clapped her hands gently. She turned to Rhane.
"Here is safe. Archie is a good man. I'll wait right outside until you're done."
Rhane bowed. "Yes, master."
Archie huffed. When Rhane looked at him, the old man turned his eyes away and whistled, pretending not to look.
Jenna bowed once more, then she turned and left the room, knowing she had left Rhane in good hands.
Once the two men were left alone, Archie dropped the parchment. He brought down the tape around his neck, bringing his hands together.
Rhane watched the man and so did Archie, both of them not breaking their gaze despite the silence. Finally, Archie said,
"Now tell me... what is The Scourge... the hunter of death doing close to an angel like Jenna?"
Outside the tailor's shop, Jenna strolled around to ease her boredom from waiting around. She noticed a woman spread a piece of cloth on the floor while men gathered around her.
"That hairpin is attractive. Every woman would love to have it," the woman convinced them with a wink.
The men rushed the hairpin, fighting to have it. They all wanted to please the maidens they'd marry with gifts or anything at all. So they put effort.
Jenna watched the men picking hairpins, and a part of her longed to receive those. For a man to work hard for her, to yearn for her like these men do for the maidens they wish to court. Not just from any man, but from someone who would actually love her. Who wouldn't use her past against her, protect her, make her feel safe.
She didn't want to be scared even in a place she calls home. And it was difficult to find something like that anymore. Everyone Jenna has seen or met wanted to leave her in a box. A box she didn't even fit in.
A woman who left her marriage. A woman who isn't submissive. A woman with a thick body that would only know how to please a man. That was it. The men she had met didn't try to get to know her more, more than just the physical things.
Which is why Jenna had decided to forget about ever getting a hairpin from any of them. They would try to give her. Despite being married before, Jenna was still good-looking. But not that Jenna would accept, though she longed to, she was scared of making another mistake.
So there it was, her wish to be loved, protected and understood. It was never going to happen. Other women might have it easy, but not her. Because she's Jenna.
No man would ever love her, for her. And all fantasy to get a hairpin vanished. Jenna moved her eyes away from the men, and at the same time Rhane was stepping out of the tailor's shop.
A thought crossed Jenna's mind. If only the young man didn't lose his memory and he was actually kind and loyal. The way he is now, Jenna could already imagine having him behind her. Standing ten toes as her man, going out there to put fear in the hearts of the men that had insulted her.
The feeling of being protected by someone so huge made Jenna's heart warm up a bit. And then her thought continued to trail, she imagined both of them after a long day, running around a grassy field. And then he would give her a hairpin, one no maiden had ever worn, place it on her hair... and they would ki—
"Jenna,"
Beth interrupted, with a happy smile that made Jenna want to throw up.
"I'm ready to go, and it seems you are too. Let's go."
Jenna rubbed her forehead and sighed. She was happy Beth stopped her. She was really losing her mind thinking of the man like that. She was supposed to help him and nothing much.
"Let's go," Jenna sighed tiredly. One quick look at the men before she started walking.
Beth ran to hold Rhane's hand. "Let's go," her high-pitched voice sang.
Rhane followed his master's eyes. When he noticed what she was looking at, he twitched his lips. Feeling someone's gaze, Rhane turned and saw the tailor standing by the door. The old man gave him a small wave before walking back inside.