Once Upon A [Hidden] Time - [Stolen] Series IV

CHAPTER 22

EDWARD
19 JUNE 1415

"Myra?" She was somewhere else. What had changed in one moment? She was the one who disclosed the truth. My father and I would have punished the innocents on the word of Father Alexander. She was the one who looked closely at the appearances of the boys. "Are you all right?" I repeated, but she just stared at me, no emotion washing over her face. She was as cold as ice, and from the colour of her skin, I could tell she was in a state of shock.

Carrying her in my arms, I took her back to the chamber. Upon my arrival, Emma jumped from the bed to greet Myra. But as she noticed Myra in my arms, her face paled.

"What happened to her?"

I ignored Emma's question and placed Myra on the bed. Her eyes were open, but she was traumatised.

"Can you fetch water for your aunty?" I asked Emma.

Hastily, Emma hopped off the bed and fetched water from the sideboard. I made Myra sit against the headboard and offered her water. She took it silently.

"Emma," I glanced at my niece, who was holding Myra's hand tightly, "would you give us some privacy?"

She took a moment to respond. "Where will I go?"

Her question rendered me speechless. I knew not what to say. What was I thinking? Where would she go? She had no life outside this chamber. The only other place she had was her aunt's house in the village, but she had cast her out because of Father Alexander's words.

"I can sit there," she suggested cheerfully, pointing towards the desk. "You can draw the bed drapes." She smiled at me for the first time. "I will not listen when you tell her you love her." How had she matured so soon?

On those words, she stepped down from the bed, drawing the drapes of the bed closed. It was almost dark inside, even though it was midday.

"Can you hear me?" I placed my hand on Myra's cheek.

I had not touched any flowers, but I could tell her skin was as soft as a rose petal. She took some time to respond, but then blinked and nodded. I adjusted myself into the comforts of her presence, resting against the headboard. She laid her head on my chest as I passed my fingers through her hair—as soft as silk threads.

"You have not seen anyone being punished in your time," I began. Holding her hand, I traced along the lines of her palm. "The albino, and now the Archbishop." Could she hear my heart beating loudly in my chest? There were things I wanted to say, but I could not gather my strength. "On the surface, it looks like you're fragile, but I have never seen a more headstrong woman than you." She raised her head to look at me. "The courage you showed today," I looked up, shaking my head, "I would have punished the innocents on Father Alexander's words."

She laid her head on my chest again, entwining her fingers with mine, gently soothing my palm with the pad of her thumb. There were things I wanted to share, but since I had kept them buried in my heart for so long, it was hard to recollect my memories. I had not been able to share them with anyone, not even my deceased sister. Myra was the only one who knew about my past inside and out. She had read my thoughts, she had seen my pain and sufferings, and she was aware of my carnal desires.

"I wish I had someone like you during my childhood," I confessed. Her massage on my hand stopped, but I continued, "How you protected and saved those boys." I sighed. "If I had someone like you to support me, believe my word against Sir Concord..." I gulped my fears. "If my father was capable of being a father just once..."

She wrapped her arms around my torso tightly, but said nothing.

"I know you are shaken by Father Alexander's castration," I went on, "but trust me, he deserves it. God knows how many others he had molested in the past, but I am indebted to you that you made me save two souls." She let out a soft sigh. "If I could have proof against Sir Concord's crime," I gulped again, "I would not bate a breath to kill him." I never imagined I would open my childhood wound to her, but there was no one else on this land that I could share this with other than her. "I had hated myself my entire life for submitting to the pervert." I held her hand firmly. "I hated myself more than I hated him because I let him do it." My heart was about to burst. "I gave him my consent to use me." I had no more words to confess.