Angelina felt her heart stop beating; her brain was losing air. However, after hearing the shocking and unexpected revelation, she fought to regain her breath.
Vlad was Ioana's son.
The young woman felt as though she would hyperventilate, but she fought hard against it. "What...?"
Ioana suddenly wept, covering her face as if she were ashamed. "Please don't make me repeat it. Vlad is my son! My boy!"
Angelina couldn't help but notice Ioana's voice; she was saddened, yet relieved, since the secret had to be kept for so long. Yet, Angelina had many questions. She let Ioana weep so that she could express her negative feelings. When the older woman eventually soothed herself by wiping away her tears, Angelina sat beside her. "Ioana, this secret must have been tearing you apart. However, I'm trying to grasp that Vlad is your...son. How is this possible?"
Ioana remained silent as Angelina slowly wrapped an arm around her. It had been a long time since someone had shown her such affection. It made her feel at ease and safe, and she believed it was time to tell the secret she had held for so long. "I have lived in this castle most of my life, as did my family, since we were servants. My family always taught me that we had to proudly serve the House of Drăculești, as they provided our family with a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs. Serving an influential family was a dream of those of lower rank since food and shelter were always guaranteed." Ioana sighed and put her hands together. "I believed it wholeheartedly, and when I turned into a young woman, I was chosen to be the lady-in-waiting for Lady Cneajna, the wife of Vlad Dracul II."
"So, Vlad II was Vlad's father, right?"
"Yes, he was, and that man was very cruel to not only those who were beneath him but also to his family. When I began to work under Lady Cneajna, that was when I captured Vlad II's interest. He wanted me to become his mistress; I refused." The story almost sounded similar to Angelina's. Yet, a part of her hoped that what Ioana was about to say wasn't what she thought. "I told Lady Cneajna about what was occurring, and I thank god that she was a very kind woman."
"Wow, the previous lady was the opposite of Minah," Angelina thought.
"Lady Cneajna couldn't speak out against her husband since she would have been punished. She decided to give me money to leave the castle with my family. When I told my family about what was happening, they were outraged at me."
Angelina gasped as anger slowly crept into her being. "What!? Why were they angry at you!? You did nothing to provoke the man!"
Ioana sighed as she massaged her eyes. "Unfortunately, they didn't think so. They believed it was an excellent opportunity for me to capture the Voivode's attention. I would have been paid handsomely if I became his mistress. However, I felt a solid loyalty to Lady Cneajna, who treated me kindly; she even admitted that she never wished to marry Vlad II. My family didn't care and tried to convince me to give myself to the Voivode; I refused. I decided to run away."
The young woman was amazed at how loyal Ioana was to her mistress. "It's no wonder I had a good feeling about her." Then, Angelina felt Ioana tremble; she feared what would be said next.
"I could hide for a few days in a nearby village, but Vlad II and his men found me. My family told him I had left and that Lady Cneajna paid me. I had never felt so betrayed; I thought I would be taken back to the castle. I was wrong...."
"Ioana, there's no need to say more. You-"
"Vlad ordered that every villager except the children and those who were not of age be taken out of their homes and there I was..."
Angelina shook her head as she felt her heart break into tiny pieces. "Don't say it."
"Vlad II raped me while everyone watched. After the deed was done he then ordered every man to be killed and women of age to be raped; I had to watch as punishment for running away."
"Oh my god...Ioana. Such cruelty! Y-You were never at fault, he-"
"It was my fault! Those poor, innocent people suffered because of me! Those men who had their beloved mothers, sisters, and daughters violated; those women who had their fathers, brothers, and husbands killed. Those innocent children having to hear or even see such deplorable actions and many to be left orphans!" Ioana covered her eyes and ears as the memory of those events slowly returned. She tried hard to repress the memories, but her guilt and shame made it impossible. "Their screams and their blood are something I can never forget, and Vlad II reminded me that it was my fault and I was left alone along with the many butchered and violated villagers!"
The young woman felt tears falling from her eyes; she felt Ioana's pain. Angelina couldn't fathom the trauma that Ioana and those innocent villagers went through. "Ioana..."
