He was Jerusalem. (King Baldwin x OC fanfic)

Part 4-

It was many many days after Aetri's first arrival in the Holy Land of Jerusalem. And at last, she finally gained the courage to seek William's permission to venture outside of the home.

The man who had taken her in and had grown a unique fondness of the young woman, shook his head as the two sat in quiet reverence, basking in the sunlight of one of the many drawing rooms. The room smelled of incense and the fresh brew of tea William had just brought in for the two to sip upon.
"I cannot allow the King to see you" he spoke aloud. "If word gets out that I have a child under my roof--with your particular countenance. I cannot come to consider what would happen to you, nor could I prevent it"
He rubbed a hand over his mouth and sighed into it.
"So, for the time being, I must have you stay here with Deodee. She will be responsible for you till I can figure something out about our situation"

It wasn't exactly what the young girl wanted to hear from her host. And Aetri found herself slouching back into her seat with a sigh. "When will I be able to venture out?" she asked almost whiningly. "Soon I should hope if I keep myself hidden well from the public eye?"

William cast his gaze over the girl willfully knowing her small frustrations. "I know, it must be hard for you, child. Especially now that you wish to explore beyond these rooms and walkways. But you must remain here just a little longer. It is safer for you this way unless we can figure out what to do. We cannot risk you being seen by someone"

Aetri tipped her head to the side in loss and sighed deeply. As she stared out the window and into the gardens, tendrils of steam and incense circled in the air, and toward the open glass panes.
For the past week, she had been wishing to visit those very gardens. She smelt them every single day from her room.

"Why not lie then?" she muttered under her breath.
"I have devoted my life to Christ, child" William answered her calmly. "In His name, I detest lies. You should know that"
"Not even a white lie?"
"I detest them" The man repeated once more. "If I can prevent it, there should never be any excuse to tell falsehoods. No matter what the circumstances"
"Then when we are approached with how I came about to others," she said. "How will we go about it?"
William shut his eyes for a moment. "I am thinking about that"
"Now that you're thinking about it, how much of it is actually true?"

The man's eyes opened and locked onto the girls. Behind the usual calm and collected warmth within them, there was a certain coldness lingering in the background. A cold blade that was ready to prick and strike at any moment.
"You are no good for me, child. I cannot converse with you civilly if you only wish to clash with me"
Aetri frowned. "I'm not clashing"
"You are" the man insisted. "You are suggesting I lie for you. I cannot do that"
"But everyone tells lies though"
"Not everyone"
Aetri's frown deepened. "Not you?"
"Not since I was a little boy. And you can imagine how long ago that was"
Aetri didn't laugh, only muttered under her breath.
"Liar"

Aetri looked away and stared back out into the garden again. Lost in thought and disbelief.
No natural man was free from lies. No one. Not even those with the strongest of faiths. So there had to be something...

Someone.

"Well, who would you lie for then? If I had to ask"
"Are you or are you not asking me, child?" the man inquired with a sigh and a rub of his brow. As if tired of this charade.
The girl smirked at his tone. "Asking"

Aetri faced the man seated across from her and raised a brow.
"Would you lie for the King?"
William frowned at the question but nonetheless chuckled under his breath as if it was a silly question to even ask.
"If he knew of me doing such a thing. I do not think he would be very happy with that. He is of strong faith if not stronger than mine. He would not want me lying to others for his sake. Unlike many Kingdoms, this current Kingdom is not built on lies"
"Then who for then?" the girl pushed.

"Aetri?"

William's chuckling ceased as the girl locked eyes with him.
"Did you ever lie for her?"

He noted how she worded it to saying 'did' instead of 'would' and there was a prick in his chest at the cleverness of it. She had been waiting to ask him this and he knew it.
She continued to stare into him as his lips formed around the familiar yet forbidden name he didn't dare say aloud. His sensitive heart wouldn't be able to take it right now.
It also didn't help the very face of his once beloved Godchild was staring right at him. Waiting for him to answer.
Knowledge was her expertise if not her closest friend, and he could never stay silent around that awaiting face of hers before gifting her the answer she so desperately wanted.

Hers...