A/N Hey, guys! I'm finally back! Man, it's good to be back! 2020 and my assignments, projects and exams prevented me from updating this story. Since this will be a super long note, I'll just explain why 2020 became a hindrance for this fanfic's progression at the end of this chapter.
Oh. One more thing: since 31 rooms is a mess, let's just say the mansion of Padre Mathias has 60 bedrooms. Therefore, the mansion has 5 floors.
Me: stonks
You, along with other readers: not stonks
But still, I am so sorry for being an idiotic writer.
Enjoy!
Pedro is just playing with his toys in his bedroom. He places a large army of Spanish soldiers on the left side and a small army of Filipino soldiers on the right. Despite the fact that all of them are wooden and small, the boy uses his imagination to bring them to life and make them taller than him.
"Polong, surrender now or you will be defeated!" The commander said with the voice of Pedro animating his words.
"Never, Lucio! Never!" The commander said with the same voice animating his words.
Lucio looks back to the front of his army and orders them to charge. Ten soldiers, who form the front, charge towards their victory or their failure; their greatest achievement in life or their violent deaths. Polong's front, which consists of eight soldiers, charge as well. Once the fronts depart, the rest follow them.
Sons of noble Spaniards fight the sons of poor farmers; tons of imported guns and swords fight tons of pistolsand bolo; men in blue uniforms and men in dirty shirts slay each other. But the only thing that unifies them is their blood; the blood of the seeds of the most venerated people in society, which is spilled on the ground, marry the blood of the seeds of the most avoided people in society.
Suddenly, two men appear. Instead of joining the battle, they come to stop it.
"Pedro, someone outside is waiting for you." Padre Draco said, sparking the heart of the young boy.
Padre Draco opens the door, presenting an enigmatic figure. His chocolate cloak is so long that his feet cannot be seen. Hence, why the man walks like a turtle so he can avoid a potential fall. A golden cross, which clings onto its owner's neck, can be seen proudly gleaming on his cloak. Thus, the man identifies himself as a man of God. He removes his hoodie and reveals his true identity.
"¡Hijo! (Son!)" Padre Isaac cried, allowing his tears of joy to flow.
"Papa!" Pedro cried, coming forward.
Padre Isaac kneels down, letting his son throw his arms around his neck. As the joyful Pedro buries his face into his father's cloak, the tearful priest holds his son close to him and fixes his gaze towards the heavens.
"Thank You, Lord! Thank You!" Padre Isaac cried. "Thank you very much, my friends. Thank you." He said, facing his friends. Padre Draco returns a solemn nod while Padre Ronald smiles back.
"Papa, it's good to see you again!" Pedro said, breaking away from his father's loving embrace.
"It's good to see you again too, mi hijo." Padre Isaac said, caressing his cheek. "Now, go and pack up your stuff. We are going to Manila." He said, resting his hands on the boy's tiny shoulders.
"Really?" Pedro asked excitedly.
"Yes!" Padre Isaac replied.
"Alright, Papa!" Pedro replied then ran off to his room.
The boy kneels down beside his bed and gets a sack. He puts all of his toys, including the ones Quasimodo made for him, in it. The father places a small cloak on the small bed before kneeling down on where his son's knees trod and getting a case. He goes to the cabinet and puts all of Pedro's clothes in it.
"Are you ready?" Padre Isaac asked once he closed the case.
"Yes, Papa!" Pedro replied eagerly.
"Now, my boy, come here." Padre Isaac said with a wave of a hand. Once the boy steps forward, Padre Isaac helps Pedro wear his cloak. "Good. You look handsome like me when I was your age." He said jokingly then laughed along with his son.
Padre Isaac stands up, signalling the two priests to walk ahead of them. Padre Isaac grabs both the case and the sack of his son, allowing him to walk without a burden. While they walk down the staircase, the father and son talk about the changes in their lives. Little by little, the hearts of the other priests melt. They end up in the back door, being the sign for them to part ways now.
Padre Isaac gently drops the case and the sack. He walks forward to hug each of his friends. Padre Isaac then forms a small circle with them by placing a hand on each shoulder.
"My friends, I give both of you the greatest gratitude I could give. Thanks a million for being the visible gurdian angels of my life whenever I need someone to save me and protect me. Thanks a million for being the lions of my life whenever I need someone to defend me. Thanks a million for being the pillars of my life whenever I need something to stand on. And thanks a million for making me loved as if I were your brother, not a stranger." Padre Isaac said, managing to move the hearts of both priests.
"You're welcome. And it will forever be our pleasure that you are our brother." Padre Draco said, holding back his tears.
"Now, we...we thank you for doing the...the same to us, e...e...especially me." Padre Ronald said, failing to hold back his tears. "Thank you for being the father I never had... Thank you for bringing a big, big, big amount of happiness and hope and love to my life. And thank you, thank you, thank you for everything else." He added while crying and sniffling.
"Yes. Thank you for be..being the little brother I never had...Thank you for protecting me and...and help find God's mercy whenever I sin...And tha...thank you for teaching me how to respect an honorable man like you." Padre Draco said, finally letting himself to cry.
The tearful priests hug each other one last time. Each of them gave their blessings and wishes to one another. Padre Isaac picks up the case and the sack. Padre Draco opens the door, receiving another "Thank you" from his friend. Padre Isaac places the things inside the kalesa. The next thing he does is pick up his son and places him inside their ride. Finally, he gets on and makes himself feel more comfortable in his seat.
"Go!" Padre Isaac shouted, signalling the cochero to drive.
"Bye-bye!" Pedro said, waving towards the priests. His father, moved by his farewell, imitates him. Padre Draco and Padre Ronald wave back as they wipe away their tears.
