After the duel that sparked a lot of controversy among the royal knights ended, Gabriel quickly dragged Layla towards her room where she was supposed to be held.
Gabriel led Layla through the stone corridors of the palace, ignoring the whispers and looks of the people who passed by.
His mind was still trying to process the duel that had just happened, and his pride was still wounded by his loss.
He was silent as they walked, his grip on Layla's arm a little tighter than necessary.
"You really are a shameless monk!!"
Laila suddenly said angrily while pulling her hand out of his grip to look at him with her big, charming brown eyes
Gabriel turned to look at her with his turquoise eyes, his atheism
"Rude? I'm trying to keep you under control, princess. I don't see what's shameful about that."
Gabriel's whole body was aching until he grabbed his right hand that held the sword. He only felt that he lost feeling in it, and his palm was already cracked and wounded.
He had been raised in the seminary to become a monk in the church. It was the first time in his life that he held a sword. Come on today, so his body was not used to such an experience.
"A truly rude man. How dare you touch me with such indifference? Aren't you a monk? Isn't that forbidden to you? Or am I wrong?"
Laila said angrily while looking at her slightly reddened wrist.
She was a Muslim, so of course she was not familiar with the rules and regulations of the Christian religion.
Gabriel Gabriel's jaw dropped as he struggled to maintain his composure.
Her constant questioning of his faith was a sensitive topic for him, and he didn't appreciate her position one bit.
He took a deep breath before responding, trying to keep his voice level.
"As a man of faith, I follow the teachings of the Bible and understand what constitutes forbidden behavior."
He looked at her sharply.
"But I assure you, touching you was out of necessity, Princess."
"What necessity??" "You are a useless, rude monk. It is true that you are a monk, but that does not entitle you to touch me freely. At least respect the rules of my religion."
Layla said excitedly, her voice gradually rising in the stone corridors of the palace.
Gabriel felt his anger grow with every word that came out of Layla's mouth.
Her constant insults and disregard for his faith were getting on his nerves, and he was struggling to control his temper.
He turned to look at her, his eyes narrowing as he spoke.
"I do not need a lecture on the teachings of Christianity from you, princess. You may follow the rules of your religion, but it seems that you have forgotten some basic etiquette."
"Basic etiquette?" These manners you should learn because you are rude and even your religion could not curb your rude actions"
Layla said angrily
Gabriel felt his patience finally snap at her words
He stopped walking and turned to Layla, his eyes burning with anger
"I am tired of your rudeness, princess. My religion is not the problem here. The problem is your attitude and your lack of respect for others"
He approached her, his voice low and full of threat
"I will not tolerate another word from you, do you understand?"
"Rude!!"
At that moment, Layla reached out to slap him hard on the cheek
Gabriel was surprised by Layla's sudden action
He did not expect her to attack him so quickly and impulsively
However, before he could respond, Layla's hand was already connected to his cheek, sending a sharp pain across his face
He sighed in surprise then stepped back and placed his hand on the sting on his cheek
"You...you -"
"You deserve it"
She said while smiling in a provocative way
Gabriel's anger flared up again due to her provocations but he tried to maintain his composure
Massaging his cheek where she slapped him a mixture of anger and disbelief on his face
He muttered through his teeth
"You're lucky you're a princess if it weren't for your damned position I would have taught you a lesson in manners"
"Really then what if I wasn't a princess would the monk prince hit a woman who provoked him?"
As Layla continued to provoke him, Gabriel grabbed the cross necklace wrapped around his neck, rubbing the silver cross with his hand as he muttered in a low voice.
He mumbled words from the Bible between his breaths, trying to find some inner peace amidst the chaos of his raging emotions at the moment.
His grip on the silver cross chain tightened as he tried to control his nerves, the metal pressing against his palm reminding him of his vow of celibacy.
"What are you even doing?"
Laila said sarcastically as she looked at him as he recited his prayer while holding the cross in his hand.
Gabriel took a deep breath as he opened his eyes to look at Laila with a dark expression.
"I pray, princess."
"It's something you'll never know."
