<div style="text-align: justify;">Manuela really felt guilty about the current situation. Her being taken to a dungeon, while unpleasant, was not really surprising. She was considered a witch, after all - despite the fact that she was not one. The simple fact that she was alive meant that she was constantly at risk, as unpleasant as it may be. Julian, on the other hand, had not been at risk up until the moment he took interest in her. And that was really heartbreaking for Manuela. But now, it was too late to prevent the problem. They had to solve it, there was no other way. <br/><br/>With a deep sigh, Manuela listened to Julian in silence, while her mind worked in any possible way to solve this situation they had found themselves in. Or more properly, the situation the Bishop had found himself in. Manuela seriously doubted that her situation could be fixed. She would probably be sent to Rome and executed, and that would be it. But Julian did not have to suffer along with her. <br/><br/>Manuela kept silent until Julian finished speaking about Sir John. She nodded and sighed sadly. “This is how life works in Santa María”, the young woman admitted, shaking her head. “I believe you have not lived in a small town such as this before?”, she suggested, quietly. “In places like this, walls have ears, eyes and dirty minds. Should one be even slightly different from the usual mold, they are viewed with suspicious, and the collective eyes stay on them at all times”. <br/><br/>With a sad, but not angry, smile, she smiled at Julian’s words about wanting to see her again. “Now you may see me for a longer time than both of us had anticipated”, the girl commented, shaking her head. “It is not your fault, naturally. It is the fault of our wicked and uncaring society”. <br/><br/>Before she could say something else, Manuela heard the Bishop’s words. He was right, they could not go to Rome. She was not sure about what going to Rome would mean for the Bishop. But for her, Rome would probably equal death. Or imprisonment for the rest of her days, with God knew what kinds of torture. <br/><br/>When Julian suggested that they played the part they did not wish to, it took Manuela a moment to figure out what he meant. When the meaning hit her, Manuela blushed. Despite her discomfort with the idea of being a concubine, Manuela listened to everything the Bishop had to say. It was disgusting, she thought to herself, that the Catholic Church had such corrupt men in their fold that they felt the need to allow them a concubine to prevent them from defiling every other woman in their parish. And she was the one who deserved death in their eyes.<br/><br/>Despite feeling disgusted with the idea of pretending to be a concubine for the Bishop, Manuela considered that she did not have much of a choice. It was not solely her life on the line, but both of theirs. And she could not make a decision to risk Julian’s life even further.<br/><br/>“I agree”, she finally replied, her voice very quiet. “Do as you will, and I will follow the leads you provide me with”.</div>