"Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesu." Padre Mathias said, grasping one bead with his thumb and finger.
"Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen." Esmeralda and Thérèse replied.
By now, the three are offering a crown of roses to the Blessed Virgin. Yes, such a thing is impossible; yes, such a thing can only be done by the saints and holy people she visited. But, when one prays the rosary, such a noble deed can be done. When one prays the rosary alone, the Virgin Mary can hear that child calling upon her. She fondly accepts this as a bow and a humble offering of a crown of roses. But when one prays the rosary with a person or two, the Virgin Mary's can still hear them. She joyfully accepts this as a beaming serenade and a big flock offering her many crowns of roses.
Jose hears the beautiful words coming from the chapel. So entranced by the holy words, he goes to the chapel. Wanting to know what he is doing, the governor-general approaches his mistress.
"Querida, ¿qué es lo que lo aleja de nosotros? (Dear, what is the thing leading him away from us?)" Governor-General Carlos asked.
"La capilla, querido. Creo que los escuchará rezando el rosario. (The chapel, dear. I think he's going to listen to them, praying the rosary.)" Maria replied, staring at the open door of the chapel as she attentively hears the words of the Marian prayer.
Maria's compassionate stare causes the governor-general to imitate her. His decision would be the one of the unregrettable decisions he ever made. He is so attracted to the prayer that he feels like his heart is going to burst at anytime; like he wants to surrender his life of politics for the sake of living a life for God and His Mother; like he wants to go to Heaven and rest in the tender arms of the Virgin Mary.
Jose feels the same way his friend feels, but it is his duty to dodge those feelings. He wants to stop mocking God and those who believe in Him, but he must cut off that desire; he feels like he should return to the True Shepherd, but must stay away from a man that does not exist; his heart is telling him to become a hermit, but he must stay away from a fruitless and grief-stricken life; he can feel his mind hunger for the wisdom he can get from God, but he must not choose that kind of knowledge over a classical knowledge about politics; he wants to kneel down before the Blessed Mother and ask her to be his Star of the Day, but he must redeem himself from everybody's judgement and ridicule.
"Look at this man! He used to say that God does not exist, now he is sorry for his blasphemous lies!" The people will say as they laugh at him.
"O, Good Saint Jose, pray for those who are like you!" Some would say in a sarcastic voice that is laced with holiness.
"This man is more fickle than a woman!" Others would say.
Jose briskly walks away from the chapel. The governor-general and his mistress, shocked by his unexpected action, approach him.
"Jose, what's wrong with you?" Governor-General Carlos asked curiously.
"It's nothing, Carlos. I'm just, you know, tired and stressed-out." Jose replied, wiping away the sweat on his forehead with his handkerchief.
"Are you sure?" Maria asked worriedly.
"Yes." Jose replied.
"Do you want to take a walk with me?" Governor-General Carlos asked.
"Sure." Jose replied.
"Maria..." Governor-General Carlos called out, holding her hand and facing her. "Would you like to join us?" He asked.
"No. Go and have fun without me. I'll stay here to wait for Doctor Jaime." Maria replied, smiling brightly.
Before signalling Jose to leave with him, Governor-General Carlos plants a kiss on her soft hand. They walk down the staircase and leave the mansion. The cold and strong wind gracing their faces, the melodious chirps of the birds, the song of the calm sea, the pleasant sight of many trees and the feeling of the soft earth beneath their leather shoes; God used these parts of His Creation to calm down the irritated Jose.
"Carlos, shouldn't you be worried?" Jose asked.
"About what?" Governor-General Carlos asked.
"About that filthy scum." Jose replied.
"I have faith in my guards as much as a priest has faith in God." Governor-General Carlos replied, showing no sign of being alarmed by everything; however, this alarms Jose and causes him to scoff.
"Don't tell me you want to join the priesthood!" Jose said.
"Why would I join that when I am no longer untouched?" Governor-General Carlos asked. From the long face Jose is wearing, he finally knew what's going on. "Is it because of my words? Did they affect you?" He asked.
"Yes." Jose replied. "Why should I hear those words from a powerful man like you?" He asked, being the reason for the governor-general to let out a light laugh.
"Niño, words belong to everyone. They belong to the poor and to the rich, to the Filipinos and to the Spaniards, to the slaves and to the freemen, to the priests and to the kings and to the poets and to the painters. Therefore, words is one of the few riches the poor can afford to have and one that the rich cannot keep to themselves forever." Governor-General Carlos said.
