Chapter 225 - 193: The Falcon and the Peregrine Falcon

When it was all over, he pulled out and kissed her gently. "I don’t think we’ll have any difficulties in the bedroom from now on," he said, chuckling.

Matilda didn’t respond. She just closed her eyes, her chest rising and falling.

Eric didn’t mind. He got out of bed, walked over to the window, and opened it.

The scent of lilies, roses, and honeysuckle mingled with the rising aroma of incense, drifting out the window like wisps of smoke and ascending to Heaven.

The night had grown darker, but the evening breeze was much cooler now.

A moment later, a falcon flew in and landed on the windowsill.

Its feathers were a deep, stately brown with a few white spots on its wings. Its eyes were ice-blue and looked quite intimidating.

It cocked its head, surveying the scene in the room, seeming to await its master’s command.

"Is this yours?" Eric turned to look at Matilda, who was lying in bed.

"He’s yours now. A gift for your vow."

Matilda sat up in bed, one hand on her head. She draped the blanket over herself, clutching it to her chest with her right hand. Her reddish-gold hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her aura seemed much softer than before.

"Yesterday, you didn’t seem very pleased with my gift."

"Was it that obvious? Well, are you pleased with mine?"

"It was acceptable." Matilda turned her head away.

"That’s good, then," Eric said with a smile.

"Glorio," Matilda said again.

"What?"

"His name." Matilda tilted her head up, gesturing for Eric to look at the falcon.

"A fine name." Eric looked at the falcon. As if sensing something, the bird moved closer to Eric and lowered its head.

Eric glanced at Matilda, and Matilda nodded.

He stroked the falcon’s feathers, which felt quite smooth.

The bird seemed quite intelligent.

"If you break your vow, I’ll have him peck your eyes out," Matilda said, glaring at Eric.

"How frightening," Eric murmured.

Just then, another bird flew in. This was no falcon; it was a peregrine falcon. Its feathers were an elegant silver-gray, with black markings on its wings and amber-colored eyes.

But what concerned Eric more than any of this was that the peregrine falcon was a full size larger than the other falcon and looked far more formidable.

Eric’s previously good mood instantly soured.

’She definitely did this on purpose.’

"FiDes," Matilda called its name. The peregrine flew to her, landing by the bedside and lowering its head. She gently stroked its feathers to soothe it.

’If FiDes the peregrine were to spread her wings, she’d absolutely beat Glorio the falcon like a dog. Hey, that’s not fair.’

In any case, Eric had now lost all interest in Glorio the falcon.

Eric averted his gaze and stepped away from the window. He picked a date from the silver platter by the bed and began studying the tapestry on the wall as he ate. It depicted a falconry scene.

"This room belonged to my grandmother," she said, stretching languidly and revealing the fine, pale skin of her beautiful curves. "I remember her holding parties here when I was a child."

"I’ve heard about her and your grandfather." He turned around, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "I remember her name was Kunigunde. Why did people call her Periculosa?"

"Many people here know their story." Matilda shrugged. "Scandal followed them like a shadow. For passion, she abandoned her vows to my grandfather and fell in love with someone else. But that passion was almost a sickness."

Eric poured a cup of mead and handed it to Matilda.

"That was the name my grandfather gave her. By the time I knew her, she always went by it."

"Why that nickname?"

"Because she was unpredictable and wild. Her passion for love defied reason; you could even call it a kind of madness.

But as a girl, I loved the music and dancing in her room. We loved to hear her stories. She was a wonderful person when she was in a good mood, but we were also afraid of her—afraid of the darkness within her.

My mother hated her. The two of them were always at odds. As I recall, they’d argue whenever they were in the same room. Mother prefers more rational people. She always thought she lived a much better life than my grandmother." Matilda looked up at Eric and, for some reason, asked, "What do you think?"

"People are born different; all you can do is be true to yourself. God gave man reason, but He also gave man free will. Before you take a bite, who’s to say if the fruit is sweet or bitter?

If everything in the world followed reason and ran according to rigid rules, then why would God ever allow for miracles?"

Eric took another date from the silver platter and held it to Matilda’s lips.

She didn’t answer, but bit down on the date, her tongue brushing against his fingers.

He tangled his hand in her hair and kissed her.

He lifted her up and carried her to the bed.

He picked up the blood-stained cushion and set it aside.

"Hilbrand helped and protected me. He’s my mentor, the former Vice Bishop of Luca. After my father died, he became a father figure to me. He’ll be a good pope. When everyone else abandoned me, he told me that God forsakes no one."