<div style="text-align: justify;">Manuela didn’t seem to bother with the bishop’s curiosity. It was interesting to see how he interacted with the environment, and the young woman was also curious about the man. Hearing the bishop talk about the nightmares, Manuela smiled in a kind manner. “Maybe meditating on good things before bed should help? Or might there be something unresolved in your mind?”, she suggested. Manuela didn’t really mean that there was something weighing in the bishop’s conscience. She didn’t really think that he had some secret sin, but sometimes - she knew it herself - one had something in their mind that bothered them and only came to mind at night, without the person even realizing it. She knew it well herself, as she had experienced a string of nightmares after her mother’s passing, until she had come to terms with it.<br/><br/>When the bishop finally commented on her house, Manuela smiled. “I do indeed. It is a pleasant place to live in”, she replied in a quiet intonation. When he stopped short of her sleeping area, Manuela felt pleasantly surprised. It was a pretty respectful attitude, one she was not used to. She said nothing, but her expression made it clear she approved of the bishop’s behavior.<br/><br/>Listening to what Julian had to say, Manuela tried to imagine what a life in a monastery would be like. It sounded as though it was much simpler than the lives the leaders of the church led once they found themselves a place in some town. She didn’t comment on that, though. “I fear I have not named my chickens”, she replied, in a light-hearted intonation. “I would probably have a hard time finding good names for all of them”. Nodding when Julian asked if he could move the chair close to the window, Manuela watched as he did so, keeping quiet for a moment.<br/><br/>As Julian started speaking again, Manuela turned her attention to the bishop. “I imagine it is just to be expected that one feels the need to escape for a moment, when one’s life is so much in the public eye”, she commented. With a smile when Julian said the friars would curse him under their breath, Manuela didn’t comment on that statement.<br/><br/>Julian’s next words made Manuela become more serious. So, they had finally gotten to the important matters. Keeping silent as the bishop spoke, Manuela waited for him to finish speaking. Her parents. Knowing her parents would help. Manuela sighed deeply. Well, it seemed as though there would be no way for her to be helped. After thinking for a moment, Manuela finally spoke, her voice very quiet and serious. “I fear I will not be helped, then”, she started. “My mother has passed away a few years ago, and my father…”. Manuela sighed. That was obviously not a comfortable matter for the young woman. “I fear I do not know who my father is, other than he was not my mother’s husband, and that he did not want either her or myself”, she finally replied. “I hope this will not cause you to think any less of me, sir, as I am not to blame for the actions of others, even if they have branded every day of my life”. After these words, Manuela walked to one of the other chairs and sat down, her hands resting on her lap, waiting for Julian to say something - whatever it was that he had to say.</div>