"Indeed, Carlos, indeed." Jose said with a smile, totally agreeing with him.
"Words, as one of our most important weapons, can change us." Governor-General Carlos said.
"Just like the words of Aristotle, Pla-" Jose's recitation of his favorite philosophers was interrupted by the governor-general's correction.
"Why don't you think smaller, niño? Think of someone who could influence you by their mouth only."
"Isabelle?" Jose asked, feeling unsure of his answer.
"Exactly." Governor-General Carlos said, delighted to hear the answer. "You know, if I were you, I'd devote myself to Isabelle's words, especially now that she's under a very delicate condition." He said.
"Why should I treat her as if she were going to die? I'm sure she'll live longer after that." Jose said, feeling very confident. His shining confidence brings the governor-general to let out another light laugh.
"Niño, can you please tell me what Isabelle's father is like?" Governor-General Carlos asked, wanting to use that information about him.
"Monsieur Charles is a man of great intellect, charm, dignity, strength and valor. Nonetheless, he loves his wife and their children, especially Isabelle. As a matter of fact, he and his wife call her their 'Beautiful Pearl'." Jose replied as if he were telling the story of a glorious king.
"He's a protective father. No?" Governor-General Carlos asked.
"Of course he is." Jose replied.
"So, you're the one who's going to die first!" Governor-General Carlos said enthusiastically, pointing his finger at Jose before bursting into laughter. His statement, together with his laughter, deeply disturb Jose.
"Pardon me, Carlos, but ho-" Jose's question was interrupted by his thought. In his mind, he can imagine an angry Monsieur Charles banging the Filipino's head onto a table once he finds out what happened to his precious daughter. "Oh. I understand now." He said, casting his brown eyes onto the grass out of shame.
"Now, what are you going to do to save yourself?" Governor-General Carlos asked.
"Well, like what you said, use one of the most important weapons we have: words. Monsieur Charles is a sympathetic man and I'm sure he will understand me." Jose replied.
"You better hope he will listen to you. Otherwise, your head will be served on a silver platter." Governor-General Carlos then continued to laugh, leaving Jose to sigh heavily.
"Or you might trigger a diplomatic crisis between France and the Philippines." A mysterious stranger said from behind, shocking the men.
The men turn around to see Claude remove his hood. Jose looks at him, his face growing longer with disappointment and his sigh becoming heavier. The governor-general, on the other hand, looks at him with curiosity.
"Claude, out of all places in the whole world, why did you come here to scare the lives out of us?!" Jose asked with a hint of irritation, being the cause for Claude to chuckle.
"Jose, who is this man?" Governor-General Carlos asked.
"I am Monsieur Claude Geoffrey du Moulin Frollo, a former judge of this city." Claude replied, reaching out his hand to the governor-general.
"Ah. So you're the man Jose and Padre Mathias are talking about." Governor-General Carlos said with delight as he shakes his hand.
"Yes. And, I suppose, you must be Governor-General Carlos." Claude said.
"Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you." Governor-General Carlos replied, removing his hand from the former judge's hand.
"Thank you, Your Excellency." Claude said, nodding deeply.
"So, what brings you here today?" Governor-General Carlos asked.
"I am here, as a friend, to spend time with Mademoiselle Esmeralda. But when I saw you walking and talking, I decided to follow you and participate in your conversation." Claude replied.
"It's good you didn't bother to enter." Governor-General Carlos said.
"What happened?" Claude asked, hoping nothing bad happened to Esmeralda.
"Remember what I told you, Claude?" Jose asked, laying the foundation for the answer.
"I do remember." Claude replied then goes back to the past.
The other night, Claude and Jose were discussing about trivial matters in his bedroom. The conversation took a dark turn when he brought up the investigation he started after becoming the governor-general's advisor. Jose, not wanting to fool around, decided to go to the same priest who started it all: Padre Isaac. Sometimes, he performs his investigation before going back to Manila. Sometimes, he does this when Carlos frees him from his duties.
For the investigation, he would go to poor and middle-class families, asking if their children knew what they did to Padre Isaac. The parents would adamantly deny the allegation in the name of their children. But, one family was a big step for the process of Jose's investigation to speed up.
A woodsman, his wife and their five children were wearing clothes and eating food only a middle-class family would wear. Even the toys of the children match the class and elegance their clothes and food have. Jose, with due respect, asked the couple how did they manage to get those small luxuries. The couple explained that it is their third child, a son, who got the money.
