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He moved a hand to his waist and took out a sheathed dagger, in red leather and gold, withdrew it, and placed it on the table, splaying his hand next to it. “You are no priest, but I shall give you a confession I wouldn’t grant to one of those quacks who think themselves equal to God. I knew your Yena was fond of you, Bonetto. I admit, I was jealous. She was such a sweet tart, a beauty, and I coveted her, as much as I coveted your friends’ respect to you. She refused my more gentlemanly advances, so I drugged her with Blackflower and took her maidenhood.”
You didn’t interrupt him. It was such a puzzling confession that you didn’t even think to silence him until he was finished with it.
“Blackflower is a drug of pure pleasure, Bonetto. It makes every touch and caress such ecstasy that the mind and spirit struggle to resist. Not even the raped scream with anything but joy, and that’s what makes it so humiliating. And it was a sweet humiliation at the time. One fairly revisited upon me.” He gestured to the dagger. “You didn’t care for her before that, and I presumed you would leave her behind. I was wrong, so you carry this burden against me still. Let’s change that. Take a finger, if you wish. I’m feeling quite penitent as of late. Ready for loss, so long as it is just.” He blinked and rolled his eyes, “Besides my life, of course. But we both know you’re too intelligent to do something a misguided hero might think is a worthy Sacrifice by the Shield.”
What was this masochism? You picked up the dagger and tested it- no, it was real, and sharp steel. Yet you didn’t believe a man this evil could be truly repentant, even if you cut out his heart. There was deception in this retelling of his tale, poison in this sugared contrition. He did not have the groveling character of a truly repentant sinner. There was pride that said, <span class="mu-i">I have done nothing that I believe was wrong- I stand above condemnation. </span>
>You wouldn’t play this game. Tell him to stop being a degenerate and treat this diplomatic matter like what it is. A plan for the future. Vengeance already paid half a lifetime ago was worthless. You were not the one he should even present this blade to.
>If he so wishes. Take a finger. It wouldn’t be an eye, like Leo had the honor of taking, but it would be one more just agony inflicted upon this man before he was consumed by the Depths for his sins.
>Other?