The priests return to their beloved convent as if nothing happened. Pedro stands on his seat to wipe away his father's tears.
"Don't cry, Papa. God will watch over Padre Draco and Padre Ronald." Pedro said assuringly.
"Yes. He will do that, my son. He will." Padre Isaac said, holding his son's chubby hand to kiss the fingers. "Now, let's leave the past behind us. We got a brighter future waiting for us." He said, looking forward.
"What does that mean, Papa?" Pedro asked.
"One day, you will know what I'm saying, my boy." Padre Isaac replied. "One day, you'll know. One day, you'll know. One day, you'll know." He said, making it his temporary mantra.
In the midst of the bustling throngs of souls, a seraph and a cherub brave the great masses for the sake of one goal: watching two lost souls walk down the path to a saint, who is willing to take care of anyone who searches for the Lord. The pleasant words they uttered to one another served as a shield that protected them from the various sounds the other souls make; the stories they shared with one another were more astonishing than the best sword a blacksmith could make.
At last, they arrive to their destination. The elegant seraph steps forward to knock on the door. On the other side, the saint was just talking with his beatified brother when they heard the knock. The saint excuses himself to open the door.
Upon opening the door, his grey eyes instantly befall on the smiling angels and the nervous souls. At the sight of the souls, the saint's heart is filled with tremendous joy and love. But, at the sight of the lovely saint, the souls let the blood from their torn hearts fill their owners with fear and distress. The saint smiles, knowing the angels helped him in catching fish for the Lord. On the other hand, the souls tremble and sweat furiously.
"Elise, Thérèse, who are these men with you?" Padre Mathias asked.
"Pablo and his brother, Bernabe." Elise said, stepping forward to properly present the men.
"We...we come from the city of Santa Clara, sir." Pablo said with a nervous nod, gripping his white shirt with both of his hands.
"We are on our way to Manila so we can visit our mother and sister." Bernabe replied. "But now, we need a place to stay in before we leave." He added.
"Can we?" Pablo asked shyly.
"Yes. Of course, of course." Padre Mathias replied happily. "Come in, everyone. Come in." He said, stepping aside as he fervently grasps the door handle.
Elise and Thérèse are the first to set foot into the mansion, followed by the two poor men. Thérèse, eager to be in Esmeralda's presence, excitedly runs up the staircase.
"Thérèse, stop running or you might get hurt!" An alarmed Elise shouted. Her shout reaches the child's ears, but it never reached her heart. As a result, the child almost lost balance when she came to a sudden halt.
"Thérèse, are you alright?" An overwhelmingly panicked Esmeralda asked, hurriedly walking down a short flight of steps just to get to the shocked Thérèse. The child nods.
"See what I mean, you little girl! The next time you do something like this, you might be unlucky enough to fall down and God knows what might happen to you!" Elise said sternly as she walks up the staircase.
"Sorry, Elise. I promise I'll never do it again." Thérèse said remorsefully.
"You better." Elise said, overcoming three more flights until she reaches the girl and her guardian.
"Don't worry, Elise. I will not let this happen again." Esmeralda said assuringly.
"Alright." Elise said with a polite nod.
"Esmeralda, we brought a beggar and his brother." Thérèse said, pointing towards the brothers, who are conversing with Padre Mathias.
"That's very kind of you." Esmeralda said, smiling sincerely. "But, where did you meet them?" She asked curiously.
"Those two were asking for directions to go here, but nobody wanted to help them. That's why I decided to help them. We entered the San Lorenzo Church to wait for Thérèse so we can go." Elise replied. "And, believe me, that church is the most beautiful church I have ever seen! Everything inside it, including the tabernacle, are very beautiful! No wonder why you always come here to spend the summers." She said, dramatically changing the topic of the conversation.
Her voice, which is clearly laced with childlike amazement, delights Esmeralda and Thérèse. Meanwhile, a certain man is not delighted, but rather he is so annoyed that he rolls his eyes and sighs at the same time. The gloomy figure standing behind Esmeralda catches the attention of Elise. When she shifts her head to look at him, she screams as she hangs on the railing to prevent herself from falling. Her reaction frightens both Esmeralda and Thérèse. Knowing someone is behind her, Esmeralda turns around and witnesses Claude remove his hoodie.
"Oh. Good day, Monsieur Claude." Elise said, recovering from her shock as she bows slightly. Claude returns her greeting with a cold nod. Based on his solemn gesture, she knows he is not impressed with her action. "Do pardon me for my disrespectful act, Monsieur. I will never do it again." She said, causing Thérèse to cover her mouth and let out a small giggle.
First, Thérèse forced herself to apologize to Elise for running up the staircase. Next, Elise forced herself to apologize to Claude for being shocked. Will Claude take a trip on the small train of apologies or will he turn away at the last minute?
"Elise, Thérèse, my friend and I are going for a walk. Now, go do whatever you want to do." Esmeralda said, resting her tender hand on the child's shoulder.
"Thank you." Elise said then proceeded to walk up the staircase.
"Be careful, Esmeralda." Thérèse said then followed Elise.
Esmeralda stands still, waiting for the girls to ascend the staircase and for Claude to descend. She lovingly watches her little angel grace the staircase with her light footsteps and bless the ears of Elise with her words. Claude lands on the step where Esmeralda is standing on. Seeing her watching Thérèse, he fixes his eyes towards her.
"Thérèse is a charming child." Esmeralda said, acknowledging Claude's presence.
"Indeed." Claude said, smiling faintly. "Couples who are in dire need of children will envy you." He added, returning his eyes to Esmeralda's face.
"Why so?" Esmeralda asked, smiling faintly.
