MOIRAI (Man*Man)

Chapter 30

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Elmer hasn't said a thing, not when he was taken to court and found guilty like he knew he will be. Not when people's faces turned to disgust like he knew they will be, not when Lady Mavis called him a thief. He didn't say anything, look at anyone else. He could hear his mother's cries but he didn't look her way feeling embarrassed. Elmer didn't say anything when he was taken to town, he didn't utter a single word when he was tied into a stockade.

He is only hoping for this to get over with, a tomato was the first thing to hit his face. He closed his eyes when every vegetable was thrown to him, words followed and in all Elmer kept his eyes shut, his mouth closed hoping for all of this to end soon. Everyone blamed him for the Prince's injury, acting all good yet he is a thief. He needed it to end, he hoped it would end. Something hard hit his stomach, he didn't dare open his eyes, he didn't want to see anyone's face, he didn't want to see who was present or shade a single tear even when he feels them close and passing through his closed eyes

Elmer has never felt so vulnerable in his life like he feels right now, he has no reputation to keep but did this have to happen to him also. Did he have to be humiliated like this, so shamed in public like this. Did this have to happen to him, Elmer loathed himself and his luck. Things stopped hitting him, Elmer opened his eyes and he wishes he didn't, all the faces, everyone around, the entire town is staring at him as he is in the middle. Faces filled with disgust, hate all towards him

"You shameless piece trash"

"The prince helped you yet you are a dirty thief"

"You deserve death" so many words, Elmer closed his eyes again his heart pounding, he feels...he is feeling so many things that he couldn't explain them "That us enough" It sounded like a nobles voice, every word stopped and the food stopped

Elmer felt someone near him as the stock got untied. When both his head and hands got out he fell down on his knees. He didn't look at anyone, his eyes stayed cast to the ground, scared to even move his head in fear. Elmer heard the crowd moving, he could see their feet leaving, walking away from him "Hey" It was Bert's voice but Elmer didn't want to look at him in the face from the shame he feels. He shrugged away from his touch getting up from the ground walking away on his shaky legs, still feeling eyes on him from everyone.

He needs a place where no one will see him, where no one will see his shame. Elmer walked past kids that threw staff at him while laughing. Elmer didn't say anything, he was incapable of saying anything, he just walked past getting out of town. He walked into the forest and without stopping he went as deep as he could, right now tears just flowing down his eyes. He couldn't control himself any longer, he let the flow, he fell down on his knees as he couldn't go on breaking down in tears. He thought he could do it, go through that and still be himself but he can't.

He doesn't know how he is going to pull out after that, he doesn't know if he will even pull out. Elmer has never broken down in tears before but right now he couldn't keep himself strong like he always does, he just couldn't keep it in, this hurts as much as he thought it would. The fact that he knows this will not be over from now, he has seen the way they treat criminals even after punishment, nothing ever stays the same, it just gets worse with time. You become a criminal in everyone's eyes, nothing ever goes back to normal. Elmer never knew he will be in such a position in his entire life, his life was bad but not this bad.

Elmer was still in his break down crying out loud because he needed to just let it out, maybe it will make the pain stop but seeing how his life has turned out made him break down even more until when arms wrapped around him. Bert pulled him into a hug so that he can cry on his shoulder. Elmer wanted to be alone but he needs this too, he didn't know he needed a shoulder to cry on until Bert held him, he is bruised and hurt, his self worth. Elmer cried more holding onto Bert who didn't say anything other than holding him tight.

Bert has never seen Elmer like this, this was just too much for him and Bert understands that. The way he must be feeling right now not even Bert can know how to describe it. Bert feels like this was taken too far yet it was fake, they have ruined an already not good reputation to a complete zero. Bert knows Elmer's life has never been good but now it is about to turn worse, no one will ever treat Elmer again, he will have to walk with the fact that he is a thief and that will not be taken kindly by anyone. Bert found himself tearing up feeling Elmer's pain "Am sorry" he feels like he could have been able to do more than this, he could have been able to protect Elmer do not to experience something like this "Am so sorry"

Bert feels guilty, so guilty for this to happen. He promised to make this better but he didn't, he should have done more, searched for more evidence before Elmer was brought to this shame of something he I only a suspect of. Elmer pulled out after so long of the hug wiping his eyes as he sniffed trying to get himself back, he wanted to bury everything he is feeling and maybe feel numb but the heavy feeling on his heart can't allow that, no matter how much he is trying to wipe away his tears more just slide out without his control. All the years he has kept things in, they are finally coming out.

Bert helped him wipe away the tears while turning Elmer's head towards him "Am sorry I failed you this time" Bert apologized tears falling down from his own eyes "But even when things are bad, even when the world turns their back on you, I will always be by your side. I will never turn my back on you, I promise"

Elmer couldn't say anything, he just started crying again as Bert pulled him into his chest again. He meant his promise, he is going to be here forever and not because of his feelings but because he knows Elmer doesn't deserve something like this happening to him. He deserves something more and Bert is going to make sure he tries to provide him with happiness. He will make sure to ask Ernest to order everyone to not treat him like a criminal because he isn't one, maybe that will get him his confidence back

"Am sorry I-" Elmer moved from the hug and he has made Bert's shirt wet with his tears and food, he smells like rotten trash just like he feels

"It's fine, you needed to let it out" Bert wiped away Elmer's tears again "I will always be a shoulder to cry on" Bert needs to confirm to Elmer that he is never going to leave and that he will always be around to help him.

"Thank you" Elmer feels kind of relieved that someone is going to be here for him, he won't be in this alone "I feel like I want to disappear and maybe go back in the village where I can hide from everyone and just be alone"

"You don't have to be alone" Bert replied, he is here and Elmer just needs to let him in "Maybe we can both live in the world where it is just the two of us, that would be better than you being alone" Elmer didn't know he would smile again but he did, even if it was a little one it was there and Bert felt happy about that, he isn't letting this break him because of how strong he is.

"I would love that"

****

Margret stormed down the castle halls fuming, her son has just been humiliated in public and it is all Hattie's fault, she set her son up to be treated like a criminal in front of everyone "Margret, think of what you are doing" Della called, she doesn't want her sister to get in trouble for this.

Margret was not having it, she walked over to the door knocking as if she was about to knock it down. It flew open with an angry Hattie on the other side of the door "Margret" Hattie sneered disgust evident in her eyes.

"Hattie" Margret called back pushing past her getting inside the room "What you did to my son is not okay" Hattie turned to Margret disgust never leaving her face "Why would you be so evil and do something like that to a boy"

"I don't know what your talking about and if you don't watch your tone, I might just get you thrown out"

"If you don't leave my son alone, I will make sure everyone knows who you are"

"I am the queen, who is ever going to believe a low life like you with a thief son" Hattie smiled standing face to face with Margaret "You weren't able to make something for yourself, I did. I am the queen and I can throw you in jail, I don't ever want to see you again-"

"I want to take my son with me"

"Ha" Hattie gave a short humourless laugh "He is mine now"

"Now you have finally acknowledged your own son"