Warped Reality

Ivano frantically picked up my clothes to cover my nudity before he thought of covering himself. When he's decent again, he raised both hands in surrender but not stepping away from me so he could block me from the guards' leery eyes.

"You are such a disgrace!" My father suddenly yelled behind the guards before they parted in half to give way for his large frame. "With a barn help? Really, Katherine?" My father sneered with full of disdain.

"Let me explain, father."

"What is there to explain? You're having an affair with a filthy peon! You need to be purified!" My father declared before he addressed his seething eyes to Ivano. "And you! You're dead when morning comes."

"Sir! Let us explain ourselves.' Ivano's determined voice answered back to my father. "Your daughter and I are actually in love with each other. I will take care of her and will provide for her, sir!"

"What food will you provide my daughter with, fool? The food that you rake and plant in my backyard? That land is mine! What money will you use to buy her wealth? The money you earned from working in my land? That's my money! Idiot!"

"But sir, something has already happened between us! Let me answer for my responsibility by marrying your daughter."

My father only laughed at him in mockery before he suddenly stopped and glared at Ivano. "Seize him and put him into the pen! Tomorrow he'll die!"

"Oh, please stop it, father!" I finally spoke in a sassy voice while trying desperately not to be caught. "Don't kill him. It's just a waste of time plus too much work. I only used him for my p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e. I was bored."

"Katherine, what are you talking, my love? Ivano's pained voice squeezed my heart but I refused taking a glance his way or I'd surely cry.

"What did you just say?" My father's eyes narrowed at me in suspicion.

"I said I was bored. I saw him and lured him here to have a little play. I was feeling rather hot so I teased and flirted with him. Things got so exciting and I got carried away. But really, I don't even know this boy. So just let him be so we won't be answering for his burial. It's just another expense."

"Katherine!" Ivano's disbelief was so audible in his voice yet I still ignored him.

"But he touched you!" My father exclaimed in absolute anger.

"Well..." I shrugged and jumped off of the table before smoothing down my crinkled dress. "Maybe some punishment for him." I shrugged again to appear nonchalant. "I don't really care. Just get rid of him here but there's no reason to shed blood. After all, I was just toying with him. I don't want to carry such guilt. What? Can I not play around here?" I rolled my stinging eyes like a bitch.

"Do you always do this with anyone? Playing with men?" My father's obvious distaste made me want to cry. "You're being a whore, Katherine!"

"Please, father! Don't give me that crap! You've got yourself a roomful of harem! Don't be a hypocrite!" I stomped across the room but stopped at the doorway. "Punish him but let him live. He'll be such a waste if he dies. He knows how to use his d.i.c.k, after all."

All the men gasped at my rather crass words. But all I could ever hear was Ivano's choking sob as he watched me leave the room. I hastily walked down the hall and up the stairs into my own chamber. Once I was alone, I dove into the bed and cried out my pain.

"I'm so sorry! Im so sorry, my love! It's the only way I can save you from death!" I sobbed into my pillow and cried out all evening until I passed out with exhaustion and emotional stress.

The morning after, I stumbled in the kitchen with two house helps caught into hushed conversations. They didn't saw me yet so I eavesdropped.

"I thought theyre in love. Why would the mademoiselle let gentleman Lombardi be punished?"

"One of the guards that escorted the gentleman Lombardi out of the fort yesterday heard all that has happened. He's our neighbor in town. He told us that mademoiselle only used him for her p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e."

The other woman gasped in astonishment. "The mademoiselle is fornicating outside marriage?"

"Probably, yes. She said it in front of the high lord that she was bored. Now the poor Ivano is being punished by her selfish ways."