Chapter XVIII: I Don't Condemn You, Only if...  

The next day I woke up early in the morning. I went downstairs to have breakfast with the bishop and the two curious pensioner priests.

"Antonio, are you ready to conduct your first trial?" the bishop asked me.

"Sure... Just tell me the time and if you have any preference for the outcome... You know, I wouldn't want to do anything against Your Excellency's will..."

"Judge as you wish, I don't really care. In important trials, I will let you know the desired outcome and how to proceed so you won't get caught falsifying evidence or other things..."

"Sure, Your Excellency... I have complete trust in Your Excellency's leadership spirit..."

"You flatter me too much, Antonio... If you had been so willing to help from the beginning, you might have become a bishop by now..."

"I'm not worthy of such words, Your Excellency..."

I don't like to flatter the old man, but in order to become someone important, I need to win him over. These old men are already on my side, so there's not much more I can do for them. Sure... These stigmata make people around me consider me a saint and trust me.

At the trial's scheduled time, with the bishop present, I sat in my judge's seat, with two priests on my right and left. My first case was quite easy, I'd say. It was about two neighbors, one a priest and the other a layman, who were arguing over a piece of land. Honestly, I was impartial and decided that the land belonged to the priest, who had provided a document attesting to the land's donation by a noble family.

Also, immediately after, a married couple of about 15 years came before me seeking a divorce. Well, the wife wanted the divorce... As it was done in the 15th century, the husband is right, so he had priority in speaking. I analyzed the reasons for which a marriage could be annulled: the wife's infidelity, the husband's impotence, or the wife's sterility. The first wasn't certain, the second wasn't applicable, and the third wasn't applicable because they already had children. So, even though the woman was crying that her husband came home drunk all the time or other such things, the divorce didn't happen.

After the two rather unimportant cases, I left with the bishop to have lunch. Of course, we had a hearty lunch with a table full of food and drink.

The bishop was proud of me. I could see it on his radiant face. It was as if all the things from the past had been wiped clean, and now we were the best friends. Well, honestly, I didn't care at all about a real friendship with the bishop, only about a friendship that could ensure me a place in society.

"Antonio, you were wonderful in these trials... I liked seeing you defend that husband's dignity. You were like a true inquisitor!"

"Thank you for such high praise... As the Lord says, if we are good in simple things, we will be good in complicated things too."

"Sure, sure... This week there will be an extremely important case that I want you to handle. You know about the death of Vlad the Impaler 16 years ago, right?"

"Yes, I've heard... Honestly, I was 9 years old at the time, so I don't know much. Maybe you could enlighten me about certain things."

"Sure... So, this man was the devil himself. Even the Pope threatened him with excommunication, but he didn't stop. Eventually, we, together with the nobles, had to decide, for the good of the Church, to assassinate him. The thing is, although he wasn't very appreciated by the nobles, the common people loved him because he was close to them. That's why many would be willing to revolt if they knew what we did."

"Hm, if you don't mind... Did this character stand in your way?"

"Sure... I couldn't steal, I mean... borrow... money from people because I was threatened that I would be killed in a violent death."

It seems this guy, Vlad, was like me at first... It seems I have to deal with something important now...

"Well, his wife is some sort of healer, or something like that... You know, the woman who makes various remedies from plants and such. The important thing is the following: We caught her and we're going to condemn her for witchcraft... She knows too much and reminds us and the citizens of her husband. She's 34 years old, but looks 25 and other reasons that will be brought to your attention during the trial... I want you to declare her guilty and condemn her in the name of God to be burned at the stake!"

"But she's not actually guilty, is she?"

"No... But that doesn't matter. You just need to do what we say, and everything will be fine..."

"Your Excellency... I think..."

"Don't disappoint me, Antonio, please!"

"I think she's guilty because her husband's soul turned into a vampire, right?"

"We hadn't thought of that... You're right, Antonio! Well done, son!"

Ha, if condemning an innocent person to death is good. Anyway, the bishop is on my side, God too, and the citizens still see me as a person dedicated to God and justice. So, let the game begin... Hahaha!

The days passed with various insignificant cases. At most, 2 divorce cases could be resolved. One because the wife was sterile, and the other because the husband was impotent.

However, even these insignificant cases made me known in the eyes of ordinary people who saw me as a hero of justice and faith.

"Father, you are a saint. You even have the signs of the Lord...", a lady addressed me.

"Father, you are so just. We need people like Your Holiness in the leadership of the Church...", a noble family addressed me, whom I helped in a trial.

