13 Why Have You Broken My Hear (1/2)

”What did you see in town?”

”It was horrible! I was adamant to know what happened to Ivano. But when I saw him, I wished I hadn't look.”

”What happened? What happened?”

”He was whipped and hung by a cross. He was without covering while burning under the heat of the sun.”

”Jesus!”

”Yes, absolutely! He's like Jesus Christ. I'm actually waiting until when the curtain parts.”

I covered my mouth to stop a sob from escaping before I ran out of the house and flagged down a carriage. I told the valet to bring me to town to the punishment grounds. I wanted to wail my agony at the sight of Ivano hanging by a cross even though I was still far from the center plaza. He was hung so high above that anyone could see him even from the distance. I actually might be able to see him if I looked out the window of my room back at the fort.

One of his eyes was swollen, it was almost invisible. His whole body was bathed in blood and an obvious broken bone was protruding out of his arm. He was groaning so loud and crying out my name over and over while the scorching sun burned his skin. I couldn't stomach the sight of him like this. I didn't want him to die, yet, here he was actually slowly dying a painful death. I rushed towards the corner of the street and retched while heaving and crying my heart out.

”What are you doing here, Katherine?”

I hastily wiped my face before turning around to see the high priest, Lancelot, marching towards me with his battalion wrapped around their metal armors. When I looked around us, people were staring. Some people were curious, others hurriedly walked away but most of the townsmen gave me an accusing glare. I knew they blamed me for Ivano's downfall and I take sole responsibility for this. I'd take the guilt and shame to my grave for denying the only man I loved in front of my father. I was nothing but a coward. I didn't deserve his love.

”I...” I licked my lips before taking a glance up the cross and cringed as my eyes met Ivano's bloody gaze. ”I wanted to see the ruckus.” I gave out a fake smile before looking up at Ivano again and waved at him as if everything was funny. ”People were talking about the man that's so hung while being hang.”

Lancelot narrowed his eyes at me. ”Your father informed me that this is your playmate.”