Chapter 48: El Cid, the Death Knight [5] - Love is blind
Chapter 48: El Cid, the Death Knight [5] - Love is blind
Hearing her questions, the princess remained mum, not explaining or telling anything. Chimene was worried, way too worried and wanted an exact answer. She was ready to touch the princess's feet for that.
But before any of that could happen, a certain someone arrived at the door. A bulky and aged man with grey hairs, wearing a red shirt of the military, walked into the room. He gave a short bow to the princess, who upon seeing the man, took her quick leave.
Chimene, who was expecting an answer from the princess, now turned towards this man, who walked a few steps before reaching close to her. He then moved his hands forward and gently grabbed Chimene's hands.
"Chimene…"
"Father," Chimene grabbed his hand back tightly, somewhat reassured with his presence, but worried at the same time as her questions remained unanswered.
"Father, please tell me. Please tell me that Rodrigo is not hurt."
"No, Rodrigo is alive and well." Chimene, hearing that, finally had relief. It was as if her life had been blown back into her body.
"I'm jealous, you love him so much."
"Two people, father, I love two people the most in the world!"
"You and Rodrigo." Hearing that, her father couldn't help but give a small smile, which was soon replaced with the stern expression.
"Chimene, you are my only child."
"I have no wife."
"You alone can carry my blood. It's a pity… I should have had a son," he shook his head, regretting his past.
"But Rodrigo will be your son," Chimene told with a bright face, but it seemed like her father had a different mindset.
"No."
"No?" Chimene was surprised when she heard her father say that. Confused, she let go of the hand and then took a step back.
"What do you mean, father?"
Rather than clarifying, the man continued, "You're young. You can learn to love again."
"Learn to love again? Father? You speak as if I will forget Rodrigo and love another…"
"Chimene, there are others. You can choose anyone… absolutely anyone other than Rodrigo."
Chimene's eyes turned red, "But why? Father, you weren't so against the marriage? Why is you ask me to forget him? Why is you say this now? Why?"
Momentarily thinking that her father was playing a prank, Chimene walked out of the room. For a second, she thought that Rodrigo would be downstairs, participating in the prank, but as she exited the room despite her father's loud calls, she found Ordonez standing at the bottom of the staircase.
"Don Garcia Ordonez, tell me exactly what has happened. Why is my father speaking such words? You have always been a good friend, so tell me."
Ordonez, who stood at the foot of the staircase, started climbing it. With a small smile, he said, "I would be more to you, Chimene, if you would let me."
Surprised by such words and frustrated by the same dialogue which Ordonez had used many times previously, Chimene, in a fit of anger said, "You know that can never happen."
Ordonez, with another sly smile, and further approach, added, "Why, it can now."
"Now? What do you-"
"Chimene, could you ever love a traitor?" Ordonez asked, interrupting Chimene.
Taking a pause and creating a little more distance between herself and Ordonez, Chimene with a confused and a determined look said, "I love Rodrigo, not any traitor. Your question makes no sense."
"Hahahaha," Ordonez started laughing aloud, not even trying to hide it. "Oh why, it can now. Rodrigo is a traitor."
Chimene took a pause for a moment as she failed to believe what Ordonez said.
"Traitor? My Rodrigo?"
"Yes."
"I do not believe you," she added strongly, denying any such allegations.
"There were others at the scene."
"I do not believe them," no matter what Ordonez said, Chimene had decided to render all of them as fake rumors.
"I don't understand, how can you believe such false news, Ordonez? And what is the authenticity of the news? Who even brought up such a ridiculous topic?"
"It was me," Ordonez once again walked closer to Chimene, much slower than earlier.
"What?" Chimene's eyes widened as she heard that.
"I am the one who brought the charges against him."
"And now, he has to face the trial in the King's court."
"Ordonez!" Chimene raised her voice as she failed to control her fury.
"My, my. Chimene, do not hate me for this, as I merely notified what your beloved lover had done," Ordonez encircled Chimene, scanning her body and the gown which she wore.
"You—"
"You're a fox!"
"You would do anything to hurt Rodrigo."
"Nay, my lady. I would do anything to win you," Ordonez manipulated her words and pulled her, gently kissing her hand even after she tried to resist.
Just as he did it, and sniffed her hand, enjoying her perfume and scent, her father appeared in the background, walking towards them. Noticing this, she pulled her hand away, and Ordonez steadied himself.
"Chimene!"
"What if these charges are true?"
"They are not, father," she instantly retorted, again denying the doubts her father tried to sprout.
"But Chimene, there are many who saw it happen."
"No, they did not know what they saw."
"Chimene, love has made you blind. Why don't you trust this father of yours? That Rodrigo is nothing but a traitor!"
"Stop, Count Gormez!" Chimene raised her voice.
"You are a father, Chimene's father, then should you not side with her and give her the love of her life? Just why? Why do you try to oppose me? Why do you try to tell me that Rodrigo is not my future, but a sweat lie?"
Gormez was surprised when Chimene called his name. This had never happened before, so he was a bit shook.
Ordonez, seeing this, slowly moved towards Gormez and then with a wave of his hand, showcased the way forward, as if asking Gormez to descend the stairs.
Gormez, hesitant, did exactly what Ordonez wanted. Both of them descended the stairs with Ordonez closely following behind and were about to leave the scene just when Ordonez paused and said, "You will see for yourself, Chimene, what kind of brute traitor he is."