ONCE UPON A TIME IN VENICE

CHAPTER 8

Chapter 8: Maria's Secret

Maria finished her morning prayer in the convent, her thoughts still lingering on the events of the previous day. She had never felt such a strong connection to anyone before, let alone a man like Giovanni. But she knew that her feelings were wrong, that she had taken vows to serve God and could never betray them.

As she walked towards the belfry, Maria tried to push away her thoughts and focus on the task at hand. She needed to ring the bells to call the other nuns to prayer, but first, she wanted to take a moment to enjoy the beautiful view of Venice from the top of the tower.

She climbed the steps, her breath coming in short gasps as she reached the top. The view was breathtaking, the sun rising over the city and casting a warm glow over the water. Maria stood there for a moment, watching as the boats sailed by, lost in her thoughts.

Without realizing it, she reached up to remove her veil, revealing her soft fiery locks of auburn hair. She felt the cool breeze on her face, the freedom of being able to let her hair down.

Maria took a bite of the candied apple from her basket, savoring the sweetness on her tongue. It was a rare treat, one that she had saved for a special occasion.

As she ate, memories flooded back to her. Memories of a time when she was not Maria, but Princess Isabella of the kingdom of Castile. Her parents, the king and queen, had died by treachery, and her brothers perished in a fire as the usurpers invaded their own home.

Maria had faked her own death and hid in the convent where she now resided. She had taken vows and given up her old life, but the memories still lingered, haunting her dreams at night.

Lost in her thoughts, Maria didn't hear the footsteps behind her until it was too late. She turned around to see Sister Agatha, the Mother Superior's assistant, standing there with a stern look on her face.

"Sister Maria, what are you doing up here?" Sister Agatha asked, her voice tinged with disapproval.

Maria quickly replaced her veil, feeling guilty for her moment of weakness. "I was just admiring the view, Sister," she said, hoping to avoid any further reprimands.

Sister Agatha sighed. "You know that it is not appropriate for a nun to remove her veil in public," she said. "You must remember your vows and the rules of the convent."

Maria nodded, feeling ashamed. "I apologize, Sister. It won't happen again."

Sister Agatha studied her for a moment before nodding. "Very well. Come, it is time for morning prayer."

As they descended the stairs, Maria couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. She missed her old life, her family, and the freedom that came with being a princess. But she knew that she could never go back, that her past was forever gone.

She took a deep breath and focused on the present, on her life as a nun, and the duties that lay ahead. But deep down, Maria knew that her secret was something she could never forget, something that would always haunt her.