Chapter 9: The Secret

The belltower was silent when Frollo arrived. That was to be expected. He'd come much earlier than usual. The sun wasn't even out yet. He suspected that Quasimodo was still asleep. Frollo's suspicion proved accurate when he investigated. Quasimodo was wrestling with a blanket in his makeshift sleeping area. The sight made Frollo grateful for his straight spine. It had to be hard to sleep with the bell ringer's deformed back.

Frollo lit a few candles to put some light in the room. Lighting fires had been the bane of his existence these last few days, but he tried not to think about it. It was boring to wait around, so he started talking to the sleeping Quasimodo as if he could hear.

"I'm sorry I didn't bring our gypsy friend today." Frollo jested. "She misbehaved. But I'll bring her tomorrow."

Quasimodo rolled over in his sleep, his face coming into Frollo's view.

"You've really gotten more hideous with age." Frollo commented.

He remembered when he'd first laid eyes on Quasimodo. The hunchback had once been the most rejectable baby Frollo had ever seen. And yet...

"I'll tell you a secret, boy." Frollo went on. "You mustn't ever hear this, but I envy you."

It was something Frollo could never admit to anyone, but he was always conscious of his envy. More than usual, lately.

"In fact," He continued. "That was why I wanted to do away with you when I first found you. Your mother must have truly loved you to guard you with her life. And I'd always thought gypsies were incapable of love."

He remembered that woman he had killed on the steps of Notre Dame. She'd been so desperate to protect her child. A child whose deformities would always set him apart from the world. Frollo couldn't imagine his own mother in that position.

"My parents didn't love me." He said. "They raised me to be right and just, I can't deny that. But I can't say they loved me."

He touched his chest, thinking sorrowfully of the scar that stretched from there down his body.

"It is a knife in my heart," Frollo said bitterly. "To think that a monster like you can be loved, and I cannot. I've always tried to get even with you for that. To make you feel as hated as I do. And it was working... until that damned gypsy came along."

Frollo was angry when he relived the moment of Esmeralda's defiance. She had instantly become what he hated most and what he wanted most.

"She embarrassed me, you know." Frollo remarked. "All so she could come to your rescue. Why does she do such stupid things?! Defy me in public. Defy me in private. She won't even cover her own tracks! If she hadn't left that blanket..."

Frollo fixated on the thought of the blanket. Esmeralda had made a risky decision in giving it to him, just to prevent him from getting too cold.

"Perhaps I was too hard on her." Frollo decided. "Oh God... What was I thinking?!"

Frollo was surprised by the sound of a yawn. The sun was rising, and so was Quasimodo. The hunchback noticed Frollo right away.

"Master..." He muttered, barely awake. "What are you doing here so early?"

"I had a long night." Frollo replied. "And I thought seeing you might put me in better spirits."

"Oh." Quasimodo said in disbelief. "Well... Is Esmeralda alright?"

"Quite." Frollo responded. "You shall see her soon. This evening, in fact."

The judge talked to Quasimodo about some trivial matters for a short while, just to make his presence less strange. Afterwards, he exited the tower.

Frollo planned on fixing his situation with Esmeralda. He would have to apologize, something he hadn't done in ages. But it had to happen if he was to have any hope of making something good out of this marriage. Frollo realized he was sabotaging himself. Punishing her for last night's actions would only teach her not to be kind to him.

"I'm surprised he let me come today." Esmeralda confessed that evening.

"Why wouldn't he?" Quasimodo asked.

"He meant to punish me." Esmeralda explained.

She told the story of the night before and Frollo's reaction this morning.

"So that's why he was here so early." Quasimodo noted. "Actually, I heard him say some things when I was drifting in and out of sleep this morning."

"Really? What did you hear?"

"I don't remember much. Something about being jealous. And something about being too hard on you."

Esmeralda struggled to believe it. Had Frollo really regretted his harshness toward her? She'd wondered about his reasons when he'd come to get her an hour ago, saying he'd changed his mind and was bringing her to Notre Dame. He'd failed to explain past that. Esmeralda looked over at the judge, who stood alone looking over the balcony. What was going on in his head?

She found out later that night. Frollo insisted that they go for a walk, during which he said the words Esmeralda never expected.

"I'm sorry about this morning." He apologized.

"Am I hearing correctly?" Esmeralda questioned.

Frollo sighed.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Simple. I realized I was too harsh. I understand why you were concerned. Who am I to blame you for checking on someone who left without a warning and didn't return?"

"I have a hard time believing it was that simple."

"Well, it was."

Esmeralda thought about it for a moment. She came to a disappointing, but very reasonable, conclusion.

"I see how it is." She complained. "You're apologizing because you realized your behavior is only going to win you a cold and spiteful wife."

"Must you question everything I say?" Frollo groaned.

"I wouldn't have to if you were honest."

Before he could think of a response, Frollo noticed an empty alley. He was struck with an idea. First he glanced around to ensure that no one was watching. Thankfully, the street was deserted and black. It was a perfectly quiet night. Excellent.

Without warning, Frollo took Esmeralda by the wrist and pulled her into the alley.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

Frollo responded by pushing her into a wall and kissing her. Esmeralda was taken off guard, but the mood soon took ahold of her and she kissed him back. She was more surprised, though, when he started to hike his hand up under her skirt. Esmeralda broke the kiss.

"Seriously, what are you doing?" She asked again.

"What do you think?" Frollo said with a smirk. "I want to make love. Here and now."

"What if someone sees?!" Esmeralda asked cautiously.

"No one is out this late." Frollo assured. "Just trust me."

Esmeralda decided to trust Frollo's judgment on this. He was right, no one was out at this time of night. And besides, if they were seen then it couldn't lead to much of a problem. Frollo was the last person who anyone in Paris wanted to start trouble with.

They continued kissing. Frollo's hand found that sensual place under Esmeralda's skirt. She breathed loudly when he touched her, especially as he kissed her neck at the same time. He went on like that for a lengthy moment, then rushed to undo his pants. Esmeralda, though content with the situation, was surprised by how fast it happened. Frollo was quick to get under her clothes, lift her up, and thrust into her. It was exciting. Doing this outside was certainly a thrill. So thrilling that it didn't need to last more than a few minutes, which was all the time it took before Frollo let go of his wife and withdrew from her. He quickly spilled his seed on the ground before shoving his cock back into his pants.

"You were right." Esmeralda said. "That was fun. But there's one problem. I didn't finish."

Frollo shook his head. He wasn't inclined to care whether she was satisfied, but he hadn't forgotten the hard reminder he'd been given at their wedding. It was his job to satisfy her. He took care of it right away.

Esmeralda had expected an excuse, but to her surprise, Frollo got on his knees. Esmeralda moaned in pleasure when she felt her husband's tongue. He was forceful, wanting to get this over with, and the stimulation soon brought her to a warm climax. After Esmeralda relaxed, Frollo rose to his feet again.

They didn't talk anymore. No words were needed. Frollo was glad of that, as he anxiously waited for a result now.

He hadn't really been that desperate to make love to her. Although it had ended up being thrilling, Frollo hadn't pictured having that kind of urgent sex, with both of them clothed, in a public space. It had simply been an excuse to test a theory of his. This time Esmeralda had not seen his scar or had the chance to ask about it. He hoped that it would mean a peaceful sleep tonight.