Jose then shifted the interrogation to the boy. As calm and gentle as he could be, he asked the boy where did he truly get the money from. The boy insisted that he got it from a rich man. Jose asked again, but got the same answer. Jose asked for the third time, forcing the child to lean forward and reveal the truth.
He said he got it from Padre Isaac. Padre Isaac paid the children to play in the streets and pretend to hit him when he passed by. Before he left, he gave bags of coins to each child and threatened to take away their money if they will reveal everything to another soul, including their own parents.
Jose sincerely thanked the child, which inspired him to ask money from Jose. He gave 50 reales to the family then left, heading for Manila.
By chance, he arrived at a time when Padre Isaac strikes again. Not wanting to waste time anymore, he devises a brilliant plan with Carlos. Through his alliance with Padre Mathias, Padre Isaac can be easily caught, arrested and punished for his sins. The governor-general agreed.
"It's a misfortune the guards never got the chance to hear that plan." Governor-General Carlos lamented.
"Don't worry, Your Excellency. Things happen in the Lord's time." Claude assured him.
"See, Jose? This is another person you should listen to." Governor-General Carlos said, looking at a more disappointed Jose.
"Anyways, Mateo did bring that priest to the chapel. When he was informed that he will be punished, he said he's not stupid enough to be deceived again." Jose said seriously then permits his voice to be full of sorrow. "Hence why he got Isabelle and held his knife against her neck. His Excellency entered the chapel to command him to let her go. And, he did let her go."
"He slit her throat before letting her go." Governor-General Carlos said, knowing Jose may not carry on. "As of now, Doctor Jaime is treating Isabelle while my guards are chasing down the priest." He added, leaving Claude's anger to rise.
"THAT FILTHY SON OF A WHORE!" Claude shouted, startling the governor-general and his advisor. To keep his composure, he starts to pace back and forth to release his words of fury. "By now, he should be here, enduring the repercussions of his grave crimes. But now, what does he get? His freedom! If I were you, Your Excellency, I would place a lot of guards inside that chapel so they could outnumber that priest." He ranted.
"This time, I'm sure my guards would be able to outrun him, catch him and bring him back here." Governor-General Carlos said assuringly.
"Keep in mind, Your Excellency, that he is a clever man. Once a clever man, always a clever man." Claude said cautiously.
"Claude's right, Carlos." Jose said. "He almost tried to get away with murder and he came to your palace to destroy the decree. Now, he's on his way to victory." He added bitterly.
"Then, by the powers invested in me, I'll do my best to catch that rat and make him pay dearly, along with that fool Antonio." Governor-General Carlos said.
"Antonio who?" Claude asked.
"Antonio Calderón." Governor-General Carlos replied, being the one to startle Claude this time.
"Claude, what's wrong with you?" Jose asked.
"Nothing, Jose. I'm fine." Claude said, getting a hold of himself. "Gentlemen, shall we go to the mansion now?" He asked, wanting to drive them away from the truth.
"No." The governor-general replied, wanting to continue his walk.
"But you may go ahead." Jose replied.
With a nod, Claude leaves. From the open doorway, he can hear Padre Mathias, Esmeralda and Thérèse praying a "Glory Be". He walks up the staircase, mindlessly passing by those around him. He sets foot into the illuminated chapel. Having the desire to talk to Esmeralda right away, he sits down three pews behind Esmeralda and Thérèse. As they go on praying, Claude goes on watching; as they feel their holy faithfulness growing in their hearts, Claude feels holy serenity ruling his whole soul.
By then, Doctor Jaime and Maria enter the chapel. Earlier, they were talking about Isabelle's condition. In the middle of their conversation, they saw Claude walking towards the chapel. Having nothing to do, they decided to follow him.
"Doctor, who is that man?" Maria whispered into Doctor Jaime's ear.
"Claude Frollo, the notorious judge of this city. But, he's already a retired judge." Doctor Jaime replied through a whisper.
"Ah." Maria said then places her concentration on God. "Doctor, do you believe in miracles?" She asked.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Doctor Jaime replied.
"Will Isabelle be alright?" Maria asked worriedly.
"With prayers and with rest, she'll be fine." Doctor Jaime replied.
"I hope so." Maria said.
Ever since Elise was a little girl, she developed a soft side for nature thanks to her uncle.
The mother of Elise witnessed her husband leave the family for a servant girl. This left her, her family to venture deeper into their impoverished life. To escape from the sad reality of her life, she learned to become a debauched drunkard. Elise and her brother suffered the terrible curses and painful beatings their mother gave them. Elise's uncle heard the news of the abuses. Hence, why he travelled all the way from their original hometown to Bordeaux to get the children from their mother.
