Morvain's words pierced Ron's heart, the venom in his tone stinging with every syllable. The old man recoiled in shock, his body trembling in fear and confusion.
"W-w-what do you mean, son?"
"You know very well what I'm talking about, Ron." Morvain's voice was like a shadow, dark and foreboding, casting a chilling realization over Ron.
Morvain stepped towards Ron, his gaze piercing through the old man like daggers.
"You're not his real father, so why sacrifice yourself for him?"
Ron froze, his body rigid with terror. How did Morvain know? How did he find out the truth Ron had kept hidden all these years? Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his hands shook uncontrollably as he struggled to maintain his composure.
"Ron, answer me. Why sacrifice yourself for a boy who isn't yours?" Morvain's voice cut through the night air like a blade, sharp and deadly.
"I-I-I... don't know what you're talking about, son," the old man stammered, attempting to evade Morvain's gaze. "If it isn't about saving 'my son' from death, then I better leave now."
Ron staggered away, his steps faltering as he tried to escape from Morvain's accusatory stare. However, before he could take more than a few steps, Morvain's hand shot out, seizing him by the collar and yanking him back into the grip of the chilling confrontation.
Morvain's grip was firm and unrelenting, and Ron struggled in vain to free himself from the younger man's grasp.
"Let go of me, son. I need to go back home. My wife needs me." Ron pleaded, his voice trembling with fear.
Morvain ignored the old man's pleas, his grip tightening as he dragged Ron towards him.
"Your wife is dead, Ron, and you're in open sea. There's nowhere to run but to the truth. Did your wife sleep with Lord Ravencore?"
Morvain tightened his grip on Ron's head, his eyes drilling into the old man's soul with a burning intensity.
"Did she sleep with Lord Ravencore, Ron? Answer me!" Morvain's voice reverberated through the night, carrying the weight of revelation and retribution.
Ron trembled in Morvain's grasp, his body consumed by guilt and shame. The truth, once buried in the shadows, now clawed its way to the surface, exposing the secrets Ron had desperately tried to conceal. He felt like the world was closing in on him, and he couldn't escape the judgmental eyes that demanded his confession.
Morvain tightened his grip, his voice escalating into a furious roar that echoed in the night.
"Answer me, Ron! Did your wife sleep with Lord Ravencore?!"
Ron's heart raced, and his body shook uncontrollably. The desire to deny Morvain's accusation and shield his wife's honor clashed with the oppressive weight of the truth. He bowed his head in surrender, tears streaming down his withered cheeks as he finally spoke.
Morvain's grip tightened like a vice, his voice thundering across the deck.
"Answer me, Ron! Did your wife sleep with Lord Ravencore?!"
Ron's heart raced, and his body shook uncontrollably. He wanted to deny Morvain's accusation, to defend his wife's honor, but the weight of the truth was too heavy for him to bear. The air crackled with tension as Ron bowed his head in defeat, tears streaming down his withered cheeks as he finally spoke.
"She didn't sleep with that monster. He forced her." Ron choked back a sob, his voice barely above a whisper. "She didn't want it, son. Please believe me. She didn't want it."
Morvain released Ron, the old man crumbling to the ground as he relived the painful memories of the past. The truth hung heavy in the air, and the night seemed to echo the anguish that enveloped Ron's confession
"After squashing the uprising in the eastern region, Lord Ravencore visited my hometown. He was drunk, and his eyes were filled with lust. He saw my wife, a beautiful woman, and couldn't control his desire. He took her by force, violating her innocence.
"When I found out, I was furious. I wanted to kill him, but I was weak, and my wife begged me not to do anything. She didn't wanted to be the cause of my death, son. She loved me too much. So, I stayed silent, burying my anger deep inside my heart." Ron paused, his voice breaking as he relived the painful memories of the past.
"Lord Ravencore impregnated her. She gave birth to Rony. He looks exactly like Lord Ravencore. Even though he's not my blood, Rony is my son. He is the only one I have in this world, son. Please understand. I beg you. Please don't let my son die. I can't afford to lose the only thing I have left in this world that reminds me of her." Ron sobbed, his heart filled with grief and despair.
Morvain's grip on Ron's collar tightened, his voice laced with a mixture of frustration and bitterness.
"A lord can play god and no one will bat an eye. Even a minor lord can be a tyrant and get away with it. Do you know why, Ron?" he asked, his words cutting through the heavy air like a blade.
Ron trembled under Morvain's grasp, his gaze downcast as he struggled to find the words to respond.
"Because they hold all the power," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Morvain's grip loosened slightly, his expression grave.
"Power. That's right," he said, his tone somber. "And unless we confront that power head-on, it will continue to oppress us, to manipulate us, to destroy us."
Ron nodded weakly, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and resignation.
"We have to fight back, Ron," Morvain continued, his voice filled with determination. "For Rony. For your wife. For all those who have suffered at the hands of these tyrants. We can't let them win."
Morvain stood in contemplative silence, his eyes focused on Ron, who wiped away tears and continued to share the painful details of his past.
"When Rony was born, I swore to protect him no matter what. I promised her that I would raise him as my own. That's the reason why I'm begging you, son. Please don't let my boy die. I'll do anything. Anything," Ron pleaded, his despair evident as he fell to his knees, head bowed in submission.
Morvain took a deep breath, his eyes cold and calculating as he grabbed the old man, hauling him to his feet. "A lord has the power to play god, and hardly anyone questions it. Even a minor lord can act like a tyrant without facing consequences. Do you understand why, Ron?" Morvain's grip on Ron's collar tightened, sending a shiver down the old man's spine.
"Because the law is crafted in their favor. It's not tailored for us, the commoners, the lowborns. It's designed by them to maintain control over everyone else. Do you understand, Ron? They are the law, and we, the lowborns, are nothing more than their pawns." Morvain's voice dripped with bitterness and anger.
"Lord Ravencore forced himself upon your wife, Ron. Do you believe he deserves to live? Do you?" Morvain's grip tightened further, his eyes burning with rage.
Ron trembled in fear and guilt, unsure of how to respond to Morvain's questions.
"Answer me, Ron! Does Lord Ravencore deserve to live?! Answer me!" Morvain shouted, his voice filled with fury.
"N-n-no. No. He doesn't deserve to live. He should die. He should pay for what he did to my wife," Ron replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
Morvain released his grip on Ron's collar, his tone becoming more subdued.
"If you agree to my terms, I can ensure justice for your beloved wife. I can guarantee your son's safety. Just comply with my request, and I'll be your savior, Ron," he said, his gaze glinting with a hint of menace.
Ron hesitated, torn by conflicting emotions. Could he trust Eldric? Could the boy truly deliver justice for his wife? Uncertain, Ron weighed his options, realizing he had no other choice but to do whatever it took to protect his son.
"Anything for my son and wife, sir hero, anything for them," Ron declared with a quiver in his voice.
Unbeknownst to them, a figure lurked in the shadows, silently observing their conversation with keen interest...
***
The next day, a wave of commotion swept through the ship like a raging storm. The news spread like wildfire, igniting fear and sorrow in the hearts of those onboard. Word had spread of the death of one of the imprisoned hero's fathers — Ron.