"Because you're lucky enough to have a child even if you're a maiden." Claude joked, causing Esmeralda to giggle.
"You know, if I were you, I would include one poor girl in our conversations." Esmeralda said, hoping he would get the answer before she gives it to him.
"What poor girl?" Claude asked curiously.
"Poor Isabelle!" Esmeralda blurted out. "Don't tell me she is nothing in the life of Thérèse." She added, causing Claude to turn away and sigh. After letting out that sigh, he returns his gaze to her and smiles.
"You are too humble, my dear. I guess that's why you desired to take the veil when you were younger." Claude said, causing Esmeralda to giggle again. "Speaking of holiness, we must go, my dear." He said, bending his arm so Esmeralda can hold it.
Together, they finish off the rest of the steps and leave the mansion.
Padre Mathias places two cups of hot chocolate on the table as the brothers feast on a healthy bowl of rice, a plate of fried bangus and their own bowls of hearty sinigang na baboy. The priest sits down in front of the brothers, wanting to start to dig into their lives.
"Brothers, can you please tell me the story of your lives?" Padre Mathias asked, being the reason for them to almost cough out their food. Pablo quickly swallows his food, not wanting to leave the priest hanging in the air.
"Ah. So, the rumors are true." Pablo said, disguising his anxious voice with a relaxed one.
"What rumors?" Padre Mathias asked.
"We heard from the people in our city that you will ask your guests the stories of their lives on the day they come here." Pablo replied.
"Aah. Those rumors should not be rumors, you know. I always tell my guests to be quiet, but, one way or another, they will always reach the ears of others." Padre Mathias lamented, showing how frustrated he is.
"The people said you should be more popular so you can help more people." Bernabe said.
"I know, Bernabe. I know. But I should keep the commandment of Christ about doing good works." Padre Mathias said.
"What commandment?" Bernabe asked then took a spoonful of the sour yet tasty sinigang and ate it.
"The commandment of keeping every good act a secret." Padre Mathias replied.
"Does that mean you must not keep your bad acts a secret?" Bernabe asked, irritating Pablo. He gives his brother a smack behind his head as he asks...
"Bernabe! Why are you being so stupid these days?!"
"Sorry, kuya. I just want to learn things from this wise priest." Bernabe said in jest.
Pablo looks back at Padre Mathias with the most apologetic eyes he could show. To further enhance his remorse, he pushes his food a bit and places his clasped hands on the table. With a sigh, he prepares himself for the apology. The priest, knowing how much sorry he is, saves Pablo's breath.
"It's alright, Pablo. I understand what it's like to, uh, have some problems with your brother." Padre Mathias said frankly.
"Thank you, Padre." Pablo said, pulling away his clasped hands as he stares at his brother. His brother just looks at him with an awkward smile.
"And, anyways, Bernabe deserves to have his question answered." Padre Mathias said. "By the way, Bernabe, remember that I am not a wise priest, but rather a foolish one." He admitted.
"How is that possible?" Bernabe asked, visibly confused by his confession.
"Saint Paul said we must not show others how wise or intelligent we may be." Padre Mathias said, slightly wringing his clasped hands, which are on the table. "And, moreover, Saint Ignatius said that the third sacrifice is the sacrifice of intellect." He said with finishing his sentence as he points to his head.
"What does 'intelligent' mean? What does 'intellect' mean? And why should you sacrifice that thing?" Bernabe asked after swallowing a piece of bangus.
"Intelligent is used to describe a creature who can understand things quickly and think clearly. Intellect, meanwhile, is the ability to understand a lot of things. And Saint Ignatius said that we must sacrifice it because it is the best way of being pleasing and obedient towards God. It can also help us know more about the value of humility. Besides, the Devil can use intellect against an intelligent man so he can do what he wants." Padre Mathias replied, shocking the brothers.
"And what about the bad acts?" Bernabe asked, being the only thing to say after a long explanation.
"It depends. If you confess them, you may keep it a secret. Remember, you must change and solve the mistakes you made after making that confession. But, if you have to do a bad act because someone forced you to do it or you have to do it for good, you must still confess your sins and you may keep them a secret." Padre Mathias replied.
"Thanks, Padre." Bernabe said then went on to eat more of his meal with his brother.
"It's a pleasure of mine." Padre Mathias replied.
After some jokes here and teases there, Claude decided to bring up something Esmeralda will not like. He sighs, preparing himself to deliver his speech. She rests a hand on his shoulder, hoping to find out the root of his sudden disappointment. He takes her hand and kisses it while staring deeply into her inquisitive eyes.
"Claude, please tell me what's wrong." Esmeralda said worriedly.
"My sweet dear, I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me for what I have done." Claude said, reluctantly letting go of her hand.
"What did you do?" Esmeralda asked, permitting her worries to rise even higher.
"Just remember that I had to do this because I love you above all things." Claude added, making her have the desire to die in his arms due to the plague in her heart that was created by her worries.
"Please tell me now!" Esmeralda said desperately, placing her hand on his chest.
"The priests accepted my offer to reform you." Claude said.
"What do you mean?" Esmeralda asked, removing her hand from his chest.
"Remember the consequences you should have received after your release?" Claude asked.
"Well, yes." Esmeralda replied.
"None of those happened because I, in my mercy, volunteered to be the one to reform you." Claude said.
"What was the price for your offer?" Esmeralda asked.
"A humiliating apology and an oath to Padre Draco." Claude replied. Knowing how much hungry she is for the truth, he does not hesitate to explain everything to her. "In the morning, Padre Draco paid a visit to me. When I told him that I cannot bring Pedro to his father, he changed the ultimatum. I can reform you under one condition: I should kneel down in front of him and apologize for mistreating him and Padre Ronald. He even forced me to write an oath and sign it. In the oath, I stated that I will always defend the priests from harm and from blasphemous lies until the day I die." He added, waiting for Esmeralda to laugh at him or mock him for being a cowardly dog.