Hearing that, Laila laughed in amusement as she played with her long black hair.
"I'm a Muslim so I pray five times a day but you dare say that I don't even know what prayer means?"
Gabriel felt annoyed by Laila's words.
He knew that she was trying to provoke him on purpose and it worked.
He took another deep breath trying to hold back his annoyance before responding.
He said firmly.
"I didn't mean to imply that you don't know what prayer is, princess but let's be honest our religions are completely different and you have a habit of disrespecting mine."
"What did I do to make you feel that I don't respect your religion, prince monk?"
She looked at him with wide eyes in shock as if she didn't know what he was talking about
Gabriel felt his patience running out in light of Laila's alleged innocence
He took a deep breath trying to maintain his tone
He said frankly
"You constantly make fun of me and belittle my faith, princess"
"You..."
"You question my beliefs and make fun of my prayers and even act as if my religion is less important than yours"
"..."
Seeing her silent like this he said in a cold tone
"Don't you have anything to say, princess?"
"I didn't mean to make fun of your religion. Did my actions seem to suggest that to you?"
Laila said while holding the skirt of her dress while lowering her head
Gabriel stopped, a bit surprised by Laila's real reaction
He studied her for a moment, trying to gauge her sincerity.
He let out a quiet sigh and spoke in a slightly weaker voice than before.
He admitted,
"I may have misunderstood your intentions, princess, but your words and actions towards me and my faith have caused tension and friction between us."
"I'm sorry, I didn't really mean to insult your religion, I was just joking with you... One of the teachings of Islam is to respect other heavenly religions, so... I'm sorry if my joke made you feel uncomfortable."
She raised her head to look at him with her large brown eyes with long eyelashes.
Gabriel scanned her face for any signs of deception or mockery.
But all he saw was sincerity in her beautiful, large brown eyes.
He felt some of his anger and annoyance begin to dissipate, replaced by a glimmer of understanding.
He said calmly.
"I see, I appreciate your apology, princess. It takes courage to admit when one is wrong."
" Okay...."
She said quickly before running towards her room quickly.
He watched her as she quickly turned around and ran towards her room.
He stood there for a moment with surprise and confusion on his face.
"Wait, princess!"
He called out but it was too late, she had already disappeared behind the door of the room
Gabriel looked at his hand hanging in the air while sighing tiredly
The princess was a completely unexpected person
Seeing that gentle look on that fierce girl's face made Gabriel feel confused
Those charming brown eyes stared at him with a strong sense of guilt
Her actions made him forget that he was even slapped in the face by her
Today's incident will definitely reach the ears of the king
Gabriel thought anxiously
He didn't like being scolded by his father very much, especially since he was old enough to be above scolding
He always liked to be calm, perfect and obedient like a good, righteous child, so thinking about his reckless actions today, Gabriel's anxiety began to increase
He wasn't afraid of being scolded by his father, but he was afraid of his own feelings at this moment
Usually, even if He had committed a very simple mistake to any creature, whether animal or human. Strong feelings of guilt were raging in his mind and heart, but at this moment Gabriel did not feel even a little bit of guilt.
His heart was devoid of feelings of guilt or pity.
As if he had not taken the woman who was supposed to be his prisoner out of her room, but rather confronted her in front of the knights with swords, only to be subjected to a crushing defeat that made him lose his dignity as a fully qualified man.
Why didn't he feel guilty?
He didn't feel even a little bit of guilt for taking her out and breaking the king's orders.
Gabriel felt scared and anxious about himself, so he nervously rubbed the cross hanging around his neck.
As Gabriel stood there, he felt a wave of unease wash over him.
His mind was filled with thoughts and feelings, and he was trying to make sense of them.
He rubbed the cross necklace nervously, feeling its cool, smooth surface against his skin.
"Why…"
He muttered to himself.
"Why don't I feel guilty? I… I should…"
Gabriel continued rubbing the cross necklace, his mind racing.
He thought of all the possible reasons and explanations for why he didn't feel guilty.