Well, I can't say I was absolutely fair. There were cases where I didn't agree with some nobles, that's because I had a deal with them and everything was just theater, but in general, I wanted to maintain an air of sanctity around me.

The day of the trial I was eagerly awaiting finally arrived. Finally, a trial that was for me. Finally, I can show my true power.

In the morning, some powerful people came before me, bringing with them a girl who didn't seem older than me. Honestly, I heard she was around 35, but she didn't look it.

The bishop warned me that my reputation might suffer after this trial, but I have an ace up my sleeve... Although my reputation will take a hit, still, the stigmata will help me get through this deed unscathed.

"We bring before the honorable judges the accused Ana Kroner to be judged for witchcraft," the court clerk shouted.

"Mrs. Ana, do you admit to the charges?"

"I-I don't admit to anything. Father, I'm innocent... I'm innocent in the eyes of God and I don't know why I'm here..."

"Then why are there so many people here saying you're guilty?"

"I don't know who these people are... They're people paid by Bishop Ignatius to defame me."

I know... I know she's not guilty, but still, I need ranks. I'm sorry, but I can't help you... Wait a moment...

Ever since I left Rome, I've been thinking about Cesare. I know it doesn't make sense, but there's a possibility I could forget about him if I enter into another relationship... Well thought out, Antonio... Anyway, the bishop already trusts me, so it doesn't matter.

"I-I need to take a break... This is an overwhelming trial, and I still don't know what answer to give before speaking with the accused. Break!"

People were outraged. Some of them were furious at my choice, while others prayed for the salvation of their heroine, Ana Kroner. Even the bishop was surprised, he who had already given me the verdict. Of course, I decided to make Ana an offer she couldn't refuse...

"Listen, woman... What would you do to escape punishment?"

"I am innocent, so all I can do is beg you to be fair!"

"We know you're innocent... It's just that I say whether you are or not, and I say you're not... Just if..."

"If what?"

"I won't condemn you if you agree to be with me. What do you say?"

"No, I can't. Even though my husband died 16 years ago, we're still married..."

"That can change right away... Come on, you'll see it'll be fine..."

"I can't. Plus, you're a priest and you can't..."

"Marriage is out of the question, but that's not what I'm asking for... I'm just asking you to lie with me and be my lover. What do you say?"

"I can't go against the will of the Lord... If I do, I'll go to hell..."

"No... Everything will be fine. Look, just a few times..."

"Never! I'd rather die than do something like that!"

"Fine then... It was your choice..."

And I thought I could finally forget about Cesare and the foolishness from my time in Rome. I want to get rid of Cesare once and for all... Stop thinking about him... Damn it, I'll take revenge on her for this. This woman must die! No one has ever refused me, and I don't want anyone to ever refuse me again.

"We're resuming the trial. Ana Kroner, do you agree with what these people are saying? You know, some even say you won't allow your husband's soul to go to the Lord..."

"You're saying that, Father! You're starting to make up things about me just because I didn't agree to lie with you? What kind of person are you? How can you still call yourself a priest?"

People were horrified. I felt the anger in everyone's eyes directed towards me. Even the bishop was accusing me... No, it can't end like this...

"Slander! This is slander and it must-"

"No... It's pure truth. Why did you take that pause then?"

People were already beyond furious. If it hadn't been for the guards, I think they would have killed me on the spot. Wait, what's this burning sensation I feel? Wait, the stigmata...

"Are you trying to slander a servant of the Lord who bears His stigmata?"

"Are you sure you didn't inflict them on yourself?"

It can't be... This woman intends to indirectly kill me. I have to do something.

"Good people, God has made the stigmata in my hands bleed again, thus showing that He Himself is against this woman. That's why I will touch her with my hands wounded by the love of the Lord to see what God Himself says."

When the people heard about the stigmata and about God, they knelt down, overwhelmed. Even those who didn't believe in divinity or anything else knelt. Now it's time to deliver the final blow.

I touched the woman on the head, and blood began to flow from the wounds so much that it spilled onto her head, reaching the floor.

"Look! The Lord has decided that she is guilty!"

All the people were on my side, condemning her to death and starting to say hateful words to her. I alone knew she was not guilty, but my pride couldn't admit it.

"We, by the power granted to us by God through His Holiness Pope Alexander VI and by the will of God's people, condemn Ana Kroner to death by burning at the stake! The sentence will be carried out immediately!"