Esmeralda feels another spark go off in her heart. Why did this man go through the troubles of negotiating for her sake? Love. Love is the answer. It is his love for her that inspired him to fight for her. Why did he kneel before a sinful priest to ask for mercy? Love. Love is the answer. It is his love for her that forced him to look for mercy in a broken temple. Why did he sign and seal his own fate in the hands of the priests? Love. Love is the answer. It is his love for her that pushed him to perform a ridiculous act. How did he survive all of these humiliating moments? Love. Love is the answer. It is his love for her that kept his sanity and humanity intact; it is his love for her that made him willing enough to sacrifice everything for her.
Instead of intimidating him, she hugs him. Her sudden hug hits him with a massive wave of shock. But then, he realizes that everything is real. Her face buried deeply into his clothes; her wild hair and its' intoxicating smell beneath his long nose; her slender arms locked around his torso; these are the facts that convinced him that everything is real. After a while, he returns the hug while he smells her hair.
Esmeralda removes her face from his torso in order for both of them to catch a glimpse of each other. Yet, both of them are still under the protection of their warm embrace.
"Claude, I don't know what to say. But, I am truly thankful that you got yourself into trouble just for me." Esmeralda said, causing him to chuckle.
"That's what I'm willing to do. I would rather go through fire and water for you than to do nothing for you." Claude said, signalling another spark to go off in her heart.
"But, I am so sorry for letting you suffer as I do nothing." Esmeralda said, cupping his face with one hand.
"There's no reason for you, an innocent girl, to be guilty of." Claude said then took her hand and kissed it again. "You are worth the trouble." He added, causing her to laugh.
"It's good the price isn't a bride. Otherwise, I would pity both of you for ending up in an unhappy marriage." Esmeralda joked, hiding her jealous feelings perfectly.
"Well, my dear, you must be glad that Padre Draco gave up searching for a bride for me." Claude said with finishing the sentence by tapping her nose with his index finger.
"Are you serious?" Esmeralda asked, abruptly breaking away from him and staring at him as if he were a statue that just moved.
"Would I deceive you when it comes to matters like this?" Claude asked.
"No." Esmeralda said, shaking her head as she feels joy flooding her body. She leans forward to kiss his nose and hug him one more time.
Thank You, Lord. Thank You. She thought. Had you allowed Claude to be married off to someone else, I would be heartbroken.
"By the way, Claude, when will we begin our lessons?" Esmeralda asked, removing herself from his body to face him.
"How about now?" Claude asked, pulling off a smirk.
"Alright." Esmeralda said, pulling off an innocent smile.
"My dear, do you still believe in God the Father Almighty?" Claude said, breaking away from her.
"Of course. Along with all of the truths the Catholic Church has taught me." Esmeralda said, crossing her arms. "Do I need to remind you that I already answered such questions in my First Communion and in my Confirmation" She asked, forcing him to let out a chuckle.
"Ahh. You learn faster than my suitors." Claude mused jokingly. "Speaking of the holy sacraments, who was your Confirmation saint?" He asked curiously.
"Saint Agnes of Rome." Esmeralda replied. "Do you know why I chose her?" She asked slyly.
"Why?" Claude asked, smirking as he waits for the truth to come out.
"Because, whenever I'm in your presence or in Phoebus' presence, I always felt like you're going to kill me for annoying you." Esmeralda replied, causing Claude to chuckle.
"Very good, my dear. Years before this day, you already knew what fate you will suffer." Claude said jokingly, building up her curiosity.
"What do you mean?" Esmeralda asked, feeling slightly nervous
"I'm going to force you to commit apostasy. However, my heart no longer yearns to see you tortured nor executed." Claude replied seriously.
"Even if I will resist becoming an apostate?" Esmeralda asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.
"Yes." Claude replied.
"Hmph. How nice." Esmeralda said sarcastically.
"Now, Esmeralda, come along with me." Claude said, beckoning her to walk along with him. She walks forward until both of them walk side by side. "Tell me, my dear, do you really believe that you are a sinner?" He asked.
"Of course. I do confess that I am a great sinner." Esmeralda replied almost eagerly.
"Good." Claude replied mindlessly. "Do you believe that everybody else are sinners too?" He asked.
"Yes, of course. Because of our imperfection, God sent His Son to die on the Cross and pay all of the debts we made." Esmeralda replied fervently.
"If God sent Christ to do His Will, who did Christ send to perform more of His Will? Who are the men who take up their own heavy crosses for the sake of keeping the Holy Church alive?" Claude asked, creating a game wherein he is a teacher and she, his only student.
"The clergy, sir." Esmeralda replied, showing how lively she can be in his games.
Claude turns around, silently watching her celebrate her tiny victory through a cunning smile. Oh how desirable she is right now! Oh how heavy is his urge to just push her up against a tree and defile her! Oh how delicious it would be if he were the first to taste her, to snatch her maidenhood, to smash her until they get tired! Oh how eager he is to screw her more than once! But then, the thought of God's flaming fury and her father's blazing wrath forced him to come back to reality. He shakes his head and continues his walking alongside the girl of his dreams.
"Through the Sacrament of Penance, which is done by both a clergyman and the penitent, God gives us the mercy we seek for when we are in the wrong." Claude said, inspiring Esmeralda to speak up.
"But what if the clergymen are sinful? What if the absolution they give us is dirty and has no effect?" Esmeralda asked.