Growing up under her loving uncle's wing was the best thing that ever happened. She and her brother truly experienced the love and affections their parents never gave them. Aside from being a devout priest, Elise's uncle is also a zealous botanist and a skilled fisherman. When she was 7 years old, her uncle showed his nephew and niece the magnificent wonders of nature.
On Saturdays, they would go hiking on the mountains and have their adventures there. While the priest writes down his observations on his journal, Elise and her brother play games, run around, watch the clouds roll by and climb trees. If they had the chance, they would surprise their uncle with the flowers and fruits they gathered. In return, their uncle would kiss their foreheads and promise to bring them to a nearby river by the next day.
After Mass, they would go there either to swim or to go fishing. Within three Sundays, Elise's brother knew how to swim on his own. Meanwhile, she had to depend on her uncle for moving in the water. If she were to depend on herself, she might drown. For fishing, on the other hand, girls cannot fish. To save her from boredom, the priest assigned Elise to look after the fish he and her brother caught.
When Elise's 8 years old, she studied alongside her brother and the other students of their uncle. In teaching, the priest is highly unorthodox. He is not like all of the strict teachers, but a friendly, nice, patient and intelligent teacher. When a student has trouble in socializing or keeping up with the lessons, the priest will not hesitate to help them. When the students are fighting each other, he will carefully examine the problem and establish peace between the fighting parties.
"But how did you become a servant if your life was much better?" Eloisa asked.
After dropping off Elise in the mansion, Mae-Mae returned to the house of her master on foot. The coachman tucked away the carriage in the stables. Padre Mathias, happy to have a new guest, asked Eloisa if Elise could sleep with her. The extroverted Eloisa happily accepted Elise into her bedroom. From that moment onward, they formed a special bond.
In spite of Padre Mathias' benevolent treatment towards Elise, she insisted on helping the servants keeping the mansion steady and clean and serving the guests. Through her duty of serving the guests, she became fast friends with Esmeralda, Isabelle and Thérèse.
Earlier, Elise and Eloisa left the house to embark on a stroll through the woods.
"When I was 12 years old, my mother, came to the church to get me and my brother because she's rich enough to take care of us." Elise replied, sneering at the thought of her pompous mother.
"How did she become a rich woman?" Eloisa asked shockingly.
"I don't know." Elise replied, shrugging her shoulders. "But we never asked her." She added.
"Why?" Eloisa asked.
"When the lady wanted to get us, Georgie grabbed my hand so we could run away. We never looked back at the place we once called 'home', even if Uncle Renaud and the lady were shouting at us." Elise replied, feeling a tiny piece of adrenaline running in her veins. "Soon, we became beggars." She said with regret. "We walked through many places, begging for food and for a place to stay in. Many people were unkind towards us, but only one person showed us kindness. That person was a cobble and he allowed us to work in his shop. Georgie helped the cobbler in his work while I cleaned the shop. Our lives were fine for a few months until his shop went bankrupt. Then, Georgie became a chimney sweep and a newspaper boy."
"What is a tsimnee sweep?" Eloisa asked, having a hard time in pronouncing the word.
"A boy or a man who could sweep the chimneys of houses and buildings." Eloisa asked.
"What is that?" Eloisa asked.
"The what?" Elise asked.
"The tsimnee?" Eloisa asked.
"It is a big thing where smoke goes up into the sky so that the smoke cannot fill the houses and the buildings." Elise replied, quenching her curiosity.
"Continue, Elise." Eloisa said.
"Thank you." Elise said with a meek nod. "Again, we had to sleep on the streets before he bought a small room in an apartment with the money he saved. Our lives were fine until he started to get sick." She said, her voice transforming from a somber one into a sadder one. "He was coughing too much, he had high fevers and he was too weak. I told him to rest, but he said that he must work for himself, for me and for the trip we could take to go back to Bordeaux." She added.
"Did you go to a doctor?" Eloisa asked.
"No, but we went to the springs of Lourdes." Elise replied, bringing Eloisa to remember the Padre Mathias' stories about the miracles of the springs of Lourdes.
"It's good that you went there." Eloisa replied.