Maybe he had become too close to Layla, or maybe he had become insensitive to his duties.
Maybe it was something deeper, something he couldn't even comprehend.
He had to go and be alone in the church.
He really wanted to stay in the church and isolate himself to find some peace and comfort.
His steps quickened in the palace corridors
Gabriel did not realize himself until he found himself in front of the church gate.
He looked at the church gate eagerly to enter the church with quick steps.
She was in front of him heading towards the altar door.
When he opened the altar door, he found the soothing scent of incense and the dim candlelight soothing his troubled soul in a calming way.
Everyone had left after Sunday Mass, so the altar was empty.
He sat on one of the seats, focusing his gaze on the altar and the cross above it.
He closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind and focus on his prayer.
Gabriel took a deep breath and began reciting some of his favorite verses from the Bible.
He spoke them slowly and deliberately, the old words rolling off his tongue in a familiar and comforting way.
"Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or dismayed because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."
He closed his eyes as he spoke, letting the words wash over him like a soothing wave.
He continued reciting the verses from the Bible. Which allowed her to fill his mind and heart
He wished that the words would overwhelm his thoughts about Laila that kept intruding on his mind
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and understanding and know Him in all your ways. Submit to Him and He will direct your paths"
While he was praying in supplication, he did not notice the priest who had been standing for a long time while watching him pray silently
Gabriel did not notice the presence of the priest until he turned his eyes and saw him standing there watching him silently
He was startled for a moment, but he quickly pulled himself together and rose from his seat
He said respectfully
"Father, I did not realize that anyone had entered"
The priest nodded in understanding
He said in a soft and calm voice
"Sorry to interrupt your prayer, my son, but I couldn't help but notice that you seem troubled. May I ask what is going on in your mind?"
Hearing the priest's question, Gabriel felt nervous and embarrassed, so he said in a low tone, "I...I just felt that I needed to pray."
The priest tilted his head slightly as he examined Gabriel's face for a moment.
He said in a gentle and understanding voice
"I see sometimes it's good to take a step back and connect with the Lord but I feel there's more to it my son"
"...."
Hearing the priest's tone Gabriel lowered his head unable to say a single word
The priest noticed the young man's hesitation and sensed his inner turmoil
He took a few steps closer to Gabriel and placed his hand on his shoulder to speak in a gentle and comforting voice
"My son you know you can trust me I won't judge or condemn you I'm here to listen and offer guidance if you wish"
Gabriel remained silent for a while longer conflicted and unsure if he should share his inner thoughts and feelings
He looked at the priest his expression a mixture of doubt and weakness
He finally opened his mouth to say in a soft male voice
"Indeed… I feel Father that my faith has begun to waver a little when I have wronged any creature whether that creature was human or animal I have felt strong feelings of guilt and mercy as a monk serving the Lord I have always believed "I should feel this way… but Father, I made a mistake today, and although it was a big one, my heart did not feel guilty… I am afraid, Father."
The priest listened attentively to Gabriel's confession, his expression concerned.
He gently squeezed the young man's shoulder, offering a gesture of comfort and reassurance.
He said in a calm and gentle voice.
"My son, you seem to be feeling a sense of confusion and inner turmoil. It is natural to experience conflicting emotions, especially when you find yourself unable to feel guilty about something you think you should feel guilty about."
The priest continued in a gentle and sympathetic tone.
"But know that the Lord is merciful and understanding. He knows your heart and your intentions. Even when you feel conflicted, do not be hard on yourself, because we are all imperfect and prone to error."
"…."
*The priest paused, choosing his words carefully*
"My son, have you considered the possibility that your lack of guilt is a sign that you don't fully understand the gravity of the mistake you made? Or perhaps a sign that you've numb yourself to your emotions, for some reason or another?"
Not realizing the gravity of the mistake you made?
Gabriel was lost in thought
He literally knew that his action was wrong, but his heart didn't feel even the slightest bit of guilt
He raised his head to look at the priest with his turquoise-green eyes that had a lost glow
"...."