"You're a very clever vixen, my dear." Claude said, filling her heart with a voluptuous amount of pride.
"Thank you." Esmeralda said confidently, pulling off a triumphant smile.
"Bah! You should just thank God for being clever enough to contradict yourself." Claude blurted out.
Esmeralda's head turns as fast as the crack of a whip. Claude, seeing her how irritated she is, tries to calm her down with a laugh. Unfortunately for him, he just made things worse.
"Claude, you tall oaf!" Esmeralda said, slapping the back of his head. He stops walking and realized how mad she is. "Tell me. How did I contradict myself?" She asked fiercely, blocking his way.
"You said that everybody are sinners too." Claude said, laying the foundation for the answer.
"Yes." Esmeralda said, encouraging Claude to go further.
"Therefore, they too have the right to fall into sin and to rise up from it." Claude replied, finishing the building that exhibits his answer.
"But I thought they represent Christ Himself. I thought they should renounce sin so they can become holy models for the sheep, for the people." Esmeralda protested, being on the verge of winning over Claude.
"Yes, they do represent Christ. Yes, they are the people who could help the True Shepherd look after His sheep. But, like what I said, they must fall so they can learn to rise and never fall again." Claude explained.
"But what about the priests who keep falling and never learn to rise up? What about the priests who are still fallen?" Esmeralda asked, finding the loophole for his defense.
The small yet lovely enemy gains the upperhand of the battle now; the feeling of losing the battle is near; the chances of him winning the battle are obsolete. But he will not let her win completely neither will he admit the fact that he is ultimately defeated. If she wins, she will be taken away by the priests. But if he wins, he will consider it a "two birds, one stone" victory. She will be reformed and the priests will hesitate to take her away. Hence why he must take up the only weapon he could get his hands on: the Bible.
"My dear, are you sure you read the Bible well?" Claude asked.
"Yes." Esmeralda replied.
"Then explain the errors of Saint Peter and Judas Iscariot." Claude said, shocking Esmeralda again.
Finally, his prediction is invalid. His move is so swift that he is gaining the upperhand little by litte; failure runs away from him as victory is on its' way to approach Claude; the chances of him winning the battle are skyrocketing. Now, the enemy is shrinking along with the chances of her being taken away by the priests.
"See, my dear. The apostles, who had their own errors too, did not nullify the authority, the teachings and the works of our Blessed Lord. Henceforth, neither do the errors of the clergy do not nullify the authority, the teachings and the works of the Holy Church." Claude said, pushing her to fight one more time.
"But the sinful members of the clergy destroy the image of the Church." Esmeralda lamented. "Is there anything we can do about them?" She asked.
"Pray for them. Pray for God to send His Holy Spirit to enlighten them, to help them humble themselves, to help them repent and to help them to stay away from the path of sin. Pray for them to remember the vows they made before Christ on the day they were ordained. Pray for them to become better shepherds." Claude replied, full of illuminating hope.
"Can we correct them?" Esmeralda asked.
"Yes, but we must do it with respect and mercy. Otherwise, you too might fall into sin while correcting them. But still, prayers are more powerful." Claude replied.
"How can prayers be more powerful than correcting them?" Esmeralda asked.
"My dear, remember when we were talking about Saint Augustine some nights ago?" Claude asked.
"Yes." Esmeralda replied.
"Tell me. What did his mother do when he was so madly in love with sin that he might never get out?" Claude asked.
"She prayed, she wept, she fasted and she followed him so she can convert him." Esmeralda replied.
"Was there a time when she publicly shamed him for being a sinner? Was there a time when she rejected him other than the time when she refused him the liberty to eat or sleep in her house?" Claude asked.
"None." Esmeralda replied, seeing the truth more visibly than before.
Before this very day, she believed that she is on the right boat while the priests are on the wrong boat. And, she always closed her heart whenever Claude berated her for insulting the priests. Nonetheless, she kept her ears open. But now, she believes that she and the priests are on the same boat. And now, her heart finally opened up to listen to Claude after being ignorant through all of these years.
How ironic things are today! Could this be the Will of God or the will of man? Of fate or of lies? Should she accept this as Claude humiliating her the same way she humiliated him in the past? Or should she accept this as a piece of chastisement?
"Claude, I think it's best for both of us to go back righ now." Esmeralda said mindlessly, causing Claude to be worried.
"Why? Is there anything wrong?" Claude asked, cupping her face with one hand.
"No, no." Esmeralda replied, withdrawing from his touch. "I'm just tired. That's all." She said assuringly.
"Are you sure?" Claude asked, receiving a meek nod.
"Alright." Claude said then proceeded to wrap his arm around her shoulders while walking. She reciprocates the friendly gesture by leaning on him to rest her head.
Half of the journey was serenely silent. The ballads of the birds accompanied by the orchestra of the sea allowed peace to flourish in their souls; the feeling of the wind blessing their bodies soothes them; the disordered rows of immaculate and tall trees match the natural beauty the eyes of the pair crave for.
This beautiful moment in a small paradise helps her recover from the feeling of being humiliated. She lets out a sigh, signifying the ouster of that heavy feeling. Without anyone's help, she knew the answers for her questions.
What happened was the moment when the Will of God and the will of man intertwined perfectly. Claude's determination to defend the men of God and to prevent Esmeralda from being taken away is the climax of the mysterious union. Aside from that, even her points of view on accepting the matter shared the same type of union. However, fate and lies never intertwined. Instead, fate dominated lies and banished it.
Once the first half of the mystical journey ended, Esmeralda decided to get up from depending her weight on him. Claude, thinking that she is going to say something, gets himself ready to listen to her.
"Claude." Esmeralda called out gently, doubling his readiness.
"Yes?" Claude responded.