The older woman opened her eyes as she wiped some of her tears. "I wanted to die in that moment, and I wanted to take my life, but I was too cowardly to do so. I feared for my soul and that god would not have forgiven such a sin. I left the destroyed village, not knowing the fate of those innocents who were still alive. I couldn't live anywhere for fear of others sharing a similar fate to those who died. I traveled and begged to survive until I arrived at a nunnery, and they took me in. There, I discovered that I was pregnant."
"Oh my god...then what happened?"
"I thought I could trust the nuns to help me in my time of need, but it was another lie. I was foolish to trust them with the information of who the father was. They sent word to Vlad II about my pregnancy so they could be paid handsomely; he sent my men to take me back to the castle by force. If I refused, then more people would die in my name; I couldn't let that happen. So, I went willingly."
Angelina hugged Ioana tighter; she had never imagined she would suffer such a fate.
"When I returned, I found out that my family had been executed since they were no use to Vlad II anymore." Ioana didn't want to admit it, but she was happy that her family was killed since she blamed them for telling Vlad II of her whereabouts. It was also because of them that everyone else had to suffer as a result of her choice. "I didn't care; they were dead to me either way. When I was forced back, I was told that I had to lie that the child was another man's. Vlad II had enemies everywhere, and my unborn son would have been put in danger. I gave birth to my son, and he was taken away from me."
"Oh, Ioana. You have been through hell itself. So, if I had to guess, Vlad was raised by Lady Cneajna?"
The older woman nodded. "Yes, I also learned that not only was she punished, but also tortured for helping me try to leave. I couldn't forget when I saw her the many scars and cuts throughout her body. She was a victim, as I was. When Lady Cneajna found out about what was done to me and my pregnancy, she wept for me. She pretended to be with the child to possess Vlad when he was born." Ioana let out a cry. "My poor lady wept for me, and she told Vlad II that she would raise the child as her own as long as I could stay as her lady-in-waiting. Vlad II didn't want the possibility of a scandal to go throughout the land since he was hated. However, I convinced him I would remain quiet and do whatever I commanded. He made me his mistress, and if I refused any order, I wouldn't be able to see my son, Vlad, again."
Angelina could tell that Ioana looked disgusted with herself. "Ioana, I'm so sorry. I never thought you suffered through so much. Whatever I say may not convince you, but it's not your fault. You had self-respect, dignity, and loyalty, but Vlad's father was nothing more than a monstrous coward. But please believe me when I tell you that you hold so much strength and power than anyone here. D-Does Vlad know the truth?"
"No, and he mustn't know. No one must know the truth, or Vlad will be put in a more precarious position. Radu is the son of two nobles, while Vlad is my son, the son of a mere peasant woman. If the people found out, then Vlad would lose even more support, and he would be in danger of being killed. Please, don't tell him or anyone, please!"
The young woman didn't have the heart to tell Ioana that Vlad was just like his father, a cruel monster. The scent of smoke and death proved his horrific actions. Even with all that, Ioana suffered so much to be by Vlad, her son's, side. "Alright, I won't say anything. You have my word."
"Thank you." Ioana sighed in relief. "It is strange; all the anger, sadness, and shame within me has gone. You were the first one I have told, and I never felt so free." She then gently held onto Angelina's hands. "I know what you must think: Vlad is like his father. Please believe me that Vlad is not as cruel as his father. He went through so much in his childhood; Lady Cneajna and I raised him as best we could. With your arrival, I noticed a sudden change."
"Ioana..."
"Please believe me. You are slowly changing him that no one could have. Angelina, you hold innocence and strength that Vlad is not used to but always wanted. He grew up in turmoil with no hope, but you are the hope he always wanted. I know he has committed many sins, but he still has goodness in him and can be a better Voivode than his father." Ioana gently squeezed Angelina's hands. "Please, don't give up on him! Save him from himself!"
The women became silent, but the silence was short-lived when someone announced Vlad's arrival. Angelina looked at Ioana and felt her hands on hers. She didn't know how to change Vlad, as he was determined to control her. "I-I will see what I can do. It's time for us to go back inside and thank you for putting your faith and trust in me." Ioana smiled, hopeful, but Angelina wasn't sure if she could keep her promise. She didn't know how she would be able to change a monster.
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