"Yes. It's very good that we went there because, after taking a bath there, Georgie healed." Elise replied gratefully. "That's why we decided to sell our room so we can go back to our hometown. When we arrived, the new parish priest said that our uncle was sent off to a country called Canada to do missionary works. My brother and I decided to work so we can have the money we need to go there. He is working as a painter in the Notre-Dame Cathedral while I am the servant of Master Henri, the brother of your master." She added.
"I hope you will see each other someday." Eloisa said, resting her hand on Elise's shoulder.
"I hope so." Elise said back, looking forward as if she were looking towards the future.
"Why don't you ask Juan to help you?" Eloisa asked, hoping her suggestion will help Eloisa.
"Which Juan?" Elise asked, facing her with inquisitive, hazel eyes.
"The brother of Padre Mathias." Eloisa replied. "Padre Mathias cannot help you because he must stay in San Lorenzo." She added.
"Why?" Elise asked.
"Padre Mathias was once a cardinal. A good cardinal." Eloisa replied, elating Elise.
"Getting the seat and hat of a cardinal is hard, you know. And I'm sure he brought honor and joy to his family." Elise said, indicating that she is beginning to admire him.
"He did bring those to his family. His parents even threw a party for him. But, that day was not meant to be a happy one, but a sad one." Eloisa replied.
"Why?" Elise asked.
"Don Felipe, the father of Padre Mathias, died after drinking too much wine." Eloisa replied.
"What a terrible loss!" Elise said, shocked by what she heard.
"But at least he's with God now." Eloisa said, gazing towards Heaven. Not wanting to leave Elise behind, she returns her gaze to her. "During his time as the cardinal, he helped many poor people and many Filipinos, which made all of us happy. And he said homilies against bad priests. That's why his own mother and brother hated him. Doña Esperanza stopped talking to him while Don Claudio always warned him to stop saying his homilies. His other brothers just ignored him." She added.
"Uncle Renaud said that we should never get mad at a priest, no matter how bad he is. We should always say a Hail Mary for him so he can change his life." Elise said, showing one flaw of Padre Mathias.
"That's what Padre Mathias realized a few days ago. He learned that he is the true sinner, for he doesn't pray for his lost brothers and tries to help them." Eloisa said, showing her that Padre Mathias is still a human; he learns how to fall and how to not remain fallen.
"What happened next? How did Padre Mathias come to be here?" Elise asked.
"Later on, the Pope got so mad at him that he called him to come to Rome and forced him to choose between the options of staying alive or death. Padre Mathias decided to stay alive. The Pope removed him from his title and forced him into exile here." Eloisa replied.
"It's good he can still perform his duties as a priest." Elise commented, earning Eloisa's approval.
"I think we have gone too far, Elise. We should go back right now or something bad might happen to our guests." Eloisa said, walking ahead of Elise.
"Indeed." Elise said, following her from behind.
Padre Mathias, Esmeralda and Thérèse cross themselves with their crucifix beads. As they get up from the pews, Esmeralda's eyes catches the presence of Claude. Her graceful eyes are enough for Claude to get up from where he is sitting and go up to Esmeralda. Padre Mathias brings Thérèse out of the chapel, leaving the two behind.
Esmeralda instantly throws herself to Claude. He holds her tightly and gently, being her own pillar. Her face digs deeply into his black cloak, allowing her the chance to smell his strange aroma of papers and candles.
"Don't worry, my dear. Your friend will be alright." Claude said assuringly.
"How did you know that she is hurt, Claude?" Esmeralda asked, facing him with bewildered eyes.
"Jose and His Excellency told me so." Claude replied.
"And why are you here? Shouldn't you be resting in bed?" Esmeralda asked worriedly.
"Due to the argument I and Oscar had, I can't stand to have him in my sight. Madre decided to accompany him and his wife in their return to Laguna. Therefore, her return will take place in the evening. I, who despise sloth, decided to come here and make sure you're alright." Claude replied, causing Esmeralda to roll her eyes.
"Must I remind you that sloth and recovering from your injuries are different things?" Esmeralda asked, prodding Claude to say something in return.
"And must I remind you that you're not a theologian?" Claude asked jokingly, making her laugh.
"In the end, the answer for both questions is 'no'." Esmeralda said.
"Indeed." Claude said then reluctantly separated himself from Esmeralda's body. "Esmeralda, I have something to tell you." He said.
"What?" Esmeralda asked.
"Jose and I are going to Manila tonight." Claude replied. Knowing what they must do there, Esmeralda keeps her question to herself. "But with your friend under a precarious condition, Jose, with no doubt, will stay by her side until she's well. Thereafter, we could go to Manila and execute the plan we crafted." He said.