"Thank you." Esmeralda said, facing him benevolently.
"You're welcome." Claude said with a nod, knowing what she is grateful for. Not wanting to suffer another spell of deafening silence, he keeps the conversation alive and well. His effort bears fruit when Esmeralda's lively spirit appears.
They keep on talking and walking until they arrive to the mansion of Padre Mathias. Claude was going to open the door when Jehn opened it. Jehan, sparing no time to stare at his brother, steps aside. As the governor-general and mistress, followed by Jose and Doctor Jaime, walk forward, Claude and Esmeralda step aside too.
"So, Your Excellency, has that... priest been caught?" Claude asked, controlling himself from name calling Padre Isaac. Otherwise, his teachings would go to waste and he will expose himself as a hypocrite.
"Not yet, I'm afraid." Governor-General Carlos replied, piercing Claude's heart. "But don't worry, sir. As we speak, my civil guards are notifying other civil guards in this province about the fugitive." He said assuringly.
"Thank you very much, Your Excellency. I highly appreciate your generosity and your wise moves." Claude said with solemn reverence.
"No problem, sir. I definitely enjoy doing what I can to maintain peace and order in this land." Governor-General Carlos said. He proceeds to break away from his mistress so he can come closer to Claude. He reaches for his slender hand and shakes it firmly. "Again, it's a great pleasure of mine to meet a man like you, Don Claudio." He said, smiling brightly.
"It's a great pleasure of mine to meet you too." Claude said, wearing a formal smile.
The governor-general turns to Esmeralda. For her, meeting the governor-general is one of the most unforgettable experiences in her life. During the time they spent together, Governor-General Carlos treated her like the daughter he never had. Hence why he even joked that, if he and Maria will have a daughter, they will name her after Esmeralda. She just laughed it off, thinking it will never come true.
"It's a pleasure of mine to meet you too, hija." Governor-General Carlos said then reached for her hand to kiss it.
"Me too, Your Excellency." Esmeralda said, giving a small curtsey.
"I hope to reunite with both of you in the near future." Governor-General Carlos said.
"May our Lord let that happen." Claude said.
He then goes back to his mistress, leaving Jose to come closer to Claude. Jose leans forward to embrace Claude, indicating that he will depart from San Lorenzo to join his master. They break away, allowing themselves to speak to one another.
"Be a good boy, Jose. I hope you won't forget to take up deepening your faith again." Claude said as if he were his father.
"Claude, don't be so worried about me. I can take good care of myself." Jose said assuringly. E comes closer to his friend to rest his hand on his shoulder. "You know, the one you should be more worried about is yourself. If you don't worry about yourself, those wounds of yours will not heal properly." He added, pointing his finger at him before putting it down again. Jose's piece of advice gives Claude the chance to chuckle.
"Fine. I'll do what you ask of me." Claude said, feeling merry. "But you are going to do what I ask of you." He said sternly, pointing his finger at him.
"Maybe I will. Maybe I will not." Jose said slyly, removing his hand from his shoulder. The last person Jose approaches is Esmeralda. "Esmeralda, please take good care of Isabelle. You know very well that I cannot tolerate hearing or even seeing Isabelle in pain." He said.
"Don't worry, Jose. Isabelle is like a sister to me. And I will always keep her safe and happy." Esmeralda said firmly, being of great comfort for Jose.
"Thank you." Jose said then went on to hop on to the carriage along with his master and their doctor only.
The coachman, with the help of his horses, move forward. The civil guards on their horses follow the moving carriage in pairs. Maria, who decided to be left behind, waves as the large group depart from the mansion.
"Maria, shouldn't you be with your lover?" Esmeralda asked, catching her attention.
"There is something I must fix before I return to the palace." Maria said, smiling fondly. "Come now, my friends. Let's go inside before it gets dark." She said, leading the way.
Jehan steps aside once again, making room for the entrance of the trio. Once she steps on the first step of the staircase, Maria feels dizzy. Not wanting to fall down while climbing the stairs, she looks back to ask for help.
"Can someone please be kind enough to help me walk to my bedroom?"
"I will." Esmeralda said.
She breaks away from Claude and walks a few more steps until Maria is right beside her. She bends her arm, allowing Maria to hold onto it. The Frollo brothers watch the women walk up the staircase slowly and carefully.
"Jehan, do you think she is carrying the governor-general's child?" Claude asked.
"Strange cravings, dizziness and illuminating skin." Jehan said, recounting her symptoms. "Emily and Juana experienced those things when they were pregnant." He said, facing his brother.
"They should get married before the child is born. Or else the poor child will become a bastard." Claude said, sparking Jehan's conscience. He, having sired many bastards and recognizing only one, does not want to condemn the unmarried couple. Not wanting to sin by being judgemental, he leaves the judgment to be taken care of by God.
At last, Esmeralda and Maria arrive to her bedroom in the third floor. A lovely bedroom complete with a small balcony that faces the wide sea. Maria, being a lover of the sea ever since she was a little girl, is more than glad for having a bedroom like this. What doubles her satisfaction are the furnitures in her bedroom. The furnitures are creatively crafted by industrious, Filipino hands. The wood used for the furnitures are purely from narra trees. The designs result from the wild imaginations and vibrant inspirations of the creators. The flowers clash each other by riding on thick vines. Even curls and swirls are more rampant than usual. These designs can make one mistaken the furnitures for grand furnitures of a king.
Esmeralda assists Maria in lying down on her bed. Feeling comfortable enough, Maria gives the woman another request.
"Esmeralda, can you please get a servant who could fetch a midwife?" Maria asked, making Esmeralda yearn to be the one to fetch the midwife.
