The two stared at one another coldly. Michael braced himself for the truth, while Constance wondered if he should even say it. The stalemate lasted for minutes, the silence making both of them tense.
"You know if I tell you, you will be excommunicated. There is no going back, Michael. Right now, I am willing to let you stay if you swear on your honour to never divulge what you read here." Constacne knew that for a normal man, swearing on something like honour would be pointless, but Michael was different. He valued things like that more than his own life.
Michael thought deeply about it and closed his eyes. The silence lasted for another thirty seconds, but seeing his eyes open, Constance knew he wanted the truth before he said a word. "Tell me? You've already crushed everything I once believed in, Constance. I could have never gone back."