"Can I come with you?" Esmeralda asked, keeping herself calm so she cannot appear childish in front of Claude.
"No." Claude replied, slightly provoking her.
"Why not?" Esmeralda asked.
Her annoyed face always places him between the lines of captivation and concern. Not wanting Esmeralda to get mad at him, he takes a move to calm her down. He takes both of her hands in his, stares deeply into her mystical eyes and emits a loving speech with all of his heart and mind.
"My dear, I don't want those vile fools to put your life at risk. Yes, I know you are a brave and strong woman. Yes, I believe you could defeat them in the blink of an eye. But I'm afraid of what they have in store for you. They might gain the upper hand and finish you off immediately. Or they might kill you mercilessly." Claude said. His words wash away the annoyed look on her face and replace it with a kinder one. "As you know, seeing you suffer in any way crushes my immortal soul. I don't know what to do if you are gone. Should I dwell in my misery and my regret forever? Or should I taste the fires of hell as retribution for my negligence?" He said, prodding her to hug him.
Thank God He gave me someone like you. Esmeralda thought to herself.
Thérèse runs towards the chapel, carrying the good news with her. Esmeralda quickly yet sadly departs from Claude's body to wait for Thérèse. The little girl, wearing a golden smile on her face, brings forth glee to Esmeralda.
"Esmeralda! Esmeralda! Isabelle is awake!" Thérèse said, running down the nave.
Esmeralda runs forward, meeting the girl halfway through the nave. She not only greets the girl by kneeling down, but also by hugging her.
"See, Thérèse. If we believe in God and the intercession of our Mother, good things will happen." Esmeralda said. "Now, let us thank God and His Mother for helping us." She said, getting up from the ground.
She takes the little girl's hand and leads her to a certain pew. Both of them kneel down with great fervour and humility, starting their prayer by crossing themselves.
"God, Great Father, we thank you for granting Isabelle a second chance to live. We also thank you for not abandoning her, but for being with her and helping her get through this challenge. Mary, Virgin Mother and Queen of all, thank you for helping us, your poor and sinful children. Thank you for praying for us." Esmeralda said.
"God, thank you for sending Isabelle as one of my angels. And thank you for returning her kindness with more angels to help her." Thérèse said.
"Amen." They said in unison, ending their prayer the same way they started it.
"Come on, Esmeralda. Let's go to Isabelle now." Thérèse said excitedly, standing up so she can leave. Little did she know, her excitement brought a fond smile to Claude. Esmeralda, seeing the fond smile, obtains the desire to talk to him.
"You go ahead of me, Thérèse. I'll meet you in the bedroom of Padre Mathias." Esmeralda said, encouraging her to thank her, leave the pew and run away. "Thérèse!" She called out, stopping her from her tracks.
"Yes, Esmeralda?" Thérèse asked, facing her.
"Did you thank Doctor Jaime?" Esmeralda asked.
"No." Thérèse replied shamefully, casting her eyes on the ground.
"Now go and thank him too." Esmeralda said.
"Alright." Thérèse said then ran away.
While Thérèse runs away, Claude swears that he can see his sister in her. The smooth flow of her hair, her milky skin, her small body figure and her morality match the same things Emily had when she was alive. Claude lets out a depressed sigh, wishing his sister was still alive.
"What are you thinking of, Claude?" Esmeralda asked, making him turn around and face her.
"Emily." Claude replied, preparing Esmeralda for another anecdote about her. "After my mother died, my only ray of hope and light was Emily. When she was an infant, she not only cried too much, but she also showed a great amount of joy and docility. When she learned how to walk, she was no longer the docile infant I used to know. She would always run around the manor, laughing heartily and stressing us. And by us, I mean myself, of course, and Jehan and our governess. Years later, that would come to be one of the things Quasimodo inherited from his mother." He added nostalgically.
"Sometimes, Papa himself would say that he, along with Mama, taught me how walk in the gardens. Because of that, I would squirm and cry if they will take me back to the house. That's why they would let me walk and run around until I'm very tired." Esmeralda said, causing Claude to chuckle.
"Ah, yes. The headstrong character you have shown in your childhood makes you the headstrong woman everybody knows." Claude said, being the reason for her cheeks to redden. To hide her cheeks from his vigilant eyes, she covers her mouth with one hand to fake a laugh. "Now, go on, my dear. Get out of here and greet your friend." He said.
"Thank you." Esmeralda said, still hiding her cheeks behind her hand.