"Don't you need a doctor?" Esmeralda asked.
"No. A midwife is what I really need." Maria replied, showing no signs of abandoning her conviction.
"Alright." Esmeralda said. "Can I be the one to fetch the midwife?" She asked almost earnestly.
"No. Stay here with me and keep me company." Maria said. The real reason why Maria does not want Esmeralda to leave is because she is afraid of the judgment and scorn the woman will receive from the people because of her face. Wanting her to be protected, she decided that someone else will take care of that job.
With a nod, Esmeralda leaves. Halfway through the bedroom, Esmeralda suddenly stops walking.
"Wait!" Maria said.
"What?" Esmeralda asked, turning around.
"Esmeralda, please keep this a secret." Maria said desperately.
"Alright." Esmeralda said then went on to walk away.
While walking, Esmeralda drowns herself in her questions; questions she wants answers to right here, right now.
Might Maria be pregnant? If not, then nothing is wrong. But if so, why is she keeping this a secret?
Is she afraid of being ridiculed and judged by society? How could she be nervous about those things when it is known by everybody that she is the mistress of the governor-general? How could she be afraid when she is proud of her scandals? Did she learn how to chastise herself? Or is something else preventing her from letting her pregnancy go public?
At the bottom of the staircase, she encounters Cristina.
"Excuse me, Cristina." Esmeralda said politely.
"Yes?" Cristina responded in the same manner.
"Are you busy at the moment?" Esmeralda asked, not wanting to crush Cristina with another task. If she is busy, she will look for another servant to do it. If not, she will look for ways to repay her diligence.
"Why? Do you want me to do something?" Cristina asked as if she read her mind. Esmeralda bites her lip and just nods her head. "Sure. I'll do whatever you want me to do." She said, being fine with serving her new guest.
"Great." Esmeralda commented, full of gratitude and relief. "I want you to go out and fetch a midwife."
"Why?" Cristina asked curiously.
"Just go and do what I told you. Please." Esmeralda said, not wanting Cristina to know her secret.
"Alright." Cristina said, sounding fine again. "See you later." She said then walked away.
"Be careful." Esmeralda said.
"I will." Cristina said, giving her a glance and a smile before carrying on.
Esmeralda returns to the bedroom, hoping for the answers she has been craving for. Maria, who has been gazing upon the sea while sitting down, sees her enter. Seeing her shocked because of her new position, she invites her to come closer and sit down in front of her. Esmeralda, having no other choice, thanks her before complying. Once she is comfortable in her seat, she carefully fires away with her questions.
"Maria, do you think you are pregnant?" Esmeralda asked.
"I don't know." Maria said, casting down her eyes and hands on her belly. "I missed a period in August, I constantly vomit in the mornings, my emotions can change quickly, I always feel dizzy, my skin is glowing, my breasts are swollen and I'm always hungry for mangoes." She said.
"That's too much!" Esmeralea exclaimed, shocked by the many signs of pregnancy.
"I know, I know. But there's nothing I could do about it." Maria said, nodding as she smiles warmly. Honestly, Esmeralda's shock amuses her because she, too, felt the same shock when she learned about the numerous signs a woman shows when pregnant. Now, she longs to be a naïve maiden all over again.
"What will you do if you are really pregnant?" Esmeralda asked.
"I...I'll...I'll just..." Maria said, shedding tears instantly. "Abort the baby." She said hurriedly, shocking Esmeralda. She goes on to lose control of herself and weep.
Esmeralda gets off her seat to comfort Maria. She uses one hand for resting it on her shoulder and she uses the other one for stroking her back. For a short eternity, Maria weeps bitterly whereas Esmeralda strengthens herself so she can be her rock for now.
"Do you want me to get you a glass of water?" Esmeralda asked. Maria, who is at a loss for words, just nods.
Esmeralda leaves her for the second time. In the staircase, Esmeralda carefully divides the roles among her body parts. Her body and a part of her mind work together to focus on walking down the staircase. The other part of her mind focuses solely on the reason for Maria's melancholy. If she carelessly lets her contemplation take over her mind, it is highly likely for her to take a misstep. At the end of the staircase, her agony ends and is rewarded by the presence of Thérèse with Fidéle in her arms.
"Are you alright, Esmeralda?" Thérèse asked, wanting to comfort her. "You look very tired." She said.
"I'm fine, Thérèse. I'm just...overwhelmed by Maria." Esmeralda replied, resting her hand on Thérèse's shoulder.
"What does 'overwhelmed' mean?" Thérèse asked.
"It means someone is just deeply affected by what happened." Esmeralda replied, walking forward together with Thérèse.
"What happened to Maria?" Thérèse asked.
"From the looks of it, she looks sick." Esmeralda replied, hoping what she said might be correct.
"Are you going to fetch a doctor?" Thérèse asked worriedly.
"That's exactly what Cristina is doing right now." Esmeralda replied wistfully, satisfying her curiosity and concern.
"What are you going to do now?" Thérèse asked.
"I'm going to get a glass of water for her." Esmeralda replied, placing her hand on the railing of the staircase between the first floor and second floor.
"Can I help?" Thérèse asked.
"No, my little princess. I can take care of it." Esmeralda said, putting on a charming smile.
"Alright." Thérèse said. "I'll go back to Isabelle now." She said, preparing to leave.
"Be careful." Esmeralda said to the departing Thérèse.
Esmeralda passes by the living room and directly enters the kitchen, where the female servants are washing the last few plates and hold their humorous conversation at the same time. Together, they look back and notice Esmeralda in the doorway.
"Sorry for bothering you, girls. I'l just come back later." Esmeralda said, preparing to leave.
"No, no. It's alright. You never bothered us." Gregoria said, boosting her confidence.
