Fine dust fell from the ceiling. The window rattled in its frame and a couple of round facets loosened, shattering with a crystalline sound on the floor. The door moaned and clattered on its hinges, suddenly flying open and crashing against the wall.

The sudden quake sent Lorelei crashing back into the wall, and even Noah lost his balance and was forced to lean on the door frame. Not a second later, Lukas, Duncan, and Neli stormed into the room, their expressions tense and distraught.

“What happened? Is any of you hurt?” asked the old Marzbanati and her eyes darted between them.

Next to her, Duncan and Lucas tried their best not to look their lord and lady in the eyes, but their faces said it all. It was obvious they had heard all of their quarrel, all the poisonous words they had exchanged. But Lorelei didn’t have the strength to care anymore. She was broken. Shattered into a million sharp pieces. And when she tried to pick herself up and do or think… anything, those shards cut even deeper, the pain being almost unbearable. Noah’s every word and gesture, her every accusation and angry remark buzzed ceaselessly between her temples making her faint and sick.

Compared to her, Noah seemed almost unphased, safe for the glassy look in his eyes.

Regaining his bearing, he set his jaw and drew a hand through his hair.

“Mother,” his voice sounded leveled and cold, “Take the Duchess out of here and into the courtyard until we are sure that there will be no further earthquakes. Duncan, Lucas, come with me. We need to have a word with the priests.”

Before anyone could say anything, Noah had already stormed out of the cell with a slightly swaying step. Duncan and Neli exchanged a heavy glance before the old knight went on his way.

Contrary to expectation, the floors of the temple were eerily empty. Noah’s every step was a thunder, accompanying the storm outside. Yet, the tempest running amok in the courtyard was nothing compared to the one in his chest.

She had condemned him!

He deserved it. No matter what excuses he tried to find, the truth was irrefutable. He had defiled Lorelei’s own sister. Be it due to magic or something else, he had failed to control his urges and done the unthinkable. With his own sister-in-law!

She hated him.

She was right to hate him. It was all his fault. If he had stepped out of the chapel earlier; if he had called for someone; if he had put enough distance between himself and Pricilla, this horrible mistake wouldn’t have happened.

She saw him as a lecherous monster.

That’s what he was. His weak mind had been unable to suppress the hunger of his body. He knew that what he did to Pricilla was horrible, monstrous, repulsive. And yet, his disgusting, perverted body had enjoyed it. He was no better than his father or Lionel. He had taken Pricilla with no concern of propriety or modesty. He had indulged in his putrid desires with the same savagery and disregard for the other party's willingness or the implication of his actions. Just like the very people he despised.

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

If he had thought about Lorelei’s feelings, he would have been able to hold back, right? If he had cared about Pricilla, he would have held back, right? But he didn’t! He didn’t subdue his lewd flesh. He didn’t reign in his wild thoughts.

His thoughts - that was what hurt most. Because, as he was indulging in Pricilla’s body, he had seen Lorelei’s image before his eyes. He had defiled not just one sister but both!

The memory was so disturbingly vivid that it almost made him vomit. Swallowing back the burning bile, he leaned on the wall, eagerly seeking the soothing coolness of the stones. When Duncan’s palm landed on his shoulder, it sent shivers and lightning through his entire body and made his knees bend.

“Why don’t you ever listen, boy!?” said the old man quietly. “You were in no condition to even walk straight, not to say to face the Duchess. The mess that you’ve created-”

“Please, Duncan,” Noah’s voice and body shook. “Please, don’t.... say more. I don’t need a preacher now. I… I know my sins well enough. And my penance will come in due time too.”

“Damn it, boy! You talk like a convict before the gallows.”

Noah drew both hands through his hair and his expression twisted like someone was stabbing him with a hot iron.

“She hates me, Duncan. She despises me. Worse - she fears me! And all with good reason.”

“Now you are being overly dramatic.”

“But she was right. Every word she uttered was nothing but the truth. And what did I do? I threatened her! I told her… horrible things. And in that damn moment when I said them, I meant them!”

“Oh, for god’s sake! Enough rambling! You both said things you didn’t mean. Both your heads are still muddled - hers from shock and yours from whatever stuff that Orten witch gave you.”

“Don’t condemn her!" Noah stiffened and his brows drew together. Pricilla's cries and her accusatory words rang in his ears. "She hardly did it on purpose. After all, she suffered worse than me.”

“Says who? She? She’s likely lying and playing with your head. Stop being all sobby and get yourself together. You need to reconcile with the Duchess and-”

“No." Noah bit his lips. The memory of Lorelei's gaze scorched his heart. "It’s all over. I won’t see her again. That’s for the best. This would be the safest for her.”

“You…” Duncan blinked at him and turned to Lukas, who vigorously shook his head and took a step back. “You are really a delusional ninny, aren’t ya? Just get your witts together and talk with her again. If you let it brew longer, it will only become harder to...”

“Fuck you and everyone else!” Noah suddenly erupted and his fist landed on the wall with a loud thud. “What do you even know to be telling me what to do!? When I was in that room, only inches away from Lorelei, I almost attacked her! I almost did… horrible things to her too! My mind was almost blank, and all I could think of were a thousand different ways I could make her mine! There and then! After what I did to her sister! Now tell me, am I a ninny!?”

Taken aback, Duncan could only gape at Noah, unable to utter a single word. Behind him, Lukas blinked stupified, with head between his shoulders and an expression telling anyone who would ask, that he hadn’t heard anything, knew nothing, and wasn’t even there to begin with.

Heaving deeply, Noah pushed himself from the wall and, without looking behind, rushed down the empty corridor. He wanted to run, but his still stiff foot and the last remnants of his dignity didn’t allow for it. The same went for crying. Screaming. Cursing until his throat felt raw. He needed to let it all out. He wanted to go on a rampage. To feel the same blessed nothingness as when he was about to be devoured by Nerodris. He yearned to drown his fears and guilt in carnage. Punching through every wall there was on his way. Or through any man, for that matter.

And just then, as if sent by the heavens, an unlucky someone wobbled in his field of vision.

A hunched priest slowly dragged his feet through the twilight of the corridor. Step by step closing in the distance between them. Just as he was about to pass by, Noah’s fist flew out, meeting the priest’s face with a loud crunch.