*The priest noticed Gabriel's lack of response, and his expression became more thoughtful*
*He spoke in a gentle, understanding tone*
"Your silence speaks volumes, my son. It seems that there is something deeper going on here. Can you tell me what happened today that led to this moment?"
This priest was called Father Otar
He was one of the most compassionate, merciful and faithful priests in the church
Gabriel often talked to him, so Gabriel didn't hesitate long before opening his mouth and saying in a shaky voice
"I... I broke the king's orders and made the prisoner leave her room... I fought with her and confronted her in front of the royal knights and lost"
When he mentioned his loss in front of Laila, Gabriel's cheeks turned red with embarrassment
*Father Otar listened carefully to Gabriel's confession, and his facial expression remained calm and composed*
*He could see the embarrassment written on the young man's face as he talked about his defeat in that
battle*
*He nodded in understanding, his hand still resting on Gabriel's shoulder*
He said calmly
"I see, you not only disobeyed the king's orders, but you were also defeated in front of the other knights"
"Yes"
Gabriel admitted with great embarrassment
*Father Otar continued his speech calmly and compassionately*
He said
"It is understandable that you feel embarrassed and ashamed after what you did, and it is good to be honest about your mistakes, but let's not focus on the defeat itself. Tell me, what led to this? The decision to ignore the king's orders and allow the prisoner to leave her room?"
When Gabriel heard Father Otar's question, he froze in his place in confusion.
What made him allow her to leave?
Gabriel swallowed his saliva and said in a hoarse voice.
"She was feeling suffocated from staying in her room for so long...."
"So you sympathized with the prisoner and wanted to relieve her suffering, by getting her out of the room, even if it meant defying the king's orders. Is that right?"
"Yes."
The priest carefully observed Gabriel's expression and felt the conflict within him.
He gently pressed his shoulder, indicating a reassuring gesture
"You have mercy in your heart, my son, and that is not a bad thing. However, there are times when we must balance our emotions, our duty, and our loyalty to those in power."
Gabriel was well aware of this.
Despite being his father, the king was still the king of the country. It was not smart to disobey his orders.
Gabriel understood the priest's veiled advice and nodded as he said in a somewhat dull tone.
"Thank you for your kind words, Father Otar. You have prepared and guided me greatly."
Gabriel remained in the church for about a week, secluding himself in prayer, isolated from humans.
During that period, the king did not send anyone to ask why he had come to the princess's chambers to guard her.
It seemed as if the incident of the duel had reached the king's ears.
Gabriel looked at the cross hanging in his isolation room in silence.
"Does he pity me? He must think that I have isolated myself because of my shame."
Gabriel didn't isolate himself because he felt ashamed, but because he didn't want to see the Arabian princess again.
Or at least for now.
He just felt like he wanted to organize his soul and his mixed and scattered feelings.
Gabriel stayed in the isolated room until noon.
Today was Sunday, so he had to attend Sunday Mass.
He got up from the floor to place his silver cross-shaped necklace on the wooden table next to the cross hanging in the room. He decided to wash his face before going out to attend Mass.
After washing his face and feet and drying them with a cloth, Gabriel grabbed his Bible while putting his silver necklace back on.
He walked out of his isolation room to walk through the church corridors.
He walked through the cold, dimly lit corridors, his footsteps echoing on the stone walls.
He held his Bible close to his chest, feeling a sense of peace and reassurance wash over him as he thought about the Bible in his hands.
He could hear the conversations of others preparing for Mass, and The air was filled with an aura of reverence and devotion
*A few moments later, Father Otar entered the altar, the golden cross hanging above it casting a warm glow in the dim light*
*He stood before the altar, his hands folded in front of his chest and looked out at the congregation*
*The chatter subsided, and a low silence fell over the room as Father Otar began to speak*
"Let us begin with prayer," Father Otar said in a calm and solemn voice
"Lord, we have come to you today seeking guidance and wisdom and asking for your presence with us as we participate in this Mass. Guide our hearts and minds, so that we may fully open ourselves to your will and mission."
