The convent dormitory was quiet after evening prayer.
Most of the sisters had already gone to bed, their soft breathing filling the long room. Moonlight slipped through the tall windows, casting pale silver light across the rows of beds.
Christiana sat on her bed quietly, pretending to read a small prayer book.
But she wasn't really reading.
She was thinking about the night ahead.
Across the room, Veronica and Joy sat together on the edge of Veronica's bed, whispering to each other while occasionally glancing toward Christiana.
Finally, Veronica sighed.
"I'm going to ask her," she said softly.
Joy smirked slightly.
"Good. Because something is definitely going on."
Veronica stood up and walked toward Christiana's bed.
Joy followed slowly behind her.
"Christiana," Veronica said gently.
Christiana looked up from her book.
"Yes?"
Veronica sat beside her while Joy leaned against the nearby bedpost with her arms folded.
"We want to ask you something," Veronica said carefully.
Christiana closed the book and raised an eyebrow.
"You're both starting to sound very serious lately."
Joy rolled her eyes slightly.
"That's because you've been acting strange."
Christiana looked at her calmly.
"Strange how?"
Joy stepped forward.
"Like the way you keep visiting Father John's office," she said bluntly.
Veronica quickly added, trying to soften the tone.
"We're not accusing you of anything. We're just… curious."
Christiana leaned back slightly on her bed.
"Curious about what?"
Joy scoffed.
"About what's going on between you and the Pope."
The room suddenly felt quieter.
Christiana's eyes moved slowly from Joy to Veronica.
Veronica spoke again, her voice gentle.
"People have started noticing."
Christiana tilted her head slightly.
"Noticing what?"
Joy answered quickly.
"That he looks at you differently."
Christiana didn't react.
Joy continued, her voice carrying a faint edge of jealousy.
"And the way you keep disappearing at night."
Christiana's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Disappearing?"
Joy smirked.
"Don't pretend. Your bed is empty sometimes."
Veronica frowned at Joy.
"You don't have to say it like that."
Then she turned back to Christiana.
"We're just worried about you."
Christiana studied Veronica for a moment.
Veronica's concern looked genuine.
But Joy…
Joy's eyes carried something else.
Suspicion.
And jealousy.
Christiana stood up slowly from the bed.
"You two imagine too much," she said calmly.
Joy crossed her arms.
"So you're not sneaking out?"
Christiana smiled faintly.
"And if I was?"
Joy's eyes narrowed.
"You could get expelled."
Christiana stepped past them toward the window.
She looked outside at the dark courtyard.
Her voice was calm when she spoke again.
"Relax," she said.
"I know exactly what I'm doing."
Joy watched her carefully.
Something about Christiana's confidence annoyed her deeply.
Who did she think she was?
Veronica sighed softly.
"I just hope you're not getting yourself into trouble."
Christiana turned slightly toward them.
A mysterious smile appeared on her face.
"Trouble?" she said quietly.
"Sometimes trouble can be… interesting."
Joy stared at her suspiciously.
But Veronica simply shook her head.
"Just be careful," she said.
Christiana didn't answer.
She simply looked back out into the night.
Because soon…
She would be leaving again.
And somewhere else in the convent, John had no idea that the whispers about them were already beginning to spread