Rise of the Inquisition (Arcs 7-9)

Chapter 169: My feelings for you

Lady Athena sighed deeply. She stood out on the dark balcony, alone, with her wine glass sitting on the stone railing next to her. She was thinking to herself, about the regrets that she had. As her mind roamed she looked out at the Capital City, that was brightly lit from buildings and street lights. Seemingly, the City looked like it was made out of pure shining gold, with the way it lit up at night. As she was standing there, she could hear footsteps walking into the balcony area. Paladin, walking out of one of the doorways to the balcony, immediately sees her as she was looking out into the Capital City. She listens as Paladin slowly walks over to her, not saying a single thing. When he stood next to her, Lady Athena didn't want to show her face to him, and she continued to look at the Capital City. Paladin noticed this, and decided that he would join her. Turning his head, to look at the Capital City. The two of them were quiet, the only thing that could be heard from either of them was their breathing. After a few moments of silence, Paladin sighs.

"I'm sorry Isabella, I shouldn't have taken things that far. You clearly didn't reciprocate my feelings, and I shouldn't have continued with...what I was doing. It'll never happen again."

Lady Athena shook her head.

"No, no, there was nothing wrong with what you did Paladin."

Paladin then turned to look at her.

"Then why did you run away from me? If it wasn't for me doing something wrong, what was it for? I'm confused."

Lady Athena takes a deep breath, as she proceeds to start nervously shaking. She then turns to look back at him.

"I've been hiding something from you...a deep truth that I've been hiding. The truth I've been hiding...will change everything for you, and make you see me differently than right now."

Paladin locked eyes with Lady Athena. He placed his left hand on the bottom of his chin, as he raised his eyebrow.

"How do you know that it could change how I feel? Feelings like this aren't so easily moved."

"Because the truth...isn't simple. It isn't something insignificant, that you would brush off. I'm afraid to say it....b-because I know that you'll change how you feel after hearing it."

Paladin shook his head, as he proceeded to smile.

"But, there's no way you would know that for sure. You can't go out of your way thinking like this, and not find out whether you are correct or not Isabella."

Lady Athena shook her head.

"No Paladin...I know the answer to whether I'm correct or not--"

"Isabella...tell me, what is the truth? What are you hiding from me, what are you afraid to reveal to me?"

Lady Athena paused. As she stared into the eyes of Paladin, thinking about what the truth was. She then sighed as she knew what she had to do, she knew what the right thing to do was She hopelessly dropped both of her arms at her sides, accepting her fate. Her shaking got worse and her heart was beating fast. She had no confidence in that Paladin's feelings, would remain the same after hearing the truth. She felt as if her future would forever be different with him, and the two of them would never be close ever again.

"Early on...the reason why I was friendly with you Paladin, the reason why House Athena helped the Inquisition when others wouldn't...doing everything we could..."

Lady Athena looked away from Paladin as she spoke. She felt her eyes start to become watery, and she didn't want to embarrass herself even further.

"...I had intended to marry you Paladin--"

Paladin chuckled and shook his head.

"There's nothing wrong with that! People do things for people they like all the time, with the intention of trying to marry them or be with them. That's natural."