"Really?" Esmeralda asked.
"Yes." Gregoria replied, going back to wiping a wet wooden bowl with a towel.
"Is there anything you need?" Eloisa asked, returning two plates to a cupboard.
"A glass of water, that's all." Esmeralda replied.
Eloisa nods before giving Esmeralda what she asks for. After filling up the glass, she carefully walks towards Esmeralda and hands it over to her.
"Thank you." Esmeralda said, receiving the glass.
"You're welcome." Eloisa said. "Be careful in walking. Hah?" She said as if she were talking to a child.
"Yes, yes. I'll be careful." Esmeralda said then walked away.
Eloisa goes back to the girls, who just finished washing the plates. At last, they could indulge in their conversation with one another before doing anything else.
Just as Esmeralda is going to walk up the staircase, Claude greets her.
"Esmeralda, I must leave now." Claude said.
"Alright." Esmeralda said, slightly disheartened by his sudden action. "Be careful and don't let your mother see you walking around." She added, causing him to laugh a bit.
"I won't." Claude said, smiling sincerely. "Take care." He said, receiving a nod.
Knowing that Esmeralda must be careful with the glass of water, he bobs a small bow instead of kissing her hand. He hurriedly leaves the mansion, being the reason for Esmeralda to turn away and leave too. Halfway through the second staircase, a knock was heard on the door. Knowing that someone else will take care of it, she carries on with her own business.
Esmeralda arrives to the bedroom. She almost dropped the glass of water when she saw an unconscious Maria on the floor. She quickly places the glass of water on the table and kneels down beside Maria and props her on her lap.
"Maria, for God's sake, please wake up! Maria, wake up! Please!" A frantic Esmeralda said as she lightly slaps Maria's cheek. But to no avail, she is unfazed by Esmeralda's actions. "Help! Somebody please help us!" She shouted, seeing no use in waking up Maria.
And in comes Padre Mathias and Jehan with Cristina and the midwife right behind them. Padre Mathias steps aside, making room for the entrance of the midwife. She kneels beside Maria to place a tiny flask of smelling salt. At that instant, Maria wakes up and pants heavily.
"How are you feeling, hija?" The midwife asked.
"I'm fine. I just fainted when Esmeralda went out to get me a glass of water." Maria replied, receiving an attentive nod from the midwife.
"I need everybody in this room to leave now." The midwife said. At once, they start to leave. "Except for you, hija." She said, pointing at Esmeralda.
"What do you need from me?" Esmeralda asked.
"I need you to help me bring this woman to her bed." The midwife replied.
The midwife and Esmeralda help Maria get up from the ground. From there until she reached her bed, the women were her loyal assistants. The midwife assists Maria in getting comfortable in her bed.
"Thank you, hija. You may leave." The midwife said.
Esmeralda leaves the bedroom, hoping and praying that Maria is not pregnant.
A/N Ok, guys. Here's my explanation:
Tbh, 2020 started off in a bad way. A seriously bad way. First, the threats of WWIII scared me and stopped me from writing. Besides, who would read this when the war breaks out? Who would continue writing this story during the war? Sometime later, the threats cooled down. Therefore, I decided to go back to writing. My return coincided with the outbreak of the Coronavirus. Since the virus is super dangerous and might infect me, I decided to stop writing again. But thanks to the encouragment of my aunt, I decided to start writing again.
Joeyeah, I hope you're fine. Please stay safe. Tbh, I never wanted to tell you this because my intention for telling you this is for me to avoid losing a follower. But at the end of the day, we are still brothers and sisters in Christ or even just humans who should help each other. Stay safe, everyone.
Time for some lessons.
-A bolo is a large cutting tool from my country, which resembles a machete. From then to now, the bolo is used for clearing vegetation. But the bolo can be depicted as the weapon used by the Filipinos during their revolution against the Spaniards.
-A cherub is a baby angel while a seraph is an angel with many wings. If they're plural, both of them end in "im". Both of these angels can be found in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
-Bangus (Milkfish) is the national fish of my country and popular among tables. It is the sole living species in the family Chanidae. Meanwhile, Sinigang Na Baboy (Pork Stew) is a famous dish consisting of pork and sliced vegetables (labanos, kangkong, tomatoes, onions and eggplants) within a bowl of soup.
-Saint Ignatius of Loyola (October 23, 1491-July 31, 1556) was a co-founder of the Society of Jesus a.k.a. the Jesuits. A Spanish soldier, he converted his sinful life into a life for God after reading the lives of the saints while recovering from a wound. He authored the Spiritual Exercises. He is also an influetial figure during the Counter-Reformation.
-Saint Agnes of Rome (291AD-304 AD) was a martyr who died at the age of 12 or 13. She was born into a wealthy family and grew up as a secret Christian. Because of her beauty, she gained numerous suitors. Yet, she turned all of them away, for she has dedicated herself to God. In their anger, the suitors gave her name to the officials. The Prefect at that time condemned her to be dragged naked to a brothel. The pious girl prayed to protect her innocence. Then, hair grew all over her body. Men and boys who wanted to defile her were struck blind by thunder, including the prefect's son. Even though he was her supposed-to-be-rapist, Saint Agnes prayed for him until he recovered. The prefect resigned. The new prefect condemned her to the stake. But, she wouldn't burn. The officer in charge of the troops drew his sword and beheaded her, finishing off her life.
-Saint Augustine (Novemeber 13, 354 AD-August 28, 430 AD) was an early Christian theologian, a bishop of Hippo, Africa and a Doctor of the Church. He wrote several writings, including his famous piece, Confessions. His mother was Saint Monica.
Bye! Have a great time! God love you all!