Chapter 1

Emilia pov:

I felt a ghastly sense of nausea deep in my stomach. I ran out and spewed out a disgusting amount of vomit. I stared at the site of my ungraceful regurgitation and thought to myself

Oh Lord, please no.

I walked back in the house unsure if I should tell my father who was in an unconscious drunken slumber at dawn.

It's times like this I wish mother was still with us.

I thought to myself as I inhaled a large breath of air  and wiped the remnants of the putrid vomit from my face. I picked up the filthy cloth from the ground and began sweeping the house and then heard a knock.

"Who could that be this early in the morning?"

I said as I placed the broom to my side and went over to open the door. To my surprise it was him. He was standing on the threshold of my door. My heart began beating slightly faster.

"Good morrow my lady."

He said in a soft tone.

It was as if he had some sort of hold over me. I felt powerless at his sight. He was handsome but besides the fact there was more to him. His mysteriousness simply intrigued me and I could barely master a complete sentence around him with out stuttering.

"Hello."

I replied him as best I could. My cheeks flushed with pink as I looked down nervous. He let himself in and I placed my hands on his chest stopping him.

I nodded in the direction of my drunk father and he saw the expression on my face and then stopped.

"I have not seen of you in quite some time, are you not well?"

He said his brows rising as his face showed concern. I knew that he would eventually find out sooner or later and in the moment I decided he should know

"I am with child."

I said as I looked at him. His expression now unreadable. The corners of his lips turned upwards into a small smile.

"This child is mine."

He said as if a question to confirm what I already knew. I hadn't been with another man besides him. It could only be him

Right?

"Yes it is your child"

I said in a hushed tone desperately trying to keep this from my father. My smile quickly turned to a frown at the thought of how I was going to keep this from him and the rest of the village.

He coupled my face with his warm hands and looked me in the eye. His oceanic blue eyes piercing into my soul.

"You do not have to hide it. We can move to another village and have our family there,"

He said as if having read my mind. I thought of what he suggested but I couldn't bring myself to leave my father. Not in the state he was in.

"I-I cannot..."

I responded him then looked to my father and back at him. He simply nodded having understood. My mood had now been dampened by the thought of how I would deal with my predicament.

"Meet me by the lake at noon."

He said as he planted a gentle kiss on my forehead then waved goodbye and walked away. I remained mesmerized by the kiss and the familiar scent of his body. My entire body tingled at the mere thought of him.

Three weeks earlier

My normal routine was very predictable. At dawn I would clean the house, fetch wood then go over to the well to collect water for food. I never expected anything more from this rountine but then again the unexpected is never expected. I walked over to the well to get a bucket of water.

I noticed something unusual. A man. He was sitted by the well. I didn't recognize him and I knew everyone in my small village from the butcher Leopold to the seamstress Victoria. He seemed like a traveller. I simply continued with the task at hand and walked over to the well threw my bucket in and hauled it out. Filled to the brim with water.

"Need some help?"

He asked.

I looked at him unsure of what his offer truly meant. I tend to over think the smallest things.

I nodded in response and he pulled up the bucket filled water.

"Thank you kind sir." I said as I began to walk off.

Then I heard a voice "Might I ask what your name is beautiful maiden?" He uttered.

I turned to face him a slight smile on my face.

"Emilia."

I responded then left. I then heard footsteps following behind me.

"Pleasure to meet you Emilia. I am Damien."

He said now walking beside me.

"The pleasure is all mine sir."

He looked at me with a very unusual expression on his face.

"Sir? Do I really look that old and frail that I am referred to as sir?"

He teased. I couldn't help but let out a slight giggle at him. Then I nodded in disagreement unable to find a suitable statement. Then he went in front of me.

What does he want?

I thought

"I cannot bare watching such a beautiful maiden such as yourself baring such weight. Please let me help you with your burdening load."

He said taking the bucket of water into his own hands.

"Thank you."

I was skeptical of his willingness to help a random stranger. When he and I finally arrived at my home. I took the bucket into my own hands.

"Again I thank you for your kindness.If there is anything I can do for you please do not hesitate to mention it."

I said to him in a polite manner and I then regretted saying the words the moment they left my mouth.

He looked at me with a devilish smirk.

"Well since you offered. I would like to ask you to show me around this village of yours whenever you have spare time."

I raised an eyebrow at his request. Unsure of what to make of it.

"You want me to be your guide?"

I repeated it back to him as a question.

He nodded slightly.

"Very well. Tomorrow at dawn I will show you all there is to see in this little village of ours"

I told him with a smile on my face then I said goodbye and entered my house.

What a peculiar man

I thought to myself unable to stop myself from smiling at the thought of him.

I placed the bucket of water down by the side of the door. Then I grabbed the wood I had collected earlier and began to use it to make a fire. Once the fire was sufficient I began to cook.

My father still remained asleep. It was almost noon and still he slumbered. His stench that of a man who had not bathed in three days and that combined with the stench of the excessive alcohol.

At times I felt sorry for him. He was never the same since my mother passed. It took a great toll on him. I walked over to him after having prepared his food and woke him up with caution. Remembering what happened last time

"Father wake up" I remember saying.

At the time he was too drunk to her me wake him

I persisted trying to wake him and he woke up and beat by face with his bottle of alcohol.

"What?!" He said in an agitated tone

I simply held my face not expressing pain and left the house then tears began streaming down my cheeks.

I treaded lightly this time. Knowing full well that he did not like being awoken prematurely from his slumber. I grabbed a fire poker and from a distance woke him up.

"Father."

I said as I gently poked him with the metallic rod.

"Your food is ready"

He grumbled and dropped his bottle to the ground. Then stretched and let out a wide yawn. Then he dug into his food like a ravenous beast that had not been fed for days.

I had lost my appetite at the gruesome sight of his unmannered feasting. I went to my room and took a light slumber seeing as my work had been done for the day.

Finally he's up. Maybe next I should try to get him to bathe.

I thought to myself just before I drifted off into my slumber.I woke up to the sound of objects breaking. It was pitch black in my room. I walked lightly careful not to step on any broken objects.

I found Father drunk and tossing furniture at the walls. He was fuming. His skin red with rage and stopped at my sight then lunged over to me and grabbed me by my arm.

"Father! Please stop!"

I pleaded with him.

He let go of my arm and slapped me to the ground.

He was having one of his rage filled drunken escapades again. I didn't know what to do I tried reaching for the door and running out but he caught me by my hair.

"Where do think you are going?!"

He said as he pulled me back and slapped me into the pine table at the center of the room. I curled up in a corner and let my tears roam free. I silently cried hoping he would tire himself out soon and I would be able to escape.