Once she passes by the former judge, she removes her hand from her face. Relieved of her small burden, she lets out a deep sigh. But still, it's such a shame she is not ready to come out of her shell; to tell Claude the truth about her heart.
In front of the priest's bedroom, Padre Mathias and Doctor Jaime are talking with each other as if they were friends. Esmeralda, not wanting to be rude, makes herself known courteously.
"Excuse me, Doctor Jaime." Esmeralda said, catching his attention as well as the priest's.
"Yes? How can I help you?" Doctor Jaime asked, showing how ready he is to help her.
"Can we please talk? Alone?" Esmeralda asked, leaving Padre Mathias the decision to nod and leave. She places his hand in the protection of both of her hands, expressing her gratitude physically. "Thank you very much for saving my friend's life, Doctor Jaime. Your help is what I highly appreciate." She said.
"A...ah...You're welcome, señorita." Doctor Jaime said, smiling radiantly. "If you want to pay me in return, I advise you to cancel it. But the only thing you can do is take care of your friend until she heals." He said.
"How did you know I was going to say that?" Esmeralda asked, slowly letting go of his hand.
"When you are a doctor, you will experience a lot of things with your five senses." Doctor Jaime replied. "Excuse me, señorita. I'll go talk to Padre Mathias." He said.
"Alright." Esmeralda said then proceeded to part ways.
She steps into the bedroom and sees a radiant Isabelle conversing with Jose. At the absence of Thérèse, she ponders on where she could be. Maybe she is in their bedroom, giving her puppy a treat. Or maybe she just went somewhere to get something. Isabelle directs her face towards Esmeralda, making her worry less over Thérèse. Esmeralda runs across the bedroom and sits beside Isabelle.
"How are you, Isabelle? Are you feeling any pain at all?" Esmeralda asked, forcing a smile.
"I'm fine, Esmeralda. But my neck is still painful." Isabelle replied, touching a part of her neck so she cannot touch her stitched-up wound.
"Fortunately, Doctor Jaime said the pain will be gone within a few days." Jose said assuringly.
"By the way, where is Thérèse?" Esmeralda asked.
"She and Elise are on their way to the Church of San Lorenzo because she'll bring Quasimodo here." Isabelle replied.
Not wanting to be envied or humiliated by someone, Esmeralda secretly looks upon Thérèse as if she were her own daughter. Anything bad that will happen to her will absolutely devastate Esmeralda and drive her mad. But then, the thought of Elise being by her side appeared. The pleasant thought managed to tame her wild worries.
She hopes Thérèse and Elise will return safely.
At last, Thérèse and Elise arrive to the church. Within a fleeting moment, Elise forgot the purpose of bringing Thérèse to the church. She watches life thrive right outside the House of God. Churchgoers, whether they be truly holy or truly sinful, come in and out of the church. A few female vendors attract customers with their words and their goods like candles, rosaries and sampaguita necklaces. Two beggars approach the people, trying to ask directions for the mansion of Padre Mathias. Elise, knowing the hardships of being a beggar, does not decline her obligation to help them. Knowing what Thérèse needs to do, she allows her to enter the church before approaching the beggars.
"Good day, brothers." Elise greeted.
"G...g...go...good day, miss." One beggar greeted back, shocked by her sudden approach.
"Is there anything I could do to help you?" Elise asked pitifully. The beggars then look at each other, happy to know that their suffering will end in victory.
"We just need directions to the mansion of Padre Mathias Frollo." The same beggar replied, calming down after being shocked.
"That is where I am staying at." Elise said, doubling their joy.
"Ca...can you take us there?" The other beggar asked.
"Of course because I will do everything I can for my brothers and sisters in Christ, even those who are suffering." Elise replied enthusiastically. "Come along with me. Let us enter the church so I can wait for a little girl before we leave." She said, leading the beggars to follow her inside.
Being the first time for Elise to enter this church, she splendidly glues her eyes on as many things as she can see. The beautiful altar, the breathtaking statues of the Lord, the Lady, the angels and the saints, the images of the Way of the Cross imprinted on the illuminated glass windows and the tall columns that are stationed on each side of the church; these holy objects drive her away from the beggars' attention.
"Miss, miss, miss, miss..." One beggar called out as he keeps on tapping her shoulder.
"Oh. I am so sorry, brother." Elise said remorsefully, facing them fully. "How can I be of help to you?" She asked.
"How long must we wait for the girl?" He asked.