*Father Otar placed his hands in front of his face and bowed his head, followed by the rest of the congregation*
Just at that moment, the altar door opened to let in a young girl wearing a beautiful red German-style dress with a striking green belt. The young girl was beautiful with long black hair, a wheatish complexion, and large brown eyes. The adornment she wore was striking, as she wore earrings Of gold and a gold necklace in the Arabic style
When she entered, her feet headed towards Gabriel's seat, which was busy praying indifferently
The sound of the door opening caused Gabriel to snap out of his concentration
When he looked up, his heart skipped a beat when he saw the little girl entering the altar
"What exactly are you doing?"
He said in a trembling masculine tone as he looked at her with disbelief, doubt, and other feelings... He couldn't describe them exactly.
His turquoise eyes were fixed on her graceful and feminine form as she headed towards his seat.
The girl sat next to Gabrielle and her presence attracted the attention of a few people nearby who cast curious glances at her.
Gabriel felt his mind becoming increasingly preoccupied with her presence and his thoughts distracted from prayer.
She opened her mouth to say in a moderate feminine voice as she looked into his eyes.
"Why didn't you come to guard me all this week? Could it be that you are starting to get tired of guarding and watching me, monk, or did my previous apology not satisfy you?"
Gabriel was surprised by her question and responded to her with embarrassment as he looked away.
"I never said that I got tired of guarding you."
He felt his cheeks heat up and gradually start to redden.
He continued in a defensive tone.
"I had Some duties I have to do in the church"
He glanced at her furtively from the corner of his eye while clasping his hands together pretending to focus on his
prayer
The princess was a Muslim so if the priest discovered that she had entered the altar with such indifference, it would cause a big problem
The princess's outward appearance did not suggest that she was a Muslim because she was not wearing anything covering her hair and her dress was German style
In addition, she entered the church in a very comfortable manner
Perhaps her eastern Arab appearance and her wheatish skin color attracted some attention and curious eyes
Gabriel felt anxiety flooding his heart as he whispered in a low voice to her while looking at Father Otar who was reciting the mass with reverence
"Why did you come here?" "So if people here find out who you are, there could be trouble."
Hearing that, Layla smiled a beautiful side smile and said in a low voice similar in tone to his while imitating his movement and clasping her hands together.
"I asked the guards about you and they told me you must be here to pray."
Gabriel's heart raced when she smiled and answered his whisper. He was fully aware of how close she was to him, and the scent of her perfume was intoxicating.
He struggled to keep his expression neutral, his mind racing with thoughts and feelings he couldn't fully comprehend.
"So you followed me here just to ask me about that?"
He whispered again.
His voice betrayed a hint of annoyance.
"That's reckless and dangerous. It could get us into trouble."
He looked around furtively, his eyes scanning the altar for any signs that the priest or other churchgoers were noticing their whispered conversation.
He said, trying to maintain his composure. His temper
"You need to leave this is a Christian church and you shouldn't be here… if anyone finds out… there could be consequences"
Layla seemed unfazed by his warning and her smile didn't falter as she looked at him
"And what are those consequences?"
She asked in her soft, informal tone
"Will you be in trouble because I came here to see you?"
Gabriel's heart pounded in his chest at her words, his mind in a state of conflict between his duty as a monk and the strange attraction he felt towards her. He couldn't bear to see her talking to him like that.
He whispered insistently
"Yes, I could be and so could you. If people here knew you were a Muslim, they would… there could be a problem, Layla."
"I've told you many times not to call me by my name without honorific titles."
At that moment, the priest chanted verses from the Bible aloud.
Gabriel clenched his jaw, feeling a mixture of irritation and frustration.
"Okay *Princess*"
He said, adding the title almost sarcastically
"Are you happy now? Can you listen to me and leave before we get caught?"
Father Otar finished reciting the verses and supervised the congregation
He said in a low, reverent voice
"Let us pray. Bow your heads and close your eyes. We will pray together now."
Gabriel closed his eyes sincerely and clasped his hands together, lowering his head in prayer but he was fully aware that Laila was sitting next to him and her presence was almost burning his skin