His day (2/2)

Inside a small, dirty, and dark cell, Rafael sat on the cold, hard floor. It's okay, it's okay, calm down. That bastard won't kill me because of what I can offer.

She said everything would be okay... She's talking to her father right now to get me out... That was what he thought on the first day.

He can't be stupid enough to leave me here to die! He is going to release me today! If not, I'll kill that motherfucker and throw aside all that ethical crap and do whatever I want with...!

Rafael's situation was driving him to the edge—one meager serving of porridge per day and a freezing stone floor as his bed. But before he could fully commit to his escape plan, sounds echoed from the hallway outside.

The door creaked open, and two figures walked down the hall, pausing in front of his cell. One was a servant; the other, a guard. "The baron requests your presence in his office. Get up!" The guard beside him unlocked the cell door.

Rafael was led through the mansion's corridors until they reached the familiar door—the same one he had been taken to after Frederic saved him from the priests. "He's waiting."

Tired of playing nice after how they'd treated him, Rafael pushed open the large wooden door to find Frederic seated comfortably in his chair, as always.

Ella stood by his side, and two guards flanked the middle of the room. All eyes were on Rafael as he walked in and immediately took a seat.

"Such disrespect," the officer who had ordered his imprisonment muttered in annoyance.

"Now that everyone is here, let's understand what happened," Frederic began. "Security commander, state your side of the facts."

"Yes, my lord. Yesterday morning, this man sneaked out of the mansion and tried to kidnap your daughter. Fortunately, the soldier assigned to watch him saved her from whatever horrors might have happened." The commander, a man in his thirties wearing well-tailored clothes, pointed accusingly at Rafael.

Rafael, weary of the lies, was about to retort when someone else beat him to it. "Liar!" Ella shouted from where she stood.

"Why do you say that, Ella?" Frederic asked, turning to his daughter.

"Everything he said is a lie! I was the one who met Robert, and I was the one who invited him for a walk outside! This fake officer should be thrown in a cell!" She stomped her foot in frustration.

"Milady Ella, with all due respect, I'm responsible for your safety, and I know when someone has bad intentions," the commander replied, trying to maintain his composure.

"You know n—" She was cut off by Frederic, who looked over at Rafael. "What about you? What's your excuse?" Rafael had remained silent until now.

"My excuse? It's not an excuse; it's the truth. She came to me, and it was her idea to go outside. Your little soldier was sleeping the entire time—not even when we walked past him did he wake up. You're just trying to cover for your pathetic man."

"You heretic traitor! You'll rot in that cell! Take him!" The security commander ordered the guard to seize Rafael. "Stop. You two, leave," Frederic commanded.

"Sir, I can't leave you alone with this man; he's dangerous!"

"I said leave." The baron's voice was calm, but there was a hint of anger simmering beneath the surface. The officer hesitated but eventually complied.

"He's telling the truth, Father. Those brutes only know how to lie."

"I was bored with those classes you made me attend, and when I found out a cleric was staying here, I got curious. Then I learned he was the apprentice of the high priest and..."

"Calm down, my girl. I believe you." Frederic's words nearly brought Ella to tears. She couldn't remember the last time he had said that to her, if ever.

"You... you do believe me?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Seeing his daughter on the verge of tears pained Frederic. Despite his sometimes harsh decisions, his family meant everything to him. "Don't cry, my girl. Let me handle this." He turned his gaze to Rafael.

"It's been days since you last informed me of anything new. Where is that angel you spoke of?"

"Maybe he'd come to me in my dreams if I could sleep. How about a nice room with windows and a decent bed?" Rafael suggested, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"What kind of angel needs someone to sleep to meet him? I'm sure if I ask the priests, they'll give me a definitive answer, and we both know what that answer will be." Frederic leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. Ella listened intently to their exchange.

"God works in mysterious ways. His methods don't always need explanation," Rafael replied, locking eyes with Frederic in a silent battle of wills. "I want to ask you something. All those crimes—did you really...?"

Rafael glanced at Ella. "Of course they're lies. Every accusation was fabricated by those priests." Ella relaxed, exhaling a sigh of relief.

"Not everything," Frederic said in a grave tone, still staring straight at Rafael. "Wha... What do you mean?" Ella asked, her voice quivering.

"Tell her the truth. The truth that you killed a man." The weight of Frederic's words hung in the air. The thought had been nagging at the back of Ella's mind ever since her father had mentioned it the other day. He killed someone...

"You're wrong. Everything I've said is the truth. Not one of those accusations is true..." Rafael's eyes met Ella's. "I did kill someone. It was during my pilgrimage to this city. He was probably under the command of the devil himself, trying to stop me."

Both father and daughter listened closely to Rafael's story. Frederic maintained a poker face, while Ella frowned, trying to process the information. "But..."

"I became a cleric and eventually the high priest's apprentice. Julius himself said I was a miracle, blessed by the Lord." Ella's eyes seemed to shine as she looked at Rafael.