"Just wait and see what will happen." Elise replied. "What are your names?" She asked.
"I am Pablo and this is my brother, Bernabe." The man said, holding his brother close to him.
"I am Elise." Elise replied, nodding mildly. "You know, both of you look familiar." She said, causing them to be even more nervous.
"Wha...what do...do you mean?" Bernabe asked nervously.
"I think I have seen both of you from somewhere." Elise said, ruminating on where she first saw them. "Well, I guess I am imagining things." She said, making them feel relieved.
Meanwhile, Thérèse is in Quasimodo's bedroom, explaining to him what happened.
"He did that?!" Quasimodo asked, shocked by Padre Isaac's action.
"Yes." Thérèse replied. "Esmeralda told me that Jose caught her in his arms and she helped him comfort her. The governor something..." She paused, figuring out the title of Carlos.
"The governor-general?" Quasimodo replied.
"Yes! That man looked for his doctor so he can treat Isabelle. Jose brought Isabelle to the bedroom of Padre Mathias, where the doctor treated her. I came down to see what happened. And Esmeralda told me what happened. I cried and hugged her. Then, your uncle brought us to the chapel to pray the rosary for Isabelle. After that, Isabelle woke up." Thérèse added, helping relief wash over Quasimodo.
"What happened when she woke up?" Quasimodo asked.
"She said she is fine, but she said that her wound is still painful. I also thanked Doctor Jaime " Thérèse replied. "So, do you want to visit her now?" She asked.
"Not now, Thérèse. I have a lot of things to take care of. Like ringing the bells, cleaning the pews, sweeping the bell tower, carving two more figurines, dusting the statues and cleaning the staircase to the bell tower." Quasimodo replied, disappointing both himself and Thérèse. "But I will try my best to go there. With Bella and Jean, of course." He said assuringly.
"Alright." Thérèse said, recovering her cheerful mood. "See you later, Quasimodo." She said then left.
"See you later too, Thérèse." Quasimodo said then returned to carving a wooden figurine of a king for Pedro.
Thérèse walks through the convent, giving short greetings to the servants. Upon reaching the entrance, she bumps into the priests and their cloaked guest.
"Good afternoon, Padre Draco and Padre Ronald." Thérèse said, receiving a nod from each priest. "Who is this?" She asked, pointing at the mysterious person. The person hides himself with a large part of the brown fabric.
"This person is...just a friend of ours." Padre Ronald replied.
"He is a shy man. That's why he is covering himself." Padre Draco replied, being enough for Thérèse to not ask any other question. She leaves, allowing the priests and their guest to leave.
Thérèse walks through the church. All of the eyes in the church are cast on her, including the eyes of the noble ladies who are jealous of her long hair of gold. She spots Elise talking to the beggars in the back pew. Wanting to find out who are the beggars, she comes closer.
"It's good you are here, Thérèse." Elise said, catching the sight of Thérèse.
"Why?" Thérèse asked.
"Because we will be taking these men to the mansion of Padre Mathias." Elise replied.
"Who are they?" Thérèse asked.
"This is Pablo and his brother, Bernabe." Elise replied, presenting them to Thérèse. "Thérèse, shouldn't those friends of yours be here? With you?" She asked.
"Quasimodo said he'll come later. He even said he'll go there with Bella and Jean." Thérèse replied.
"But what about that little boy you were talking about?" Elise asked.
"Quasi said Pedro is mad at Esmeralda and Isabelle. But he said he will take care of that." Thérèse replied, feeling a bit hurt.
"Come along now, Thérèse. Let us bring these men to the mansion so they can rest." Elise said, walking away with the beggars.
"Alright." Thérèse said, following them from behind.
Elise looked back at the running Thérèse. She pauses, letting the beggars walk ahead of them. She takes Thérèse's hand and walks along with her.
A/N For today, I'm gonna teach you two Marian lessons.
-The word "rosary" comes from the Latin word "rosarium", which means "crown of roses". Since the rosary comprises of a lot of Hail Mary's and one Hail Holy Queen, we, Catholics, call the rosary a special tool to adore and supplicate the Virgin Mary.
A rosary a day keeps the devil away.
-Mary means "star of the sea". This is one reason as to why we call her by that title and by "Morning Star" or even "Star of the Day". Another reason why we call her the Morning Star is because when Christ was born, the Magi saw the "guiding star", which led them to the Infant Jesus. Mary, as the Morning Star, guides us to her Son, Jesus.
Bye! Have a great time!